5 Years Later, Consumers Still Don’t Trust Wall Street

Knut Rostad, president of the Institute for the Fiduciary Standard, hosted a conference call Thursday to discuss research conducted by American Enterprise Institute and Labaton Sucharow about Americans’ attitudes toward Wall Street and financial professionals.

On the call were Kevin Carroll, managing director and associate general counsel for Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA); Karlyn Bowman, senior fellow at American Enterprise Institute; and Jordan Thomas, partner at Labaton Sucharow.

“Fiduciary duties buttress investor trust, the central pillar on which financial trust exists,” Rostad said. He referred to data from Harris Interactive that found in 2012, the firms with the best reputations among consumers among the 60 most visible companies were Amazon, Apple, Disney and Google while Goldman Sachs, AIG and Bank of America held positions in the bottom five.

Rostad referred to another survey by Makovsky + Co that found 96% of marketing officials at leading financial firms invite negative opinion through their own action or inaction.

“Confidence in the amorphous entity known as Wall Street remains relatively low,” Carroll said. “Five years since the crisis, financial firms hold much more capital in terms of quality and quantity. Our industry has long advocated financial reform, including many regulations in the Dodd-Frank Act. We embrace the view that reform alone is not enough to restore trust. Our industry must redouble efforts to demonstrate actions to enhance trust. Without effort, the good intentions of a rule will be lost.”

Carroll listed three strategies that the financial services industry need to enact to regain consumers’ trust.

Carroll referred to AEI’s research, which found consumers recognize that Wall Street is important and makes a contribution to the economy.

“Wall Street is necessary, but what’s hardened so much is the view that is has a different set of values than most people,” Bowman said. “Wall Street is far removed from most Americans.” The AEI paper refers to research from Aspen Institute that found in 2012, 79% of consumers said Wall Street did not share the same values as most Americans. After the financial crash, Harris Interactive found that only a quarter of respondents agreed that people on Wall street are as moral as most Americans.

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Bowman said that while there has been no recovery in attitudes toward Wall Street, banks have improved. “Banks recovered in public opinion. Trust is regained slowly, but it can happen. We’ve seen that on two separate occasions,” she said, referring to improvements in public opinion after the savings and loan crisis in the ‘80s. One reason for that, she suggested, is that people are more intimately connected with banks because they interact with them more frequently.

“Business as a whole is quite strong in American public opinion,” Bowman added. Americans are still confident in the free enterprise system. Although they’re a little less confident in capitalism, she suggested that was because it was so closely connected to Wall Street in Americans’ minds.

“One of the key findings [of the Labaton Sucharow research] is that Wall Street faces a serious and growing ethical crisis,” Thomas said. “Misconduct was both common and accepted. Over half of respondents said their competitors were probably breaking the law and 23% said they knew someone in their own firm was doing so.

“The financial services industry has made great strides, starting with the Dodd-Frank Act,” Thomas continued. “Regulation alone cannot fix these problems; policies and procedures don’t get at the heart of the problem. An opportunity for the industry is to work on establishing a culture of integrity. Junior personnel were more likely to be aware of illegal behavior than senior counterparts. There’s an opportunity for a responsible organization to provide more training.”

He noted, too, that the cost to an unethical firm is more than monetary. “If organizations don’t make it a high priority to establish a culture of ethical behavior and internal reporting, the cost will be much higher in monetary terms as well as reputational harm.”

“This is our territory," Carroll said, "and we need to take a lead role in cleaning it up.” 

---

Check out 5 Years After Lehman Crash: ‘Dark Times’ Ahead on ThinkAdvisor.

Monster High, Barbie boost to Mattel 3Q results

EL SEGUNDO, California (AP) — Mattel's third-quarter net income rose 16%, buoyed for demand for dolls like Monster High, Barbie and American Girl as well as strength domestically and abroad.

Its performance beat Wall Street expectations. The stock rose nearly 6% in premarket trading on Wednesday.

The quarterly results come as toy makers gear up for the holiday season, which can account for up to half of their annual revenue. Toy sales overall have been weak in North America, Europe and Australia, due to a weak video game market, an uncertain economy and continued popularity of electronic gadgets like smartphones and tablets. But Mattel, the largest U.S. toy maker with many popular brands, has fared better than its competitors.

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"Mattel delivered growth in every region of the world, expanded our operating margins, further strengthened our balance sheet and returned more capital to our shareholders," said CEO Bryan G. Stockton in a statement.

Barbie, the No. 1 doll brand, reversed four straight quarters of sales decline to increase 3% during the quarter. Dolls in general continued to be a strong category, with sales of Monster High and American Girl also rising.

Fisher-Price brands remained a weak spot with flat sales. Hot Wheels also remained challenged with sales down 2%.

For the three months ended Sept. 30, the largest U.S. toy company earned $422.8 million, or $1.21 per share. That's up from $365.9 million, or $1.04 per share, in the prior-year period.

Removing a tax benefit of 5 cents per share, earnings were $1.16 per share. Analysts predicted earnings of $1.11 per share.

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Revenue for the California company rose 6% to $2.21 billion from $2.08 billion. Wall Street expected $2.175 billion in revenue.

In North America, gross sales climbed 3%. Inte! rnational gross sales increased 9%.

Mattel Inc. also declared a fourth-quarter dividend of 36 cents per share. The dividend will be paid on Dec. 13 to shareholders of record on Nov. 27.

Mattel shares rose $2.41, or 5.8%, to $43.96 in premarket trading 90 minutes ahead of the market opening.

Mattel's smaller rival Hasbro reports its quarterly financial results on Monday.

Blackhawk Bancorp Reports Q2 2013 Results (OTCMKTS:BHWB, OTCMKTS:CLNOD)

Blackhawk Bancorp, Inc. (BHWB)

Today, BHWB remains (0.00%) +0.000 at $9.00 thus far (ref. google finance Delayed:   2:02PM EDT July 31, 2013).

Blackhawk Bancorp, Inc. previously reported net income $513,000 for the second quarter of 2013, a 31% drop compared to $745,000 earned in the second quarter of 2012. For the six months of 2013 the company's net income was $1,096,000, a 23% decrease compared to $1,423,000 earned the first six months of 2012.

Earnings per diluted share for the quarter decreased $0.11, to $0.16 compared to $0.27 per diluted share the second quarter of 2012. For the first half of 2013 the company earned $0.35 per diluted share, a 30% decrease compared to the $0.50 per diluted share earned the first half of 2012. The company had total assets of $593.8 million at June 30, 2013, a $34.0 million increase compared to $559.8 million at December 31, 2012.

Blackhawk Bancorp, Inc. (BHWB) 5 day chart:

Best Energy Stocks To Buy For 2014

EQCO2, Inc. (CLNOD)

EQCO2, Inc. (OTCMKTS:CLNOD) (www.eqco2.com) through its Discovery Carbon subsidiary, develops emissions offset strategies for companies, municipalities, and countries. Today, CLNOD has shed (-3.03%) down -0.005 at $.16 with 46,193 shares in play thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 12:27PM EDT July 31, 2013).

CLNOD daily range is at ($.17 – $.16) thus far and currently at $.16 would be considered a (+79900%) gain above the 52 wk low of $0.0002 and rightly so. The stock is up +0.16 ( +8788.89%) since the concerning dates of February 1, 2013 – July 31, 2013. +8788.89% is the 6 month high.

EQCO2, Inc. (CLNOD ) day chart:

General Motors Remains Neutral - Analyst Blog

On Jul 10, we maintained our Neutral recommendation on General Motors Company (GM). We appreciate the company's focus on the emerging markets. In addition, the stock has been reinserted into the Standard & Poor's 100- and 500-stock index recently. However, we are concerned about its significant exposure to Europe as well as global economic weakness.

Why the Reiteration?

On May 2, General Motors reported a 28.0% fall in earnings per share to 67 cents in first quarter 2013, despite beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 11 cents. The decline in earnings was due to lower profits generated from all the geographic operations of the company, except Europe.

Revenues in the quarter slid 2.4% to $36.9 billion, despite a 3.6% rise in retail unit sales to 2.4 million vehicles globally. However, it was higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $36.4 billion.

Following the release of the first-quarter results, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2013 increased 0.9% to $3.34 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2014 rose 0.5% to $4.39 per share. Currently, General Motors share maintains a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

General Motors is expanding its footprint in emerging markets including Brazil, China and India. The company expects its global expansion strategy to enhance its sales and help meet the rising demand.

General Motors replaced H.J. Heinz in the Standard & Poor's 500 and Standard & Poor's 100 indices after the close of trading on Jun 6, 2013. The automaker was removed from the S&P 500 index in 2009 due to bankruptcy filing and $50 billion government bailout. The return of the automaker in the America's benchmark stock market indicates that the automaker has been able to enhance investor value. It is expected that this move will generate strong demand for its stock, thus pushing up the price.

However, the company faces challenges from the ongoing Euro-zone financial crisis. The European division saw a 17.6% fall in re! venues to $22.1 billion in 2012 and an 8.3% decline to $4.8 billion in the first quarter of 2013. In addition, strengthening of the U.S. dollar against most global currencies where General Motors operates will mar the company's sales.

