My top idea for conservative, income-oriented investors in the coming year is a closed-end fund that invests in public and privately-held companies doing work in the life sciences arena, writes Nate Pile of Nate's Notes.
The life sciences industry includes stocks in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, managed healthcare and medical equipment, and healthcare information technology and services.
This recommended fund��ambrecht & Quist Life Sciences Fund (HQL)��as also our top pick last year, and the fund rose 44% in 2013.
In addition to rising in value, the fund has a dividend policy of paying out 2% of its net asset value of each quarter.
By choosing to take this payout in the form of a dividend reinvestment, rather than cash, investors have done very well for themselves as they've watched, both the size of their holdings, and the share price itself, increase as the years have rolled by.
To be sure, you will always be able to get more bang for your buck by owning individual biotech stocks.
Best Gas Utility Stocks To Buy For 2015: mCig Inc (MCIG)
MCIG, INC. (mCig), incorporated on December 30, 2010, is a development-stage company. The Company is a technology company. The Company focused on two long-term secular trends sweeping the globe: the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana for medicinal or recreational purposes and the adoption of electronic vaporizing cigarettes (eCigs).
The mCig provides a smoking experience by heating (not burning) plant material, waxes, and oils delivering a smoother inhalation experience. As of October 31, 2013, the Company did not generate any revenues.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jason Shubnell]
He also discussed MCIG (OTC: MCIG), a relatively new company that has developed a legal marijuana vaporizer, similar to the e-cig. The mCig heats plant material instead of burning it, providing a superior method of consumption that is much smoother, according to the company's website. The product sells for $10, while the stock itself has a market cap of $35 million.
- [By Joel Elconin]
One such example is mCig (OTC: MCIG).
��CIG started off with a $10 vape pen," he said. "They almost envision themselves as being the Apple of the industry. CEO and founder Paul Rosenberg [is] strictly a businessman, he owns about half the stock. He then brought on some talent and gave them his stock to help the company. Why? Because he knows the stock is overvalued, but if you can [evolve a company] without diluting your shareholders, that's what I mean by doing the right thing.��/p>
- [By John Udovich]
After marijuana, the electronic cigarette sector and e-Cig stocks or industry players�like�Reynolds American, Inc (NYSE: RAI), mCig Inc (OTCBB: MCIG), Victory Electronic Cigarettes Corp (OTCMKTS: ECIG) and American Heritage International Inc (OTCBB: AHII) is looking like the next hot niche sector for investors. However, electronic cigarette stock investors should be aware of the following�recent good and bad news from the sector that needs to be digested:
Hot Information Technology Stocks To Own For 2014: Chilean Metals Inc (CMX)
Chilean Metals Inc, formerly International PBX Ventures Ltd., is an exploration-stage company. The Company is engaged in exploring for gold, silver, copper and molybdenum on its various properties located in Chile through its wholly owned subsidiaries in Chile, Minera IPBX Limitada, Minera Tierra de Oro Limitada, Minera Palo Negro Limitada and Minera Sierra Pintada Limitada. The Company owns 100% interest in Copaquire Project. The Copaquire property is approximately 20 kilometer west of the Collahuasi mine and 8 kilometer west of the Quebrada Blanca copper-molybdenum mine properties. The Tierra de Oro property lies about 30 kilometers south of the Candelaria copper-gold-silver mines. Through its 100% owned Chilean Metals Exploration Ltd. the Company owns six Gold-Copper properties strategically located in the prolific IOCG belt of Chile. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Johanna Bennett]
It�� a good day for auto dealer stocks. CarMax (CMX) got engines revving on Wall Street when it posted blowout quarterly results. And Goldman Sachs upgraded AutoNation (AN) from Neutral to Buy and set a six-month price target of $65, citing the company�� growth prospects, margins and balance sheet.
The AutoNation upgrade was actually part of a broader industry call by analysts Patrick Archambault and David Tamberrino. In a 32-page note published today,�the pair raised estimates for auto dealers, citing increased SAAR projections for 2014 through 2016 and growth opportunity�� from M&A. Archambault and Tamberrino write:
The combination of these factors drives up our 2015/2016 EPS estimates to 2.4% and 6.1% above the Street which we believe is understating the sector�� growth potential. M&A is the key growth opportunity. About 2 points of our 3% profit revision comes from M&A. With $2.4bn of dry powder, a still very fragmented dealer group, and reasonable valuations on the private side we think the risk is to the upside for acquisitions. M&A has added 2.4% to dealer revenue growth annually over the past 5 years which we assume continues.
