Lehman Brothers to Sell Another $1.06 Billion in Claims

NEW YORK (AP) -- Lehman Brothers Holdings (NASDAQOTH: LEHMQ  ) said Friday that it will receive about $474.4 million for selling some of the IOUs of its brokerage arm as the former investment bank seeks to repay billions to creditors.

The general unsecured claims are being sold for 44.75 percent of their face value of $1.06 billion. Earlier this month, Lehman Brothers agreed to sell $4.22 billion in claims against Lehman Brothers for proceeds of $1.88 billion -- 44.5 percent of face value.

A bankruptcy court judge in April approved settlements that cleared the way for the remnants of Lehman to repay its customer claims in full. Holders of unsecured claims will be repaid based on whatever is left following the completion of customer claims.

Lehman's $639 billion bankruptcy in September of 2008 was the largest ever in U.S. history. Lehman's individual retail customers were repaid in the first few days of the brokerage's liquidation. But it took several years of talks before Lehman, its holding company and its European arm could agree on how claims for larger customers of each unit, such as hedge funds or institutional investors, would be paid.

Berkshire's MidAmerican Energy to Buy NV Energy

Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-B  ) utility MidAmerican Energy provides electricity and natural gas services to consumers across the middle of the U.S. and along the West Coast. Yet one state it has not served up until now has been Nevada, and it plugged that hole with the announcement yesterday that it is purchasing NV Energy (NYSE: NVE  ) , a holding company whose subsidiaries do business as Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power Company.

MidAmerican will purchase all outstanding shares of NV Energy for $23.75 per share in cash, a 23% premium to its closing price on May 29. As of this writing, shares are trading at $23.58.

The transaction, which has been unanimously approved by both companies' boards of directors, sets an enterprise value for NV at approximately $10 billion. Because the deal is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by NV Energy's shareholders as well as the OK from federal and state regulators, the transaction is not expected to close before the first quarter of 2014.

Berkshire Chairman Warren Buffett was quoted as saying: "This is a great fit for Berkshire Hathaway, and we are pleased to make a long-term investment in Nevada's economy. Through MidAmerican, we have found in NV Energy a great company with similar values, outstanding assets, and a superb management team."

As is usual with a Buffett acquisition, management will continue in place at the utility and NV Energy will operate as a separate corporate subsidiary of MidAmerican Energy under its current name and will continue to be headquartered in Las Vegas.

When completed, MidAmerican Energy will have assets of approximately $66 billion and its regulated electric and gas utilities will serve 8.4 million customers.

Lazard Ltd. served as financial advisor to NV Energy in the deal while Sidley Austin LLP, Hogan Lovells, and Reno, Nev.-based Woodburn and Wedge served as legal advisors.

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Top 10 Casino Companies To Buy For 2014

In the following video, Fool contributor Matt Thalman discusses a few different reasons he believes investors should stay away from the casino and online gambling operators until online gambling revenues are proven over the next few quarters.

One front-runner in the online poker scene is Zynga (NASDAQ: ZNGA  ) , a company that Matt believes would be better off in the long run if it made one strategic move.

To find out what that is, and for a few reasons investors should stay on the sidelines, click on the video.

More Foolish insight
For many companies, successfully capitalizing on a booming Chinese economy is like winning the jackpot. That's indeed the case for gaming company Las Vegas Sands, which made a big bet on Macau gaming about a decade ago that's paid off in spades. The company is now looking to spread its empire further, but will it be able to replicate its prior successes? Learn about all these opportunities, and the risks they pose, in our premium report on Las Vegas Sands. Be sure to claim your copy today by clicking here.

Top 10 Casino Companies To Buy For 2014: Pinnacle Entertainment Inc.(PNK)

Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. owns, develops, and operates casinos, and related hospitality and entertainment facilities in the United States. It operates casinos, such as L'Auberge du Lac in Lake Charles, Louisiana; River City Casino and Lumiere Place in St. Louis, Missouri; Boomtown New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana; Belterra Casino Resort in Vevay, Indiana; Boomtown Bossier City in Bossier City, Louisiana; and Boomtown Reno in Reno, Nevada. The company also operates River Downs racetrack in southeast Cincinnati, Ohio. As of May 26, 2011, it operated seven casinos and one racetrack. The company was formerly known as Hollywood Park, Inc. and changed its name to Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. in February 2000. Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. was founded in 1935 and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jeanine Poggi]

  Pinnacle Entertainment(PNK) was the great transition story of 2010, with shares spiking about 45% this year.

  The regional casino operator's most impressive story has been in its gross margins, as management, under the leadership of new CEO Anthony Sanfilippo, is in the process of increasing the company's operating efficiencies and prudently allocating capital. Analysts believe Pinnacle is in the early stages of this process, and will continue to drive revenue growth.

  In its third quarter, Pinnacle reported a surprise profit of 10 cents a share on an adjusted basis, better than consensus estimates of a loss of 7 cents. Revenue grew 15% to $287.8 million, while property-level margins reached 23.4%, also ahead of forecasts.

  Last month, Pinnacle purchased Cincinnati's River Downs Racetrack for $45 million. The deal includes 155 acres, 35 of which are still undeveloped. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2011.

  This deal could generate significant returns in the event that Ohio decides to legalize video lottery terminals at racetracks, Santarelli said.

  Pinnacle is also in the process of looking for a buyer of its oceanfront land in Atlantic City, where it originally intended to build a $1.5 billion casino, before squelching plans. The casino operator bought the land in 2006 for $270 million from groups affiliated with Carl Icahn and later added another piece of land for $70 million.

  While the land's currently value is $38 million, Pinnacle insists it will not sell it on the cheap, holding out for the best deal.

  Pinnacle currently has $228 million in cash and $375 million of availability under its revolver.

• [By Sherry Jim]

  Pinnacle Entertainment(PNK) swung to a loss in its second quarter, as costs rose.

  During the quarter, the regional casino operator lost $49.3 million, or 81 cents a share, compared with a profit of $4.7 million, or 8 cents, in the year-ago period for Pinnacle.

  Excluding items, Pinnacle actually lost 14 cents a share, 10 cents worse than analysts' estimates of a 4-cent loss.

  Pinnacle's revenue rose 8.5% to $273.6 million from $252.3 million, but also fell short of Wall Street's forecast of $284.4 million.

  Even though revenue was weaker, margins rebounded at all but one of Pinnacle's properties. "Margins are the story for Pinnacle ahead of any longer-term potential true rebound in the economy, and we continue to believe there are multiple opportunities for near-term operational improvements across the Pinnacle portfolio," Bain wrote in a note.

  At a time when most casino operators are striving to reduce costs to offset the decline in consumer spending, Pinnacle saw expenses rise 21% to $289.3 million. But Bain said Pinnacle is still in the early stages of cost-refining. "Given what we view as several areas of potential improvements in this regard, we believe Pinnacle is less dependent on an economic recovery than some of its regional peers," he wrote.

  J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff also reaffirms his overweight rating on the stock, viewing Pinnacle as a transition story. "We continue to believe that new CEO Anthony Sanfilippo and team will drive increased operating efficiencies and allocate capital prudently," he wrote in a note.

  Greff praises Sanfilippo for shelving the Sugarcane Bay project and instead focusing on Baton Rouge.

  Pinnacle's liquidity remains strong, with $200 million in cash and $375 million of availability under its revolver

Top 10 Casino Companies To Buy For 2014: MGM Resorts International(MGM)

MGM Resorts International, through its subsidiaries, primarily owns and operates casino resorts in the United States. The company?s resorts offer gaming, hotel, dining, entertainment, retail, and other resort amenities. It also owns and operates golf courses and a golf club. As of December 31, 2010, the company owned and operated 15 properties located in Nevada, Mississippi, and Michigan; and has 50% investments in 4 other casino resorts in Nevada, Illinois, and Macau. In addition, MGM Resorts International has an agreement with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, which owns and operates a casino resort in Connecticut, to carry the ?MGM Grand? brand name. The company was formerly known as MGM MIRAGE and changed its name to MGM Resorts International in June 2010. MGM Resorts International was founded in 1986 and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Goodwin]

  MGM Resorts International(MGM) has the most exposure to the Las Vegas market, making it a bet only for those with thick skin.

  For the second quarter, the casino operator lost $883.5 million, or $2 a share, compared with a loss of $212.5 million, or 60 cents, in the year-ago period.

  A majority of the loss was attributed to a $1.12 billion writedown on its investment in CityCenter in Las Vegas. This is the third time MGM has had to write down CityCenter, as the casino has seen little improvement in operating profit since it opened in December. The $8.5 billion development took a loss of $128 million.

  Excluding this writedown, MGM actually lost 35 cents a share, still significantly more than analysts estimates of a 24-cent loss. MGM's revenue rose 3% to $1.54 billion from $1.49 billion, ahead of analysts' estimates of $1.46 billion.

  Revenue-per-available room on the Las Vegas Strip decreased 2%, although Bellagio and MGM Grand showed improvement, the company said. Occupancy levels slipped to 93% from 94% while the average daily rate fell a dollar to $110. "The Las Vegas operating environment remains difficult, but as we expected, we are seeing a gradual recovery," Chief Executive Officer Jim Murren said in a statement.

  Some of MGM's losses in Las Vegas were offset by its joint venture in Macau with Pansy Ho. MGM Macau earned $40 million, compared with a loss of $8 million last year

  Outside of Vegas, MGM said last week that it agreed to sell land from its Borgata hotel in Atlantic City for $73 million to Vornado Realty Trust and Geyser Holdings. The Borgata land, which is co-owned with Boyd Gaming(BYD), is about 11.3 acres, which would translate into about $6.5 million per acre.

  The transaction still needs to be approved by New Jersey regulators, and is expected to close by the fourth quarter. Once this transaction is complete, MGM will still own about 85 acres of developable land in Atlantic City.

