Here in North America, the F-150 pickup and its Super Duty siblings are Ford's (NYSE: F ) bread and butter -- and they've been posting big sales gains lately, thanks to surges in the construction and oil markets. Now, a related segment -- commercial vans -- is showing signs of heating up, and Ford's small Transit Connect is posting big gains as well.
But sales of Ford's mainstay E-Series van have actually dropped lately. In this video, Fool.com contributor John Rosevear looks at the important commercial van market -- and at Ford's surprising plan to replace its familiar old Econoline with a very different product.
Ford's global product strategy is just one of several good reasons to think that the Blue Oval still has big growth opportunities ahead. The Fool's premium Ford research service gives you freshly updated guidance to those opportunities and Ford's prospects in coming years. Click here�to get started now.
Guggenheim CurrencyShares Japanese Yen Trust, formerly CurrencyShares Japanese Yen Trust, is a grantor trust. The Trust issues shares (the Shares) in blocks of 50,000 (a Basket) in exchange for deposits of Japanese Yen and distributes Japanese Yen in connection with the redemption of Baskets. The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the price of Japanese Yen plus accrued interest, if any, less the expenses of the Trust�� operations. The Trust holds Japanese Yen and, from time to time, issues Baskets in exchange for deposits of Japanese Yen and distributes Japanese Yen in connection with redemptions of Baskets. The Sponsor of the Trust is Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
The Bank of New York Mellon, a banking corporation with trust powers organized under the laws of the State of New York, serves as the Trustee. The Shares are backed by the assets of the Trust, which does not hold or use derivative products.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By Ben Levisohn]
Fears–and hopes–for rising rates were apparent everywhere. Charles Schwab (SCHW), a beneficiary of higher rates, rose 3.2% to $27.58.�Newmont Mining (NEM) dropped 3.1% to $24.50 because who needs gold when rates are heading higher? The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) fell 2.1% to $38.57 because we all know higher rates in the US are bad news for emerging markets.�The 10-year Treasury yield rose to 2.77% and the CurrencyShares Japanese Yen Trust (FXY) declined 1.1% to $95.22.
- [By Richard Cox]
In ETFs, this translates to substantially bearish moves in PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish (UUP) and highly bullish moves in theCurrencyShares Japanese Yen Trust (FXY). The BoJ left policy unchanged, with no stated plans to alter the 60 trillion Yen ($611 billion) in annual injections to the country's monetary base. Most analysts were expecting the BoJ would approve loan operations that extend to two years (or longer), and the results put renewed focus on the 10-year Japanese treasury note. Since the BoJ announced its historic stimulus plan in April, the 10-year note has risen from its all-time lows at 0.315% to highs of 1%. The main ideological thrust of the BoJ must be kept in perspective, however, as there is still clear long-term concern for the prospects of the country's export companies and pronounced efforts in place to bring consumer inflation levels back toward normal ranges.
Top 10 Industrial Disributor Companies To Buy Right Now: CTI Industries Corporation (CTIB)
CTI Industries Corporation develops, manufactures, and supplies flexible film products for novelty, packaging and container, and custom product applications worldwide. The company offers novelty products that comprise foil balloons, such as Superloons, Ultraloons, Miniloons, Card-B-Loons, Shape-A-Loons, and mini shapes; latex balloons under the Partyloons name; and toy balloon products consisting of punch balls, water bombs, animal twisties, and other inflatable toy items. It also provides flexible containers for home and consumer use for the storage and preservation of food and personal items, including devices for sealing and evacuating air from such containers; and packaging films and custom film products used for food, and other packaging and commercial applications. In addition, the company offers pouches and bags comprising valved and re sealable pouches for the storage of household items; vacuum sealable bags for food storage; re sealable and valved bags for the sto rage and vacuum sealing of food items in the house under the ZipVac brand; and open-top pouches, under the ZipLoc name, for use with vacuum sealing machines to vacuum seal, and store food and household items. It primarily serves various retail outlets, including general merchandise, discount and drugstore chains, grocery chains, card and gift shops, and party goods stores, as well as florists and balloon decorators through a network of distributors and wholesalers, and independent sales representatives. CTI Industries Corporation was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Lake Barrington, Illinois.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By Monica Gerson]
CTI Industries (NASDAQ: CTIB) is estimated to report its Q1 earnings at $0.02 per share on revenue of $15.75 million.
