5 Best Retail Stocks To Buy For 2014

5 Best Retail Stocks To Buy For 2014: Express Scripts Holding Co (ESRX)

Express Scripts Holding Company, incorporated in 2011, provides healthcare management and administration services on behalf of its clients, which include health maintenance organizations (HMOs), health insurers, third-party administrators, employers, union-sponsored benefit plans, workers compensation plans, and government health programs. The Company operates in two segments: Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) and Emerging Markets (EM). PBM services include network claims processing, home delivery services, patient care and direct specialty and fertility home delivery to patients, benefit plan design consultation, drug utilization review, formulary management, drug data analysis services, distribution of injectable drugs to patients homes and physicians offices, bio-pharma services, and fulfillment of prescriptions to low-income patients through manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs. EM segment provides distribution of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to p roviders and clinics, healthcare account administration and implementation of consumer-directed healthcare solutions. In September 2013, it announced the acquisition of the SmartD Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP).

On July 20, 2011, Express Scripts, Inc. (ESI) entered into a merger agreement (the Merger Agreement) with Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (Medco). During the year ended December 31, 2011, it reorganized its FreedomFP line of business from its EM segment into its PBM segment. On April 2, 2012, the Company completed the Merger Agreement, and after which ESI and Medco became the wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company. The Company's customers include HMOs, health insurers, third-party administrators, employers, union-sponsored benefit plans, government health programs, office-based oncologists, renal dialysis clinics, ambulatory surgery center! s, primary care physicians, retina specialists and others.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Mani]

  Express Scripts Holding Company (NASDAQ:ESRX) could deliver relative outperformance in 2014 as the upcoming generic wave should offer a two-fold opportunity for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

• [By Lu Wang]

  Express Scripts Holding Co. (ESRX) declined 4.5 percent to $60.88, the lowest since May. The largest U.S. processor of prescription drug claims reduced its 2013 cash flow forecast, citing delays in some non-client integration activities.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Express Scripts (ESRX) has fallen 2.7% to $62 in after-hours trading after it reported a profit of $1.08, in line with analyst forecasts, but said the fourth quarter would come in between $109 and $1.13. Analyst had forecast $1.12.

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts (NASDAQ: ESRX  ) has earned a coveted five-star ranking.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/5-best-retail-stocks-to-buy-for-2014-2.html

4 Stocks Under $10 in Breakout Territory

 DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- At Stockpickr, we track daily portfolios of stocks that are the biggest percentage gainers and the biggest percentage losers.

Stocks that are making large moves like these are favorites among short-term traders because they can jump into these names and try to capture some of that massive volatility. Stocks that are making big-percentage moves either up or down are usually in play because their sector is becoming attractive or they have a major fundamental catalyst such as a recent earnings release. Sometimes stocks making big moves have been hit with an analyst upgrade or an analyst downgrade.

Regardless of the reason behind it, when a stock makes a large-percentage move, it is often just the start of a new major trend -- a trend that can lead to huge profits. If you time your trade correctly, combining technical indicators with fundamental trends, discipline and sound money management, you will be well on your way to investment success.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at a several stocks under $10 that are making large moves to the upside today.

Empresas ICA

Empresas ICA (ICA) is engaged in a range of construction and related activities, including the construction of infrastructure facilities as well as industrial, urban and housing construction. This stock closed up 6.2% to $8.12 in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $7.66-$8.24

52-Week Range: $6.14-$13.73

Tuesday's Volume: 965,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 719,832

From a technical perspective, ICA ripped higher here right off its 50-day moving average of $7.48 with above-average volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last month and change, with shares moving higher from its low of $6.14 to its intraday high of $8.24. During that move, shares of ICA have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of ICA into breakout territory, since the stock took out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $7.93 to $8.08.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ICA as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $7.48 and then once it sustains a move or close above Tuesday's high of $8.24 with volume that hits near or above 719,832 shares. If we get that move soon, then ICA will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $9 to its 200-day moving average at $10.05. Any high-volume move above its 200-day will then put $11 to $11.77 into range for shares of ICA.

Intevac

Intevac (IVAC) provides process manufacturing equipment solutions to the hard disk drive industry and high-productivity process manufacturing equipment and inspection solutions to the photovoltaic industry. This stock closed up 8.5% to $6.74 in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $6.23-$6.75

52-Week Range: $4.06-$6.80

Tuesday's Volume: 263,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 140,032

From a technical perspective, IVAC soared higher here right off some near-term support at $6.25 with above-average volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last three months, with shares moving higher from its low of $4.31 to its recent high of $6.80. During that move, shares of IVAC have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of IVAC within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if IVAC manages to take out its 52-week high at $6.80 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in IVAC as long as it's trending above some near-term support levels at $6.25 or at $5.92 and then once it sustains a move or close above its 52-week high at $6.80 with volume that hits near or above 140,032 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then IVAC will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are its next major overhead resistance levels at $8 to $8.37. Any high-volume move above those levels will then put $9 to $9.36 within range for shares of IVAC.

National Bank of Greece

National Bank of Greece (NBG) is engaged in providing financial services, including retail and commercial banking, global investment management, investment banking, insurance, investment activities and securities trading. This stock closed up 2.5% to $3.61 in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $3.49-$3.70

52-Week Range: $2.85-$32.50

Tuesday's Volume: 3.59 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 3.59 million

From a technical perspective, NBG bounced modestly higher here right above some near-term support at $3.20 with solid upside volume. This stock has been crushed over the last two months, with shares drooping from over $8 to its low of $2.85. Since that drop, the stock has started to stabilize and it's now moving within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if NBG manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance at $3.88 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in NBG as long as it's trending above $3.20 and then once it sustains a move or close above $3.88 with volume that hits near or above 3.59 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then NBG will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $4.47 to $5.63

Box Ships

Box Ships (TEU) is a shipping company focused on pursuing growth opportunities in the container shipping industry. This stock closed up 1.2% to $4.02 in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $3.98-$4.05

52-Week Range: $3.51-$7.44

Thursday's Volume: 120,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 145,186

From a technical perspective, TEU trended modestly higher here right above its 50-day moving average at $3.91 with decent upside volume. This stock has been downtrending badly for the last six months, with shares dropping sharply from its high of $6 to its recent low of $3.51. The downside volatility for TEU recently stopped after it hit that $3.51 low and the stock has now started to spike higher and move back above its 50-day. Shares of TEU are now quickly moving within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if TEU manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance at $4.19 to $4.50 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in TEU as long as it's trending above some near-term support at $3.90 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 145,186 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then TEU will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $4.75 to $5.03. Any high-volume move above $5.03 will then put its next major overhead resistance levels at $5.71 to $5.84 within range for shares of TEU.

To see more stocks that are making notable moves higher today, check out the Stocks Under $10 Moving Higher portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

10 Best Heal Care Stocks To Watch Right Now

10 Best Heal Care Stocks To Watch Right Now: McDonald's Corporation(MCD)

McDonald?s Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a worldwide foodservice retailer. It franchises and operates McDonald?s restaurants that offer various food items, soft drinks, coffee, and other beverages. As of December 31, 2009, the company operated 32,478 restaurants in 117 countries, of which 26,216 were operated by franchisees; and 6,262 were operated by the company. McDonald?s Corporation was founded in 1948 and is based in Oak Brook, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Andrés Cardenal]

  The war for breakfast is getting hotter than ever, with big fast-food companies such as Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM  ) , McDonald's (NYSE: MCD  ) , and Burger King (NYSE: BKW  ) intensifying their competitive pressure in that lucrative niche. On the other hand, at the higher end of the pricing spectrum, Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX  ) could be a clear winner in that competition thanks to its differentiated quality and successful menu innovations.

• [By Ravagadus]

  The breakfast wars are heating up nicely in the form of a three-way challenge between McDonald's (MCD), Yum Brands (YUM) Taco Bell and Starbucks (SBUX). The fight is on to lure unsuspecting customers from One Breakfast table to another.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/10-best-heal-care-stocks-to-watch-right-now-2.html

Are You Collecting Data You Will Never Use? Why?

