Female Merrill Lynch advisers object to gender bias settlement

A group of nearly four dozen female Merrill Lynch advisers are opposing a proposed $39 million settlement in response to gender bias accusations, saying that the brokerage firm's payout represents “a huge step backwards.”

The advisers' 25-page filing, which was filed in federal court on Friday, said that the settlement filed Sept. 9 was “meager” and “unfair,” and “will enshrine the very policy that the plaintiffs challenged in this lawsuit as discriminatory.”

(Why aren't there more female advisers?)

At issue are two Merrill Lynch policies that the advisers say are discriminatory and will continue despite the settlement.

The first is a compensation policy that the advisers say is partly based on past performance and, as a result, favors men.

The second is a policy that the advisers said favors teams, which historically excluded women who were thought to be underperforming.

A complaint filed in October 2011 said that Merrill Lynch ranks high-producing advisers first on the distribution list to receive accounts, and that a greater number of accounts and more of the lucrative accounts are given to men.

“These additional accounts and business opportunities, as well as house account production credits, directly and indirectly increase the male [advisers'] production and place male [advisers] in an even better position for the next round of account distributions based on systematically documented and unvalidated criteria,” the complaint said.

(Firms rally for female adviser advancement)

The filing contends that the settlement on gender bias issues could erode the benefits of a larger $160 million settlement, McReynolds v. Merrill Lynch, for African American women. That settlement, which is also being considered in court, deals with allegations of racial bias against African-American brokers and trainees.

The objection, which was first reported on Monday afternoon by Law360, could influence the judge tasked with considering the settlement at a Dec. 19 hearing.

Merrill parent Bank of America Corp., which has hailed the settlement as enriching opportunities for women to advance as advisers, declined to comment through a spokesman, William

Hot Growth Stocks To Watch Right Now

Second-quarter earnings season was a bit of a bust. Although earnings remain at an all-time high, the pace of earnings growth continues to look weak. Earnings growth is up just 3% from last year, a small improvement from the first quarter's 2.6% gain and the 2.8% average for the past four quarters.

The headlines reflected that disappointment, with stories about the biggest blue chips struggling with the weak global economy and falling short of expectations. That includes misses from bellwethers like IBM (NYSE: IBM), Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) and Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT).

But in spite of some earnings headwinds, there were a number of companies that bucked the trend and delivered big earnings surprises. For instance, take Facebook (Nasdaq: FB), which delivered a 44% earnings surprise last month that sent the company's share price soaring.

Hot Growth Stocks To Watch Right Now: Eastern Insurance Holdings Inc.(EIHI)

Eastern Insurance Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides workers compensation insurance and reinsurance products in the United States. The company?s Workers Compensation Insurance segment provides traditional workers compensation insurance coverage products, including guaranteed cost policies, policyholder dividend policies, retrospectively-rated policies, deductible policies, and alternative market products to employers. This segment distributes its workers? compensation products and services through its independent insurance agents primarily in Pennsylvania, Delaware, North Carolina, Maryland, Indiana, and Virginia. Its Segregated Portfolio Cell Reinsurance segment offers alternative market workers compensation solutions comprising program design, fronting, claims administration, risk management, segregated portfolio cell rental, asset management, and segregated portfolio management services to individual companies, groups, and associations. Eastern Insurance Holdings, Inc. is headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  ProAssurance Corp.(PRA) agreed to acquire Eastern Insurance Holdings Inc.(EIHI) for about $205 million, expanding the insurance company’s casualty insurance offerings. Eastern Insurance is a domestic casualty insurance group specializing in workers’ compensation products and services, among other things. ProAssurance plans to pay $24.50 in cash for each outstanding Eastern share, a 16% premium over Monday’s closing price.

Hot Growth Stocks To Watch Right Now: Waste Management Inc.(WM)

Waste Management, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides waste management services to residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers in North America. It offers collection, transfer, recycling, and disposal services. The company also owns, develops, and operates waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. Its collection services involves in picking up and transporting waste and recyclable materials from where it was generated to a transfer station, material recovery facility, or disposal site; and recycling operations include collection and materials processing, plastics materials recycling, and commodities recycling. In addition, it provides recycling brokerage, which includes managing the marketing of recyclable materials for third parties; and electronic recycling services, such as collection, sorting, and disassembling of discarded computers, communications equipment, and other electronic equipment. Further, the company e ngages in renting and servicing portable restroom facilities to municipalities and commercial customers under the Port-o-Let name; and involves in landfill gas-to-energy operations comprising recovering and processing the methane gas produced naturally by landfills into a renewable energy source, as well as provides street and parking lot sweeping services. Additionally, it offers portable self-storage, fluorescent lamp recycling, and medical waste services for healthcare facilities, pharmacies, and individuals, as well as provides services on behalf of third parties to construct waste facilities. The company was formerly known as USA Waste Services, Inc. and changed its name to Waste Management, Inc. in 1998. Waste Management, Inc. was incorporated in 1987 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Maxx Chatsko]

  Consider that municipalities and industrial giants such as�Waste Management� (NYSE: WM  ) �are converting their fleets -- in this case garbage trucks -- to�run on natural gas fuels�(link opens a video). It's a little easier for Waste Management, since it uses biogas generated from its managed landfills to fuel its own vehicles. Clean Energy Fuels also sources biomethane from one of its landfills in Dallas. In fact, the facility can produce up to 36,000 gasoline-equivalent gallons�each day. It's like the old saying goes: One man's trash is another man's fuel.��

Top 10 Performing Companies To Buy For 2014: Checkpoint Systms Inc.(CKP)

Checkpoint Systems, Inc. manufactures and markets identification, tracking, security, and merchandising solutions for the retail and apparel industry worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Shrink Management Solutions, Apparel Labeling Solutions, and Retail Merchandising Solutions. The Shrink Management Solutions segment provides shrink management and merchandise visibility solutions. It offers electronic article surveillance systems, such as EVOLVE, a suite of RF and RFID-enabled products that act as a deterrent to prevent merchandise theft in retail stores; and electronic article surveillance consumables, including EAS-RF and EAS-EM labels that work in combination with EAS systems to reduce merchandise theft in retail stores. This segment also provides keepers, spider wraps, bottle security, and hard tags, as well as Showsafe, a line alarm system for protecting display merchandise. In addition, it offers physical and electronic store monitoring solutions, incl uding fire alarms, intrusion alarms, and digital video recording systems for retail environments; and RFID tags and labels. The Apparel Labeling Solutions segment provides apparel labeling solutions to apparel retailers, brand owners, and manufacturers. It has Web-enabled apparel labeling solutions platform and network of 28 service bureaus located in 22 countries that supplies customers with customized apparel tags and labels. The Retail Merchandising Solutions segment offers hand-held label applicators and tags, promotional displays, and queuing systems. The company serves retailers in the supermarket, drug store, hypermarket, and mass merchandiser markets through direct distribution and reseller channels. Checkpoint Systems was founded in 1969 and is based in Thorofare, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  Three months after settling upon a new chief executive officer, it looks like Thorofare, N. J.-based Checkpoint Systems (NYSE: CKP  ) will soon have itself a new CFO as well.

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap Checkpoint Systems, Inc (NYSE: CKP) fights shoplifting or retail theft and other forms of�"shrink��that costs retailers over $112 billion worldwide last year (according to a study funded by the company), meaning it might be an interesting stock to take a closer look at and to compare its performance with that of SPDR S&P Retail ETF (NYSEARCA: XRT) and PowerShares Dynamic Retail ETF (NYSEARCA: PMR). Just how bad can shoplifting or shrink be for a retailer? Troubled retailer J.C. Penney Company, Inc (NYSE: JCP) has just reported that shoplifting took a full percentage point off the department store chain's profit margins during the quarter. Moreover and given that tens of millions of Americans are now facing higher health insurance costs thanks to Obamacare (which will likely impact consumer discretionary spending),�retailers�will need to find ways to shore up their margins and bottom lines by preventing�retail theft with solutions from company�� like Checkpoint Systems.

Hot Growth Stocks To Watch Right Now: MEDIFAST INC(MED)

Medifast, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the production, distribution, and sale of weight management and disease management products, and other consumable health and diet products in the United States. The company?s product lines include weight and disease management, meal replacement, and vitamins. It also operates weight control centers that offer Medifast programs for weight loss and maintenance, customized patient counseling, and inbody composition analysis. The company markets its products under the Medifast and Essential brand names, including shakes, appetite suppression shakes, women?s health shakes, diabetics shakes, joint health shakes, coronary health shakes, calorie burn drinks, calorie burn flavor infusers, antioxidant shakes, antioxidant flavor infusers, bars, crunch bars, soups, chili, oatmeal, pudding, scrambled eggs, hot cocoa, cappuccino, chai latte, iced teas, fruit drinks, pretzels, puffs, brownie, pancakes, soy crisps, crackers, and omega 3 and digestive health products. Medifast Inc. sells its products through various channels of distribution comprising Web, call center, independent health advisors, medical professionals, weight loss clinics, and direct consumer marketing supported via the phone and the Web; Take Shape for Life, a physician led network of independent health coaches; and weight control centers. The company was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Owings Mills, Maryland.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Shares of Nutrisystem have gained 20% to $18.05 at 1:34 p.m., while Weight Watchers (WTW) has risen 3.6% to $39.42. Medifast (MED), however, has dropped 1.9% to $24.94.

