Top Consumer Service Companies To Buy For 2015

Its braces might be invisible but Align Technology’s (ALGN) gains are not.

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The maker of transparent braces and other dental products reported earnings of 42 cents a share, week above analyst forecasts for a 30 cent profit. Revenue, meanwhile, rose to $164.5 million, above the $158.6 million forecast.

William Blair’s John Kreger and team are impressed:

We are encouraged by the strong results, which stand in stark contrast to second half 2012 when volume growth and margins declined unexpectedly. Align’s Invisalign is clearly gaining market share, generating 16% unit growth in an environment where overall orthodontic procedures are essentially flat by our estimates.

Stifel’s Jonathan Block and Ethan Roth can barely contain their excitement. They write:

Our entire 2014 leverage thesis played out in 3Q13 as ALGN significantly beat EPS numbers…yet we were silly enough to make a cautious call in front of the quarter. That said, we think our 2014 $1.66 versus the Street�� $1.53 should no longer be viewed as an ��nrealistic expectation��and we believe consensus likely brings their estimates up to us��overnight. Align seems to be in the sweet spot as past investments (APAC, N.A. sales reps) are starting to pay off and new innovations (SmartTrack) are resonating with docs and helping to drive utilization higher. We are raising our 2014 and 2015 EPS estimates. Reiterate Buy and increase PT from $54 to $57.

Top Consumer Service Companies To Buy For 2015: U.S. Bancorp(USB)

U.S. Bancorp, a financial services holding company, provides various banking and financial services in the United States. It generates various deposit products, including checking accounts, savings accounts, money market savings, and time certificates of deposit accounts. The company originates a portfolio of loans comprising commercial loans and lease financing; commercial real estate; residential mortgage; and retail loans consisting of credit cards, retail leasing, home equity and second mortgages, and other retail loans. It also offers wholesale lending, equipment finance, small-ticket leasing, depository, treasury management, capital markets, foreign exchange, and international trade services to middle market, large corporate, commercial real estate, and public sector clients. In addition, U.S. Bancorp provides telebanking and automated teller machine (ATM) services, as well as cash management services. The company, through other subsidiaries, provides trust, private banking, financial advisory, investment management, retail brokerage services, insurance, and custody and fund services; and payment services, including consumer and business credit cards, stored-value cards, debit cards, corporate and purchasing card services, consumer lines of credit, and merchant processing. U.S. Bancorp primarily serves individuals, estates, foundations, business corporations, and charitable organizations. It operates a network of approximately 3,031 banking offices and 5,310 ATMs. The company was founded in 1863 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jay Jenkins]

  The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently�ordered�U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB  ) �and its partner Dealers' Financial Services (DFS) to return $6.5 million to military service members. The CFPB uncovered unfair marketing practices and fees designed and implemented by DFS.

• [By Brian Stoffel]

  US Bank (NYSE: USB  )
  This won't be too much of a spoiler, but the list of America's top 25 CEOs includes three chiefs of some of America's largest banks. I've covered JPMorgan Chase's (NYSE: JPM  ) Jamie Dimon -- who has taken a precipitous fall from last year's 12th�overall ranking to this year's 25th. That may be due in part to the London Whale incident that made Dimon's pleas for looser regulations seem hypocritical.

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Wednesday

  Earnings Expected From: Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BK), Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (NYSE: SWK), US Bancorp (NYSE: USB), Bank of America Corp (NYSE: BAC), Pepsico, Inc. (NYSE: PEP), American Express Company (NYSE: AXP), eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY) Economic Releases Expected: US Beige Book, Canadian manufacturing sales, US CPI

  Thursday

Top Consumer Service Companies To Buy For 2015: Old Dominion Freight Line Inc. (ODFL)

Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. operates as a less-than-truckload (LTL) motor carrier primarily in the United States. The company provides regional, inter-regional, and national LTL services. It also offers a range of logistics services, including ground and air expedited transportation, supply chain consulting, transportation management, truckload brokerage, container delivery, and warehousing services. In addition, the company provides door-to-door international freight services to and from North America, Central America, South America, and the Far East. As of December 31, 2010, it owned a fleet of 5,718 tractors and 20,986 trailers, as well as operated 213 service centers. The company was founded in 1934 and is based in Thomasville, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  Consider: According to YRC, the $150.9 million it currently pays in annual interest exceeds the $92.6 million in interest obligations paid by "all [of its] competitors combined." Con-Way (NYSE: CNW  ) , for example, sports a debt load about half of YRC's, yet pays only about one-third �as much in interest on that debt. Old Dominion Freight (NASDAQ: ODFL  ) has 12% the debt �of YRC, but only 7% of the interest expense.