Top Food Stocks To Own Right Now

Alamy We all understand that companies collect information on our behaviors, our shopping patterns and the like. But we collect data about ourselves, too. The problem is that we're not analyzing much of it. And we're missing a big opportunity to improve our lives and our finances. A friend was recently asking me about Fitbit. Most of my friends know that I'm a huge fan of Fitbit, those little pedometers on steroids, that help you monitor the number of daily steps you take and things like calories burned, food consumption, weight, sleep patterns and other health statistics. I love the service and what it tells you about your health. My friend was curious about how it can tell if you got a good night's sleep. I told him that it's a cool feature. Monitoring Your Sleep Is All the Rage A lot of very cool smartphone apps, in addition to Fitbit, monitor your sleep patterns. Studies have shown that there is an optimal time to wake up at your lightest phase of sleep based on your REM sleep patterns, which ebb and flow throughout the night over the course of a few hours each. One app, Sleep Time by Azumio, provides you with stunning graphs and a ream of data about how well you slept the night before. But I told my friend that I don't really know what to do with all of the information. Should I go to bed earlier? Should I stop watching television in bed before I fall asleep? A lot of questions arise from having all of this data at your fingertips. And the same is true with our finances. We often go to great lengths preparing our family's monthly written budget or tracking our net worth. Many credit card companies provide incredible pie charts and graphs about your spending. So what should we do with all of this new information? Are we wasting most of it? How can we put it to work for us instead? Make Some New Habits with the Data "We take the time to construct a detailed budget or use an online budgeting tool, but few of us ever make concrete changes that better our financial lives," says Grant A. Webster, a certified financial planner with AKT Wealth Advisors. The simple answer is that you have to act on the information. Start with small steps. If you analyze your budget and realize that you're spending too much in many categories, pick one to tackle in the first month. For example, if you realize that you're eating out too much in restaurants, make it a goal to skip going out for a month. An old wives' tale says it takes 21 times repeating something to make it a habit. While there is truth in repetition forming a habit, the timespan is different for everyone. The same is true for making a new financial habit. After a month of tackling one category in your budget, you should look towards the next category your struggling with in your overspending. Like eating an elephant, take tiny bits and help reinforce building new habits. Neil Maxwell, a fee-only financial planner with Button Financial in Denver, says that building a new habit should be easy if it is something that you truly want to do. If you are collecting data and not acting on it, maybe you don't need to collect it in the first place. Otherwise simply recognizing that you want to make a change in your life is a powerful force that can help you change. Find an Accountability Partner to Help If the sheer amount of information available overwhelms you, Rupert recommends that you seek help from a trusted financial planner or a life coach. (Similarly, people looking to lose weight join a group like Weight Watchers International (WTW) or hire a personal trainer to help them). Have you sat down with your spouse to discuss your finances? Many couples make this classic mistake. My wife and I have quarterly meetings to discuss how our family's net worth is growing, what we need to focus our investing on and where we are overspending in our budget categories. We are collecting a lot of data about our lives. Whether it is how many steps we take, how well we sleep at night, or how closely we are following our family's monthly budget, you should scrutinize and act on the data you collect. Do you collect a lot of data that you don't use? How do you transition form simply collecting the information to acting on it?

FINRA Approves Broad Changes to Broker Background Checks

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s Board on Thursday approved sweeping changes involving brokers’ background checks.

The FINRA Board approved amendments to FINRA's supervision rule that would expand the obligations of firms to check the background of applicants for registration, including first-time applications as well as transfers, to verify the accuracy and completeness of the information contained in an applicant's Form U4.

Firms would also be required to adopt written procedures in this area that include searching public records.

The Form U4 is the Uniform Application for Securities Industry Registration or Transfer used by FINRA, other self-regulatory organizations (SROs) and states to elicit employment background and disciplinary information to register individuals.

FINRA also said that it plans to perform an initial search of public financial records for all registered representatives and will also conduct a search of publicly available criminal records for all registered individuals who have not been fingerprinted within the last five years.

Once these searches are completed, FINRA said that it will conduct “periodic reviews of public records to ascertain the accuracy and completeness of the information available to investors, regulators and firms.”

These efforts, FINRA stated, "also better position FINRA to assess firm and registered individual compliance with reporting requirements."

FINRA is also considering whether additional data from the Central Registration Depository (CRD) system used by regulators should be included in BrokerCheck. FINRA said that its chief economist has initiated a study to see if there is a meaningful relationship between that data – which includes failed examinations – and broker misconduct.

"These are important initiatives to improve the accuracy and totality of details reported on a registered individual’s Form U4,” said Richard Ketchum, FINRA’s chairman and CEO, in a statement. “FINRA would require firms to use publicly available records to verify that information such as criminal and bankruptcy records, civil litigations, judgments and liens are properly reported upon a registered individual's application. FINRA encourages every investor to use BrokerCheck to research the background of individuals they are trusting to invest their money.”

The amendments to the supervision rule will be submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission for review and approval.

(Related ThinkAdvisor story: FINRA Reverses Schwab Class Action Waiver Decision)

4 Auto Parts Stocks to Buy Now

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The grades of four auto parts stocks are better this week, according to the Portfolio Grader database. Every one of these stocks has an “A” (“strong buy”) or “B” overall (“buy”) rating.

BorgWarner () is progressing from last week’s rating of B (“buy”) as the company improves to an A (“strong buy”) this week. BorgWarner is a supplier of highly engineered systems and components, mainly for powertrain applications. In Portfolio Grader’s specific subcategory of Equity, BWA also gets an A. The stock price has risen 5.4% over the past month, better than the 1.7% decrease the S&P 500 has seen over the same period of time. .

This is a strong week for Dorman Products, Inc. (). The company’s rating climbs to A from the previous week’s B. Dorman Products supplies automotive replacement parts, fasteners, and service line products primarily for the automotive aftermarket. .

China Automotive Systems, Inc. () is bumping up its rating from a C (“hold”) to a B (“buy”) this week. China Automotive System designs, markets, and sells custom-designed stained glass and leaded glass artifacts. .

Federal-Mogul Holdings Corp () improves from a C to a B rating this week. Federal-Mogul supplies products, services and solutions to automotive, light commercial, heavy-duty truck, off-highway, agricultural, marine, rail, and industrial markets. .

Louis Navellier’s proprietary Portfolio Grader stock ranking system assesses roughly 5,000 companies every week based on a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. Stocks are given a letter grade based on their results — with A being “strong buy,” and F being “strong sell.” Explore the tool here.

Top 10 Penny Companies To Watch In Right Now

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ:BBBY) plans to release its third quarter fiscal 2013 financial results on Wednesday, January 8, 2014. A webcast to discuss the results will begin at approximately 5 p.m. EST.

Wall Street anticipates that the NASDAQ 100 member will earn $1.15 per share for the quarter, which is 11.65% better than last year's $1.03 per share. iStock expects the home products retailer to beat Wall Street's consensus number. The iEstimate is $1.16; a penny better than the street's outlook.

BBBY has topped Wall Street's consensus estimate five of the last eight quarters; albeit, not by much. Bed Bath & Beyond beat the street by an average of by 5.4% with a range of 0.87% to 11.28%. Meanwhile, BBBY missed twice by -3.92% and -1.08% with one on-target result completing the results.

Top 10 Penny Companies To Watch In Right Now: Kohlberg Capital Corporation(KCAP)

Kohlberg Capital Corporation is a private equity and venture capital firm specializing in buyouts and mezzanine investments. It focuses on mature and middle market companies. The firm structures its investments through senior debt, second lien debt, secured and unsecured subordinated debt, mezzanine debt, and equity. It invests in all sectors except cyclical industries. The firm invests equity in both minority and control transactions alongside other equity investors. It invests through its own balance sheet. Kohlberg Capital Corporation is based in the New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  KCAP Financial (NASDAQ: KCAP) is projected to report its Q4 earnings at $0.25 per share on revenue of $13.27 million.

  Home Inns & Hotels Management (NASDAQ: HMIN) is estimated to post its Q4 earnings at $2.18 per share on revenue of $1.54 billion.

Top 10 Penny Companies To Watch In Right Now: Micron Technology Inc.(MU)

Micron Technology, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and marketing of semiconductor devices worldwide. Its products include dynamic random access memory (DRAM) products that provide data storage and retrieval, which include DDR2 and DDR3; and other specialty DRAM memory products, including DDR, SDRAM, DDR and DDR2 mobile low power DRAM, pseudo-static RAM, and reduced latency DRAM. The company also offers NAND flash memory products, which are electrically re-writeable and non-volatile semiconductor devices that retain content when power is turned off. In addition, it provides NOR flash memory products that are electrically re-writeable and non-volatile semiconductor memory devices; phase change memory products; and image sensor products. Micron Technology?s products are used in a range of electronic applications, including personal computers, workstations, network servers, mobile phones, flash memory cards, USB storage devices, digital still c ameras, MP3/4 players, and in automotive applications. It sells its products to original equipment manufacturers and retailers through internal sales force, independent sales representatives, and distributors, as well as through a Web-based customer direct sales channel. The company was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Boise, Idaho.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Laura Brodbeck] Related MU Will We Finally See Some Sunshine? - Earnings Preview Will Micron (MU) Miss this Earnings Season? - Analyst Blog Related UTIW Benzinga Weekly Preview: Crisis In Crimea Still Weighing On Markets Mid-Afternoon Market Update: Markets Dip as SunEdison Continues to Rally

  Next week will be a busy one on the Economic calendar as several central banks will hold their April policy meetings and the US is expected to release the much anticipated non-farm payrolls data. In the US, most are expecting to see that the jobless rate fell as employers likely added more than 175,000 workers in March.

• [By Russ Fischer]

  Since barely a week before the show, Samsung (SSNLF.PK) announced that it was "in production" on a new 3D NAND process. Since 3D NAND is considered the holy grail of NAND technology of the future, you would think that Samsung would be a shoe-in for the product of the year at the 2013 Flash Summit. And If you though that, you would have been wrong. The actual winner of the Best of Show award was Micron's (MU) new 16nm planar NAND memory made with the HKMG (High K Metal Gate) process. In order for Micron to have won this award, the new 16nm must be a more elegant process than we thought.

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Next week investors will be waiting for several key earnings reports including Family Dollar Stores�(NYSE: FDO), Micron Technology�(NASDAQ: MU), Constellation Brands�(NYSE: STZ),�IHS (NYSE: IHS), and Sonic (NASDAQ: SONC).