URS (NYSE: URS) is projected to post its Q1 earnings at $0.68 per share on revenue of $2.68 billion.
Top 10 Industrial Disributor Companies To Buy Right Now: Helmerich & Payne Inc (HP)
Helmerich & Payne, Inc., incorporated on February 29, 1944, is engaged in contract drilling of oil and gases wells for others and this business. The Company's contract drilling business is composed of three reportable business segments: U.S. Land, Offshore and International Land. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012 (fiscal 2012), the Company's U.S. Land operations drilled in Oklahoma, California, Texas, Wyoming, Colorado, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Utah, Arkansas, New Mexico, Montana, North Dakota and West Virginia. Offshore operations were conducted in the Gulf of Mexico, and offshore of California, Trinidad and Equatorial Guinea. During fiscal 2012, the Company's International Land segment operated in six international locations: Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina, Tunisia, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates. The Company is also engaged in the ownership, development and operation of commercial real estate and the research and development of rotary steerable technology. Each of the businesses operates independently of the others through wholly owned subsidiaries. The Company's real estate investments located exclusively within Tulsa, Oklahoma, include a shopping center containing approximately 441,000 leasable square feet, multi-tenant industrial warehouse properties containing approximately one million leasable square feet and approximately 210 acres of undeveloped real estate. The Company's subsidiary, TerraVici Drilling Solutions, Inc. (TerraVici), is developing rotary steerable technology. As of September 30, 2012, it had 176 rigs under fixed-term contracts. During fiscal 2012, the Company leased a 150,000 square foot industrial facility near Tulsa, Oklahoma for the purpose of overhauling/repairing rig equipment and associated component parts.
U.S. Land Drilling
As of September 30, 2012, the Company had 282 of its land rigs available for work in the United States. During fiscal 2012, the Company's U.S. Land operations contributed approximately 85% of the Compan! y's consolidated operating revenues. During fiscal 2012, rig utilization was approximately 89%. During fiscal 2012, the Company's fleet of FlexRigs had an average utilization of approximately 97%, while the Company's conventional and mobile rigs had an average utilization of approximately 11%. As of September 31, 2012, 231 out of an available 282 land rigs were working.
Off Shore Drilling
During fiscal 2012, the Company's Offshore operations contributed approximately 6% of the Company's consolidated operating revenues. During fiscal 2012, rig utilization was approximately 79%. During fiscal 2012, the Company had eight of its nine offshore platform rigs under contract and continued to work under management contracts for four customer-owned rigs. During fiscal 2012, revenues from drilling services performed for the Company's offshore drilling customer totaled approximately 56% of offshore revenues.