  Earlier in the year, MGM said it planned t! o divest its 50% stake in the Atlantic City casino, which is currently in trust. The casino operator is still in talks with potential buyers of Borgata casino, and hotel and investors will be waiting for an update on its progress when second-quarter earnings are released.

  "We view this [deal] as a very modest positive in that there are still buyers of Atlantic City assets out there, at least at the right price," J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff wrote in a note. "We don't necessarily interpret [the] news as any indication that MGM is closer to selling its 50% stake in Borgata."

• [By Hawkinvest]

  MGM Resorts International (MGM) is one of the world's largest hotel and casino companies, based in Las Vegas. Since December, MGM shares have been trading in a range of about $9, to almost $15 per share. The stock is now at the upper limit of the recent trading range which means that the risk of holding or buying this stock right now, could be elevated. MGM shares have rallied with the markets but appear extended and vulnerable to a sell-off. The company has a heavy debt load and it has been reporting losses. The balance sheet has about $13.45 billion in debt and only about $1.97 billion in cash. MGM could be impacted by higher oil prices because many consumers could cut back on spending if they go to Las Vegas, and some might decide not to go at all, and instead opt for a "staycation." With MGM facing challenges and the shares near recent highs, it could make sen se to sell now and buy on dips later this year.

  Here are some key points for MGM:

  Current share price: $14.18

  The 52 week range is $7.40 to $16.05

  Earnings estimates for 2011: a loss of 53 cents per share

  Earnings estimates for 2012: a loss of 39 cents per share

  Annual dividend: none

10 Best Retail Stocks To Own For 2014: Wynn Resorts Limited(WYNN)

Wynn Resorts, Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the development, ownership, and operation of destination casino resorts. The company owns and operates Wynn Las Vegas casino resort in Las Vegas, which includes approximately 22 food and beverage outlets comprising 5 dining restaurants; 2 nightclubs; 1 spa and salon; 1 Ferrari and Maserati automobile dealership; wedding chapels; an 18-hole golf course; meeting space; and foot retail promenade featuring boutiques. Wynn Las Vegas casino resort also features approximately 147 table games, 1 baccarat salon, private VIP gaming rooms, 1 poker room, 1,842 slot machines, and 1 race and sports book. It also owns and operates an Encore at Wynn Las Vegas resort, a destination casino resort located adjacent to Wynn Las Vegas that features a 2,034 all-suite hotel, as well as a casino with 95 table games, 1 sky casino, 1 baccarat salon, private VIP gaming rooms, and 778 slot machines. In addition, the company operates Wyn n Macau casino resort located in the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People?s Republic of China. Wynn Macau casino resort features approximately 595 hotel rooms and suites, 410 table games, 935 slot machines, 1 poker room, 1 sky casino, 6 restaurants, 1 spa and salon, lounges, meeting facilities, and retail space featuring boutiques. Further, it operates Encore at Wynn Macau resort located adjacent to Wynn Macau. Encore at Wynn Macau resort features approximately 410 luxury suites and 4 villas, as well as casino gaming space, including a sky casino consisting of 60 table games and 80 slot machines, 2 restaurants, 1 luxury spa, and retail space. The company was founded in 2002 and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jeanine Poggi]

  Wynn Resorts'(WYNN) run up of more than 55% this year has caused Wall Street to question its valuation.

  Currently, eight analysts have a buy rating on Wynn, 16 say hold, two rate it underperform rating and one says to sell the stock.

  "With little on the growth horizon in the intermediate term, new competition from Cotai coming in 2011 and 2012 ... and the unclear timing of a true recovery in Las Vegas, we see few catalysts not yet priced-in to pull valuation higher than current levels," Bain wrote in a note following its third-quarter earnings report.

  During the quarter, Wynn lost $33.5 million, or 27 cents a share, compared with a profit of $34.2 million, or 28 cents, in the year-ago period. The loss was attributed to charges related to servicing its debt. On an adjusted basis, Wynn actually earned 39 cents, matching Wall Street's outlook.

  Total Revenue grew to $1 billion from $773.1 million, better than the $990.8 million analysts predicted.

  In Macau, Wynn reported a 50% surge in revenue to $671.4 million, while EBITDA was $198 million, up 54.5% from $128.2 million in the third quarter of 2009. Earlier in the year the company opened its $600 million Wynn Encore Macau, which added 414 rooms to the market.

  Looking ahead, Wynn expects to break ground on its Cotai development in early 2011. The $2 billion to $3 billion project is slated to open in 2015, and management said it would provide additional details following its fourth-quarter earnings report.

  In Las Vegas, CEO Steve Wynn says the Strip is on the road to recovery. "I believe we have seen the bottom in Las Vegas," he said during the company's third-quarter conference call. "I don't know how fast it is going to get better but it isn't going to get any worse."

  Las Vegas revenue inched up 3.1% to $334.5 million during the three-month period, and EBITDA grew 9.3% to $76.5 million.

  Wynn also issued a cash dividend of $8 a share payable on Dec. 7 to sharehold! ers of record on Nov. 23.

• [By Carlson]

  Wynn Resorts(WYNN) saw its second-quarter profit more than double, but most of that strength came from casino wins, and investors were unimpressed.

  During the quarter, the casino operator earned $52. 4 million, or 52 cents a share, on revenue of $1.03 billion, higher than forecasts of 42 cents on revenue of $992.3 million. This compares with a profit of $25.5 million, or 21 cents, on revenue of $723.3 million, in the year-ago period.

  Wynn had already pre-announced disappointing results for its Las Vegas properties, citing higher costs, including employee health care and benefits, and marketing expenses. Its operating loss for its Wynn Las Vegas and Encore widened to $17.2 million from $8.3 million last year. Revenue rose 1.7% to $318 million.

  Occupancy at the Wynn Las Vegas jumped to 92.6% from 86.6% a year earlier, but revenue per available room fell 3.2%.

  Still, management indicated that there is a slight improvement on the Strip, with an increase in forward group bookings and some bright spots for the ability to yield rates. But management tempered enthusiasm by saying there are some struggles and uncertainty in the marketplace.

  "We hope for continued improvement in Las Vegas or -- let me put it different, we hope that we'll get smarter in Las Vegas in dealing with the peculiarities of this market --and this very, very mercurial, national economic market we're living with," said Steve Wynn, chief executive, in a conference call. "The national economy and the political environment in the country as we head up to the elections [is] very, very touchy. And it is impacting all businesses."

  The biggest boost, of course, came from Macau, where revenue surged 74% to $714.4 million from $410.4 million last year.

  The company opened its Encore Macau in the spring, boosting its market share to about 16% from about 13%, Sterne Agee analyst David Bain wrote in a note.

  Wynn is in the process of working on a new development on the Cotai st! rip, which should spike investors' interest as more details are revealed in the coming quarters.

  Still, investors are concerned that as comparisons get harder in Macau, and second-quarter results are adjusted for hold (how much the casino won), Wynn may not be able to outperform. But Bain reassures, "this has been discussed as nauseam by investors, sell-side analysts, the press -- and even dinner-table relatives -- for some time. We believe the Street is underestimating the summer months in Macua, which may help to produce a new leg up for Macau stories, with Wynn being the most profitable on a per position basis."

Top 10 Casino Companies To Buy For 2014: Boyd Gaming Corporation(BYD)

Boyd Gaming Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a multi-jurisdictional gaming company in the United States. As of December 31, 2011, the company owned and operated 1,042,787 square feet of casino space, containing approximately 25,973 slot machines, 655 table games, and 11,418 hotel rooms. It also owned and operated 16 gaming entertainment properties located in Nevada, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, and New Jersey. In addition, the company owns and operates a pari-mutuel jai-alai facility located in Dania Beach, Florida, as well as a travel agency in Hawaii. Further, it holds a 50% controlling interest in the limited liability company that operates Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Boyd Gaming Corporation was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Hesler]

  Boyd Gaming(BYD) posted a bigger-than-expected drop in its second-quarter earnings, citing weak performance in Las Vegas, the Midwest and the South.

  During the quarter, the casino operator earned $3.4 million, or 4 cents a share, a 73% plunge from $12.8 million, or 15 cents, in the year-ago period. Adjusted earnings came in at 5 cents a share, significantly lower than the 10 cents Wall Street predicted for Boyd.

  Boyd's revenue fell 6% to $578.4 million, also short of the consensus of $588 million.

  "The lingering effects of the recession have left consumers unusually sensitive to shifts in the economy, and they now react more quickly to economic data and other developments, such as fluctuations in the stock market," said CEO Keith Smith, in a statement. "Although conditions remain uncertain, we believe long-term stabilizing trends are still in place, and that year-over-year growth is achievable by the end of 2010."

  In the Las Vegas locals market, the rate of decline in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization rose to 16.2% from 10.8%, J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff wrote in a note. Boyd previously reported a 9.9% decline for its Borgata property in Atlantic City. Revenue came in at $186.9 million, a 2.4% decrease from the year-ago period.

  "We think second-quarter results are less important than the coming operating results in the second-half of 2010, when the Atlantic City market faces increased regional competitive pressures from tables in Pennsylvania and West Virginia and the first Philadelphia casino opens this summer," J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff wrote in a note.

  Greff reaffirmed his underweight rating on Boyd, given increasing competition in Atlantic City, a weak recovery in the Las Vegas locals market and stagnant regional gaming trends.

  While there is no doubt the Atlantic City gaming market remains one of the most depressed, Borgata continues to dominate the market and gain share. Atlant! ic City saw gaming revenues plunge 11.1% in June to $286.8 million. Boyd co-owns Borgata with MGM Resorts, which is currently in the process of divesting its 50% stake.

• [By Jeanine Poggi]

  The Las Vegas locals and Atlantic City markets have the longest road to recovery, making Boyd Gaming (BYD) one of the most challenged stocks in the sector long-term.