Top Bank Stocks To Own Right Now: State Bank of Travancore (SBT)

State Bank of Travancore (the Bank) is an associate of the State Bank of India. The Bank operates in four segments: corporate / wholesale banking, retail banking, treasury and other banking operations. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 (fiscal 2012), the Bank has added 87 branches to its network. As of March 31, 2011, the Bank had 879 branches with 13 extensions counters in 13 states and three union territories. As of March 31, 2011, the Bank had a network of 929 automated teller machines (ATMs), including 273 offsite ATMs. The Bank�� products include SBT Gold Savings Scheme, SBT Home Loan PAL (Pre Approved Limit), SBT Green, SBT Suraksha, SBT Swarna Saphallyam, Overdraft (OD) in Savings Bank Account, SBT Defence Salary Account, SBT Construction and Equipment Loan, RTO Loans, SBT Solar Special and Weavers Credit Cards. The Bank products also include life, non-life insurance products, as well as other non-banking investment products, such as mutual fund.

Top Consumer Service Companies To Buy For 2015: FMC Corporation (FMC)

FMC Corporation, a chemical company, provides solutions, applications, and products for agricultural, consumer, and industrial markets. The company operates in three segments: Agricultural Products, Specialty Chemicals, and Industrial Chemicals. The Agricultural Products segment develops, markets, and sells a portfolio of crop protection, pest control, and lawn and garden products. It produces insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides to protect crops, including cotton, sugarcane, rice, corn, soybeans, cereals, fruits, and vegetables from insects and weed growth; and for non-agricultural applications, including pest control for home, garden, and other specialty markets, as well as for turf and roadside applications. The Specialty Chemicals segment focuses on food ingredients, pharmaceutical excipients, biomedical technologies, and lithium products. It produces microcrystalline cellulose that is used as drug dry tablet binder and disintegrant, and food ingredient; carrageena n, which is used as food ingredient for thickening and stabilizing; encapsulant for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications; alginates that are used as food ingredients, and for pharmaceutical excipient, wound care, orthopedic uses, and industrial uses; and lithium that is used in pharmaceuticals, polymers, batteries, greases and lubricants, air conditioning, and other industrial applications. The Industrial Chemicals segment produces inorganic materials, such as soda ash for glass, chemicals, and detergents; specialty peroxygens for pulp and paper, chemical processing, detergents, antimicrobial disinfectants, environmental applications, electronics, and polymers; and zeolites and silicates for detergents, car tires, pulp, and paper. It has operations in North America, Latin America, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company was founded in 1884 and is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Marc Courtenay]

  Some other names to consider as takeover targets would include FMC Technologies, Inc. (FTI), which provides technology solutions for the energy industry worldwide and hit a 52-week high on April 11th. Another less conspicuous target is the diversified chemical company FMC Corp. (FMC), which has a market cap of only $8 billion plus a forward PE of less than 13.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Just as Monsanto is enjoying a surge in sales of Roundup, pesticide makers are witnessing greater sales of pesticides to combat these superbugs. Revenues at Sygenta (NYSE: SYT  ) rose 1.5% to $4.2 billion, FMC's (NYSE: FMC  ) sales were 5% higher, and American Vanguard's (NYSE: AVD  ) surged 39% last quarter. The three companies account for three-quarters of all ground pesticides sold in the United States.

