The Food and Drug Administration has granted Switzerland-based Novartis (NYSE: NVS ) its "Breakthrough Therapy" (BT) designation for Novartis' acute heart failure (AHF) treatment RLX030 (serelaxin), the company announced today.
According to the FDA, a BT designation is intended to "expedite the development and review of drugs for serious or life-threatening conditions."
The decision came after reviewing evidence including the results of Novartis' Phase 3 RELAX-AHF trial in which there was a 37% reduction in mortality for patients using RLX030 for six months compared to traditional treatments. According to Novartis, RLX030 has the potential to be "the first breakthrough treatment for acute heart failure patients in 20 years."
In response to the FDA's decision, Division Head of Novartis Pharmaceuticals David Epstein was quoted as saying, "Commonly used medicines for AHF only improve the immediate symptoms, so the additional effect on survival observed with RLX030 offers hope to patients and physicians."
Top 5 Services Companies To Own In Right Now: MB Financial Inc.(MBFI)
MB Financial, Inc. operates as a bank holding company for MB Financial Bank, N.A. that provides various financial services to small and middle market businesses, and individuals in the United States. It offers commercial banking products and services, including credit products, comprising working capital loans and lines of credit, accounts receivable financing, inventory and equipment financing, industrial revenue bond financing, business acquisition loans, and owner occupied real estate loans, as well as financial, performance, and commercial letters of credit. The company?s commercial banking products and services also consists deposit treasury management products, such as Internet banking products, investment sweep accounts, zero balance accounts, automated tax payments, ATM access, telephone banking, lockbox, automated clearing house transactions, account reconciliation, controlled disbursement, detail and general information reporting, wire transfers, vault services for currency and coin, international banking services, capital markets products, and checking accounts, as well as provides various credit, deposit, and treasury management services for real estate operators and investors. In addition, it offers retail banking products and services; and wealth management solutions, which include banking, investment management, custody, personal trust, financial planning, wealth advisory services, estate settlement, guardianship, tax deferred exchange services, and retirement plan services. The company provides its services through operating 87 banking offices in Chicago, Illinois metropolitan area; and 1 banking office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. MB Financial, Inc. was founded in 1911 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Duprey]
Looking to expand its banking business in the Windy City, MB Financial (NASDAQ: MBFI ) jointly announced with Taylor Capital (NASDAQ: TAYC ) that it was buying the�holding company of�Cole Taylor�Bank, a Chicago-based commercial bank with $5.9 billion in assets, $3.3 billion in loans, and $3.7 billion in deposits.
- [By Sean Williams]
What: Shares of Taylor Capital (NASDAQ: TAYC ) , the holding company of Cole Taylor Bank, a commercial and consumer lending and financial services company located in the Chicago area, skyrocketed as much as 22% after agreeing to be purchased by MB Financial (NASDAQ: MBFI ) .
Best Prefered Stocks To Buy Right Now: Axxess Unlimited Inc (AXXU)
Axxess Unlimited, Inc., incorporated on June 8, 2000, is the holding company for the Axxess family of companies. The Axxess family of companies includes both vertically-integrated operating businesses and horizontally-integrated companies with each supported by a common software technology - the Axxess RISE Platform. The Company provides next-generation business intelligence for a range of businesses and organizations. It provides information-driven business solutions through interactive marketing, interactive technologies, application and product development, customer relationship management, business intelligence, portals and collaboration, and infrastructure solutions. Its companies include Axxess Digital (AxxuD), Axxess Apps (AxxuA) and Axxess Brands (AxxuB).
Axxess Digital
AxxuD is an interactive digital agency company. The Company relies on the core logic of the Axxess Unlimited RISE platform.
Axxess Apps
AxxuA is a software development company. The focus of AxxuA includes: enterprise applications, custom applications, cloud applications and mobile applications. The Company has software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions and custom and mobile products available in the government services, automobile dealership, medical and consumer goods sectors.