5 Best Regional Bank Stocks To Watch Right Now: Aerosonic Corporation(AIM)

Aerosonic Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of aircraft instruments worldwide. It offers mechanical and digital altimeters, airspeed indicators, rate of climb indicators, microprocessor controlled air data test sets, and other flight instruments. The company also produces mechanical and electro-mechanical cockpit instruments, angle of attack stall warning systems, digital cockpit instruments, integrated flight display systems, aircraft sensors and monitoring systems, and integrated multifunction probes, such as integrated air data sensors. It markets its products to manufacturers of corporate and private jets, contractors of military jets, the United States government, and private aircraft owners. The company sells its products directly through its sales personnel, as well as through distributors and commissioned sales representatives who resell to aircraft operators. Aerosonic Corporation was founded in 1953 and is b ased in Clearwater, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Katia Dmitrieva]

  Aimia (AIM) Inc.�� decision to move its Aeroplan reward-partnership to Toronto-Dominion (TD) Bank is a blow to Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, which stands to lose customers and as much as C$3 billion ($2.9 billion) in credit-card balances.

Top 10 Penny Companies To Watch In Right Now: New York Mortgage Trust Inc.(NYMT)

New York Mortgage Trust, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) in the United States. The company engages in acquiring, investing, financing, and managing mortgage-related assets. It primarily invests in agency residential adjustable-rate, hybrid adjustable-rate, and fixed-rate mortgage-backed securities (RMBS); non-Agency RMBS; prime adjustable-rate residential mortgage loans held in securitization trusts; commercial mortgage-backed securities; commercial mortgage loans; and other commercial real estate-related debt investments. The company has elected to be taxed as a REIT and will not be subject to federal income tax if it distributes at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its stockholders. New York Mortgage Trust, Inc. was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Investors are being rewarded for putting their trust in New York Mortgage Trust (NASDAQ: NYMT  ) . The REIT has declared a common stock dividend for its current quarter of $0.27 per share, to be paid on July 25 to shareholders of record as of June 28. That amount matches each of the company's preceding four distributions, the most recent of which was doled out at the end of April. Before that, it paid $0.25 per share.

• [By Amanda Alix]

  More mREITs stay the course, but two trim payouts
  Despite suffering many tumbles and bruises, several mREITs have announced that their dividends will be unchanged from the previous quarter. Several did so last week, and yesterday saw Hatteras Financial (NYSE: HTS  ) , an agency-only trust, keeping its own $0.70 per share�payout the same. Hybrid New York Mortgage Trust (NASDAQ: NYMT  ) also kept its dividend stable, at $0.27 per share, in line with its four most recent distributions.

Top 10 Penny Companies To Watch In Right Now: Star Gas Partners L.P.(SGU)

Star Gas Partners, L.P., through its subsidiaries, operates as a home heating oil distributor and services provider in the United States. It provides its services to residential and commercial customers to heat their homes and buildings. As of March 31, 2011, the company served approximately 408,000 full-service residential and commercial home heating oil, and propane customers. It also sold home heating oil, gasoline, and diesel fuel to approximately 40,000 customers. In addition, Star Gas Partners installed, maintained, and repaired heating and air conditioning equipment, as well as provided ancillary home services, including home security and plumbing to approximately 11,000 customers. Kestrel Heat, LLC operates as the general partner of the company. Star Gas Partners, L.P. was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  Stamford, Conn.-based Star Gas Partners (NYSE: SGU  ) is about to get a new CEO.

  The company (which, despite the name, actually spends more time delivering oil than gas for home heating), announced Tuesday that Chief Executive Officer Dan Donovan intends to retire on Sept. 30. When that happens, Chief Operating Officer Steve Goldman will move up to take the CEO's chair.

Top 10 Penny Companies To Watch In Right Now: Telestone Technologies Corp.(TSTC)

Telestone Technologies Corporation offers wireless local-access network technologies and solutions primarily in the People?s Republic of China. Its access-network solutions include the research and development, and application of access network technology. The company designs and sells electronic equipments, such as wireless fiber-optic distribution system products, RFPA products, passive components, repeaters, radio frequency peripherals, and base station antennas used to provide access network solutions for 2G, 3G, broadband access, and CATV networks. It also offers project design, project management, installation, maintenance, and other after-sales services. In addition, Telestone provides various solutions to the telecommunications industry, which cover indoor and outdoor environments comprising hotels, residential estates, office buildings, airports, exhibition centers, underground stations, and highways and tunnels. Further, the company engages in the design, develop ment, production and installation, and trading of wireless telecommunication coverage system equipment. It also markets its products to 29 countries, including Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, and Vietnam. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Beijing, China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By insider]

  The valuation box will also clearly indicate it if a company is traded at below its net current asset value (NCAV). Please see the valuation box for Telestone (TSTC) below.

Top 10 Penny Companies To Watch In Right Now: Sirius XM Radio Inc.(SIRI)

Sirius XM Radio Inc. provides satellite radio services in the United States and Canada. It broadcasts a programming lineup of approximately 135 channels of commercial-free music, sports, news and information, talk and entertainment, traffic, and weather on subscription fee basis through two satellite radio systems in the United States; and holds an interest in the satellite radio services offered in Canada. The company also simulcasts music and selected non-music channels over the Internet; and offers applications to allow consumers to access its Internet services on mobile devices. As of December 31, 2010, it had 20,190,964 subscribers. In addition, the company designs, establishes specifications, sources or specifies parts and components, and manages various aspects of the logistics and production of satellite radios; licenses its technology to various electronics manufacturers to develop, manufacture, and distribute radios under various brands; and imports radios distri buted through its Websites. The company?s satellite radios are primarily distributed through automakers, retailers, and its Websites. Further, it provides music services for commercial establishments; a satellite television service to offer music channels as part of certain programming packages on the DISH Network satellite television service; music and comedy channels to mobile phone users through mobile phone carriers; Backseat TV, a service offering television content designed primarily for children in the backseat of vehicles; Travel Link, a suite of data services that include graphical weather, fuel prices, sports schedules and scores, and movie listings; and real-time traffic and weather services. The company was formerly known as Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and changed its name to Sirius XM Radio Inc. in August 2008. Sirius XM Radio Inc. was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Kell and Lauren Pollock var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); ]

  Liberty Media Corp.(LMCA) dropped its proposal to acquire the rest of satellite-radio provider Sirius XM Holdings Inc.(SIRI) that the media-investment company doesn’t already own. The company Ann(ANN)ounced the withdrawn offer along with a plan to create two new tracking stocks. Series A shares climbed 7.4% to $135.46 premarket.

Top 10 Penny Companies To Watch In Right Now: Skechers U.S.A. Inc.(SKX)

Skechers U.S.A., Inc. engages in the design, development, marketing, and distribution of footwear for men, women, and children in the United States and internationally. The company offers various products comprising casuals, such as boots, shoes, and sandals for men, as well as slip-ons, lug outsole and fashion boots, and casual sandals for women; dress casuals; relaxed fit for men; sandals; and casual fusion under the Skechers USA brand name. It also provides a line of sport footwear for men and women, including men?s lifestyle athletic footwear, lightweight women?s sneakers, and sport sandals under the Skechers Sport brand name. In addition, the company offers men?s and women?s casuals, field boots, hikers, and athletic shoes under the Skechers Work brand name; and a range of infants, toddlers, boys, and girls? boots, shoes, and sneakers under the Skechers Kids brand name. Further, its product line includes Skechers Active products, such as casual everyday and sport fusi on sneakers for females; Tone-ups and Tone-ups Fitness products comprising casual and athletic-inspired sandals for women, as well as sneakers; Shape-ups toning footwear for men and women; and Skechers Resistance Runner technical shoes for runners. Skechers U.S.A. markets its products through department and specialty stores, athletic and independent retailers, and boutiques, catalog and Internet retailers, as well as through own e-commerce Website and retail stores. As of February 15, 2011, it operated 105 concept stores, 99 factory outlet stores, and 40 warehouse outlet stores in the United States, as well as 28 concept stores and 16 factory outlets internationally. The company was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Manhattan Beach, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Shares of Under Armour have dropped 5.2% to $79.59 at 1:21 p.m., while Dick’s has dropped 0.8% to $51.32. Nike (NKE) is little changed at $75.58, Skechers USA (SKX) has dropped 2.2% to $28.53 and Columbia Sportswear (COLM) has declined 0.1% to $62.75.

• [By Tansy Trading]

  Let's move on to our case. We have been closely following Skechers (SKX) for 3 years. We initially got interested in September 2010 as we thought the decline in share price from 40 to 25 on the early demise of the toning shoe craze was overdone. It was actually seriously underdone when we got on board and we took some losses as the stock fell from 25 to 20, and we closed the position. We then dabbled in owning the stock as it bounced around in the mid-teens for nearly 18 months as the company liquidated hundreds of millions of dollars of very low demand toning shoes causing them to report losses in 2011 and 2012. The rapid growth of toning shoes and rapid demise significantly disrupted their business for 2 years.

