Here's How Higher One Holdings Is Making You So Much Cash

Although business headlines still tout earnings numbers, many investors have moved past net earnings as a measure of a company's economic output. That's because earnings are very often less trustworthy than cash flow, since earnings are more open to manipulation based on dubious judgment calls.

Earnings' unreliability is one of the reasons Foolish investors often flip straight past the income statement to check the cash flow statement. In general, by taking a close look at the cash moving in and out of the business, you can better understand whether the last batch of earnings brought money into the company, or merely disguised a cash gusher with a pretty headline.

Calling all cash flows
When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Higher One Holdings (NYSE: ONE  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

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Source: S&P Capital IQ. Data is current as of last fully reported fiscal quarter. Dollar values in millions. FCF = free cash flow. FY = fiscal year. TTM = trailing 12 months.

Over the past 12 months, Higher One Holdings generated $30.1 million cash while it booked net income of $36.9 million. That means it turned 15.2% of its revenue into FCF. That sounds pretty impressive. However, FCF is less than net income. Ideally, we'd like to see the opposite.

All cash is not equal
Unfortunately, the cash flow statement isn't immune from nonsense, either. That's why it pays to take a close look at the components of cash flow from operations, to make sure that the cash flows are of high quality. What does that mean? To me, it means they need to be real and replicable in the upcoming quarters, rather than being offset by continual cash outflows that don't appear on the income statement (such as major capital expenditures).

For instance, cash flow based on cash net income and adjustments for non-cash income-statement expenses (like depreciation) is generally favorable. An increase in cash flow based on stiffing your suppliers (by increasing accounts payable for the short term) or shortchanging Uncle Sam on taxes will come back to bite investors later. The same goes for decreasing accounts receivable; this is good to see, but it's ordinary in recessionary times, and you can only increase collections so much. Finally, adding stock-based compensation expense back to cash flows is questionable when a company hands out a lot of equity to employees and uses cash in later periods to buy back those shares.

So how does the cash flow at Higher One Holdings look? Take a peek at the chart below, which flags questionable cash flow sources with a red bar.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Data is current as of last fully reported fiscal quarter. Dollar values in millions. TTM = trailing 12 months.

When I say "questionable cash flow sources," I mean items such as changes in taxes payable, tax benefits from stock options, and asset sales, among others. That's not to say that companies booking these as sources of cash flow are weak, or are engaging in any sort of wrongdoing, or that everything that comes up questionable in my graph is automatically bad news. But whenever a company is getting more than, say, 10% of its cash from operations from these dubious sources, investors ought to make sure to refer to the filings and dig in.

Higher One Holdings's issue isn't questionable cash flow boosts, but items in that suspect group that reduced cash flow. Within the questionable cash flow figure -- here a negative-- plotted in the TTM period above, other operating activities (which can include deferred income taxes, pension charges, and other one-off items) constituted the biggest reversal. Overall, the biggest drag on FCF came from capital expenditures, which consumed 43.8% of cash from operations.

A Foolish final thought
Most investors don't keep tabs on their companies' cash flow. I think that's a mistake. If you take the time to read past the headlines and crack a filing now and then, you're in a much better position to spot potential trouble early. Better yet, you'll improve your odds of finding the underappreciated home-run stocks that provide the market's best returns.

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How Lord Abbett Plays Momentum Stocks

This version has been expanded to include more discussion of Lord Abbett's portfolios.

Lord Abbett Developing Growth, a big fund that buys small stocks, is dazzling. Its rapid-fire trading has it magically buying into hot stocks and then getting out before they cool. It was up 48% over the 12 months through mid-March. It gets five out of five stars from Morningstar.

It's a tempting product, but there's a problem with it. It's expensive.

Developing Growth, like all funds that quickly turn over their portfolios, is costly in a way that is not obvious when you look at the prospectus. The prospectus tells you about the 1.1% annual expense burden (low, at least compared with other actively managed funds) and the 5.75% sales load. But it doesn't spell out another item that in the long run matters much more: the cost of trading.

How much is that? You can't put a precise number on the damage from getting into and out of positions. But statistical evidence says that trading is a big hidden cost at funds that specialize in the stocks of small companies.

Trading will cost you brokerage commissions and bid/ask spreads. A third item is at once the biggest and the hardest to measure: the tendency for trades to push a stock's price away. You won't feel this effect when you sell 1,000 shares of IBM. You definitely would feel it if you tried to unload 500,000 shares of a little company.

Developing Growth's problem is its very success. It has attracted $4 billion of customers' money, and since it invests in small companies it winds up with large percentages of them. Among its 124 holdings is $69 million worth of LifeLock, a fast-growing firm that sells an ID theft alert service. That's 6.7% of the float (shares available for trading).

What's going to happen when the fund unwinds this unwieldy stake? That will depend on a lot of things, like how quickly the portfolio managers make their exit and whether there happen to be bulls at that moment on the sidelines, ready to buy on a price dip.

For any one buy or sell order, then, the push-away effect is unknowable. But it is quite possible to look at hundreds of funds doing thousands of trades and come to some conclusions.

Gregory Kadlec, a finance professor at Virginia Tech, has been studying mutual fund costs for 16 years. In a study published last year in the Financial Analysts Journal, he and two other academics derived trading cost estimates by analyzing returns for 1,758 funds over a 12-year period ending in 2006.

Some skillful (or just lucky) funds beat the market and some fall behind. Collectively they do worse than the market, Kadlec says, the shortfall reflecting both the expense ratios and the invisible loss from trading.

On average, the analysis showed, small-company funds lose 1.5% when they go into or out of something and recoup a bit more than half the loss with portfolio improvement. A fund with 100% turnover in its portfolio stands to lose 1.2% a year to trading.

Turnover at the Lord Abbett fund has been running 200% and higher, suggesting a trading-cost headwind of 2.4%. That's how much it would lose to turnover if its managers were merely average in their ability to replace one stock in their portfolio with a better stock.

Lately they have been rather better than average; the fund clearly did better over the past year than it would have if it had stood pat with its positions. This is a momentum portfolio, one that aims to catch upswings after companies deliver pleasant surprises with their earnings or revenues and then get out when the mood turns sour.

Thomas O'Halloran, the fund's lead manager, explains the trading philosophy used here and a sister fund buying larger companies, Lord Abbett Growth Leaders: "It's like a physics concept. Mass times acceleration equals force." Lord Abbett has worked this concept well in the bull market, getting in and out of stocks like Crocs, Open Table and Facebook in reaction to Wall Street's emotions. Growth Leaders' turnover is an even more ferocious 451%, Morningstar reports. It has also been beating the market.

Developing Growth owns, besides LifeLock, Hain Celestial, which has exploited the health food fad, and Generac, which sells back-up generators to fretful suburbanites. Such stocks do well in a bull market. What about a full cycle of up and down? The cost of trading is bound to hurt over time.

Diet Coke Slurpee RIP: But not from brain freeze

It's not yet summer -- barely spring -- but the new Diet Coke Slurpee briefly sold at 7-Eleven already has melted down.

Just one month after rolling out the Diet Coke Frost Cherry Slurpee, the frozen concoction has been removed from 7-Eleven stores nationally, Coca-Cola and 7-Eleven confirmed in a joint statement. The problem: It didn't freeze right.

"A significant number of stores experienced dispensing quality issues involving the product freezing consistency," the joint statement says. Never mind that last month, Coca-Cola executives boasted about cracking the code after 31 years on how to blend the world's best-selling diet soft drink into a frozen beverage.

It's back to the drawing board.

"In keeping with both companies' quality standards, 7-Eleven has removed the product," says the statement.

Executives from both companies declined to discuss the snafu any further. No clue if the beverage will ultimately return to 7-Eleven or elsewhere. Coca-Cola had previously announced plans to add other diet flavors to the line later this spring and expand the frozen beverage to other retailers.

John Sicher, editor of Beverage Digest, the specialty trade publication, says the process of freezing diet sodas isn't simple. "Creating frozen diet carbonated beverages is tricky. The diet sweeteners don't facilitate viscosity control like sugar or corn sweetener," he says, in an email.

Executives from Coke and 7-Eleven note there are no health or safety issues with the product.

But one brand guru notes that while the two consumer product giants should certainly have done better product testing, they won't walk off with too much Slurpee on their collective faces.

"A major trend today is high tolerance for trial and error," says Steven Addis, CEO of the branding agency Addis. Companies, he says, tend to get more credit for pushing the boundaries. "Consumers are more open to companies trying new things and will give them the benefit of the doubt for attempts at! innovation -- even if they fail."

4 Airlines Looking Like Value Stocks

A quick screen for potential value stocks uncovers at least 4 airline companies that may qualify. Emphasis on the word "may." Setting aside, for now, narratives that might attempt to explain "why," the simple non-story metrics lead to:

Skywest (SKYW) would seem to fit the mold. The price/earnings ratio is a measly 11 and it's trading at about half of its book value. The dividend payment comes to 1.4%.   The 2012 low was 6.50 – it's doubled since then.

Republic Airways Holdings Republic Airways Holdings trades at about 90% of book value. The P/E is low at 7. The stock is priced today at 9.51 –it's been down trending for about 6 months — but is well up from it's 2011 low of 3.

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China Southern Airlines China Southern Airlines has a P/E of 8 and trades at about 90% of book. It's been down trending steadily for months and at 16.40 is brushing 4-year lows.

China Eastern Airlines China Eastern Airlines has been trading in a range between 25 and 14 for 4 years now. At 16.61 today, it's available at the low end of that range.  The P/E is 8 and it's priced at just about book value.

I would guess that the uncertainty and mystery surrounding Malaysian Flight MH370 is affecting the prices of airline stocks and especially those based in China. This short list is merely a starting point for more extensive research.

