Today’s 3 Worst Stocks

While stocks got off to a generally upbeat beginning to the week Monday, a few laggards managed to post big losses despite a broader bullish sentiment. The gains were modest; it'd be nice to say that the S&P 500 Index (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC  ) wasn't setting any records, but it actually was: its 3 point gain today, although just a 0.2% uptick, sent the index to 1,695, an all-time closing high. 

Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO  ) shares had the most difficulty today, slumping 4.3% as the company lost three members of its board of directors and a high-ranking executive, all in a day's time. No immediate successor is known as media head Mickie Rosen steps down, according to Kara Swisher at AllThingsD. One of the board members, activist investor Daniel Loeb, is also the CEO of the hedge fund Third Point, and his departure comes as Third Point liquidates about $1.2 billion in Yahoo! stock.

Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD  ) shares continued a precipitous drop Monday that began with Friday's 13.2% slump. Slipping another 3.2%, investors continued a sell-off that began in earnest after the chipmaker reported quarterly earnings that sparked several high-profile analyst downgrades. While today's fall may be to some extent a continuation of Friday's collapse, AMD also saw heightened competition Monday. Intel vowed to start making low-power chips for servers on Monday, as Intel moves more consciously into the server and mobile markets AMD already competes in. 

Finally, Sprint (NYSE: S  ) , which only recently dropped the "Nextel" part from its trading name, fell 2.5% as it continues a sell-off that began last week. After a 22% rally on the heels of Japan's SoftBank acquisition of the company, shares began to slip last Tuesday, as a slump began that's sheared nearly 12% off Sprint's market cap. Investors will get a better clue about trends at the company when it announced quarterly results next Tuesday, July 30. 

It's incredible to think just how much of our digital and technological lives are almost entirely shaped and molded by just a handful of companies. Find out "Who Will Win the War Between the 5 Biggest Tech Stocks" in The Motley Fool's latest free report, which details the knock-down, drag-out battle being waged among the five kings of tech. Click here to keep reading.

For Raytheon Today, It's 2 Steps Forward, 1 Step Back

In an unusual "two steps forward, one step back" announcement Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Defense awarded Raytheon (NYSE: RTN  ) one new contract, increased the value of another contract slightly -- and then cut it by even more.

The more straightforward of the new news items here involves a basic ordering agreement to repair multi-spectral targeting system forward looking infrared turrets aboard Navy Sikorsky H-60 helicopters. The Pentagon awarded Raytheon $9.6 million to perform such work under a pre-existing contract, to be completed by next May.

The situation with Raytheon Missile Systems' contract to Standard Missile-3 Block IB missiles for the Missile Defense Agency is more complicated. On one hand, the Pentagon is increasing the value of Raytheon's contract by $24 million to fund increased costs incurred in resolving "technical and production transition issues" with the missiles. On the other hand, the Pentagon is reducing the number of missiles it is ordering from 24 to 20 -- cutting $48.9 million off the value of the contract in the process.

Net result: This contract is now worth $24.9 million less to Raytheon than it used to be.

The good news here for Raytheon, though, is that firstly, the total value of the underlying SM-3 IB contract still surpasses $1.9 billion. And secondly, the Pentagon noted in its announcement that it is retaining the option to change its mind, come back at a later date, and buy from Raytheon the four SM-3 IB missiles that it cut from its order today anyway.

Why This Company's Dirty Job Could Send Its Stock Soaring

I love most aquatic sports. From fishing and kayaking to powerboating and waterskiing, if it's warm out, I want to be near or on the water.

I grew up near several major rivers where I often fished and boated as a youngster. Although these rivers were hundreds of yards wide, they were usually shallow. They were constantly becoming silted in from runoff, debris and assorted other factors. The same thing occurred in local reservoirs, where the water got continuously shallower as mud and silt piled up against the dam.

If you have ever stepped into this muddy, silt-filled mess when boating or fishing, then you know it's pretty disgusting. Not only is the silting of rivers and reservoirs a real issue for recreational users of waterways, but it can impede crucial transportation and navigation routes. 

It's a problem begging for a solution -- and in a twist of fate, I discovered a company that provides one.

Several weeks ago, when researching the Gold Trust ETF (NYSE: GLD), I inadvertently added an extra "D" to the GLD ticker symbol. What I serendipitously fell into reminded me of the waterway silting issue. 

This company, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (NYSE: GLDD), provides a solution to the silting problem, without even mentioning its other diversified problem-solving businesses. I decided to take a closer look at this company as a potential investment. 

 

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock is a 122-year-old U.S.-based dredging company. Dredging is the process used to remove the silt and muck from the bottom of waterways to maintain a navigable depth -- think of backhoes that can dig underwater -- and is the only practical solution to the problem of silting. The company owns the largest fleet of dredging vessels in the industry, with more than 200 boats. 

Although based in the United States, Great Lakes has a strong international presence. The company is also involved in other businesses beyond dredging. It provides demolition services in the Northeast U.S., holds a 50% share of a New Jersey-based marine sand-mining company and even owns a 50% share in an environmental services company focusing on remediating polluted swamp lands. 

Not only does Great Lakes save inland waterways, but the company is also involved in beach replenishment and protection. This often involves pumping in sand from offshore locations to rebuild beaches lost to storms and steady erosion. 

The company recently won a contract of more than $100 million from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deepen the Miami Harbor. Dredging is expected to start in the fourth quarter. The project will begin by digging out the offshore entrance to the port with additional work to potentially be awarded in 2014. 

While the company's dredging division is posting solid results -- not to mention winning more than 50% of the U.S. market -- the demolition division is dragging on overall performance. Digging into the details, Great Lakes' revenue increased more than 20% in the first quarter, to nearly $190 million. In addition, gross profit margin rose slightly to 13.7% from 12.9% a year ago. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) grew 23% to just over $18 million, from just under $15 million in 2012.

However, Great Lakes followed an annual loss last year of $2.7 million, down from a profit of $16.5 million in 2011, with a year-over-year decrease in net income in its first quarter, down from just over $1 million to $433,000. 

I expect a stronger remainder of 2013 due to a $361 million dredging backlog, the Miami Harbor project, a $30 million New Jersey shore protection project, as well as 15 to 20 potential coastal projects in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. 

But the most exciting potential growth catalyst is the $340 million in Gulf restoration projects funded by the first BP (NYSE: BP) Deepwater Horizon spill settlement. In addition, the company is focusing on improving execution and internal controls to help improve its demolition division's bottom line. 

Technically speaking, GLDD has fallen back to the 50- and 200-day simple moving averages after hitting upside resistance at $8.75. Consolidation support also exists in the $8 range. 

Risks to Consider: The company has recently been downgraded by BB&T Capital from a "buy" to a "hold." Although I don't put much faith in upgrades or downgrades, this company is taking heat from investors due to an annual loss. However, Great Lakes could be in line for a portion of the BP oil spill settlement work, which would help its bottom line tremendously. Always use stops and position size properly when investing.

Action to Take --> Despite the annual loss, I think this company is on an upswing due to the pending workload and its willingness to make positive changes in its money-losing demolition division. The price is sitting on support right now, setting up a solid technical buy opportunity. Buying now with stops at $7.75 and a six-month target price of $10 makes good technical sense.

P.S. -- Part of investing is finding opportunities -- like GLDD -- that no one is talking about. That's why we recently put together a special report on 17 little-known "spin-off" companies. Because of the way they were formed, these companies have beaten the market 7-to-1 in the past decade and raised dividends as much as 600% -- yet most investors don't understand them at all. To get the names and tickers of some of these stocks immediately, click here.

Top 5 Oil Companies To Buy For 2014

The Securities and Exchange Commission sees climate change as enough of a risk that it requires companies to disclose their climate-change-related risks in their annual 10k filings. Most, however, deal only cursorily with the potential for tightened regulation, without considering the many other threats to business operations that arise from a warming planet.

A recent report from sustainable business advocate Ceres found wide discrepancies in disclosure quality among oil and gas majors. Ceres found that BP (NYSE: BP  ) , Suncor (NYSE: SU  ) , and Eni (NYSE: E  ) provided the best disclosure overall, while ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM  ) and Apache (NYSE: APA  ) did the worst.

Eni provided good disclosure by, among other things, mentioning specific emissions reductions for its combined cycle co-generation work, and providing a detailed discussion of its flaring and carbon capture and storage efforts. BP's disclosure included a detailed analysis ��f the effects of indirect risks and opportunities on its operations. For example, BP disclosed that its "low-carbon businesses and future growth options outside oil and gas... have the potential to be a material source of low-carbon energy and are aligned with BP's core capabilities." Suncor quantified the effects of existing regulations, and also described a basis for its conclusions about materiality. The company explained how it assesses��future regulatory risks using a carbon price range. ExxonMobil and Apache either only vaguely acknowledged various climate change risks or failed to discuss them at all.

