Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.
What: Shares of Dangdang (NYSE: DANG ) have jumped by as much as 18% today following two analyst upgrades.
So what: BOC International boosted its rating from "hold" to "buy" while Morgan Stanley upgraded Dangdang from "equal weight" to "overweight." Morgan Stanley analyst Philip Wan expressed confidence that the company's margins are improving, and raised the firm's price target from $5 to $6.50.
Now what: Wan cites improving scale in the self-procurement business, among other things, and expects margins to continue improving if Dangdang continues to execute. The analyst notes that Dangdang's first-quarter results (reported last week) were ahead of his estimates, thanks to better sales mix and increased operating leverage. The $0.15-per-share loss it posted was better than the $0.19-per-share loss that the Street was expecting.
Top 10 Life Sciences Companies To Watch For 2015: Taylor Morrison Home Corp (TMHC)
Taylor Morrison Home Corporation, incorporated on November 15, 2012, is a homebuilder in North America. The Company operates under its Taylor Morrison brand in the United States and under its Monarch brand in Canada. Its business is organized into three geographic regions: East, West and Canada. Its East region consists of its Houston, Austin, North Florida and West Florida divisions. Its West region consists of its Phoenix, Northern California, Southern California and Denver divisions. Its Canada region consists of its operations within the province of Ontario, primarily in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and also in Ottawa and Kitchener-Waterloo, and offers both single-family and high-rise communities.
As of September 30, 2012, the Company offered homes in 122 active selling communities and had a backlog of 4,205 homes sold but not closed, including 903 homes in unconsolidated joint ventures. During the year ended September 30, 2012, the Company closed 2,586 homes, consisting of 1,880 homes in the United States and 706 homes in Canada, including 204 homes in unconsolidated joint ventures.
Our Homes
The Company offers a range of homes to consumers in its markets, ranging from entry-level to luxury homes. The Company market single-family homes with many amenities to entry-level through move-up homebuyers. The Company has developed a number of home designs with features such as one-story living and first floor master bedroom suites to appeal to universal design needs, as well as communities with recreational amenities such as golf courses, pool complexes, country clubs and recreation centers. The Company has integrated these designs and features in many of its homes and communities. The Company offers some of the same basic home designs in similar communities and engages unaffiliated architectural firms to develop new designs to replace or augment existing ones in order to ensure that our homes reflect current and local consumer tastes.
Warranty Progr! am
The Company offers express written limited warranties on our homes that generally provide for one year of coverage for various defects in workmanship or materials. These warranties are in addition to certain legal warranties (including implied warranties) that may apply in the markets where the Company operates. In Canada, in accordance with regulatory requirements administered by the Tarion Warranty Corporation, the Company offers a limited warranty that generally provides for seven years of structural coverage, two years of coverage for water penetration, electrical, plumbing, heating, and exterior cladding defects, and one year of coverage for workmanship and materials.
Community Development
The Company aims to establish a complete concept for each community the Company develops, beginning with an overall community design and then determining the size, style and price range of the homes and the layout of the streets and individual home sites. In the case of developed communities, after necessary governmental subdivision and other approvals have been obtained, the Company improve the land by clearing and grading it, installing roads, installing underground utility lines and recreational amenities, erecting distinctive entrance structures and staking out individual home sites.
Customer Mortgage Financing
Taylor Morrison Home Funding, LLC (TMHF) provides a number of mortgage-related services to its homebuilding customers through its mortgage lending operations. TMHF�� multi-lender platform included Flagstar Bank, US Bank, SunTrust Bank, Wells Fargo Mortgage and Metlife Home Loans. Revenue was derived from yield spread premiums, broker points and processing fees. The main strategic purpose of TMHF in its business is: to utilize finance as a sales tool as part of the purchase process to ensure a consistent customer experience and assist in maintaining production efficiency; and to influence and assist in determining its backlog and ! to better! manage projected closing and delivery dates for its customers.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By shash63]
Taylor Morrison (TMHC) is the eighth-largest U.S. homebuilder in terms of revenue. The increase in home prices and strong demand for homes has made Southwest Florida a good investment option for residential construction companies. There are more buyers than sellers in this market, which is driving up home prices. Looking at the growth opportunity, the company is rapidly expanding in Southwest Florida and has undertaken several projects. It is developing a resort lifestyle community of 443 single-family homes and a Golf and Country Club community with 1,121 single-family homes. It expects to increase its community count by 30% in 2014. The rising number of communities is expected to increase Taylor Morrison�� revenue by 53% to $2.19 billion in 2013 and around $3.01 billion in 2014 to $3.36 billion in 2015.