Airline stocks such these can be volatile and should be regarded as speculative even as they might seem to offer opportunity from a valuation perspective.

Disclosure: I do not hold positions in any of these stocks, long or short.

 

Hot Asian Stocks For 2014

Asian stocks fell, extending a rout that wiped out about $400 billion from the value of global equities yesterday, amid concern that central banks from Tokyo to Washington are increasingly reluctant to add stimulus.

Toyota Motor Corp., the world�� largest carmaker, retreated 1.8 percent in Tokyo after the yen yesterday gained the most in three years. Hyundai Merchant Marine Co. (011200) plunged 15 percent in Seoul after North Korea called off talks yesterday on a joint industrial zone. Nomura Real Estate Master Fund Inc. (3285), Japan�� largest initial public offering this year, fell 6.2 percent in its debut.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index was little changed at 131.65 as of 8:44 p.m. in Tokyo, with about two shares falling for each that advanced. Markets in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Philippines were shut for holidays.

��here�� lots of confusion around the world at present about what central bank policy means for the outlook of the global economy, earnings and valuations,��Matthew Sherwood, Sydney-based head of market research at Perpetual Ltd., which manages about $25 billion, said by e-mail. ��he Fed is likely to continue to be ambiguous about its next step, probably because it�� not sure. This will see markets continue to be volatile.��

Hot Asian Stocks For 2014: Express-1 Expedited Solutions Inc.(XPO)

XPO Logistics, Inc. provides third-party logistics services using a network of relationships with ground, sea, and air carriers in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It operates in three segments: Express-1, Concert Group Logistics, and Bounce Logistics. The Express-1 segment offers ground expedited surface transportation services for freight. It operates a fleet ranging from cargo vans to semi tractor trailer units. The Concert Group Logistics segment provides domestic and international freight forwarding services through a network of independently owned stations. Its domestic freight forwarding services include air charter, expedites, and time sensitive services, as well as cost sensitive services comprising deferred delivery, less than truckload, and full truck load services; and international freight forwarding services consist of on-board courier and air charters, time sensitive services, less-than-container and full-container-loads, and vessel charters. This segm ent also offers documentation on international shipments, customs clearance and banking, trade show shipment management, time definite and customized product distributions, reverse logistics and on site asset recovery projects, installation coordination, freight optimization, and diversity compliance support services. The Bounce Logistics segment provides premium freight brokerage services for truckload shipments. The company serves approximately 4,000 retail, commercial, manufacturing, and industrial customers through 6 U.S. operations centers and 22 agent locations. It offers its services to the automotive manufacturing, automotive components and supplies, commercial printing, durable goods manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, food and consumer products, and high tech sectors. The company was formerly known as Express-1 Expedited Solutions, Inc. and changed its name to XPO Logistics, Inc. in September 2011. XPO Logistics, Inc. was founded in 1989 and is based in Buchanan, Michi gan.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  XPO Logistics (NYSE: XPO) shot up 7.06 percent to $30.01 after the company announced its plans to acquire Pacer International (NASDAQ: PACR) in a deal valued at $335 million.

• [By Travis Hoium]

  What: Shares of XPO Logistics (NYSE: XPO  ) jumped 13% today after announcing an acquisition.

  So what: The company will pay $365 million for logistics provider 3PD, consisting of $357 million in cash an $8 million in XPO restricted stock. Is will use its own cash and borrow $195 million from Credit Suisse Group for the remainder of the purchase. �

Hot Asian Stocks For 2014: China Jo-Jo Drugstores Inc.(CJJD)

China Jo-Jo Drugstores, Inc. owns and operates a retail pharmacy chain in the People?s Republic of China. Its stores sell various medicinal products, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, nutritional supplements, traditional Chinese medicine products, personal care products, family care products, and medical devices, as well as convenience products including consumable, seasonal, and promotional items. The company also has licensed doctors, who provide consultation, examination, and treatment of common ailments. In addition, its stores include medical clinics that offer urgent care, traditional Chinese medicines, and minor outpatient surgical treatments. The company operates a chain of approximately 55 drugstores under the Jiuzhou Grand Pharmacy Quannuo Grand Pharmacy, and Lydia Grand Pharmacy brand names. The company is headquartered in Hangzhou, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

   

   

  Another under-$10 drug retailer that's starting to move within range of triggering a big breakout trade is China Jo-Jo Drugstores (CJJD), which operates as a retailer and distributor of pharmaceutical and other health care products in the People's Republic of China. This stock has been on fire for the last three months, with shares ripping higher by 46%.

  If you take a look at the chart for China Jo-Jo Drugstores you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending strong over the last month and change, with shares moving higher from its low of 65 cents per share to its recent high of $1.18 a share. During that uptrend, shares of CJJD have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of CJJD within range of triggering a big breakout trade above some near-term and past overhead resistance levels.

  Market players should now look for long-biased trades in CJJD if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance at $1.18 a share and then once it clears some past overhead resistance levels at $1.21 to $1.32 a share high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 99,122 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then CJJD will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $1.70 to its 52-week high at $1.99 a share.

  Traders can look to buy CJJD off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits just below its 50-day moving average of 98 cents per share. One can also buy CJJD off strength once it starts to clear those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Top 5 Specialty Retail Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited(YGE)

Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, development, manufacture, marketing, sale, and installation of photovoltaic (PV) products in the People?s Republic of China and internationally. The company offers PV cells, PV modules, and integrated PV systems, as well as polysilicon ingots, blocks, and wafers. It sells its PV modules to distributors, wholesalers, power plant developers and operators, and PV system integrators in Germany, the United States, Italy, China, Spain, the Netherlands, Greece, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Japan under the Yingli and Yingli Solar brand names. The company also offers its integrated PV systems directly to end-users or to contractors for use in the electricity projects, as well as to mobile communications companies in the People's Republic of China. Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Baoding, the People? s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Travis Hoium]

  What: Solar stocks are shooting higher again today as the strong run in 2013 continues. LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK  ) , Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ  ) , Yingli Green Energy (NYSE: YGE  ) , Hanwha SolarOne (NASDAQ: HSOL  ) , and JinkoSolar (NYSE: JKS  ) led the way, gaining between 10% and 22% today.

• [By Travis Hoium]

  Europe cuts solar lifeline -- solar lives on
  Europe has been even more aggressive cutting subsidies the solar industry once relied on. Germany began 2011 with feed-in tariffs that ranged from 0.29 euros per kilowatt-hour for a rooftop system to 0.21 euros per kW-hr for a large ground-mounted system. Today, a rooftop system will earn 0.165 euros per kW-hr and a utility scale system will earn 0.195 euros per kW-hr. The driver of feed-in tariff reductions is the rapidly falling cost of solar. We talk about how the flood of cheap Chinese panels affect prices and competition here in the U.S., but solar giants Yingli Green Energy (NYSE: YGE  ) and Trina Solar (NYSE: TSL  ) count on Europe for most of their demand, and they're responsible for a lot of the drop in costs there.

• [By Travis Hoium]

  Don't look now but SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR  ) has become the best-performing stock in the solar industry. Over the past year, it's been better than fellow U.S.-based companies First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR  ) and SolarCity (NASDAQ: SCTY  ) , and far better than most Chinese manufacturers. Yingli Green Energy (NYSE: YGE  ) and Trina Solar lag well behind even after recent pops higher; only Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ  ) can come close to SunPower's return (and I'll get into the reason for that below).

• [By Travis Hoium]

  Another record in solar
  We've been hearing about solar efficiency records for years. Yingli Green Energy (NYSE: YGE  ) said that its Panda cells reached 19.89% efficiency way back in 2011. Trina Solar's Honey technology can reach 19.6% efficiency. Then there's the efficiency leader, SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR  ) , whose Maxeon cells can be 24% efficient, creating a 21.5% efficient production module.

Hot Asian Stocks For 2014: IDEX Corp (IEX)

IDEX Corporation (IDEX), incorporated on September 24, 1987, is an applied solutions business that sells an array of pumps, flow meters and other fluidics systems and components and engineered products to customers in a variety of markets worldwide. All of the Company�� business activities are carried out through wholly owned subsidiaries. IDEX operates in three business segments: Fluid & Metering Technologies, Health & Science Technologies and Fire & Safety/Diversified Products. Reporting units in the Fluid & Metering Technologies segment consist of Banjo; Energy and Fuels (Energy); Chemical, Food & Process (CFP) and Water & Waste Water (Water). Reporting units in the Health & Science Technologies segment consist of IDEX Health & Science (IH&S); IDEX Optics and Photonics (IOP); Precision Polymer Engineering (PPE); Gast; Micropump and Materials Process Technologies (MPT). Reporting units in the Fire & Safety/Diversified Products segment consist of Fire Suppression; Rescue Tools and Band-It. In July 20, 2012, it acquired Matcon Group Limited. In March 2013, it announced the acquisition of FTL Seals Technology, Ltd. On April 11, 2012, the Company acquired the stock of PPC. On April 30, 2012, the Company acquired the stock of ERC.

Fluid & Metering Technologies Segment

The Fluid & Metering Technologies Segment designs, produces and distributes displacement pumps, flow meters, injectors, and other fluid-handling pump modules and systems and provides flow monitoring and other services for the water and wastewater industries. Fluid & Metering Technologies pump and metering solutions serve a range of end markets, including industrial infrastructure (fossil fuels, refined and alternative fuels, and water and wastewater), chemical processing, agricultural, food and beverage, pulp and paper, transportation, plastics and resins, electronics and electrical, construction and mining, pharmaceutical and bio-pharmaceutical, machinery and other markets. Fluid & Metering Technologies accounte! d for 43% of IDEX�� sales and 82% of IDEX�� operating income, with approximately 46% of its sales to customers outside the United States as of December 31, 2012, with approximately 46% of its sales to customers outside the United States. Banjo is a provider of pumps, valves, fittings and systems used in liquid handling. Banjo is based in Crawfordsville, Indiana and its products are used in agricultural and industrial applications. Approximately 11% of Banjo�� sales during 2012 were to customers outside the United States.