International Land Drilling
During fiscal 2012, the Company's International Land operations contributed approximately 9% of the Company's consolidated operating revenues. During fiscal 2012, rig utilization was 77%. As of September 30, 2012, the Company had nine rigs in Argentina. During fiscal 2012, the Company's utilization rate was approximately 52%. During fiscal 2012, revenues generated by Argentine drilling operations contributed approximately 2% of the Company's consolidated operating revenues. The Argentine drilling contracts are with international or national oil companies. As of September 30, 2012, the Company had seven rigs in Colombia. During fiscal 2012, the Company's utilization rate was approximately 79%. During fiscal 2012, revenues generated by Colombian drilling operations contributed approximately 3% of the Company's consolidated operating revenues. During fiscal 2012, revenues from drilling services performed for the Company's customer in Colombia totaled approximately 1% of consolidated operating revenues and approximately 16% of inter! national ! operating revenues. The Colombian drilling contracts are with international or national oil companies. As of September 30, 2012, the Company had five rigs in Ecuador. During fiscal 2012, the utilization rate in Ecuador was 97%. During fiscal 2012, revenues generated by Ecuadorian drilling operations contributed approximately 2% of consolidated operating revenues. As of September 30, 2012, the Company had two rigs in Tunisia, four rigs in Bahrain and two rigs in United Arab Emirates.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By Editor , EnergyStockChannel.com]
So when dividend stocks turn up that see insider buying, and are also top ranked, investors are wise to take notice. One such company is Helmerich & Payne (HP) which saw buying by Director Thomas A. Petrie.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
As a result, the knives have come out. Cowen’s analysts downgraded six stocks–Baker Hughes (BHI), Cameron International (CAM), Nabors Industries (NBR), CGG (CGG), Superior Energy Services (SPN) and Helmerich & Payne (HP)–and cut their estimates on even more. Its analysts explain why:
- [By Jon C. Ogg]
Helmerich & Payne Inc. (NYSE: HP) was reinstated as Buy with a $82 price target at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
HomeAway Inc. (NASDAQ: AWAY) was downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight by Morgan Stanley.
Top 10 Industrial Disributor Companies To Buy Right Now: Green Technology Solutions Inc (GTSO)
Green Technology Solutions Inc (GTSO), incorporated on February 22, 1991, is in the business of identifying and acquiring rights in early stage, green technologies, with the plan to develop these technologies into marketable products. The Company has identified several technology endeavors.
As of December 31, 2011, the Company has identified the advancement of mining technologies, with an emphasis on rare earth and precious metals mining applications, the development of additional markets for existing paint products that are being marketed in the United States, and smart grid technology. GTSO has also identified additional joint venture in China and South America.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By CRWE]
Today, GTSO surged (+0.32%) up +0.0001 at $.0309 with 12,300 shares in movement thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 10:31AM EDT June 20, 2013).
Green Technology Solutions, Inc. previously reported it has finalized a joint venture agreement with leading Latin American e-waste recycler Chilerecicla.
Latin America is a key emerging market in the booming the global e-waste recycling and reuse services industry, which Transparency Market Research predicts accounted for more than $9 billion in 2012. The firm expects the worldwide e-waste market to reach $18 billion in 2017, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 13.2 percent from 2012 to 2017.
- [By CRWE]
Today, GTSO surged (+13.33%) up +0.0040 at $.0340 with�43,370 shares in play thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 12:18PM EDT September 20, 2013).
With heightened tensions in the Middle East expected to push oil prices to their highest levels in years, Green Technology Solutions, Inc. (OTCBB: GTSO) is aggressively looking into the more economical option of advanced biofuels.
A potential military strike by the United States against Syria is expected to elevate oil and gasoline prices to unprecedented heights. GTSO, an environmentally conscious company with an ongoing interest in delivering ��reen friendly��solutions to a global market, is exploring the option of comparatively inexpensive biofuels, assets that have the potential to figure prominently once again amidst current global chaos.
Top 10 Industrial Disributor Companies To Buy Right Now: Ambit Biosciences Corp (AMBI)
Ambit Biosciences Corporation, incorporated on May 17, 2000, is a biopharmaceutical company. The Company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of drugs to treat unmet medical needs in oncology, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases by inhibiting kinases that are important drivers for those diseases. The Company�� lead drug candidate, quizartinib, is in Phase IIb clinical development in patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The Company�� second drug candidate in clinical development, AC410, is a potent, selective, orally-administered, small molecule inhibitor of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) that has potential utility for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The Company�� third program consists of two selective small molecule compounds, AC708 and AC855, which inhibit the colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF1R), a receptor tyrosine kinase.
Quizartinib
The Company�� lead drug candidate, quizartinib, is a once-daily, orally-administered, potent and selective inhibitor of FLT3, a validated target in the treatment of AML, and is in Phase IIb clinical development. The FLT3-ITD mutation acts like a power switch that causes leukemic cells, or blasts, to spread more aggressively and grow back more rapidly following chemotherapy, conferring an especially poor survival outcome. Quizartinib is designed to turn off this switch. The Company is developing a companion diagnostic test with Genoptix Medical Laboratory, a Novartis company, to identify FLT3-ITD positive patients.
