Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-A ) (NYSE: BRK-B ) has its swagger back. Its shares have zoomed ahead as worries about Warren Buffett's health and Berkshire's size fade into the rearview mirror. Meanwhile, 30,000 investors from around the globe will pour into Omaha for this weekend's annual meeting to celebrate and bask in Buffett's glow.
But it's not all Cherry Cokes and peanut brittle. Smiling faces will turn serious when Berkshire's own investors begin peppering Buffett and longtime partner Charlie Munger with tough questions about Berkshire's future. Fanning the flames will be a panel of additional questioners including savvy financial media members, Wall Street analysts, and even a designated bear, Doug Kass, all of whom will pull no punches.
The stakes for Berkshire investors grow higher each year -- Buffett is aging and Berkshire is swelling. That is why the Fool has dispatched a team to scenic Omaha to deliver rapid-fire coverage and commentary that you can follow exclusively at www.Berkshire.Fool.com.
Top 5 Performing Companies To Own In Right Now: Primerica Inc.(PRI)
Primerica, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the distribution of financial products on behalf of third parties to middle income households in the United States and Canada. The company operates in three segments: Term Life Insurance, Investment and Savings Products, and Corporate and Other Distributed Products. The Term Life Insurance segment underwrites term life insurance products. The Investment and Savings Products segment distributes mutual funds, variable annuities, fixed annuities, and segregated funds. The Corporate and Other Distributed Products segment provides mortgage loans, which include debt consolidation or refinance, and purchase money loans; unsecured loans; prepaid legal services that assist subscribers with legal matters, such as drafting wills, living wills and powers of attorney, trial defense, and motor vehicle-related matters; mail-order student life products; short-term disability benefit insurance; and auto and homeowners? insurance products. The company was founded in 1927 and is based in Duluth, Georgia.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Duprey]
Private equity investor Warburg Pincus has been a shareholder in term life insurance underwriter Primerica� (NYSE: PRI ) since its IPO in 2010. However, the financial products marketer will be buying back all of the holdings Warburg Pincus owns for $154.7 million. That translates into�almost�2.5 million shares of common stock�and warrants that �are�exercisable for 4.1 million shares.
Top 5 Warren Buffett Companies To Watch For 2014: TPC Group Inc.(TPCG)
TPC Group Inc. produces and sells value-added products derived from petrochemical raw materials to chemical and petroleum based companies in North America. The company operates in two segments, C4 Processing and Performance Products. The C4 Processing segment offers butadiene that is primarily used to produce synthetic rubber used in tires and other automotive products; butene-1, which is principally used in the manufacture of plastic resins and synthetic alcohols; raffinates that are primarily used to manufacture alkylate; and methyl tertiary butyl ether, which is principally used as a gasoline blending stock. The Performance Products segment provides high purity isobutylene, which is primarily used in the production of synthetic rubber, lubricant additives, surfactants, and coatings; conventional polyisobutylenes and highly reactive polyisobutylenes that are principally used in the production of fuel and lubricant additives, caulks, adhesives, sealants, and packaging; di isobutylene, which is primarily used in the manufacture of surfactants, plasticizers, and resins; and nonene and tetramer that are principally used in the production of plasticizers, surfactants, and lubricant additives. The company was formerly known as Texas Petrochemicals Inc. and changed its name to TPC Group Inc. in January 2010. TPC Group Inc. was founded in 1943 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By CRWE]
TPC Group Inc. (Nasdaq:TPCG), a leading fee-based processor and service provider of value-added products derived from niche petrochemical raw materials, reported that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement with investment funds sponsored by First Reserve Corporation, a leading global investment firm dedicated to the energy industry, and SK Capital Partners, a U.S. based private investment firm focused on the chemicals sector.
Top 5 Warren Buffett Companies To Watch For 2014: On Assignment Inc.(ASGN)
On Assignment, Inc., a diversified professional staffing firm, provides flexible and permanent staffing solutions in the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The company?s Life Sciences segment provides contract and permanent life science professionals to clients in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, personal care, chemical, medical device, automotive, municipal, education, and environmental industries. Its contract professionals include chemists, clinical research associates, clinical lab assistants, engineers, biologists, biochemists, microbiologists, molecular biologists, biostatisticians, drug safety specialists, SAS programmers, medical writers, food scientists, regulatory affairs specialists, lab assistants, and other skilled scientific professionals. The company?s Healthcare segment offers locally-based and traveling contract professionals that include nurses, specialty nurses, respiratory therapists, surgical technicians, imaging technicians, X-ray technicians, medical technologists, medical assistants, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, respiratory therapists, phlebotomists, coders, billers, claims processors, and collections staff, as well as dental professionals. This segment serves hospitals, integrated delivery systems, imaging centers, clinics, physician offices, reference laboratories, universities, managed care organizations, and third-party administrators. Its Physician segment provides short and long-term locum tenens services, and full-service physician search and consulting services. The company?s IT and Engineering segment offers high-end contract and direct placement services of information technology and engineering professionals with expertise in specialized information technology; software and hardware engineering; and mechanical, electrical, validation, and telecommunications engineering fields. On Assignment, Inc. was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Calabasas, Cali fornia.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
Despite a lukewarm economy and jobs situation, the staffing industry along with small cap staffing stocks like On Assignment, Inc (NYSE: ASGN), Kforce Inc (NASDAQ: KFRC) and up and coming Staffing 360 Solutions Inc (OTCBB: STAF) have actually put in pretty decent performances since the end of the financial crisis. I should mention that globally, staffing companies generate about $280 billion in annual revenue and there�are approximately 70,000 private employment services agencies around the world with the top 10 companies accounting for about a third of total industry sales while in the USA there are an estimated 15,000 staffing companies generating less than $20 million in revenues. Overall, Europe is the largest regional staffing services market with 40% of annual revenue, followed by the United States.
Top 5 Warren Buffett Companies To Watch For 2014: Lagardere SCA (MMB)
Lagardere SCA is a France-based media group principally engaged in the publishing sector. The Company operates through four business segments. Lagardere Publishing, the Company's book publishing and e-publishing business carried out under the name of Hachette Livre, publishes educational works, general literature, illustrated books, practical guides and works for the youth market. Lagardere Active encompasses the Company's publishing, audiovisual (radio, television, audiovisual production), digital media and advertising sales brokerage businesses. Lagardere Services takes care of the distribution of the newspaper, communication and leisure. Lagardere Unlimited is the division specialized in the sport industry and entertainment businesses and is active via six subsidiaries: Sportfive, IEC in Sports, Upsolut, Prevent, among others. In April 9, 2013, it sold all of its 7.4% stake in EADS. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Namitha Jagadeesh]
BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) and Rio Tinto Group, the world�� largest mining companies, advanced at least 3.5 percent. Repsol SA increased the most in a month after saying it discovered natural gas in Algeria. Lagardere SCA (MMB) lost the most in four months after selling its stake in European, Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co.
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