John Vechey of PopCap Games recently joined The Motley Fool for a climate change summit. Among his guests was Stu Dalheim, vice president of shareholder advocacy at Calvert Investments. In the video below, Dalheim explains how Calvert assesses material, environmental, and sustainability issues to discover how effectively companies are recognizing their risks and working to minimize them and build sustainability.

Top 5 Oil Companies To Buy For 2014: Fleetcor Technologies Inc (FLT)

FleetCor Technologies, Inc. (FleetCor) is an independent global provider of specialized payment products and services to businesses, commercial fleets, oil companies, petroleum marketers and government entities in countries throughout North America, Latin America and Europe. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company processed more than 215 million transactions on its networks and third-party networks. The Company operates in two segments: North American and International segments. The Company provides its payment products and services in a variety of combinations to create payment solutions for its customers and partners. In August 2011, the Company acquired Mexican prepaid fuel card and food voucher business based in Mexico City, Mexico. On December 13, 2011, the Company acquired Allstar Business Solutions Limited, a fleet card company based in the United Kingdom. In July 2012, the Company acquired a Russian fuel card company. In July 2012, the Company acquired CTF Technologies, Inc.

The Company uses third-party networks to deliver its payment programs and services. In order to deliver its payment programs and services and process transactions, it owns and operates closed-loop networks through which it electronically connects to merchants and captures, analyzes and reports information. The Company also provides a range of services, such as issuing and processing. The Company markets its payment products directly to a range of commercial fleet customers, including vehicle fleets of all sizes and government fleets. Among these customers, it provides its products and services to small and medium commercial fleets. The Company also manages commercial fleet card programs for oil companies, such as British Petroleum (BP) (including its subsidiary Arco), Chevron and Citgo, and over 800 petroleum marketers.

The Company sells a range of fleet and lodging payment programs directly and indirectly through partners, such as oil companies and petroleum marketers. It provides it! s customers with various card products that function like a charge card to purchase fuel, lodging and related products and services at participating locations. The Company supports these cards with issuing, processing and information services that enable it to manage card accounts, facilitate the routing, authorization, clearing and settlement of transactions. The Company provides these services in a variety of outsourced solutions ranging from an end-to-end solution (consisting issuing, processing and network services) to limited back office processing services.

In addition, the Company offers a telematics solution in Europe that combines global positioning, satellite tracking and other wireless technology to allow fleet operators to monitor the capacity utilization and movement of their vehicles and drivers. The Company offers prepaid fuel and food vouchers and cards in Mexico that may be used as a form of payment in restaurants, grocery stores and gas stations. Approximately 10.4% of its revenue during the year ended December 31, 2011 came from its lodging and telematics products.

During 2011, the Company owns and operates eight closed-loop networks in North America and internationally. Fuelman network is the Company�� primary fleet card network in the United States. Corporate Lodging Consultants network (CLC) is the Company�� lodging network in the United States and Canada. The CLC Lodging network covers more than 17,700 hotels across the United States and Canada. Commercial Fueling Network (CFN) is the Company�� members only unattended fueling location network in the United States and Canada. Keyfuels network is the Company�� primary fleet card network in the United Kingdom.

CCS network is the Company�� primary fleet card network in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Petrol Plus Region (PPR) network is the Company�� primary fleet card network in Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia. Mexican network is the Company�� fuel! and food! card and voucher network in Mexico. Allstar network is the Company�� fleet card network in the United Kingdom. In the United States, the Company issues corporate cards that utilize the MasterCard payment network, which includes 176,000 fuel sites and 398,000 maintenance locations across the country. The networks of locations owned by the Company�� oil and petroleum marketer partners in both North America and internationally are utilized to support the card programs of these partners.

UNION TANK Eckstein GmbH & Co. KG (UTA) operates a network of over 46,000 fleet card-accepting locations across 38 countries throughout Europe, including more than 31,000 fueling sites. DKV operates a network of over 45,000 fleet card-accepting locations across 36 countries throughout Europe, including more than 30,500 fueling sites. In Mexico, the Company issues fuel cards and food cards that utilize the Carnet payment network, which includes approximately 8,700 fueling sites and 78,890 food locations across the country.

The Company competes with Wright Express Corporation, Comdata Corporation, U.S. Bank Voyager Fleet Systems Inc., Edenred and Sodexo, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ed Carson]

  FleetCor isn't a one-stop financial behemoth. It's more of a truck-stop financial, providing fuel cards and budget management tools for trucking firms and other commercial and government fleets. In its most recent quarter, earnings per share rose 48%, the best gain in seven quarters. Revenue growth accelerated to 39%, the best in 10 quarters.

  Shares have been rising strongly for the past six months. The stock is up nearly 3% so far in 2013, hitting a fresh high intraday on Friday.

Top 5 Oil Companies To Buy For 2014: Southern Union Company(SUG)

Southern Union Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the gathering, processing, transportation, storage, and distribution of natural gas in the United States. It operates in three segments: Transportation and Storage, Gathering and Processing, and Distribution. The Transportation and Storage segment engages in the interstate transportation and storage of natural gas in the Midwest and from the Gulf Coast to Florida. It also provides liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminalling and regasification services. The Gathering and Processing segment involves in gathering, treating, processing, and redelivering natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs) in Texas and New Mexico. It operates a network of approximately 5,500 miles of natural gas and NGL pipelines, 4 cryogenic processing plants with a combined capacity of 415 MMcf/d, and 5 natural gas treating plants with a combined capacity of 585 MMcf/d. The Distribution segment engages in the local distribution of natural gas in Missouri and Massachusetts. This segment serves residential, commercial, and industrial customers through local distribution systems. The company was founded in 1932 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Louis Navellier]

  Southern Union Co. (NYSE:SUG) also is involved with the gathering, processing, transportation, storage and distribution of natural gas in the U.S. Southern Union stock has jumped 74% year to date.

Top Stocks To Buy: Valero Energy Corporation(VLO)

Valero Energy Corporation operates as an independent petroleum refining and marketing company. The company operates through three segments: Refining, Ethanol, and Retail. The Refining segment engages in refining, wholesale marketing, product supply and distribution, and transportation operations. It produces conventional gasoline, distillates, jet fuel, asphalt, petrochemicals, lubricants, and other refined products. This segment also offers conventional blendstock for oxygenate blending, reformulated gasoline blendstock for oxygenate blending, gasoline meeting the specifications of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), CARB diesel fuel, low-sulfur and ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel. The Ethanol segment produces ethanol and distillers grains. The Retail segment sells transportation fuels at retail stores and unattended self-service cardlocks; convenience store merchandise and services in retail stores; and home heating oil to residential customers. Valero Energy Corpora tion markets its refined products through bulk and rack marketing network; and sells refined products through a network of approximately 6,800 retail and wholesale branded outlets under the Valero, Diamond Shamrock, Shamrock, Ultramar, Beacon, and Texaco names in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Aruba, and Ireland. As of December 31, 2011, it owned 16 petroleum refineries with a combined throughput capacity of approximately 3.0 million barrels per day; and operated 10 ethanol plants with a combined nameplate production capacity of approximately 1.1 billion gallons per year. The company was formerly known as Valero Refining and Marketing Company and changed its name to Valero Energy Corporation in August 1997. Valero Energy Corporation was founded in 1955 and is based in San Antonio, Texas.

Top 5 Oil Companies To Buy For 2014: Noble Corp (NE)

Noble Corporation is an offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry. The Company performs contract drilling services with its fleet of 79 mobile offshore drilling units and one floating production storage and offloading unit (FPSO) located globally. As of December 31, 2011, its fleet consisted of 14 semisubmersibles, 14 drillships, 49 jackups and two submersibles. Its fleet includes 11 units under construction, which include five ultra-deepwater drillships, and six jackup rigs. As of February 15, 2012, approximately 84% of its fleet was located outside the United States in areas, which included Mexico, Brazil, the North Sea, the Mediterranean, West Africa, the Middle East, India and the Asian Pacific. During the year ended December 31, 2011, it completed construction on the Noble Bully I, a drillship, owned through a joint venture with a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell plc; completed construction on the Noble Bully II, a drillship, and it completed construction of Globetrotter-class drillship. As of February 15, 2012, it had 10 rigs under contract in Mexico with Pemex Exploracion y Produccion (Pemex).

During 2011, the Company conducted offshore contract drilling operations, which accounted for over 98% of its operating revenues. It conducts its contract drilling operations in the United States Gulf of Mexico, Mexico, Brazil, the North Sea, the Mediterranean, West Africa, the Middle East, India and the Asian Pacific. During 2011, revenues from Shell and its affiliates accounted for approximately 24% of its total operating revenues. During 2011, revenues from Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras) accounted for approximately 18% and 19% of its total operating revenues. Revenues from Pemex accounted for approximately 15%, 20% and 23% of its total operating revenues.

