Over The Counter
This is the company's only focus. With the health and wellness trend becoming mainstream, Prestige Brands is nicely positioned to take advantage of this. Its 14 core brands, which include Chloraseptic, Gaviscon, Efferdent and Clear Eyes, represent 70% of its fiscal 2013 revenue of $624 million. When CEO Matt Mannelly was hired in September 2009, its annual revenue was $293 million. By the end of March, 2013, its revenues had more than doubled as a result of three acquisitions totaling $943 million that Mannelly undertook in fiscal 2011 and 2012. Adding 23 different brands including 17 it picked up from GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK) for $663 million; it's made itself more attractive both as a possible acquisition for a larger consumer products company but also to any smaller companies looking to partner with a larger, more stable business. Whichever way the wind blows, Mannelly's put Prestige shareholders in a position to benefit.
5 Best Consumer Stocks To Invest In 2015: Electro Scientific Industries Inc (ESIO)
Electro Scientific Industries, Inc. (ESI) incorporated on April 19, 1949, is a supplier of laser-based manufacturing solutions for the microtechnology industry. The Company operates high-technology manufacturing equipment, which consists of products that are organized in three groups: interconnect & microfabrication, semiconductor and components. The Company�� laser systems enable precise structuring of micron to submicron features in components and devices which are used in a wide variety of end products in the consumer electronics, computer, semiconductor, communications and other markets. Its laser microfabrication systems allow microelectronics, semiconductor, and other microtechnology manufacturers to physically alter select device features during high-volume production. In June 2012, it acquired Eolite Systems.
The Company�� laser-based systems improve production yields or enable improved performance for flexible and rigid high density interconnect printed circuit boards, semiconductor devices, light emitting diodes (LEDs), advanced semiconductor packaging, touch-panel glass, flat panel liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and other high value components. Additionally, it produces high-capacity test and inspection equipment that is critical to control process during the production of multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs). Its equipment ensures that each component meets the electrical and physical tolerances required to perform properly. Lastly, it produces systems that use photonic technology to perform precision inspection for control and defect identification. The Company�� Interconnect & Microfabrication Group products address an expanding number of applications and materials on a broad set of substrates, including panels, continuous-feed reels, and discrete three dimensional components or devices.
Interconnect Via Drilling
For electrical interconnect applications, The Company�� laser via micro fabrication systems target applications that require the ! highest accuracy and smallest via (hole) dimensions to create electrical connections between layers in flexible circuits, high-density circuit boards and IC packages. The Company�� microvia drilling technology addresses the rapidly changing applications in IC packages, multichip modules and HDI circuit boards. Its ultraviolet (UV) laser processing systems employ technology in lasers, optics and motion control.
Advanced Microfabrication
The Company offers several platforms that enable customers to perform precision drilling, scribing, cutting, etching, routing or marking on many different types of materials and devices including glass, metal, plastic, paint and ceramics. It also offer laser ablation systems that ablate material for identification and analysis applications, including forensics, mineral analysis and research.
Semiconductor Group (SG)
The Company�� Semiconductor Group products address multiple applications that utilize laser energy to process materials on wafer-based substrates. This includes traditional silicon wafers, LEDs wafers, and new ultrathin silicon wafers used in the three-dimensional (3D) packaging applications. Semiconductor Memory Yield Improvement Systems includes semiconductor memory yield improvement products are designed to cost-effectively enable post-repair yield improvements in the manufacturing of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) memory devices.
3D Semiconductor Wafer Processing
The 3D chip packaging technologies is driving the need for silicon wafers to become thinner in order to allow for stacking of wafers within the same packaging geometry. As wafers become thinner, they become more challenging to cut into discrete chips using traditional mechanical saws. The Company�� model 9900 uses a laser to dice ultra-thin silicon wafers, those with a thickness of 50 microns or below, and to singulate interposers. In addition, this platform can be used to scribe next generation thin film ! materials! that lend themselves to laser processing.