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Medifast Inc. (NYSE: MED) saw its stock down 5% in evening trading on Tuesday after the weight loss player had soft sales and guided expectations lower. Shares were still indicated down about 5%, but volume has not yet started.

• [By Holly LaFon] ast produces, distributes and sells weight and health management products with the brand names Medifast, Take Shape for Life, Hi-Energy Weight Control Centers and Woman�� Wellbeing.

  Its return on assets in the third quarter of 2011 was 19.6%, which has been increasing in the past several years. The average return on assets for the specialty retail industry is 10.48% for the trailing 12 months.

  The company�� total assets amounted to $94 million in 2010, which increased from $62.8 million in 2009. Net income also increased to $19.6 million in 2010 from $12 million in 2009.

  Boston Beer Inc. (SAM)

  Boston Beer Inc. is the largest brewer of handcrafted beers in America. Boston Beer is a growing company that recently saw a large increase in its return on assets. It increased from 19.3% in 2010 to 29.7% in 2011, and was negative as recently as 2008. The average return on assets for the beverages industry in the trailing 12 months is 9.47%.

  In 2011, the company�� total assets increased to $272.5 million from $258.5 million in 2010. Net income increased to $66 million from $50 million.

  Alliances Resources Partners (ARLP)

  Alliance Resources Partners is a coal producer and marketer primarily in the eastern U.S. Its ROA has been increasing since 2008 and increased to 22.5% in 2011 from 21.4% in 2010. The average return on assets for the oil, gas & consumable fuels industry in the trailing 12 months is 24.47%.

  In 2011, its total assets increased to $1.7 billion from $1.1 billion in 2010. Its net income increased to $389 million from $321 million.

  Factset Research Systems Inc. (FDS)

  Factset researches global market trends and develops analytical tools for investors. Of all of GuruFocus��5-star predictable companies, it has the highest return on assets at 27%. ROA has been increasing over the past several years. The average return on assets for the software industry for the trailing 12 m

Hot Growth Stocks To Watch Right Now: Buffalo Wild Wings Inc.(BWLD)

Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. engages in the ownership, operation, and franchise of restaurants in the United States. The company provides quick casual and casual dining services, as well as serves bottled beers, wines, and liquor. As of July 26, 2011, it had 773 Buffalo Wild Wings locations in 45 states in the United States, as well as in Canada. The company was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Steve Symington]

  Buffalo Wild Wings (NASDAQ: BWLD  ) investors sure hope so, because Monday marked the official debut of the company's new "Game Changer Ale,"�which was created with the help of the folks at Redhook Brewery.

• [By Mick Weinstein]

  ��The bull case for Buffalo Wild Wings (BWLD) .

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Next Monday, Buffalo Wild Wings (NASDAQ: BWLD  ) will release its latest quarterly results. The key to making smart investment decisions on stocks reporting earnings is to anticipate how they'll do before they announce results, leaving you fully prepared to respond quickly to whatever inevitable surprises arise. That way, you'll be less likely to make an uninformed, knee-jerk reaction to news that turns out to be exactly the wrong move.

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, restaurant operator Buffalo Wild Wings (NASDAQ: BWLD  ) has earned a respected four-star ranking. �

Hot Growth Stocks To Watch Right Now: TrueBlue Inc.(TBI)

TrueBlue, Inc. provides temporary blue-collar staffing services in the United States. It supplies on demand general labor to various industries under the Labor Ready brand; skilled labor to manufacturing and logistics industries under the Spartan Staffing brand; and trades people for commercial, industrial, and residential construction, and building and plant maintenance industries under the CLP Resources brand. The company also provides mechanics and technicians to the aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul, aerospace manufacturing, and assembly industries, as well as to other transportation industries under the Plane Techs brand; and temporary drivers to the transportation and distribution industries under the Centerline brand. It primarily serves small and medium-size businesses. The company was formerly known as Labor Ready, Inc. and changed its name to TrueBlue, Inc. in December 2007. TrueBlue, Inc. was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Tacoma, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By idahansen]

  The entire demand labor industry should do well as the US Department of Labor just reported that 169,000 more jobs were added to the American economy. The more work there is, the more demand there is for the services of staffing solutions firms such as Labor SMART, Paychex (NASDAQ: PAYX), TrueBlue (NYSE: TBI), and Robert Half International (NYSE: RHI).

• [By Jonathan Yates]

  For those looking to invest in real estate stocks, highly recommended is the Dr. Housing Bubble blog. In a recent posting, the "Dr." pointed out that there was a "Lost Generation" when it came to household income. That has not happened for those investing in staffing industry stocks such as Paychex (NASDAQ: PAYX), Robert Half International (NYSE: RHI), TrueBlue, Inc. (NYSE: TBI), and Labor SMART (OTCBB: LTNC).

Hot Growth Stocks To Watch Right Now: Crocs Inc.(CROX)

Crocs, Inc. and its subsidiaries engage in the design, development, manufacture, marketing, and distribution of footwear, apparel, and accessories for men, women, and children. The company primarily offers casual and athletic shoes, and shoe charms. It also designs and sells a range of footwear and accessories that utilize its proprietary closed cell-resin, called Croslite. The company?s footwear products include boots, sandals, sneakers, mules, and flats. In addition, it provides footwear products for the hospital, restaurant, hotel, and hospitality markets, as well as general foot care and diabetic-needs markets. Further, the company offers leather and ethylene vinyl acetate based footwear, sandals, and printed apparels principally for the beach, adventure, and action sports markets; and accessories comprising snap-on charms. The company sells its products through the United States and international retailers and distributors, as well as directly to end-user consumers th rough its company-operated retail stores, outlets, kiosks, and Web stores primarily under the Crocs Work, Crocs Rx, Jibbitz, Ocean Minded, and YOU by Crocs brand names. As of December 31, 2010, it operated 164 retail kiosks located in malls and other high foot traffic areas; 138 retail stores; 76 outlet stores; and 46 Web stores. Crocs, Inc. operates in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. The company was formerly known as Western Brands, LLC and changed its name to Crocs, Inc. in January 2005. Crocs, Inc. was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Niwot, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James Brumley]

  The next Crocs (CROX) earnings announcement is coming after the market closes Wednesday, Oct. 30, and if this report is anything like most Crocs earnings updates … well, investors have a 50-50 shot at hearing good news.

• [By Dividends4Life]

  Memberships and Peers: NKE is a member of the S&P 500 and a member of the Broad Dividend Achievers��Index. The company's peer group includes: Crocs Inc. (CROX) with a 0.0% yield, Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK) with a 0.0% yield and Wolverine World Wide Inc. (WWW) with a 0.4% yield.

Hot Growth Stocks To Watch Right Now: Thoratec Corporation(THOR)

Thoratec Corporation engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of proprietary medical devices used for circulatory support. The company?s primary product lines include ventricular assist devices, such as HeartMate II, an implantable left ventricular assist device consisting of a rotary blood pump to provide intermediate and long-term mechanical circulatory support (MCS); and HeartMate XVE, an implantable and pulsatile left ventricular assist device for intermediate and longer-term MCS. Its ventricular assist devices also comprise Paracorporeal Ventricular Assist Device, an external pulsatile ventricular assist device, which provides left, right, and biventricular MCS approved for bridge-to-transplantation (BTT), including home discharge, and post-cardiotomy myocardial recovery; and Implantable Ventricular Assist Device, an implantable and pulsatile ventricular assist device designed to provide left, right, and biventricular MCS approved for BTT comprising hom e discharge, and post-cardiotomy myocardial recovery. The company also provides CentriMag, an extracorporeal full-flow acute surgical support platform that offers support up to 30 days for cardiac and respiratory failure. In addition, it offers PediMag and PediVAS extracorporeal full-flow acute surgical support platforms designed to provide acute surgical support to pediatric patients. The company sells its products through direct sales force in the United States, as well as through a network of distributors internationally. Thoratec Corporation was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Pleasanton, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  What: Shares of medical device company Thoratec (NASDAQ: THOR  ) sank 12% today after its quarterly results missed Wall Street expectations. �

10 Best Casino Stocks To Buy For 2014

WikiMedia Commons.

The 2002 book Bringing Down the House told the true story of how six MIT math geniuses mastered blackjack card counting and took Las Vegas for millions. It had money, sex, drugs, and power. People loved it.

But part of the story often went misunderstood. The card-counters didn't win every hand of blackjack, or anything close to it. The casino normally has a slight edge over players. The MIT crew's strategy tipped those odds just barely in their favor. That meant they still lost a lot of bets. "Even the most complex systems seemed to aim at an overall edge of around 2 percent," author Ben Mezrich wrote.