Axxess Brands
AxxuB is a marketer and manufacturer of specialty brands in better-for-you and indulgent categories under a variety of Company owned and licensed brand names. AxxuB licenses brands and provides outsource management.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By James E. Brumley]
If the names Axxess Unlimited Inc. (OTCMKTS:AXXU) and MagneGas Corporation (NASDAQ:MNGA) ring a bell, it might be because yours truly posted some bullish thoughts on both names earlier this week. Although neither small cap stock had done everything they needed to do in order become a fully bullish trade at the time, both MNGA and AXXU have cleared those hurdles in the meantime. So, in case you forgot (or in case you missed the first look), an updated review of Axxess Unlimited and MagneGas is merited.
- [By CRWE]
Last Friday, WIZD remained (0.00%) +0.000 at $.200 at the close (ref. google finance August 23, 2013 ��Close).
Axxess Unlimited, Inc. previously reported the second quarter 2013 financial results for the period ending June 30, 2013.
Second quarter 2013 compared to second quarter 2012 results included:
Total Revenues up 330% to $272,775 compared to $63,392
Gross Profit grew 1076% to $193,961 compared to loss of $19,876
Operating Expenses were up 97% as the company continued to invest in R&D and channel rollout for Axxess products and technology.
Operating Net Income increased 103% to $3,118 compared to loss of $116,773
Six-month period 2013 compared to six-month period 2012 results included:Total Revenues up 305% to $518,485 compared to $128,161
Gross Profit grew 1212% to $352,532 compared to $26,868
Operating Expenses were up 80%
Operating Net Income increased 96% to a loss of $6,551 compared to a loss of $172,982 - [By James E. Brumley]
Even if you're one of the few reading this now, odds are good that you'd still never heard of Axxess Unlimited Inc. (OTCMKTS:AXXU) until the beginning of February. Prior to that, trading in AXXU was thin and uneventful. The evidence? Prior to February 4th, the average daily volume was less than 10,000 shares per day, and had been stuck right around the $0.20 mark since the middle of last year. Since February 4th, though, things have changed for the better. Since then, volume has been considerably stronger, and Axxess Unlimited shares have finally woken up and decided to forge ahead.
- [By James E. Brumley]
A week and a half ago, yours truly penned some bullish thoughts on Axxess Unlimited Inc. (OTCMKTS:AXXU). Not too many traders read that take, and/or if they did, they didn't seem to care. The response to the commentary was non-existent (good or bad), and there was no sudden rush to go out and buy AXXU. Today's second look may have a different outcome.
Best Prefered Stocks To Buy Right Now: Wendy's/Arby's Group Inc.(WEN)
The Wendy's Company operates as a quick-service hamburger company in the United States. The company, through its subsidiary, Wendy's International, Inc., operates as a franchisor of the Wendy's restaurant system. As of December 26, 2011, the Wendy's system comprised approximately 6,500 franchise and company restaurants in the United States and the United States territories, as well as in 26 other countries worldwide. The company was formerly known as Wendy's/Arby's Group, Inc. and changed its name to The Wendy's Company in July 2011. The Wendy's Company was founded in 1884 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ohio.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rupert Hargreaves]
Using this method to value Ruby Tuesday against its sector peers, we get an interesting result. Wendy's (NASDAQ: WEN ) is the largest company in the restaurant sector. During the last 12 months, the company generated $62 million in cash, excluding financing activities. On a per-share basis, this is worth around $0.16, or a price-to-cash-flow ratio of 53.5. In comparison, Ruby trades at a price-to-cash-flow per share ratio of 8.1.
- [By Traders Reserve]
Shares of Wendy�� (WEN) have soared in the last year. The stock has doubled in value in the last 12 months of trading. The third wheel in the fast food hamburger chain battle is certainly doing well for investors.
- [By Michael Lewis]
Some have had more success than others. Wendy's (NASDAQ: WEN ) is one that is winning, and its recently released preliminary fourth-quarter results show it. Top-line and store-level sales are growing as the company gives itself a makeover and brings new, relatively exciting menu items to the drive-thru. Unfortunately, the market is aware of Wendy's success and has awarded a sharp premium to shares. Is Wendy's too rich for investors' taste?
Best Prefered Stocks To Buy Right Now: Amazonica Corp (AMZZ)
Amazonica, Corp., incorporated on February 6, 2010, is a development-stage company. The Company is engaged in the field of marketing and distributing hardwood flooring and other construction materials.