Energy consists of the Company�� Corken, Faure Herman, Liquid Controls, S.A.M.P.I. and Toptech businesses. Energy is a supplier of flow meters, electronic registration and control products, rotary vane and turbine pumps, reciprocating piston compressors, and terminal automation control systems. Energy has facilities in Longwood, Florida and Zwijndrech, Belgium (Toptech products), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Corken products), La Ferte Bernard, France (Faure Herman products), Vadodara, Gujarat, India (Liquid Controls products), and Altopascio, Italy (S.A.M.P.I. products). Applications for Liquid Controls and S.A.M.P.I. positive displacement flow meters, electronic, registration and control products include mobile and stationary metering installations for wholesale and retail distribution of petroleum and liquefied petroleum gas, aviation refueling, and industrial metering and dispensing of liquids and gases. Corken products consist of rotary vane pumps, single and multistage regenerative turbine pumps, and small horsepower reciprocating piston compressors. Toptech supplies terminal automation hardware and software to control and manage inventories, as well as transactional data and invoicing, to customers in the oil, gas and refined-fuels markets. Faure Herman is a supplier of ultrasonic and helical turbine flow meters used in the custody transfer and control of fluids and gases. Approximately 53% of Energy�� sales during 2012 were to customers outside the United State! s.

!

CFP consists of the Company�� Richter, Viking and Warren Rupp businesses. CFP is a producer of air-operated and motor-driven double-diaphragm pumps and replacement parts, lined pumps, valves and control equipment for the chemical, fine chemical and pharmaceutical industries, and external gear pumps. Richter�� corrosion resistant fluoroplastic lined products offer solutions for applications in the process industry. Viking�� products consist of external gear pumps, strainers and reducers, and related controls used for transferring and metering thin and viscous liquids sold under the Viking and Wright Flow brands and air-operated double-diaphragm pumps sold under the Blagdon brand. Markets served by Viking products include chemical, petroleum, pulp and paper, plastics, paints, inks, tanker trucks, compressor, construction, food and beverage, personal care, pharmaceutical and biotech. Warren Rupp products (which also include Pumper Parts and Versa-Matic products) are used for abrasive and semisolid materials, as well as for applications where product degradation is a concern or where electricity is not available or should not be used. Markets served by Warren Rupp products include chemical, paint, food processing, electronics, construction, utilities, mining and industrial maintenance. CFP maintains operations in Kampen, Germany (Richter products), Cedar Falls, Iowa (Richter and Viking products), Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, Shannon, Ireland (Viking products) and Mansfield, Ohio (Warren Rupp products). CFP primarily uses independent distributors to market and sell its products. Approximately 54% of CFP�� sales during 2012 were to customers outside the United States.

Water consists of the Company�� ADS, IETG, iPEK, Knight and Pulsafeeder businesses. Water is a provider of metering technology and flow monitoring products and underground surveillance services for water and wastewater markets, as well as a manufacturer of pumps and dispensing equipment for industrial laundries! , commerc! ial dishwashing and chemical metering, and a provider of metering pumps, special-purpose rotary pumps, peristaltic pumps, fully integrated pump and metering systems, custom chemical-feed systems, electronic controls and dispensing equipment. ADS�� products and services provide integrated solutions that enable industry, municipalities and government agencies to analyze and measure the capacity, quality and integrity of wastewater collection systems, including the maintenance and construction of such systems. IETG�� products and services enable water companies to manage their water distribution and sewerage networks, while its surveillance service specializes in underground asset detection and mapping for utilities and other private companies. iPEK supplies remote controlled systems used for infrastructure inspection. Knight is a manufacturer of pumps and dispensing equipment for industrial laundries, commercial dishwashing and chemical metering. Pulsafeeder products are used to introduce precise amounts of fluids into processes to manage water quality and chemical composition, as well as peristaltic pumps. Its markets include water and wastewater treatment, oil and gas, power generation, pulp and paper, chemical and hydrocarbon processing, and swimming pools. Water maintains operations in Huntsville, Alabama and various other locations in the United States, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (ADS products), Leeds, England (IETG products and services), Hirschegg, Austria, and Sulzberg, Germany (iPEK products), Lake Forest, California, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, Unanderra, Australia, and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico (Knight products), Rochester, New York, Punta Gorda, Florida and Milan, Italy (Pulsafeeder products). Approximately 47% of Water�� sales during 2012 were to customers outside the United States.

Water Services & Technology (WST) consists of the Company�� ADS, IETG and iPEK businesses. WST is a provi! der of me! tering technology and flow monitoring products and underground surveillance services for wastewater markets. ADS�� products and services provide integrated solutions that enable industry, municipalities and government agencies to analyze and measure the capacity, quality and integrity of wastewater collection systems, including the maintenance and construction of such systems. IETG�� products and services enable water companies to manage their water distribution and sewerage networks, while its surveillance service specializes in underground asset detection and mapping for utilities and other private companies. iPEK supplies remote controlled systems used for infrastructure inspection. WST maintains operations in Huntsville, Alabama and various other locations in the United States and Australia (ADS products and services); Leeds, England (IETG products and services); and Hirschegg, Austria, and Sulzberg, Germany (iPEK products). Approximately 40% of WST�� 2012 sales were to customers outside the United States.

The Company competes with Pump Solutions Group, Dover Corporation, Milton Roy and Tuthill Corporation.

Health & Science Technologies Segment

The Health & Science Technologies Segment designs, produces and distributes a range of precision fluidics, rotary lobe pumps, centrifugal and positive displacement pumps, roll compaction and drying systems used in beverage, food processing, pharmaceutical and cosmetics, pneumatic components and sealing solutions, including pumping solutions required in analytical instrumentation, clinical diagnostics and drug discovery, molded and extruded, biocompatible medical devices and implantables, air compressors used in medical, dental and industrial applications, optical components and coatings for applications in the fields of scientific research, defense, aerospace, telecommunications and electronics manufacturing, laboratory and commercial equipment used in the production of micro and nano scale materials, precision pho! tonic sol! utions used in life sciences, research and defense markets, and precision gear and peristaltic pump technologies. The segment accounted for 35% of IDEX�� sales and 35% of operating income in 2012, with approximately 54% of its sales to customers outside the United States.

IH&S consists of Eastern Plastics, Rheodyne, Ismatec, Sapphire Engineering, Upchurch Scientific and ERC, which was acquired in April 2012. IH&S has facilities in Rohnert Park, California (Rheodyne products); Bristol, Connecticut (Eastern Plastics products); Wertheim-Mondfeld, Germany (Ismatec products); Middleboro, Massachusetts (Sapphire Engineering products); Oak Harbor, Washington (Ismatec and Upchurch Scientific products); and Kawaguchi, Japan (ERC products). Eastern Plastics products, which consist of high- precision integrated fluidics and associated engineered plastics solutions, are used in a set of end markets including medical diagnostics, analytical instrumentation, and laboratory automation. Rheodyne products consist of injectors, valves, fittings and accessories for the analytical instrumentation market. Rheodyne products are used by manufacturers of high pressure liquid chromatography equipment servicing the pharmaceutical, biotech, life science, food & beverage, and chemical markets. Ismatec products include peristaltic metering pumps, analytical process controllers, and sample preparation systems. Sapphire Engineering and Upchurch Scientific products consist of fluidic components and systems for the analytical, biotech and diagnostic instrumentation markets, such as fittings, precision-dispensing pumps and valves, tubing and integrated tubing assemblies, filter sensors and other micro-fluidic and nano-fluidic components, as well as advanced column hardware and accessories for the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) market. Sapphire Engineering and Upchurch Scientific products primarily serve the pharmaceutical, drug discovery, chemical, biochemical processing, genomics/proteomics research, envir! onmental ! labs, food/agriculture, medical lab, personal care, and plastics/polymer/rubber production markets. ERC manufactures gas liquid separations and detection solutions for the life science, analytical instrumentation and clinical chemistry markets. ERC�� products consist of in-line membrane vacuum degassing solutions, refractive index detectors and ozone generation systems. Approximately 52% of IH&S�� 2012 sales were to customers outside the United States.

IOP consists of CVI Melles Griot (CVI MG), Semrock and AT Films (the Precision Photonics portion of the AT Films business was acquired in April 2012). CVI MG is a into design and manufacture of precision photonic solutions used in the life sciences, research, semiconductor, security and defense markets. CVI MG�� products are focused on the generation, control and productive use of light for a variety of key science and industrial applications. Products consist of specialty lasers and light sources, electro-optical components, specialty shutters, opto-mechanical assemblies and components. In addition, CVI MG produces critical components for life science research, electronics manufacturing, military and other industrial applications including lenses, mirrors, filters and polarizers. These components are utilized in a number of applications such as spectroscopy, cytometry (cell counting), guidance systems for target designation, remote sensing, menology and optical lithography.

CVI MG is headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with additional manufacturing sites located in Carlsbad, California; Rochester, New York; Isle of Man, British Isles; Leicester, England; Kyongki-Do, Korea; Tokyo, Japan; Didam, The Netherlands; and Singapore. Semrock is a provider of optical filters for biotech and analytical instrumentation in the life sciences markets. Semrock�� optical filters are produced using state-of-the-art manufacturing processes which enable it to offer its customers improvements in instrument performance and reliability.! Semrock ! is located in Rochester, New York. AT Films specializes in optical components and coatings for applications in the fields of scientific research, defense, aerospace, telecommunications and electronics manufacturing. The Precision Photonics portion of its business specializes in optical components and coatings for applications in the fields of scientific research, aerospace, telecommunications and electronics manufacturing. AT Films is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. Approximately 57% of IOP�� 2012 sales were to customers outside the United Sates.