But that tiny edge was all the crew needed to succeed, provided they played long enough.�When the odds are even slightly in your favor, you will win over time,�even if you lose often in between.�

That's why I'm an optimist on the economy and the market. Maybe even a permanent optimist.�

10 Best Casino Stocks To Buy For 2014: Pinnacle Entertainment Inc.(PNK)

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

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Radovsky]

  Pinnacle Entertainment (NYSE: PNK  ) has reached an agreement in principle with the Bureau of Competition of the Federal Trade Commission that would allow the company to complete its proposed acquisition of Ameristar Casinos (NASDAQ: ASCA  ) , Pinnacle announced today.

• [By Travis Hoium]

  What: Shares of Ameristar Casinos (NASDAQ: ASCA  ) and Pinnacle Entertainment (NYSE: PNK  ) fell as much as 11% today after the government brought into question the merger of the two companies.

• [By Sean Williams]

  Time to make the switch
  If I could name a sector that I'd certainly tread lightly around considering that consumers are tightening their wallets, it would be the casino sector. Casino companies rely on loose wallets and vacations to drive profits. This is why I feel it could be the time to say goodbye to casino and race track operator Pinnacle Entertainment (NYSE: PNK  ) near its 52-week high.

10 Best Casino Stocks To Buy For 2014: (XTRN)

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

Top 5 Energy Stocks To Invest In Right Now: NanoTech Entertainment Inc (NTEK)

NanoTech Entertainment, Inc. (NanoTech), formerly Aldar Group, Inc., is a provider of gaming technology for the coin-op arcade, casino gaming and consumer gaming markets. The Company operates as a manufacturer, developing technology and games, and then licensing them to third parties for manufacturing and distribution. As of June 30, 2009, the Company�� products included MultiPin, Xtreme Rally Racing, NanoNET Online System, Pinball Wizard, Mot-Ion Adapter, Opti-Gun Adapter and Retr-IO Adapter. In April 2009, the Company acquired NanoTech Entertainment, Inc. In July 2013, NanoTech Entertainment Inc completed the acquisition of Clear Memories, Inc. of Napa California. Effective August 9, 2013, NanoTech Entertainment Inc acquired Worldwide Global Entertainment, a developer of prepackaged software.

The Company�� physics engine and motion sensors allow MultiPin to accurately recreate the experience of a mechanical pinball machine, while providing players with a variety of classic and modern pinball games to choose from. Xtreme Rally Racing is a driving machine that features three modes of game play: Xtreme Off-Road-Race Head to Head against other players and the computer to checkpoints while driving anywhere on the map with no preset course; Timed Rally Stages-Classic Rally Racing on real world courses. Players will be able to race in five different countries on real world rally courses, and Xtreme Stadium Racing-Custom Stadiums designed for Xtreme racing, including a figure eight multi-lap course with huge jumps. NanoNET Online System is remote operator control of machines, including diagnostics, accounting reports, and automatic software updates and enhancements downloaded over the net.

The Company has created the input device designed to give the pinball players a way to experience real pinball controls on their personal computer. Based on the technology developed for the MultiPin product it has built a controller that lets people play pinball using traditional controls and! the ability to shake and nudge the table. The Mot-Ion adapter is a universal serial bus (USB) adapter that allows do it yourself Pinball enthusiasts to build their own cabinet using real pinball controls providing analog inputs for nudging and bumping. The OptiGun adapter is a USB adapter that allows players to connect Arcade Light Guns to any USB based system. The Retr-IO adapters provide a standard JAMMA interface for USB based systems.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Nyxio Technologies Corp (OTCMKTS: NYXO), COREwafer Industries Inc (OTCMKTS: WAFR) and NanoTech Entertainment, Inc (OTCMKTS: NTEK) are three small cap stocks in some very diverse industries. In fact, one of these stocks just bought a 3D ice sculpture business. So will investors see their investment melt with that small cap stock�along with the other two? Here is a closer look to help you decide for yourself:��

10 Best Casino Stocks To Buy For 2014: Boyd Gaming Corporation(BYD)

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

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  MGM has built a history of being the odd player out in many of the most lucrative opportunities in the gaming industry. In Macau, the company is stuck in the slower-growth area of the Asian gaming destination. In Las Vegas, the new CityCenter area in the mid-Strip has watered down MGM's opportunities and has created another potential barrier for patrons coming from the northern end of the Strip to its namesake MGM Grand property. And in New Jersey, where online gaming has boosted prospects for Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ: CZR  ) and Boyd Gaming (NYSE: BYD  ) , MGM has no exposure.

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Boyd Gaming (NYSE: BYD  ) reported earnings on April 24. Here are the numbers you need to know.

  The 10-second takeaway
  For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Boyd Gaming met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

10 Best Casino Stocks To Buy For 2014: MGM Resorts International(MGM)

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

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Wolfe]

  MGM Resorts International (MGM)

  Paulson�� fifth largest holding is in MGM Resorts where he maintains 29,800,000 shares of the company�� stock. His position makes up for 3.9% of his total portfolio and 6.09% of the company�� shares outstanding.

10 Best Casino Stocks To Buy For 2014: Wynn Resorts Limited(WYNN)

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

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Casino developer, owner and operator Wynn Resorts (WYNN) raised its quarterly dividend 25% to $1.25 per share, payable on Dec. 6 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 20.
  WYNN Dividend Yield: 3.07%
  

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Moreover, corporations assisted taxpayers in achieving the same goal by making larger-than-usual dividend payments to their shareholders. Casino giant Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ: WYNN  ) , warehouse-club retailer Costco (NASDAQ: COST  ) , and hundreds of other companies declared special dividends that sent billions of dollars into investors' hands, much of which they had to count as taxable income. Moreover, many other companies decided to take dividends they had planned to pay in 2013 and make payments early instead. Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT  ) paid its usual January dividend in December, while Oracle (NYSE: ORCL  ) actually made three quarters' worth of dividend payments at the end of 2012.

• [By Travis Hoium]

  Cotai continues to be the growth engine of Macau. The Macau Peninsula, where Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ: WYNN  ) and MGM Resorts (NYSE: MGM  ) are located, have been holding steady but the growth is on Cotai, and that's why investors are willing to pay a premium for Melco Crown and Las Vegas Sands.

• [By Holly LaFon]

  His largest new buys in the first quarter are: Penn Virginia Group Holdings LP (PVG), Wynn Resorts Ltd. (WYNN), Methanex Corp. (MEOH), Solutia Inc. (SOA) and Georgia Gulf (GGC). Of his top eight stocks, five are from the chemicals industry.

10 Best Casino Stocks To Buy For 2014: Penn National Gaming Inc.(PENN)

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

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Penn National Gaming Inc. (NASDAQ: PENN) completed on Monday the spin-off of its real-estate holdings into a new REIT, Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. (G&LP) (NASDAQ: GLPI). The spin-off was first announced a year ago. Shares in GLPI are trading at around $46.51 after opening at $45.76 this morning.

10 Best Casino Stocks To Buy For 2014: Umax Group Corp (UMAX)

Umax Group Corp., incorporated on March 21, 2011, is a development-stage company. The Company focuses to develop and distribute its product to the arcade and entertainment industry. The Company�� products include Rocket Launch, is Strength testing game which allows players to test their pushing/ throwing strength; Space Hockey, is a two player hockey game - each player must score as many as possible goals and Boxer, is a Simple punch testing game: insert coin/token/bill, press start button, hit the punch bag, wait for result, and try to beat opponent�� score or high score.

As of April 30, 2013, the Company had no revenues. The Company has developed its business plan, and executed exclusive distribution contract GEO a private enterprise, where it engages GEO as an independent contractor for the specific purpose of developing, manufacturing and supplying games for the Company.

10 Best Casino Stocks To Buy For 2014: Caesars Entertainment Corp (CZR)

Caesars Entertainment Corporation, incorporated on November 2, 1989, is a diversified casino-entertainment provider. The Company�� business is primarily conducted through a wholly owned subsidiary, Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, Inc. (CEOC), although certain material properties are not owned by CEOC. As of December 31, 2012, it owned, operated, or managed, through various subsidiaries, 52 casinos in 13 United States states and seven countries. The majority of these casinos operate in the United States, primarily under the Caesars, Harrah��, and Horseshoe brand names, and in England. In November 2012, the Company sold its Harrah's St. Louis casino to Penn National Gaming, Inc. In December 2012, the Company purchased all of the net assets of Buffalo Studios, LLC, a social and mobile games developer and owner of Bingo Blitz.