AutoNation rose 2.7% to $58.04, while CarMax surged 15.6% to $52.32
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Hot Information Technology Stocks To Own For 2014: Alaska Communications Systems Group Inc.(ALSK)
Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. provides integrated communications services primarily in Alaska. The company operates in two segments, Wireline and Wireless. The Wireline segment offers voice, broadband data, internet access, long distance, and other communications products and services; local exchange network and network connectivity solutions; voice and broadband termination services to inter and intrastate carriers; and multi-protocol label switching, metro Ethernet, network access, and other information technology infrastructure hosting and management services. This segment serves business customers; multi-national corporations; municipal, state, and federal governments; residential customers; small and medium sized businesses; governmental entities; and other telecommunications carriers. The Wireless segment provides facilities-based voice, data, and other value-added services, as well as equipment sales services; and operates 14 retail stores. As of Decembe r 31, 2011, its wireless network supported approximately 118,000 connections. Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dan Radovsky]
For what that means to a telecom operating in the 49th state, read what Alaska Communications (NASDAQ: ALSK ) CEO Anand Vadapalli touted during his company's second quarter 2012 earnings conference call after it got the iPhone:
- [By Equities Lab]
The stocks that currently pass the stock screen in order of market cap are Frontier Communications Corp , Crown Media Holdings (CRWN), Vonage Holding (VG), MCG Capital Corp (MCGC), 1-800-FLOWERS.COM (FLWS), MTR Gaming Corporation (MNTG), Alaska Communications (ALSK), and Enzon Pharmaceuticals (ENZN).
Hot Information Technology Stocks To Own For 2014: Molina Healthcare Inc (MOH)
Molina Healthcare, Inc., incorporated on July 24, 2002, provides medicaid-related solutions. The Company operates in two segments: Health Plans and Molina Medicaid Solutions. The Company's Health Plans segment consists of health plans in California, Florida, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin, and includes the Company's direct delivery business. The Company's Molina Medicaid Solutions segment provides design, development, implementation, and business process outsourcing solutions to state governments for their Medicaid Management Information Systems (MMIS).As of December 31, 2012, Health Plans segment served approximately 1.8 million members eligible for Medicaid, Medicare, and other government-sponsored health care programs for low-income families and individuals. In June 2013, Molina Healthcare Inc announced that, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Molina Center LLC, it has successfully completed a sale and lease back transaction with the dedicated net lease group of Angelo, Gordon & Co (AG).
The health plans are operated by the Company's wholly owned subsidiaries in those states, each of which is licensed as a health maintenance organization (HMO). The Company's direct delivery business consists of 24 primary care clinics in California, Florida, New Mexico, and Washington, and the Company manages three county-owned primary care clinics under a contract with Fairfax County, Virginia. The Company's Health Plans segment derives its revenue principally in the form of premiums received under Medicaid contracts with the states in which the Company's health plans operate. All of the Company's health plans operate on a single managed care platform for claims processing (the QNXT 4.8 system). MMIS is a core tool used to support the administration of state Medicaid and other health care entitlement programs. Molina Medicaid Solutions holds MMIS contracts with the states of Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, New Jersey, and West Virginia, as well as a contract to provide d! rug rebate administration services for the Florida Medicaid program. The Company arranges health care services for its members through contracts with providers that include independent physicians and groups, hospitals, ancillary providers, and its own clinics. The Company's network of providers includes primary care physicians, specialists and hospitals. The Company contracts with both primary care physicians and specialists many of whom are organized into medical groups or independent practice associations (IPAs).
The Company develops specialized disease management programs that address the particular health care needs of its members. motherhood matters! sm is a comprehensive program designed to improve pregnancy outcomes and enhance member satisfaction. breathe with ease! is a multi-disciplinary disease management program that provides health education resources and case management services to assist physicians caring for asthmatic members between the ages of three and 15. Healthy Living with Diabetes is a diabetes disease management program. Heart Health Living is a cardiovascular disease management program for members who have suffered from congestive heart failure, angina, heart attack, or high blood pressure. The Company provides its members with information to guide them through various episodes of care. This information, which is available in several languages, is designed to educate parents on the use of primary care physicians, emergency rooms, and nurse call centers. The Company's pharmacy management programs focus on physician education regarding appropriate medication utilization and encouraging the use of generic medications. The Company's pharmacists and medical directors work with the Company's pharmacy benefits manager to maintain a formulary that promotes both improved patient care and generic drug use. The Company provides certain centralized medical and administrative services to its health plans pursuant to administrative services agreements, including medical affairs a! nd qualit! y management, health education, credentialing, management, financial, legal, information systems, and human resources services.