Top Consumer Service Companies To Buy For 2015: (LVMUY)

LVMH Mo� Hennessy - Louis Vuitton SA engages in the manufacture and sale of luxury products. Its wine and spirits product line comprises champagne, sparkling and still wines, cognac, and other spirits primarily under the Mo� & Chandon, Dom P�ignon, Mercier, Ruinart, Veuve Clicquot, Krug, Ch�eau d?Yquem, Ch�eau Cheval Blanc, Hennessy, Glenmorangie, Ardbeg, and Belvedere brand names. The company offers fashion and leather goods consisting of trunks, leather goods, ready-to-wear, shoes, watches, jewelry, accessories, sunglasses, and books principally under the Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Donna Karan, Marc Jacobs, Loewe, C�ine, Kenzo, Givenchy, Thomas Pink, Pucci, and Berluti brand names. Its perfumes and cosmetics product line includes fragrances, make-up, and skincare products under the Parfums Christian Dior, Guerlain, Parfums Givenchy, Kenzo Parfums, Fendi Parfums, Make Up For Ever, Parfums Loewe, Fresh, and Acqua di Parma brand names. The company also offers watche s and jewelry under the TAG Heuer, Hublot, Bulgari, Zenith, Montres Dior, De Beers, and Fred brand names. In addition, it operates retail stores under the brand names of DFS, Miami Cruiseline, Sephora, Samaritaine, and Le Bon March�for travelers. As of December 31, 2011, the company operated 3,040 stores worldwide. LVMH Mo� Hennessy - Louis Vuitton SA is based in Paris, France.

Top Consumer Service Companies To Buy For 2015: Equity Lifestyle Properties Inc. (ELS)

Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. is a publicly owned real estate investment trust (REIT). The firm engages in the ownership and operation of lifestyle oriented properties. Its portfolio of properties include various amenities and common facilities, such as a clubhouse, a swimming pool, laundry facilities, and cable television service, sauna/whirlpool spas, golf courses, tennis, shuffleboard and basketball courts, and exercise rooms. The firm leases developed sites to owners of manufactured homes referred to as resort homes, park models referred to as resort cottages, and recreational vehicles. It primarily invests in the markets of the United States. The firm primarily invests in land with lower maintenance costs and customer turnover costs, high quality real estate in and around major metropolitan areas, high barriers to entry, retirement and vacation destinations, growth markets, and appreciating component of real estate2. It was formerly known as Home Communities, Inc. The firm was founded in 1992 and is based in Chicago, Illinois with additional offices in Clearwater, Florida, Phoenix, Arizona, and Aurora, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Real estate investment trust Equity Lifestyle Properties (NYSE: ELS  ) announced yesterday�that it's splitting its stock 2-for-1 on July 15 for holders of record on July 5.�

Top Consumer Service Companies To Buy For 2015: Sustainable Energy Technologies (STG.V)

Sustainable Energy Technologies Ltd., through its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and distributes power inverters for small ground mount recreational and agricultural applications, and residential and commercial rooftops systems. The company offers its products primarily for alternative and renewable energy industry, including solar photovoltaic systems, small wind turbines, fuel cells, and various forms of energy storage. Its solar inverters convert direct current inputs with operating voltages, including 10 volts into grid type power. The company markets its products under the SUNERGY name to system integrators and installers, and solar module companies in Europe and North America. Sustainable Energy Technologies Ltd. is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

Top Consumer Service Companies To Buy For 2015: Wisconsin Energy Corporation (WEC)

Wisconsin Energy Corporation engages in the generation, distribution, and sale of electric energy and steam. The company also involves in the purchase, distribution, and sale of natural gas to retail customers, as well as in the transportation of customer-owned natural gas in Wisconsin. It generates electricity from coal, natural gas, wind, and hydro sources. The company offers its services under ?We Energies? name. It serves approximately 1,120,200 electric customers in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan; approximately 1,064,500 gas customers in Wisconsin; and approximately 460 steam customers in metropolitan Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In addition, the company invests and develops in real estate properties, including business parks and other commercial real estate projects primarily in southeastern Wisconsin. It provides electric utility service to industries, such as mining, paper, foundry, food products, and machinery production, as well as to retail chains. The c ompany was founded in 1981 and is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chris Hill]

  Our analysts share why they're keeping a close eye on Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) , Wisconsin Energy (NYSE: WEC  ) �and Coach (NYSE: COH  ) .