• [By alicet236]

  Skechers USA(SKX): CEO, 10% Owner Robert Greenberg sold 300,000 Shares

  CEO, 10% Owner of Skechers USA (SKX) Robert Greenberg sold 300,000 shares on Dec. 19 at an average price of $33.08. Skechers USA was incorporated in California in 1992 and reincorporated in Delaware in 1999. Skechers Usa has a market cap of $1.69 billion; its shares were traded at around $33.23 with a P/E ratio of 37.80 and P/S ratio of 0.90.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Getty Images/Scott Olson The demise of Crocs (CROX), it seems, may have been greatly exaggerated. Remember the company's signature product? Close to a decade ago, those colorful, clunky resin clogs were all the rage. The company that made them couldn't sell the things fast enough, at one point reaching sales of 50 million pairs in 2007. Then fashion moved on, as it always does, and the economic slowdown started to bite into sales. Crocs plunged from a $168 million net profit in 2007 to a $185 million loss in 2008. In 2009, the company nearly ran out of cash and had a hard time making payroll. But Crocs' fortunes have improved. In its most recent quarter, the firm posted a loss, but it was narrower than the market was expecting. And it's found an investor that believes in its future -- private equity giant Blackstone Group (BX), which recently provided a $200 million cash investment in return for a block of preferred shares eventually convertible into a stake of around 13 percent of the company. Perhaps the time has come to take those old clogs out of the closet, dust them off, and slip them on for a stroll. Stepping It Up Fashion is highly susceptible to consumer whim. The hot item is never hot for very long, and once consumers move on, it can be hard for the company to recover. In Crocs' case, this was exacerbated by its limited product line -- almost exclusively the clogs. The company learned from its mistakes. Since consumer tastes moved out of clog-land, Crocs has significantly broadened its product line to 300 styles. It now offers boots, flip-flops, deck shoes and slip-ons akin to the casuals from VF Corp.'s (VFC) Vans subsidiary. In terms of profitability, Crocs recovered quickly from its time in the fashion wilderness. From that 2008 bottom-line deficit of $185 million, the company sliced its loss to $42 million the following year, then stepped back into the black in 2010 (to the tune of $68 million). After two straight years of declines, revenue

Top 10 Penny Companies To Watch In Right Now: Glatfelter (GLT)

P. H. Glatfelter Company manufactures and sells specialty papers and fiber-based engineered materials in the United States and internationally. It offers carbonless and forms papers for credit card receipts, multi-part forms, security papers, and other end-user applications; book publishing papers for the production of hardbound books and other book publishing needs; envelope and converting papers for the direct mail market, shopping bags, and other converting applications; and engineered products for digital imaging, transfer, casting, release, postal, playing card, and other niche specialty applications. The company also provides food and beverage paper used for tea bags and single serve coffee products; metallized products used in the labeling of beer bottles, innerliners, gift wrap, self-adhesive labels, and other consumer products applications; and composite laminates papers used in production of decorative laminates, furniture, and flooring applications, as well as a line of paper products used in batteries, medical masks, and other engineered applications. In addition, it offers airlaid non-woven fabric-like materials used in feminine hygiene products, adult incontinence products, cleaning pads and wipes, food pads, napkins and tablecloths, and baby wipes. The company markets its products directly, as well as through wholesale paper merchants, brokers, and agents. P. H. Glatfelter Company was founded in 1864 and is headquartered in York, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  Glatfelter (NYSE:GLT) reported that the previously announced presentation by Dante C. Parrini, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, at the Deutsche Bank Global Industrials and Basic Materials Conference on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 will be available via a live web cast.

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Specialty papers and and fiber-based materials manufacturer P.H. Glatfelter (GLT) raised its quarterly dividend 10% to 11 cents per share, payable May 1 to shareholders of record as of April 3.
  GLT Dividend Yield: 1.44%

Top 10 Penny Companies To Watch In Right Now: China Recycling Energy Corporation(CREG)

China Recycling Energy Corporation provides energy saving and recycling products and services in the People's Republic of China. The company engages in the design, sale, installation, lease, and operation of top gas recovery turbine systems (TRT) and other renewable energy products. It also builds cement low temperature heat power generator (CHPG) and waste gas power generator (WGPG) systems. The company, through a joint venture, Inner Mongolia Erdos TCH Energy Saving Development Co., Ltd, with Erdos Metallurgy Co., Ltd., recycles waste heat from Erdos Metallurgy Co.?s metal refining plants to generate power and steam. China Recycling Energy Corporation offers its products and services to enterprises in the iron and steel, cement, coking, and metallurgy industries. The company was formerly known as China Digital Wireless, Inc. and changed its name to China Recycling Energy Corporation in March 2007. The company was founded in 2004 and is based in Xi An City, the People?s R epublic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Another stock that's starting to move within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade is China Recycling Energy (CREG), which engages in the recycling energy business, providing energy savings and recycling products and services. This stock is off to a strong start in 2013, with shares up a whopping 166%.

  If you take a look at the chart for China Recycling Energy, you'll notice that this stock recently formed a double bottom chart pattern at $1.67 to $1.66 a share. Following that bottom, shares of CREG have started to uptrend strong and move back above its 50-day moving average. That uptrend has now pushed shares of CREG within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade.

  Market players should now look for long-biased trades in CREG if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $2.80 to $2.85 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 95,671 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then CREG will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $3.50 to $4 a share.

  Traders can look to buy CREG off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day moving average of $2.32 a share, or near more support at $2 a share. One can also buy CREG off strength once it clears those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Hasbro, Inc. Reports Higher Q1 Earnings; Beats EPS Estimates, Misses on Revenues (HAS)

Hasbro Inc. (HAS) reported its first quarter earnings before the opening bell on Monday, posting higher revenue than last year’s first quarter.

Hasbro’s Earnings in Brief

HAS reported first quarter revenues of $679.45 million, which were up 2% from last year’s Q1 revenues of $663.69 million. Net earnings for the quarter came in at $31.51 million, up from last year’s first quarter loss of $6.67 million. The company's adjusted operating profit was $18.6 million, or 14 cents per share, up from last year’s Q1 figure of $13.5 million, or 10 cents per share. Hasbro’s results beat analysts’ EPS estimates of 10 cents, but revenues came in slightly below view of $686.91 million.

CEO Commentary

Hasbro's president and CEO Brian Goldner had the following comments: “Our first quarter results reflect continued strong performance across several key initiatives including Hasbro Franchise Brands, Emerging Markets and the Entertainment and Licensing segment. Growth in both revenues and operating profit for the first quarter despite a later Easter this year and ahead of our major theatrical launches speaks to the strength of the brand innovation we are delivering to consumers globally.

Hasbro’s Dividend

Hasbro announced a dividend raise in February for its May 15 payout. The company boosted its quarterly dividend to 43 cents from 40 cents. The stock goes ex-dividend on April 29.

Stock Performance

Hasbro stock was inactive in pre-market trading. YTD, the company’s stock is up just 0.05%.

HAS Dividend Snapshot

5 Best Construction Stocks To Own Right Now

As of Market Close on April 17, 2014

Click here to see the complete history of HAS dividends.

Texas Production Index Hits 2-Year High

Texas business activity pulled into positive territory for June, according to a Dallas Federal Reserve Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey (link opens in PDF) released today.

From a -10.5 rating in May, the Dallas Fed's general business activity bumped up to 6.5. Analysts were surprised, having expected a solid 0.0 for June.

The monthly survey asks about 100 different Texas manufacturers to rate their views on current and future business activity. Market watchers keep a close eye on this index, as Texas' manufacturing can serve as an important indicator of national economic health. A positive number indicates month-over-month growth, while a negative number means contraction.

Top 5 Clean Energy Stocks To Invest In Right Now

As overall business activity headed higher, production, capacity utilization, and new orders indices also increased. The survey's production index clocked in at 17.1, while capacity utilization hit 15.3, marking two-year highs for both indices.

Source: DallasFed.org.

New orders increased for a second month in a row, up 6.8 points to 13.0. Asked about conditions six months from now, future new orders bumped up 6.3 points to 33.2. Future general business activity jumped out of the red to hit 14.7, while future company outlook increased 16.5 points to 21.8.

link

EnerNOC: I'm Buying Into the Brownout

After surging in recent months, EnerNOC (NASDAQ: ENOC  ) shares have sputtered out again. Developments concerning a major customer underline the evolving landscape for a company like this one. Right now, investors aren't exhibiting much demand for this demand response company.

Power struggles
Some shares of EnerNOC have been hanging out in the real-money Prosocial Portfolio I have managed for Fool.com, with the initial purchase in March 2011. If you check the stock returns for the portfolio, you'll see it hasn't been one of the winners.

Over the years, EnerNOC has been the poster child for stock moves hinged on... well, usually nothing. I recall the surge of pessimism after my initial purchase because of regulatory concerns and disagreements with its major customer (and major U.S. power grid operator), PJM.

After those situations stabilized, though, the clouds over EnerNOC simply refused to lift, regardless of what was actually going on in the business. The stock fell into the single digits, and it seemed that no good tidings mattered at all.

The stock price recently recovered for a while, having hit about $19 per share. It recently fell to $13, as an analyst downgraded the stock -- and of course, we Fools take analyst opinions with a healthy pinch of salt.

However, cue up PJM again. EnerNOC recently disclosed that disappointing clearing prices in PJM's capacity market will come into play in 2016 and 2017. Basically, competition in consumer power capacity for PJM is arising through increased output from natural gas plants, depressed demand due to economic sluggishness, and increased imports from western competitors.

EnerNOC offers a counter to the PJM situation by pointing out its $1.6 billion in total contracted revenue, as well as its continued expansion into other revenue streams and geographical areas, putting fewer eggs in one proverbial basket.

As long as we're talking risk, we might as well reiterate that even outside of situations like this, which are beyond anyone's control, EnerNOC also has powerful opponents in the smart grid area. It can count Comverge, Exelon (NYSE: EXC  ) (check out its subsidiary, Constellation Energy, which has all kinds of green initiatives going on), and Hess (NYSE: HES  ) as competitors, as well as energy tech concerns like Lucid Design Group, Building IQ, and SCIEnergy. Utilities themselves sometimes create and use their own demand response solutions, which also lessens business for companies like EnerNOC.

Even massive conglomerate Honeywell (NYSE: HON  ) has delved into the demand response and energy efficiency arena. In March, Honeywell teamed up with Opower to provide an integrated energy management platform with five utilities, including PG&E (NYSE: PCG  ) , to test-drive the relatively untapped residential market.

