Best Railroad Companies To Own In Right Now

Compounding a lousy earnings report, the departure of the founders of IGT’s social gaming unit Double Down spelled doom for the stock Friday,

Shares of International Game Technology (IGT) sank nearly 15% Friday to $15.04, the second worst performance among companies in the Standard & Poor’s 500 behind railroad Kansas City Southern (KSU). International Game Technology reported earnings Thursday that missed earnings estimates and said its full-year earnings would be at the bottom of its forecasted range.

Then IGT, which produces casino game and wagering equipment and technology,�confirmed the departure of the founders of Double Down, which IGT acquired two years ago for $500 million. Double Down is the third-highest grossing app on Facebook (FB), and the founders could create competition, at some point, write, Janney analysts Brian McGill and Tyler Batory. They add:

“IGT made a significant bet on social gaming with the acquisition of Double Down … growth exceeded expectations until the last two quarters, when the growth rate has slowed rather dramatically. IGT believes it will be successful in the long-run, as it adds its content to the site. The long-term success of online and social gaming is one of the bullish arguments for IGT.”

Hot Financial Companies To Buy Right Now: Hyundai Motor Co (HYMLF.PK)

HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY is a Korea-based automobile manufacturer. Along with its subsidiaries, the Company operates in three business divisions: vehicle division, financial division and other business division. Its vehicle division manufactures passenger cars under the brand names of Centennial, Genesis, Veloster, Azera, Sonata, i40, Elantra, Accent, i30cw, i20, ix20 and others; sport utility vehicles (SUVs) under the brand names of Veracruz, Santa Fe and Tucson, and commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses, special vehicles and bare chassis, as well as provides automobile maintenance services and related components. Its financial division mainly provides automobile financing services and credit card services. Its other business division includes construction of railways and others. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Quoth the Raven]

  It was reported this morning that Hyundai's (HYMLF.PK) CEO, John Krafcik, has gone on the record and said that the U.S. government shutdown could affect the U.S. automobile market negatively. He's made a headline that's been picked up by news organizations across the board this morning. It echoes sentiments from executives at both Ford and GM. Autonews.com reported:

Best Railroad Companies To Own In Right Now: Horsehead Holding Corp.(ZINC)

Horsehead Holding Corp., together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells specialty zinc and zinc-based products in North America. The company?s products include PW zinc metal, which is used to provide a protective coating to various fabricated products, including pipe and guard rails, heat exchangers, and telecommunications towers, as well as for the production of brass; and SSHG zinc metal that is used as feed for the manufacture of high-purity zinc powder and zinc alloys. It also offers zinc oxide for the production of tire and rubber products, chemicals, ceramics, plastics, paints, lubricating oils, and pharmaceuticals. In addition, the company recycles electric arc furnace dust, a hazardous waste generated by steel mini-mills. Further, it provides special zinc powders, which are used in general chemical and metallurgical applications, as well as in friction applications, such as brake linings for automobiles; battery grade zinc powders that are used in alkaline, me rcuric oxide, silver oxide, and zinc-air batteries; and copper-based powders, including brass, bronze, and nickel-silver powders, which are used in various applications comprising brazing, infiltrating, and powdered metallurgical hardware, such as lock bodies, valves, and gears. Additionally, the company offers short-line railroad service for the movement of materials. It primarily serves galvanizers and brass producers; alkaline battery industries; and manufacturers of tire and rubber products, lubricating oils, chemicals, paints, ceramics, plastics, and pharmaceuticals. The company was incorporated in 2003 and is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Leading and Lagging Sectors
  Basic materials shares jumped about 1.72 percent in Monday's trading. Leading the sector was strength from Century Aluminum Co (NASDAQ: CENX) and Horsehead Holding (NASDAQ: ZINC). In trading on Monday, utilities shares dropped by 0.13 percent.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Leading and Lagging Sectors
  Basic materials shares jumped about 1.72 percent in Monday's trading. Leading the sector was strength from Century Aluminum Co (NASDAQ: CENX) and Horsehead Holding (NASDAQ: ZINC). In trading on Monday, utilities shares dropped by 0.13 percent.

Best Railroad Companies To Own In Right Now: Alamo Group Inc. (ALG)

Alamo Group, Inc. provides equipment and related replacement parts for maintenance and agriculture. It offers industrial equipment, such as boom-mounted mowers and other types of cutters for heavy-duty, intensive use applications, including maintenance around highway, airport, recreational, and other public areas; heavy-duty, tractor-and truck-mounted mowing and vegetation maintenance equipment; air, mechanical broom, and regenerative air sweepers along with environmental sweepers, and pothole patchers; and products for excavation, grading, shaping, and other tasks involved in land clearing, road building, or maintenance. The company produces catch basin cleaners and roadway debris vacuum systems; parking lot sweepers; and snow plows and heavy-duty snow removal equipment, hitches and attachments for trucks, loaders, and graders. It offers a line of tractor-powered equipment, such as rotary cutters, finishing mowers, flail mowers, disc mowers, ZTR ride-on mowers, front-end loaders, backhoes, rotary tillers, posthole diggers, and scraper blades; cutting parts, plain and hard-faced replacement tillage tools, disc blades, and fertilizer application components; heavy-duty mechanical rotary mowers, snow blowers, and rock removal equipment; a line of hydraulic, boom-mounted hedge, and grass cutters, as well as other tractor attachments and implements; and hydraulic, boom-mounted hedge and hedgerow cutters, and agricultural seedbed preparation cultivators. The company also provides light-duty power arm mowers and agricultural implements; vacuum trucks, high pressure cleaning systems, and trenchers; and hydraulic and mechanical boom mowers. The company sells its products through a network of independent dealers and distributors, governmental end-users, and related independent contractors, as well as to the agricultural and commercial turf markets in the United States, England, France, Canada, and Australia. The company was founded in 1955 and is based in Seguin, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Garrett Cook]

  In trading on Thursday, industrials shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 0.66 percent. Top gainers in the sector included Alamo Group (NYSE: ALG), up 27.5 percent, and PMFG (NASDAQ: PMFG), up 7.8 percent.

Best Railroad Companies To Own In Right Now: Canterbury Park Holding Corporation(CPHC)

Canterbury Park Holding Corporation conducts pari-mutuel wagering operations and hosts unbanked card games at its Canterbury Park racetrack and card room facility in Shakopee, Minnesota. The company operates in three segments: Horse Racing, Card Room, and Concessions. The Horse Racing segment operates year-round pari-mutuel wagering on simulcast horse races, and live thoroughbred and quarter horse races held on a seasonal basis. The Card Room segment offers unbanked card games, which include poker and casino games. The Concessions segment provides food and beverage services for simulcast and live racing, and the card room, as well as for the special events. The company also offers facilities for special events, such as snowmobile races, arts and crafts shows, trade shows, concerts, fundraisers, automobile shows and competitions, vehicle and boat storage, and private parties. In addition, it provides advertising signage space; leases excess parking lot space for various aut omotive activities and vehicle storage; and sells various daily pari-mutuel publications. Canterbury Park Holding Corporation was founded in 1994 and is based in Shakopee, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Wolfe]

  Lastly, Gabelli increased his position in Canterbury Park Holding (CPHC). Gabelli upped his stake 3.18% by purchasing a total of 13,824 shares. He bought these shares at an average price of $11.11 per share, and since then the price per share is up about 3%. Gabelli now holds 447,944 shares, representing 10.74% of the company�� shares outstanding.