  It's not a surprise then that Boyd saw some of the most muted gains in 2010, with shares rising just 13.8% since the beginning of the year.

  In Atlantic City, where Boyd owns a 50% stake in the Borgata, gambling revenue plunged 13% in November. The New Jersey Boardwalk has been under pressure even before the recession began, as nearby regions expand their gaming presence.

  Both West Virginia and Pennsylvania added table games to casinos in the second half of the year and new properties opened in Philadelphia and Maryland. In 2011, Atlantic City will also have to contend with additional growth in Pennsylvania and the pending opening of the Aqueduct in New York City.

  Given this, Boyd decided not to exercise its right to match a $250 million offer MGM Resorts(MGM) received for its 50% stake in the Borgata. MGM decided to divest its joint venture with Boyd after the Atlantic City Gaming Commission criticized its relationship with Pansy Ho in Macau, whose family has allegedly been tied to organized crime in China.

  In the Las Vegas locals market, where Boyd generates about 44% of its EBITDA, trends are improving, but not as quickly as analysts would have hoped. In October, gaming revenue in the market grew 6.2% to $169.4 million.

  In its third quarter, Boyd disappointed Wall Street, with adjusted earnings coming in at 2 cents a share, shy of consensus estimates of 5 cents. Revenue dropped 4% to $595.4 million.

  Boyd also announced plans to sell $500 million of eight-year notes. Proceeds will be used to buy back senior subordinated notes due 2012 and to repay bank loans.

Top 10 Casino Companies To Buy For 2014: (XTRN)

Las Vegas Railway Express Inc. focuses to re-establish a conventional passenger train service between the Las Vegas and Los Angeles metropolitan areas. It plans to establish a ?Vegas-style? passenger train service. The company is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Top 10 Casino Companies To Buy For 2014: Penn National Gaming Inc.(PENN)

Penn National Gaming, Inc. and its subsidiaries own and manage gaming and pari-mutuel properties in the United States. It operates approximately 27,000 gaming machines; 500 table games; and 2,000 hotel rooms in 23 facilities in 16 jurisdictions, including Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ontario. The company was formerly known as PNRC Corp. and changed its name to Penn National Gaming, Inc. in 1994. Penn National Gaming, Inc. was founded in 1982 and is based in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Quickel]

  Penn National Gaming(PENN) squeaked past its guidance through improved cost controls, and investors praised its efforts.

  But expectations were low, and its upbeat outlook shouldn't be viewed as a message that regional markets are recovering. "Going forward, we project soft regional gaming revenue results over the next three to six months, as we do not expect to see a significant increase in consumer spending patterns given the uncertain economic environment," J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff wrote in a note.

  Penn National raised its full-year earnings guidance to $1.18 from $1.13 a share, and up its revenue outlook by $26 million to $2.44 billion from $2.41 billion.

  During the second quarter, the company earned $9.2 million, or 9 cents a share, compared with $28.5 million, or 27 cents, in the year-ago period. Excluding items, Penn actually earned 29 cents a share, a penny higher than estimates.

  Revenue rose 3% to $598.3 million, higher than the $597.1 million Wall Street projected. The upside was driven by both better revenues and margins and was generally broad-based across many properties, especially larger venues in Charlestown, Lawrenceburg and Grantville, Pa.

  Penn National rolled out table games in West Virginia and Pennsylvania during the quarter, which should be a growth catalyst moving forward. The company also plans to open a slot facility in Maryland on Sept. 30 and expects its Toldeo, Ohio, location to open in the first-half of 2012. Its Columbus project is slated to open in the second-half of 2012.

  The company repurchased 409,000 shares during the quarter. "[This] sends a message to investors on the value of its equity, but perhaps indicating the lack of near-term acquisition opportunities," J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff wrote in a note.

Top Cheap Stocks To Invest In Right Now

America's drivers have finally started to get some real relief at the pump. According to Bloomberg, gas prices fell 6.8% in March, the biggest drop since November. AAA is reporting that the average gas price in the States is $3.56 per gallon, about $0.35 cheaper than this time last year. Unfortunately, the relief may be short-lived. America's crumbling transportation infrastructure is screaming for higher funding, and many states are initiating tax hikes. Today we'll look at the states with the highest tax rates on gasoline, and the strategies that some states are employing to remedy budget shortfalls.

The highest taxes in the land
The federal government taxes gasoline at a rate of $0.184 per gallon, but the total tax burden at the state and local level is often much, much higher than that. California takes first place for the highest state taxes on gasoline. The chart below shows the rest of the top five, but data for every state can be found here.

Top Cheap Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Ur Energy Inc(URG)

Ur-Energy Inc., an exploration stage junior mining company, engages in the identification, acquisition, evaluation, exploration, and development of uranium mineral properties. The company has 13 projects located in Wyoming and Nebraska, the United States; and 3 exploration projects located in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, Canada. Its landholdings cover approximately 90,000 acres in the United States and approximately 140,000 acres in Canada. The company was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Littleton, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Louis]

  Junior mining company UR-Energy Inc.(URG) has watched its stock increase 73% in the past 12 months. Currently trading at $1.64, URG has more than doubled its 52-week low of 73 cents, and is a great choice for penny stock investors.

Top Cheap Stocks To Invest In Right Now: AeroVironment Inc.(AVAV)

AeroVironment, Inc. designs, develops, produces, and supports unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), and efficient energy systems for various industries and governmental agencies. Its UAS provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, including real-time tactical reconnaissance, tracking, combat assessment, and geographic data to the small tactical unit or individual war fighter. The UAS wirelessly transmit critical live video and other information generated by their payload of electro-optical or infrared sensors directly to a hand-held ground control system, enabling the operator to view and capture images during the day or at night on a hand-held ground control unit. AeroVironment also provides spare equipment, alternative payload modules, batteries, chargers, repair services, and customer support for the UAS. In addition, the company produces industrial productivity and clean transportation solutions for commercial and government customers, develops potential clean t ransportation solutions, and performs contract engineering services; offers PosiCharge electric vehicle charging systems for industrial electric material handling fleets, electric vehicle charging systems for passenger and fleet vehicles, and power cycling and test systems for developers and manufacturers of plug-in electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as battery packs, electric motors, and fuel cells; and supplies power cycling and test systems to research and development organizations that focus on developing electric propulsion systems, electric generation systems, and electricity storage systems. It supplies its UAS primarily to the organizations within the United States department of defense. AeroVironment, Inc. was incorporated in 1971 and is headquartered in Monrovia, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chris Stuart]

  AeroVironment(AVAV) sells unmanned, remote-control military aircraft and rapid-charging battery stations for electric vehicles.

  The stock has fallen due to concerns over U.S. defense budget cuts. According to Benchmark Research, the company should do well because of growth in its electric-vehicle-charging business. "We will see major deployment of electric-vehicle-charging infrastructure in the coming year to support multiple electric-vehicle introductions and the White House's target of 1 million EV by 2015."

  AeroVironment was recently named to a list of stocks by Goldman Sachs that have a 15% probability, or better, of being acquired. Shares of AeroVironment rocketed 20% Wednesday as quarterly earnings exceeded analysts' estimates. While the shares are not quite as attractive compared with when I first ran the screen June 20, they still have upside potential, given TheStreet Ratings $38 price target.

Top 5 Electric Utility Stocks To Watch Right Now: Emerson Electric Company(EMR)

Emerson Electric Co. operates as a diversified manufacturing and technology company. The company engages in appliance solutions, climate technologies, industrial automation, motor technology, network power, process management, professional tools, and storage solutions businesses. Its appliance solutions business provides appliance controls, appliance motors, heating products, and white-rodgers; climate technology business provides heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) solutions for residential, industrial, and commercial applications; and industrial automation business offers bearings and power transmission products, electrical power generation products, electric motors, variable speed drives and servos, electrical products, material joining solutions, fluid automation products, and wind turbine systems. The company?s motor technology business provides appliance motors, HVACR motors, DC motors, fractional horsepower motors, integral horsepower a nd larger motors, and drives; network power business provides power, precision cooling, connectivity, and embedded solutions; and process management business provides various wireless related products from self-organizing field networks to wireless asset and people tracking. Its professional tools business offers pipe working and threading equipment, pressing technology, utility locating and visual diagnostics systems, drain maintenance tools, power tools, air tools, general purpose hand tools, wet/dry vacs, job site storage equipment, truck tool boxes and equipment, and van storage equipment; and storage solutions business provides shelving and storage products for residential, commercial, and foodservice needs, as well as offers specialized carts, mobile computer workstations, and cabinet fixtures. The company was founded in 1890 and is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Larry Gellar]

  Similar to Archer Daniels Midland above, Emerson Electric saw 52-week highs in February but has been down since to a current price of below $50. From a valuation perspective, Emerson is quite attractive – notably P/E and PEG are 15.55 and 0.99 respectively. This is lower than competitors like ABB (ABB) and Hitachi (HIT), and Emerson’s margins are also better than those companies. Specifically, Emerson currently has a gross margin of 39.58% and an operating margin of 17.04%. Aside from the companies listed above, this also beats out General Electric (GE), which has 36.79% and 11.15% for those same numbers respectively. On the other hand, there are also some concerns to be had with EMR. Total cash flow for the past 3 quarters has been a whopping negative $1.8 billion. Shareholders have also been wary of the company’s willingness to take on additional debt. Upcoming earnings for EMR have already been guided downward, and it seems likely that the stock price will fall once the actual results are posted. The wisest thing may be to wait for the stock to bottom out after earnings and then buy it before it creeps back upward. Some investors may find EMR attractive for its dividends; yield is currently at 2.8%.

