Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Top 5 Electric Utility Stocks To Buy For 2014

Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT)

The 8.6% surge in Microsoft's stock the day last month that CEO Steve Ballmer announced he planned to retire is a reminder changes in the C-suite can often affect investors' perception of the company's value, for better or for worse.

Sometimes a change is necessary, pushing a stock higher in anticipation of better times around the corner. In other situations investors assume the worst, sending a stock spiraling lower.

With that in mind we��e picked five examples of CEO retirements in the last five years that caused an unusually large move, up or down, in the price of the company's stock. By the end you��l have a better understanding of how C-suite changes move the market and why.

Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ)

A little more than three years ago, Mark Hurd, then CEO, was forced to resign after the executive filed falsified expense reports in order to hide an inappropriate relationship with a female contractor. Although Hurd was found not to have broken the company�� sexual harassment policy, the board felt he had violated its standards of business conduct leaving it with no choice but to remove him as CEO. On the day of the resignation Hewlett-Packard�� stock lost 10% of its value or more than $10.6 billion. Meanwhile, Hurd�� severance was upwards of $40 million and one month later he was hired as Larry Ellison�� second-in-command at Oracle (NYSE:ORCL). For Hewlett-Packard shareholders, its stock hasn�� got anywhere close to where it was trading before Hurd�� resignation while the former CEO hasn't suffered one bit from his indiscretions.

Top Clean Energy Companies To Buy For 2015: Atmos Energy Corporation(ATO)

Atmos Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages primarily in the distribution, transmission, and storage of natural gas in the United States. The company operates in four segments: Natural Gas Distribution; Regulated Transmission and Storage; Natural Gas Marketing; and Pipeline, Storage, and Other. The Natural Gas Distribution segment involves in regulated natural gas distribution business and related sales operations. It distributes natural gas through regulated sales and transportation arrangements to approximately 3 million residential, commercial, public authority, and industrial customers in 12 states located primarily in the southern United States. As of September 30, 2009, this segment owned approximately 70,879 miles of underground distribution and transmission mains. The Regulated Transmission and Storage segment transports natural gas for third parties and manages five underground storage reservoirs in Texas. It owned 5,950 miles of gas transmis sion and gathering lines. The Natural Gas Marketing segment provides various natural gas management and marketing services to municipalities, other local gas distribution companies, and industrial customers. The Pipeline, Storage, and Other segment offers natural gas gathering, transmission, and storage services. It owned 113 miles of gas transmission and gathering lines. Atmos Energy Corporation was founded in 1906 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Garrett Cook]

    Utilities shares fell around 0.23 percent in trading on Wednesday. Top losers in the sector included Vectren (NYSE: VVC), down 1.9 percent, and Atmos Energy (NYSE: ATO), off 1 percent.

  • [By Garrett Cook]

    Utilities shares dropped by 0.04 percent in the US market on Wednesday. Top losers in the sector included National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE: NFG), down 1.1 percent, and Atmos Energy (NYSE: ATO), off 0.7 percent.

  • [By David Dittman]

    This mini-selloff has brought many UF Portfolio Holdings below our recommended buy-under targets and back into play for new money, including long-term favorites Atmos Energy Inc (NYSE: ATO) and Duke Energy Corp (NYSE: DUK) as well as recent additions such as NextEra Energy Inc (NYSE: NEE).

  • [By Garrett Cook]

    Utilities shares fell around 0.23 percent in trading on Wednesday. Top losers in the sector included Vectren (NYSE: VVC), down 1.47 percent, and Atmos Energy (NYSE: ATO), off 0.80 percent.

Top 5 Electric Utility Stocks To Buy For 2014: Latam Airlines Group SA (LFL)

LAN Airlines S.A. (LAN), incorporated in 1983, is the international and domestic passenger airline in Latin America and the cargo operator in the region. As of February 9, 2012, LAN and its affiliates provided domestic and international passenger services in Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina and Colombia and cargo operations through the use of belly space on its passenger flights and cargo freighter aircraft through its cargo airlines in Chile, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico. LAN and its affiliates offered passenger flights to 15 destinations in Chile, 59 destinations in other South American countries, 15 destinations in other Latin American countries and the Caribbean, five destinations in the United States, two destinations in Europe and four destinations in the South Pacific and, through various codeshare agreements, service to 25 additional destinations in North America, 16 additional destinations in Europe, 27 additional destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean (including Mexico), and two destinations in Asia, as of February 9, 2012. LAN and its affiliates provide cargo service to all of their passenger destinations and to 20 additional destinations served only by freighter aircraft. LAN also offers other services, such as ground handling, courier, logistics and maintenance. LAN and its affiliates operated a fleet, with 135 passenger aircraft and 14 cargo aircraft as of December 31, 2011. On February 15, 2011, Lan Pax Group S.A., subsidiary of Lan Airlines S.A. acquired 100% of Colombian society AEROASIS S.A.