Other Stocks to Look For

Some stocks that are performing well in the automotive industry include Nissan Motor Corp. (NSANY), Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FUJHY) and Honda Motor Co. (HMC). Both Nissan Motor and Fuji retain a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while Honda Motor holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

JPMorgan seeks $1 billion in FDIC suit

JPMorgan is suing the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to recover more than $1 billion tied to its purchase of Washington Mutual when that bank failed in 2008.

In a federal court complaint, the New York bank said that the FDIC failed to honor obligations under the Washington Mutual agreement, and that has subjected JPMorgan to massive liability.

The FDIC became the receiver for Washington Mutual, during the largest bank failure in U.S. history. JPMorgan Chase & Co. said the FDIC then made promises to indemnify or protect the bank against liabilities if it stepped in.

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JPMorgan said in a court filing Tuesday that the FDIC then declined to acknowledge that claims against JPMorgan for Washington Mutual's conduct should have been claims against the receivership.

The FDIC did not immediately return calls seeking comment from The Associated Press early Wednesday.

The Washington Mutual receivership's assets are about $2.75 billion, according to JPMorgan.

JPMorgan has entered into a series of legal settlements over sales of mortgage-backed securities in the years preceding the financial crisis. As the housing market collapsed between 2006 and 2008, millions of homeowners defaulted on high-risk mortgages. That led to billions of dollars in losses for investors who bought securities created from bundles of mortgages.

Last month, the bank reached a $4.5 billion settlement that covered 21 major institutional investors

Most of JPMorgan's mortgage-backed securities came from Washington Mutual and the investment bank Bear Stearns, which it also acquired in 2008.

The bank has been negotiating with the U.S. Justice Department to resolve U.S. government claims that JPMorgan misled mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac about risky mortgage-backed securities.

The bank said in October that it set aside $9.2 billion in the! July-September quarter to cover legal costs.

Shares of JPMorgan climbed 17 cents to $55.89 Wednesday before markets opened. The shares have climbed nearly 27 percent so far in 2013.

Top 5 China Companies To Invest In 2014

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of Coach (NYSE: COH  ) jumped 10.5% today after the company released earnings.

So what: First-quarter sales rose 7% to $1.19 billion, beating estimates of $1.18 billion. On the bottom line, earnings per share jumped 10% to $0.84, four cents ahead of estimate. �

Now what: The big highlight was a 40% increase in China's sales, continuing strong growth internationally. North America, which accounts for two-thirds of sales, also saw a 7% increase in sales during the quarter. I don't see the earnings beat as a reason to pay 10% more for the company, but if shares fall over the next few weeks, investors can get in at a good value, especially after management increased its dividend to $1.35 per share annually.

Interested in more info on Coach? Add it to your watchlist by clicking here.

Top 5 China Companies To Invest In 2014: Arotech Corporation(ARTX)

Arotech Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides defense and security products. It operates in three divisions: Training and Simulation, Battery and Power Systems, and Armor. The Training and Simulation division develops, manufactures, and markets multimedia and interactive digital solutions for use-of-force training and driving training of military, law enforcement, security, and other personnel; provides simulators, systems engineering, and software products to the United States military, government, and private industry; and offers specialized use of force training for police, security personnel, and the military. The Battery and Power Systems division manufactures and sells lithium and zinc-air batteries for defense and security products and other military applications; and develops and sells rechargeable and primary lithium batteries and smart chargers to the military and to private defense industry. This division also develops, manufactures, and markets primary zinc-air batteries, rechargeable batteries, and battery chargers for the military; and produces water-activated lifejacket lights for commercial aviation and marine applications. The Armor Division manufactures military and paramilitary armored vehicles, and employs sophisticated lightweight materials to produce aviation armor; and uses engineering concepts to produce combat armored military vehicles and up-armor civilian commercial vehicles. This division also uses lightweight armoring materials and advanced engineering processes to provide ballistic armor kits for rotary and fixed wing aircraft. Arotech sells its products primarily in the United States, Israel, Taiwan, Canada, England, Germany, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, India, Spain, Singapore, and Japan. The company was formerly known as Electric Fuel Corporation and changed its name to Arotech Corporation in September 2003. Arotech Corporation was founded in 1990 and is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  One stock that's quickly moving within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Arotech (ARTX), which is a defense and security products and services company. This stock is off to a booming start in 2013, with shares up big by 82%.

  If you take a look at the chart for Arotech, you'll notice that this stock has just started to trend back above its 50-day moving average of $1.86 a share with strong upside volume. Volume so far today has already registered over 600,000 shares, which is well above its three-month average action of 226,678 shares. This spike back above the 50-day is starting to push shares of ARTX within range of triggering a big breakout trade.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ARTX if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $1.97 to $2.24 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 226,678 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then ARTX will set up to re-test or possibly take out its 52-week high at $2.71 a share. Any high-volume move above $2.71 will then give ARTX a chance to trend north of $3 a share.

  Traders can look to buy ARTX off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support at $1.74 a share. One can also buy ARTX off strength once it takes out those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Top 5 China Companies To Invest In 2014: Baidu Inc.(BIDU)

Baidu, Inc. provides Chinese and Japanese language Internet search services. Its search services enable users to find relevant information online, including Web pages, news, images, multimedia files, and blogs through the links provided on its Websites. The company also offers online community-based products and entertainment platforms; an instant messaging service; and a consumer-oriented e-commerce platform. In addition, it designs and delivers online marketing services and auction-based P4P services that enable its customers to reach users who search for information related to their products or services. The company serves online marketing customers consisting of small and medium sized enterprises, large domestic corporations, and Chinese divisions or subsidiaries of multinational corporations primarily operating in the medical, machinery, education, franchising, electronic products, e-commerce, ticketing, tourism, information technology, consumer products, real estate, entertainment, and financial services industries. It sells its online marketing services directly, as well as through its distribution network. The company was formerly known as Baidu.com, Inc. and changed its name to Baidu, Inc. in December 2008. Baidu, Inc. was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Daniel Sparks]

  Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU  )
  Watching Baidu's operating margin contract by 1,200 basis points year over year to 37% when the company reported earnings last week wasn't fun. Even worse, a 37% operating margin is 1,500 basis points below the company's peak operating margin in 2011. But does this mean Baidu's growth story is over? Far from it.

• [By Yiannis Mostrous]

  Baidu (BIDU)

  Already China's undisputed leader in Internet search, Baidu has translated this dominance to the mobile Web and stands to benefit over the long-term by monetizing this traffic.

Top Warren Buffett Stocks To Invest In 2014: Yanzhou Coal Mining Company Limited(YZC)

Yanzhou Coal Mining Company Limited engages in the underground mining, preparation, and sale of coal. It involves in manufacturing, washing, processing, and selling steam coal used in the electricity power sector; and metallurgical coal used with coking coal in the process of pulverized coal injection, as well as operates six coal mines. The company also engages in the provision of railway transportation services; production and sale of coal chemicals, primarily methanol; and generation of electricity and heat. In addition, it involves in the manufacture and sale of mining machinery and engine products; and development of integrated coal technology. Further, the company engages in the transportation via rivers and lakes; sale of construction materials; and trading and processing of mining machinery. It has operations primarily in China, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. The company was founded in 1973 and is based in Zoucheng, the People's Republic of China. Yanzhou Coal Mining Company Limited is a subsidiary of Yankuang Group Corporation Limited.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By MarketWatch]

  Treasurer Joe Hockey said Yanzhou Coal Mining Co. (YZC) no longer needed to meet a Dec. 31 deadline for reducing its stake in Yancoal Australia Ltd. (YAL.AU) below 70%, citing the downturn in global coal prices. Yanzhou, which owns 78% of Yancoal Australia, had made the commitment in 2009 to complete its 3.5 billion Australian dollar (US$3.2 billion) takeover of Felix Resources Ltd.

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Yanzhou Coal Mining (YZC) engages in the underground coal mining, as well as preparation, processing, sale and railway transportation of coal. This stock closed up 7.6% to $7.31 in Thursday's trading session.

  Thursday's Range: $7.14-$7.31
  
  52-Week Range: $6.68-$18.57
  
  Thursday's Volume: 391,000
  
  Three-Month Average Volume: 370,383

  From a technical perspective, YZC bounced sharply higher here right off some near-term support at $6.77 with above-average volume. This stock has been downtrending badly for the last six months, with shares plunging from its high of over $14 to its recent low of $6.68. During that move, shares of YZC have been consistently making lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That said, shares of YZC have recently formed a double bottom chart pattern at $6.68 to $6.77. This stock now looks ready to reverse that downtrend and possibly trigger a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if YZC manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $7.76 to $8 with high volume.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in YZC as long as it's trending above its recent low of $6.77 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 370,383 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then YZC will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $9 to $10. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give YZC a chance to tag its next major overhead resistance levels at $10.67 to $11.11.