Top Cheap Stocks To Invest In Right Now: TII Network Technologies Inc.(TIII)

Tii Network Technologies, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and sells products for use in the networks to service providers in the communications industry in the United States. It provides network interface devices (NID), including overvoltage surge protectors, digital subscriber line (DSL) service splitters, and customer bridge modules; building entrance terminals; and accessories comprising station protectors, customer wiring modules, electro-magnetic interference filters, and line test modules. The company also offers broadband products, such as DSL electronic products that include xDSL plain old telephone service splitters to isolate voice and data signals; Outrigger, an outdoor intelligent residential gateway; HomePlug technology that enables networking of voice, data, and audio devices through the consumers? AC power lines. In addition, it provides connectivity products consisting of connector block and terminal block products; voice over I nternet protocol products; switchable voice NID products; voice intercom systems for use in multi-dwelling units; and wire terminals and other connectivity products. Further, the company offers fiber optic products which comprise wall mount enclosures, rack mount enclosures, OSP fiber enclosures, cable assemblies, miscellaneous fiber accessories, and optic network terminals installation accessories. Additionally, it offers overvoltage surge protection products, including two and three electrode gas tubes; station overvoltage surge protectors; protector modules; and protector packs and cat 5 cat 6 protection products, as well as other surge protection products comprising a 75 ohm coaxial protector for cable networks; a 50-ohm coaxial protector for wireless service providers? cell sites; a gel-sealed Ethernet data protector; and power line/data line protectors for personal computers and home entertainment systems. The company was founded in 1964 and is headquartered in Edgewoo d, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Reese]

  Tii Network Technologies (NASDAQ: TIII) helps protect expensive telecom equipment with its overvoltage surge protection devices. This is especially useful during lightning strikes and power surges. Its Total Failsafe products offer modular station protectors, while its In-Line products protect broadband coaxial cables.

  Naturally, large telecom carriers like Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) are big customers and account for 34% of sales. DIRECTV (NASDAQ: DTV), Power & Telephone Supply and Tyco Electronics (NYSE: TEL) are also customers. With Verizon and other cell phone providers upgrading to 4G, Tii’s sales should remain very strong.

  The stock is a good buy, but it is thinly traded, so use a limit order within 10 cents of the previous day’s closing price. Buy TIII under $3.

Top Cheap Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Popular Inc.(BPOP)

Popular, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides a range of retail and commercial banking products and services primarily to corporate clients, small and middle size businesses, and retail clients in Puerto Rico and Mainland United States. It offers deposit products; commercial, consumer, and mortgage loans, as well as lease finance; and finance and advisory services. The company also offers trust and asset management, brokerage and investment banking, and insurance and reinsurance services. As of December 31, 2010, it owned and occupied approximately 94 branch premises and other facilities in Puerto Rico; and 119 offices, including 20 owned and 99 leased in New York, Illinois, New Jersey, California, Florida, and Texas. Popular, Inc. was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Hilary Kramer]

  Popular (NASDAQ: BPOP) provides a range of retail and commercial banking products and services in Puerto Rico, the United States, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Costa Rica. The stock has dipped along with the entire banking sector, but as is often the case when sentiment is negative, I think investors have overreacted and knocked it down too much.

  Potential improvements in the Puerto Rican economy should help it bounce back, as well as clarity on the company’s recent decision to pull out of an agreement to sell non-performing construction loans. It’s important to note that Popular has already successfully sold a lot of its troubled loans, and the company’s capital levels are solid, which puts it in good position for a rebound once conditions improve.

What Does Intel Have Up Its Sleeve?

This month marks a milestone for chip juggernaut Intel (NASDAQ: INTC  ) . The largest chipmaker in the world by revenue has transitioned to new CEO Brian Krzanich, following the planned retirement of Paul Otellini. One of the most important tasks that Krzanich is faced with will be positioning Intel within the mobile market, an area that Otellini fumbled even as the outgoing exec had his fair share of accomplishments as well.

To that end, Krzanich has reportedly set up a "new devices" division in an internal reorganization. That could mean almost anything, and there's not much other detail surrounding the leaked memo. For context, Intel currently has five operating segments: PC client group, data center group, other Intel architecture, software and services, and all other.

Segment

Revenue (MRQ)

% of Total Revenue (MRQ)

PC Client Group	$8 billion	64%
Data Center Group	$2.6 billion	21%
Other Intel Architecture	$978 million	8%
Software and Services	$588 million	5%
All other	$437 million	3%
Total	$12.6 billion	100%

Source: 10-Q. MRQ = most recent quarter. Figures may not sum because of rounding.

The PC and data center segments tend to generate all of Intel's operating income. The focus on getting Intel silicon into new devices is also precisely what helped Krzanich score the top position, according to The Wall Street Journal. Intel Chairman Andy Bryant was quoted as saying that the pitch "absolutely" helped Krzanich become CEO.

We're not just talking about traditional mobile devices like smartphones and tablets either. "New devices" could include entirely new product categories like wearable devices, among others. The highest-profile wearable device en route to market is Google (NASDAQ: GOOG  ) Glass. The high-tech spectacles strangely use a Texas Instruments OMAP processor, even after TI famously ditched mobile last year.

Still, Google has expressed openness toward using Intel's chips, optimizing Android for the company's x86 architecture a couple of years ago. That partnership hasn't translated into meaningful smartphone wins, even though Intel has a couple of Android devices under its belt now. Like most things, Google is relatively agnostic and just wants to broaden its reach by whatever means necessary.

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) is also expected to get into wearable devices soon with an iWatch. Rumors surfaced late last year that Intel and Apple were collaborating on a smart watch. The odd part about that rumor is that Apple has also allegedly explored moving Macs away from Intel chips in favor of its own designs. An Intel-powered iWatch is a possibility, even if a remote one.

Will Krzanich's mark on Intel be broadening the company's horizons to new product categories?

When it comes to dominating markets, it doesn't get much better than Intel's position in the PC microprocessor arena. However, that market is maturing, and Intel finds itself in a precarious situation longer term if it doesn't find new avenues for growth. In this premium research report on Intel, a Motley Fool analyst runs through all of the key topics investors should understand about the chip giant. Click here now to learn more.

Lincoln National Keeps Dividend Steady at $0.12

Insurance provider Lincoln National  (NYSE: LNC  )  announced yesterday its second-quarter dividend of $0.12 per share, the same rate it paid for the past two quarters after raising the payout 50%, from $0.08 per share.

The board of directors said the quarterly dividend is payable on August 1 to the holders of record at the close of business on July 10. 

The board also called for the redemption of all of its outstanding $3.00 Series A cumulative convertible preferred stock on July 2 for $80 per security, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends. There are currently approximately 9,532 shares of Series A preferred stock issued and outstanding.  

Until the close of business on June 27, shareholders of the Series A preferred stock have the option to convert each share into 16 shares of Lincoln's common stock.

The regular dividend payment equates to a $0.48-per-share annual dividend, yielding 1.4% based on the closing price of Lincoln National's stock on May 23.

LNC Dividend data by YCharts

Top 5 Consumer Companies To Buy For 2014

Hot on the heels of a $15 million Consumer Financial Protection Bureau settlement with mortgage insurers Genworth Financial (NYSE: GNW  ) , MGIC Investment (NYSE: MTG  ) , Radian Group (NYSE: RDN  ) , and United Guaranty, a subsidiary of AIG (NYSE: AIG  ) , over kickbacks�paid to banks for mortgage insurance, comes some bad news in the same vein -- this time, for Bank of America (NYSE: BAC  ) .

Insurance and reinsurance
Even as the above insurers are forking over settlement checks to the CFPB, the bureau is investigating further the whole sordid mess that prompted the settlement in the first place. Now, it is turning its gaze to the recipients of those bribes: mortgage lenders like B of A.

But, that is a future concern. Right now, Bank of America will be forced to deal with homeowners who filed suit against the bank last year, claiming just the type of kickback scheme for which the insurers ponied up. B of A tried to get the claims dismissed, but a judge decided a little over a week ago that the bank will have to face those charges.�

Top 5 Consumer Companies To Buy For 2014: Oxford Instruments(OXIG.L)

Oxford Instruments plc researches, develops, manufactures, and sells high technology tools and systems. It operates in three segments: Nanotechnology Tools, Industrial Products, and Service. The Nanotechnology Tools segment produces analysis tools for precise chemical and structural data using electron microscopes; equipment for experimental research in the areas of very low temperature and very high magnetic fields; and nanotechnology fabrication tools, which are used to manipulate materials at the atomic scale. The Industrial Products segment produces analytical equipment for industrial quality control and environmental monitoring; superconducting wire for MRI scanners markets; and equipment to analyze industrial and food products, primarily oils and fats, as well as magnetic resonance analytical tools for the petrochemical industry, which offers data used to enhance the efficiency of oil extraction. The Service segment provides magnet service, parts, and accessories to service and support the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) industry; and supplies, services, and refurbishes vacuum pumps, helium compressors, and cold heads for the semiconductor, medical, and research sectors. The company offers its products to energy, environment, health, industry, nanotechnology, security, food and agriculture, information technology, research, rock core analysis, semiconductor electronics, and space markets. It operates in the United States, Europe, Asia, the United Kingdom, Japan, China, Germany, and internationally. Oxford Instruments plc was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in Abingdon, the United Kingdom.

Top 5 Consumer Companies To Buy For 2014: Fischer Tech Ltd (F22.SI)

Fischer Tech Ltd, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells precision engineering plastic components for electronic products. It offers plastic components used in products for the automotives, smart phones, computer peripherals, healthcare, and consumer product industries, as well as is involved in laser marking and decorative finishing for engineering components. The company also designs and manufactures precision plastic injection moulds used in the manufacture of plastic injection components; and engages in the high precision injection molding. In addition, it manufactures in-mould labeling (IML) plastic key pads and IML plastic components. The company sells its products in north Asia and southeast Asia. Fischer Tech Ltd was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Singapore.