Semisubmersibles

Semisubmersibles are floating platforms which, by means of a water ballasting system, can be submerged to a predetermined depth so that a substantial portion of the hull is b! elow the water surface during drilling operations. As of December 31, 2011, the semisubmersible fleet consisted of 14 units, including five Noble EVA-4000 semisubmersibles; three Friede & Goldman 9500 Enhanced Pacesetter semisubmersibles; two Pentagone 85 semisubmersibles; two Bingo 9000 design unit submersibles; one Aker H-3 Twin Hull S1289 Column semisubmersible, and one Offshore Co. SCP III Mark 2 semisubmersible.

Drillships

The Company�� drillships are self-propelled vessels. These units maintain their position over the well through the use of either a fixed mooring system or a computer controlled dynamic positioning system. Its drillships are capable of drilling in water depths from 1,000 to 12,000 feet. The maximum drilling depth of its drillships ranges from 20,000 feet to 40,000 feet. As of December 31, 2011, the drillship fleet consisted of 14 units, including four drillships under construction with Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. (HHI); three Gusto Engineering Pelican Class drillships; two Bully-class drillships to be operated by it through a 50% joint venture with a subsidiary of Shell; one dynamically positioned Globetrotter-class drillship that left the shipyard during the fourth quarter of 2011; one Globetrotter-class drillship under construction; one moored Sonat Discoverer Class drillship capable of drilling in Arctic environments; one NAM Nedlloyd-C drillship, and one moored conversion class drillship.

Jackups

As of December 31, 2011, the Company had 49 jackups in its fleet, including six jackups under construction. The rig hull includes the drilling rig, jacking system, crew quarters, loading and unloading facilities, storage areas for bulk and liquid materials, helicopter landing deck and other related equipment. All of its jackups are independent leg and cantilevered. Its jackups are capable of drilling to a maximum depth of 30,000 feet in water depths up to 400 feet.

Submersibles

The Company has two su! bmersible! s in the fleet, which are cold-stacked. Submersibles are mobile drilling platforms, which are towed to the drill site and submerged to drilling position by flooding the lower hull until it rests on the sea floor, with the upper deck above the water surface. Its submersibles are capable of drilling to a depth of 25,000 feet in water depths up to 70 feet.

Top 5 Oil Companies To Buy For 2014: Gastar Exploration Ltd (GST)

Gastar Exploration Ltd (Gastar) is an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, development and production of natural gas and oil in the United States. The Company�� principal business activities include the identification, acquisition, and subsequent exploration and development of natural gas and oil properties with an emphasis on unconventional reserves, such as shale resource plays. As of December 31, 2011, it is pursuing the development of liquids-rich natural gas in the Marcellus Shale in the Appalachia area of West Virginia and, to a lesser extent, central and southwestern Pennsylvania. The Company also holds prospective acreage in the deep Bossier play in the Hilltop area of East Texas and conduct limited coal bed methane (CBM) development activities within the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Montana. The Company is a holding company. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

   Gastar Exploration (GST) is an independent energy company, engaged in the exploration, development and production of natural gas and oil in the U.S. This stock is trading up 2.8% to $1.26 in recent trading.

  Today’s Range: $1.24-$1.30

  52-Week Range: $0.70-$3.36

  Volume: 186,000

  Three-Month Average Volume: 516,159

  From a technical perspective, GST is bouncing modestly higher here right above some near-term support $1.15 with light volume. This stock has been uptrending strongly for the last month and change, with shares soaring from a low of 70 cents to its recent high of $1.38. During that move, shares of GST have been mostly making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed GST within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if GST clears some near-term overhead resistance levels at $1.38 to $1.39 with high volume.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in GST as long as it’s trending above $1.15, and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 516,159 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then GST will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance level at its 200-day moving average of $1.77 or possible even $1.89 to $1.96.

Apple's Quarter: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Apple  (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) reported earnings last Tuesday night, and investors were generally pretty pleased with results. The stock spent most of the next trading day up more than 5% and has gained 3.8% in the past week. Yet while the result had some positives, such as iPhone unit growth well above analyst expectations, there were also some areas that were a mixed bag. 

In the following video, Fool analysts Evan Niu and Eric Bleeker look at the good, the bad, and the ugly in Apple's earnings. Beyond better-than-expected iPhone sales, the storyline was really how the company continues outperforming in America. In this quarter's report, the addition of T-Mobile (NYSE: TMUS  ) provided some new tailwinds to growth. As far as the "bad" and "ugly," the two look at Apple's first year-over-year decline in tablets and weakness in Greater China and what might be causing results in those areas that were worse than expected. 

To see Evan's and Eric's full thoughts, watch the video. 

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Hot China Companies To Buy Right Now

Consulting giant PricewaterhouseCoopers has just released a survey of the online shopping habits of more than 11,000 online shoppers in 11 countries. And according to PwC, the No. 1 country for e-commerce today is ... China!

Take a look at some of these numbers:

$211 billion in annual online sales. 58% of shoppers shopping online in the past week. 64% growth in e-commerce revenues over just the past year.

Clearly, China is turning into a big market for online marketing -- but who's best positioned to profit from it? Listen in and find out, as Fool contributor Rich Smith lays out the field of possibilities for you.

Regardless of your short-term view on the Chinese economy, there may be opportunity in Baidu (aka the "Chinese Google"). The Motley Fool's�brand-new premium report breaks down the dominant Chinese search provider's strengths and weaknesses. Just click here to access it now.

Hot China Companies To Buy Right Now: Hampton Roads Bankshares Inc(HMPR)

Hampton Roads Bankshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Bank of Hampton Roads (BOHR) and Shore Bank that provide community and commercial banking services primarily to individuals and small to medium-sized businesses. It offers traditional loan and deposit banking services, as well as telephone banking, Internet banking, remote deposit capture, and debit cards. The company also accepts commercial and consumer deposits that consist of various forms of demand and time accounts, including checking accounts, interest checking, money market accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and IRA accounts. In addition, it provides a range of commercial, real estate, and consumer lending products and services; commercial and industrial loans; construction loans; real estate-commercial mortgage; real estate-residential mortgage; and installment loans to individuals. Further, the company offers travelers? checks, coin counters, wire services, and safe deposit b ox services. Additionally, it provides letters of credit and standby letters of credit, and cash management products to commercial customers. The company also offers insurance products to businesses and individuals; securities, brokerage, and investment advisory services; and non-deposit investment products, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and insurance products, as well as engages in originating and processing mortgage loans. As of June 2, 2011, the company operates 48 banking offices in Virginia and North Carolina; and 8 banking offices in the eastern shore of Maryland and Virginia. It operates a network of sixty-seven ATM machines. The company was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By cnAnalyst]

  Hampton Roads Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:HMPR) is the 5th best-performing stock last month in this segment of the market. It was up 78.72% for the past month. Its price percentage change was 102.23% year-to-date.

Hot China Companies To Buy Right Now: KongZhong Corporation(KONG)

KongZhong Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides wireless interactive entertainment, media, and community services to mobile phone users in the People's Republic of China. It also involves in the development, distribution, and marketing of consumer wireless value-added services, including wireless application protocol, multimedia messaging services, short messaging services, interactive voice response services, and color ring back tones. In addition, it offers interactive entertainment services, such as mobile games, pictures, karaoke, electronic books, mobile phone personalization features, entertainment news, chat, and message boards; and through Kong.net offer news, community services, games, and other interactive media and entertainment services; and sells advertising space in the form of text-link, banner, and button advertisements. Further, the company develops and publishes mobile games, including downloadable mobile games and online mobile games cons isting of action, role-playing, and leisure games. As of December 31, 2009, it had a library of approximately 300 internally developed mobile games. Additionally, it develops online games; and provides consulting and technology services, as well as media and net book services. The company was formerly known as Communication Over The Air Inc. and changed its name to KongZhong Corporation in March 2004. KongZhong Corporation was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Louis Navellier]

  Thanks largely to the country’s tremendous economic growth, there’s a new middle class in China. They have more leisure time than ever before, and that means big opportunity for entertainment provider KongZhong Corporation (KONG).

  The company provides wireless interactive entertainment, media and community services to mobile phone users, but it also offers interactive entertainment services, including mobile games, pictures, logos, karaoke, electronic books and mobile phone personalization features such as ring tones. The Chinese love their cell phones, and KongZhong provides much of the content that goes on those phones.

  Investors certainly haven’t been hesitant to dial up shares of KONG, as the stock is up over 218% in the last 12 months.

  I rate KONG an A, making it a strong buy.

• [By Wyatt Research Staff]

  As a Chinese ADR, KONG is the leading provider of 2.5G wireless interactive entertainment, media and community services in terms of revenue to customers of company China Mobile. Institutions snatched up shares at an alarming rate with an increase of 26.7% in institutional ownership over the past three months.

  A consensus of analysts expect earnings to increase by 16.9% in 2011 and 19.6% in 2012. Company earnings are estimated to increase by 62.1% this year.