• [By Belinda Cao]

  Yanzhou Coal Mining Co. (YZC), China�� fourth-largest coal producer, lost 3.6 percent last week to $10.33. The company posted its eighth weekly slump, the longest stretch of declines since August 1998. Bank of America Corp. cut the stock to the equivalent of sell from neutral May 3.

Top 5 China Companies To Invest In 2014: TAL Education Group(XRS)

TAL Education Group, together with its subsidiaries, provides K-12 after-school tutoring services in the People?s Republic of China. It offers tutoring services to K-12 students covering various academic subjects, including mathematics, English, Chinese, physics, chemistry, and biology. The company provides tutoring services through small classes; personalized premium services, such as one-on-one tutoring; and online course offerings. As of May 31, 2011, it operated a network of 199 physical learning centers in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Wuhan, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Chengdu, and Xi?an; and eduu.com, an online education platform for online courses. The company also offers education and management consulting services, as well as sells software. It operates under the Xueersi brand. The company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Beijing, China.

Top 5 China Companies To Invest In 2014: LDK Solar Co. Ltd.(LDK)

LDK Solar Co., Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, development, manufacture, and marketing of photovoltaic (PV) products; and development of power plant projects. It offers solar-grade and semiconductor-grade polysilicon; and multicrystalline and monocrystalline solar wafers to the manufacturers of solar cells and solar modules. The company also provides wafer processing services to monocrystalline and multicrystalline solar cell and module manufacturers; and sells silicon materials, such as ingots and polysilicon scraps. In addition, it engages in the production and sale of solar cells and modules to developers, distributors, and system integrators; and design and development of solar power projects in Europe, the United States, and China, as well as provides engineering, procurement, and construction services. LDK Solar Co., Ltd. operates in Europe, the Asia Pacific, and North America. The company was founded in 2005 and is based in Xinyu City, t he People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Travis Hoium]

  LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK  ) is on the brink of failure after another terrible performance in the first quarter. The company is paying more than half of its revenue in interest payments and is begging creditors to refinance debt so that it can stay alive. For equity investors there is little upside given the company's high debt load and massive losses. Fool.com contributor Travis Hoium weighs in on LDK's situation.

• [By Travis Hoium]

  This is a big hit for the Chinese solar industry and some of the biggest players in solar. Earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal reported that Europe was poised to put a 48.6% tariff on Suntech Power's (NYSE: STP  ) �panels, 55.9% on LDK Solar's (NYSE: LDK  ) , and 51.5% on Trina Solar's. Companies who cooperated with the investigation on dumping would be slapped with a 47.6% tariff and those who didn't would be taxed at 67.9%. �

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Next Tuesday, LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK  ) will release its latest quarterly results. Lately, investors have had to wonder whether the Chinese solar company will be able to continue operating, as LDK is one of many solar companies in the emerging-market nation going through a cash crunch due to large losses.

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  Thursday
  Solar-energy stocks are rising again, and LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK  ) will give alternative-energy investors a fresh snapshot on the state of solar on Thursday. Yes, the market's braced for a significant quarterly deficit, but we're talking about a lot less red ink than LDK Solar was sporting a year earlier.

Hot Tech Companies To Buy For 2014

Tesla (TSLA) is reporting earnings on Tuesday, and it looks like some analysts are getting antsy.

Yesterday, Standpoint Research recommended those afraid of good results from Tesla cover their shorts. Now, Weeden’s Michael Purves, who recommending shorting Tesla with a “put spread” on Oct. 23, is following suit.

Bloomberg News

Purves writes:

Our view was premised on a turn in the technical profile of this high momentum stock. This put spread is currently trading for our cost of $5.65. The stock has corrected slightly from our entry price and has cracked the key $160 level. But it has also shown demonstrated impressive resiliency from these high volume selling pressures…While we continue to think that the technical picture for this stock is weakening (the stock has not broken the downtrend from the early October life time highs), we are concerned about the risk of a strong earnings bounce as we have seen with other high flying stocks. Our put spread has only 15 days to expiry (10 days post earnings) and the decay acceleration will accelerate quickly. Simply stated, the risk/return profile is not there right now. Accordingly, we recommend closing out this put spread for break even. After earnings come, we will reevaluate a new put option structure on this stock.

Hot Tech Companies To Buy For 2014: RXi Pharmaceuticals Corp (RXII.PK)

RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation (RXi), incorporated on September 8, 2011, is a development-stage company. The Company is a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing therapies addressing medical needs using RNA interference (RNAi)-targeted technologies. As of July 12, 2012, RXi was focusing on its internal therapeutic development efforts in fibrosis. RXI-109 is its RNAi product candidate, which is a dermal anti-scarring therapy that targets connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). The Company�� therapeutic platform consists of two main components: RNAi Compounds (rxRNA) and Advanced Delivery Technologies. RNAi compounds include rxRNAori, rxRNAsolo and sd-rxRNA, or self-delivering RNA. On April 26, 2012, it completed the spin-off transaction from Galena Biopharma, Inc. (Galena).

In January 2011, the Company announced research results in collaboration with Generex Biotechnology Corporation, and RXi�� wholly owned subsidia ry Antigen Express, Inc., in developing vaccine formulations for immunotherapy. In January 2011, it announced initial results as part of its collaboration with miRagen Therapeutics, Inc. in creating microRNA mimics, or artificial copies of microRNAs, using the Company�� sd-rxRNA technology. In February 2011, it announced the initiation of RXi�� development program for RXI-109.

Hot Tech Companies To Buy For 2014: Aetrium Incorporated(ATRM)

Aetrium Incorporated designs, manufactures, and markets electromechanical equipment for the semiconductor industry to handle and test integrated circuits (ICs). The company provides test handler products, which incorporates thermal conditioning, contacting, and automated handling technologies to provide automated handling of ICs during production of test cycles; change kits to adapt test handlers to various IC package configurations or to upgrade installed equipment; and gravity feed test handlers. It also offers reliability test equipment, which provides structural performance data to aid in the evaluation and improvement of IC designs and manufacturing processes. The company sells its products to semiconductor manufacturers, and their assembly and test subcontractors through direct salespeople, independent sales representatives, and distributors in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, a nd the Philippines. Aetrium Incorporated was founded in 1982 and is based in North St. Paul, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Stocks on the Move: Aetrium Inc. (NASDAQ: ATRM) is up 156.2% at $12.40 following a positive report based on a recent management change and new products. Mediabistro Inc. (NASDAQ: MBIS) is down 17.4% at $3.41 as the stock gives back some of the 87% gain it scored yesterday. J.C. Penney Co. Inc. (NYSE: JCP) is up 7.7% at $10.08 on momentum from an insider stock purchase earlier this week.

Top 5 China Companies To Own In Right Now: Ace Achieve Infocom Limited (A75.SI)

Ace Achieve Infocom Limited, an investment holding company, engages in the design and development of telecommunication solutions and products for telecommunication networks primarily in the People's Republic of China. It provides telecom application solutions, wireless coverage solutions, operation support and business support systems, and broadband data products. The company also offers proprietary information security platform and end-user mobile platform for small-and-medium enterprises. Ace Achieve Infocom Limited provides its solutions and products to telecommunication networks, including fixed line, GSM, TD-SCDMA, CDMA, CDMA2000, and PHS. The company was founded in 2000 and is based in Beijing, the People�s Republic of China. Ace Achieve Infocom Limited is a subsidiary of CIMB Securities (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

Hot Tech Companies To Buy For 2014: SemiLEDS Corporation(LEDS)

SemiLEDs Corporation engages in the development, manufacture, and sale of light emitting diode (LED) chips and LED components. Its products are used primarily for general lighting applications, including street lights and commercial, industrial, and residential lighting, as well as in backlighting, medical, automotive, and ultra violet (UV) applications. The company markets blue, green, and UV LED chips under the MvpLED brand name primarily to customers in China and Taiwan, as well as in Russia and North America. It sells LED chips to packagers and distributors, who in turn sell to packaging customers. SemiLEDs Corporation was founded in 2005 and is based in Miao-Li County, Taiwan.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Victor Selva]

  On Nov. 21, Robert Karr bought Veeco Instruments Inc. (VECO), a company that designs, manufactures and markets equipment to make light emitting diodes (LEDs), solar panels, hard-disk drives and other devices.

• [By Stock Investor]

  Next up I will look at SemiLEDs Corporation (LEDS). This company is based in China, typically a red flag from the start. In the last year LEDS posted almost $26m in revenue with a net cash balance of approximately $36m. The market cap here is a small $42m, much cheaper than RVLT. LEDS has an average quarterly cash burn of about $5m, leaving them ample funding for the next two years at current spend rates. So far the financials here suggest that LEDS is undervalued, especially when compared to RVLT. Usually, however where there is smoke there is fire. In 2012 LEDS lost a patent infringement suit against CREE Inc (CREE). The settlement prevents LEDS from selling it product in the US, a major red flag. This is also the likely reason for such a large drop in sales over the last year of almost 40%. Revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2013 was $4.8 million, a 39% decrease compared to $7.9 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2012. It is disconcerting that a company in a sector that is supposedly experiencing record growth, is seeing its sales drop this much. A major red flag for investors. While the cash position is a positive, investors should note that this is a China based company. Accurate financials are not something Chinese companies are know for.