LED Wafer Scribing
The Company�� AccuScribe line of sapphire wafer scribing systems is a key component in the manufacture of LEDs. During production, LEDs are created on a thin wafer of synthetic sapphire crystal that must be broken into individual units at the end of the process. The brittle nature of the sapphire wafer requires that it be carefully cut in order to prevent unwanted fractures, yield losses, and lower light output when the wafer is broken apart into discrete LEDs. The AccuScribe systems use a laser to scribe the wafer with a precise groove between individual LEDs. When mechanical force is applied to the wafer, it fractures along these grooves and allows the wafer to be split apart into discrete LEDs. These systems are capable of scribing both standard and high brightness designs for general illumination applications. In addition, this platform can be used to address singulation of various LED packaging materials.
LCD Repair
The Comapny's laser LCD repair systems are critical to improving yields in the manufacture of flat panel displays. During production, individual pixels of a display may develop electrical defects that result in no light emission or the emission of only a steady white light. To correct these defects, flat panel display producers employ a laser repair process to isolate the electrical defects during production by cutting the inputs to the pixel. Its laser systems are primarily sold to the manufacturers of LCD repair tools as a key component of their products.
Semiconductor Systems
The products include industry wafer marking equipment, wafer and circuit trim tools, and LCD repair tools. Wafer marking equipment is used for serialization and wafer identification by both manufacturers of semiconductor wafers and within semiconductor fabs. Wafer and circuit trim tools are laser systems that adjust the electrical performance of semiconductor devic! es or hyb! rid circuits by removing a precise amount of material from one or more circuit components.
Components Group (CG)
The Company designs and manufactures products that combine high-speed small parts handling technology with real-time control systems to provide automated, cost-effective inspection solutions for manufacturers of MLCC and other passive components such as capacitor arrays, inductors, resistors, varistors and hybrid circuits. These components, produced in quantities of trillions of units per year, process analog, digital and high-frequency signals and are used in all electronic products.
The Company provides several types of products and solutions in this market. Its MLCC test systems employ high-speed handling and positioning techniques to precisely load, test and sort MLCCs based on their electrical energy storage capacity, or capacitance, and their electrical energy leakage, or dissipation factor. Its 35XX series is the productive tester. Its 3510 model enables high speed testing of the industry�� smallest metric 0402 capacitors used primarily in advanced cell phone and tablet designs. It also produces consumable products, such as carrier plates and termination belts, both of which are used to hold MLCCs during the manufacturing and testing process.
The Company competes with Mechanics, Ltd., LPKF Laser & Electronics AG, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Orbotech Ltd., InnoLas Systems GmbH, DISCO Corporation, Laser Solutions, Inc., Quantel USA, Inc., Humo Laboratory, Ltd. and HOYA Corporation.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Evan Niu, CFA]
What: Shares of Electro Scientific (NASDAQ: ESIO ) popped briefly today, up by 11% at the high, after the company reported earnings.
So what: Revenue in the fiscal fourth quarter totaled $39.6 million, which translated into a non-GAAP net loss of $1 million, or $0.03 per share. Both figures came out better than expected, as consensus estimates were calling for $38.1 million in revenue and an adjusted loss of $0.07 per share.
Best Forestry Companies To Invest In Right Now: Peoples Bancorp Inc.(PEBO)
Peoples Bancorp Inc. operates as a holding company for Peoples Bank, National Association that provides financial products and services. It offers commercial and retail banking, insurance, brokerage, and trust services. The company accepts various deposit products, including demand deposit accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit; and provides commercial, consumer, and real estate mortgage loans, as well as lines of credit. It also offers debit and automated teller machine (ATM) cards; corporate and personal trust services; safe deposit rental facilities; travelers checks, money orders, and cashier?s checks; and telephone and Internet-based banking services. In addition, the company provides a range of life, health, and property and casualty insurance products; and fiduciary and wealth management services. Further, it offers brokerage services through an unaffiliated registered broker-dealer; and credit cards to consumers and business es, as well as provides merchant credit card processing services through joint marketing arrangements with third parties. The company offers its financial products and services through 47 financial service locations and 40 ATMs in southeastern Ohio, northwestern West Virginia, and northeastern Kentucky. Peoples Bancorp Inc. was founded in 1902 and is based in Marietta, Ohio.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Marc Bastow]
Marietta, Ohio-based bank holding company Peoples Bancorp (PEBO) raised its quarterly dividend 7% to 15 cents per share, payable on Feb. 18 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 3.