Expanding opportunities
EnerNOC is obviously still risky, but the recent burst of pessimism opens up an opportunity for investors to buy, if they're not too risk-averse or have an adequately diversified portfolio that can take on a risky play like this one, which may deliver huge rewards over the long haul as the landscape evolves.

Having looked at EnerNOC's quarterly results recently, I found promising positive news. The PJM news hadn't hit my radar yet, but I'm willing to give weight to EnerNOC's expansion efforts into other revenue channels for its technological solutions.

EnerNOC's venturing into the agricultural irrigation load control business is significant. The water-energy nexus is increasingly a topic for concern and action, as well as an opportunity for corporate problem-solvers. EnerNOC's expansion into this area is good for both environmental reasons and for other applications for its technology.

Although EnerNOC is still not profitable, its 34.4% increase in revenue and its positive margin bump in its most recent quarter belie its recent fall from grace with investors. Obviously PJM is still a significant customer; fortunately, EnerNOC has reduced that significance. PJM represented 40% of revenue as of 2012, compared to 60% several years ago.

Insider purchases can be a heartening signal, too. Arthur Coviello, Jr., one of EnerNOC's directors, recently bought a sizable chunk of EnerNOC shares. Maybe he's also feeling as though the recent drop in the share price is simply overdone.

The smart grid is getting smarter
Sometimes it pays to add more shares to your position on a stock price brownout. In EnerNOC's case, I believe there have been enough positive changes to add upside, and the current negative sentiment provides another chance to buy.

Meanwhile, the "smart grid" is finally approaching closer to the mainstream. EnerNOC's technology for helping further the smart grid is a very Prosocial Portfolio idea, even if the increasing demand for such services introduces more competition, including from the "big guys". When big competitors start stomping around, your basic business becomes justified. The risk is there, but big long-haul rewards may be, too.

As the nation moves increasingly toward clean energy, Exelon is perfectly positioned to capitalize on having the largest nuclear fleet in North America. This strength, combined with an increased focus on balance sheet health and its recent merger with Constellation, places Exelon and its resized dividend on a short list of the top utilities. To determine if Exelon is a good long-term fit for your portfolio, you're invited to check out The Motley Fool's premium research report on the company. Simply click here now for instant access.

Citigroup Inc (C) Q1 Earnings Preview: Too Many Parts Heading South

Citigroup Inc (NYSE:C) will issue its first quarter results via press release at approximately 8 a.m. (ET) on Monday, April 14, 2014. At 11 a.m. (ET), results will be reviewed via live webcast and teleconference.

Wall Street anticipates that money center will earn $1.14 per share for the quarter, which is $0.09 less than last year's profit of $1.23 per share. iStock expects C  to miss Wall Street's consensus number. The iEstimate is $1.13, a penny less than expected.

Sales, like earnings, are expected to slip, dropping 5.5% year-over-year (YoY). Citigroup's consensus revenue estimate for Q1 is $19.37 billion, lower than last year's $20.49 billion.

[Related -JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) Q1 Earnings Preview: Regulation Costs To Trim Guidance?]

Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.

It's possible that C might do worse than the iEstimate as 2013's strongest unit in terms of growth, the bank's trading group, is suffering to start 2014. According to team Citigroup, trading will be down in the "high mid-teens" year-over-year (YoY). Meanwhile, another pillar, mortgages are slowing as well due to rising rates.

[Related -Citigroup Inc (C): The Fed's Strange Takedown of Citigroup]

According to CNBC, "Refinance activity has been falling steadily since the rate rise early last summer. Applications to refinance fell 5 percent last week [March 31 – April 4] from the previous week and are now at their lowest level since the end of 2013."

That's a one-two punch.

Watch out for the left hook as consumer credit via credit cards declines in the first two months of the years so says data from the Federal Reserve's Consumer Credit - G.19 report. For February, the central bank reported, "Revolving credit decreased at an annual rate of 3-1/2 percent."

Three of the financial giant's biggest margin businesses are under pressure as 2014 gets rolling. And, we haven't even mentioned higher cost and expenses in terms of technology and manpower to meet the challenge of complying with new, 2014 banking regulations.

That's not a good combination for the bottom line; falling revenue and higher expenses. Perhaps that's why nine analysts lowered their profit outlook for Citi in the last 30 days; however, three upped their view during the same timeframe.

Another major issue management will have to address is the Federal Reserve giving Citi's the thumbs down for its 2014 Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review (CCAR) i.e. upping the dividend and stock repurchase program.

Overall: There are so many parts moving in the wrong direction for Citigroup Inc (NYSE:C) that it is hard to find a path to a bullish surprise. In fact, the iEstimate might prove to be attractive compared to actual results come Monday morning. 

We see many of our C concerns coming to life in today's JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) earnings announcement.

Loose Lips Sinks Stocks

We don't know exactly what was said, but it was salty enough that three directors of Scotts Miracle-Gro (NYSE: SMG  ) resigned as a result, and as The Wall Street Journal reports, the company put out a mea culpa via an SEC filing that included an apology from CEO Jim Hagedorn. Shares of the lawn care specialist are down 5% over the past week.

Coming as it does on the heels of the brouhaha created by comments made by Abercrombie & Fitch's (NYSE: ANF  ) CEO seven years ago, essentially saying chubby kids and dweebs need not shop at his stores -- and causing his company's stock to drop 8% since -- shows that having a personal filter is something boards of directors may want to explore when they perform executive searches in the future.

Yet there is a difference between using colorful language, which seems to be Hagedorn's sin, and being completely tone-deaf like A&F's Mike Jeffries. The first is simply how one talks; the other how one thinks.

Foot-in-mouth disease
While Jeffries' comments were resurrected because of social media and thus given new life, some executive commentary takes on a life of its own. During the Macondo rig oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, BP's (NYSE: BP  ) Tony Hayward became the poster child of tin-ear responsiveness, first by going off yachting during the height of the crisis, and then proclaiming he'd like to "get his life back" from having to deal with it, all while the livelihoods of Gulf fishermen were being ruined because of his company's malfeasance.

Perhaps it's because my own language is peppered with f-bombs that I'm more forgiving of those who are just rough around the edges. While it's true that we ought to keep some check on our tongues, it's equally the case that we've become hypersensitive to anything that gives the mere appearance of an affront. We really need thicker skin and to avoid manufacturing controversies, as it's given rise to a cottage industry in corporate apologies.

The art of the apology
With customers mostly being a forgiving people, a show of remorse is often all that's necessary for a company to move on from the incident. When JetBlue left passengers stranded on the tarmac for seven hours during a snowstorm, its COO went on YouTube and acknowledged that they dropped the ball and let down their customers. Toyota's recall of 3.8 million cars in 2009 led CEO Akio Toyoda to publicly apologize for his company's failures. These were seen as sincere and believable apologies, and the companies recovered.

Then there are those apologies that grate like fingernails on a chalkboard. Did anyone really believe Goldman Sachs' (NYSE: GS  ) Lloyd Blankfein's plea for forgiveness for helping bring about the financial crisis -- only weeks after chortling about the investment bankers' pay and bonuses, and doing "God's work?" There's a reason the company is still reviled by many.

A penny for your thoughts
While corporate apologies are de rigueur these days, we shouldn't have to apologize for everything we say, even if what's said is too blunt or done in a ham-fisted manner. I had the pleasure of hearing the CEO of burger joint Five Guys, Jerry Murrell ,speak last year and found his down-to-earth manner bracingly refreshing for a corporate executive.

Similarly, you certainly won't find Titan International's (NYSE: TWI  )  Maurice "The Grizz" Taylor begging forgiveness for telling the French to go pound salt when asked to take over Goodyear's business there. "How stupid do you think we are?" he asked. "The French workforce gets paid high wages but works only three hours. They get one hour for breaks and lunch, talk for three and work for three." He concluded, "You can keep the so-called workers." 

We've become way too accustomed to the nuanced, say-nothing manner of political speech. Give me a blunt-talking CEO any day. 

So assuming Scotts Miracle-Gro's chief executive did no more than pepper his talk with some salt, I'd say good riddance to the thin-skinned directors who left and welcome the good fortune of having someone lead a company who speaks like us common folk instead of some polished politician.

During the financial crisis, Goldman Sachs did so well avoiding the worst of the fallout that it had to downplay its success to duck public ire and conspiracy theories. Today, Goldman is still arguably the powerhouse global financial name, and yet its stock trades at a valuation of less than half what it fetched prior to the crisis. Does this make Goldman one of the best opportunities in the market today? To answer that question, I invite you to check out The Motley Fool's special report on the bank. In it, Fool banking expert Matt Koppenheffer uncovers the key issues facing Goldman, including three specific areas Goldman investors must watch. To get access to this report, just click here.

 

Preventive Care Without Cost-Sharing

Do all health insurance policies have to provide preventive care without a deductible? What is covered?

SEE ALSO: 10 Surprising Things Insurance Covers

All health insurance policies that were issued after March 23, 2010, when the health-care law was signed, must provide certain preventive care without being subject to the policy's deductible or copayments. That requirement applies even for high-deductible policies. Policies issued before that date that haven't changed significantly (so-called grandfathered policies) are not required to provide preventive care without cost-sharing, although many of them do.