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Just a week earlier SemiLEDS Corp. (NASDAQ: LEDS) said that it had received a delisting notice from Nasdaq for failing to maintain a share price of at least $1 a share. The company also faced several class action lawsuits as earnings tanked after a dramatic run-up in April. Shares rose nearly 15% after Revolution�� October announcement.

Hot Tech Companies To Buy For 2014: Perfect World Co. Ltd.(PWRD)

Perfect World Co., Ltd., through its subsidiaries, engages in the research, development, operation, and licensing of online games primarily in the People?s Republic of China, the United States, and the Rest of Asia. It develops online games based on its game engines and game development platforms. The company?s 3D massively multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPGs) include Perfect World, an adventure and fantasy game with traditional Chinese settings; Legend of Martial Arts, an adventure story of Chinese swordsmen set in an ancient kingdom; and Perfect World II, which is set in a similar content and graphic background as Perfect World. It also offers Zhu Xian that is based on martial arts focused adventure set in a fantasy world; Chi Bi, a war story developed based on ancient Chinese history known as the Three Kingdoms; Hot Dance Party, a 3D online casual game; Pocketpet Journey West, a 3D MMORPG based on the classical novel of Chinese literature, Journey to the West ; Battle of the Immortals, a mysterious adventure, which enables game players to travel between eastern and western cultures, and adventures in historic sites and turf wars; and Fantasy Zhu Xian, a 2D turn-based MMORPG based on the Internet fantasy novel Zhu Xian. It also involves in the production and distribution of films, as well as television advertising activities. The company was founded in 2004 and is based in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Before markets open Tuesday morning we are scheduled to hear results from Perfect World Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD), Urban Outfitters Inc. (NASDAQ: URBN), Barnes & Noble Inc. (NYSE: BKS) which announced a new video app today, Best Buy Co. Inc (NYSE: BBY) which is included in our preview of this week�� results from retailers, Dick�� Sporting Goods Inc. (NYSE: DKS), Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD), J.C. Penney Co. Inc. (NYSE: JCP), and Trina Solar Ltd. (NYSE: TSL).

Hot Tech Companies To Buy For 2014: Entropic Communications Inc.(ENTR)

Entropic Communications, Inc., a fabless semiconductor company, designs, develops, and markets systems solutions to enable connected home entertainment. Its products include integrated circuits and related software associated with home networking solutions based on the Multimedia over Coax Alliance standard; direct broadcast satellite (DBS) services; high-speed broadband access; and silicon tuners. The company?s products enable the delivery of various streams of high-definition television-quality video, standard-definition television-quality video, and other multimedia content, such as movies, music, games, and photos into and throughout the connected home. It serves telecommunications carriers, cable operators, and DBS service providers, as well as the providers of over-the-top services. Entropic Communications offers its products through its direct sales force, as well as through a network of sales representatives and distributors worldwide. The company was founded in 20 01 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  Entropic Communications Inc.(ENTR) said its board has authorized a $30 million share-repurchase program. The chip maker recently had a market capitalization of $394.1 million, according to FactSet.

• [By Evan Niu, CFA]

  What: Shares of Entropic (NASDAQ: ENTR  ) got crushed today by as much as 16% after the company reported earnings.

  So what: Revenue in the first quarter added up to $74.5 million, which translated into non-GAAP net income of $300,000. That rounds to $0.00 per share, which was in line with consensus forecasts. CEO Patrick Henry acknowledged that 2013 will be a transitional year for the company.

Hot Tech Companies To Buy For 2014: Measurement Specialties Inc.(MEAS)

Measurement Specialties, Inc. engages in the design, development, and manufacture of sensors and sensor-based systems for original equipment manufacturers and end users. Its sensor products include pressure sensors and transducers, pressure and temperature scanning instrumentation, linear/rotary position sensors, piezoelectric polymer film sensors, custom microstructures, load cells, accelerometers, optical sensors, and hydrostatic pressure transducers, as well as humidity, temperature, and fluid property sensors. The company?s technologies comprise piezo-resistive silicon sensors, application-specific integrated circuits, micro-electromechanical systems, piezoelectric polymers, foil strain gauges, force balance systems, fluid capacitive devices, linear and rotational variable differential transformers, electromagnetic displacement sensors, hygroscopic capacitive sensors, ultrasonic sensors, optical sensors, negative thermal coefficient ceramic sensors, torque sensors, me chanical resonators, and submersible hydrostatic level sensors. Its sensors are used for engine and vehicle, medical, general industrial, consumer and home appliance, military/aerospace, water monitoring, and test and measurement applications. The company offers its products under the MEAS brand name. It sells its products through regional sales managers, distributors, and outside sales representatives in the United States, France, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, and China. The company was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Hampton, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Measurement Specialties (Nasdaq: MEAS  ) reported earnings on June 5. Here are the numbers you need to know.

  The 10-second takeaway
  For the quarter ended March 31 (Q4), Measurement Specialties met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

Hot Tech Companies To Buy For 2014: Overland Storage Inc.(OVRL)

Overland Storage, Inc. provides data management and data protection solutions for primary or nearline storage, disk backup and recovery, and data management and protection worldwide. It offers Snap Server, a line of network attached storage and storage area network solutions designed for primary and secondary data accessibility and protection; and are available with backup, replication, and mirroring software in fixed capacity or highly scalable configurations. The company also provides NEO SERIES and REO SERIES of virtual tape libraries, tape backup, and archive systems designed to meet the need for data storage for long-term archiving and compliance requirements. In addition, it offers data management software, including GuardianOS, a storage-optimized platform operating system; Snap Enterprise Data Replicator, which provides multi-directional, WAN-optimized replication for Snap Server systems; and Protection OS software that offers virtualization, data protection, data management, and connectivity features for REO virtual tape library systems. It serves various industries, such as financial services, video surveillance, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, telecommunications, broadcasting, and research and development. The company markets its products through original equipment manufacturers, direct market resellers, distributors, and value-added resellers to small and medium enterprises, corporate departments, small and medium businesses multinational corporations, governmental organizations, and educational institutions. The company was formerly known as Overland Data, Inc. and changed its name to Overland Storage, Inc. in 2002. Overland Storage Inc. was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.

Stocks fall for second week; Nasdaq retakes 4,000

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — U.S. stocks made a mild rebound Friday but ended the week lower, as investors looked toward a Federal Reserve meeting next week that could start the curtailment of the Fed's equities-boosting stimulus program.

MarketWatch Interactive: CUTTING THE CABLE CORD
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The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) added 15.93 points, or 0.1% to 15,755.36 but was 1.7% lower over the week. The S&P 500 (SPX)  closed down 0.18 point at 1,775.32, and finished the week with a 1.7% loss. Both indexes were down for the second week, the first series of such losses since early October.

The Nasdaq Composite (COMP) finished 2.57 points higher at 4,000.98 and was 1.5% lower over the week, its first week of losses in five.

In the absence of significant news, markets are focused on the FOMC meeting next week during which the Fed will decide whether or not it will start winding down the $85 billion a month stimulus program.

Click to Play Why Twitter backtracked on new feature

The Twittersphere was in an uproar after the social media company allowed blocked Twitter users to view or tweet at people who had blocked them. David Rogers, faculty director for digital marketing strategy at the Columbia Business School, discusses on digits. Photo: Getty Images.

Gains on the S&P 500 were lead by materials and technology sectors on Friday, while energy and telecoms led the losses. Healthcare and telecoms sectors led the weekly losses.

"As we get closer to the Fed meeting next week, we will probably see some more weakness, which is warranted given the gains we had so far," said Ryan Detrick, senior technical strategist at Schaeffer's Investment Research.

"However, once the meeting is over, we think that the markets will get a relief rally. We view that this December is going to be like many other Decembers, when we will see a Santa boost at the year-end," Detrick added.

The comment: "The markets have priced in the tapering, as we have been talking about it since May when the Fed first hinted it. Sure, there will be volatility next week, but our research indicates that markets are not overly bullish," said Detrick of Schaeffer's Investment Research

Today's movers & shakers: Shares in Adobe Systems Incorporated (ADBE)  closed up 13% after the company reported quarterly results after the close on Thursday. Fourth-quarter earnings per share fell to 13 cents; however, Creative Cloud subscribers rose by more than expected to 1.4 million. Electronic Arts Inc (EA)  rallied 6%. Twitter (TWTR)  shares rose 6.6% after it reversed earlier changes to the way the 'block' function works, following outcry from users. Among decliners, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (APC)   shares sunk 6.4% after a U.S. bankruptcy judged ruled it could be liable for an at-least $5 billion in lawsuit linked to its 2006 Kerr-McGee buy. Read more in the Movers & Shakers column.

Other markets: Gold futures gained 0.5% over the week and crude oil futures lost 1.1% on worries over Fed tapering. Stocks in Asia ended mostly higher and the European stock ended the week in the red.

Read more on MarketWatch:

• U.S. producer prices fall again in November

• Is the stock market still a playground for the rich?