Best Warren Buffett Stocks To Buy For 2014: CNinsure Inc.(CISG)

CNinsure Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance brokerage and agency services, and insurance claims adjusting services in the People?s Republic of China. The company offers property, casualty, and life insurance products underwritten by domestic and foreign insurance companies operating in China. Its property and casualty insurance products include automobile, individual accident, commercial property, homeowner, cargo, hull, liability, and construction insurance; and life insurance products comprise individual whole life insurance, term life insurance, education annuity, and health insurance, as well as universal insurance and group life insurance. The company also offers insurance claims adjusting services, which include pre-underwriting survey, claims adjusting, disposal of residual value, loading and unloading supervision, and consulting services, as well as damage assessment, survey, authentication, and loss estimation to insurance companies and the i nsured; and value-added services to its customers in conjunction with distributing automobile insurance products. As of April 15, 2010, its distribution and service network consisted of 49 insurance agencies, 3 insurance brokerages, and 4 claims adjusting firms, with 571 sales and service outlets. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Guangzhou, the People?s Republic of China.

Hot China Companies To Buy Right Now: Netease.com Inc.(NTES)

NetEase.com, Inc., an Internet technology company, engages in the development of applications, services, and other technologies for the Internet in China. It provides online game services to Internet users through the in-house development or licensing of massively multi-player online role-playing games, including Fantasy Westward Journey, Westward Journey Online II, Westward Journey Online III, Tianxia II, Heroes of Tang Dynasty, and Datang, as well as the licensed game, Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft. The company also offers online advertising on its Web sites. In addition, NetEase has paid listings on its search engine and Web directory, and classified advertising services, as well as an online mall, which provides opportunities for e-commerce and traditional businesses to establish their own storefront on the Internet. Further, it provides wireless value-added services, such as news and information content, matchmaking services, music, and photos from the We b over SMS, MMS, WAP, IVR, and Color Ring-back Tone technologies. Additionally, the company offers community services, including instant messaging, online personal advertisements, matchmaking, alumni clubs, and community forums; and aggregates news content on world events, sports, science and technology, and financial markets, as well as entertainment content, such as cartoons, games, astrology, and jokes from over 100 international and domestic content providers. NetEase.com, Inc. was founded in 1997 and is based in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China.

Is J.C. Penney on Sale?

The following video is from Tuesday's Investor Beat, in which host Chris Hill and analysts Jason Moser and Bill Barker dissect the hardest-hitting investing stories of the day.

Shares of J.C. Penney (NYSE: JCP  ) fell more than 12% on Tuesday. On Monday, the retailer announced that CEO Ron Johnson will be replaced by former CEO Myron E. "Mike" Ullman III. What can Ullman do to reverse the retailer's fortunes? Should investors buy stock in J.C. Penney? In this installment of Investor Beat, our analysts discuss the future of J.C. Penney. That story, plus a recap of today's Dow performance.

J.C. Penney's stock cratered under Ron Johnson's leadership, but could new CEO Mike Ullman present the opportunity investors have been waiting for? If you're wondering whether J.C. Penney is a buy today, you're invited to claim a copy of The Motley Fool's must-read report on the company. Learn everything you need to know about Penney's turnaround -- or lack thereof. Simply click here now for instant access.

The relevant video segment can be found between 0:17 and 3:04.

10 Best Financial Stocks To Own For 2014

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 Marin Software (NYSE: MRIN  ) got clobbered today, down by as much as 21% after the company reported earnings.

So what: Revenue in the first quarter totaled $17.2 million, which resulted in a non-GAAP net loss of $9.4 million, or $0.39 per share. The freshly public software maker saw gross margin decline to 57%, and its losses grew from a year ago. Investors obviously wanted more.

Now what: CEO Chris Lien said that Marin's integrated platform for advertisers will help it tap it digital advertising industry, and that the money raised through the IPO will provide it financial flexibility. Guidance calls for second-quarter sales of $17.6 million to $18 million. Full-year revenue is expected in the range of $75 million to $76.2 million, which will result in adjusted losses of $1.16 to $1.19 per share this year.

10 Best Financial Stocks To Own For 2014: ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited (ASA)

ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited is a self management investment trust. The firm invests in the public equity markets across the globe. It primarily invests in stocks of companies engaged in the exploration, mining or processing of gold, silver, platinum, diamonds, or other precious minerals. ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited was founded in 1958 and is based in San Mateo, California.

10 Best Financial Stocks To Own For 2014: Kansas City Life Insurance Company(KCLI)

Kansas City Life Insurance Company, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a financial services company that focuses on underwriting, selling, and administrating life and annuity insurance products in the United States. It offers individual insurance products, which include traditional insurance products, such as term insurance, whole life insurance, life disability, and accident and health products, as well as immediate annuity products, including various supplementary contract options; and interest sensitive insurance products that comprise universal life, variable universal life, fixed deferred annuities, variable annuities, and supplementary contracts without life contingencies. The company also provides group insurance products, such as life, dental, vision, and long-term and short-term disability products. In addition, it offers investment and broker-dealer services for proprietary and non-proprietary variable insurance products, mutual funds, and other securiti es. Kansas City Life Insurance Company markets its products through a sales force of independent general agents, agents, group brokers, and third-party marketing arrangements in 48 states and the District of Columbia. The company was founded in 1895 and is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri.

Best Stocks To Invest In 2014: Great Southern Bancorp Inc.(GSBC)

Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Great Southern Bank that offers various banking products and services in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Arkansas. Its deposit products include regular savings accounts, checking accounts, money market accounts, fixed-interest rate certificates with varying maturities, certificates of deposit, brokered certificates, and individual retirement accounts. The company?s loan portfolio comprises residential and commercial real estate loans, construction loans, and commercial business loans, as well as secured consumer loans, including automobile loans, boat loans, home equity loans, loans secured by savings deposits, home improvement loans, guaranteed student loans, and unsecured consumer loans. It also offers general property, casualty, and life insurance agency services; personal, commercial, and group travel services; and investment and related services. As of April 26, 2011, it operated 75 banking c enters and approximately 200 automated teller machines. The company was founded in 1923 and is headquartered in Springfield, Missouri.

10 Best Financial Stocks To Own For 2014: Associated Banc-Corp(ASBC)

Associated Banc-Corp, a bank holding company, offers various banking and financial services to individuals and businesses primarily in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota. Its Banking segment provides loans and deposit products to businesses, governments, and consumers. Its products and services include checking, savings, money market deposit, and IRA accounts, as well as certificates of deposit and safe deposit boxes; and home equity loans and lines of credit, residential mortgage loans and mortgage refinancing, education loans, and personal and installment loans. This segment?s products and services also include business checking accounts, business loans, real estate financing, construction loans, letters of credit, revolving credit arrangements, business credit cards, equipment and machinery leases, night depository, cash management, international banking, check clearing, safekeeping, and other banking-based services. The company?s Wealth Management segment provides va rious fiduciary, investment management, advisory, and corporate agency services for individuals, corporations, small businesses, charitable trusts, endowments, foundations, and institutional investors. This segment also offers life, property, casualty, and credit and mortgage insurance, as well as fixed annuities and employee group benefits consulting and administration services; investment brokerage, variable annuities, and discount and online brokerage services; and trust/asset/investment management, administration of pension, profit-sharing and other employee benefit plans, personal trusts, and estate planning services. The company offers its products through branch facilities, loan production offices, supermarket branches, a customer service call center, an interstate automated teller machine network, and Internet banking services. As of December 31, 2010, its banking subsidiary had 280 offices in approximately 150 communities. The company was founded in 1964 and is base d in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

10 Best Financial Stocks To Own For 2014: Supertel Hospitality Inc.(SPPR)

Supertel Hospitality, Inc. is an independent equity real estate investment trust. The firm invests in the real estate markets of the United States. It primarily invests in limited-service hotels. The firm was formerly known as Humphrey Hospitality Trust, Inc. Supertel Hospitality, Inc. was launched on August 23, 1994 and is based in Norfolk, Nebraska.

10 Best Financial Stocks To Own For 2014: Cheung Kong (1)

Cheung Kong (Holdings) Limited is a Hong Kong-based company engaged in investment holding and project management. The Company�� subsidiaries are engaged in property development and investment, hotel and serviced suite operation, property and project management, and investment in securities. It is also engaged in information technology, e-commerce and new technology. As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� investment properties included retail shopping malls and commercial office properties in Hong Kong, which accounted for approximately 44% and 45%, respectively of the turnover of the Company�� property rental. As of December 31, 2011, the total floor area under the Company�� property management was approximately 88 million square feet. As of December 31, 2011, its subsidiaries included Alcon Investments Limited, AMTD Group Company Limited, Bermington Investment Limited and others.