Containment consists of Precision Polymer Engineering (PPE). PPE, which is located in Blackburn, England, is a provider of high performance seals and advanced sealing solutions for a diverse range of global industries and applications, including hazardous duty, analytical instrumentation, semiconductor/solar, process technologies, pharmaceutical, electronics, and food applications. Approximately 79% of PPE�� 2012 sales were to customers outside the United States.

Gast consists of the Company�� Gast and Jun-Air businesses. The Gast business is a manufacturer of air-moving products, including air motors, low-range and medium-range vacuum pumps, vacuum generators, regenerative blowers and fractional horsepower compressors. Gast products are used in a variety of long-life applications requiring a quiet, clean source of moderate vacuum or pressure. Gast products primarily serve the medical equipment, environmental equipment, computers and electronics, printing machinery, paint mixing machinery, packaging machinery, graphic arts, and industrial manufacturing markets. The Jun-Air business is a provider of low-decibel, ultra-quiet vacuum compressors suitable for medical, dental and laboratory applications. Based in Benton Harbor, Michigan, Gast also has a logistics and commercial center in Redditch, England. Approximately 27% of Gast�� 2012 sales were to customers outside the United States.

Micropump, headquartered i! n Vancouv! er, Washington, produces, precision-engineered, magnetically and electromagnetically driven rotary gear, piston and centrifugal pumps. Micropump products are used in low-flow abrasive and corrosive applications. Micropump products primarily serve the printing machinery, medical equipment, paints and inks, chemical processing, pharmaceutical, refining, laboratory, electronics, pulp and paper, water treatment, textiles, peristaltic metering pumps, analytical process controllers and sample preparation systems markets. Approximately 77% of Micropump�� 2012 sales were to customers outside the United States.

MPT consists of Quadro, Fitzpatrick, Microfluidics and Matcon Group Limited (Matcon), which was acquired in July 2012. Quadro is a provider of particle control solutions for the pharmaceutical and bio-pharmaceutical markets. Based in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, Quadro�� activities include fine milling, emulsification and special handling of liquid and solid particulates for laboratory, pilot phase and production scale processing within the pharmaceutical and bio-pharmaceutical markets. Fitzpatrick is into the design and manufacture of process technologies for the pharmaceutical, food and personal care markets. Fitzpatrick designs and manufactures customized size reduction, roll compaction and drying systems to support their customers��product development and manufacturing processes. Fitzpatrick is headquartered in Elmhurst, Illinois. Microfluidics is into designing and manufacturing of laboratory and commercial equipment used in the production of micro and nano scale materials for the pharmaceutical and chemical markets. Microfluidics is the producer of the Microfluidizer family of high shear fluid processors for uniform particle size reduction, robust cell disruption and nanoparticle creation. Microfluidics has offices in Newton, Massachusetts. Matcon is into material processing solutions for high value powders used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, food, plastics, and fine chemic! als.

!

Matcon�� products consist of the original cone valve powder discharge system and filling, mixing and packaging systems, all of which support its customers��automation and process requirements. Matcon is located in Evesham, Worcestershire, England. Approximately 61% of MPT�� 2012 sales were to customers outside the United States.

The Company competes with Gardner Denver, Inc., Thermo Scientific Dionex, Gooch & Housego PLC, Parker Hannifin and Valco Instruments Co., Inc.

Fire & Safety/Diversified Products Segment

The Fire & Safety/Diversified Products segment produces firefighting pumps and controls, rescue tools, lifting bags and other components and systems for the fire and rescue industry, engineered stainless steel banding and clamping devices used in a variety of industrial and commercial applications, and precision equipment for dispensing, metering and mixing colorants and paints used in a variety of retail and commercial businesses around the world. The segment accounted for 22% of IDEX�� sales and 53% of IDEX�� operating income in 2012, with approximately 56% of its sales to customers outside the United States.

Fire Suppression consists of the Company�� Class I, Hale and Godiva businesses, which produce truck-mounted and portable fire pumps, stainless steel valves, foam and compressed air foam systems, pump modules and pump kits, electronic controls and information systems, conventional and networked electrical systems, and mechanical components for the fire, rescue and specialty vehicle markets. Fire Suppression�� customers are primarily OEMs. Fire Suppression is headquartered in Ocala, Florida (Class 1 and Hale products), with additional facilities located in Warwick, England (Godiva products). Approximately 41% of Fire Suppression�� 2012 sales were to customers outside the United States.

Rescue consists of the Company�� Dinglee, Hurst Jaws of Life, Lukas and Vetter businesses, which produce hydraulic! , battery! , gas and electric-operated rescue equipment, hydraulic re-railing equipment, hydraulic tools for industrial applications, recycling cutters, pneumatic lifting and sealing bags for vehicle and aircraft rescue, environmental protection and disaster control, and shoring equipment for vehicular or structural collapse. Rescue Tool�� customers are primarily public and private fire and rescue organizations. Rescue has facilities in Shelby, North Carolina (Hurst Jaws of Life products); Tianjin, China (Dinglee products); Erlangen, Germany (Lukas products); and Zulpich, Germany (Vetter products). Approximately 75% of Rescue�� 2012 sales were to customers outside the United States.

Band-It is a producer of stainless steel banding, buckles and clamping systems. Band-It products are used for securing exhaust system heat and sound shields, industrial hose fittings, traffic signs and signals, electrical cable shielding, identification and bundling, and in numerous other industrial and commercial applications. Band-It products primarily serve the automotive, transportation equipment, oil and gas, general industrial maintenance, electronics, electrical, communications, aerospace, utility, municipal and subsea marine markets. Band-It is based in Denver, Colorado, with additional operations in Staveley, Derbyshire, England, and a IDEX shared manufacturing facility in China. Approximately 39% of Band-It�� 2012 sales were to customers outside the United States.

Dispensing Equipment produces precision equipment for dispensing, metering and mixing colorants and paints used in a variety of retail and commercial businesses worldwide. Dispensing Equipment is a global supplier of precision-designed tinting, mixing, dispensing and measuring equipment for auto refinishing and architectural paints. Dispensing Equipment products are used in retail and commercial stores, hardware stores, home centers, department stores, automotive body shops as well as point-of-purchase dispensers. Dispensing Equipmen! t is head! quartered in Wheeling, Illinois with additional facilities in Sassenheim, The Netherlands; Unanderra, Australia; and Milan, Italy, as well as IDEX shared manufacturing facilities in India and China. Approximately 59% of Dispensing Equipment�� 2012 sales were to customers outside the United States.

The Company competes with American Cast Iron Pipe Company, Holmatro, Inc., Nordic Capital and Panduit Corporation.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Diversified technology machinist�IDEX (NYSE: IEX  ) announced yesterday its second-quarter dividend of $0.23�per share, the same rate it paid last quarter after raising the payout 15% from $0.20 per share.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Xylem’s big day has also boosted other water-infrastructure stocks. Flowserve (FLS) has gained 1.2% to $70.59, Idex Corp. (IEX) has risen 0.5% to $68.69 and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) has advanced 0.4% t0 $98.22.

Hot Asian Stocks For 2014: Toll Brothers Inc.(TOL)

Toll Brothers, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, builds, markets, and arranges finance for single-family detached and attached homes in luxury residential communities. It is also involved in building or converting existing rental apartment buildings into high-, mid-, and low-rise luxury homes. In addition, the company develops, owns, and operates golf courses and country clubs associated with various planned communities, as well as individual communities. It serves move-up, empty-nester, active-adult, age-qualified, and second-home buyers in 19 states in the United States. Toll Brothers, Inc. was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Horsham, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Maxfield]

  The reason homebuilders like D.R. Horton (NYSE: DHI  ) and Toll Brothers (NYSE: TOL  ) are taking it on the chin, in turn, has to do with the trend in prices. To wit, the median price of a new home fell in June by nearly 5% from $262,800 in May to $249,700. And just like Apple's experience with falling iPhone sales, if this trend continues it will put pressure on these companies' margins, and thus their bottom lines.

• [By DailyFinance Staff]

  LM Otero, AP The housing market has been leading the economic recovery, but have housing stocks hit the ceiling? They're jumping today after a very bullish report on housing starts: New construction projects last month topped the 1 million annual rate for the time since before the financial crisis began in 2008. That's lifted shares of leading homebuilders by two to four percent today, adding to the huge gains over the past year. KB Homes (KBH), Pulte (PHA) and Hovnanian (HOV) have all doubled in price over the past year. Lennar (LEN) is up 44 percent, D.R. Horton (DHI) is up 47 percent and Toll Brothers (TOL) 33 percent. Those gains have prompted several other builders to go public this year. Taylor Morrison Home (TMHC), Tri Pointe, and William Lyon Home have all moved higher since their IPOs. And even though there's plenty of optimism that housing will continue to lead the broader economic recovery, there's some concern that these stocks may slow down. Homebuilder stocks can no longer be considered cheap. So some analysts see alternate routes for investors looking to play the housing boom. One way is through home-improvement retailers, which benefit from sales of both new and existing homes. Other plays include lumber, furniture and appliance companies. It's also worth noting that today's report on home construction showed that starts of single-family homes actually declined in March. It was the more volatile multi-family sector that led the advance. But there may be some stock market opportunities in REITs – real estate investment trusts – which focus on apartments. Among the biggest ones are Post Properties, Essex Property Trust and Associated Estates. They make money from collecting monthly rents. And these stocks generally trade below the value of the properties they own. Even some builders known for single-family homes are moving into the multi-family segment. Lennar announced in January that it plans to enter the apartment rental mar

• [By Amanda Alix]

  Homebuilders have seen their fortunes rise, too, particularly those playing either end of this particular boom. Luxury builder Toll Brothers (NYSE: TOL  ) reported a sweet 46% increase in net income�from the first quarter of 2012, aided by an ability to tack on price increases averaging $26,000 per house�-- bringing the average price of a Toll house to a cool $577,000. Beazer Homes (NYSE: BZH  ) is playing the single-family rental end of things, via its Pre-Owned Homes Division, a two-year old venture it started with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (NYSE: KKR  ) .