Top Construction Material Stocks To Watch Right Now: Zhongpin Inc.(HOGS)

Zhongpin Inc. engages in the processing and distribution of meat and food products primarily in the People?s Republic of China. The company provides pork and pork products, such as chilled pork, frozen pork, hog by-products and variety meats, and prepared meats; and vegetable and fruit products, including asparagus, sweet corn, broccoli, mushrooms, lima beans, strawberries, and capsicums. It sells its products fast food companies, processing factories, school cafeterias, factory canteens, hotels, army bases, and government departments, as well as directly to retail outlets, including supermarkets. The company also exports its products to Europe, Hong Kong, and other countries in Asia. As of December 31, 2010, it operated 157 showcase stores, 1,072 branded stores, and 2,097 supermarket counter locations. The company is headquartered in Changge City, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Portfolio Grader]

  Zhongpin (NASDAQ:HOGS) improves from a C to a B rating this week. Zhongpin engages in the processing and distribution of meat and food products primarily in the People’s Republic of China.

Top 5 Consumer Companies To Buy For 2014: Sony Corp Ord(SNE)

Sony Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and sells electronic equipment, instruments, and devices for consumer, professional, and industrial markets worldwide. The company offers consumer products and devices, including televisions, video cameras, compact digital cameras and interchangeable single-lens cameras, Blu-ray Disc players/recorders, DVD-video players/recorders, home theaters and audio systems, and portable audio and car audio products. It also provides charged coupled devices, complementary metal-oxide semiconductor image sensors, system LSIs, small- and medium-sized LCD panels, and other semiconductors; and components, such as batteries, optical disk drives, chemical products, audio/video/data recording media, storage media, and optical pickups. In addition, the company develops, produces, markets, and distributes games, such as PlayStation3, PlayStation Portable, and PlayStation 2 hardware and related software; and PCs and flash memory digital audio pl ayers, as well as manufactures broadcast- and professional-use products, Blu-ray discs, DVDs, and CD discs. Further, it produces and distributes motion pictures and television programs, and home entertainment; creates and distributes digital content; operates television networks and studio facilities; and develops entertainment products, services, and technologies. Additionally, the company engages in the music publishing business, as well as provision of various financial services, including insurance, savings products, loans, and credit financing services; and a network service business and an advertising agency business. It also involves in research, development, design, production, marketing, sales, distribution, and servicing mobile phones, accessories, services, and applications. The company was formerly known as Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha and changed its name to Sony Corporation in 1958. Sony Corporation was founded in 1946 and is based in Tokyo, Japan.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Carlson]

  Sony Corporation (SNE) has been downgraded by TheStreet Ratings from hold to sell. The company's weaknesses can be seen in multiple areas, such as its disappointing return on equity, poor profit margins, weak operating cash flow, generally disappointing historical performance in the stock itself and feeble growth in its earnings per share.

  Sony Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and sells electronic equipment, instruments, and devices for consumer, professional, and industrial markets worldwide. The company has a P/E ratio of 5.9, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Sony has a market cap of $20.8 billion and is part of the consumer goods sector and consumer durables industry. Shares are down 44.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday.

Top 5 Consumer Companies To Buy For 2014: Winnebago Industries Inc.(WGO)

Winnebago Industries, Inc. manufactures and sells recreation vehicles primarily for leisure travel and outdoor recreation activities. The company offers motor homes, which are self-propelled mobile dwellings that provide living accommodations for approximately seven persons and include kitchen, dining, sleeping, and bath areas, as well as a lounge; and optional equipment accessories, such as generators, home theater systems, king-size beds, upholstery, and interior equipment. It manufactures motor homes constructed directly on medium- and heavy-duty truck chassis, which include engine and drivetrain components; and on van-type chassis onto which the motor home manufacturer constructs a living area with access to the driver's compartment under the Winnebago and Itasca brand names, as well as panel-type vans with sleeping, kitchen, and/or toilet facilities under the Era brand name. The company also produces original equipment manufacturing parts, including extruded aluminum and other component products for other manufacturers and commercial vehicles. Winnebago Industries markets its motor homes through independent dealers primarily in the United States and Canada. The company was founded in 1958 and is headquartered in Forest City, Iowa.

Top Consumer Stocks To Buy For 2014

While in many ways alternative energy remains in its infancy, continuing developments have put the U.S. in a better position relative to energy independence than seemed even thinkable a decade ago. The advent of hydraulic fracturing -- known as fracking -- has opened up a significant oil and gas supply that continues to lower the need to import resources from abroad. Similarly, advances in solar energy are making it an increasing viable solution, and positive guidance from the solar sector supports this belief. Finally, the U.S. is sitting on huge deposits of kerogen that could contain as much as 6 trillion barrels of oil if it could be extracted.

A case for liquefied natural gas
While thus far liquefied natural gas, or LNG, has remained impractical and unavailable in smaller, non-commercial vehicles, there has been an increasing push toward adopting this fuel for larger applications. Within the past month, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-A  ) announced that it's rolling out a pilot program to test the viability of using LNG to power locomotives at its BNSF Railway. The rail company is the second largest consumer of diesel in the country, using more fuel than any entity other than the U.S. Navy. If rail could effectively switch to LNG, the reduction in oil consumption would be dramatic.

Top Consumer Stocks To Buy For 2014: (PRU.TO)

Perseus Mining Limited engages in the exploration, evaluation, development, and production of gold properties in West Africa. It primarily holds a 90% interest in the Edikan Gold Mine that covers an area of approximately 650 square kilometers located in the Republic of Ghana; an 85% interest in the Sissingu茅 gold deposit, a development stage gold project, which covers an area of 885 square kilometers situated in the north of Cote d�Ivoire; and a 90% interest in the Kayeya gold deposit, an exploration stage gold project located in the Republic of Ghana. The company has a strategic alliance with Burey Gold Limited. Perseus Mining Limited was incorporated in 2003 and is based in Subiaco, Australia.

Top Consumer Stocks To Buy For 2014: Westar Energy Inc.(WR)

Westar Energy, Inc., an electric utility company, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. It produces electricity through various sources, including coal, wind, nuclear, natural gas, oil, and diesel. As of October 26, 2011, it served approximately 687,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Kansas; and had approximately 7,100 megawatts of generating capacity, as well as operated and coordinated approximately 34,000 miles of electric distribution and transmission lines. Westar Energy, Inc. also engages in energy marketing, and in the purchase and sale of electricity. It serves public streets, highways, electric cooperatives, municipalities, and other electric utilities in central and northeastern Kansas, including the cities of Topeka, Lawrence, Manhattan, Salina, and Hutchinson. The company was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in Topeka, Kansas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Richard Young]

  With a service area of roughly 10,130 square miles in Kansas, Westar Energy uses its 19 power plants to generate more than 27 million megawatt-hours of electricity per year. That electricity is deployed along 35,000 miles of transmission lines to 687,000 customers. My relative strength chart shows Westar’s strong outperformance of the S&P over the last four years.

Hot Managed Healthcare Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Astea International Inc.(ATEA)

Astea International Inc. develops, markets, and supports service management software solutions worldwide. The company licenses its solutions to various companies that sell and service equipment, and/or sell and deliver professional services. It offers Astea Alliance suite that includes series of applications to address lead generation, project quotation, service and billing, and asset retirement services. Astea International Inc. integrates and optimizes business processes for campaigns, call center, depot repair, field service, logistics, projects, and sales and order processing applications; provides mobile, dynamic scheduling, portals, and business intelligence solutions; and offers infrastructure tools and services. It also provides FieldCentrix Enterprise suite, a service management solution that runs on various mobile devices, such as handheld computers, laptops and PCs, and pocket PC devices, as well as integrates with CRM and ERP applications; and features a Web-ba sed customer self-service portal, workforce optimization capabilities, and equipment-centric functionality. In addition, the company offers consulting, implementation, training, and maintenance services. Its solutions are used in information technology, medical devices and diagnostic systems, industrial controls and instrumentation, retail systems, office automation, imaging systems, facilities management, telecommunications, and other industries with equipment sales and service requirements. Astea International Inc. markets its products through a network of direct and indirect sales and services offices; and through distributors consisting of value-added resellers, system integrators, and sales agents, as well as original equipment manufacturer partners. The company was formerly known as Applied System Technologies, Inc. and changed its name to Astea International Inc. in 1992. Astea International Inc. was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Horsham, Pennsylvania.

Kilroy Realty Maintains Dividend at $0.35

Best Regional Bank Stocks To Own For 2014

Given that you clicked on this article, it seems safe to assume you either own stock in Synovus Financial (NYSE: SNV  ) or are considering buying shares in the near future. If so, then you've come to the right place. The table below reveals the nine most critical numbers that investors need to know about Synovus stock before deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold it.

As the bank's website tells it, Synovus traces its roots back to 1888 when a mill worker at Eagle and Phenix Mill in Columbus, Georgia "had her dress tangled in the factory machinery, and money sewn into the hem spilled across the floor." The mill's secretary and treasurer thereafter began offering to keep employees' money in a safe and pay them monthly interest on it. And thus was born Synovus Financial. With roughly $27 billion in assets today, the bank has since grown into one of the largest regional banks in the country.