The Company�� casino entertainment facilities include 33 land-based casinos, 11 riverboat or dockside casinos, three managed casinos on Indian lands in the United States, one managed casino in Cleveland, Ohio, one managed casino in Canada, one casino combined with a greyhound racetrack, one casino combined with a thoroughbred racetrack, and one casino combined with a harness racetrack. The Company�� land-based casinos include nine in England, two in Egypt, one in Scotland, one in South Africa and one in Uruguay. As of December 31, 2012, its facilities had an aggregate of approximately three million square feet of gaming space and approximately 43,000 hotel rooms. In southern Nevada, Caesars Palace, Harrah�� Las Vegas, Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, Bally�� Las Vegas, Flamingo Las Vegas, Paris Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, The Quad Resort & Casino (formerly the Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino), Bill�� Gamblin��Hall & Saloon, and Hot Spot Oasis are located in Las Vegas and draw customers from throughout the United States. Harrah�� Laughlin is located near both the Arizona and California borders and draws customers primarily from! the southern California and Phoenix metropolitan areas and, to a lesser extent, from throughout the United States through charter aircraft. In northern Nevada, Harrah�� Lake Tahoe and Harveys Resort & Casino are located near Lake Tahoe and Harrah�� Reno is located in downtown Reno. These facilities draw customers primarily from northern California, the Pacific Northwest, and Canada.

The Company�� Atlantic City casinos, Harrah�� Resort Atlantic City, Showboat Atlantic City, Caesars Atlantic City, and Bally�� Atlantic City, draw customers primarily from the Philadelphia metropolitan area, New York, and New Jersey. Harrah�� Philadelphia (formerly Harrah's Chester) is a combination harness racetrack and casino located approximately six miles south of Philadelphia International Airport and draws customers primarily from the Philadelphia metropolitan area and Delaware. The Company�� Chicagoland dockside casinos, Harrah�� Joliet in Joliet, Illinois, and Horseshoe Hammond in Hammond, Indiana, draw customers primarily from the greater Chicago metropolitan area. In southern Indiana, it owns Horseshoe Southern Indiana, a dockside casino complex located in Elizabeth, Indiana, which draws customers primarily from northern Kentucky, including the Louisville metropolitan area, and southern Indiana, including Indianapolis. In Louisiana, the Company owns Harrah�� New Orleans, a land-based casino located in downtown New Orleans, which attracts customers primarily from the New Orleans metropolitan area. In northwest Louisiana, Horseshoe Bossier City, a dockside casino, and Harrah�� Louisiana Downs, a thoroughbred racetrack with slot machines, both located in Bossier City, cater to customers in northwestern Louisiana.

The Company owns the Grand Casino Biloxi, located in Biloxi, Mississippi, which caters to customers in southern Mississippi, southern Alabama, and northern Florida. Harrah�� North Kansas City dockside casino draws customers from the Kansas City metropolitan ar! ea. Harra! h�� Metropolis is a dockside casino located in Metropolis, Illinois, on the Ohio River, drawing customers from southern Illinois, western Kentucky, and central Tennessee. Horseshoe Tunica, Harrah�� Tunica, and Tunica Roadhouse Hotel & Casino, dockside casino complexes located in Tunica, Mississippi, are approximately 30 miles from Memphis, Tennessee and draw customers primarily from the Memphis area and, to a lesser extent, from throughout the United States through charter aircraft. Horseshoe Casino and Bluffs Run Greyhound Park, a land-based casino and pari-mutuel facility, and Harrah�� Council Bluffs Casino & Hotel, a dockside casino facility, are located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, across the Missouri River from Omaha, Nebraska. At Horseshoe Casino and Bluffs Run Greyhound Park, the Company owns the assets other than gaming equipment, and leases these assets to the Iowa West Racing Association (IWRA), a nonprofit corporation, and it manages the facility for the IWRA under a management agreement expiring in October 2024. The license to operate Harrah�� Council Bluffs Casino & Hotel is held jointly with IWRA, the qualified sponsoring organization.

The Conrad Resort & Casino located in Punta Del Este, Uruguay (the Conrad), draws customers primarily from Argentina and Uruguay. In November 2012, the Company announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement with Enjoy S.A. (Enjoy) to form a strategic relationship in Latin America. Under the terms of the agreement, Enjoy will acquire 45% of Baluma S.A., its subsidiary, which owns and operates the Conrad, and the Company will become a 10% shareholder in Enjoy upon consummation of the agreement. Upon the closing of the transaction, which is subject to certain conditions, including the receipt of all regulatory and governmental approvals, Enjoy will assume primary responsibility for management of the Conrad. Enjoy will have the option to acquire the remaining stake in Baluma S.A. between years three and five following closing. The cl! osing of ! the transaction remains subject to a number of conditions, including regulatory and governmental approvals in both Uruguay and Chile.

The Company owns four casinos in London: the Sportsman, the Golden Nugget, The Playboy Club London, and The Casino at the Empire. Its casinos in London draw customers primarily from the London metropolitan area, as well as international visitors. The Company also owns Alea Nottingham, Alea Glasgow, Alea Leeds, Manchester 235, Rendezvous Brighton, and Rendezvous Southend-on-Sea in the provinces of the United Kingdom, which primarily draw customers from their local areas. Pursuant to a concession agreement, it also operates two casinos in Cairo, Egypt, The London Club Cairo (which is located at the Ramses Hilton) and Caesars Cairo (which is located at the Four Seasons Cairo), which draw customers primarily from other countries in the Middle East. Emerald Safari, located in the province of Gauteng in South Africa, draws customers primarily from South Africa. It owsn and operates Bluegrass Downs, a harness racetrack located in Paducah, Kentucky.

The Company owns three casinos for Indian tribes: Harrah�� Phoenix Ak-Chin, located near Phoenix, Arizona, Harrah�� Cherokee Casino and Hotel, and Harrah�� Rincon Casino and Resort, located near San Diego, California. The Company manages Caesars Windsor, located in Windsor, Ontario, which draws customers primarily from the Detroit metropolitan area, Horseshoe Cleveland casino in Ohio, which it manages for Rock Ohio Caesars LLC (ROC), a venture with Rock Ohio Ventures, LLC (Rock Gaming), in which it has a 20% equity interest, and the Horseshoe Cincinnati casino in Ohio for ROC for a fee under a management agreement that will expire in March 2033. It also has a minority interest in Sterling Suffolk Racecourse, LLC (Suffolk Downs), which owns a horse-racing track in Boston, Massachusetts, and the right to manage a future gaming facility. The Company also owns ans operates a golf course on 175 acres of prime real! estate t! hrough a land concession on the Cotai strip in Macau.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  Always bet on red
  The knock against the casino sector is twofold. First, the capital investment needed to build resorts and casinos is phenomenally high, which often puts casinos deeply into debt. If the cash flow is there and the equity level is high, this isn't a problem. In other cases it's downright scary. Take Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ: CZR  ) , for example, which has roughly $19.5 billion in net debt and could have trouble keeping up with its interest payments if it takes on any additional debt.

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Caesars Entertainment (CZR) is a casino-entertainment provider and a diverse U.S. casino-entertainment company. This stock closed up 4.2% at $18.36 in Friday's trading session.

  Friday's Volume: 1.55 million
  
  Three-Month Average Volume: 636,136
  
  Volume % Change: 205%

  From a technical perspective, CZR jumped higher here and broke out into new all-time high territory above $18.37 with heavy upside volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last two months, with shares moving higher from its low of $11.90 to its intraday high on Friday of $18.73. During that move, shares of CZR have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in CZR as long as it's trending above Friday's low of $17.39 or above more near-term support at $16, and then once it sustains a move or close above its all-time high at $18.73 with volume that's near or above 636,136 shares. If we get that move soon, then CZR will set up to enter new all-time-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that move are $22 to $25.

• [By Travis Hoium]

  What: Shares of Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ: CZR  ) jumped 15% today after saying it was continuing a plan to offer shares in a spinoff.

Markets buck 10% ‘correction’ call

NEW YORK — Correction? What correction?

It's been 530 trading days, or more than two years, since the stock market suffered a 10% price drop.

But even though calls for a dip of 10%, the common definition of a "correction," are growing louder as stocks continue their record-setting 2013 run and investor optimism rises, there are plenty of reasons why this "correctionless" market can avoid a dreaded double-digit drop, bulls say.

The Standard & Poor's 500 stock index hasn't suffered a 10% dip since August 2011 (or 27 months ago), on its way to a full-fledged correction loss of 19.4%.

Corrections occur every 30 months, on average, says InvesTech Research. But there have been two recent stretches when the market went more than twice as long without a 10% drop, says Bespoke Investment Group.

The S&P 500 didn't tumble 10% even once in the last bull market, which lasted 1,153 days from March 2003 to October 2007. The longest correction-free run was 1,767 trading days from October 1990 to October 1997.

"The fact that someone hasn't had an auto accident for several years doesn't mean a car crash is imminent in their future," says Erik Davidson, deputy chief investment officer at Wells Fargo Private Bank. "Likewise, even though this stock rally seems long in the tooth, that's not in and of itself a reason for a correction to occur."

The lack of a meaningful market drop isn't unusual, especially when the normal triggers that spark selling are absent, says Carmine Grigoli, chief investment strategist at Mizuho Securities USA.

"Big corrections," he says, "occur when interest rates are rising sharply and the risk of recession is growing."

Neither of those conditions exist at the moment, as the nation's economy grew at a 2.8% clip in the third quarter, and the Federal Reserve is expected to keep short-term interest rates around 0% for the next year or two. Stock valuations, currently in line with historical averages, are not overly extended, either.