PEBO Dividend Yield: 2.60%
Best Forestry Companies To Invest In Right Now: Metrospaces Inc (MSPC)
Metrospaces, Inc., formerly Strata Capital Corp, incorporated on December 10, 2007, is a development-stage company. The Company is the parent of Urban Spaces, Inc. (Urban Spaces). The Company acquires land and design, build, develop and resell condominiums on it, principally in urban areas in Latin America, alone or together with investors. The Company also acquires condominiums that are under construction for resale, but do not intend to conduct business in this manner after these condominiums have been sold. Through Urban Spaces and its subsidiaries, the Company acquires and develops land in urban areas primarily for the construction of condominiums on such land, principally in Latin American markets, and offer them at different prices and with varying levels of options and amenities to customers who are able to make substantial payments upon signing purchase agreements and at agreed times as construction progresses. The Company is involved in projects in Argentina and Venezuela and considering projects in Colombia and Peru. The Company has investments in Chacabuco Project, Los Naranjos 320 Project, and Las Naranjos 450 Project. On August 13, 2012, the Company acquired Urban Spaces.
The Chacabuco Project
GBS Capital Partners Inc. is constructing a 26-unit condominium project at Chacabuco 1353, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Upon completion of the project, Urban Properties LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the wholly owned subsidiary of Urban Spaces (UPLLC), is entitled to receive nine loft-type units, each having an area of 46 square meters.
The Los Naranjos 320 Project
This project is located at Los Naranjos de Las Mercedes, Lot 320, in Caracas Venezuela. This land is owned by Promotora Alon-Bell, C.A., all of whose shares are held by GBS Fund, LLC, a Florida limited liability company (GBS Fund).
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Peter Graham]
What�� the Catch With New China Global Inc? According to various disclosures, transactions of $7.5k, $10k, $20k, $30k, $60k and $140k have or will occur to mention New China Global Inc in various investment newsletters. Just this morning, New China Global Inc announced the expansion of language services to ten different language options (including Mandarin, German, Spanish, Japanese, French, Italian, Cantonese, Dutch, Russian and English) that will be available on the company website while last Wednesday, the company gave a corporate update that noted the recent hiring of a new Singapore based Marketing Director who is focused on a marketing campaign targeting Asian University students. The update noted that New China Global continues talks to develop partnerships with several high profile Universities in China and is in discussions to build partnerships with Universities in Tokyo and Singapore as part of a Corporate Strategic Plan. A couple of small cap research firms have also announced coverage of the stock. However, a look at the most recent financials for New China Global Inc reveals not much of an income statement or balance sheet ��meaning it must be another reverse merger or was previously just a shell company. So until some financials appear, its investor beware.
Metrospaces Inc (OTCMKTS: MSPC) Says One of Its Projects is Almost DoneSmall cap Metrospaces is a real estate investment and Development Company which acquires land, designs, builds, and develops then resells condominiums and Luxury High-End Hotels, principally in urban areas of Latin America. The company's current projects are located in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Caracas, Venezuela. On Friday, Metrospaces fell 9.09% to $0.001 for a market cap of $2.34 million plus MSPC is down 98.7% since last June but up 100% in intermittent trading since March 2009 according to Google Finance.