Best Regional Bank Stocks To Own For 2014: Angeion Corporation(ANGN)

Angeion Corporation, through its subsidiary, Medical Graphics Corporation, designs and markets non-invasive cardio respiratory diagnostic systems under the MedGraphics and New Leaf brand names in the United States and internationally. The company?s primary products include pulmonary function and cardiopulmonary exercise testing systems. Its pulmonary function systems comprise Spirometry, Complete Pulmonary Function, and Body Plethysmography product categories, which enable the early detection of lung disease; evaluate the effect of medication; monitor patients with chronic disease; diagnose lung diseases, such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; manage treatment; assess the surgical risk of lung transplant and lung reduction candidates; and evaluate the impact of diseases, such as neuromuscular disease on breathing. The company?s cardiopulmonary exercise testing systems measure functional capacity, fitness, or conditioning levels, and evaluat e prognostic criteria for surgical procedures, as well as help physicians diagnose heart and lung diseases. Its cardiopulmonary exercise testing systems find applications in distinguishing between cardiovascular and pulmonary disease, screening for early signs of cardiac and pulmonary dysfunction, establishing exercise prescriptions and training programs, evaluating the efficacy of prescribed therapy, and determining appropriate nutritional supports requirements. The company also offers cycle ergometers and treadmills to healthcare professionals and patients for use in diagnostic, rehabilitation, training, and sports medicine applications; and BreezeConnect software, installation, and support for communications interfaces. It serves hospitals, university-based medical centers, medical clinics, physician offices, health and fitness clubs, weight loss clinics, and personal training studios. Angeion Corporation was founded in 1986 and is based in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Best Regional Bank Stocks To Own For 2014: CSG Systems International Inc.(CSGS)

CSG Systems International, Inc. provides business support solutions primarily to the communications industry. Its suite of solutions comprises Advanced Convergent Platform, a billing and customer care, and business optimization platform; Singleview suite, an integrated customer care, billing, and real-time rating and charging solution; Total Service Mediation (TSM) framework supports offline, and real-time mediation requirements, as well as service activation; and Wholesale Business Management (WBM) solution, a wholesale settlement and routing solution that handles various types of traffic consisting of voice, data, and content. The company?s solutions also include customer interaction management solutions that deliver interactive voice, SMS/text, print, email, Web, and fax messages on behalf of clients; analytics and intelligence services suite delivers an approach for enhancing the customer experience, increasing sales opportunities, and optimizing business; and Content Direct solutions, which enable content providers to manage subscriber preferences and offer digital content. It also licenses software products, such as WBM solution, TSM, and Singleview products; and offers professional services to implement these software products. The company also provides its services to financial services, healthcare, utilities, entertainment, and content distribution industries. It operates in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado.

Top Airline Companies To Invest In 2014: Anglo Canadian Oil Corp (ACG.V)

Anglo Canadian Oil Corp., a junior oil and gas company, engages in the exploration, development, exploitation, and production of oil and natural gas properties in western Canada. It primarily explores for hydrocarbons with a focus on oil. The company holds interests in the Nordegg play comprising 173,776 net acres of oil bearing lands located in the Grande Prairie area of Alberta; and 90,658 acres of potential oil bearing lands in Central Alberta, as well as the Bakken and Mannville plays with 17,481 acres of oil bearing lands located in the Buffalo Coulee area of Saskatchewan. The company was formerly known as Traxion Energy Inc. and changed its name to Anglo Canadian Oil Corp. in April 2010. Anglo Canadian Oil Corp. is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

Best Regional Bank Stocks To Own For 2014: China Kangda Food Company Ltd (P74.SI)

China Kangda Food Company Limited, through its subsidiaries, engages in the production, processing, sale, and distribution of food products in China. The company is involved in the production and trading of food products; breeding and sale of livestock and poultry; development and sale of rabbits; planting and sale of vegetables; testing and checking of livestock; feed processing; sale of feed products; and provision of guarantee services. It provides chilled and frozen rabbit meat; chilled and frozen chicken meat; processed foods, including instant soup, curry food, chicken based cooked products, roasted rabbit food, meatballs, de-oxygenated consumer packed chestnuts, and seafood; and other products, such as pet food, dehydrated vegetables, poultry, rabbit organs, fruits, dried chili, pig liver, and seasoning products. The company distributes its products in 26 provinces and 30 cities in the People�s Republic of China and exports to approximately 20 countries and cities, including Japan, the United Arab Emirates, and various countries in the European Union. China Kangda Food Company Limited was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Qingdao, the People�s Republic of China.

Best Regional Bank Stocks To Own For 2014: United Microelectronics Corporation(UMC)

United Microelectronics Corporation operates as a semiconductor wafer foundry. The company provides wafer fabrication services and technologies to its customers based on their designs. It offers its services in the areas of circuit design, mask tooling, wafer fabrication, assembly, and testing to various industries, including communication, consumer electronics, computer, and memory. The company provides its services for a range of applications comprising networking, telecommunications, internet, multimedia, personal computers, and graphics. It offers its services in Taiwan, Asia, North America, and Europe. The company was incorporated in 1980 and is based in Hsinchu City, Taiwan.

Best Regional Bank Stocks To Own For 2014: Athersys Inc.(ATHX)

Athersys, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the discovery and development of therapeutic products in various disease areas in the United States. Its clinical development programs are focused on treating cardiovascular disease, neurological conditions, inflammatory and immune disorders, and other conditions. Its product pipeline includes MultiStem, a novel allogeneic approach to stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine for treating a range of diseases. The company is also involved in the development of novel small molecule compounds for applications in indications, such as obesity and other areas, including the treatment of neurological conditions, and for the modulation of stem cells or related applications in the regenerative medicine area. It has product co-development collaboration with Pfizer Inc. to develop and commercialize MultiStem to treat inflammatory bowel disease for the worldwide market; Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to develop and commerciali ze MultiStem to treat certain cardiovascular diseases, such as acute myocardial infarction; and RTI Biologics, Inc. to develop and commercialize biologic implants for certain orthopedic applications in the bone graft substitutes market. The company was founded in 1995 and is based in Cleveland, Ohio.

Pentagon Wants Drones, But First... an Upgrade to Windows 7

The Department of Defense awarded more than $562 million worth of contracts on Wednesday. Publicly traded companies receiving contracts included:

Eaton Corporation (NYSE: ETN  ) , which was awarded a maximum $12 million firm-fixed-price, sole-source contract to supply various oil nozzles and parts to the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps with a May 22, 2015, performance completion date.
  Elbit Systems (NASDAQ: ESLT  ) subsidiary M7 Aerospace, awarded a $15.2 million option extension on a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract for logistics support for 12 Navy/Marines UC-35 and seven Navy C-26 transport aircraft through May 2014.
  Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC  ) , winner of a $15.3 million modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee contract funding continued systems development and demonstrations of the MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System. This is the same drone that the Royal Australian Air Force recently expressed interest in acquiring.

Curiously, the DOD clarified that the actual purpose of the latter contract is not so much to perform work on the new drone per se but rather to pay for an upgrade of software being used in the project -- from Microsoft's (NASDAQ: MSFT  ) Windows XP operating system to Windows 7.

Why UniPixel Shares Popped Temporarily

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 UniPixel (NASDAQ: UNXL  ) popped temporarily today, up by as much as 11% after the company received a milestone payment for its UniBoss license.

So what: The company received a $5 million payment from its recently announced capacity license with Eastman Kodak, which was inked to facilitate the development, introduction, and production of products using its UniBoss sensor film. The amount will be recorded as deferred revenue in the second quarter and UniPixel will use the funds to build out additional production capacity.

Now what: CEO Reed Killion said the payment marked a major milestone on the company's path toward a worldwide commercial rollout, and that the ramp-up schedule is on track. The news follows a 26% plunge on Friday after a handful of negative rumors, including one that suggested that Apple could become a direct competitor after the Mac maker filed a patent application. Analysts discredit this notion, saying that Apple's patent does not threaten UniPixel. The milestone payment may have sparked a rebound rally, but shares have since given up all gains and then some.

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

It's incredible to think just how much of our digital and technological lives are almost entirely shaped and molded by just a handful of companies. Find out "Who Will Win the War Between the 5 Biggest Tech Stocks?" in The Motley Fool's latest free report, which details the knock-down, drag-out battle being waged by the five kings of tech. Click here to keep reading.

Lockheed's Goofs Lead to Boeing's Profit

To hear Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT  ) CEO Marillyn Hewson tell it, everything's going just swell with Lockheed's new F-35 stealth fighter jet program. International buyers are "lining up" to buy the plane.

Singapore and Korea are both interested. Canada's in. Australia wants to buy 100 of the planes... but the truth is a bit more complicated than that.

Listen in, as Fool.com contributor Rich Smith explains how delays in the biggest weapons program Lockheed's ever been involved with are creating a sales opportunity for Boeing (NYSE: BA  ) .

Boeing operates as a major player in a multi-trillion-dollar defense market in which the opportunities and responsibilities are absolutely massive. However, emerging competitors and the company's execution problems have investors wondering whether Boeing will live up to its shareholder responsibilities. In our premium research report on the company, two of The Motley Fool's best minds on industrials have collaborated to provide investors with the key, must-know issues surrounding Boeing. They'll be updating the report as key news hits, so don't miss out -- simply click here now to claim your copy today.

Cheaper Gasoline Pushes Consumer Prices Down Again

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell 0.4% on a seasonally adjusted basis for April, according to a Labor Department report (link opens in PDF) released today.

This is in line with March's report of a revised 0.2% drop driven primarily by cheaper gasoline prices.

Source: Labor Department.

April's energy index fell 4.3%, while gasoline prices took an 8.1% dive. Excluding food and energy price fluctuations, April's index clocked in 0.1% above March's numbers.

While analysts had expected an overall index decline of 0.3%, market expectations of a 0.2% rise in prices excluding food and energy proved off-target.

April's largest gain came from a 4.4% increase in utility (piped) gas service, due primarily to recent rises in natural gas prices. Outside of energy, used cars and trucks increased 0.6% in price, while April's apparel dipped 0.3%. 

In the last 12 months, the CPI has increased 1.1%, or 1.7% excluding food and energy prices.

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Top 5 Wireless Telecom Companies To Watch For 2014

Cash-strapped state governments are using every means at their disposal to collect tax revenue. Although most of the money that state and local governments collect comes from income taxes, property taxes, and general sales taxes, most states also rely on a variety of smaller but still-important sources of taxation to add to their coffers.