• Intel, teetering small caps and a tough year for market adages

Military retirees: You betrayed us, Congress

Retired military veterans are outraged that their pensions are being cut by the budget deal.

WASHINGTON (CNNMoney) Military retirees are outraged that Congress will start voting Thursday on a budget deal that trims military pensions, calling the move "an egregious breach of faith."

The Military Coalition, some 27 military groups, wrote to leaders in Congress and President Obama late Wednesday about their "strong objection" and "grave concern" over the budget deal.

The deal cuts pension cost of living raises by 1% for military retirees who aren't disabled and not yet 62 years old. Cost of living hikes are automatic raises intended to keep up with inflation.

The problem is, most military retirees are a lot younger than private sector retirees. They enlist in their 20's and retire in their 40's. Very few stay on till they are 62 -- those who may be lucky enough to escape major injuries at war, or rose to higher echelons in the military system.

When compounded, the 1% cut could result in much more than a 20% cut in retiree pension over the course of 20 years.

The average cut in pension payouts, including compounding interest, for a retiring Army Sergeant first class, would be about $3,700 each year, according to the Military Officers Association of America. Over 20 years, the total losses could balloon to more than $80,000.

"While portrayed as a minor change, a 20% reduction in retired pay and survivor benefit values is a massive cut in military career benefits," wrote groups, including the Air Force Sergeants Association, Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America and the Marine Corps League, among others in the letter.

The change is infuriating to military retirees like Army Col. Michael Barron, who retired nearly 4 years ago, after 30 years of service, which included being deployed to both Iraq wars.

"It's not fair at all. I spent a 30 year career in the military. I clearly understood what the (cost of living increases) would be," said Barron, deputy director of government relations for the Military Officers Association of America. "This is the worst kind of example of a shady, backroom deal."

The cut is forcing some to reconsider how much longer they will continue to work with the military.

Rebekah Sanderlin's husband is two years away from hitting his 20 year retirement mark with the Army and she's wondering if its worth it. He's served in Afghanistan four times, among other p! laces, and has many injuries.

"The war has been very hard on our family," said Sanderlin, a writer. "We'd like to stay in, but it seems stupid to give more time to a government that goes back on their word."

Military groups say the cut is particularly unfair because the changes will affect those who have already put in their years of service.

"To tax the very men and women who have sacrificed and served more than others is simply a foul," the letter stated.

Washington leaders, and House Republicans, in particular, have been worried about the cost of military retiree benefits.

In 2012, the Pentagon spent $52.4 billion on 2.3 million military retirees and survivors, a cost that is expected to rise over the next few decades, according to the Department of Defense Office of the Actuary.

House budget chief Rep. Paul Ryan's website states that military retirement "provides an exceptionally generous benefit, often providing 40 years of pension payments in return for 20 years of service," as it explains why benefits should be trimmed.

"Current levels of military compensation are incompatible with the overall demands on the defense budget," according to a House Committee on the Budget Report.

Military groups say they're open to reforms, but they'd like such changes to go through the normal legislative process that allows time to review and "assess any recommendations that could significantly impact retention and readiness."

Barron said groups like his were "blindsided" by the cuts to military pensions.

  More budget cuts loom at Pentagon

The 1% cut ends up saving the budget $6 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Congress would also make newly hired civilian federal workers contribut! e 1.3% mo! re of their paychecks to pensions if the budget deal becomes law.

The Department of Defense wouldn't comment on the Military Coalition letter and pointed to a statement by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel saying the budget deal provides greater "budget certainty," while reducing the impact of massive cuts from so-called sequester.

Holiday Spending Continues to Disappoint

In the matter of how large the holiday sales pie will be this year, the size apparently will be small. That means retailers, both store-based and Internet-based, will need to take business from one another, and it is the companies that take the most in that battle that have a chance of doing well — but only modestly. There is no rising tide. Consumers have not bought holiday gifts in large enough numbers in 2013 and will not between now and the end of the year.

According to new data from Gallup on holiday spending intentions:

Americans’ average prediction for the total amount they will spend on Christmas gifts this season is now $740, midway between the $786 they estimated in October and the $704 in November. Given how the most recent prediction compares with previous years — coming in below last year’s $770 and falling well short of consumers’ spending intentions in years prior to the 2008 financial crisis — the 2013 holiday season will likely be a ho-hum one for retailers.

By way of contrast, the figure was above $900 in two of the three years before the recession.

The forecast puts brick-and-mortar companies in more of a bind than e-commerce firms. Amazon.com Inc.’s (NASDAQ: AMZN) revenue in 2008 was only $19.1 million. This year that number is likely to be closer to $90 million. Amazon has sucked much of the air out of the holiday retail room. For contrast, Macy’s Inc. (NYSE: M) revenue for all of last year was $29 billion. For giant Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT), revenue was $73.3 billion for the same period.

While market share is critical, overall sales across the holiday economy are more important. The retail system continues to support tens of thousands of stores operated by the dozen largest retailers by sales. That multibillion infrastructure is losing more of its foundation by the year. Amazon, at least, can operate without many people who deal with the consumer face-to-face. Traditional retailers do not have that cost advantage. Without shopping center and mall visitors who aggressively spend money, the entire store-based system breaks down.

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Americans have decided not to spend very much this holiday season, at least against the annual numbers posted in the best years of the past decade. Retailers cannot afford many more holidays like this one.

Lululemon founder steps down as chairman

Athletic apparel maker Lululemon Athletica said Tuesday founder Chip Wilson will step down as chairman of the board, following his controversial statement about women's body types.

The Vancouver-based company also announced that Laurent Potdevin will take over as CEO in January and join the board. He succeeds Christine Day, who announced in June that she planned to resign after her 6-year tenure.

Wilson, who was serving as non-executive chairman, plans to step down prior to the company's annual meeting in June 2014 and will be replaced by board member Michael Casey

Best China Companies To Own In Right Now

Potdevin most recently served as president of Toms Shoes. Prior to Toms, Potdevin worked as CEO at Burton Snowboards for five years.

In March, Lululemon had to pull its popular Luon black yoga pants from stores following customers complaints that they were too sheer and showing too much of those customers.

With new products in stores, customers continued to complain about sheerness, as well as holes and seams that were coming apart after a few months of wear.

In a recent TV interview, Wilson said that some women's bodies "just don't actually work" for Lululemon pants, as thigh rubbing over time will cause the pilling.

Contributing: The Associated Press

Why the holidays matter to your career

While the holidays are all about spending time with friends and family, it's also a great time to make new business contacts and reconnect with old ones – even those disguised as a cousin or an uncle.

Research indicates half or more of all jobs are gotten through informal channels – family, friends, colleagues, friends of friends. There's also plenty of opportunities to build stronger relationships with coworkers and maybe get to know the boss a little better.

In this week's Money Quick Tips video, USA TODAY contributor Regina Lewis looks at how to leverage the holiday season to set yourself up for a successful 2014.

MONEY QUICK TIPS: Money-saving strategies for holiday shopping

Best Biotech Companies To Invest In 2014

Regina Lewis is a national television contributor and host of USA TODAY's "Money Quick Tips" videos. Follow her on Twitter: @ReginaLewis.

Previous Money Quick Tips:

Five benefits of a 529 college savings plan

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5 Best Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now

David Goldman/AP WASHINGTON -- The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits fell sharply last week and a gauge of factory activity hit an eight-month high in early November, hinting at some strength in the economy. Other data Thursday showed wholesale prices fell for a second straight month in October, the latest sign of a lack of inflation pressure which helps give the Federal Reserve leeway as it considers when to scale back its bond-buying stimulus. "Claims and manufacturing activity remain supportive for continued moderate economic growth in the fourth quarter," said Sam Bullard, a senior economist at Wells Fargo Securities (WFC) in Charlotte, N.C. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell 21,000 to a seasonally adjusted 323,000, the Labor Department said. Economists had forecast a drop to just 335,000, and some cautioned that a public holiday last Monday could have contributed to some of the large decline. The department, however, said there were no special factors influencing the data, which covered the survey period for the government's report on employment in November. A four-week moving average meant to iron out week-to-week volatility fell 6,750 to 338,500. "There is no evidence of a pickup in layoffs and the latest report on claims should be seen as a neutral to slightly positive reading on payroll growth," said John Ryding, chief economist at RDQ Economics in New York. Factory Activity Up, Inflation Muted Separately, a survey of factory purchasing managers showed activity picking up. Financial data firm Markit said its preliminary U.S. Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index rose to an eight-month high of 54.3 from 51.8 in October. Respondents linked the rebound from a one-year low touched last month partly to the end of a partial government shutdown and a rise in demand from domestic and overseas customers. But the optimism over manufacturing was tempered somewhat by a regional factory survey showing a sharp slowdown in activity in the mid-Atlantic region in November. Some economists said this was likely a delayed reaction to last month's 16-day government shutdown. "The manufacturing data suggests there is still some momentum," said Jacob Oubina, senior U.S. economist at RBC Capital Markets in New York. "I think what you still need to see now is follow-through into job gains." The data helped lift stocks on Wall Street, while the dollar climbed to a 4½ month high against the yen and U.S. Treasury debt prices rose. The jobless claims and Markit factory data added to recent reports on nonfarm payrolls and retail sales that have suggested the economy is gaining momentum. Despite the improving growth picture, inflation remains virtually absent. The Labor Department said its producer price index slipped 0.2 percent last month as gasoline prices tumbled, the largest decline since April. Excluding volatile food and energy costs, producer prices rose 0.2 percent, boosted by the introduction of new motor vehicle models. Excluding cars and trucks, the core PPI was up only 0.1 percent. During the last 12 months, overall producer prices have risen just 0.3 percent, with core prices up 1.4 percent. The data follows a report on Wednesday that showed consumer price inflation easing to a four-year low of 1 percent. "With Europe still in a funk, and China struggling with recovery from a slowdown, there is no spark to get inflation rolling anytime soon," said Michael Montgomery, a U.S. economist at IHS Global Insight in Lexington, Mass.