The Company is a distributor of Brazilian hardwood flooring. Brazilian hardwood is manufactured from rare types of wood, such as Rose Wood, Snake Wood, Brazilian Teak, Santos Mahogany, Tigerwood, Brazilian Walnut and others. As of August 13, 2013, the Company had no revenues.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Peter Graham]
Small cap stocks Banjo & Matilda, Inc (OTCMKTS: BANJ), Amazonica Corp (OTCBB: AMZZ) and Guardian 8 Holdings (OTCMKTS: GRDH) have been getting some extra attention in various investment newsletters or email alerts. Of course, there is nothing wrong with properly disclosed promotion or investor relations type of activities but they can cause problems for unwary investors and traders alike. So how hot are these three small cap stocks? Here is a closer look and a reality check:
Best Prefered Stocks To Buy Right Now: PGT Inc.(PGTI)
PGT, Inc. engages in the manufacture and supply of residential impact-resistant windows and doors. The company offers impact-resistant products, including heavy-duty aluminum or vinyl frames with laminated glass to provide protection from hurricane-force winds and wind-borne debris. It also provides a range of non-impact-resistant aluminum and vinyl frame windows and doors; Architectural Systems line of products, which offer protection from hurricane-force winds and wind-borne debris for mid-and high-rise buildings; and non-glass vertical and horizontal sliding panels for porch enclosures, such as vinyl-glazed and aluminum-framed products used for enclosing screened-in porches that provide protection from inclement weather. The company markets its products under the WinGuard, PremierVue, PGT Architectural Systems, Eze-Breeze, and SpectraGuard brand names. PGT, Inc. offers its products to residential new construction, and home repair and remodeling end markets through windo w distributors, building supply distributors, window replacement dealers, and enclosure contractors. It operates in the southeastern United States, the Gulf Coast, Coastal mid-Atlantic, the Caribbean, Central America, and Canada. The company was formerly known as JLL Window Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to PGT, Inc. in January 2004. PGT, Inc. was founded in 1980 and is based in North Venice, Florida.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Eric Volkman]
A larger-than-previously announced block of PGT's (NASDAQ: PGTI ) shares is up for grabs. Major stockholder JLL Partners Fund has increased the size of its sale; it is now offering an even 10 million shares in an underwritten secondary public offering priced at $7.75 per share. Also, the issue's underwriters have been granted a 30-day option to buy up to an additional 1.65 million shares from the seller.
- [By Seth Jayson]
There's no foolproof way to know the future for PGT (Nasdaq: PGTI ) or any other company. However, certain clues may help you see potential stumbles before they happen -- and before your stock craters as a result.
Best Prefered Stocks To Buy Right Now: Mitel Networks Corporation(MITL)
Mitel Networks Corporation provides integrated communications solutions to the small-to-medium sized enterprise market in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Canada, Caribbean, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific. It offers Internet protocol (IP) telephony platforms, including IP telephony software that performs various functions comprising multi-media call control and communications, which allow business users to reach each other, share information, and collaborate; appliances; and desktop devices, such as IP and digital phones, specialty desktop devices, and peripherals. The company also provides a suite of UCC applications, which consist unified communicator advanced, mobility, customer interaction solution, unified messaging, speech auto attendant, telecollaboration solution, teleworker solution, and business dashboard, as well as audio, video, and Web conferencing for integrating voice, video, and data communications with business applications. In addi tion, it offers network services that include local access services; long distance services; mobile voice and data services; data services, such as Internet access and private networking services; hosted offerings, which comprise network monitoring and management, audio conferencing, Web conferencing, hosted secure Internet access, and Web hosting; and hosted IP telephony services. Further, the company provides managed services, including project management, installation, training, maintenance, professional, consulting, business requirements review, and disaster recovery planning services; support services; and financing of its solutions. It serves education, government, healthcare, hospitality, and retail markets through wholesale distributors, solution providers, system integrators, authorized channel partners, and other technology providers. The company is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By MONEYMORNING.COM]
Mitel Networks Corp. (Nasdaq: MITL) is a small-cap communication and collaboration software company that caters to small and medium-sized businesses.