- [By Kris Hudson]
Home-builder initial public offerings have delivered mixed results in the past year. Three are trading below their offering prices: Taylor Morrison Home Corp.(TMHC) is down 3.9% from its IPO price at $21.15. William Lyon Homes is down 3.7% at $24.07. UPC Inc. is down 2.9% at $14.57.
Best International Companies To Buy Right Now: Albany International Corp (AIN)
Albany International Corp., incorporated in 1895, is an advanced textile and material processing company. The Company�� business is a producer of custom-designed fabrics and belts essential to paper and paperboard production. The consumable fabrics are used to manufacture all grades of paper from lightweight paper to heavyweight containerboard. The Company has five segments: Paper Machine Clothing segment (PMC), Engineered Composites (AEC), Albany Door Systems (ADS), Engineered Fabrics (EF) and PrimaLoft Products. Albany International supplies the worldwide pulp and paper industry, as well as other process industries, with technologically advanced structured materials and related services. The Company maintains manufacturing facilities in Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, South Korea, Sweden, Turkey, and the United States. On January 11, 2012, the Company sold its assets in the Albany Door Systems (ADS) segment to ASSA ABLOY AB.
Paper Machine Clothing
During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Paper Machine Clothing (PMC) segment accounted for 81% of its total revenues. The Company designs, manufactures, and markets paper machine clothing for each section of the paper machine. PMC consists of permeable and non-permeable continuous belts of custom-designed and custom-manufactured engineered fabrics that are installed on paper machines and carry the paper stock through each stage of the paper production process. PMC products are consumable products of technologically design that utilize polymeric materials in a complex structure.
The Paper Machine Clothing segment�� products include forming, pressing, and dryer fabrics, and process belts. A forming fabric assists in sheet formation and conveys the very wet sheet (more than 75% water) through the forming section. Press fabrics are designed to carry the sheet through the press section, where water is pressed from the sheet as it passes through the press ni! p. In the dryer section, dryer fabrics manage air movement and hold the sheet against heated cylinders to enhance drying. Process belts are used in the press section to increase dryness and enhance sheet properties, as well as in other sections of the machine. The Company sells its PMC products directly to customer end-users, which are paper industry companies, some of which operate in multiple regions of the world. Its products, manufacturing processes, and distribution channels for PMC are substantially the same in each region of the world, in which the Company operates.
The Engineered Composites (AEC)
The Engineered Composites segment (AEC) provides custom-designed advanced composite structures based on technology to customers in the aerospace and defense industries. AEC�� is engaged in development program relates to the LEAP-X engine being developed by CFM International. Under this program, AEC is developing a family of composite parts, including fan blades, to be incorporated into the LEAP-X engine.
PrimaLoft Products segment
The PrimaLoft Products segment includes sale of insulation for outdoor clothing, gloves, footwear, sleeping bags, and home furnishings. This segment has sales operations in the United States, Europe, and Asia, through which it sells products produced by third parties. This segment also generates a portion of its income as royalties from the licensing of its intellectual property.
Engineered Fabrics segment
The Engineered Fabrics segment supplies consumable fabrics used to process paper pulp, as well as fabrics used in a range of industries other than papermaking. These other products include belts used to make non wovens, fiber cement building products, roofing shingles and corrugated sheets used in boxboard, as well as belts used in tannery and textile applications.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Seth Jayson]
Albany International (NYSE: AIN ) reported earnings on May 1. Here are the numbers you need to know.
The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Albany International met expectations on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share. - [By Seth Jayson]
There's no foolproof way to know the future for Albany International (NYSE: AIN ) or any other company. However, certain clues may help you see potential stumbles before they happen -- and before your stock craters as a result.