5 Best Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now: SolarCity Corp (SCTY.W)

SolarCity Corporation (SolarCity), incorporated on June 21, 2006, is engaged in the design, installation and sale or lease of solar energy systems to residential and commercial customers, or sale of electricity generated by solar energy systems to customers. The Company sells renewable energy to its customers. As of December 12, 2012, the Company served customers in 14 states. The Company�� residential customers are individual homeowners and homeowners. The Company�� commercial customers represent several business sectors, including technology, retail, manufacturing, agriculture, nonprofit and houses of worship. The Company has installed solar energy systems for several government entities, including the the United States Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy, and the Department of Homeland Security. The Company purchases major components, such as solar panels and inverters directly from multiple manufacturers. As of September 30, 2012, its primary solar panel suppliers were Trina Solar Limited, Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited and Kyocera Solar, Inc., among others, and its primary inverter suppliers were Power-One, Inc., SMA Solar Technology, AG, Schneider Electric SA, Fronius International GmbH and SolarEdge Technologies, among others.

Solar Energy Products

The Company�� solar energy products include Solar Energy Systems, and SolarLease and power purchase agreement finance products. The major components of its solar energy systems include solar panels that convert sunlight into electrical current. Most of its solar energy customers choose to purchase energy from the Company pursuant to one of two payment structures: a SolarLease or a power purchase agreement. In both structures, the Company charges customers a monthly fee for the power produced by its solar energy systems. In the lease structure, this monthly payment is pre-determined and includes a production guarantee. In the power purchase agreem ent structure, the Company charges customers a fee per kilo! w! att hour based on the amount of electricity actually produced by the solar energy system.

Energy Efficiency Products and Services

The Company�� energy efficiency products and services include home energy evaluation and energy efficiency upgrades. The Company sells home energy efficiency evaluations to new solar energy system customers and existing customers. The Company�� energy efficiency upgrade products and services address heating and cooling, air sealing, duct sealing, water heating, insulation, furnaces, weatherization, pool pumps and lighting. As of December 12, 2012, the Company had completed over 13,000 home energy evaluations and performed more than 2,000 energy efficiency upgrades.

Other Energy Products and Services

The Company�� other energy products and services include electric vehicle charging and energy storage. The Company installs electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment that it sources from t hird parties. SolarCity markets EV equipment to residential and commercial customers through retail partnerships with companies, such as The Home Depot, and through EV manufacturers and dealerships, such as its partnership with Tesla Motors, Inc. The Company is developing a battery management system built on its solar energy monitoring communications backbone. As of December 12, 2012, the Company had over 100 energy storage pilot projects under contract. As of December 12, 2012, the Company had sold over 750 charging stations.

Enabling Technologies

The Company�� enabling technologies include SolarBid Sales Management Platform, SolarWorks Customer Management Software, Energy Designer, Home Performance Pro and SolarGuard and PowerGuide Proactive Monitoring Solutions. SolarBid is a sales management platform, which incorporates a database of rate information by utility, sun exposure, roof orientation and a range of other factors to enable a detailed a nalysis and customized graphical presentation of each c! ustom! er! �� sa! vings.

SolarWorks is the software platform the Company uses to track and manage project. Energy Designer is a software application its field engineering auditors use to collect pertinent site-specific design details on a tablet computer. Home Performance Pro is its energy efficiency evaluation platform that incorporates the United States Department of Energy�� Energy Plus simulation engine. Home Performance Pro collects and stores details of a building�� construction and energy use. SolarGuard and PowerGuide provide its customers a view of their home�� or business�� energy generation and consumption.

The Company competes with American Solar Electric, Inc., Astrum Solar, Inc., Petersen Dean, Inc., Real Goods Solar, Inc., REC Solar, Inc., Sungevity, Inc., Trinity Solar, Inc., Verengo, Inc., SunRun Inc. and Ameresco, Inc.

5 Best Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now: PROS Holdings Inc.(PRO)

PROS Holdings, Inc. provides pricing and margin optimization software worldwide. It offers PROS Pricing Solution Suite, a set of integrated software products that enables enterprises to apply pricing and margin optimization science to determine, analyze, and execute optimal pricing strategies through the aggregation and analysis of enterprise application data, transactional data, and market information. The PROS Pricing Solution Suite consists of Scientific Analytics to gain insight into pricing performance; Price Optimizer to institute control of pricing policies; and Deal Optimizer to provide guidelines, additional context, and information to sales force. Its products also include PROS Revenue Management Solution Suite, a suite of industry specific revenue management software products for the enterprises in travel target markets. The PROS Revenue Management Solution Suite comprises PROS Analytics to identify hidden revenue leaks and opportunities, PROS Revenue Management product to manage passenger demand with leg- or segment-based revenue optimization, PROS O&D products to manage passenger demand with passenger name record or PNR based revenue optimization, PROS Real-Time Dynamic Pricing product to determine the optimal prices, PROS Group Revenue Management product to manage group request and booking revenues, PROS Network Revenue Planning product to deliver network-oriented fare class segmentation, PROS Cruise Pricing and Revenue Optimization for customers to understand consumers price sensitivities and track competitor behavior, PROS Hotel Revenue Optimization product that helps customers to enhance pricing decision. In addition, the company provides pricing and implementation professional, and ongoing support and maintenance services. It serves customers in the manufacturing, distribution, services, hotel and cruise, and airline industries primarily through its direct sales force. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Top Performing Companies To Invest In Right Now: SilverCrest Mines Inc (SVL.V)

SilverCrest Mines Inc. (SilverCrest) is engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties in Mexico and Central America. The Company�� principal focus is the development and operation of the Santa Elena Project, which property consists of seven mineral concessions totaling 2,726.54 hectares, portions of which include the producing Santa Elena gold and silver mine located northeast of Hermosillo, Sonora State, Mexico. It operates in three segments: the mine operations at Santa Elena, Mexico; mine exploration and evaluation projects at La Joya and Cruz de Mayo, Mexico, and Corporate. The Company is also focused on exploring and developing its La Joya Property located in Durango, Mexico, which contains a discovered polymetallic deposit. The Company�� other mineral properties include the Cruz de Mayo Project (Mexico), the La Joya Property (Mexico), the Silver Angel Project (Mexico) and the El Zapote Project (El Salvador).

5 Best Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now: ATP Oil And Gas Corp (ATPO.MU)

ATP Oil & Gas Corporation, incorporated in 1991, is engaged in the acquisition, development and production of oil and natural gas properties. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had estimated net proved reserves of 118.9 Million barrels of crude oil equivalent (MMBoe), of which approximately 75.9 MMboe (64%) were in the Gulf of Mexico and 42.9 MMBoe (36%) were in the North Sea. The reserves consisted of 78.6 Million barrels (MMBbls) of oil (66%) and 241.5 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas (34%). Its proved reserves in the deepwater area of the Gulf of Mexico account for 62% of the Company�� total proved reserves and its proved reserves on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf account for 2% of its total proved reserves. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company acquired three licenses in the Mediterranean Sea covering potential natural gas resources in the deepwater off the coast of Israel (East Mediterranean). On August 17, 2012, ATP Oil And Ga s Corp filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The Company�� natural gas reserves are split between the Gulf of Mexico (57%) and the North Sea (43%). Of its total proved reserves, 8.3 MMBoe (7%) were producing, 19.0 MMBoe (16%) were developed and not producing and 91.6 MMBoe (77%) were undeveloped. The Company�� average working interest in its properties at December 31, 2011, was approximately 81%. The Company operates 92% of its platforms. At December 31, 2011, in the Gulf of Mexico, it owned leasehold and other interests in 38 offshore blocks and 49 wells, including 23 subsea wells. The Company operates 43 (88%) of these wells, including 100% of the subsea wells. In the North Sea, it also had interests in 13 blocks and two Company-operated subsea wells. As of March 15, 2011, the Company owned an interest in 13 platforms, including two floating production facilities in the Gulf of Mexico, the ATP Titan at its Telemark Hub and the ATP Innovator at its G omez Hub. It operates the ATP Innovator and the ATP Titan.!