- [By Peter Graham]
Small cap stocks Caribbean International Holdings (OTCMKTS: CIHN), Blue Water Global Group Inc (OTCBB: BLUU) and Metrospaces Inc (OTCMKTS: MSPC) have been getting some attention lately in various investment newsletters and all three have focused their activities in the Caribbean or South America. However, all three have been the subject of paid promotions which have helped to get them mentions in various investment newsletters. With that in mind, will bets on the Caribbean or South America pay off big for these three small cap stocks and their investors? Here is a quick reality check:
- [By Peter Graham]
Small cap stocks Metrospaces Inc (OTCMKTS: MSPC), LEEP INC (OTCMKTS: LPPI) and Pioneer Exploration Inc (OTCMKTS: PIEX) have been getting some attention lately due to either promotions or share trading activity. Unfortunately, there are still unanswered questions about these three ��ark horse��stocks which make it more difficult for investors and traders alike to evaluate. With that in mind, let�� try to shine the light on what we know about all three small caps:
Best Forestry Companies To Invest In Right Now: TCF Financial Corporation(TCB)
TCF Financial Corporation operates as the bank holding company for TCF National Bank that provides various retail and commercial banking products and services in the United States and Canada. Its products and services include consumer, small business, and commercial deposits, as well as interest-bearing checking accounts, money market accounts, regular savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and retirement savings plans; and consumer real estate loans, commercial real estate loans, commercial business loans, and multi-purpose campus cards for colleges, as well as consumer loans for personal, family, or household purposes. The company also offers leasing and equipment finance products for various companies, inventory finance products, auto finance products, and treasury services. As of December 31, 2011, it had 434 retail banking branches, including 196 branches in Illinois, 110 in Minnesota, 53 in Michigan, 36 in Colorado, 26 in Wisconsin, 7 in Arizona, 5 in Indiana, an d 1 in South Dakota. The company was founded in 1923 and is based in Wayzata, Minnesota.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Tim Melvin]
I always find it very interesting to see what long-term investors are selling in a given quarter. Kahn Brothers lightened up on many financials that have shot up and now trade above book value. The firm sold out of Flushing Financial (FFIC), TCF Financial (TCB) and Dime Community Bank (DCOM). Khan apparently shares my views on the large-cap drug stocks, easing up on both Pfizer (PFE) and Bristol Meyers (BMY) over the summer. Khan Brothers also sold the last of the Travelers shares (TRV) it has owned since 2008 at more than twice the purchase price.
- [By Zacks]
Shares of TCF Financial Corporation (NYSE: TCB) have recorded a year-to-date return of 26.6%. Impressive organic growth, balance sheet repositioning and strong capital deployment activities of the company were primary factors behind the growth. However, we are not so optimistic about these positives translating into further price appreciation down the road as there will likely be significant pressure on its top line.
Best Forestry Companies To Invest In Right Now: Piedmont Natural Gas Company Inc.(PNY)
Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc., an energy services company, engages in the distribution of natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and power generation customers in portions of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. It also operates energy-related businesses, including unregulated retail natural gas marketing, regulated interstate natural gas storage, and intrastate natural gas transportation. The company serves approximately 1 million customers, including 51,800 customers served by municipalities. Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Marc Bastow]
Natural gas and energy services provider Piedmont Natural Gas (PNY) raised its quarterly dividend 3.2% to 32 cents per share, payable April 15 to shareholders of record as of March 25. At more than a 3.75% yield, PNY is the highest yielder on this week’s list of dividend stocks.
PNY Dividend Yield: 3.76% - [By Seth Jayson]
Piedmont Natural Gas (NYSE: PNY ) reported earnings on June 7. Here are the numbers you need to know.
The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended April 30 (Q2), Piedmont Natural Gas crushed expectations on revenues and met expectations on earnings per share. - [By John Kell and Lauren Pollock var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); ]
Piedmont Natural Gas Co.(PNY) said its fiscal first-quarter profit rose 14% as the natural-gas distributor reported a significant jump in revenue despite higher gas costs.
Best Forestry Companies To Invest In Right Now: Fidelity National Financial Inc. (FNF)
Fidelity National Financial, Inc. provides title insurance, mortgage services, and diversified services in the United States. The company provides title insurance, escrow, and other title related services, including collection and trust activities, trustee’s sales guarantees, recordings, and reconveyances, as well as home warranty insurance to various customers in the residential and commercial market sectors of the real estate industry. It is also involved in the design, manufacture, remanufacture, market, and distribution of aftermarket and original equipment electrical components for automobiles, light trucks, heavy-duty trucks, and other vehicles worldwide. In addition, the company owns and operates restaurants comprising the O'Charley's, Ninety Nine Restaurants, Max & Erma's, Village Inn, Bakers Square, and Stoney River Legendary Steaks concepts in the United States. Fidelity National Financial, Inc. is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Damian Illia]
The firm is currently Zacks Rank # 2 - Buy, and it also has a longer-term recommendation of ��utPerform�� For investors looking for a Zacks Rank # 1 ��Strong Buy, Alleghany Corp. (Y), Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRK.B) and Fidelity (FNF) could be the options.