LAN is primarily involved in the transportation of passengers and cargo. Its operations are carried out principally by Lan Airlines and also by a number of different subsidiaries. As of February 28, 2011, in the passenger business the Company operated through six main airlines: Lan Airlines, Transporte Aereo S.A. (which does business under the name Lan Express), Lan Peru S.A. (Lan Peru), Aerolane Lineas Aereas Nacionales del Ecuador S.A. (Lan Ecuador), Lan Argentina S.A. (Lan ! Argentina, previously Aero 2000 S.A.) and the Aerovias de Integracion Regional, Aires S.A. (Aires). As of February 28, 2011, the Company held a 99.9% interest in Lan Express through direct and indirect interests, a 70.0% interest in Lan Peru through direct and indirect interests, a 71.9% indirect interest in Lan Ecuador, a 99.0% indirect interest in Lan Argentina and a 94.99% indirect interest in Aires (a Colombian entity which was acquired on November 26, 2010). Its cargo operations are carried out by a number of companies, including Lan Airlines and Lan Cargo. As of February 28, 2011, the Company held a 69.2% interest in Aero Transportes Mas de Carga S.A. de C.V. (MasAir), through direct and indirect participations, a 73.3% interest in ABSA through direct and indirect participations, and a 90.0% interest in LANCO through direct and indirect participations. In the cargo business, the Company markets itself primarily under the Lan Cargo brand. In addition to its air transportation activities, the Company provides a series of ancillary services. It offers handling services, courier services and logistics, small package and express door-to-door services through Lan Airlines and various subsidiaries.

Passenger Operations

As of February 28, 2011, the Company operated passenger airlines in Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina and Colombia. As of February 28, 2011, our passenger operations were performed through airlines in Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina and Colombia where we operate both domestic and international services. As of February 28, 2011, the Company�� network consisted of 15 destinations in Chile, 14 destinations in Peru, four destinations in Ecuador, 14 destinations in Argentina, 24 destinations in Colombia, 14 destinations in other Latin American countries and the Caribbean, five destinations in the United States, one destination in Canada, three destinations in Europe and four destinations in the South Pacific. Within Latin America, it has routes to and from Argentina, B! olivia, B! razil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. The Company also flies to a variety of international destinations outside Latin America, including Auckland, Fort Lauderdale, Frankfurt, Los Angeles, Madrid, Miami, Mount Pleasant (Falkland Islands), New York, Toronto, Papeete (Tahiti), Paris, San Francisco, and Sydney. In addition, as of February 28, 2011, through its various code-share agreements, the Company offered service to 25 additional destinations in North America, 16 additional destinations in Europe, 25 additional destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean (including Mexico), and two destinations in Asia. As of February 28, 2011, the Company operated scheduled international services from Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Argentina through Lan Airlines; Lan Express in Chile; Lan Peru in Peru; Lan Ecuador in Ecuador; Lan Argentina in Argentina and Aires in Colombia. Its international network combines the Company�� Chilean, Peruvian, Ecuadorian, Argentinean and Colombian affiliates. It provides long-haul services out of its four main hubs in Santiago, Lima, Guayaquil and Buenos Aires. It also provides regional services from Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Argentina.

Cargo Operations

The Company�� cargo business operates on the same network used by the passenger airlines business, which is supplemented by freighter-only operations. The Company carries cargo for a variety of customers, including other international air carriers, freight-forwarding companies, export oriented companies and individual consumers. As of February 28, 2011, the Company operated a fleet of 140 aircraft, comprised of 126 passenger aircraft and 14 cargo aircraft.

The Company competes with UPS, FedEx, Centurion, Transportes Aereos Mercantiles Panamericanos S.A., Polar Air, Cargolux, Lufthansa Cargo, Martinair and Air France-KLM.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Monica Gerson]

    LATAM Airlines Group SA (NYSE: LFL) is expected to post its Q1 earnings at $0.20 per share on revenue of $3.42 billion.

    Gladstone Investment (NASDAQ: GAIN) is projected to post its Q4 earnings at $0.17 per share on revenue of $8.90 million.