Michael Pento, president of Pento Portfolio Strategies, argues that a correction is unlikely, due to the Fed's easy-money policies.

"The Fed has ensured that the odds of a 10% correction are nearly the same as its overnight interbank lending rate: zero percent," says Pento, adding that any stock correction would be short-lived, as investors have few alternatives, given that cash and bonds yield so little.

Bill Hornbarger, an investment strategist at Moneta Group, says a "5% to 10% correction wouldn't surprise me if there was some bad earnings or economic news." But any correction is likely to be "muted" until the Fed makes it clear when it will tighten monetary policy, he adds.

Best Heal Care Companies To Buy Right Now

Stocks have turned down to start the new week, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) has sunk into the red on this Monday. More than half of the blue chip index's members are falling so far, helping the Dow to lose 50 points, or around 0.4%, as of 2:15 p.m. EDT. News from the Federal Reserve's stimulus program has prompted some investors to back off of the recent run-up on the markets-here's what you need to know.

A slowdown ahead for the Fed?
On Friday, The�Wall Street Journal reported the Fed's plan to slowly decrease�its current $85 billion per month bond-buying measure, weaning the markets off of stimulus gradually while keeping an eye on employment and inflation. Investors had to know the stimulus program would end eventually, although considering how well stocks have performed on the back of easy money, any disappointment from Wall Street over a potential end to quantitative easing comes as little surprise. The Fed hasn't released any definitive start date for winding down its latest QE measure yet, but with unemployment recently falling to 7.5%, the central bank seems more confident in the economy's footing.

Best Heal Care Companies To Buy Right Now: Mirasol Resources Ltd.(MRZ.V)

Mirasol Resources Ltd., an exploration stage company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious metal properties primarily in Argentina and Chile. The company focuses on gold-silver prospects. Its principal property includes the Joaquin property located in central Santa Cruz province. The company was founded in 2003 and is based in Vancouver, Canada.

Best Heal Care Companies To Buy Right Now: Silver Wheaton Corp(SLW)

Silver Wheaton Corp., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a silver streaming company worldwide. The company has 14 long-term silver purchase agreements and 2 long-term precious metal purchase agreements whereby it acquires silver and gold production from the counterparties located in Mexico, the United States, Canada, Greece, Sweden, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Portugal. Silver Wheaton Corp. is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matt DiLallo]

  Gold investors weren't the only ones having a rough year. Other commodities such as silver and copper have been sinking this year as well, sending top stocks such as Silver Wheaton (NYSE: SLW  ) and Freeport McMoRan (NYSE: FCX  ) down by double digits. Again, looking at the chart, you can see a pretty big correlation between falling commodity prices and the subsequent fall in the price of each stock.

• [By Doug Ehrman]

  One company that should be included in silver investing for beginners is Silver Wheaton (NYSE: SLW  ) . Unlike the previously mentioned miners, Silver Wheaton is a silver streaming company. it buys the production of other miners at a set, pre-determined price, so it's largely insulated from many of the risks that silver miners must address. As a result of its existing contracts, Silver Wheaton currently claims the largest reserve of silver in the world, at more than 1 billion ounces. The company is able to maintain an operating margin in excess of 70% and has strong longer-term prospects for those taking a multiyear view.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  In the following video, Fool contributor Dan Caplinger discusses some advantages accruing to Silver Wheaton (NYSE: SLW  ) as the world's largest silver streaming company.

• [By Sean Williams]

  Silver Wheaton (NYSE: SLW  )
  My plan is actually to bring "beating the dead horse" to a whole new level. I'm fully aware that I've been pounding the table on Silver Wheaton for some time now, but there's very little denying the fact that it's one of the most strategically smart royalty interest companies in existence.

Hot Penny Companies To Buy Right Now: Pacific Gold Corp (PCFGD)

Pacific Gold Corp. (Pacific Gold), incorporated on December 31, 1996, is engaged in the identification, acquisition, and development of mining prospects that contain gold and/or tungsten mineral deposits. Pacific Gold owns 100% of four operating subsidiaries: Nevada Rae Gold, Inc. (NRG), Fernley Gold, Inc. (Fernley Gold), Pilot Mountain Resources Inc. (Pilot Mountain), and Pacific Metals Corp. through which it holds various prospects in Nevada and Colorado. NRG has staked 67 placer claims and 13 lode claims covering approximately 1,340 acres in Lander County, Nevada. The Company also owns 13.67 acres of land in Lander County, Nevada. Fernley Gold leased 640 acres, including 35 placer claims, with the right to mine for placer, lode and other minerals and metals, located 34 miles east of Reno, Nevada. The lease includes two water wells and water rights. Pilot Mountain owns 45 lode claims, within the project area covering approximately 900 acres. Through its other subsidiaries, the Company also has other federal mining claims. In October 2013, Pacific Gold Corp. merged its wholly owned subsidiary Pilot Mountain Resources Inc. into Pacific Gold Corp.

Nevada Rae Gold, Inc.

The prospects held by NRG are located among the Crescent Valley placer deposits, in the bullion mining district of Lander County, Nevada. They are about two miles from the town of Crescent Valley, and 50 miles west of Elko, Nevada. The area is about 175 miles northeast of Reno, Nevada. The property consists of federal mining claims and leased private land. The federal mining claims are managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

NRG has staked prospects covering approximately 1,340 acres of the alluvial deposits among the Crescent Valley projects. In addition, it leased approximately 440 acres of land adjacent to its staked prospects from Bullion Monarch Mining. The lease covers acreage in Section nine, Township 29 North, Range 47 East, Mount Diablo Meridian, Bullion Mining District, and Lander ! County, Nevada. NRG has the right to the gold, silver, platinum, palladium and other precious and base metals within the placers and gravels of the leased premises, with right to prospect and explore for, mine by open pit methods, mill, prepare for market, store, sell and dispose of the same. The lease term is 10 years, renewable for an additional 10 years.

Fernley Gold, Inc.

Fernley Gold, Inc.�� area known is for placer gold mineral deposits and commonly referred to as the Olinghouse Placers. The lease includes two water wells and water rights. The lease includes two water wells and water rights. The Butcher Boy placer mine is hosted by a conglomerate sequence of pliopleistocene age.

Pilot Mountain Resources Inc.

Pilot Mountain has acquired Project W, which is primarily a tungsten project located in Mineral County, Nevada. The property is located approximately 21 miles east of the town of Mina. The claims are located at an average elevation of 6,500 feet. The Company has claims within the project area covering approximately 900 acres. Project W encompasses three occurrences of tungsten mineral deposits, such as Desert Scheelite, Gunmetal and Garnet.

Best Heal Care Companies To Buy Right Now: The NASDAQ OMX Group Inc.(NDAQ)

The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. provides trading, clearing, exchange technology, securities listing, and public company services worldwide. It offers trading across various asset classes, including cash equities, derivatives, debt, commodities, structured products, and exchange traded funds; capital formation solutions; financial services and exchanges technology; market data products; and financial indexes, as well as clearing, settlement, and depository services. The company also provides broker services comprising technology and customized securities administration solutions, such as back-office systems to financial participants. In addition, it offers global listing services; technology solutions for trading, clearing, settlement, and information dissemination; and facility management integration, surveillance solutions, and advisory services, as well as develops and licenses NASDAQ OMX branded indexes, associated derivatives, and financial products. As of December 31, 2010 , a total of 2,778 companies listed securities on The NASDAQ Stock Market. The NASDAQ OMX Group supports the operations of approximately 70 exchanges, clearing organizations, and central securities depositories. The company was formerly known as The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. and changed its name to The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. in February 2008. The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. was founded in 1971 and is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dave Michaels]

  Such systems, or SIPs, are owned by the two major exchange operators -- The Nasdaq OMX Group Inc. (NDAQ) and NYSE Euronext. (NYX)

  The SEC�� rule proposal, known as Regulation SCI, would require exchanges, SIPs and clearing firms to adopt policies to prevent failures, stress test their systems to ensure trading continues through a disruption, such as a software glitch or natural disaster, and report the disruptions to the SEC. The rule also would cover exchange competitors known as alternative trading systems, including dark pools. The SEC has said 10 dark pools are large enough to be subject to the regulation, based on data from 2012.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Yet the importance of the NYSE has fallen in recent decades, as rival exchanges have risen up to compete not just in the U.S. but globally as well. Rival Nasdaq OMX (NASDAQ: NDAQ  ) represents the obvious competitive threat in U.S. stocks, with recent moves like opening up shorter ticker symbols to Nasdaq-traded companies helping the exchange close a gap with the NYSE. Yet so-called dark pools have taken away a considerable amount of volume from the major exchanges as well, as computer-driven traders seek advantages from other trading venues.