5 Best Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now: Helix Energy Solutions Group Inc (HLX)

Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc.( Helix), incorporated on November 17,1983, is an international offshore energy company that provides specialty services to the offshore energy industry, with a focus on its growing well intervention and robotics operations. The Company had had two business segments: Contracting Services and Production Facilities. Its Contracting Services seek to provide services and methodologies which it believes are critical to developing offshore reservoirs and maximizing production economi regions. Its Production Facilities segment consists of its majority ownership of a dynamically positioned floating production vessel ( Helix Producer I or HP I). In June 2013, Helix Energy Solutions Group Inc closed the previously announced sale of its pipelay vessel, the Caesar, to Trevaskis Ltd.

In January 2012, it sold its oil and gas properties within the Main Pass area of the Gulf of Mexico. On September 26, 2012, the Company sold its pipelay vessel, Intrepid, to Stabbert Maritime Holdings, LLC. On February 6, 2013, it sold Energy Resource Technology GOM, Inc. (ERT), a former wholly-owned United States subsidiary that conducted its oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico.

Contracting Services Operations

The Company provides services and methodologies which it believes are critical to developing offshore reservoirs and maximizing production economics. Its life of field services are segregated into four disciplines: well intervention, robotics, subsea construction and production facilities. It provides a full range of contracting services primarily in the Gulf of Mexico, North Sea, Asia Pacific and West Africa regions primarily in deepwater.

The Company's services include production, which includes inspection, repair and maintenance of production structures, trees, jumpers, risers, pipelines and subsea equipment, well intervention, life of field support and intervention engineering; reclamation and remediation services include pluggin! g and abandonment services, pipeline abandonment services and site inspections; installation of subsea pipelines, flowlines, control umbilicals, manifold assemblies and risers, pipelay and burial, installation and tie-in of riser and manifold assembly, commissioning, testing and inspection, and cable and umbilical lay and connection. It provides oil and natural gas processing services to oil and natural gas companies, primarily those operating in the deepwater of the Gulf of Mexico using its HP I vessel. The HP I is being utilized to process production from the Phoenix.

The Company engineers, manages and conducts well construction, intervention and asset retirement operations in water depths ranging from 200 to 10,000 feet. Three of its vessels serve as work platforms for well intervention services at costs that are typically significantly less than offshore drilling rigs. In the Gulf of Mexico, its multi-service semi-submersible vessel, the Q4000, has set a series of well intervention firsts in increasingly deeper water without the use of a traditional drilling rig. In August 2012, it acquired the Discoverer 534 drillship from a subsidiary of Transocean Ltd.

The Company operates remotely operated vehicles ( ROVs), trenchers and ROVDrills designed for offshore construction and well intervention services. As global marine construction support moves to deeper water. Its chartered vessels add value by supporting deployment of its ROVs. It provides its customers with vessel availability and schedule flexibility to meet the technological challenges of their subsea activities worldwide. Its robotics assets include 49 ROVs, four trencher systems and two ROVDrills. It operate in the Gulf of Mexico, North Sea, Asia Pacific and West Africa regions. It charters four vessels to support its robotics operations and it has engaged additional vessels on short-term (spot) charters as needed. In 2012, its robotics operations had 377 vessel utilization days and 16% of global revenues derived from! alternat! ive energy contracts. Subsea construction services include the use of umbilical lay and pipelay vessels and ROVs to develop fields in the deepwater.

The Company owns interests in two production facilities in hub locations where there is potential for subsea tieback activity. It has invested in two over-sized facilities that allow the operators of these fields to tie back without burdening the operator of the hub reservoir. It owns a 50% interest in Deepwater Gateway, which owns the Marco Polo TLP located in 4,300 feet of water in the Gulf of Mexico. It also owns a 20% interest in Independence Hub which owns the Independence Hub platform, a 105-foot deep draft, semi-submersible platform located in a water depth of 8,000 feet that serves as a regional hub for up to one billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas production per day from multiple ultra-deepwater fields in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

The Company competes with Oceaneering International, Inc., Saipem S.p.A., Fugro N.V., DOF ASA, Aker Solutions ASA, Subsea 7 S.A., Technip, McDermott International, Inc., Island Offshore and Edison Chouest Offshore Companies.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By David Smith]

  Helix Energy Solutions Group (NYSE: HLX  )
  At $2.70 billion in market capitalization, Helix is equidistant between Flotek and Superior from a size perspective. The company operates through two segments: contracting services and production facilities.

J.C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE:JCP): $1 Million CEO Insider Buy – Why?

As you might expect, insider buying slowed during Thanksgiving week, but that doesn't mean the week was void of any purchases worth monitoring.

In fact, our selection for this week's pick checks-off multiple boxes that iStock considers when deciding on which company to write about.

Seven figures buy from a key insider – checkHistory of solid performance – checkBottom Fishing/Turnaround/Buying against the grain story – check

Last week, beleaguered retailer J.C. Penney Company, Inc.'s (NYSE:JCP) CEO, Mr. Myron E. Ullman, III pulled out the checkbook and wrote a two-comma check. Ullman bought 112,000 shares at $8.85 per for a total investment of $1,002,399.

[Related -J.C. Penney Company, Inc. (JCP) Q3 Earnings Preview: What To Watch?]

That's a giant black or red bet, folks; especially considering that many Wall Street pros think the retailer is in danger of going out of business as evidenced by 51.7% of JCP's float (stock available for trading) currently sold short.

Apparently, the CEO has a different view?

In the past two-years, Ullman's only other JCP activity occurred in December 2011 and January 2012 when he sold more than $6 million of the stock. Now, he was on the way out as CEO in February of 2012; so, the sales may have been motivated by something other than price and business prospects. Nonetheless, discarding J.C. Penney shares at $40.72 and $32.59 appears pretty wise in retrospect, no matter the motivation.

[Related -Trying To Beat The Market Is A Fool's Errand]

It's hard to identify any positives within Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions after reviewing the company's most recent 10-Q.

Same Store Sales - downNew merchandise – not popularFoot Traffic – down

This has to mean whatever drove the CEO to part with $1 million occurred within the past few weeks. According to CNN Money, the retailer showed "signs of life" on Black-Friday with customers returning to JCP.

However, when we turned to Google Tre! nds to see search volume intensity scores for "JC Penney" during November 2012 versus November 2013, iStock found that web queries are down 15.4% year-over-year. If there is any good news to be from the Google tool, it is that 2013 is trending higher heading into December, whereas 2012 was flat to down.

The only other consideration, in our view, is JCP's valuation. Since the end of September, the company has traded at five-year low territory on a price-to-sales (P/S) basis.  From September 30th forward, the P/S ratio has been under 0.185, which was the half-decade low set briefly in March of 2009. On average, Wall Street valued J.C. Penney at 0.35 times sales going back to 2009. The stock would need to double almost from here to get back to the five-year norm.

Overall: It's our guess that Mr. Myron E. Ullman III's million dollar buy was based on valuation and maybe, maybe mildly improving sales trends at J.C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE:JCP). 

How DuPont Crushed Dow Chemical and the Dow Jones Industrials in 2013

Chemical giant and Dow component DuPont (NYSE: DD  ) has had an excellent 2013, posting gains of more than 41% so far this year. Not only is that better than the 23% gain that the Dow Jones Industrials (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) have seen year to date, it also stands well above what chemical industry peer Dow Chemical (NYSE: DOW  ) has managed to achieve. Given the stock's outperformance, DuPont investors want to know what's behind the company's strength and whether it's likely to persist into 2014 and beyond.

DuPont has worked hard to reinvent itself, going beyond its roots as an industrial chemical company to identify the huge opportunity in agricultural chemicals, fertilizers, and seed products that help the farming industry boost crop yields and feed an increasingly hungry world. Seizing on Monsanto's (NYSE: MON  ) success, DuPont has taken big steps forward in realigning itself as an ag-focused company, and investors have supported that long-term strategy and its promise. Yet some investors remain uncertain about how much more growth DuPont can squeeze from seeds and other agricultural products. Let's take a closer look at what moved shares of DuPont in 2013.

Stats on DuPont

Current Trailing P/E	12
1-year revenue growth	1.1%
1-year earnings growth	57.7%*
Dividend yield	2.9%

Source: S&P Capital IQ. * Includes impact on earnings from discontinued operations involved in sale of DuPont's performance-coatings business.

DuPont Total Return Price data by YCharts.

Why has DuPont stock done so well in 2013?
As you can see above, DuPont started breaking away from the Dow's returns early in the year, with a big jump in late April and early May starting the chemical giant on its path toward outperformance. Fundamentally, investors have applauded the company's many moves toward transforming itself into a higher-margin company with better growth prospects.

DuPont started reaping the benefits of its transformation early on in the year. The company's first-quarter results showed the disparity between the company's two main businesses, as agricultural revenue rose 14% even as performance chemicals saw sales plunge 17%. Those results were consistent both with the success that Monsanto saw and the relatively lackluster performance of Dow Chemical, which has been far slower about jumping onto the agricultural bandwagon.