Hot Asian Stocks For 2014: Kabel Deutschland Holding AG (KD8)

Kabel Deutschland Holding AG is a Germany-based holding company and cable network operator. Through its operating entitities, the primarily being Kabel Deutschland Kundenbetreuung GmbH and Kabel Deutschland Vertrieb und Service GmbH, the Company provides analogue and digital television, broad band Internet and cable-based telecommunication services throughout Germany. The Company's activities are divided into two business segments: TV Business, the Company's dominant segment which includes cable-based television products such as analogue and digital cable television and radio, as well as digital pay-TV and related products. The second segment, Internet and Phone, offers broadband Internet access, fixed-line and mobile phone services, mobile data services, as well as additional options to those homes which can be connected to the Company's upgraded network. In October 2013, Vodafone Vierte Verwaltungs AG, a subsidiary of Vodafone Group PLC, acquired 76.57% interest in the Company. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Amy Thomson]

  Vodafone has already expanded beyond wireless service, and in June beat John Malone�� Liberty Global (LBTYA) Plc to take over Germany�� Kabel Deutschland Holding AG. (KD8) Vodafone and Verizon accelerated talks on the stake sale after the Kabel Deutschland offer, which put additional pressure on the British company�� finances, a person familiar with the matter said.

• [By Sarah Jones]

  Kabel Deutschland (KD8) jumped 8.2 percent to 80.84 euros, for the biggest advance on the Stoxx 600, after Vodafone, the world�� second-largest wireless carrier, confirmed it discussed acquiring the German cable operator to expand in the broadband and TV market.

• [By Alex Webb]

  Vodafone Group Plc (VOD)�� 7.7 billion-euro ($10.2 billion) bid for Kabel Deutschland Holding AG (KD8) cleared a major hurdle by winning the backing of at least 75 percent of the German company�� shareholders.

Hot Asian Stocks For 2014: Digirad Corp (DRAD)

Digirad Corporation, incorporated in 1997, is the developer and manufacturer of medical diagnostic imaging systems, including solid-state gamma cameras for nuclear cardiology and general nuclear medicine applications. The Company operates in two segments: DIS (its diagnostic imaging service business) and its product segment. Through DIS, the Company provides in-office imaging services to physicians, offering certified personnel, required licensure, an imaging system and other support and supplies for the performance of nuclear and ultrasound imaging procedures under the supervision of its physician customers. The Companies imaging systems are sold in both portable and fixed configurations. DIS physician customers enter into annual lease contracts for imaging services generally delivered on a per-day basis. The Company�� product segment sells solid-state gamma cameras and provides camera service and maintenance.

Imaging Services

DIS offers portable nuclear and ultrasound imaging services. Its nuclear modality services include an imaging system, a certified nuclear medicine technologist and a cardiac stress technician, often certified or a trained nurse or paramedic, the supply of radiopharmaceuticals, and required licensing services for the performance of nuclear imaging procedures under the supervision of physicians. The ultrasound imaging service is similar, in that the Company provides the ultrasound equipment and one ultrasound technologist. Its portable nuclear imaging operations use a hub and spoke model, in which centrally located regional hubs anchor multiple van routes in the surrounding metropolitan areas. At its DIS hubs, clinical personnel load the equipment, radiopharmaceuticals, and other supplies onto specially equipped vans for transport to the physician�� office or other customer locations, where they set up the equipment for the day. The Company provides nuclear and ultrasound services primarily under annual contracts for services delivered on a per-day ! basis.

Products

Digirad markets and manufactures a line of nuclear medicine cameras for nuclear cardiology and general nuclear medicine applications. Its cameras are used in hospitals, imaging centers, physician offices and by mobile service providers. Its nuclear cameras feature detectors based on solid-state technology developed by the Company. The solid-state technology provides the Company with the capability to market and manufacture a diverse family of cardiac and general-purpose cameras.

The Cardius family of cardiac SPECT (single-photon emission computerized tomography) solid-state imagers makes it possible to image patients up to 500 pounds in a sitting position. Upright imaging makes it possible to image bariatric, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or claustrophobic patients that typically could not be imaged lying down on. The Company offers fixed dual-head and triple-head cardiac camera models for use within a facility and a portable dual-head configuration that makes it possible to move the system to provide service to multiple rooms or sites. Its flagship in cardiology is the Cardius XACT SPECT/CT system. It features a triple-head design and a low dose volume computed tomography (CT) attenuation correction methodology.

The Company�� ergo is a large-field-of-view planar portable imaging camera. The ergo imaging system is targeted to hospitals with multi-camera general nuclear medicine departments, academic centers, pediatric hospitals, regional trauma centers, women�� health centers and cancer centers. The Company also provides triple-head Cardius 3 XPO system, which provides shorter image acquisition time. Its Cardius X-ACT camera is a rapid cardiac SPECT/VCT imager. The Cardius X-ACT camera is positioned more toward the hospital and larger cardiology practices.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Kell and Tess Stynes var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); p]

  Digirad Corp.(DRAD) agreed to pay at least $3.5 million in cash to acquire medical-outsourcing provider Telerhythmics, a deal that will add to the larger company’s sales and bottom line.

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Digirad (NASDAQ: DRAD) shares created a new 52-week high of $3.989 on Q3 results.

  Posted-In: 52-Week HighsNews Intraday Update Markets Movers

Hot Asian Stocks For 2014: Stock Building Supply Holdings Inc (STCK)

Stock Building Supply Holdings, Inc., incorporated on April 16, 2009, is a diversified lumber and building materials (LBM) distributor and solutions provider that sells to new construction and repair and remodel contractors. The Company�� primary products are lumber & lumber sheet goods, millwork, doors, flooring, windows, structural components, such as engineered wood products (EWP), trusses, wall panels and other exterior products. The Company serves a customer base, including large-scale production homebuilders, custom homebuilders and repair and remodeling contractors. In addition, the Company provides solution-based services to its customers, including design, product specification and installation management services. The Company�� primary operating regions include the South and West regions of the United States.

The Company provides a balanced mix of products and services to the United States production and custom homebuilders and repair and remodel, multi-family and commercial contractors. The Company offer over 39,000 products sourced through its strategic network of suppliers, which together with its various solution-based services; represent approximately 50% of the construction cost of a new home.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Stock Building Supply Holdings (NASDAQ: STCK) dipped 1.53% to $19.95 in the pre-market session after the company prices 5.6 million shares at $19.50 per share by selling shareholders.

Hot Asian Stocks For 2014: Alcobra Ltd (ADHD)

Alcobra Ltd is an Israel-based Biopharmaceutical company. It focuses on the development and commercialization of a proprietary drug, MG01CI, to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a common and morbid neuropsychiatric condition in children and adults. Adult ADHD is associated with increased health risks and healthcare costs, higher divorce rates, lower levels of socioeconomic attainment, lower academic achievement, unemployment and work place deficits, increased risks for motor vehicle accidents, greater likelihood of additional psychiatric disorders, increased criminal activity and incarceration, and higher rates of substance use and abuse. MG01CI product has completed phase two studies. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  A biopharmaceutical stock that's starting to trend within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Alcobra (ADHD), which is engaged in the development and commercialization of its proprietary drug, MG01CI, to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This stock has been on fire so far in 2013, with shares up huge by 126%.

  If you take a look at the chart for Alcobra, you'll notice that this stock has been trending sideways and consolidating over the last month and change, with shares moving between $14.78 on the downside and $18.75 on the upside. Shares of ADHD have now started to uptrend a bit over the last few weeks, with shares moving higher from its low of $15.05 to its recent high of $18.45 share. That move has started to push shares of ADHD within range of triggering a big breakout trade above the upper-end of its recent sideways trading chart pattern.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ADHD if it manages to break out above its 50-day moving average of $17.79 a share, and then once it takes out some more key overhead resistance levels at $18.45 to $18.75 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 74,869 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then ADHD will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $22 to $24 a share. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give ADHD a chance to re-test or possibly take out its all-time high at $26.96 a share.

  Traders can look to buy ADHD off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some near-term support levels at $16.17 to $15.05 a share, or around $14.78 a share. One could also buy ADHD off strength once it starts to clear those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Smoking Rate Highest in Kentucky, Lowest in Utah

More than 30.2% of people in Kentucky were smokers in 2013. Barely behind at 29.9% were the residents of adjacent West Virginia. At the other end of the spectrum, residents of Utah had a smoking rate of only 12.2%.

Gallup took measurements of the percentage of smokers across all 50 states during 2013 to come up with these results.

The high rate of smoking often came in geographic targets. Also adjacent to Kentucky, the rate of smokers in Tennessee was 26.3% — ranked among the top 10 states. Smoking rates were also high in Louisiana (24.1%) and neighboring Mississippi (27.0%). The rate was high in Michigan (23.2%), as well as bordering Indiana (24.7%) and Ohio (25.0%). The other top 10 states were Oklahoma (25.2%) and Missouri (24.7%), which also share a border.

Best Safest Companies To Invest In 2014

Two states that border Utah were in the bottom 10 in terms of smoking rates — Arizona (17.5%) and Colorado (17.4%). The balance of the states in the bottom 10 included California (15%.0), Minnesota (15.8%), Massachusetts (16.3%), New Jersey (16.9%), Maryland (17%.0), Washington (17%.0) and Rhode Island (17.1%).