The preventive coverage includes screenings for high blood pressure, high cholesterol for adults with a history of the condition, colorectal cancer for adults over age 50, and Type 2 diabetes for adults with high blood pressure. Women over 40 can get fully covered mammograms every one or two years, depending on their risk factors. You are also entitled to several immunizations, depending on your age, as well as other tests and services, depending on your age and health. Children can receive routine vaccinations, well-baby and well-child visits, and other preventive services. See the preventive-care page at Healthcare.gov for a list of services and eligibility requirements.

You may still end up with some out-of-pocket expenses for these services if you get follow-up tests or cover other medical issues while at the doctor's office. You may also have to pay extra if you go to an out-of-network provider.

Medicare must now provide certain preventive-care benefits without cost-sharing, too. You can get a "Welcome to Medicare" physical exam within the first year after you sign up for Medicare Part B, and you can get a personalized prevention plan and annual wellness visit. You may also be able to receive screenings for colorectal cancer and high cholesterol without cost sharing, as well as flu shots, pneumonia shots and hepatitis B shots. Women can get mammograms and cervical cancer screening, and men can get certain kinds of prostate screenings. The screenings are fully covered, but you may have to pay for the doctor's visit. The frequency of the screenings often depends on your age and risk.

Hot Wireless Telecom Companies To Own In Right Now

See Your Guide to Medicare's Preventive Services at Medicare.gov for more information.

Got a question? Ask Kim at askkim@kiplinger.com.

Hot Semiconductor Companies To Invest In 2015

TriQuint Semiconductor (NASDAQ: TQNT  ) is aiming to boost the value of its shares with a fresh repurchase scheme. The firm announced it has authorized the buyback of up to $75 million worth of its common stock. This will be bought "from time to time in the open market at prevailing market prices or through privately negotiated transactions at the discretion of Company management."

Once purchased, the stock will become authorized but unissued shares.

TriQuint's most recent closing stock price was $6.12, giving it a market cap of just under $1 billion. It currently has approximately 163 million shares outstanding.

More Expert Advice from The Motley Fool

The Motley Fool's chief investment officer has selected his No. 1 stock for the next year. Find out which stock in our brand-new free report: "The Motley Fool's Top Stock for 2013." I invite you to take a copy, free for a limited time. Just click here to access the report and find out the name of this under-the-radar company.

Hot Semiconductor Companies To Invest In 2015: GigOptix Inc (GIG)

GigOptix, Inc. (GigOptix), incorporated on March 2008, is a supplier of semiconductor and electro-optical component products that enables high-speed end to end data streaming over optical fiber and wireless telecommunications and data-communications networks globally. The Company's products convert signals between electrical and optical formats for transmitting and receiving data over fiber optic networks and between electrical and high speed radio frequencies to enable the transmission and receipt of data over wireless networks. The Company is creating both optical telecommunications and data-communications applications for fast growing markets in 10 giga bytes per second (Gbps), 40Gbps and 100Gbps drivers, receiver integrated circuits (IC), electro-optic modulator components and multi-chip-modules (MCM), as well as E-band wireless data-communications applications for high speed mobile backhaul and other high capacity wireless data transport applications. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company shipped over 150 products to over 200 customers.

The Company offers a portfolio of 10Gbps and 40Gbps electro-optical products and is developing market for 100Gbps products. The Company provides bundled solutions that consist of a few of its products, such as modulator and driver. The Company also offers a comprehensive portfolio of Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) and application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) products to support E-band wireless communication and defense markets. The Company has also developed 10Gbps vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) drivers and receivers for aerospace as well as outdoor, non-temperature controlled environments that enables higher capacity in its customers' next generation flight and data center systems.

The Company has a portfolio of products for telecommunications , data-communications, defenses and industrial applications designed for optical speeds from 3Gbps to over 100Gbps and for wireless frequencies! from zero giga hertz (GHz) to 86GHz. The Company's products support a range of data rates, protocols, transmission distances and industry standards.

The Company's portfolio consists of the product ranges, such as laser and modulator drivers for 10Gbps, 40Gbps and 100Gbps applications; receiver amplifiers or Trans-impedance Amplifiers (TIAs) for 10Gbps, 40Gbps and 100Gbps applications; VCSEL driver and receiver chipsets for 14 and 12 channel parallel optics applications from 3Gbps to 10Gbps; Electro-optic modulators based on the Company's TFPS technology suitable for various 40Gbps and 100Gbps modulation schemes, such as differential phase shift keying (DPSK), differential quadrature phase shift keying (DQPSK), RZ-DQPSK and DP-QPSK; wideband monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) amplifiers with flat gain response; high frequency MMIC Power Amplifiers with high gain and output power; high frequency passive attenuators and filters in small form factors, and standard cell, and structured ASIC and hybrid ASIC designs and manufacturing service for multiple markets offering information technology acquisition review (ITAR) compliance for defense applications. The Company designs and market products that amplifies electrical signals during both the transmission (amplifiers and optical drivers) and reception (TIAs) of optical signals as well as modulate optical signals in the transmission of data.

The Company's optical drivers amplify the input digital data stream that is used to modulate laser light either by direct modulation of the laser or by use of an external modulator that acts as a precise shutter to switch on and off light to create the optical data stream. The Company supplies an optimized component for each type of laser, modulator and photo-diode depending upon the speed, reach and required cost. The Company's microwave and millimeter wave amplifiers amplify small signal radio signals into more signals that can be transmitted over long distances to establish high t! hroughput! data connections or enable radar based applications. The Company's ASIC solutions are used in a number of applications such as defense and test and measurement applications to enable the high speed processing of complex signals.

The Company's product portfolio is designed to cover the range of solutions needed in these different modules. The Company's product portfolio consists of five product lines: GX Series, which includes serial drivers and TIA ICs devices for telecom and data-com markets; HX Series, which includes multi-channel driver and TIA ICs for short reach data-com and optical interconnect applications; LX Series, which includes TFPS modulators for high speed telecom and defense applications; EX Series, which includes amplifiers, filters and attenuators for microwave applications in defense and instrumentation, and CX Series, which includes family of ASIC solutions for custom integrated circuit design.

GX Series

The GigOptix GX Series of products services both the telecom and data-com markets with a broad portfolio of drivers and transimpedence amplifiers that address 10Gbps, 40Gbps and 100Gbps speeds over distances that range from 100 meters to 10,000 kilometers. The GX Series devices are used in FiberChannel, Ethernet, synchronous optical networking (SONET)/ synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) components and those based upon the optical internetworking forum (OIF) standards.

HX Series

The GigOptix HX Series of products service the high performance computing (HPC), data-com and consumer markets with a portfolio of parallel VCSEL drivers and TIAs that address 3Gbps, 5Gbps,10Gbps, 14Gbps, 16Gbps and 25Gbps channel speeds over 100-300 meters distances in four and 12 channel configurations. The HX Series devices are used in HPC formats, Infiniband, Ethernet and optical high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) components.

LX Series

The GigOptix LX Series of products service the 40Gbps and above telecom! market f! or Mach-Zehnder modulators. The LX Series devices are based on the Company's TFPS EO material technology.

EX Series

The GigOptix EX Series of products leverages the high performance products acquired in the Endwave acquisition. In addition, it also includes the die and design techniques developed for the GX Series telecom and data-com drivers for related defense and instrumentation applications.

CX Series

The GigOptix CX Series of products offers a portfolio of distinct paths to digital and analog mixed signal ASICs with the capability of supporting designs of up to 10M gates in technologies ranging from 0.6 through 65nm. The CX Series uses the Company's technology in Structured and Hybrid ASICs to enable a generic ASIC solution that can be customized for a customer using only a few metal mask layers. The CX Series also offers ASIC services, including Analog and Mixed Signal IP into designs and taking customers designs from RTL or gate-level net list definitions to volume production with third party foundries.

The Company competes with TriQuint, Rohm, InPhi, Centellax, Semtech, Vitesse, M/A-Com, Avago, Emcore, Tyco Electronics, IPtronics. Avago, Emcore, Tyco Electronics, JDSU, Oclaro, Sumitomo, Fujitsu, Emcore, Oclaro, Hittite, Sumitomo, Hittite, RFMD, Northrop Grumman, On -Semiconductor, eSilicon, Open Silicon, Faraday, Toshiba and eASIC.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  It's admittedly overbought and due for a slight dip thanks to today's surge. But when you take a step back and look at GigOptix Inc. (NYSEMKT:GIG), there's actually a lot to be excited about if you've been mulling a trading in GIG. The trick will be getting the timing right.

Hot Semiconductor Companies To Invest In 2015: Rood Testhouse International NV (ROO)

Rood Testhouse International NV (RoodMicrotec) is a Netherlands-based company, operating an independent and certified test house and analysis lab for opto- and microelectronics. It is a supply chain management organization engaged in partial processes essential to reliable end-products. Its core services are managing the entire process from design idea all the way to supply to the end-user, including purchasing, logistics, warehousing/logistics; securing testability and manufacturability at an early stage in the chip design process. Its activities include supply chain amangement, test and end-of-line services, failure and technology analysis, test engineering, qualifications and reliability, as well as engineering/consulting/key account project management. It has six wholly owned subsidiaries: RoodMicrotec International B.V., RoodMicrotec Holding GmbH, RoodMicrotec Beteiligungs GmbH, RoodMicrotec Nordlingen GmbH + Co. KG, RoodMicrotec Dresden GmbH and RoodMicrotec Stuttgart GmbH. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Alan Ellman]

  The day is Friday July 12, and the stock is LEAP Wireless International Inc. (LEAP), which is a takeover candidate by AT&T. In the late afternoon, the share price was near $8 per share, the July $9 call option was priced @ $0.10, and the August $9 call @ $0.40. Covered call writers could generate an initial profit (ROO) of 1% and 5%, respectively. The average daily option trading volume for this company is 1320 contracts over the last three months. It appeared to be a normal trading day until the last hour of trading when option volume went through the roof. By day’s end, 7139 contracts were traded, all but 350 were calls as traders were taking a bullish stance on this stock. I think you know what’s coming!