DuPont took a major step forward in growing its agricultural business in late July, when it completed its acquisition of an 80% stake in Pannar Seed, a South African seed company with key connections to markets on the African continent. Africa is a largely untapped market when it comes to enhancing crop yields, and products like DuPont's could help revolutionize farming there, representing not just a huge profit opportunity for the company but also making possible big gains in standards of living in Africa.

Competition is fierce in agriculture, but the companies involved also work together in certain cases. Early this year, DuPont and Monsanto resolved patent lawsuits by agreeing to cross-license some of their intellectual property related to agriculture. That's something Monsanto has also done with Dow Chemical, but it also shows how important it is to come up with new innovations in order to have something valuable to trade when patent infringement litigation arises.

DuPont's strong share-price gains reflect the heavy-lifting that it has already done in moving toward a stronger focus on agriculture. As long as the farming industry remains healthy, that move will likely pay dividends for DuPont shareholders. Yet even amid the long boom in agriculture, long-term investors have to remember that even farming is cyclical, and the next downturn could make DuPont's decision seem ill-advised in hindsight.

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Soon You'll Be Able to Invest in China's Amazon.com

On Nov. 11, Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. set a company record for most sales in a 24-hour period when $5.7 billion was exchanged over its network of websites.

That's nearly four times the $1.46 billion in online sales logged on the United States' largest online shopping day of the year - "Cyber Monday" - in 2012.

The sales came over the company's two main platforms, Taobao and Tmall, during China's "Singles' Day." The holiday is a reverse Valentine's Day, when bachelors and bachelorettes celebrate their "single lives" and, apparently, spend a lot of money.

The $5.7 billion boon represented an 83% jump from the sales of the previous year - and equals almost half of the entire size of China's e-commerce market in the third quarter.

Now this lucrative e-commerce leader is considering an IPO in the United States in 2014 - and it could be the biggest tech IPO ever.

Top 5 Cheap Companies To Watch For 2014

"Alibaba is a one-time thing," Benjamin Joffe, an angel investor and founder of the Beijing consultancy Plus8Star, told CNBC. "How often do you list a $100 billion company?"

Who Is Alibaba?

Founded in 1999, Alibaba offers its users business-to-business web portals, online retail and payment services, and a shopping search engine. Some analysts call it the "Amazon.com of China," but it also mixes in qualities of eBay.

It has grown into an almost $5 billion a year company. Just last quarter the e-commerce company raked in revenue of $1.73 billion - a surge of 60% from the previous quarter.

The reason for its surging sales is the explosive Chinese e-commerce market.

The sheer volume of online transactions occurring in China is staggering.Our Private Briefing serviceEditorWilliam Patalon III wrote earlier this summer that online retail sales in China had grown 60.2% in the first six months of 2013, to $139.6 billion.

"The spectacular growth rate shows the potential for online shopping," Ronald Wan, chief China adviser at Asian Capital Holdings Ltd., told Bloomberg. "This will boost momentum for Alibaba, give its potential investors confidence and prompt traditional retailers to think hard how to cope with challenges from e-commerce."

And now reports indicate that mobile sales are skyrocketing in China as well.

According to Alibaba, $877 million of its Singles' Day sales came from mobile devices. That accounted for 21% of the company's transactions and was a 500% increase from the year before.

Expect this mobile trend to continue as the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) reported this summer that smartphone sales in China were up 96.4% in the first half of 2013.

All of these factors have some analysts predicting a value of more than $190 billion for Alibaba. That's compared to a valuation of $104 billion for Facebook after its market debut.

Alibaba IPO 2014

With American companies like Amazon and eBay dominating the e-commerce market, Alibaba doesn't currently have much name recognition stateside. The fact that the majority of its vendors are located in China doesn't help either. A listing in an American market would change that.

Alibaba initially decided against trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange when the exchange took issue with the e-commerce company's governance structure. Alibaba keeps control of the company in the hands of a minority - 28 founders and shareholders.

Neither the New York Stock Exchange nor the Nasdaq took exception to the management style, and both have provided assurances that the partnership structure for its share offering would be permitted.

Rather than switch its management model, Alibaba would rather look outside of Asia for a trading exchange.

Alibaba's closest ties to U.S. markets is that Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq: YHOO) owns a 24% stake in the company. That position lends credibility - and a familiar face - to those uneasy about investing in a Chinese company.

If recent sales figures and consumer trends are any indication, Alibaba should continue to post record numbers when it comes to online shopping.

Mark Alibaba as the "must-watch" IPO of 2014.

IPO investing can be difficult for retail investors, and avoiding potential pitfalls is crucial to finding big gains in the IPO market. This report reveals the secret to playing IPOs...

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CNBC:
Why the Alibaba IPO Is More Important Than Twitter's Bloomberg:
Alibaba Breaks Sales Record Amid China Singles-Day Rebate CNBC:
Alibaba Gets Clearance to List in the U.S.

Royce Funds Commentary - Royce Total Return Fund - A Focus on Dividend-Paying Small-Caps

Since its inception in December of 1993, Royce Total Return Fund—managed byChuck Royce (Lead Portfolio Manager) and Jay Kaplan (Portfolio Manager)—has concentrated on owning select dividend-paying micro-cap and small-cap stocks in its portfolio in an effort to reduce volatility and provide investors with some current income during market extremes.

We are very pleased to be celebrating the 20th anniversary of Royce Total Return Fund. The Fund invests in dividend-paying small-cap companies with market capitalizations up to $2.5 billion that Portfolio Managers Chuck Royce and Jay Kaplan select using a disciplined value approach.

We have always seen dividends and small-caps as two great things that work well together, kind of like chocolate and peanut butter. In fact, our experience with dividend-paying small-caps stretches back to the 1970s, when we regularly purchased them in Royce Pennsylvania Mutual Fund's portfolio. We had also introduced an institutional product in 1979 that used an investment strategy similar to Royce Total Return Fund. (There is no guarantee that companies that pay a dividend will continue to do so in the future.)

Portfolio HistoryWhen we introduced Royce Total Return Fund in December 1993, there were those who questioned the wisdom of a small-cap fund that sought dividend-paying companies. Others went so far as to claim that the small-cap marketplace did not hold enough dividend-payers to make up a portfolio, at least not one capable of generating strong absolute returns.

Our own previous experience led us to a different conclusion. So we ignored the choir of criticism, followed our own counsel, and hoped that the new Fund's performance would ultimately say more than any other defense of its merits would.

As the Fund matured, it began to establish a discernible performance pattern, one consistent with what we had anticipated when we introduced it. While the Fund has generally lagged a bit during dynamic up-market periods, it has also histori! cally done well in down- or flat-market periods. The pattern makes sense to us because investors sometimes flock to dividend-paying companies during difficult or underwhelming markets. This explains in part why we view dividends as a gauge of company quality.

[ Enlarge Image ]Important Performance and Expense Information

All performance information reflects past performance, is presented on a total return basis, reflects the reinvestment of distributions, and does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate, so that shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when redeemed. Shares redeemed within 180 days of purchase may be subject to a 1% redemption fee, payable to the Fund, which is not reflected in the performance shown above; if it were, performance would be lower. Current month-end performance may be higher or lower than performance quoted and may be obtained here. Operating expenses reflect the Fund's total annual operating expenses for the Investment Class as of the Fund's most current prospectus and include management fees, other expenses, and acquired fund fees and expenses. Acquired fund fees and expenses reflect the estimated amount of the fees and expenses incurred indirectly by the Fund through its investments in mutual funds, hedge funds, private equity funds, and other investment companies.

[ Enlarge Image ]Dividends, Quality, and VolatilityOne of our goals with Total Return has been to find well-run small companies that pay dividends owing to our confidence that sooner or later the market will recognize our estimate of their true worth. For us, quality generally consists of a suite of attributes that includes a strong b! alance sh! eet, high returns on invested capital, and the ability to generate free cash flow. In addition, a dividend-paying company is telling its investors that it believes in a principle of corporate governance by which they are willing to share the wealth the business is creating.

In addition to being, in our estimation, an excellent measure of a company's underlying quality, it also seems clear to us that including dividend-paying companies in an equity portfolio offers a potential cushion against market volatility.

Important Disclosure Information

This material is not authorized for distribution unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money. The Fund invests primarily in small-cap and micro-cap stocks, which may involve considerably more risk than investing in larger-cap stocks. (Please see "Primary Risks for Fund Investors" in the prospectus.) The Fund's broadly diversified portfolio does not ensure a profit or guarantee against loss. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign securities, which may involve political, economic, currency, and other risks not encountered in U.S. investments. (Please see "Investing Foreign Securities" in theprospectus.) Russell Investment Group is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks, and copyrights related to the Russell Indexes. Russell® is a trademark of Russell Investment Group. The Russell 2000 is an unmanaged, capitalization-weighted index of domestic small-cap stocks. It measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest publicly traded U.S. companies in the Russell 3000 index. The performance of an index does not represent exactly any particular investment, as you cannot invest directly in an index. There can be no assurance that companies that currently pay a dividend will continue to do so in the future.

Also check out: (Free Trial) High Yield Dividend Stocks in Gurus' Portfolio Top dividend stocks of Warren Buffett Top dividend stocks of George Soros

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