Commenting on the research, Gallup analysts wrote:

Utah’s low smoking rate is due in large part to the religious composition of its residents. Six in 10 Utah residents identify themselves as Mormon, and in 2013 just 5% of Mormons living in Utah smoked, while smoking among the next three most represented groups in Utah — those with no religious identity, Protestants, and Catholics — were at or above national smoking averages for each group.

The other important point the research group made was:

Nine of the 10 states with the lowest smoking rates have outright bans on smoking in all three of these settings, with California allowing for ventilated rooms.

And:

Bans are significantly less common in the 10 states with the highest smoking rates. Kentucky, West Virginia, and Mississippi — the states with the three highest smoking rates — do not have statewide bans in any of the three settings.

Nationwide, the rate of smoking has plunged since World War II:

Since Gallup began asking Americans whether they smoke or not in 1944, the percentage of smokers has declined by more than half. Still, about one in five Americans in 2013 said they smoke.

Whatever vices Americans do have, they run less and less toward the use of tobacco.

Methodology: Results are based on telephone interviews conducted as part of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index survey Jan. 2 to Dec. 29, 2013, with a random sample of 178,067 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

Mid-Day Movers: Dow Jones Industrials Rise 100 Points; JPMorgan Gains

Stocks turned early morning losses into gains today, as the market continues to digest yesterday’s Fed meeting, and AT&T (T), JPMorgan Chase (JPM), First Solar (FSLR) and Frontier Communications (FTR) gain.

REUTERS

The S&P 500 has gained 0.6% to 1,870.96, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average has advanced 116.43 points, or 0.7%, to 116338.

AT&T has gained 3% to $33.94, making it the Dow’s biggest gainer at 12.35 p.m., while Frontier Communications has risen 2.7% to $5.37, making it the S&P 500′s third-biggest gainer, after a Connecticut union asked the Feds to block the sale of AT&T’s assets in that state.  AT&T also announced pre-orders for new Samsung (SSNLF) products, while Frontier Communications announced an expanded partnership with Crius Energy Trust.

Top Performing Stocks To Watch For 2014

JPMorgan Chase has risen 2.9% to $60.01 as investors bet that it will be a beneficiary of higher interest rates.

First Solar has advanced 4.4% to $72.42, the biggest mover in the S&P 500, after analysts at JPMorgan, Credit Suisse, and Deutsche Bank raised their targets for the stock following yesterday’s investor day.

Oil’s Not Scarce, But Cheap Oil Is

Sometimes the concepts of energy resources and energy reserves get confused, which leads a lot of people to believe we have more oil available than is actually the case. So then people are left to wonder why — if we have 3 trillion barrels of oil left — oil prices are still hovering near $100 per barrel.  

A resource is the total amount of a commodity that is in place. However, much of that resource will likely be unrecoverable because the technology doesn't exist yet, or it is too costly to produce.

The huge oil resource in tight formations was known for many years, but only began to be unlocked economically through innovations in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling. Today, $100/bbl oil enables lots of it to be extracted economically from the Williston Basin in North Dakota and the Eagle Ford Shale in Texas, but 20 years ago the technology hadn't yet been sufficiently developed.

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Today we have both the technology and high enough prices that a portion of these vast tight oil resources can now classified as reserves. But if the price is too low, the resource still will not be developed unless the price increases, or technology improves to the point that the cost to produce drops below the sales price.

Consider this analogy. What if I told you the location of several trillion dollars' worth of gold? It does in fact exist, dissolved in the world's oceans, and it's there for the taking. The technology to extract the gold exists.

So why isn't this gold being produced? Because it exists in such a diluted concentration and is mixed with numerous other compounds and elements. As a result, it is incredibly complicated and energy intensive to extract the gold and purify it. Thus, while gold may sell for $1,400 a troy ounce, it might cost $10,00! 0 a troy ounce to produce it from the oceans. It will remain there, untouched, until gold prices are much higher than they are today, or until someone comes up with a much cheaper way to produce it.

Some of the world's oil resources are similarly out of reach for the moment. In addition to the large fraction being as of yet technically unrecoverable, there are oil fields that are only economical at $150 or $200 a barrel. Thus, as oil prices increase, some of these fields that are uneconomical today will eventually be tapped.  

This has implications for the concept of "peak oil" because oil reserves and oil production are effected by oil prices. Indeed, the world has likely passed "peak $20 oil." At that price none of the US tight oil plays will be economical, nor will much of the world's oil sands production. The output of oil that is economic to produce at $20 has been falling for years.

But that means the price of oil has been rising. And a rising price of oil is a big reason that the world's proved oil reserves are more than 60 percent greater than they were in 1990. If $20/bbl was the metric for measuring economically recoverable oil, we would have to slash the proved reserves to a fraction of the current value.

For investors in the oil sector, this is an important concept to grasp, because it is one of the key reasons I believe we are in a period of permanently higher oil prices. While one major brokerage or another will still capture headlines with a prediction that oil prices are headed to $50/bbl, I don't believe such a low price is sustainable simply because there isn't enough oil that can be economically produced at that price.

That could change; for instance if technology enabled Canadian and Venezuelan oil sands to be economically produced at $20/bbl, it would eventually put tremendous pre! ssure on ! the global price of oil. But there is nothing like that on the horizon, and every day the developing world demands more oil. Thus, even as oil production in North America continues to expand at a record pace, the world continues to consume that oil and more, which continues to be supportive of higher prices.

(Follow Robert Rapier on Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook.)

Top 10 Financial Companies To Buy Right Now

Top 10 Financial Companies To Buy Right Now: Nuveen Select Maturities Municipal Fund (NIM)

Nuveen Select Maturities Municipal Fund is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Nuveen Investments, Inc. The fund is managed by Nuveen Asset Management. It invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. The fund invests primarily in municipal securities rated Baa/BBB or better. It invests in securities that provide income exempt from federal income tax. The fund employs fundamental analysis with bottom-up stock picking approach to create its portfolio. It benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the S&P Intermediate Municipal Bond Index and the S&P National Municipal Bond Index. Nuveen Select Maturities Municipal Fund was formed on September 18, 1992 and is domiciled in the United States.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ning Jia]

  Net interest margin (NIM): The NIM is calculated by dividing net interest income by average earning
  assets. The NIM can vary with the particular business mix and risk taken.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-10-financial-companies-to-buy-right-now.html

Best Safest Companies To Own For 2014

Best Safest Companies To Own For 2014: Deutsche Bank AG (DBK)

Deutsche Bank AG is a global investment bank. The Company offers a variety of investment, financial and related products and services to private individuals, corporate entities and institutional clients around the world. The Company operates through such divisions as: Private and Business Clients, Asset and Wealth Management, Corporate Banking and Securities, Global Transaction Banking and Non-Core Operations Unit. Deutsche Bank AG is active domestically and in various countries, through the network of numerous branches. In February 2014, the Company and its related bodies corporate ceases to a share holder in the capital of the Company. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonathan Morgan]

  Bayer AG (BAYN) and BASF SE gained, following their European peers higher. Commerzbank AG (CBK), the country's second-biggest lender, slid 3.7 percent. Deutsche Bank AG (DBK) dropped the most in more than a month after JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded the shares.

• [By Jonathan Morgan]

  RWE AG (RWE), Germany's second-largest utility, slipped 2.4 percent after RBC Capital Markets cut its recommendation on the stock. Lufthansa followed its European peers higher, recovering some of its Aug. 2 selloff. Xing AG (O1BC), the business social network, jumped the most since October as Deutsche Bank AG (DBK) upgraded its rating on the shares.

• [By Jonathan Morgan]

  Deutsche Bank AG (DBK) lost 0.6 percent as a gauge of banks posted the largest drop of the 19 industry groups in the Stoxx Europe 600 Index. Deutsche Telekom AG (DTE) advanced 2.2 percent as a gauge of telecom companies rose the most on the Stoxx 600.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-safest-companies-to-own-for-2014.html

Hot Solar Stocks To Buy Right Now

Hot Solar Stocks To Buy Right Now: EMCORE Corporation(EMKR)

EMCORE Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides compound semiconductor-based products for the broadband, fiber optics, satellite, and solar power markets. The company operates in two segments, Fiber Optics and Photovoltaics. The Fiber Optics segment offers broadband products, including cable television, fiber-to-the-premises, satellite communication, video transport, and defense and homeland security products; and digital products comprising telecom optical, enterprise, laser/photodetector component, parallel optical transceiver and cable, and fiber channel transceiver products. This segment?s products enable information that is encoded on light signals to be transmitted, routed, and received in communication systems and networks. The Photovoltaics segment provides gallium arsenide (GaAs) multi-junction solar cells, covered interconnected cells, and solar panels for satellite applications; and concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) power systems for commercial and u tility scale solar applications, as well as GaAs solar cells and integrated CPV components for use in other solar power concentrator systems. The company markets its products through its direct sales force, external sales representatives and distributors, and application engineers worldwide. EMCORE Corporation was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  EMCORE Corporation (Nasdaq:EMKR), a leading provider of compound semiconductor-based components and subsystems for the fiber optic and solar power markets, reported that it is ramping production and shipping the Opticomm-EMCORE NEXTGEN OTP-1DVI2A1SU insert cards for the Optiva platform.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/hot-solar-stocks-to-buy-right-now.html

Top 5 India Stocks To Buy For 2014

Top 5 India Stocks To Buy For 2014: Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd(RDY)

Dr. Reddy?s Laboratories Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a pharmaceutical company. It produces finished dosage forms, active pharmaceutical ingredients and intermediates, and biotechnology products. The company also conducts research in the areas of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular, inflammation, and bacterial infection. In addition, it involves in the contract manufacture generic prescription and over-the-counter products for branded and generic companies in the United States. The company primarily focuses on therapeutic categories of cardiovascular, diabetes management, gastro-intestinal, and pain management. It markets its products in India, the United States, Europe, and the Russian Federation. The company has a co-development and commercialization agreement with Rheoscience A/S for the development and commercialization of Balaglitazone/DRF 2593, a partial PPAR-gamma agonist for the treatment of type 2 diabetes; an agreement with ClinTec Internatio nal for the development of an anti-cancer compound, DRF 1042; collaboration with the National Cancer Institute in Maryland; and an agreement with Argenta Discovery Limited for the joint development and commercialization of a novel approach to the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It also has an agreement with 7TM Pharma for drug discovery collaboration on selected drug targets; and an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline plc to develop and market pharmaceuticals for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, oncology, gastroenterology, and pain management. Dr. Reddy?s Laboratories Limited was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Hyderabad, India.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Teva has dropped 7.7% to $37.85 today at 3:23 p.m. but doesn’t seem to be spreading though the generic drug space. Taro Pharmac! euticals (TARO) ha gained 1.1% to $79, while Actavis (ACT) has gained 1.2% to $156.25 and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (RDY) has advanced 1% to $40.24. Mylan (MYL) has dropped 0.7% to $38.40.