10 Best Financial Stocks To Own For 2014: Flaherty & Crumrine/Claymore Preferred Securities Income Fd In (FFC)

Flaherty & Crumrine/Claymore Preferred Securities Income Fund Inc. is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Flaherty & Crumrine Incorporated. It invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. The fund employs quantitative analysis to create its portfolios. It benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the Merrill Lynch 8% Capped DRD Preferred Stock Index, Merrill Lynch Hybrid Preferred Securities Index, and Merrill Lynch Adjustable Preferred Stock 7% Constrained Index. Flaherty & Crumrine/Claymore Preferred Securities Income Fund Inc. was formed on May 23, 2002 and is domiciled in the United States.

10 Best Financial Stocks To Own For 2014: United Overseas Insurance Ltd (U13.SI)

United Overseas Insurance Limited engages in the underwriting of general insurance and reinsurance in Singapore, ASEAN countries, and internationally. The company offers personal insurance products that include travel, personal accident, home protection, foreign domestic worker, and motor insurance products. It also provides risk management solutions for the protection of business assets, including fire and extra perils, business interruption, machinery/equipment, burglary and theft, money, fidelity guarantee, plate glass, public liability, work injury compensation, group personal accident, and marine cargo insurance. In addition, United Overseas Insurance offers directors� and officers� insurance, and contractors� all risks/erection all risks insurance; and provides Takaful, a financial assurance to address misfortunes, accidents, or disasters. The company was founded in 1971 and is based in Singapore. United Overseas Insurance Limited is a subsidiary of United Oversea s Bank Limited.

10 Best Financial Stocks To Own For 2014: First Merchants Corporation(FRME)

First Merchants Corporation, a financial holding company, provides financial and banking products and services. Its deposit products include demand deposits, savings deposits, and certificates and other time deposits. The company?s loan products portfolio comprises commercial and industrial loans; agricultural production financing and other loans to farmers; real estate loans, including construction, commercial and farmland, and residential loans; individuals? loans for household and other personal expenditures; tax-exempt loans; lease financing; consumer loans; and other loans. It also rents safe deposit facilities; and provides personal and corporate trust services, brokerage services, and other corporate services, as well as letters of credit and repurchase agreements. The company operates through 79 banking locations in 23 Indiana and 2 Ohio counties, as well as through ATMs, check cards, interactive voice response systems, and Internet technology. In addition, First Merchants Corporation operates as a property, casualty, personal lines, and employee benefit insurance agency; and involves in life reinsurance business. The company was founded in 1893 and is headquartered in Muncie, Indiana.

10 Best Financial Stocks To Own For 2014: BancFirst Corporation(BANF)

BancFirst Corporation operates as the holding company for BancFirst that provides commercial banking services to retail customers and small to medium-sized businesses in the non-metropolitan trade centers of Oklahoma and the metropolitan markets of Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Lawton, Muskogee, Norman, and Shawnee. It offers various deposit services, such as checking, negotiable order of withdrawal, savings, money market, sweep, club, and individual retirement accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. The company?s loan portfolio comprises commercial loans offered to small to medium-sized businesses in light manufacturing, local wholesale and retail trade, commercial and residential real estate development and construction, services, agriculture, and energy industries; commercial mortgages; working capital lines of credit; and other forms of asset-based financing. BancFirst?s loan portfolio also includes agricultural loans; small business administration guaranteed loans; an d financing for automobiles, residential mortgage loans, home equity loans, and other personal loans. In addition, the company offers funds transfer services, collections, safe deposit boxes, cash management services, retail brokerage services, insurance, and overdraft protection and autodraft services. Further, it provides trust services, as well as acts as executor, administrator, trustee, and transfer agent; and item processing, research, and correspondent banking services. Additionally, the company involves in the investment management and administration of trusts for individuals, corporations, and employee benefit plans; and provision of investment options. As of July 19, 2011, it operated 89 banking locations serving 50 communities in Oklahoma. The company was formerly known as United Community Corporation and changed its name to BancFirst Corporation in November 1988. BancFirst Corporation was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Limelight Networks Picks New CFO

Tempe, Ariz.-based Limelight Networks (NASDAQ: LLNW  ) will soon have a new CFO.

On Wednesday, Limelight announced that current Chief Financial Officer Douglas Lindroth has entered a "transition period," after which he plans to leave the company to "pursue other business and professional interests." Replacing him will be new CFO Peter Perrone, who comes from Goldman Sachs' Merchant Banking Division, having experience in Internet infrastructure companies such as Limelight. He is a current member of Limelight's board of directors. He will step down from the Limelight board as he joins the firm as a senior vice president.

Perrone is joining Limelight as an employee on Aug. 19, and will transition to the CFO's post as Lindroth transitions out of it.

In a concurrent filing with the SEC, Limelight noted that it will be paying Perrone an annual salary of $325,000, plus:

An annual incentive bonus targeting $200,000. 350,000 Restricted Stock Units and 1 million stock options, both vesting over four years 100,000 more Restricted Stock Units vesting 30 days after he begins employment.

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Hercules Offshore: Workers Safe, Rig Damage Unknown

Hercules Offshore (NASDAQ: HERO  ) said today that 44 workers who were evacuated Tuesday from one of its Gulf of Mexico rigs sustained no injuries and that the extent of the damage to the Hercules 265 jackup drilling rig is unknown.

The natural gas well off the Louisiana coast near the rig continued to burn today after it caught fire following a blowout. A spokeswoman for the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement told The Associated Press it was not known what caused the gas to ignite. It also wasn't clear early Wednesday how and when crews would attempt to extinguish the blaze

On Tuesday, Hercules put out a press release announcing that a Hercules Offshore drilling rig being operated in the Gulf of Mexico had experienced a "well control incident." The company today issued an update on the 44 rig workers and the current status of the problem unit.

All 44 rig workers were evacuated safely, and "no injuries sustained as a result of the incident," Hercules Offshore said. According to the press release, "the natural gas flowing from the well ignited which spread to the rig. The extent of the damage to the rig is currently unknown."

Hercules Offshore is working with regulators and Walter Oil & Gas, the company operating the rig, to determine the cause of the incident. The company said it was awaiting daylight to assess the environmental impact.

The immediate concern, Hercules Offshore said, is to stem the flow of the natural gas and regain control of the rig, which "could include the drilling of a relief well." 

-- Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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Are Richardson Electronics's Earnings Better Than They Look?

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

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

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

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

Over the past 12 months, Richardson Electronics generated $7.5 million cash while it booked net income of $4.2 million. That means it turned 5.2% of its revenue into FCF. That sounds OK.

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

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

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

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

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

With 46.9% of operating cash flow coming from questionable sources, Richardson Electronics investors should take a closer look at the underlying numbers. Within the questionable cash flow figure plotted in the TTM period above, other operating activities (which can include deferred income taxes, pension charges, and other one-off items) provided the biggest boost, at 41.4% of cash flow from operations. Overall, the biggest drag on FCF also came from changes in taxes payable, which represented 22.3% of cash from operations.

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

Looking for alternatives to Richardson Electronics? It takes more than great companies to build a fortune for the future. Learn the basic financial habits of millionaires next door and get focused stock ideas in our free report, "3 Stocks That Will Help You Retire Rich." Click here for instant access to this free report.

We can help you keep tabs on your companies with My Watchlist, our free, personalized stock tracking service.

Add Richardson Electronics to My Watchlist.

BMW's New Electric Car Just Became a Major Problem

On Monday, BMW (NASDAQOTH: BAMXF  ) announced that the U.S. base price for its all-electric i3 will be $41,350, not including any federal or state incentives. For General Motors' (NYSE: GM  ) Chevy Volt, and possibly Tesla Motor's (NASDAQ: TSLA  ) Model S, BMW's move spells major trouble. Here's why.

The BMW i-Concepts i3. Source: Wikimedia Commons/Motohide Miwa. 

Bad news, GM
With a starting MSRP of $39,145 in 2012, the Volt was the best-selling EV, and it's not hard to see why. Really more of an electric hybrid than a straight EV, the Volt combines a 9.3-gallon fuel tank with a lithium-ion battery. This combination allows the Volt can go an estimated 38 miles on pure battery before switching to regular fuel, which extends the range to an estimated 380 miles. Because of this combination, the Volt cuts down on range anxiety, which is still a huge deterrent to getting consumers into EVs.

Now, compare the above to BMW's all-electric i3: According to BMW, the i3 has a pure-electric range of 80-100 miles, thanks to its lithium-ion battery, and has an optional range extender that lengthens that initial range by 80 miles. Plus, thanks to BMW's eDrive technology, a driver can extend the initial range up to 124 miles by putting the vehicle in one of the "EcoPro" modes.  

Right away you can see the problem. Not only does BMW's i3 go farther on pure battery power, but with the purchase of the optional range extender, range anxiety goes way down. More pointedly, the base MSRP for the BMW is only $2,000 more than the Volt. I don't know about you, but if I had to decide between spending $39,000 for a Volt, or $2,000 more for a BMW, I'm going with the BMW, hands down.

