His company, Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA), said Friday that its profit grew by nearly $2 billion in the second quarter.
The company, a broad-based investment conglomerate that includes diverse names like Geico Auto Insurance, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, Dairy Queen, Benjamin Moore, Fruit of the Loom, Heinz, and See's Candies, earned a profit of nearly $6.4 billion, up from $4.5 billion during the same period last year.
In the first quarter, Berkshire's railroad operations took a hit from the extreme winter weather that hit much of the nation.
The kid who got the Buffett/McCartney picAs the nation's housing market has shown signs of improvement, many of the related companies that fall under Berkshire Hathaway's umbrella saw good results.
Top 10 Quality Companies To Watch For 2015: Cantel Medical Corp. (CMN)
Cantel Medical Corp. provides infection prevention and control products and services in the healthcare market. Its Endoscopy segment offers medical device reprocessing systems, disinfectants, detergents, and other supplies that are used to disinfect flexible endoscopes; and disposable infection control products for cleaning and disinfecting reusable components used in gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures. Its Water Purification and Filtration segment offers water purification equipment and services, filtration and separation products, and disinfectants for medical, pharmaceutical, biotech, beverage, and commercial industrial markets. This segment also offers hollow fiber membrane filtration and separation technologies for medical applications; and sterilants, disinfectants, and decontamination services used in various applications for infection prevention and control. The company�s Healthcare Disposables segment offers single-use infection prevention and control healthca re products, including face masks, sterilization pouches, towels and bibs, tray covers, saliva ejectors, germicidal wipes, plastic cups, and disinfectants used principally in the dental market; and biological and chemical indicators for sterility assurance monitoring services in the acute-care, alternate-care, and dental markets. Its Dialysis segment offers medical device reprocessing systems, sterilants/disinfectants, dialysate concentrates, and other supplies for renal dialysis. The company�s Specialty Packaging segment offers specialty packaging and thermal control products, as well as related compliance training for the transportation of infectious and biological specimens and thermally sensitive pharmaceutical, medical, and other products. Cantel Medical Corp. sells its products through its direct distribution network in the United States; and directly and through third-party distributors internationally. The company was founded in 1963 and is based in Little Falls, Ne w Jersey.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Marc Bastow]
Infection protection and control company Cantel Medical (CMN) raised its semiannual dividend 21.6% to 4.5 cents per share, payable Jan. 31, 2014, to shareholders of record as of Jan. 17.
CMN Dividend Yield: 0.26%
Top Railroad Stocks To Buy For 2014: First Financial Bankshares Inc.(FFIN)
First Financial Bankshares, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides commercial banking products and services primarily in Texas. It offers commercial banking services, which include accepting and holding checking, savings, and time deposits, as well as automated teller machines, drive-in and night deposit services, safe deposit facilities, remote deposit capture services, Internet banking, transmitting funds, and other commercial banking services. The company also provides commercial, financial, agricultural, real estate construction, real estate mortgage, and consumer loans to businesses, professionals, individuals, and farm and ranch operations. In addition, it involves in the administration of various types of retirement and employee benefit accounts, which include 401(k) profit sharing plans and IRAs; and offers personal trust services that comprise the administration of estates, testamentary trusts, revocable and irrevocable trusts, and agency accounts. Further, the company offers securities brokerage services. As of December 31, 2009, it operated 48 financial centers in Texas, including 10 locations in Abilene, 2 locations in Cleburne, 3 locations in Stephenville, 3 locations in Granbury, 2 locations in San Angelo, and 3 locations in Weatherford, as well as 1 location each in Mineral Wells, Hereford, Sweetwater, Eastland, Ranger, Rising Star, Southlake, Aledo, Willow Park, Brock, Alvarado, Burleson, Keller, Trophy Club, Boyd, Bridgeport, Decatur, Roby, Trent, Merkel, Clyde, Moran, Albany, Midlothian, and Glen Rose. The company was founded in 1956 and is based in Abilene, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By David Hanson and Matt Koppenheffer]
In the following video, Motley Fool financial analysts David Hanson and Matt Koppenheffer discuss two stocks from the financial sector that they're watching today. David tells us why he's got his eye on�JPMorgan� (NYSE: JPM ) and the trials and tribulations of CEO Jamie Dimon and what he'll be looking for at the company's annual meeting in two weeks. Matt Koppenheffer discusses the smaller-cap�First Financial Bankshares (NASDAQ: FFIN ) �and why if Warren Buffett only had $1 million to invest, this might be one of the first places he'd look.