• [By Dan Carroll]

  The company's generic drug segment should also help push emerging market sales. Abbott markets generic pharmaceuticals outside the U.S. only, and while the division isn't growth-oriented -- sales actually fell around 2% for the quarter -- it provides an entry for the company to push into lucrative new markets such as India, where generics make up the large majority of the country's retail market. The company will face tougher competition in this industry, however: Firms such as India-based Dr. Reddy's (NYSE: RDY  ) have also pushed hard into emerging markets lately, and Dr. Reddy's in particular should benefit from its being headquartered in one of the industry's top locales.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-5-india-stocks-to-buy-for-2014.html

Top Dividend Stocks For 2014

Top Dividend Stocks For 2014: Snap-On Incorporated(SNA)

Snap-on Incorporated provides tools, equipment, diagnostics, repair information, and systems solutions for professional users. Its products include hand tools, such as wrenches, screwdrivers, sockets, pliers, ratchets, saws and cutting tools, pruning tools, and torque measuring instruments; power tools, including pneumatic, hydraulic, cordless, and corded tools; and tool storage products comprising tool chests, roll cabinets, and tool control systems. The company?s diagnostics and repair information products include handheld and PC-based diagnostics products, service and repair information products, diagnostic software solutions, electronic parts catalogs, business management systems, business services, point-of-sale systems, integrated systems for vehicle service shops, original equipment manufacturer purchasing facilitation services, and warranty management systems and analytics to manage and track performance. Snap-on Incorporated?s equipment products comprise solutions for the diagnosis and service of automotive and industrial equipment, such as wheel alignment, collision repair, air conditioning service, brake service, fluid exchange, transmission troubleshooting, and safety testing equipment, as well as wheel balancers, tire changers, vehicle lifts, test lane systems, battery chargers, and hoists. The company also provides financial services, including business loans and vehicle leases to franchisees; loans to the franchisees? customers; and loans to its industrial and other customers for the purchase of tools, equipment, and diagnostics products. Snap-on Incorporated sells its products and services through mobile vans, franchisees, company-direct sales, distributors, and the Internet in approximately 130 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Australia, France, Japan, Spain, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Argentina! , China, and Brazil. Snap-on Incorporated was founded in 1920 and is based in Kenosh a, Wisconsin.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matt Thalman]

  Another player that operates heavily within this industry, but in a slightly different fashion, announced earnings today. Shares of tool company Snap-On (NYSE: SNA  )  rose 7.76% today after beating estimates on both the top and bottom lines. Revenue came in at $797.5 million for the quarter, a 5.9% increase from last year and higher than the $779.5 million analysts were looking for. Earnings per share hit $1.60, again higher than the $1.56 that was expected. One of the areas that management would like to focus on moving forward is expanding its vehicle repair garage, which again would make sense given the average age of vehicles on the road today. 

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Snap-on (NYSE: SNA) shares gained 0.60% to create a new 52-week high of $106.62. Snap-on's PEG ratio is 1.78.

  Posted-In: 52-Week HighsNews Intraday Update Markets Movers

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Snap-on (NYSE: SNA  ) reported earnings on April 18. Here are the numbers you need to know.

  The 10-second takeaway
  For the quarter ended March 30 (Q1), Snap-on met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-dividend-stocks-for-2014-2.html

Top 10 Long Term Stocks To Buy For 2014

Top 10 Long Term Stocks To Buy For 2014: R.G. Barry Corporation(DFZ)

R.G. Barry Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in designing, sourcing, marketing, and distributing consumer products in the retail accessories category primarily in North America. It operates in two segments, Footwear and Accessories. The Footwear segment offers footwear products comprising primarily slippers, sandals, hybrid and fashion footwear, slipper socks, and hosiery under the Dearfoams, Angel Treads, DF by Dearfoams, Utopia by Dearfoams, and Terrasoles names. This segment also markets Levi?s branded slippers and sandals. The Accessories segment provides foot and shoe care products, such as cushioned insoles, handbags, tote bags, and travel products for women under the Foot Petals, Fab Feet, Glamour Toez, Heavenly Heelz, Killer Kushionz, baggallini, and Le Bagg names. The company markets its products through accessory sections of department stores, chain stores, warehouse clubs, specialty stores, independent stores, television shopping networks, e- tailing/Internet based retailers, discount stores, and mass merchandising channels of distribution. R.G. Barry Corporation was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Pickerington, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Brand development and marketing products provider R.G. Barry (DFZ) raised its quarterly dividend 11.1% to 10 cents per share, payable on Apr. 4 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 17.
  DFZ Dividend Yield: 2.25%

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-10-long-term-stocks-to-buy-for-2014.html

Top Income Stocks To Buy Right Now

Top Income Stocks To Buy Right Now: Xoom Corp (XOOM)

Xoom Corporation (Xoom), incorporated on October 10, 2012, is engaged in online international money transfer service. Its customers use Xoom to send money to family and friends in 30 countries. The Company generates revenue from transaction fees charged to customers and from foreign exchange spreads on transactions where the payout currency is other than United States dollars. In February 2014, Xoom Corp acquired BlueKite, LTD, a technology company that develops solutions and applications.

The Company's solutions are designed to offer customers a convenient, fast and cost-effective way to send money to family and friends at any time, from any Internet-enabled location. The Company's solutions include Origination, Funding, Disbursement and Transaction Processing.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Kell]

  Xoom Corp.(XOOM) swung to a fourth-quarter profit as the international money-transfer provider reported a jump in revenue. But the company’s full-year earnings outlook fell short of Wall Street’s expectations. Shares dropped 13% to $24.46 premarket.

• [By Zacks Investment Research]

  Xoom (XOOM) is also a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock that IPO'ed this year. The stock zoomed higher by a healthy 60% on its first day of trading. The online international money transfer service has been public since February 15 and had an offering price of $16 per share.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-income-stocks-to-buy-right-now-2.html

LinkedIn Corp (LNKD): A Bumpy Road To RBC’s $250

Been thinking about buying LinkedIn Corp (NYSE:LNKD) as the social site for professionals lags? Well, RBC Capital says the wait is over and now is the time to buy. Analyst, Mark Mahaney raised his view on the stock to "Outperform" from "Sector Perform" with a price target of $250 – upside potential of 15.91% to target as we type.

For the three people who might not know, LinkedIn operates an online professional network. The company, through its proprietary platform, allows members to create, manage, and share their professional identity online; build and engage with their professional networks; access shared knowledge and insights; and find business opportunities.

[Related -LinkedIn Corp (LNKD) Q4 Earnings Preview: Can LinkedIn Deliver Another EPS Upside?]

Mahaney cites four reasons for LNKD's laggard behavior, "Over the past 6 months LNKD shares have traded down 13% vs. a 12% increase in the S&P 500. Drag Issues have included: 1) overly aggressive Street estimates, 2) a heavier than expected investment outlook for '14, 3) a greater-than-expected slowdown in Talent Solutions revenue growth, and 4) uncertainty over Marketing Solutions format changes."

However, he believes the quartet of concerns is a thing of the past and the stock should respond. The RBC analyst tells investors, "The first issue has been addressed – Street '14 EBITDA estimates have been reduced 11% since the beginning of this year. And we believe LNKD's '14 investments – salesforce buildouts, product and market expansions, and acquisitions – are coming from a position of strength against large TAMs. Our very recent proprietary work helps address Drag Issues 3 & 4. Hence, the Upgrade."

[Related -Linkedin Corp (NYSE:LNKD): New Marketing Efforts Should Improve Ad Sales]

Looking at the Internet Information Provider's stock chart, LNKD will need to break through a descending line of resistance, marked by a series of lower pivot-point peaks. You can see what we are talking about on the chart below.

Sticking to the tech company's chart, LinkedIn will need to make its way through additional resistance at $230 and then $240 before making contact with another technical foe at Mahaney's $250 target. The path could be herky-jerky.

 

Fundamentally, evaluating high-flyers is a tougher task as valuation metrics can drop dramatically if/when Wall Street falls out of love with a stock and is no longer willing to justify the unjustifiable.

However, we'll take a stab at LNKD's chances of hitting $250 based on the company's recent price-to-sales (P/S) ratio. Since going public, LinkedIn's has traded at an average of 18.7 time sales – hold on a second, feeling a little dizzy – today the stock trades with a P/S ratio of 16.44.

For 2014, analysts have set a consensus target of $2.11 billion for the top-line. To trade at $250, technical roadblocks notwithstanding, LNKD requires a P/S ratio of 14.28 using 2014's sales consensus. At the average P/S ratio, LinkedIn would price out at $327.36.