Tesla, this is bad for you, too
Right now, Tesla is the crème-de-la-crème of EVs. But it's competing against all-electric EVs like Nissan Motors' (NASDAQOTH: NSANY  ) Leaf, and Ford's (NYSE: F  ) Focus Electric. To put it simply, Tesla's Model S can drive circles around these cars. Yes, it's more expensive, but the technology, range, and precision of the Model S makes anything else seem almost silly in comparison. BMW, however, is a luxury brand with renowned German engineering, and its new i3, and the future i8 model, presents a new challenge for Tesla.

Consider this: The i3, designed from the ground up as an EV, has received praise from some of the industry's harshest EV critics. As BBC's "Top Gear" drivers put it:

At first sampling, then, this is a compelling electric car. It's not the first on the market, but BMW has put some original thinking into almost every part of its design and engineering. It drives sweetly, is distinctively designed, and has the reassuring range-extender option if you are anxious about running flat. 

These are the same critics that gave Tesla's Roadster a less than glowing report -- in fact, Tesla sued the show for "libel and malicious falsehood" because of the review.  

What to watch for
The i3 isn't set to hit showrooms until the second quarter of 2014, and right now it's too soon to predict exactly how this will affect GM and Tesla's sales. However, given BMW's reputation, the i3's reviews, and the just released base price, this is something investors would do well to monitor.

Electric cars are gaining in popularity, but they're still a niche market. Ford, however, has its hand in EVs and is starting to make its presence known in China. China is already the world's largest auto market -- and it's set to grow even bigger in coming years. A recent Motley Fool report, "2 Automakers to Buy for a Surging Chinese Market", names Ford and one other global giant, poised to reap big gains that could drive big rewards for investors. You can read this report right now for free -- just click here for instant access.

Why Coeur Mining Shares Popped

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 Coeur Mining (NYSE: CDE  ) were looking stronger today, gaining as much as 10% after announcing that it increased its investment in International Northair Mines.

So what: Coeur will nearly double its stake in Northair, adding 9,600,000 common shares to bring its total to 20,350,000 or 19.4% of the company. The agreement was part of a private placement, and Coeur agreed to a purchase price of $0.14 for the stock, which rose to $0.18 by midday. However, the total market cap of Northair is just $16 million, making that gain insignificant.

Now what: The new investment gives Coeur an increased stake in an exploration-stage miner currently focused on Northern Mexico. It's hard to say whether this investment will bear fruit in the near future, but it gives the company an additional potential revenue stream. Coeur also recently noted that production improved this quarter as silver extraction jumped 21% and gold production 7% as the miner's stock seems to be bouncing back from a four-year low it hit two weeks ago. Coeur will report quarterly earnings August 8 with analysts expecting a profit of $0.06 a share.

If you're looking for more info on miners and gold, check out  The Motley Fool's new free report, "The Best Way to Play Gold Right Now," which dissects the recent volatility and provides a guide for gold investing. Click here to read the full report today!

3 Studies' Shocking Air Pollution Findings

A number of studies linking air pollution to some of the countries largest and growing health concerns have come out in the past few months. A just-released report links it to heart failure, but this result follows other troubling recent studies linking poor air quality from everything from type 2 diabetes to autism and Alzheimer's disease.

In this video, health-care analyst David Williamson details the findings of these reports, discusses what actions average investors should take when they see these scientific studies, and highlights a global pharmaceutical giant positioning itself to combat these health ills.

Rising health-care costs continue to be a hotly debated topic, and even legendary investor Warren Buffett called this trend "the tapeworm that's eating at American competitiveness." To learn more about what's happening to the health care system -- and how to potentially profit from this trend -- click here for free, immediate access.

Follow David on Twitter: @MotleyDavid.

CVB Financial Raises Dividend 18%

Citizens Business Bank holding company CVB Financial (NASDAQ: CVBF  ) announced yesterday its second-quarter dividend of $0.10 per share, an 18% increase over the payout it made last quarter of $0.085 per share. This is the first increase in the dividend since 2007.

The board of directors said the quarterly dividend is payable on July 18 to the holders of record at the close of business on July 3. The bank has made 95 consecutive quarterly payouts to investors. CVB Financial President and CEO Christopher D. Myers said: "The decision to increase the dividend was based on our strong capital position and the stability of our earnings."

The regular dividend payment equates to a $0.40-per-share annual dividend, yielding 3.5% based on the closing price of CVB Financial's stock on June 19.

CVBF Dividend data by YCharts. Doesn't include most recent dividend.

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A Slumbering Oil Giant Is About To Awaken

Less than a decade ago, Petrobras (NYSE: PBR) was the hottest oil company on the planet. A massive offshore discovery led the residents of Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro to dance in the streets, looking ahead to the day when all that oil money would circulate through the economy. 

Yet year after year, Petrobras has managed to disappoint its backers in new and novel ways. The oil giant vastly overspent to get those big oil fields ready for production, the Brazilian government sought onerous levels of taxes from the company, and investors had to sit idly by as the company issued massive blocks of new shares, leading to hefty dilution.

Just how badly did things turn out? Back in 2007, before Petrobras began the heavy lifting to start production on its major new oil fields, the company had 23% operating margins and earnings per share of around $3. By 2012, those two figures had fallen by half. At this point, most investors have simply abandoned ship. Yet it's time to give this broken stock a fresh look.

The Looming Payoff
Although Petrobras has clearly dropped the ball repeatedly over the past five years, a lot of foundation-building is set to pay off -- but not quite yet. Petrobras will probably deliver another set of weak financial results when quarterly results are released later this month, thanks to heavy spending on equipment maintenance and still-constrained output.

 

Yet that may mark the end of the era of reckless spending. In a March 2013 meeting with analysts, Petrobras' management, according to Merrill Lynch analysts, "indicated it is very focused on reducing costs over the next few years to improve financial returns. It suggested that this is the first time a serious cost-cutting program has been introduced at the company."

The wind down in spending should coincide with a long-awaited upturn in production as "pre-development" oil fields finally come online. It will be a slow ramp in the first few quarters, based on current production schedule, but starting with the first quarter of 2014, output should accelerate more quickly, leading analyst to expect Petrobras to have one of the highest growth rates in the industry for the next five years.

A Cleaner Balance Sheet
One of the key drags on this stock has been a debt-laden balance sheet. Total debt, which stood at $69 billion at the end of 2010, swelled to $96 billion by the end of 2012. Management simply became too aggressive in its pursuit of oil and gas fields throughout Latin American and elsewhere. 

Newly chastened by a collapse in its stock price, Petrobras is planning to sell up to $10 billion in assets this year. That target may prove conservative: "Potential sales of close to double the announced amount are possible, if all identified assets were actually able to be sold," said Merrill Lynch's analysts. That should help management keep a promise of avoiding further stock issuances.

Improving Financials

A combination of better cost controls, slowing capital spending and rising cash flow should set the stage for quickly improving debt ratios. For example, the interest coverage ratio is expected to rise 3 percentage points from 2012 through 2015.

Mitigated Currency Risk?
One of the challenges of investing in an ADR (American depositary receipt) like Petrobras is the currency risk. If the foreign currency weakens against the dollar, the ADR will drop in value by a commensurate amount. 

That explains some of the poor performance of Petrobras. In the summer of 2011, the U.S. dollar bought roughly 1.6 Brazilian reals. Yet the real has weakened so much that a dollar now buys 2.27 of them. In the past, that rapid devaluation caused pain for foreign investors, but the real now no longer carries the risk of overvaluation that it did a few years ago. In fact, when the Brazilian economy finds its footing and returns to its historical growth trajectory, the real should rebound, which would boost the performance of this ADR.

Risks to Consider: The biggest risk to this turnaround play is plunging oil prices. Crude oil has actually traded up in recent months, but a bigger slowdown in China or elsewhere could lead to a big drop in oil.

Action to Take --> Petrobras is an excellent case study in bad investment. Virtually every major move, both by management and the Brazilian government, has been to the detriment of shareholders. Yet with shares so deeply washed out, and management newly focused on improving returns, it's time to forget the past and focus on what appears to be a still-bright future.

P.S. -- The next big commodities play is unfolding right now... This disruptive energy technology will bring about major changes in our country... and one company is leading the charge. To learn more about this opportunity, click here.

Why McDonald's Earnings Need to Be Impressive

McDonald's (NYSE: MCD  ) is scheduled to release its quarterly earnings report on Monday, and its stock has climbed to the $100-per-share mark in approaching all-time record-high levels. But disappointing results for McDonald's earnings in past quarters have investors worried that the company might not deliver the fundamental strength it needs to match up to its stock's performance.

McDonald's has been one of the most resilient members of the Dow Jones Industrials (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) , with notable gains during the bear market year of 2008 that proved its ability to weather recessions with its focus on low price points. But lately, its growth forays have run into some resistance. Let's take an early look at what's been happening with McDonald's over the past quarter, and what we're likely to see in its quarterly report.