The Company competes with HP Enterprise Services, ACS, Computer Services Corporation, and CNSI.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sean Williams]
If you want a ray of sunshine in this mess, look no further than either WellPoint (NYSE: WLP ) or Molina Healthcare (NYSE: MOH ) . Both companies have a stronghold in California with WellPoint's Blue Cross Blue Shield and Molina's low-cost and Medicaid-sponsored plans offering ample choices in the early going for consumers. Although early enrollment in California was disappointing, the expectation all along has been that it would pick up as we get closer to coverage enrollment cutoff date. With few signs of exchange problems in California I'd look for these two companies to impress investors moving forward.
- [By Daniel Jennings]
The White House was planning a massive Obamacare marketing effort with the help of unions and nonprofit groups. That effort has apparently been put on the backburner.
The Obamacare news didn't help UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH). Its share price fell by .017 percent in mid-day trading on Wednesday. Yet it seemed to help WellPoint (NYSE: WLP). The operator of the Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans saw its share price rise by .01% on Wednesday . A smaller operator of healthcare plans, Molina Healthcare (NYSE: MOH) saw its share price fall.
Hot Information Technology Stocks To Own For 2014: Barrett Business Services Inc.(BBSI)
Barrett Business Services, Inc. provides business management solutions in the United States. The company offers human resource management services in areas comprising payroll processing, employee benefits and administration, human resource management, risk management, and workers? compensation coverage areas. It also provides professional employer organization services, which include employee benefits, health insurance, workers? compensation coverage, workplace safety programs, federal and state employment laws compliance, labor and workplace regulatory requirements, and related administrative services; and payroll administrative services, such as payroll processing, payroll taxes, and human resource consulting services. In addition, the company provides staffing services, including on-demand or short-term staffing assignments, contract staffing, long-term or indefinite-term on-site management, direct placement, and human resource administration services. It serves elect ronics manufacturers; various light-manufacturing industries; forest products and agriculture-based companies; transportation and shipping enterprises; food processing; telecommunications; public utilities; general contractors in various construction-related fields; and professional services firms. Barrett Business Services, Inc. was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Washington.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Duprey]
The much smaller Barrett Business Services (NASDAQ: BBSI ) has done even better, soaring 154% over the last 12 months.
While that might suggest the opportunity to invest in them has passed, I believe their biggest gains are still ahead. While tentativeness among employers about whether the economy is really improving is helping employers to hire more temp workers, the coming implementation of Obamacare will fuel it further. Even with the employer mandate portion of the law being pushed out past the midterm elections to 2015 instead of going into effect on January 1, that just means more companies will be hiring more temp workers for a longer period of time to get below the thresholds the health-care law imposes.
Hot Information Technology Stocks To Own For 2014: Ocera Therapeutics Inc (OCRX)
Ocera Therapeutics, Inc., formerly Tranzyme, Inc., incorporated on January 12, 1998, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing mechanism-based therapeutics for the treatment of upper gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders. The Company is developing TZP-102, an oral ghrelin agonist for treating the symptoms associated with chronic upper GI motility disorders. Enrollment is complete in a multinational Phase-IIb trial evaluating TZP-102 given once daily in diabetic patients with gastroparesis. The Company has initiated a second Phase-IIb trial (DIGEST) evaluating TZP-102 given prior to meals in diabetic patients with gastroparesis. On July 15, 2013, Ocera Therapeutics, Inc. merged with the Company.
Ulimorelin (Intravenous Ghrelin Agonist)
Ulimorelin is an intravenous ghrelin agonist in Phase III clinical development for the acceleration of postoperative GI recovery. Ulimorelin is designed to accelerate the return of normal GI function in patients suffering from acute GI disorders. In addition to the ongoing trials, the Company has completed multiple trials of ulimorelin.
TZP-102 (Oral Ghrelin Agonist)
TZP-102 is an orally-administered ghrelin agonist, which it is developing for diabetic gastroparesis, an upper GI motility disorder. Gastroparesis is a debilitating, chronic condition characterized by slow or delayed gastric emptying and gastric retention that can be caused by any disease that induces neuromuscular dysfunction of the GI tract, notably diabetes.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Monica Gerson]
Ocera Therapeutics (NASDAQ: OCRX) plummeted 16.01% to $13.80. Ocera Therapeutics shares have jumped 158.33% over the past 52 weeks, while the S&P 500 index has gained 23.35% in the same period.
- [By Jon C. Ogg]
Ocera Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: OCRX) was started as Buy with a $19.00 price target at Stifel Nicolaus. This represents 62% upside to the $11.70 closing price. This positive call is based on a best-in-class mechanism action of its lead product candidate against hepatic encephalopathy in patients with acute and chronic liver disease.
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