Overall: Based on its historical P/S ratio, LinkedIn Corp (NYSE: LNKD) has a legitimate shot to hit Mark Mahaney's $250 price target and beyond; however, investors might be rewarded by waiting for LNKD's price to break the downtrend line of resistance before pressing enter on that buy order. 

S&P 500 erases '14 losses; hits new record high

After a rocky start to 2014, a rally Monday enabled the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index to wipe out almost all of its early-year losses and come close to setting a new record closing high.

The S&P 500 rose 11.36, or 0.6% to 1,847.61, just shy of its Jan. 15 record close of 1,848.38. The index did set a new intraday high of 1,858.76 earlier in the session.

Stocks got a lift from better economic news out of Europe, where an index measuring the "business climate" in Germany topped expectations, and the latest round of corporate deal making. Wall Street also cheered word of coming financial assistance to the embattled Ukraine, which is undergoing massive political change.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 103.84, or 0.6% to 16,207.14 and the Nasdaq composite index gained 29.56, or 0.7%, to 4,292.97.

FED PULLBACK: Economists differ on 'taper' timing

Several prominent stocks hit new highs, including Facebook, Google and Tesla. Facebook shares jumped 3.2% to $70.78 and Google gained 0.7% to $1,212.51. Tesla Motors rose 3.8% to $217.65.

Stocks got off to a poor start this year, hurt by sub-par economic data blamed on wintry weather, turbulence in emerging markets and recent political turmoil in Ukraine. But since the market hit its low for the year on Feb. 3, investors have snapped up stocks on the belief that the ingredients for an acceleration in U.S. economic growth were still in place. Wall Street also downgraded the threat to global growth caused by troubles in some emerging markets.

"The weather excuse has been generally accepted in part because there was near universal agreement at the start of the year that the drivers of faster economic growth were in place," said David Kelly, chief global strategist at J.P. Morgan Funds.

But Kelly warns that economic data has to pick up when spring arrives if the stock rally is to continue.

"The numbers need to pick up over the next few weeks or investors will begin to recalibrate their views of th! e year ahead into a picture of lower readings on inflation, earnings, interest rates and stock prices."

On Tuesday, Wall Street will get fresh readings on home prices and consumer confidence. Thursday, investors will find out how robust sales of durable goods, such as washing machines and dishwashers, were in January. On Friday, the government will release a revised estimate for economic growth, or GDP, for the fourth quarter of 2013.

The stock market's recovery also coincided with new Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen's first testimony before Congress on Feb. 11. Wall Street was reassured by Yellen's comments, which suggested the Fed would continue to support markets as it did under former chairman Ben Bernanke. Yellen testifies again on Capitol Hill on Thursday.

MEN'S WEARHOUSE: Ups bid for Jos. A Bank

Investors were also digesting news Monday of yet another new wrinkle in the attempted retail takeover saga between Jos. A. Bank and Men's Wearhouse.

Men's Wearhouse stepped up its pursuit of Jos. A. Bank, boosting the takeover offer for its rival by 10% to about $1.78 billion. Stock in both companies were up more than 8%.

WAFFLE TACO? Taco Bell offers breakfast

SPEAKING OF BREAKFAST . . . : McDonald's eyes longer hours

TESLA STOCK: 1,200 times its earnings now

Benchmark U.S. oil for April delivery up 56 cents at $102.76 in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 55 cents on Friday to close at $102.20.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.74% from 2.73% Friday.

In Asia, China's Shanghai composite index slid 1.8% to 2,076.69 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index shed 0.8% to 22,388.56. Japan's Nikkei 225 stock average was down 0.2% at 14,837.68.

European stocks moved higher as Wall Street rallied. London's FTSE index gained 0.4% to 6,865.86 and Germany's DAX index rose 0.5% to 9,708.94.

Wall Street stocks fell Friday as investors assessed the latest round of company earnings.The S&P! 500 fell! 3.53 points, or 0.2%, to 1,836.25. The Dow dropped 29.93 points, or 0.2% percent, to 16,103.30. The tech-laden Nasdaq composite closed down 4.13 points, 0.1%, to 4,263.41.

HSBC: Profits up

FRIDAY: Stocks close down at lows of session

Contributing: Associated Press

New York Suspends Licenses, Drives Tax Delinquents To Pay Up

It's official: taxpayers, especially those in the State of New York, really love their cars.

After making threats and sending out nasty notices, lawmakers in New York have found one way of getting delinquent taxpayers to pay up: take away their keys.

Last year, New York passed a law which allowed the state to suspend driver's licenses for those taxpayers who owed more than $10,000 in state taxes until the debt was paid. At the time, the New York State Tax Department estimated that the program would increase collections by $26 million in this fiscal year. They were wrong.

It turns out that collections are nearly double expectations. Tax Commissioner Tom Mattox has announced that revenues attributable to the program have reached nearly $48 million. To quote Jon Lovitz from A League Of Her Own, "[t]his would be more, wouldn't it?

The first round of notices were mailed out to 16,000 delinquent taxpayers late last year. Those folks had 60 days to arrange for payment on their tax bills. If they didn't pay, they were in the second round of notices – the "we really, really mean it" letters. After that, those that had not still not paid up had their driver's license suspended.

The threat of walking, taking public transit or *horrors* having to carpool with mom sent 5,700 delinquent taxpayers to the taxing authorities. They have either paid up in full or entered into a payment agreement.

Those that didn't pay up were cut off: 7,850 drivers have had their licenses suspended by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). An additional 3,500 are next if they don't resolve their liabilities soon.

That could be the start of their worries. Skirting the driving laws in the Empire State can be expensive and could possibly land you in jail. Depending on the circumstances, driving without a license can be punishable by a mandatory fine of $200–$500 plus a surcharge and jail or probation of up to 30 days. If you do it more than once, the fines and jail time increase pretty significantly – do it repeatedly and you can also lose your car. You can check out the specific punishments by checking out the NY DMV's handy pamphlet (downloads as a pdf) where – and I'm not kidding – they break the word suspension down by syllables for you and remind you that's a noun.

Not paying your taxes isn't the only offense that can result in a suspended license in New York. In addition to the obvious driving violations (like speeding or reckless driving while on probation or driving while under the influence), your license can be suspended for other bad behaviors like bouncing a check to the DMV or failing to pay child support.

Clearly, most taxpayers need to be able to work in order to pay down their tax liabilities. If that's the case and your license is suspended, you may be able to apply for a conditional or restricted license that allows you to commute to and from work. The DMV will notify taxpayers eligible for these kinds of licenses by mail.

Of course, it would probably take more than a few trips to the office to get some taxpayers to settle up. As of February 2014 (report downloads as a pdf), New York's five most delinquent taxpayers owe more than a cool $25 million. I'm guessing they'll have to stick to cabs.

–

Want more taxgirl goodness? Pick your poison: receive posts by email, follow me on twitter (@taxgirl), hang out with me on Facebook or check out my YouTube channel. If you want to keep an eye on documents I've posted, check out my profile on Scribd. And finally, you can subscribe to my podcast on the site or via iTunes (it's free).

Euro hurtles toward $1.39; jobs report on tap

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — The euro surged against the dollar Thursday after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi continued to brush off the threat of deflation, decreasing the chance of further easing in the short term.

Investors looked ahead to the February employment report in the U.S., which is expected to show an addition of 140,000 jobs, according to a MarketWatch survey. Read: What to look for in February jobs report

A weak headline number could push the euro to $1.39 or even $1.40, said Jens Nordvig, head of fixed income research Americas and global head of currency strategy at Nomura Securities.

Getty Images Enlarge Image Mario Draghi, president of the European Central Bank, continues to brush off deflation.

The euro gained after the ECB held rates steady and didn't announce any additional measures. Draghi said recent developments have been consistent with moderate growth and the ECB expects the recovery to continue at a slow pace.

"On current information, they seem pretty far away from easing," said Nordvig. He said the resulting jump in the euro was "very logical" because the markets had priced in some type of action from the central bank, which didn't take place.

In his news conference, Draghi noted the rise in the euro since 2012 has weighed on current inflation by about 0.4%. He also said slack present in the economy and energy prices had depressed inflation. Read a recap of our live ECB blog

Draghi's discussion of inflation was "new way of phrasing that, in my view, kind of de-emphasized the deflation risk," said Nordvig.

The euro (EURUSD)  jumped more than one cent to $1.3865 from $1.3731 late Wednesday.

"The fact that Draghi explicitly mentioned the exchange rate impact on inflation is in our view a clear signal that the ECB would not be pleased with a further strengthening of the euro," said Carsten Brzeski, an economist at ING Bank, in a note.

The British pound (GBPUSD)  rose to $1.6742 from $1.6722. The Bank of England on Thursday made no change in policy, holding its key lending rate at a record low of 0.5% and its asset purchases at 375 billion pounds ($627 billion).

The ICE dollar index (DXY) , a gauge of the dollar's strength against six rivals, fell to 79.658 from 80.106 late Wednesday. The WSJ dollar index (XX:BUXX) , an alternate measure of dollar strength, fell to 73.29 from 73.55.

Data released Friday showed U.S. jobless claims fell by 26,000 to a seasonally adjusted 323,000 in the week ended March 1. The level was the lowest since the end of November, but could have been skewed by the severe weather.

Elsewhere, the dollar (USDJPY)  rose to ¥103.13 from ¥102.28 late Wednesday. The Australian dollar (AUDUSD)  rose to 90.86 U.S. cents from 89.86 U.S. cents.

More must-reads from MarketWatch:

What this bull market needs to live a sixth year

Reeves: 5 ways to protect profits as the bull market hits a milestone

Stock markets are ready for a soft jobs report