Best International Companies To Buy Right Now: Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (BXRBF)
Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited (the Bank) is engaged in the range of banking and other financial services, including retail banking, mortgage distribution through third-parties, business lending, margin lending, business banking and commercial finance, invoice discounting, funds management, treasury and foreign exchange services (including trade finance), superannuation, financial advisory and trustee services. In retail banking it derives income from the provision of first mortgage finance less interest paid to depositors; and fee income from the provision of banking services delivered through the Company-owned branch network and the interest and fee income from the Community Bank branch network. In third party banking it derives income and fees from the manufacture and processing of residential home loans. Advisors' Opinion:- [By MARKETWATCH]
LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Australia stocks enjoyed early Monday gains after an advance for commodities and U.S. stocks since the last session, with a relatively good reception for earnings. The S&P/ASX 200 (AU:XJO) improved by 0.4% to 5,376.30, with miners tracking gains in gold and copper. Rio Tinto Ltd. (AU:RIO) (RIO) added 1.3%, and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (AU:FMG) (FSUMF) traded 1.1% higher, while gold miners Newcrest Mining Ltd. (AU:NCM) (NCMGF) and Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd. (AU:KCN) (KSKGF) rallied 2.2% and 4.7%, respectively. Banks rose after Wall Street shares climbed on Friday, with National Australia Bank Ltd. (AU:NAB) (NAUBF) up 1% and Australia & New Zealand Banking Group (AU:ANZ) (ANEWF) adding 0.9%, though Commonwealth Bank of Australia (AU:CBA) (CBAUF) dropped 2.4% as it traded without rights to its latest dividend. Coal transport firm Aurizon Holdings Ltd. (AU:AZJ) (QRNNF) tacked on 2.1% as its fiscal first-half underlying profit increased 18%, though net profit f
Best International Companies To Buy Right Now: Body Central Corp.(BODY)
Body Central Corp. operates as a specialty retailer of young women's apparel and accessories in the south, mid-Atlantic, and midwest regions of the United States. The company operates specialty apparel stores under the Body Central and Body Shop banners, as well as a direct business of its Body Central catalog and e-commerce Website at bodyc.com. Its stores feature an assortment of tops, dresses, bottoms, jewelry, accessories, and shoes under Body Central and Lipstick labels. As of March 8, 2012 it operated 241 specialty apparel stores in 24 states. The company, formerly known as Body Central Acquisition Corp., was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Roberto Pedone]
Body Central (BODY) operates apparel stores and also conducts direct business via catalogues and Web site. This stock closed up 3.8% to $3.52 in Tuesday's trading session.
Tuesday's Range: $3.40-$3.55
52-Week Range: $3.09-$13.39
Tuesday's Volume: 475,000
Three-Month Average Volume: 421,188From a technical perspective, BODY trended higher here right above some near-term support at $3.21 with above-average volume. This move pushed shares of BODY into breakout territory, since the stock took out some near-term overhead resistance at $3.50. This move is also coming off oversold territory, since BODY's current relative strength index reading is 29.89. Oversold can always get more oversold, but it's also an area where a stock can experience a powerful bounce from.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in BODY as long as it's trending above some key near-term support levels at $3.21 or at $3.09 and then once it sustains a move or close above Tuesday's high of $3.55 with volume that hits near or above 421,188 shares. If we get that move soon, then BODY will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $4 to $4.50.
- [By Lauren Pollock]
Body Central Corp.(BODY) swung to a steeper-than-expected third-quarter loss, hurt by a sharp drop in same-store sales and gross margins, sending shares of the women’s clothing retailer down 18% to $4.60 in premarket trading.
- [By John Udovich]
As we approach Black Friday, small cap apparel retail stocks�Body Central Corp (NASDAQ: BODY), Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) and Francesca's Holdings Corp (NASDAQ: FRAN) have the dubious distinction of being the sector�� worst performing stocks (according to Finviz.com) as they are down 62.8%, 29.5% and 26.4%, respectively, since the start of the year (see my previous article: This Year�� Best Performing Small Cap Apparel Retail Stocks? CACH, SMRT, PSUN & DXLG). With that performance in mind, what�sort of performance should�investors and traders alike expect from these apparel retail dogs as we head into Black Friday and the all important holiday season? Here is what you need to be aware of:
- [By Lee Jackson]
Body Central Corp. (NASDAQ: BODY) also comes in with an off-the-charts IRR of 26%. The company reported a dreadful second quarter, which hammered the share price. Body Central operates as a specialty retailer of young women’s apparel and accessories in the South, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions of the United States. It operates stores under the Body Central and Body Shop banners, as well as a direct business comprising its Body Central catalog and e-commerce website at bodycentral.com. The company’s stores sell tops, dresses, bottoms, jewelry, accessories and shoes, primarily under its Body Central and Lipstick labels. The lower the share price goes, the more attractive the stock becomes. The consensus price target is $11, with the high target at $12. The stock closed Thursday at $6.43.