Stats on McDonald's

Analyst EPS Estimate	$1.40
Change From Year-Ago EPS	6.1%
Revenue Estimate	$7.10 billion
Change From Year-Ago Revenue	2.6%
Earnings Beats in Past 4 Quarters	1

Source: Yahoo! Finance.

Can McDonald's earnings get back on track this quarter?
Once again, analysts have reined in their expectations about McDonald's earnings over the past few months, cutting their estimates for the June quarter by $0.04 per share, and reducing their full-year 2013 consensus figures by twice that amount. The stock has also had trouble pushing higher from current lofty levels, actually falling 2% since mid-April.

McDonald's has faced some big challenges lately, as its first-quarter earnings report in April produced negative same-store sales and disappointing earnings. Not only did operating income drop on a meager 1% gain in total revenue, but the company is seeing a troubling rise in customer complaints that jeopardizes the entire franchise's reputation. This quarter's same-store sales have been a mixed picture, with April's figure falling 0.6%, but May's comps showing a 2.6% rise.

McDonald's is taking aggressive steps to try to answer those challenges. The company expects to spend about $1 billion this year on store renovations that should update its image, and give it an appeal that rival Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM  ) can't match. McDonald's believes that sales could rise 6% to 7% after renovations are completed, and as the company implements expanded hours and changes to its menu, McDonald's hopes to reverse some of the headwinds it has faced in its U.S. business.

At the same time, McDonald's is seeking growth in promising markets like China, but unlike Yum!'s more concentrated bet on the emerging-market nation, McDonald's is taking a measured approach that doesn't rely on China's success. You'll also find Golden Arches in Vietnam by early 2014, showing the extent to which McDonald's wants to establish a truly worldwide presence.

In McDonald's earnings report, be sure to watch for guidance on how well the company's value menus have performed at producing sales. With 77% of customers using its Dollar Menu, McDonald's has done a good job of beating out rivals Burger King and Wendy's, which weighed in with figures between 55% and 60%, respectively. Even if the global economy stays slow, a value focus could make a big difference in whether McDonald's holds up well and produces impressive growth in the future.

In fast food, or any other industry, the best investing approach is to choose great companies and stick with them for the long term. The Motley Fool's free report, "3 Stocks That Will Help You Retire Rich," names stocks that could help you build long-term wealth and retire well, along with some winning wealth-building strategies that every investor should be aware of. Click here now to keep reading.

Click here to add McDonald's to My Watchlist, which can find all of our Foolish analysis on it and all your other stocks.

Facebook to Acquire Assets of Monoidics

Downgrades Drag on the Dow

As some investors focus their attention on Capitol Hill today, others are paying more attention to what really matters: business fundamentals. We have heard Ben Bernanke talk and talk over the past few weeks, and it's all been more or less the same speech: Quantitative-easing programs will remain in place for a number of years, with bond-buying programs lasting for the foreseeable future. Investors know this front and back now, so it's rather pointless to continue scrutinizing his congressional testimony today and tomorrow.

While investors may have been hoping for a different speech this morning, they didn't get it, and now it seems things are calming down on Wall Street. After an up-and-down morning, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) is up 14 points, or 0.09%, as of 12:55 p.m. EDT. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 is up 0.35% and the NASDAQ has risen 0.36%.

Because we at the Fool believe in focusing on what matters, let's dig into a few stocks that are dropping for fundamentally significant reasons.

Shares of McDonald's (NYSE: MCD  ) are down 0.8% this afternoon on news that a Janney analyst has downgraded the stock. Mark Kalinowski reduced the stock's rating from "buy" to "neutral" and lowered his earnings-per-share estimate for the year by $0.03 to $5.68. While the lower EPS estimate doesn't matter that much -- it was a small move, and the average analyst polled by FactSet pegs full-year earnings at $5.69 -- investors are worried because Kalinowski believes this summer's U.S. sales may come in much lower than what investors are currently predicting. Kalinowski lowered his same-store sales numbers from 2% to 1.1% for June and from 2% to 1.5% for July. 

Shares of American Express (NYSE: AXP  ) have been downgraded by Buckingham, which cites a high valuation. Buckingham also said the proposed transaction-fee cap of 0.2% that the European Commission may impose on credit and debit card purchases could cost American Express as much as $4.5 billion in fees. AmEx shares are down 2.2% today.

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The Oil-By-Rail Explosion Continues

Oil production in the U.S. has zoomed higher over the past couple of years and is now at the highest level in about two decades. That has created quite a problem for our nation's oil pipeline infrastructure, which has been filled to capacity. Many oil producers have turned to rail in an effort to get oil to refineries. The following chart shows just how impressive the oil-by-rail growth has been:

Source: EIA

As the chart shows, while still growing, oil shipments by rail have slowed in ascent compared to 2012. Overall, crude oil and refined products shipped by rail in the U.S. still grew by 48% over the first half of last year. That's well ahead of the midway point last year, where traffic was up 38% over 2011. However, such heady growth on a percentage basis isn't as likely in the future because it's off a larger base and additional pipeline capacity will be coming on line.

The most controversial pipeline is still up in the air. The Keystone XL proposed by TransCanada (NYSE: TRP  ) would ship about 830,000 barrels of oil per day, including 100,000 barrels of Bakken oil. For perspective, that's between 1,220 and 1,150 rail cars per day that would be required to fill the gap. That's why, if the pipeline isn't approved, it could lead to a 42% increase in rail shipments of crude oil by 2017, potentially costing oil producers a lot of money.

Those costs could really be affected by the recent tragic events in Canada because the industry could face increased regulations to make oil-by-rail even safer, despite the fact that oil-by-rail has a relatively stellar safety record. According to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the "spill rate" for railroads from 2002-2012 was only 2.2 gallons per million crude oil ton-miles generated. The comparable spill rate for pipelines was about 6.3 gallons per million ton-miles, which is about three times the rate of rail.

The biggest concern here is that 2013 has been a terrible year for oil-by-rail; the recent disaster in Canada isn't the only derailment. Canadian Pacific (NYSE: CP  ) had three derailments involving oil tank cars in the first four months of this year. One of the accidents, in Minnesota, resulted in 30,000 gallons of oil being spilled. It remains to be seen if these spills will be the tipping point for the approval of additional pipeline projects.

A Canadian Pacific train transporting oil (Source: Flickr/roy.luck)

In the meantime, rail will continue to play a vital role for oil transportation. The biggest beneficiaries will be those refiners that are gaining access to cheaper oil from the Bakken and the Canadian oil sands. Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX  ) and Tesoro (NYSE: TSO  ) have focused on using rail to deliver oil to coastal refineries. Phillips 66, for example, has ordered 2,000 rail cars in order take crude oil from the Bakken to its refineries in Ferndale, Wash., and Bayway, N.J. In addition to the rail cars, it has signed several logistics deals regarding the loading and unloading of crude oil onto those cars. This is because every $1 per barrel of oil the company can save each year translates to an extra $450 million of net income. 

Tesoro has also been looking to take further advantage of the explosive growth of oil-by-rail transport. The company is planning a terminal in the Port of Vancouver capable of handling 380,000 barrels of oil per day. Accessing 380,000 barrels of cheaper U.S.-produced oil could save the company $1.37 million per day, given the current discount at which U.S.-benchmarked crude oil trades. This particular project, which could cost $100 million, would be capable of sending oil to West Coast refineries as well as be a potential location for future oil exports.

The other big beneficiaries of oil-by-rail transport are of course the railway owners like Canadian Pacific and Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-B  ) , which owns Burlington Northern. In fact, crude oil shipments helped Canadian Pacific deliver its best first-quarter results ever. The company expects those numbers only to improve, and even double its crude oil deliveries.

Warren Buffett's company also sees big things from its oil-by-rail business; it, too, expects to double its oil shipments. Burlington has a 40% market share when it comes to hauling petroleum products by rail, which is double its top competitor's and well above the 12% market share of Canadian Pacific. Burlington as a whole was just 12% of Berkshire's overall first-quarter revenue; furthermore, while petroleum product volumes rose by 14% in the quarter, it's hardly budged overall rail volumes, which were up just 3%. So the risk that oil shipments may diminish won't derail the insurance giant. 

The key takeaway for investors is that moving oil by rail doesn't appear to be showing any real signs of slowing down; however, the risks are increasing that it could. The disaster in Canada could cause increased regulatory costs or encourage a faster approval process for pipelines. In addition, U.S.-priced oil isn't selling at the massive discount to worldwide benchmarked oil. In fact, the discount has been squeezed by about $20 in the past year, taking away many of rail's cost savings. That could halt the growth of oil shipped by rails because it's a much more expensive method when compared to pipelines. In my opinion, that means there are more downside risks to investors, which is why it might be better to look to profit elsewhere. 