Top Consumer Service Stocks To Watch Right Now: Dialog Semiconductor PLC (DLG)

Dialog Semiconductor Plc creates integrated, mixed signal integrated circuits (ICs), optimized for personal portable, short-range wireless, lighting, display and automotive applications. The Company operates in three business segments: Mobile Systems, Automotive and Industrial, and Connectivity. The Mobile Systems segment includes its power management and audio chips especially designed to meet the needs of the wireless systems markets and a range of advanced driver technologies for low power display applications - from Passive Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diodes (PMOLEDs), to electronic paper and Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) displays. The Automotive and Industrial segment consists of products, which address the safety, management and control of electronic systems in cars and for industrial applications. The Connectivity segment includes activities, such as short-range wireless, digital cordless and voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) technology. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonathan Morgan]

  Dialog Semiconductor Plc (DLG) surged 6.5 percent to 12.55 euros, its highest price in two months, after Apple Inc. (AAPL), the company�� biggest customer, reported fiscal third-quarter revenue and iPhone sales that beat analysts��estimates.

Hot Semiconductor Companies To Invest In 2015: Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc (ASX)

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. is principally engaged in the manufacture, assembly, processing, testing and distribution of integrated circuits (ICs). The Company provides semiconductor packaging and testing services, including plastic leaded chip carriers (PLCCs), quad flat packages (QFPs) and flip chip packaging technology, among others, which are applied in the manufacture of household electrical appliances, communication devices, automobile components, personal computers, set top boxes, servers, memory integrated circuits (ICs), mobile phones, digital cameras, game consoles, projectors, high definition (HD) televisions, wireless communication network products and power management ICs, among others. The Company operates its businesses primarily in Taiwan, Europe and the Americas. In August 2010, the Company acquired a 100% interest in EEMS Test Singapore.

The Company is focused on packaging and testing logic semiconductors. The Company offers its customers turnkey services, which consist of packaging, testing and direct shipment of semiconductors to end users designated by its customers. The Company�� global base of over 200 customers includes semiconductor companies across a range of end use applications, including Altera Corporation, ATI Technologies, Inc., Broadcom Corporation, Cambridge Silicon Radio Limited and Microsoft Corporation. During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company�� packaging revenues accounted for 77.7% of its net revenues and its testing revenues accounted for 20.1% of its net revenues.

Packaging Services

The Company offers a range of package types to meet the requirements of its customers, with a focus on packaging solutions. Within its portfolio of package types, the Company focuses on the packaging of semiconductors. These include advanced leadframe-based package types, such as quad flat package, thin quad flat package, bump chip carrier and quad flat no-lead package, and package types based on substrates, such a! s flip-chip ball grid array (BGA) and other BGA types, as well as other packages, such as wafer-bumping products. Leadframe-based packages are packaged by connecting the die, using wire bonders, to the leadframe with gold wire. The Company�� leadframe-based packages include quad flat package (QFP)/ thin quad flat package (TQFP), quad flat no-lead package (QFN)/microchip carrier (MCC), advanced quad flat no-lead package (AQFN), bump chip carrier (BCC), small outline plastic package (SOP)/thin small outline plastic package (TSOP), small outline plastic j-bend package (SOJ), plastic leaded chip carrier (PLCC) and plastic dual in-line package (PDIP). Substrate-based packages employ the BGA design, which utilizes a substrate rather than a leadframe. It also assembles system-in-a-package products, which involve the integration of more than one chip into the same package. The Company�� substrate-based packages include Plastic BGA, Cavity Down BGA, Stacked-Die BGA, Flip-Chip BGA and land grid array (LGA).

The Company�� wafer-level packaging products include wafer level chip scale package (aCSP) and advanced wafer level package (aWLP). The Company offers module assembly services, which combine one or more packaged semiconductors with other components in an integrated module to enable functionality, typically using surface mount technology (SMT) machines and other machinery and equipment for system-level assembly. End use applications for modules include cellular phones, personal digital assistant (PDAs), wireless local area network (LAN) applications, bluetooth applications, camera modules, automotive applications and toys.

The Company provides module assembly services primarily at its facilities in Korea for radio frequency and power amplifier modules used in wireless communications and automotive applications. Interconnect materials connect the input/output on the semiconductor dies to the printed circuit board. Interconnect materials include substrate, which is a multi-layer m! iniature ! printed circuit board. The Company produces substrates for use in its packaging operations.

Testing Services

The Company provides a range of semiconductor testing services, including front-end engineering testing, wafer probing, final testing of logic/mixed-signal/radio frequency (RF) and memory semiconductors and other test-related services. The Company provides front-end engineering testing services, including customized software development, electrical design validation, and reliability and failure analysis. The Company provides final testing services for a variety of memory products, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), single-bit erasable programmable read-only memory semiconductors and flash memory semiconductors.

The Company provides a range of additional test-related services, including burn-in testing, module sip testing, dry pack, tape and reel, and electric interface board and mechanical test tool design. The Company offers drop shipment services for shipment of semiconductors directly to end users designated by its customers.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Namitha Jagadeesh]

  The FTSE 100 Index (UKX) fell 1.31 points, less than 0.1 percent, to 6,679.77 at 10:12 a.m. in London, trimming an earlier decline of as much as 0.6 percent. The gauge has climbed 13 percent this year as central banks maintained stimulus measures to support the global economy. The broader FTSE All-Share Index (ASX) was also little changed today, while Ireland�� ISEQ Index retreated 0.3 percent.

• [By Alexis Xydias]

  The FTSE 100 Index (UKX) gained 53.93 points, or 0.8 percent, to 6,683.93 at 8:58 a.m. in London, rebounding from a 1.4 percent loss yesterday. The benchmark has rallied 13 percent this year as central banks around the world commit to maintain monetary stimulus to nurture economic growth. The broader FTSE All-Share Index (ASX) increased 0.8 percent today, while Ireland�� ISEQ Index advanced 0.5 percent.

Hot Semiconductor Companies To Invest In 2015: Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc (ASX)

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. is principally engaged in the manufacture, assembly, processing, testing and distribution of integrated circuits (ICs). The Company provides semiconductor packaging and testing services, including plastic leaded chip carriers (PLCCs), quad flat packages (QFPs) and flip chip packaging technology, among others, which are applied in the manufacture of household electrical appliances, communication devices, automobile components, personal computers, set top boxes, servers, memory integrated circuits (ICs), mobile phones, digital cameras, game consoles, projectors, high definition (HD) televisions, wireless communication network products and power management ICs, among others. The Company operates its businesses primarily in Taiwan, Europe and the Americas. In August 2010, the Company acquired a 100% interest in EEMS Test Singapore.

The Company is focused on packaging and testing logic semiconductors. The Company offers its customers turnkey services, which consist of packaging, testing and direct shipment of semiconductors to end users designated by its customers. The Company�� global base of over 200 customers includes semiconductor companies across a range of end use applications, including Altera Corporation, ATI Technologies, Inc., Broadcom Corporation, Cambridge Silicon Radio Limited and Microsoft Corporation. During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company�� packaging revenues accounted for 77.7% of its net revenues and its testing revenues accounted for 20.1% of its net revenues.

Packaging Services

The Company offers a range of package types to meet the requirements of its customers, with a focus on packaging solutions. Within its portfolio of package types, the Company focuses on the packaging of semiconductors. These include advanced leadframe-based package types, such as quad flat package, thin quad flat package, bump chip carrier and quad flat no-lead package, and package types based on substrates, such a! s flip-chip ball grid array (BGA) and other BGA types, as well as other packages, such as wafer-bumping products. Leadframe-based packages are packaged by connecting the die, using wire bonders, to the leadframe with gold wire. The Company�� leadframe-based packages include quad flat package (QFP)/ thin quad flat package (TQFP), quad flat no-lead package (QFN)/microchip carrier (MCC), advanced quad flat no-lead package (AQFN), bump chip carrier (BCC), small outline plastic package (SOP)/thin small outline plastic package (TSOP), small outline plastic j-bend package (SOJ), plastic leaded chip carrier (PLCC) and plastic dual in-line package (PDIP). Substrate-based packages employ the BGA design, which utilizes a substrate rather than a leadframe. It also assembles system-in-a-package products, which involve the integration of more than one chip into the same package. The Company�� substrate-based packages include Plastic BGA, Cavity Down BGA, Stacked-Die BGA, Flip-Chip BGA and land grid array (LGA).

The Company�� wafer-level packaging products include wafer level chip scale package (aCSP) and advanced wafer level package (aWLP). The Company offers module assembly services, which combine one or more packaged semiconductors with other components in an integrated module to enable functionality, typically using surface mount technology (SMT) machines and other machinery and equipment for system-level assembly. End use applications for modules include cellular phones, personal digital assistant (PDAs), wireless local area network (LAN) applications, bluetooth applications, camera modules, automotive applications and toys.

The Company provides module assembly services primarily at its facilities in Korea for radio frequency and power amplifier modules used in wireless communications and automotive applications. Interconnect materials connect the input/output on the semiconductor dies to the printed circuit board. Interconnect materials include substrate, which is a multi-layer m! iniature ! printed circuit board. The Company produces substrates for use in its packaging operations.