So-called "sin taxes" on tobacco and alcohol are a popular way for governments to raise money, and this past week, the Tax Foundation featured a beer-tax map that shows the amount of taxes that state governments collect on beer. Let's take a look at the five states that charge the highest excise taxes per gallon on beer sales, along with figures from the Beer Institute showing where they rank in terms of beer consumption.

5. Hawaii
Hawaii charges $0.93 per gallon in state excise taxes on beer. As a popular tourist destination, visitors to the islands represent a substantial addition to the beer that its residents drink, and the resulting revenue helps balance extremely high state income tax rates. With average annual per-person beer consumption of 31.2 gallons per person annually, Hawaii makes it into the top 20 states in the nation.

Top 5 Wireless Telecom Companies To Watch For 2014: Brookfield Propert Com Npv (BPO.TO)

Brookfield Properties Corporation is a publicly owned real estate investment firm. The firm engages in the ownership, development, and management of premier commercial properties. It also provides ancillary real estate service businesses, such as tenant service and amenities. The firm invests in the real estate markets of the United States with a focus on North American cities, including New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., Toronto, Calgary, Denver, and Minneapolis. It primarily invests in properties and development sites predominantly office buildings. It was formerly known as Carena-Bancorp Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to Le Holding Carena-Bancorp Inc. in 1978. The company further changed its name to Carena-Bancorp, Inc. in 1985; to Carena Developments Limited in 1989; and to Brookfield Properties Corporation in 1996. Brookfield Properties was founded in 1923 and is based in New York, New York with an additional office in Toronto, Canada

Top 5 Wireless Telecom Companies To Watch For 2014: Jardine Lloyd(JLT.L)

Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc provides risk management advisory, insurance and reinsurance broking, underwriting, and employee benefit services worldwide. Its Risk and Insurance group provides accident and health, affinity partnerships, captives, caravan park owners, cargo, casualty, claims consultancy, clinical trials, construction insurance facilities, corporate recovery, credit and political risk, cyber and IT risk, directors and officers liability, environmental impairment liability, financiers insurance due diligence, football agents, insurance management, healthcare, kidnap and ransom, marine, performance bond enhancement, PPP/PFI, professional indemnity, property, reinsurance, residual value, risk consultancy, SME/commercial, specie and fine art, tenant risks, terrorism, transactional liabilities, and wholesale insurance services. The company?s Employee Benefits group offers advisory services, including pensions consulting, actuarial consulting, flexible benefit s, benefit communications, employee healthcare and protection, pension capital strategies, retirement, wealth management, pension, and discontinuance; and outsourcing services comprising pensions administration, administration consulting, and financial institutions services. This group also provides pensions administration software and complementary services; and various products, such as Classic, P3, and oPen administration systems, as well as the Aviary accounting system, Web-based solutions, workflow, and electronic document management systems for third-party administrators. Jardine Lloyd Thompson also markets its products on a non-advisory basis to affinities, SME, and retail markets, as well as to third party brokers primarily through open-market placements, delegated authorities, and managed general underwriting arrangements. The company is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

Best Communications Equipment Stocks To Invest In Right Now: People's United Financial Inc.(PBCT)

People?s United Financial, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for People?s United Bank that provides commercial banking, retail and business banking, and wealth management services to individual, corporate, and municipal customers. Its Commercial Banking segment provides commercial and industrial lending, commercial real estate lending, and commercial deposit gathering services, as well as equipment financing, cash management, correspondent banking, and municipal banking services. The company?s Retail and Business Banking segment offers consumer and business deposit gathering services; consumer lending products, including residential mortgage, home equity, and indirect auto lending; business lending; and merchant services. Its Wealth Management segment provides trust services, corporate trust, brokerage, financial advisory services, investment management services, and life insurance and other insurance services, as well as private banking services. The company also offers online and telephone banking, and investment trading services, and automated teller machine (ATM) services. As of March 31, 2011, it operated a network of approximately 341 branches, including full-service supermarket branches, investment and brokerage offices, and commercial banking offices, as well as approximately 518 automated teller machines in Connecticut, Vermont, New York, New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts. The company was founded in 1842 and is headquartered in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Top 5 Wireless Telecom Companies To Watch For 2014: Sino-Global Shipping America Ltd.(SINO)

Sino-Global Shipping America, Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides shipping agency services for foreign ships coming to and departing from Chinese ports. Its services include preparing documents, husbanding vessels, working through customs issues, coordinating matters with port authorities, overseeing and settling cargo claims, tracking shipments, recommending trucking, warehousing, and complementary services. The company offers these services for bulk and break-bulk general cargo, and vehicle transport, as well as raw materials, such as crude oil, oil products, iron, manganese, and other metal ores in 76 ports in the People?s Republic of China. Sino-Global Shipping America, Ltd. was founded in 2001 and is based in Flushing, Virginia.

Top 5 Wireless Telecom Companies To Watch For 2014: Terra Nova Royalty Corporation(TTT)

Terra Nova Royalty Corporation operates as a mineral royalty company in Canada. It owns a royalty stream on the Wabush iron ore mine located in Labrador Newfoundland. The company was formerly known as KHD Humboldt Wedag International Ltd. and changed its name in March 2010 to Terra Nova Royalty Corporation as a result of spin off of KHD Humboldt Wedag International Ltd. Terra Nova Royalty Corporation is based in Vancouver, Canada.

Top 10 Machinery Companies To Watch In Right Now

Given that you clicked on this article, it seems safe to assume you either own stock in Synovus Financial (NYSE: SNV  ) or are considering buying shares in the near future. If so, then you've come to the right place. The table below reveals the nine most critical numbers that investors need to know about Synovus stock before deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold it.

As the bank's website tells it, Synovus traces its roots back to 1888 when a mill worker at Eagle and Phenix Mill in Columbus, Georgia "had her dress tangled in the factory machinery, and money sewn into the hem spilled across the floor." The mill's secretary and treasurer thereafter began offering to keep employees' money in a safe and pay them monthly interest on it. And thus was born Synovus Financial. With roughly $27 billion in assets today, the bank has since grown into one of the largest regional banks in the country.

Top 10 Machinery Companies To Watch In Right Now: Barnes Group Inc (B)

Barnes Group Inc. is an international aerospace and industrial components manufacturer and logistics services company serving a range of end markets and customers. The products and services provided by Barnes Group are critical components for applications, which provide transportation, communication, manufacturing and technology. The Company operates under two global business segments: Logistics and Manufacturing Services, and Precision Components. On December 30, 2011, the Company sold its Barnes Distribution Europe (BDE) business to Berner SE. In August 2012, the Company acquired Synventive Molding Solutions.

Logistics and Manufacturing Services

Logistics and Manufacturing Services provides logistics support and repair services. Value-added logistics support services include inventory management, technical sales, and supply chain solutions for maintenance, repair, operating, and production supplies and services. Repair services provided include the manufacturing of spare parts for the refurbishment and repair of engineered components and assemblies for commercial and military aviation. Logistics and Manufacturing Services has sales, distribution, and manufacturing operations in the United States, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Mexico, Singapore, Spain and the United Kingdom. Products and services are available in more than 30 countries.

The global operations are engaged in supplying, servicing and manufacturing of maintenance, repair and operating components. Activities include logistics support through vendor-managed inventory and technical sales for stocked replacement parts and other products, catalog offerings and custom solutions, and the manufacture and delivery of aerospace aftermarket spare parts, including the revenue sharing programs (RSPs) under, which the Company receives right to supply designated aftermarket parts over the life of the related aircraft engine program, and component repairs. In addition, the manufacturing and supplying of aerospace! aftermarket spare parts, including the RSPs, are dependent upon the reliable and timely delivery of components.

Precision Components

Precision Components is a global supplier of engineered components for critical applications focused on providing solutions for a industrial, transportation and aerospace customer base. It is equipped to produce every type of precision spring, from fine hairsprings for electronics and instruments to heavy-duty springs for machinery, as well as precision-machined and fabricated components and assemblies for OEM turbine engine, airframe and industrial gas turbine builders globally, and the military. It is also a manufacturer and supplier of precision mechanical products, including precision mechanical springs, compressor reed valves and nitrogen gas products. Precision Components also manufactures punched and fine-blanked components used in transportation and industrial applications, nitrogen gas springs and manifold systems used to control stamping presses, and retention rings, which position parts on a shaft or other axis.

Precision Components has a customer base with products purchased by durable goods manufacturers located in industries, including transportation, consumer products, farm equipment, telecommunications, medical devices, home appliances and electronics, and airframe and gas turbine engine manufacturers for commercial and military jets, business jets, and land-based industrial gas turbines. Long-standing customer relationships enable Precision Components to participate in the design phase of components and assemblies, through which customers receive the benefits of manufacturing research, testing and evaluation. Products are sold through Precision Components��direct sales force and a distribution channel. Precision Components has manufacturing, sales, assembly and distribution operations in the United States, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Korea, Mexico, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand and the United Kingdo! m.

Top 10 Machinery Companies To Watch In Right Now: AGCO Corporation (AGCO)

AGCO Corporation manufactures and distributes agricultural equipment and related replacement parts worldwide. The company provides tractors, including compact tractors for small farms and specialty agricultural industries comprising dairies, landscaping, and residential areas; utility tractors, such as two-wheel and all-wheel drive versions for small and medium-sized farms, and specialty agricultural industries consist of dairy, livestock, orchards, and vineyards; and horsepower tractors for large farms and on cattle ranches for hay production. It also offers application equipment, which includes self-propelled, three and four-wheeled vehicles, and related equipment for use in the application of liquid and dry fertilizers, and crop protection chemicals; chemical sprayer equipment for planting crops; and related equipment that comprises vehicles for waste application, as well as provides combines. In addition, the company offers hay tools and forage equipment consisting rou nd and rectangular balers, self-propelled windrowers, disc mowers, spreaders and mower conditioners for harvesting and packaging vegetative feeds; and engines, such as diesel engines, gears, and generating sets. Further, it provides implements, including disc harrows for improving field performance; heavy tillage to break up soil and mix crop residue; and field cultivators for preparing smooth seed bed and destroy weeds, as well as offers tractor-pulled planters and loaders. Additionally, the company provides precision farming technologies to enhance productivity and profitability on the farm; and other advanced technology precision farming products to gather information, such as yield data, as well as offers wholesale financing and retail financing. It markets its products under the Challenger, Fendt, Massey Ferguson, and Valtra brand names through a network of independent dealers and distributors. AGCO Corporation was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Duluth, Georgia .