Best Heal Care Companies To Buy Right Now: Beneficial Mutual Bancorp Inc.(BNCL)

Beneficial Mutual Bancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for Beneficial Bank that provides financial services to consumers and businesses in the United States. The company accepts a range of deposit products, such as non-interest bearing demand deposits, including individual checking accounts; interest-bearing demand accounts comprising negotiable order of withdrawal and money market accounts; savings accounts; certificates of deposit; and business banking deposit products, such as a commercial checking account and a checking account for small businesses, as well as offers cash management services, which consist of remote deposit, lockbox, and sweep accounts. It originates various loans, including fixed-rate and adjustable-rate one-to-four family residential loans; commercial real estate loans; commercial business loans, such as installment loans for capital improvements, equipment acquisition, and long-term working capital to professionals, sole proprietorships, an d small businesses; consumer loans comprising home equity loans and lines of credit, automobile loans, boat loans, loans for recreational vehicles, guaranteed student loans, and loans secured by passbook accounts and certificates of deposit; and construction loans. In addition, the company provides insurance brokerage and investment advisory services. It operates approximately 65 banking offices located in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania; and Burlington and Camden Counties in New Jersey. The company was founded in 1853 and is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Beneficial Mutual Bancorp, Inc. is a subsidiary of Beneficial Savings Bank MHC.

Best Heal Care Companies To Buy Right Now: Rialto Energy Ltd(RIA.AX)

Rialto Energy Limited engages in the identification, appraisal, exploration, and production of oil and gas properties in Australia and internationally. It holds interest in the Offshore Block CI-202 that covers an area of 675 square kilometers located in Cote d Ivoire. The company also holds interests in the Accra Block located in Ghana; and WA-399-P exploration permit located in offshore Western Australia within the Exmouth Sub-basin of Western Australia. Rialto Energy Limited is based in Subiaco, Australia.

Best Heal Care Companies To Buy Right Now: Primary Health Properties PLC (PHP)

Primary Health Properties PLC (PHP) is a healthcare real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company is engaged in the generation of rental income and capital growth through investment in primary healthcare property in the United Kingdom. The Company had invested in 183 properties. The Company specialises in the ownership of freehold or long leasehold interests in modern purposebuilt healthcare facilities, the majority of which are leased to general practitioners and other associated healthcare users. In June 2013, Primary Health Properties PLC announced the acquisition of two standing let medical centre investments. In August 2013, it acquired two medical center investments. In August 2013, the Company announced that its wholly owned subsidiary has completed the acquisition of three modern, purpose built medical centres.

Best Heal Care Companies To Buy Right Now: Metro Bancorp Inc(METR)

Metro Bancorp, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Metro Bank, which provides a range of retail and commercial banking services to consumers and small and mid-sized companies in Pennsylvania. Its deposit products include personal and business checking accounts, regular savings accounts, money market accounts, interest checking accounts, fixed rate certificates of deposit, individual retirement accounts, and club accounts. The company?s loan products portfolio comprises commercial and industrial, owner occupied real estate, commercial construction and land development, and commercial real estate loans; consumer loans, including home equity, overdraft checking protection, and consumer credit cards, as well as installment loans for home improvement, and the purchase of consumer goods and automobiles; and construction loans and permanent mortgages for homes. It also offers debit card services, online banking services, safe deposit facilities, and automated teller fa cilities. As of July 14, 2011, Metro Bancorp operated 33 stores in the counties of Berks, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York. The company was formerly known as Pennsylvania Commerce Bancorp, Inc. and changed its name to Metro Bancorp, Inc. in June 2009. Metro Bancorp, Inc. was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Go Global With This Generic Drugmaker

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Believe it or not, there is a silver lining to the dysfunctional politics occurring in our nation's capital right now.

While our elected leaders embarrass the U.S. on the world stage, the U.S. dollar has been on a slippery slope. And that's great news for two parties: multinational companies, and those who invest in multinational companies.

For the first half of 2013, the U.S. dollar steadily gained ground against many of the world's major currencies. This weighed on the margins of multinational companies that paid their bills in U.S. dollars but received sales in global currencies.

But now the tables have turned.

Global confidence in the U.S. dollar is once again eroding because of the fiscal irresponsibility of our elected leaders and the fact that the Federal Reserve is about to pass into the hands of another dove — current vice chair Janet Yellen.

The weaker U.S. dollar should boost the corporate profits of these companies, making them appear very attractive looking ahead to the fourth quarter and beyond. So if you're looking for more conservative ways to invest abroad, I'd start with companies that have their operations around the world and get paid in a variety of currencies.

One such company is Actavis (ACT), one of the world's largest generic drugmakers. With a portfolio of more than 750 pharmaceutical products, Actavis has its name on everything from antibiotics to contraceptives to smoking-cessation treatments. ACT operates in more than 60 countries and out-licenses generic products in more than 100 countries, so it is a direct beneficiary of the falling dollar.

What really caught my eye about Actavis is its work on biosimilars — generic versions of biologic drugs. Biologic drugs are at the cutting edge of modern medicine, so many treatments run at tens of thousands of dollars. Generic biosimilars are potentially cheaper, and to date they're not available in the U.S. Thus, right now there is a race between biotechs to develop and get their biosimilars approved. Considering that the global market for biosimilars is forecast to be between $10 billion to $20 billion by 2020, this is a lucrative opportunity.

Actavis is based in the U.K. — specifically in Dublin, Ireland. For the better part of the past three decades, Actavis (formerly known as Watson Pharmaceuticals) was headquartered in the United States. But just a few months ago, the company acquired Warner Chilcott and took advantage of the $8.5 billion deal to make the leap across the pond.

With Warner Chilcott now under the Actavis umbrella, the company has increased expertise in gastroenterology and dermatology. And now that the company is based in the U.K., Actavis will pay lower taxes. In fact, management estimates that the deal will add a sizable 30% to earnings per share in 2014.

The new Actavis Plc is a company that dominates the global market for generic drugs — taking in $11 billion in annual sales — and enjoys tremendous tax savings by being based in Ireland.

Actavis is a prime example of the kind of multinational company you should have your eye on.

Louis Navellier is the editor of Blue Chip Growth. As of this writing, ACT was on the Blue Chip Growth buy list.

Nike Inc (NKE): What To Watch At Oct. 9 Analyst Day

Nike, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) is expected to hold its analyst day on Oct.9. The event, which comes after the recent first quarter earnings beat of 8 cents, should be an additional catalyst for the shares.

Oregon-based Nike is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities.

Nike is expected to reiterate its long-term targets for high single digit revenue and mid-teens EPS growth at the analyst day.

Meanwhile, the market expects to hear Nike's plans about how the US division can maintain its recent strength. At Nike's 2011 analyst day, it guided for developed markets (including the North America market) to grow revenues at mid single digits over the long term. Since that time, Nike has grown its North America revenues by more than 20 percent, partly boosted by the acquisition of the NFL apparel license.

A key question from investors is whether the company can continue to drive double digit growth after two years of rapid growth and already high market share.

"Ongoing share gains, increasing shelf space at key retailers, pricing power and solid innovation should support continued double digit revenue growth in the US, in our view," UBS analyst Michael Binetti wrote in a note to clients.

Nike continues to gain share in the US athletic footwear market. It is currently gaining 200-300bp of market share on top of 500-600bp of share gains a year ago. In addition, the ongoing shift of US retail capacity towards athletic footwear/apparel bodes well for Nike.

In recent months, several investors have asked whether the company has altered its US distribution strategy—perhaps implying an incremental push in downstream distribution (e.g. promotional retail channels like department stores or national shoe chains) to prop up growth rates.

"Our analysis of NPD US footwear data suggests that the percentage of Nike's incremental revenues from the premium! athletic/sporting goods retail chain has been consistently increasing—from 67% in 2011 to 78% in 2013 YTD," Binetti said.

While the unit volume growth opportunity at department stores and national shoe chains is certainly part of Nike's US distribution strategy, the company does a excellent job of leading with pinnacle innovation in the premium athletic retail channel to reinforce long-term consumer loyalty for the brand—and adds additional growth through the promotional channel secondarily.

At its analyst day, Nike should also showcase its upcoming product pipeline—potentially including further iterations of low cost manufacturing techniques like those developed for FlyKnit.

Meanwhile, Nike's commentary on the Status of the China recovery is key. At Nike's 2011 analyst day, the company forecasted China revenues to double to $3.4 billion by fiscal 2015 from its fiscal 2010 base of $1.7 billion.

However, China revenues (ex-forex) have been negative in each of the last four quarters, and Nike does not expect China to sustainably return to positive growth until FY15.

"Our current forecasts only assume $2.8B in China revenues by FY15 (compared to the $3.4B implied target from the 2011 analyst day)," Binetti noted.

That said, Nike has made progress in China by clearing inventories and investing in more productive assets to differentiate its retail locations from a crowded athletic space in China.

There are signs that revenues are poised to return to sustained positive growth—and with regional margins that are 465bp below prior peak—should translate to an accelerating EPS contribution from Nike's China business in coming quarters.

While Nike will likely have to push out its target for $3 billion plus in Chinese revenues, the market expects positive comments about the pace of the transformation of the market in China at the analyst day.