Testing Services

The Company provides a range of semiconductor testing services, including front-end engineering testing, wafer probing, final testing of logic/mixed-signal/radio frequency (RF) and memory semiconductors and other test-related services. The Company provides front-end engineering testing services, including customized software development, electrical design validation, and reliability and failure analysis. The Company provides final testing services for a variety of memory products, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), single-bit erasable programmable read-only memory semiconductors and flash memory semiconductors.

The Company provides a range of additional test-related services, including burn-in testing, module sip testing, dry pack, tape and reel, and electric interface board and mechanical test tool design. The Company offers drop shipment services for shipment of semiconductors directly to end users designated by its customers.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By David Dittman]

  Crown Resorts is a buy all the way up to USD16.50 on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) using the symbol CWN and on the US over-the-counter (OTC) market using the symbol CWLDF.

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (NYSE: ASX  ) is expected to report Q2 earnings around July 7. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:

• [By Namitha Jagadeesh]

  The FTSE 100 Index (UKX) fell 1.31 points, less than 0.1 percent, to 6,679.77 at 10:12 a.m. in London, trimming an earlier decline of as much as 0.6 percent. The gauge has climbed 13 percent this year as central banks maintained stimulus measures to support the global economy. The broader FTSE All-Share Index (ASX) was also little changed today, while Ireland�� ISEQ Index retreated 0.3 percent.

• [By Jeff Reeves]

  Advanced Semiconductor Engineering�(ASX) builds and distributes integrated circuits and other electronics. It�� not as sexy as some mobile chipmakers, but thankfully it doesn�� have to be — ASX is simply capitalizing on the general demand for microchips in everything from cars to computers to TVs.

Hot Semiconductor Companies To Invest In 2015: Fairchild Semiconductor International Inc (FCS)

Fairchild Semiconductor International, Inc. (Fairchild) focuses on developing, manufacturing and selling power analog, power discrete and certain non-power semiconductor solutions to a range of end market customers. The Company is a supplier of power analog products, power discrete products and energy-efficient solutions, according to iSuppli. Its products are used in a range of electronic applications, including sophisticated computers and Internet hardware; communications, including wireless phones; networking and storage equipment; industrial power supply and instrumentation equipment; consumer electronics, such as digital cameras, displays, audio/video devices and household appliances, and automotive applications.

The Company�� product groups are organized by the end markets, which include Mobile, Computing, Consumer and Communication (MCCC), Power Conversion, Industrial and Automotive (PCIA) and Standard Discrete and Standard Linear (SDT). It invested in the wafer fabrication power semiconductor technology, including low and mid voltage PowerTrench, advanced insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), as well as advanced high power metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFET) fabrication technologies.

Mobile, Computing, Consumer and Communication (MCCC)

The Company designs, manufactures and markets high-performance analog and mixed signal integrated circuits, low voltage power MOSFETs for mobile, consumer, computing, and communication applications. It has a portfolio of PowerTrench technology products. Its analog and mixed signal products are focused on the mobile end- markets.

Analog products monitor, interpret, and control continuously variable functions, such as light, color, sound, and energy. It forms the interface with the digital world. It provides a range of analog products that perform such tasks as voltage regulation, audio amplification, power and signal switching and system management. Analog voltage regulation circ! uits are used to provide constant voltages, as well as step up or step down voltage levels on a circuit board. These products enable improvements in power efficiency, lighting management, and improve charge times in ultraportable products. These products are used in a variety of mobile, computing, communications and consumer applications.

In addition to the power analog and interface products, it also offers signal path products. These include analog and digital switches, universal serial bus (USB) switches, video filters and high performance audio amplifiers. The analog switch functions are typically found in cellular handsets and other ultra portable applications. The video products provide a single chip solution to video filtering and amplification. Video filtering applications include set top boxes and digital television. Its solutions include surface mount devices, tiny packages, chip scale packages, and leadless carriers.

The Company also design, manufacture and market power semiconductor solutions for computing, communications, mobile, consumer and industrial applications. Power semiconductor solutions include, power discrete MOSFETs, analog integrated circuits, and fully integrated multi-chip and monolithic power solutions. Its power MOSFETs are primarily used in power delivery and power control applications. Power delivery and control applications are ubiquitous across data consumption, processing and communication applications. It produces advanced low power MOSFETs under its PowerTrench brands. The advanced power MOSFETs applications are used in smartphones, tablets, notebook personal computer, high performance gaming, home entertainment systems, servers, data communication, and routers.

The Company competes with Analog Devices, Inc., Linear Technology Corporation, Maxim Integrated Product, Inc., Micrel Inc, ON Semiconductor Corporation, ST Microelectronics N.V., Intersil Corporation, International Rectifier Corporation, Infineon Technologies AG and T! exas Inst! ruments Incorporated.

Power Conversion, Industrial and Automotive (PCIA)

Fairchild design, manufacture and market power discrete semiconductors, analog and mixed signal integrated circuits (ICs) for broad power conversion/power management, industrial, and automotive applications. Its products are building blocks that help convert a semi-regulated energy source (alternating current (AC)or direct current (DC)) to a regulated output for electronic systems (AC-DC, DC-AC, and DC-DC conversion). Its discrete devices are individual diodes or transistors that perform power switching, power conditioning and signal amplification functions in electronic circuits. The Company�� analog and mixed signal integrated circuits (IC) are used to control discrete semiconductors in applications, such as power switching, conditioning, signal amplification, power distribution and power consumption. It manufacture discrete products using vertical DMOS MOSFETs, Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBT), Bipolar, and ultrafast rectifier technologies. It manufacture analog and mixed signal ICs using a range of bipolar (Bi), complementary metal oxide (CMOS), BiCMOS, and bipolar/CMOS/DMOS (BCDMOS) processes up to 1,200 volts and down to 0.35um (microns) minimum geometry.

Power MOSFETs are used in applications to switch, shape or transfer energy. These products are used in a range of high-growth applications, including solar inverters, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), data centers and communications, motors, lighting, automotive, computing, displays and industrial supplies. It produce advanced power MOSFETs under its SupreMOS, SuperFET, PowerTrench, UniFET and QFET brands. IGBTs are high-voltage power discrete devices. They are used in switching applications for solar inverters, uninterruped power supply, data centers and communications, motors, industrial, power supplies, displays, television and automotive ignition systems. These applications require lower switching frequencies, highe! r power, ! and/or higher voltages than a power MOSFET can provide. It is a supplier of IGBTs. Rectifier products work with IGBTs and MOSFETs in many applications to provide power conversion and conditioning. Its product is the STEALTH rectifier, providing industry performance and efficiencies in data communications, industrial power supply, displays, television, and motor applications.

Leveraging its power MOSFET and IGBT technologies, it also design and manufacture modules for the industrial, automotive, and home appliance end markets. It design and develop a line of smart power modules (SPM) products targeted to various end applications in consumer white goods and industrial applications, which include room air conditioners, industrial power supplies, solar inverters, pumps, and industrial motors. These are multi-chip modules containing up to 28 components in a single package that includes diodes, power discrete IGBTs or MOSFETs, high voltage power management driver ICs and current and temperature sensors. Similar modules, called APM, are used in automotive applications.

The Company design and manufacture power management semiconductors for line-powered and off-line powered systems that integrate its Power MOSFETs. It sell and market off-line and isolated DC-DC ICs, MOSFET and IGBT gate driver ICs, and power factor correction ICs to the consumer, computing, display, television, lighting and industrial segments.

The Company competes with Infineon Technologies AG, ST MicroelectronicsN.V., International Rectifier Corporation, Toshiba Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, Texas Instruments Incorporated, Power Integrations, Inc., ON Semiconductor Corporation, NXP Semiconductors N.V. and Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.

Standard Linear and Standard Discrete (SDT)

Standard Diodes and Transistors products cover a range of semiconductor products, including MOSFET, junction field effect transistors (JFETs), high power bipolar, discrete small signal transistors, TVS,! Zeners, ! rectifiers, bridge rectifiers, Schottky devices and diodes. The Company design, manufacture and market analog integrated circuits for computing, consumer, communications, ultra-portable and industrial applications. These products are manufactured using bipolar, CMOS and BiCMOS technologies. Standard Linear solutions range from bipolar regulators, shunt regulators, low drop out regulators, standard op-amp/comparators, low voltage op-amps, and others. Analog voltage regulator circuits are used to provide constant voltages, as well as to step up or step down voltage levels on a circuit board. Op-amps/comparators are designed specifically to operate from a single power supply over a range of voltages. It also offer low-voltage op-amps that provide a combination of low power, rail-to-rail performance, low voltage operation, and tiny package options which are well suited for use in personal electronics equipment. Its solutions include surface mount devices, tiny packages and leadless carriers.

The Company competes with International Rectifier Corporation, Diodes Incorporated, NXP Semiconductors N.V., ST Microelectronics N.V., ON Semiconductor Corporation, Texas Instruments Incorporated, Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., Vishay Intertechnology, Inc, Osram Opto Semiconductors, OPTEK Technology, OMRON Corporation, Avago Technologies Ltd. and Kodenshi Corp.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Alex Planes]

  In an epochal paper published in Electronics magazine on April 19, 1965 and simply titled "Cramming more components onto integrated circuits," Fairchild Semiconductor (NYSE: FCS  ) director of research Gordon E. Moore wrote (emphasis mine):