- [By Michael Robinson]
Mitel Networks (MITL)
Small-cap Mitel is known for its advanced contact center platform that includes mobile chat and also helps mid-market firms generate sales leads while lowering expenses.
- [By Richard Lomas]
How much impact there will be on the profit margin will depend on the royalty rate set. Virnetx has an established royalty rate structure both published and through agreements with other licensees. Virnetx's published royalty rate is between 1 and 2 percent for customers in good standing. This royalty rate has been validated through licenses with 4 different companies, Siemens (SI), NEC, Mitel (MITL), and Aastra (AATSF.PK). The average rate agreed to by these companies through negotiations is 1.52%, right in the middle of the 1 to 2 percent published rate. Whatever rate is set will further reduce Apple's profit margin.
Best Prefered Stocks To Buy Right Now: Sprott Physical Silver Trust (PSLV)
Sprott Physical Silver Trust (the Trust) is a closed-end mutual fund trust. The investment objective of the Trust is to seek to provide a secure, convenient and exchange-traded investment alternative for investors interested in holding physical silver bullion without the inconvenience that is typical of a direct investment in physical silver bullion. The Trust focuses to achieve its objective by investing in long-term holdings of unencumbered, fully allocated, physical silver bullion and does not speculate with regard to short-term changes in silver prices. The Trust invests and intends to continue to invest primarily in long-term holdings of unencumbered, fully allocated, physical silver bullion and does not speculate with regard to short-term changes in silver prices. Sprott Asset Management LP (the ��anager�� acts as the manager of the Trust. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Eric Parnell]
It also remains worthwhile to hedge stock allocations to protect against any major downside event along the way. This includes positions with low correlations such as the PIMCO Total Return ETF (BOND) or the PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation Linked Bond ETF (ILB). This also includes allocations that are likely to rally sharply in the event of a stock pullback but can also continue to rise along with the market such as long-term Treasuries (TLT) or Build America Bonds (BAB). And despite the recent thrashing they have endured, the precious metals complex including gold (GLD), silver (SLV), platinum (PPLT) and palladium (PALL) continue to provide attractive long-term portfolio diversification benefits. I remain long all of these metals via the Central GoldTrust (GTU), the Central Fund of America (CEF), the Sprott Physical Silver Trust (PSLV) and the Sprott Physical Platinum and Palladium Trust (SPPP).
- [By Cameron Swinehart]
Going forward I will be looking to add investments on my watchlist and trim other positions. It will be interesting to see how an overweight commodity portfolio will perform relative to the rest of the market.
Cost Basis# SharesCurrent Price% of PortfolioCurrent ValueReturnMetal/Miners Sprott Physical Gold Trust (PHYS)$12.4985$11.043.75%$938.40-13.13%Sprott Physical Silver Trust (PSLV)$7.95125$8.744.37%$1,092.509.04%FreePort-McMoran (FCX)$31.6731$33.874.20%$1,049.976.50%Ishares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF (RING)$13.0695$10.644.04%$1,010.80-22.74%Energy Statoil ASA(STO)$21.7940$22.683.63%$907.203.92%Vanguard Natural Resources LLC (VNR)$27.5636$27.874.01%$1,003.321.11%ConocoPhillips (COP)$63.6822.43$71.006.37%$1,592.5310.31%Agriculture CVR Partner LP (UAN)$26.3630.9$18.932.34%$584.94-39.25%Adecoagro$6.78125$7.443.72%$930.008.87%Archer-Daniels Midland (ADM)$34.8030$37.244.47%$1,117.206.55%Mixed Commodity Powershares DB Commodity Index (DBC)$26.3540$25.954.15%$1,038.00-1.54%Sprott Resource Corp$3.34400$2.714.34%$1,084.00-23.25% Total % of portfolio49.40% Cost Basis12,666.00 Current Value12,348.86 Return-2.50% Source: Investing For The Future Surge In Commodity PricesDisclosure: I am long ADM, FCX, UAN, AGRO, RING, VNR, SCPZF.PK, COP, DBC, PHYS, PSLV. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. (More...)
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