"We believe cancellation rates and returns from retailers (which have been significant drags to China region ma! rgins) st! abilized significantly in the quarter. With retail sell-ins and sell-throughs seemingly becoming more balanced lately, we look forward to Nike's updated comments on when the China market can return to sustained positive revenue growth," Binetti said.

As of the end of the first quarter, Nike had $5.5 billion in cash and cash equivalents on its balance sheet accounting for about 9 percent of its current market cap. Investors may be interested in hearing details around the company's plan for its huge cash balance next week.

The company has an $8 billion share repurchase authorization. While the company has a history of preferring to deploy capital to drive top line growth, the Street will be curious to hear the company's updated thinking on share repurchases and the dividend. 

IPO market can’t be ‘contained’

Investors are buying up just about anything with a ticker symbol, and that frenzy certainly includes stocks that are brand new to the market.

The Container Store, a retailer that sells organizational materials such as shelves and storage boxes, saw its shares more than double in value on the first day of trading after the initial public offering Friday. The powerful rally in the Container Store shares accompanies what's been the best year for IPOs since the last boom in 2007 and on pace to be the busiest since the Internet boom of 2000.

"The returns (of IPOs) are very strong, probably better than you might expect," said Kathleen Smith of Renaissance Capital. "No one expected IPOs to trade so well."

The performance of IPOs is starting to hit the kind of feverish pitch not seen since the last market peak in 2007, and it even has hints of the IPO heyday of the 2000 dot-com boom. The signs:

First-day pops. Container Store's first-day return is certainly one to remember, rising 101% from its $18 a share IPO price to $36.20 a share. Container Store was the fifth IPO to double in its first day of trading this year, the biggest year for 100% one-day jumps since 78 did it in 2000. Seeing stocks double on their first day has become rare. During 2012, just one IPO, a company named Splunk, doubled on its first day, said Jay Ritter, professor of finance at the University of Florida. No IPOs doubled on their first day in 2009, 2008 or 2007, Ritter said. IPOs on average have gained 16% on their first day this year, Renaissance said, the highest in at least a decade.

Strong deal pricing. Demand has been so strong for IPOs that underwriters aren't cutting the price to stoke demand. So far this year, just 28% of IPOs have been priced below their initial expected price range, showing a sign of strength not seen since 2009, Renaissance said.

Busy calendar of deals. Already this year, 182 companies have seen their shares start trading, up 50% from this point last year, said Renaissance. Th! is coming weekweek of 11/4, 10 IPOs are expected to hit the market, including the much-anticipated online message service Twitter. At the current pace, there could be 220 IPOs in 2013, making it the busiest year for IPOs since 2000 by topping the 217 deals in 2004, Renaissance said.

Some, though, worry investors are allowing themselves to get whipped into an IPO frenzy. Both Container Store and Twitter lose money, but that doesn't seem to discourage investors, says Francis Gaskins of IPO Desktop Premium. "A few years ago, investors only cared with companies did for them in the most recent quarter," Gaskins says. "Now they're buying off-the-wall projections of 12 to 24 months out."

Morning Briefing: 10 Things You Should Know

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Here are 10 things you should know for Wednesday, Sept. 18:

1. -- U.S. stock futures were rising following modest gains across the globe as investors await an announcement from the Federal Reserve on its plans to taper economic stimulus.

European stocks were higher. Asian shares finished the session mixed. Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose 1.4%.

2. -- The economic calendar in the U.S. Wednesday includes housing starts and building permits for August at 8:30 a.m. EDT, and the rates decision from the Federal Open Market Committee in the afternoon. 3. -- U.S. stocks on Tuesday rose as investors await guidance from the Fed about the future of its sweeping economic stimulus program. The S&P 500 rose 0.42% to close at 1,704.76 while the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.29% to finish at 15,539.63. The Nasdaq gained 0.75% to 3,745.70. 4. -- Walgreen (WAG) is set to become one of the largest employers to make sweeping changes to company-backed health programs. The drugstore giant is expected to disclose on Wednesday a plan to provide payments to eligible employees for the subsidized purchase of insurance starting in 2014, according to The Wall Street Journal. The plan would affect roughly 160,000 employees, and will require them to shop for coverage on a private health-insurance marketplace. Walgreen joins a list of companies making changes to their benefits. IBM and Time Warner said recently they will move thousands of retirees from their own company-administered plans to private exchanges. 5. -- Starbucks (SBUX) said guns are no longer welcome in its cafes, though the coffee chain stopped short of an outright ban on firearms. The request is being made in part because more people have been bringing guns into Starbucks over the last six months, prompting confusion and dismay among some patrons and employees, CEO Howard Schultz told Reuters in an interview. In an open letter to customers issued late Tuesday, Schultz said: "Our stores exist to give every customer a safe and comfortable respite from the concerns of daily life." Starbucks' long-standing policy had been to default to local gun laws, including "open carry" regulations that allow people to bring guns into stores, Reuters noted. Schultz said he hopes people will honor the request not to bring in guns but said the company will nevertheless serve those who do. "We will not ask you to leave," he said. Starbucks has almost 7,000 company-operated U.S. stores. 6. -- Adobe Systems (ADBE), the maker of creative-suite products like Photoshop and InDesign, said fiscal third-quarter earnings on an adjusted basis fell to 32 cents a share from 58 cents a share a year earlier. Revenue fell 8% in the quarter to $995.1 million. Wall Street expected Adobe to report earnings of 34 cents a share on revenue of $1.01 billion. Adobe has been shifting its business to a subscription-based model. The company said subscription revenue rose 73% to $299.4 million. The company said its Creative Cloud service gained 331,000 paying subscribers during the quarter, surpassing 1 million. 7. -- FedEx (FDX) is expected by Wall Street on Wednesday to report fiscal first-quarter earnings of $1.50 a share on revenue of $10.97 billion.

8. -- Software maker Oracle (ORCL) is expected by analysts to post fiscal first-quarter earnings of 56 cents a share on revenue of $8.48 billion.

9. -- A report by the 9to5Mac blog said Apple's (AAPL) iPhone 5s could be in short supply. Customers in China and Hong Kong could reserve the iPhone 5s starting Tuesday. But just minutes after the phone became available, most models and colors sold out across the country, the blog reported. The rate at which the 5s sold out in China doesn't bode well for the rest of the world, as it suggests that overall supply in general of the 5s is low, according to 9to5Mac. Apple begins selling the iPhone 5s in retail stores on Friday. 10. -- Employees from US Airways (LCC) and American Airlines (AAMRQ) are in Washington, lobbying members of Congress to support a planned merger of the two carriers, despite opposition from the Justice Department. The employees, including leaders of unions at the two carriers, will hold individual meetings with members of Congress on Wednesday, and they will gather for a noon rally near the Capitol building, The Dallas Morning News reported. -- Written by Joseph Woelfel >To contact the writer of this article, click here: Joseph Woelfel >To submit a news tip, send an email to: tips@thestreet.com.

Copyright 2013 TheStreet.com Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

Technical Forecast for S&P 500

 

Emini S&P Dec13 tested all time highs at 1704/05 & saw a sharp rejection to leave a bearish double top. This is a worryingly negative pattern in a severely overbought market & it is now too risky to hold longs unless we close above 1705. A sell off in to the end of September is looking increasingly likely & selling in to medium term shorts now with stops above 1710 looks like a worthwhile trade. A move towards August lows at 1625 does not look unrealistic. Today we have support at 1685/84 to fill the gap. Failure here however then targets 1674/73. Look for a low for the day & a buying opportunity at this stage, with stops below 1670.

 

Resistance at 1701/04 should hold the topside for a selling opportunity with stops above 1710.

The following article is from one of our external contributors. It does not represent the opinion of Benzinga and has not been edited.

Top 10 Undervalued Companies To Own In Right Now

I'm perfectly happy recycling past investment ideas, and PCTEL (PCTI) treated me quite well indeed when I owned the stock about a decade ago. Since that time, though, the company has gone through a significant transformation and is really only the same in name only. Different isn't always better, but I do believe that PCTEL now operates a collection of businesses with interesting growth and margin potential. PCTEL does not appear to be tremendously undervalued today on a cash flow basis, but with almost $3 per share in cash on the balance sheet further acquisitions could improve its growth prospects further.

A New Era With Antennas And Test

Relative to when I last actually owned the shares, a lot has changed at PCTEL. The company has gotten out of the modem and mobility businesses and is now focused on antennas and wireless test. Both offer credible end-market revenue potential and an opportunity for PCTEL to stand out with proprietary products that can deliver solid margins and cash flows.