- [By Adam J. Wiederman]
Getty Images Bitcoin made headlines last year when the value of all outstanding pieces of the electronic currency reached nearly $10 billion. It's not just speculators drawn to the new currency. Many businesses are also attempting to cash in on this growth: Several public companies, including Zynga (ZNGA) and Overstock.com (OSTK), accept Bitcoins as a form of payment. Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen's firm has invested nearly $50 million in Bitcoin-related ventures, and it is looking to invest even more. And the Winklevoss twins -- who notoriously accused Facebook's (FB) Mark Zuckerberg of stealing their idea -- have been "in dialogue" with the SEC about opening the first Bitcoin exchange-traded fund, according to Bloomberg. Yet a new survey from TheStreet.com (TST) reveals that 76 percent of consumers are not familiar with Bitcoin -- and 79 percent would never consider owning a currency like it. Does this signal opportunity for savvy investors? Or is this a fad you'd be wise to avoid? The Basics of Bitcoin Bitcoin is a completely unregulated form of currency developed by an anonymous Japanese programmer (according to some apocryphal claims) as a completely digital, peer-to-peer payment system that is independent of national currencies (which, Bitcoin users argue, are all subject to the riskiness of the underlying country). Bitcoins are rewarded throughout the day to a "Bitcoin miner" whose computer solves a series of algorithms quicker than other miners. The puzzles become more difficult over time, so the calculations take longer and the computations require more computing power. There will eventually be a total of 21 million Bitcoins (12.4 million are in circulation today) and we won't reach the point that they are effectively "mined out" until 2040. The value of a Bitcoin is supposed to be market-driven, meaning they're worth whatever the two parties in a transaction value them as. For example, in one of the original Bitcoin transactions, a "mi
Best Forestry Companies To Invest In Right Now: Layne Christensen Company(LAYN)
Layne Christensen Company provides drilling, water treatment, and construction services, and related products to water infrastructure and mineral exploration markets. The company?s Water Infrastructure division offers a range of water-related products and services, including soil stabilization, hydrological studies, well design, drilling and development, pump installation, sewer rehabilitation, pipeline construction, and well rehabilitation services; and environmental drilling services to assist in assessing, investigating, monitoring, and characterizing water quality and aquifer parameters. This division also provides water treatment equipment engineering services; systems for the treatment of regulated and nuisance contaminants, such as iron, manganese, hydrogen sulfide, arsenic, radium, nitrate, perchlorate, and volatile organic compounds; wastewater pipeline and structure rehabilitation services; and geotechnical construction services to the heavy civil, industrial, a nd commercial construction markets, as well as designs and constructs water and wastewater treatment plants, and pipeline installations. Its Mineral Exploration division offers exploratory and definitional drilling services for the global mineral exploration industry. The company?s Energy division involves in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas primarily in the Midwestern United States. As of January 31, 2011, Layne Christensen Company had approximately 244,000 gross acres under lease and 643 gross producing wells. It also provides energy services. The company offers its services to municipalities, investor-owned water utilities, industrial and mining companies, consulting engineering firms, heavy civil construction contractors, oil and gas companies, and agribusiness. It has operations in North America, Africa, Australia, Europe, and Brazil. Layne Christensen Company was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Mission Woods, Kan sas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Seth Jayson]
Calling all cash flows
When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Layne Christensen (Nasdaq: LAYN ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below. - [By Rich Smith]
Mission Woods, Kansas-based Layne Christensen (NASDAQ: LAYN ) has a new Chief Financial Officer.
On Friday, the heavy construction company announced it has hired former SEH Offshore Ventures CFO, and Seahawk Drilling CEO, James R. Easter to become its own new CFO. A graduate of University of Texas, Austin, with an M.B.A. from the Thunderbird American Graduate School of International Management, Easter will replace outgoing CFO Jerry Fanska, who announced his retirement in December.
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