- [By John Udovich]
Texas has set another record for job creation�with small cap Texas banking stock like Texas Capital Bancshares (NASDAQ: TCBI), ViewPoint Financial Group (NASDAQ: VPFG) and First Financial Bankshares (NASDAQ: FFIN) naturally being well positioned to take advantage of the Texas economic miracle (see my previous article: Texas is Booming and So Are These Texas Stocks (EE, TPL & ATO)). I should�add that I wrote about�these Texas banking stocks back in late 2012�(see: Don�� Mess With Texas Banking Stocks TCBI, VPFG & FFIN) and the Texas Workforce Commission has just�reported that the Texas economy added 36,400 jobs in September while over the past 12 months, employers added 413,700 jobs ��the most ever recorded by the state. Moreover, several companies surveyed by the Dallas Fed responded by saying�they are seeing labor market tightness�while companies are saying they are experiencing upward wage pressures�and�staffing�firms�note that�candidates are often receiving multiple offers.
- [By Profit Fan]
After rising 67% in the past 52-weeks, it is understandable that the price targets for First Financial Bankshares (FFIN) are slightly under the bank's current market price of $57.69 per share. But, the premium paid for these shares appear to be warranted.
Top Railroad Stocks To Buy For 2014: Tile Shop Holdings Inc (TTS)
Tile Shop Holdings, Inc., incorporated on June 21, 2012, is a specialty retailer of manufactured and natural stone tiles, setting and maintenance materials, and related accessories in the United States. The Company sells over 4,500 products from around the world, including ceramic, porcelain, glass, and stainless steel manufactured tiles and, marble, granite, quartz, sandstone, travertine, slate, and onyx natural tiles. It purchases its tile products and accessories directly from producers. The Company manufactures its own setting and maintenance materials, such as thinset, grout, and sealers under its brand name. The Company operates 70 stores in 22 states, with an average size of 23,000 square feet. It also sells its products on its Website. In January 2014 Tile Shop Holdings Inc launched its first retail store in Oklahoma City.
The Company offers a complete assortment of tile products, generally sourced directly from producers, including ceramic, porcelain, glass, and stainless steel manufactured tiles, and marble, granite, quartz, sandstone, travertine, slate, and onyx natural tiles. The Company also offers a range of setting and maintenance materials, such as thinset, grout and sealers, and accessories, including installation tools, shower and bath caddies, drains, and similar products.
The Company competes with Home Depot, Tile America, World of Tile, Century Tile, and Floor and Decor, Dal-Tile and Florida Tile.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dan Caplinger]
Stock market investors were generally pleased with the congressional testimony that Fed chair nominee Janet Yellen gave today, with new expectations that accommodative monetary policy will continue as long as any hint of economic weakness persists. The Dow and S&P 500 reached new record highs yet again, with Dow 16,000 and S&P 1,800 now within a single percentage point. But Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO ) , Tile Shop Holdings (NASDAQ: TTS ) , and Millennial Media (NYSE: MM ) all missed the record run, falling by more than 10% each.
Top Railroad Stocks To Buy For 2014: Plexus Corp.(PLXS)
Plexus Corp., together with its subsidiaries, provides electronic manufacturing services to original equipment manufacturers and other technology companies. The company offers product development and design services, including program management, feasibility studies, product conceptualization, specification development, circuit design, field programmable gate array design, printed circuit board layout, embedded software design, mechanical design, development of test specifications, and product verification testing. It also provides value-added services, such as engineering change-order management, cost reduction redesign, component obsolescence management, product feature expansion, test enhancement, and component re-sourcing. In addition, the company offers prototyping and new product introduction services comprising assembly of prototype products, materials management, analysis of the manufacturability and testability of a design, test implementation, and pilot productio n. Further, it provides test equipment development; material sourcing and procurement; agile manufacturing; fulfillment and logistic; after-market support; and regulatory requirements services. The company serves the wireline/networking, wireless infrastructure, medical, industrial/commercial, and defense/security/aerospace markets in the United States, Malaysia, China, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Romania. Plexus Corp. was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Neenah, Wisconsin.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Evan Niu, CFA]
What: Shares of Plexus (NASDAQ: PLXS ) have jumped today by as much as 13% after the company reported earnings results.
So what: Revenue in the fiscal third quarter totaled $571.9 million, well ahead of the Street consensus of $565 million. Earnings per share were $0.68, similarly topping expectations of just $0.58 per share. CEO Dean Foate said the strong results were driven by the networking and communications as well as the health care and life sciences sectors.
- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Equities Trading UP
Plexus (NASDAQ: PLXS) shares shot up 6.98 percent to $42.09 after the company reported its Q2 earnings of $0.60 per share on revenue of $557.60 million. The company also issued a strong Q3 outlook. - [By Seth Jayson]
Plexus (Nasdaq: PLXS ) reported earnings on July 17. Here are the numbers you need to know.
The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended June 29 (Q3), Plexus beat slightly on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.