To help you know where to find other potentially more profitable opportunities, the Motley Fool is offering a comprehensive look at three energy companies set to soar during the current transformation in the energy industry. To find out which three companies are worth a closer look, you are invited to check out the special free report, "3 Stocks for the American Energy Bonanza." Don't miss out on this timely opportunity; click here to access your report -- it's absolutely free. 

A Simple and Promising Technology ETF Investment

Exchange-traded funds offer a convenient way to invest in sectors or niches that interest you. If you'd like to add some tech-heavy stocks to your portfolio, but don't have the time or expertise to hand-pick a few, the SPDR Morgan Stanley Technology ETF (NYSEMKT: MTK  ) could save you a lot of trouble. Instead of trying to figure out which companies will perform best, you can use this technology ETF to invest in lots of them simultaneously.

The basics
ETFs often sport lower expense ratios than their mutual fund cousins. The technology ETF's expense ratio -- its annual fee -- is a relatively low 0.50%. The fund is fairly small, too, so if you're thinking of buying, beware of possibly large spreads between its bid and ask prices. Consider using a limit order if you want to buy in.

This technology ETF has performed reasonably well, inching ahead of the world market's performance over the past three and 10 years, and beating it handily over the past five. As with most investments, of course, we can't expect outstanding performances in every quarter or year. Investors with conviction need to wait for their holdings to deliver.

Why a technology ETF?
A technology ETF is an attractive prospect because our growing world population will demand more and better high-tech products and services over time, boosting the business of successful technology-oriented companies.

More than a handful of tech-heavy companies had strong performances over the past year. Finland-based Nokia (NYSE: NOK  ) soared some 124%, which surely seems exciting. Still, despite that, it remains a penny stock. The company has been regaining its footing, providing developing economies with inexpensive mobile phones, and also partnering with Microsoft on pricier phones. In fact, there was even talk that Nokia might sell its handset business to Microsoft, and focus on network infrastructure and services, though management has little interest in that. Nokia is coming out with new offerings, too, and, despite sporting net losses and negative free cash flow, it does have plenty of cash, even outstripping debt.

Network storage specialist NetApp (NASDAQ: NTAP  ) , also held by this technology ETF, surged 38%. The company initiated a dividend this year, and it's yielding 1.6%. The company's operating system, ONTAP, has been rated well, and has gained market share, too. Some wonder whether NetApp might end up acquired by another major data player, such as Oracle, while others are hoping that an activist investor might help the company's prospects. Meanwhile, the stock is significantly shorted, and the company has announced layoffs, and boosted its share buyback plans. It still looks attractive to some, in part due to strong free cash flow.

Corning (NYSE: GLW  ) , up 25%, has been enjoying solid demand for its Gorilla Glass, which generated more than $1 billion in 2012 revenue. Some have high hopes for its partnership with View and its tint-adjusting glass, and XXX. The company has hiked its dividend recently (it yields 2.7%), and gave a big boost to its share repurchase program, though buybacks don't always turn out to have been good things. Corning's forward P/E of 10 makes its stock seem attractively priced, though.

NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA  ) , one of the biggest mobile-application processor companies, gained 20%. You know a company is facing some challenges when articles about it refer to "hail Marys" in their titles. NVIDIA recently delayed its handheld gaming hardware launch, and took a hit -- it dropped the price for it, too. Its entry into the mobile IP licensing business has some hopeful, and many like its strong position in gaming, though others balk at its forward P/E near 16.

The big picture
Demand for technology isn't going away anytime soon. A well-chosen ETF, such as this technology ETF, can grant you instant diversification across any industry or group of companies -- and make investing in and profiting from it that much easier.

One of the companies discussed above is featured in our free report on the mobile arena, "The Next Trillion-Dollar Revolution," which tells you how to profit from big technology changes. The report describes why this technology revolution will dwarf others. I invite you to check out the report today by clicking here -- it's free.

It's Showtime for Novartis

Novartis (NYSE: NVS  ) is expected to report Q2 earnings on July 17. 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 Novartis's revenues will expand 0.6% and EPS will decrease -2.9%.

The average estimate for revenue is $14.39 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.34.

Revenue details
Last quarter, Novartis recorded revenue of $14.02 billion. GAAP reported sales were 2.1% higher than the prior-year quarter's $13.91 billion.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
Last quarter, non-GAAP EPS came in at $1.32. GAAP EPS of $0.97 for Q1 were 5.4% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.92 per share.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

Recent performance
For the preceding quarter, gross margin was 67.7%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 21.1%, 140 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 16.9%, 70 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $57.46 billion. The average EPS estimate is $5.15.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,461 members out of 1,509 rating the stock outperform, and 48 members rating it underperform. Among 439 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 425 give Novartis a green thumbs-up, and 14 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Novartis is outperform, with an average price target of $73.16.

Add Novartis to My Watchlist.

Top Low Price Companies To Watch In Right Now

The following video is from Thursday's�Motley Fool Money�roundtable discussion,�in which host Chris Hill and analysts Charly Travers, James Early, and Ron Gross discuss the top business and investing stories of the week.

Will Costco� (NASDAQ: COST  ) continue to produce�big returns for shareholders? Should dividend lovers love Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) ? Will�Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM  ) right the ship with its China operations? In this installment of Motley Fool Money, our analysts discuss Costco, Apple, and Yum! Brands.

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Top Low Price Companies To Watch In Right Now: Nuveen Texas Quality Income Municipal Fund(NTX)

Nuveen Texas Quality Income Municipal Fund is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Nuveen Investments, Inc. The fund is managed by Nuveen Asset Management. It invests in the fixed income markets of Texas. The fund invests primarily in municipal securities rated Baa/BBB or better. It invests in securities that provide income exempt from federal and Texas income tax. The fund employs fundamental analysis with bottom-up stock picking approach to create its portfolio. It benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the S&P National Municipal Bond Index and the S&P Texas Municipal Bond Index. Nuveen Texas Quality Income Municipal Fund was formed on July 26, 1991 and is domiciled in the United States.

Top Low Price Companies To Watch In Right Now: Cogo Group Inc.(COGO)

Cogo Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides customized module design solutions, focusing on the digital media, telecommunications equipment, and industrial business end-markets in China. In the digital media end-market, the company provides mobile handset and module solutions for functionalities, such as CMMB mobile TV, motion sensor, camera, power supply, and Bluetooth, as well as solutions for high definition digital set-top box, GPS, and solutions for Tablet. In the telecommunications equipment end-market, it offers solutions for public switched telephone network, switching, optical transmitters, electrical signal processing, and optical signal amplification. In the industrial business end-market, the company provides industrial solutions for the smart meter, smart grid, railway, and auto-electronics sectors. In addition, it offers technology and engineering services, network system integration, and related training and maintenance services. Cogo Group, Inc. se lls its customized module design solutions through its direct sales force. The company was formerly known as Comtech Group, Inc. and changed its name to Cogo Group, Inc. in May 2008. The company was founded in 1917 and is based in Shenzhen, China.

Top 10 Net Payout Yield Companies To Own In Right Now: Capital & Reg Prop(CPP.L)

CPPGroup Plc provides life assistance products and services. The company offers products and services designed for consumer needs relating to credit and debit card ownership, personal identity, mobile telephones, travel, and the home. Its products comprise Card Protection that enables customers to report lost and stolen cards; Identity Safe, which offers assistance services to detect, prevent, and resolve identity fraud; and Phonesafe that provides insurance cover for mobile phones for the loss, theft and breakdown, outside warranty, and accidental damage. The company also offers Packaged Accounts, a product and service package ranging from roadside assistance to travel insurance, as well as used in current accounts; Home 3 that provides homer emergency service for plumbing, drainage, gas, electrical, and other home emergencies; travel assistance services, including passport assistance, translation services, and a lost-and-found luggage service; and purchase shield that pr otects purchases made by customers in the event of damage, non-returns, or discounting of an item after purchase. In addition, it provides legal assistance in legal matters, such as tradesperson, retail purchase and boundary disputes, medical and personal injury claims, and employment matters. Further, the company offers Airport Angel, a travel service that provides access to approximately 570 airport lounges in approximately 320 airports. It serves financial services, mobile telecommunications, travel, membership/affinity, and retail industries. The company operates in northern Europe, southern Europe, Latin America, North America, and the Asia Pacific. CPPGroup Plc was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in York, the United Kingdom.

Top Low Price Companies To Watch In Right Now: Mcan Mortgage Corp (MKP.TO)

MCAN Mortgage Corporation operates as a mortgage investment corporation in Canada. The company invests its funds in a portfolio of mortgages, including single-family residential, residential construction, non-residential construction, and commercial mortgages, as well as other types of loans and investments, real estate, securitization investments, and marketable securities in the form of corporate bonds, and real estate investment, income, and royalty trusts. The company was formerly known as MCAP Inc. and changed its name to MCAN Mortgage Corporation in September 2006. MCAN Mortgage Corporation was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.