  • [By Laura Brodbeck]

    Notable earnings releases expected on Monday include:

    LAN Chile S.A. (NYSE: LFL) is expected to report fourth quarter EPS of $0.24 on revenue of $3.50 billion, compared to last year�� EPS of $0.02 on revenue of $3.48 billion. JA Solar Holdings, Co. Ltd (NASDAQ: JASO) is expected to report EPS of $0.03 on revenue of $291.75 million, compared to last year�� loss of $2.65 per share on revenue of $268.09 million. Sterling Construction Company, Inc�(NASDAQ: STRL) is expected to report a fourth quarter loss of $1.47 per share on revenue of $153.07 million, compared to last year�� EPS of $0.18 on revenue of $158.09 million.

    Economics

Top 5 Electric Utility Stocks To Buy For 2014: Bouygues SA (BOUYF.PK)

Bouygues SA is a France-based group that operates in two sectors: Telecommunications and Media, and Construction. The Construction division comprises three core subsidiaries: Bouygues Construction, specializing in building and public works activities, notably in the areas of electrical engineering, and facility maintenance; Bouygues Immobilier, a property development company, whose activities include the development of residential, corporate and commercial properties, and the execution of urban development schemes, and Colas, engaged in the construction and maintenance of transport, urban development and leisure infrastructure. The Telecommunications and Media division of the Group comprises two companies: TF1, specializing in audiovisual and cinema production, the acquisition and sale of audiovisual rights, and the publishing and distribution of compact discs, among others, and Bouygues Telecom, which offers mobile telephone and broadband Internet services. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Mike Arnold]

    I normally don't look at charts much, but comparing Orange to its competitors in the French telecommunications market is quite fascinating. As one can see, incumbents Bouygues (BOUYF.PK) and Vivendi (VIVHY.PK) (owner of SFR) saw similar price declines. The market, on the other hand, rapidly bid up the price of new entrant Iliad SA (ILIAF.PK), as a result of forecasts for Iliad to capture significant mobile market share (which it did, around 10%). The wide divergence in price relative to changes in underlying value favor going long the incumbents, including Orange. Because this time it's different.

Top 5 Electric Utility Stocks To Buy For 2014: Canon Inc (CAJ)

Canon Inc. (Canon), incorporated on August 10, 1937, is a manufacturer of network digital multifunction devices (MFDs), plain paper copying machines, laser printers, inkjet printers, cameras and steppers. Canon sells its products principally under the Canon brand name and through sales subsidiaries. Canon has manufacturing subsidiaries in variety of countries, including the United States, Germany, France, Taiwan, China, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Canon operates its business in three segments: the Office Business Unit, the Consumer Business Unit, and the Industry and Others Business Unit. On February 19, 2010, Canon acquired shares of OPTOPOL Technology S.A. On March 9, 2010, Canon acquired shares of Oce N.V. In May 2011, the Company incorporated Canon Information and Imaging Solutions, Inc.

Office Business Unit

Canon manufactures, markets and services a range of monochrome network digital MFDs, color network digital MFDs, office copying machines and personal-use copying machines. Canon�� lineup of digital MFDs include the imageRUNNER (iR) series, which performs a range of functions, such as copying, printing, scanning, faxing and data-sharing functions on the Internet and customer intranets. Canon offers color network digital MFDs for users ranging from professional graphic designers to business offices. Canon�� MFDs and color digital MFDs are available in the print-on-demand market.

Developed and fostered by Canon, laser beam printers are standard output peripherals for offices. Canon has adopted a user-replaceable toner cartridge system containing optical components. Most of Canon�� laser beam printer sales are on an original equipment manufacturing (OEM) basis. The Office Business Unit also includes the related sales of paper and chemicals, service and replacement parts.

The Company competes with Xerox Corporation/Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd., Ricoh Company, Ltd., Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc., Hewlett-Packard Company and Lexmark Internationa! l Inc.

Consumer Business Unit

Canon manufactures and markets digital cameras and digital video cameras as well as lenses and various other camera accessories. Canon released the EOS-1D Mark IV for professionals in December 2009. This model includes a newly developed approximately 16-megapixel APS-H size CMOS sensor and dual DIGIC 4 and features an expanded range of ISO settings for normal use between 100 and 12800, achieving beautiful images with low noise levels throughout the entire ISO range. Canon markets a variety of scanners for a spectrum of user needs, including image scanners in the CanoScan LiDE series using Contact Image Sensor (CIS) and scanners with Charge-Coupled Devices (CCD) for high resolution. CIS is a close-contact method that allows for a significant reduction in scanner weight and size.

The Company competes with Nikon Corporation, Sigma Corporation, Sony Corporation, Panasonic Corporation, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.; Ltd., Victor Company of Japan, Ltd., Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Company and Seiko Epson Corporation.