Top Railroad Stocks To Buy For 2014: Rent-A-Center Inc.(RCII)
Rent-A-Center, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, primarily engages in leasing household durable goods to customers on a rent-to-own basis. The company?s stores offer durable products, such as consumer electronics, appliances, computers, and furniture and accessories under flexible rental purchase agreements that allow the customer to obtain ownership of the merchandise at the conclusion of an agreed upon rental period. It also provides merchandise on an installment sales basis in its stores. As of December 31, 2010, the company operated 3,008 company-owned stores in the United States, and in Canada, Puerto Rico, and Mexico, including 42 retail installment sales stores under the names ?Get It Now? and ?Home Choice?; and 18 rent-to-own stores located in Canada under the ?Rent-A-Centre? name. It also operates 209 franchised rent-to-own stores in 32 states under the ColorTyme trade name; and 384 kiosk locations under the ?RAC Acceptance? model. In addition, the company, th rough its ColorTyme?s franchised stores, offers custom rims and tires for sale or rental under the trade names ?RimTyme? or ?ColorTyme Custom Wheels?. Rent-A-Center, Inc. was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Plano, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Garrett Cook]
Rent-A-Center (NASDAQ: RCII) shares tumbled 12.42 percent to $25.45 after the company issued a downbeat guidance for the second quarter. The company expected adjusted earnings of $0.36 to $0.38 per share on revenue of around $773 million.
- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Equities Trading DOWN
Shares of Rent-A-Center (NASDAQ: RCII) were down 21.51 percent to $24.51 on Q4 results.Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) shares tumbled 7.80 percent to $507.55 after the company issued weak sales forecast for the second quarter and reported downbeat holiday iPhone sales.
- [By Anna Prior]
Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Friday’s session are Lorillard Inc.(LO), Wells Fargo (WFC) & Co. and Rent-A-Center Inc.(RCII)
- [By Garrett Cook]
Rent-A-Center (NASDAQ: RCII) shares tumbled 11.08 percent to $25.83 after the company issued a downbeat guidance for the second quarter. The company expected adjusted earnings of $0.36 to $0.38 per share on revenue of around $773 million.
Top Railroad Stocks To Buy For 2014: Omega Commercial Finance Corp (OCFN)
Omega Commercial Finance Corporation (Omega), incorporated on November 6, 1973, is a commercial real estate financing company that also provides asset backed lending services located in the Miami, Florida area. The Company consults on various financing programs with an emphasis on Loans secured by commercial real estate such as core assets that include office buildings, multi-family residences, shopping centers, industrial, and hotels, as well as asset backed loans secured by account receivables from established companies.
On February 20, 2012, CCRE Capital, LLC (CCRE), its wholly owned subsidiary entered into the Strategic Alliance Agreement (the Strategic Alliance) with Gardens VE Limited (Company No. 07071936), a British Company (Gardens). In January 2013, the Company acquired VFG Securities Incorporated and VFG Advisors Inc. The Company�� subsidiaries include CCRE (CCRE), OMEGA FACTORI and Omega Capital Street LLC.
The Company competes with CapitalSource Inc, Goldman Sachs Commercial Real Estate, Morgan Stanley Real Estate and JP Morgan Chase.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Virginia Harrison]
The other big Olympic sponsors are Visa (V, Fortune 500), Samsung (SSNLF), Panasonic (PCRFF), General Electric (GE, Fortune 500), Dow Chemical (DOW, Fortune 500), Procter & Gamble (PG, Fortune 500), Omega (OCFN) and Atos (ATOS). They're staying tight-lipped about the issue in public but a senior official at the International Olympic Committee said this month that several had raised concerns about how the law could affect the Games.
Top Railroad Stocks To Buy For 2014: NovaDx Ventures Corp (NDX)
NovaDX Ventures Corp. (Novadx) is a Canada-based mining investment company, engaged in investing in the North American junior resource exploration and mining sector. In January, 2012 a higher capacity auger machine was delivered to the Rosa Mine. During August 2012, the Company sold the small auger and paid off the higher capacity auger machine. On October 16, 2012,the Company announced that it, along with Sandstorm, have entered into a Letter of Intent to acquire certain coal properties and assets located in Campbell and Scott Counties, Tennessee. The Company�� wholly owned subsidiary MCoal Corporation (MCoal) operates the Rosa mine located in Blount Count, Alabama, which produces coal for the metallurgical and activated carbon coal markets. In January 2013, Sandstorm Metals and Energy Ltd together with the Company acquired Mine 12, the Turley Rail Load-Out, and the Smokey Junction Preparation Plant located in Campbell and Scott Counties, Tennessee. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jim Jubak]
However, in all fairness, shares of Qualcomm have indeed lagged the Nasdaq 100 (NDX) over the past year. But despite that fact, Qualcomm is still currently rated a buy by a large percentage of analysts who continue to follow the stock. As Hendershot points out, perhaps that is because ��ualcomm believes the company can generate double-digit compound average growth for revenues and earnings for, at least, the next five years.��/p>
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