Best International Companies To Buy Right Now: SMART Technologies Inc.(SMT)
SMART Technologies Inc. designs, develops, and sells interactive technology products and solutions that enhance learning and enable people to collaborate worldwide. The company offers a range of SMART Board interactive whiteboards and displays, as well as other interactive products, such as interactive tables, interactive pen displays, student response systems, wireless slates, audio enhancement systems, document cameras, conferencing software, and a line of interactive learning software. Its portfolio of related attachment products include SMART Response, SMART Slate, SMART Document Camera, SMART Table, SMART Audio, and SMART Classroom Suite. SMART Technologies also provides free online learning resources, an online teacher community, and training and professional development. It sells its interactive whiteboards through a network of distributors and dealers to the education, business, and government markets. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Calgary , Canada.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Michael Robinson]
Smart Technologies (SMT)
Smart Technologies is a company that literally lives up to its name. It's a supplier of interactive education tools, used by more than 40 million students, in more than 175 countries.
- [By MONEYMORNING.COM]
Smart Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: SMT) is a company that literally lives up to its name. It's a supplier of interactive education tools used by more than 40 million students in more than 175 countries.
- [By Seth Jayson]
Smart Technologies (Nasdaq: SMT ) is expected to report Q4 earnings on May 16. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:
The 10-second takeaway
Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict Smart Technologies's revenues will wither -22.4% and EPS will remain in the red.
Best International Companies To Buy Right Now: Everest Re Group Ltd.(RE)
Everest Re Group, Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, underwrites reinsurance and insurance in the United States (the U.S.), Bermuda, and international markets. The company operates in five segments: U.S. Reinsurance, U.S. Insurance, Specialty Underwriting, International, and Bermuda. The U.S. Reinsurance segment writes property and casualty reinsurance, on both a treaty and facultative basis, through reinsurance brokers, as well as directly with ceding companies within the United States. The U.S. Insurance segment offers property and casualty insurance primarily through general agents, brokers, and surplus lines brokers in the U.S. The Specialty Underwriting segment writes accident and health, marine, aviation, and surety business within the U.S. and worldwide through brokers and directly with ceding companies. The International segment offers non-U.S. property and casualty reinsurance. The Bermuda segment provides reinsurance and insurance to worldwide property and cas ualty markets and reinsurance to life insurers through brokers and directly with ceding companies, as well as offers reinsurance to the United Kingdom and European markets. The company was founded in 1973 and is based in Liberty Corner, New Jersey.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Marc Bastow]
Reinsurance and insurance underwriters Everest Re Group (RE) raised its dividend 56% to 75 cents per share, payable on Dec. 18 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 4.
RE Dividend Yield: 1.92% - [By John Emerson]
Last August, I purchased Everest Re (RE) when it fell within the value parameters outlined in today's article. I wrote an article about the stock titled: Everest Re: Low Risk High Reward http://www.gurufocus.com/news/143388/everest-re-low-risk-high-reward
Best International Companies To Buy Right Now: Companhia de saneamento Basico Do Estado De Sao Paulo - Sabesp (SBS)
Companhia de Saneamento B sico do Estado de Sao Paulo - SABESP provides water and sewage services to residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental customers in the State of Sao Paulo. Its services comprise water supply, sanitary sewage services, urban rainwater management and drainage services, urban cleaning services, and solid waste management services, as well as related activities, including the planning, operation, maintenance, and commercialization of energy. As of December 31, 2010, it provided water services through 7.3 million water connections to approximately 23.6 million people; and sewage services through 5.7 million sewage connections to approximately 20 million people. The company was founded in 1954 and is headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By David Dittman]
Question: Thanks for your input and the chat opportunity! Your long term thoughts on water stocks such as Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo (NYSE: SBS), known popularly as Sabesp, and Consolidated Water Co Ltd (NSDQ: CWCO)? I hold Aqua America Inc (NYSE: WTR) since your recommendation.
- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
In trading on Wednesday, utilities shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.25 percent. Top decliners in the sector included Companhia Energ茅tica de Minas Gerais SA (NYSE: CIG), off 5.3 percent, and Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo (NYSE: SBS), down 3.3 percent.