• [By Larry Smith]

  Wisconsin Energy (WEC) - Wisconsin Energy is the largest electric and gas company in Wisconsin with 1.1 million electric customers and 1 million gas customers. Wisconsin Energy also owns a 26% interest in American Transmission Company, a multistate, transmission only utility. WEC has been named the most reliable utility in the Midwest seven out of the last 10 years and has very high customer satisfaction. I owned WEC briefly and would be willing to own it again at a price under $38.00.

• [By Dividends4Life]

  This week a few companies answered the call and rewarded their shareholders with higher cash dividends:
  
  Consolidated Edison Inc. (ED) engages in regulated electric, gas, and steam delivery businesses. January 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 2.4% to $0.63 per share. The dividend is payable March 15, 2014, to stockholders of record on February 12, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 4.7%.
  
  Cousins Properties Incorporated (CUZ), a real estate investment trust (REIT), owns, develops, and manages real estate portfolio, as well as performs certain real estate-related services. January 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 66.7% to $0.075 per share. The dividend is payable February 24, 2014, to stockholders of record on February 10, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.8%.
  
  Wisconsin Energy Corporation (WEC) generates and distributes electric energy, as well as distributes natural gas. The company operates in two segments, Utility Energy and Non-Utility Energy. January 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 2% to $0.3900 per share. The dividend is payable March 1, 2014, to stockholders of record on February 14, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 3.8%.
  
  BlackRock Inc. (BLK) is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors. January 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 14.9% to $1.93 per share. The dividend is payable March 24, 2014, to stockholders of record on March 7, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.4%.
  
  ONEOK Inc. (OKE) operates as a diversified energy company in the United States. January 15th the company increased its quarterly dividend 5.3% to $0.40 per share. The dividend is payable February 18, 2014, to stockholders of record on February 10, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.5%.
  
  Omega Healthcare Investors Inc. (OHI) is a real es

Top Consumer Service Companies To Buy For 2015: SRI/Surgical Express Inc.(STRC)

SRI/Surgical Express, Inc. provides central processing and supply chain management services to hospitals and surgery centers in the United States. The company processes, assembles, and delivers reusable surgical products and instruments, including gowns, towels, and drapes, as well as stainless steel cups, carafes, trays, basins, and surgical instruments; and disposable accessory packs containing single-use disposable products, such as gauze, needles, syringes, and tubing. Its line of GreenGown gowns helps to prevent liquid and viral strike-through in critical areas during surgical procedures. The company also offers AccuSet, an instrument-processing program that provides general, laparoscopic, orthopedic, arthroscopic, ophthalmic, neurological, ear, nose, throat, and labor and delivery instrument processing services; and ReadyCase, a surgical supply and instrument delivery system, which combines reusable products, disposable packs, surgical instruments, and physician pref erence items to provide products required for a surgical procedure. In addition, it provides an outsource solution for the management of hospital and surgery center instrumentation supply chain and central sterilization facilities. The company was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.

Top Consumer Service Companies To Buy For 2015: Telephone and Data Systems Inc. (TDE)

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., a diversified telecommunications service company, provides wireless and wireline telecommunications services in the United States. The company�s wireless services include national consumer and business rate plans; postpaid plans; prepaid service plans, which consist of voice minutes, messaging, and data services; Smartphone messaging, data, and Internet services to access the Web, e-mail, social network sites, text, picture and video messages, and turn-by-turn GPS navigation, as well as to browse and download various applications; and data services comprise news, weather, sports information, games, ring tones, and other services. It provides wireless devices, such as handsets, modems, mobile hotspots, and tablets; and accessories, such as carrying cases, hands-free devices, batteries, battery chargers, and memory cards, as well as wireless device repair services. The company also offers voice services, including local and long-distance te lephone, voice over Internet protocol, voice mail, caller ID, and call forwarding services; broadband services, such as digital subscriber lines and other high-speed Internet data services; network access services; and Internet protocol television and satellite video services to commercial and residential customers and carriers. In addition, it provides collocation, hosting, hosted application management, and cloud computing services; and planning, engineering, procurement, installation, sales, and management services for information technology infrastructure, as well as printing and distribution services. As of December 31, 2012, the company served approximately 5.8 million wireless customers and 1 million wireline connections. It sells its products through retail sales, service centers, direct sales, third-party retailers, and independent agents, as well as through Website and telesales. The company was incorporated in 1968 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.