AC410
The Company�� advanced drug candidate, AC410, is a potent, selective, orally-administered, small molecule inhibitor of JAK2, which has potential utility for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Signaling through JAK controls the activation, proliferation and survival of various types of immune cells, and overactivation of such cells can exacerbate a range of normal inflammatory processes, resulting i! n inflammation. The Company�� initial JAK2 drug candidate, AC430, is a racemic mixture (50/50) of two enantiomers (mirror images), AC410 and AC409, and was studied in a Phase I clinical trial.
CSF1R Program
The Company is developing two potent and exquisitely selective small molecule compounds, AC708 and AC855 that both inhibit CSF1R and have potential utility in oncology, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Signaling through CSF1R controls the activation, proliferation and survival of macrophages, which are key mediators of immune system function and over-activation of macrophages, may result in exacerbation of certain diseases.
The Company competes with Abbvie Inc., Akinion Pharmaceuticals AB, Amgen Inc., ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc., AROG Pharmaceuticals, LLC, ArQule, Inc., Astellas, AstraZeneca plc, Bayer AG, Celgene Corporation, Daiichi-Sankyo Company Limited, Galapagos NV, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Incyte Corporation, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly and Company, Novartis, Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pfizer, Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., F. Hoffman-LaRoche Ltd, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated.
Advisors' Opinion: Top 10 Industrial Disributor Companies To Buy Right Now: Swedbank AB (SWDBY.PK)
Swedbank AB is the parent company of Swedbank. Swedbank consists of subsidiaries, associates and a joint venture. The Company operates in six business areas: Swedish Banking, Baltic Banking, International Banking, Swedbank Markets, Asset Management and Ektornet. On January 20, 2009, Swedbank Robur AB acquired Banco Fonder AB from Alfred Berg. In February 2010, the Company acquired a 15% equity stake in OAO Swedbank from European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). During the year ended December 31, 2009, Swedbank sold four branches to Sparbanken Nord, three branches to Sparbanken Dalsland, two branches to Sparbanken Rekarne, one branch to Tidaholms Sparbank and one branch to Sparbanken 1826.
Swedish Banking
Swedish Banking is engaged in offering a range of financial products and services to private customers, corporates, organisations and municipalities through close to 400 branches, as well as the telephone bank and Internet bank in Sweden. Swedbank�� products are also sold through the cooperating savings banks, which account for another 275 branches. The subsidiary in Luxembourg, with a representative office in Spain is included in the business area as well.
Baltic Banking
Baltic Banking offers a range of financial products and services to private and corporate customers in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. It offers its services through 226 branches, as well as the telephone bank and Internet bank.
International Banking
International Banking consists of operations outside Swedbank�� home markets, primarily the banking operations in Ukraine and Russia. In addition to Ukraine and Russia, the business area includes the branches in Denmark, Norway, the United States and China, as well as the representative office in Japan. The branch network in Ukraine, consists of 156 branches, serves both private and corporate customers. The Nordic branches offer corporate customers, mainly Swedish customers with operations in! the Nordic markets, a range of financial products and services.
Swedbank Markets
Swedbank Markets has operations in equity, fixed income and currency trading, corporate finance, as well as project, export and acquisition financing. In addition to its operations in Swedbank�� home markets, the business area includes the subsidiaries First Securities ASA in Norway and Swedbank First Securities LLC in New York.
Asset Management
Asset Management, which consists of the subsidiary Swedbank Robur Group, offers services in fund management, institutional and discretionary asset management in all of Swedbank�� home markets. Its customers include private customers, as well as institutions, foundations, municipalities, county councils and other investors. Its products are sold and distributed primarily by Swedish Banking and Baltic Banking and the savings banks in Sweden.