Top 10 Penny Stocks To Buy Right Now: Cummins Inc.(CMI)

Cummins Inc. designs, manufactures, distributes, and services diesel and natural gas engines, electric power generation systems, and engine-related component products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Engine, Power Generation, Components, and Distribution. The Engine segment offers a range of diesel and natural gas powered engines under the Cummins and other customer brand names for the heavy-and medium-duty truck, bus, recreational vehicle, light-duty automotive, agricultural, construction, mining, marine, oil and gas, rail, and governmental equipment markets. This segment also provides new parts and service, as well as remanufactured parts and engines. The Power Generation segment offers power generation systems, components, and services, including diesel, natural gas, gasoline, and alternative-fuel electrical generator sets for use in recreational vehicles, commercial vehicles, recreational marine applications, and home stand-by or residential applications. This segment also provides components that make up power generation systems, such as engines, controls, alternators, transfer switches, and switchgears. The Components segment supplies filtration products, turbochargers, aftertreatment systems, intake and exhaust systems, and fuel systems for commercial diesel applications. This segment offers filtration and exhaust systems for on-and off-highway heavy-duty and mid-range equipment, as well as supplies filtration products for industrial and passenger car applications. This segment also develops after treatment and exhaust systems to help customers meet emissions standards and fuel systems. The Distribution segment provides parts and services, as well as service solutions, including maintenance contracts, engineering services, and integrated products. The company sells its products to original equipment manufacturers, distributors, and other customers. Cummins Inc. was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Columbus, Indiana.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matthew Scott]

  While trucking manufacturing Cummins (NYSE: CMI) is hardly a sexy stock, fleets of environmentally friendly trucks will be essential for many world economies to remain competitive as they slowly make their way out of the last recession. The price of Cummins’ stock has increased more than five and a half times in two years, jumping from $19.09 on March 9, 2009 to $109.62 at the end of the first quarter this year. As world economies begin to improve, transportation companies will begin replacing trucks so that they can move higher volumes of products more efficiently, and Cummins will benefit.

Top 10 Machinery Companies To Watch In Right Now: First Majestic Silver Corp.(AG)

First Majestic Silver Corp. engages in the production, development, exploration, and acquisition of mineral properties with a focus on silver in Mexico. The company owns interests in La Encantada Silver Mine comprising 4,076 hectares of mining rights and 1,343 hectares of surface land located in Coahuila; La Parrilla Silver Mine consisting of mining concessions covering an area of 69,867 hectares; and San Martin Silver Mine comprising approximately 7,841 hectares of mineral rights and approximately 1,300 hectares of surface land rights located in Jalisco. It also holds interests in Del Toro Silver Mine consisting of 393 contiguous hectares of mining claims and an additional 129 hectares of surface rights located in Zacatecas; Real de Catorce Silver Project comprising 22 mining concessions covering 6,327 hectares located in San Luis Potosi state; and Jalisco Group of Properties consisting of mining claims totalling 5,240 hectares located in Jalisco. The company was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sy_Harding]

  First Majestic Silver is one of the purest silver plays on the market. The company owns and operates three primary silver mines in Mexico: La Parrilla, San Martin, and La Encantada.

  Shares of AG have risen more than 60% for the year.

  First Majestic generates 85% of its revenue through the production and sale of silver. The rest of the company's revenue is generated through gold, lead, and zinc.

  First Majestic expects to increase total silver output from its operations to 7.5 million ounces of silver in 2011, and up to 16.0 million ounces by 2014.

• [By Goodwin]

  The shares closed at $88.19, down $1.1, or 1.23%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $77.08 billion. About the company: Siemens AG manufactures a wide range of industrial and consumer products. The Company builds locomotives, traffic control systems, automotive electronics, and engineers electrical power plants. Siemens also provides public and private communications networks, computers, building control systems, medical equipment, and electrical components. The Company operates worldwide.

Top 10 Machinery Companies To Watch In Right Now: Terex Corporation(TEX)

Terex Corporation manufactures capital goods machinery products worldwide. Its Aerial Work Platforms segment offers portable material lifts, portable aerial work platforms, trailer-mounted articulating booms and light towers, self-propelled articulating and telescopic booms, scissor lifts, telehandlers, and bridge inspection and utility equipment under the Terex and Genie brands. The company?s Construction segment provides off-highway trucks and material handlers; loader backhoes, compaction equipment, mini and midi excavators, site dumpers, compact track loaders, skid steer loaders, wheel loaders, and tunneling equipment; and asphalt and concrete equipment, and landfill compactors principally under the Terex name. Its Cranes segment offers mobile telescopic and tower cranes, lattice boom crawler and truck cranes, and truck-mounted cranes; and straddle and sprinter carriers, gantry cranes, ship-to-shore cranes, reach stackers, empty and full container handlers, and genera l cargo lift trucks under the Terex brand. The company?s Material Handling and Port Solutions segment provides standard and process cranes, rope and chain hoists, electric motors, and light crane systems; and crane components and port equipment, such as mobile harbor and automated stacking cranes, and automated guided vehicles, as well as terminal automation technology, including software under the Demag and Gottwald names. Its Materials Processing segment offers crushers, washing systems, screens, apron feeders, chippers, and related components and replacement parts under the Terex and Powerscreen brands. The company provides financing solutions to assist customers in the rental, leasing, and acquisition of its products. It serves construction, infrastructure, quarrying, mining, manufacturing, shipping, transportation, refining, energy, and utility industries through dealers, rental companies, direct sales, and major accounts. The company was founded in 1925 and is based i n Westport, Connecticut.

Top 10 Machinery Companies To Watch In Right Now: Caterpillar Inc.(CAT)

Caterpillar Inc. manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives worldwide. It operates through three lines of businesses: Machinery, Engines, and Financial Products. The Machinery business offers construction, mining, and forestry machinery, including track and wheel tractors, track and wheel loaders, pipelayers, motor graders, wheel tractor-scrapers, track and wheel excavators, backhoe loaders, log skidders, log loaders, off-highway trucks, articulated trucks, paving products, skid steer loaders, underground mining equipment, tunnel boring equipment, and related parts. It also manufactures diesel-electric locomotives; and manufactures and services rail-related products and logistics services for other companies. The Engines business provides diesel, heavy fuel, and natural gas reciprocating engines for Caterpillar machinery, electric power generation systems, marine, petrol eum, construction, industrial, agricultural, and other applications. It offers industrial turbines and turbine-related services for oil and gas, and power generation applications. This business also remanufactures Caterpillar engines, machines, and engine components; and offers remanufacturing services for other companies. The Financial Products business provides retail and wholesale financing alternatives for Caterpillar machinery and engines, solar gas turbines, and other equipment and marine vessels, as well as offers loans and various forms of insurance to customers and dealers. It also offers financing for vehicles, power generation facilities, and marine vessels. The company markets its products directly, as well as through its distribution centers, dealers, and distributors. It was formerly known as Caterpillar Tractor Co. and changed its name to Caterpillar Inc. in 1986. Caterpillar Inc. was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dave Friedman]

  The shares closed at $91.37, up $1.56, or 1.74%, on the day. They have traded in a 52-week range of $63.34 to $116.55. Volume today was 10,450,473 shares, against a 3-month average volume of 9,960,260 shares. Its market capitalization is $59.03billion, its trailing P/E is 15.11, its trailing earnings are $6.05 per share, and it pays a dividend of $1.84 per share, for a dividend yield of 2.00%. About the company: Caterpillar Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets construction, mining, agricultural, and forestry machinery. The Company also manufactures engines and other related parts for its equipment, and offers financing and insurance. Caterpillar distributes its products through a worldwide organization of dealers.

Top 10 Machinery Companies To Watch In Right Now: Rockwell Automation Inc.(ROK)

Rockwell Automation, Inc. provides industrial automation power, control, and information solutions. It operates in two segments, Architecture and Software, and Control Products and Solutions. The Architecture and Software segment offers control platforms that perform multiple control disciplines and monitoring of applications, including discrete, batch and continuous process, drives control, motion control, and machine safety control; and products comprising controllers, electronic operator interface devices, electronic input/output devices, communication and networking products, and industrial computers. This segment also offers software products, such as configuration and visualization software used to operate and supervise control platforms, advanced process control software, and manufacturing execution software to enhance manufacturing productivity and meet regulatory requirements; and rotary and linear motion control products, and sensors and machine safety components . The Control Products and Solutions segment provides low and medium voltage electro-mechanical and electronic motor starters, motor and circuit protection devices, AC/DC variable frequency drives, push buttons, signaling devices, termination and protection devices, relays and timers, and condition sensors; and packaged solutions, such as configured drives and motor control centers to automation and information solutions, as well as life-cycle support services. The company sells its products, solutions, and services primarily under the Rockwell Automation, Allen-Bradley, A-B, and Rockwell Software brand names to the food and beverage, transportation, oil and gas, metals, mining, home and personal care, pulp and paper, and life sciences markets through independent distributors and direct sales force in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. Rockwell Automation, Inc. was founded in 1928 and is headquartered in Milwaukee , Wisconsin.