Industry and Others Business Unit

Medical imaging equipment sold by Canon includes X-ray image sensors, retinal cameras, autorefractometers and image-processing equipment for computerized systems. Canon�� pioneering digital radiography system takes X-ray photography and medical imaging into the digital age. Other Canon products such as electronic components are sold primarily to equipment manufacturers. These components include magnetic heads for audio and video tape recorders and micro-motors for printers and other components. Canon also offers business information products, which primarily consist of personal computers, servers, document scanners, calculators and micrographic equipment. Personal computers and servers sold by Canon are manufactured by third parties under the manufacturers��own brand names.

The Company competes with Ni! kon Corpo! ration and ASML Holding N.V.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Sara Murphy]

    Company performance
    Here's the thing: It will be expensive and difficult for companies to comply with this rule. Some are ready. Others are not.

    Canon (NYSE: CAJ  ) ranks among the worst performers in an analysis from The Enough Project. Among other shortcomings, the company does not identify smelters in its supply chain, and does not participate in any programs to source conflict-free minerals from the DRC region. IBM (NYSE: IBM  ) falls in the middle of the pack when compared to other electronics companies. IBM also has not identified the smelters in its supply chain and has no policy requiring its suppliers to use conflict-free smelters. However, the company is working meaningfully to improve traceability in the region. Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD  ) is among the top performers in Enough's rankings. It was one of only six companies to pilot the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's due diligence guidance on conflict minerals. While it still has some work to do to comply with the SEC's rule, the company is well on its way. The gold standard, however, goes to Intel (NASDAQ: INTC  ) . The company is at the top of Enough's ranking, and has been working on dealing with the conflict mineral issue for some time now. Intel is one of the few companies to publish and audit its smelters, and was the first company to commit to making a fully conflict-free product from the DRC by 2013. Intel has demonstrated genuine leadership in this area.

    It's worth noting that in some cases, shareholders move on this issue even if the regulatory environment is unsettled. Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO  ) had a shareholder resolution on its 2012 proxy ballot related to conflict minerals. While Cisco was far from the worst performer -- the company has a conflict minerals policy that includes a requirement for conflict-free smelters -- the proponents wanted Cisco to study the feasibility of

  • [By GuruFocus]

    Canon Inc. (CAJ) Reached the 52-Week Low of $30.60

    The prices of Canon Inc. (CAJ) shares have declined to close to the 52-week low of $30.60, which is 27.2% off the 52-week high of $40.94. Canon, Inc. is owned by seven Gurus we are tracking. Among them, three have added to their positions during the past quarter. Four reduced their positions.

  • [By WWW.MARKETWATCH.COM]

    LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Japanese stocks have ended with losses in every session this week, and sure enough, the Nikkei Average (JP:NIK) was down 0.6% in early Friday trade, though off an opening 0.8% defecit, while the Topix carried a 0.7% loss. Overnight losses for the U.S. and further strength in the yen (with the dollar falling to 楼101.28 from 楼101.56 a day earlier) helped drag the market lower, as did results from Fast Retailing Co. (JP:9983) (FRCOF) , the shares of which hold the heaviest weighting on Nikkei Average. Fast Retailing said that while its Uniqlo brand was doing great business, weakness for its J Brand luxury demin label helped send September-May profit down 4% and prompted another cut to Fast's full-year outlook. Consequently, its shares traded 0.7% lower, though rivals Takashimaya Co. (JP:8233) and J. Front Retailing Co. (JP:3086) (JFROF) also saw losses of 0.6% and 0.5%, respectively. Among other decliners, Sony Corp. (JP:6758) (SNE) lost 0.7%, Toshiba Corp. (JP:6502) (TOSYY) fell 2.1%, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. (JP:7012) (KWHIY) fell 1.5%, Toyota Motor Corp. (JP:7203) (TM) and Nissan Motor Co. (JP:7201)

  • [By Holly LaFon]

    Falling 15%, the largest detractor for the year was Canon (CAJ), a Japan-based consumer imaging company.� This performance was largely the result of the downgrade of the ILC business (digital SLRs and lenses).� This business has lagged enough that management has lowered fiscal-year volume estimates from 9m to 8m.� Quarterly data confirms that imaging inventory has decreased year-over-year.� Despite falling prices due to uncertain consumer markets in developed markets and from trading down in emerging markets, management indicates pricing is normalizing.� The office products division has remained mostly unchanged, generating only slightly lower volumes.� In addition, print volumes are growing again, and Canon is taking market share.� We continue to believe that Canon is a compelling investment opportunity that will reward shareholders in the long term.

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