Ektornet
Ektornet is an independent subsidiary of Swedbank AB. It focuses on managing the Company�� repossessed assets and developing them over time. Most of the collateral consists of real estate, the part of which will be in the Baltic countries, though also in the Nordic region and the United States.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By David Hunkar]
Current Dividend Yield: 5.16%
Sector: Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
Country: France
Company: Swedbank AB (SWDBY.PK)Current Dividend Yield: 6.50%
Sector: Banking
Country: Sweden
Top 10 Industrial Disributor Companies To Buy Right Now: diaDexus, Inc. (DDXS)
diaDexus, Inc. (diaDexus), incorporated on November 27, 1995, is a medical diagnostics company. The Company is focused on the development and commercialization of in vitro diagnostic products addressing unmet needs in cardiovascular disease. diaDexus�� product, the PLAC Test, helps identify individuals suffering a heart attack or stroke, the #1 and #3 causes of death, respectively in the United States. The PLAC Test measures Lp-PLA2, which is a vascular-specific inflammatory marker implicated in the formation of rupture-prone plaque.
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has developed an Lp-PLA2 inhibitor (darapladib) and is testing the drug in two large, global, Phase III clinical trials involving over 27,000 patients to determine if inhibition of the enzyme reduces cardiovascular events. The PLAC Test is a blood test, available nationally through clinical reference, hospital, and advanced cardiovascular diagnostic laboratories.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By Peter Graham]
Small cap stocks Pulse Network Inc (OTCBB: TPNI), Sterling Consolidated Corp (OTCBB: STCC) and diaDexus, Inc (OTCMKTS: DDXS) have or could start to sizzle for investors. However, I should also mention that two of these stocks have been the subject of paid promotions while a third apparently has not been, and could be the real deal. With that in mind, here is a closer look along with a quick reality check about all three small caps to help you decide whether they are hot or not:
- [By Peter Graham]
Small cap medical device or biotech related stocks Therapeutic Solutions International Inc (OTCMKTS: TSOI), diaDexus, Inc (OTCMKTS: DDXS) and Spherix Inc (NASDAQ: SPEX) have been getting some attention lately in various investment newsletters with the good news being that it appears none are the subject of paid promotions from stock promoters. So why are these three stocks all of a sudden getting some attention and what else do you need to know about them before you make a short or a long term bet on one? Here is a closer look at the whole picture and what you might be missing:
Lee Jin-man/AP Apple (AAPL) hit fresh 52-week highs this week, with smartphones accounting for more than half of its sales. Apple sold 13 percent more iPhones than it did a year earlier, and it had a surprising spike in Mac sales. Macs and Macbooks grew faster than its flagship iPhone business, but it's still just 15 percent of the sales mix at Apple. For now, the iPad is Apple's second-biggest -- but fading -- product line. Dust Is Gathering on the Shelves Apple has a problem. It sold 9 percent fewer iPads during the three months ending in June than it did a year earlier. If you think that's bad, that was coming off of a 16 percent decline during the March quarter. Apple's explanation during its fiscal second quarter -- the one ending in March -- is that retailers had too many unsold iPads during the end of the holiday quarter. This led to a the dramatic slowdown in shipments during the March quarter. That's a scary admission. However, after back-to-back quarters of year-over-year declines in revenue, we're out of excuses. The iPad is slumping, and it's doing so at a time when tablets in general are more popular than ever. That's the rub. Apple's iPod business has been fading for a couple of years, and nobody seems concerned. Portable media players in general are declining, largely because folks are using smartphones and tablets as digital media players. However, to see Apple's iPad sales slipping at a time when the tablet is still hot is a major concern. From iPad to Launch Pad Two things work against the iPad's popularity: platform and price. The platform is a mixed blessing. Apple's iOS is intuitive, and fans will tell you that it just works. However, as Android gains market share in tablets and smartphones, Apple risks that developers will lean more heavily on putting out Android apps in the future. It's certainly not a problem now. Developers love iOS because iPad and iPhone owners spend more time on apps and spend more money than owners of cheaper Android devices. That may be fine for now, but it may not be the case if the iPad continues to surrender market share to Android and possibly even Windows devices.