Top 10 Undervalued Companies To Own In Right Now: Caterpillar Inc.(CAT)

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

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  Stan Honda, AFP/Getty ImagesPassersby in front of the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday, Christmas Eve. NEW YORK -- Stocks rose in a holiday-shortened trading day Tuesday, helped by a report that showed American companies were investing in their businesses at the fastest pace since January. Markets were open for just half a day ahead of the Christmas holiday, and trading volume was extremely light. Roughly 1.3 billion shares changed hands on the New York Stock Exchange, a third of what is traded on a regular day. It was the slowest day of the year. Materials and industrial stocks rose more than the rest of the market after the government reported that orders for long-lasting manufactured products rose 3.5 percent in November, more than economists expected. Core capital goods, a category that tracks business investment, jumped 4.5 percent, the biggest gain since January. DuPont (DD) rose $1.09, or 2 percent, to $63.83 and construction equipment maker Caterpillar (CAT) gained 95 cents, or 1 percent, to $90.91. The Dow Jones industrial average (^DJI) rose 62.94 points, or 0.4 percent, to 16,357.55. The Standard & Poor's 500 index (^GPSC) rose 5.33 points, or 0.3 percent, to 1,833.32 and the Nasdaq composite (^IXIC) rose 6.51 points, or 0.2 percent, to 4,155.42. Stocks have been rising steadily since last Wednesday, when the Federal Reserve surprised investors by announcing it was cutting back its bond-buying program, citing an improving economy. The Fed said it will reduce its bond purchases to $75 billion a month beginning in January, down from $85 billion. The last five days of gains have added to what has been a historic year for stock market investors. The S&P 500 index is up 28.6 percent for 2013, or 30.9 when dividends are included, its best year since 1997. With four trading days left in the year, many traders expect stocks to continue higher until New Year's Eve. "Nothing has derailed this market this year, even with all the bad headlin

• [By Blake Bos]

  Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT  ) came in only just slightly below analyst estimates this quarter, but in the video below, Motley Fool industrials analyst Blake Bos tells investors why short-term quarterly earnings are far from the real story. Blake gives investors a clear picture of Caterpillar's continuing problem with high inventory levels, and he shines a light on the inventory mismanagement that has led to Caterpillar's awful days inventory outstanding numbers. The stock has ticked up recently due to the expectation that these inventory issues should be clearing up ��Blake tells investors exactly where to look to know if that narrative is really playing out.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT  ) lost half a percent, even as gold and silver prices posted modest gains. Caterpillar finds itself in a difficult position, as low metals prices will likely force many of its mining-company clients to delay or downsize purchases of capital equipment. Ordinarily, cyclical economic improvement would bode well for the company, but to the extent that improving conditions lead to less monetary accommodation from central banks, prices of metals could fall further, and jeopardize that part of Caterpillar's business, even if construction and infrastructure activity pick up. That will be a difficult line for the company to walk in the year ahead.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT  ) is keeping its quarterly dividend policy steady. For its first payout of 2013, the company will hand out $0.52 per share of its common stock on May 20 to shareholders of record as of April 22. That matches the distribution of the preceding three quarters. Before that, the company disbursed $0.46 per share.

Top 10 Undervalued Companies To Own In Right Now: Dollar Tree Inc.(DLTR)

Dollar Tree, Inc. operates discount variety stores in the United States and Canada. Its stores offer merchandise primarily at the fixed price of $1.00. The company operates its stores under the names of Dollar Tree, Deal$, Dollar Tree Deal$, Dollar Giant, and Dollar Bills. Its stores offer consumable merchandise, including candy and food, and health and beauty care, as well as household consumables, such as paper, plastics, household chemicals, in select stores, and frozen and refrigerated food; variety merchandise, which includes toys, durable housewares, gifts, party goods, greeting cards, softlines, and other items; and seasonal goods, such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas merchandise. As of April 30, 2011, it operated 4,089 stores in 48 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 88 stores in Canada. The company was founded in 1986 and is based in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Eisen]

  Perpetually struggling department store J.C. Penney Co. (JCP) �said it expects a sales boost this holiday season as it returns to a promotional strategy. But for the most part, retailers including Dollar Tree Inc. (DLTR) �, GameStop Corp. (GME) � and Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF) � gave dour outlooks in their earnings reports.

Top 5 Insurance Stocks To Buy For 2014: Tupperware Corporation(TUP)

Tupperware Brands Corporation operates as a direct seller of various products across a range of brands and categories through an independent sales force. The company engages in the manufacture and sale of kitchen and home products, and beauty and personal care products. It offers preparation, storage, and serving solutions for the kitchen and home, as well as kitchen cookware and tools, children?s educational toys, microwave products, and gifts under the Tupperware brand name primarily in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Asia Pacific, and North America. The company provides beauty and personal care products, which include skin care products, cosmetics, bath and body care, toiletries, fragrances, nutritional products, apparel, and related products principally in Mexico, South Africa, the Philippines, Australia, and Uruguay. It offers beauty and personal care products under the Armand Dupree, Avroy Shlain, BeautiControl, Fuller, NaturCare, Nutrimetics, Nuvo, and Swissgar de brand names. The company sells its Tupperware products directly to distributors, directors, managers, and dealers; and beauty products primarily through consultants and directors. As of December 26, 2009, the Tupperware distribution system had approximately 1,800 distributors, 61,300 managers, and 1.3 million dealers; and the sales force representing the Beauty businesses approximately 1.1 million. The company was formerly known as Tupperware Corporation and changed its name to Tupperware Brands Corporation in December 2005. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, household products company Tupperware Brands (NYSE: TUP  ) has earned a coveted five-star ranking.

Top 10 Undervalued Companies To Own In Right Now: Schlumberger N.V.(SLB)

Schlumberger Limited, together with its subsidiaries, supplies technology, integrated project management, and information solutions to the oil and gas exploration and production industries worldwide. The company?s Oilfield Services segment provides exploration and production services; wireline technology that offers open-hole and cased-hole services; supplies engineering support, directional-drilling, measurement-while-drilling, and logging-while-drilling services; and testing services. This segment also offers well services; supplies well completion services and equipment; artificial lift; data and consulting services; geo services; and information solutions, such as consulting, software, information management system, and IT infrastructure services that support oil and gas industry. Its WesternGeco segment provides reservoir imaging, monitoring, and development services; and operates data processing centers and multiclient seismic library. This segment also offers variou s services include 3D and time-lapse (4D) seismic surveys to multi-component surveys for delineating prospects and reservoir management. The company?s M-I SWACO segment supplies drilling fluid systems to improve drilling performance; fluid systems and specialty tools to optimize wellbore productivity; production technology solutions to maximize production rates; and environmental solutions that manages waste volumes generated in drilling and production operations. Its Smith Oilfield segment designs, manufactures, and markets drill bits and borehole enlargement tools; and supplies drilling tools and services, tubular, completion services, and other related downhole solutions. The company?s Distribution segment markets pipes, valves, and fittings, as well as mill, safety, and other maintenance products. This segment also provides warehouse management, vendor integration, and inventory management services. Schlumberger Limited was founded in 1927 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Teresa Rivas]

  As for companies with the most upside, Marathon Petroleum (MPC) tops the list, with 63.6%, followed by Autodesk (ADSK), Ventas (VTR), salesforce.com (CRM) and American Tower (AMT). Outside the top five, the list also includes big names like Schlumberger (SLB), Halliburton (HAL), Expedia (EXPE) and General Motors (GM).

10 Best Finance Tweets of the Month: July

On July 1, SEC filings presented a gift to business tweeters everywhere: a prospectus for the first-ever Bitcoin ETF, to be launched by none other than Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss of Facebook fame.

In midmonth, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testified before a congressional committee that the Fed planned to be flexible on tapering off its bond purchases. And by the end of the month, the Twitteratti were speculating on Bernanke’s replacement.

Meanwhile, PIMCO's Bill Gross talked Twinkies, and a few of ThinkAdvisor’s top influencers got into an exchange about how a Google Images copyright case went terribly wrong.

Here are the 10 best finance tweets of the month:

Gross: #Twinkies are back on Monday & bonds are too - with a longer shelf life than last April. Stock 5-10 yr. maturities in your pantry.

"Just as too much junk food can lead to obesity, too much information can lead to stupidity." http://t.co/RwsozyCAmn

How using Google Images can cost you $8,000 http://t.co/sLNHG5zawm via @PRDaily @michaelkitces

"if you don’t know what is going to happen, don’t structure your portfolio as though you do!"—James Montier http://t.co/8RdKrM2lhD

If you do exit the euro, make sure to get your hand stamped for re-entry. Learned this at EPCOT.

"Winklevii and Bitcoin! Of course!" -Satan http://t.co/kQD4ZreRVF

Three stupid words that sound even stupider when strung together: Winklevoss Bitcoin Trust. http://t.co/qI0ZzGOYyY

#Bernanke claiming that the U.S. economy needs highly accommodative monetary policy is like a bartender saying a drunk needs more alcohol.

#Bernanke as #DirtyHarry: "Investors are asking if I'll taper. Ask yourself, do you feel lucky? Well, do ya punk?" http://t.co/zpjq6qeYdh

— Jim Rickards (@JamesGRickards) July 17, 2013

#Bernanke as #DirtyHarry: "Investors are asking if I'll taper. Ask yourself, do you feel lucky? Well, do ya punk?" http://t.co/zpjq6qeYdh

Why is the lack of policy differences between Summers and Yellen part of the case for Summers? This is how we get back to sexism.

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