For all the talk of a crisis at the start of the month, February ended up being the best period for global markets since July.
Stocks, bonds and commodities rose together in February for the first time in seven months, reversing January's losses in equities and raw materials. The S&P 500 Index has closed at a record for two straight days, erasing losses from January spurred by concern economic turmoil would spread from emerging markets as the Federal Reserve began reducing stimulus efforts.
(See also: Advisers must answer for emerging-markets rout as U.S. stocks rally)
10 Best Logistics Stocks For 2016: Fidelity National Financial Inc. (FNF)
Fidelity National Financial, Inc. provides title insurance, mortgage services, and diversified services in the United States. The company provides title insurance, escrow, and other title related services, including collection and trust activities, trustee’s sales guarantees, recordings, and reconveyances, as well as home warranty insurance to various customers in the residential and commercial market sectors of the real estate industry. It is also involved in the design, manufacture, remanufacture, market, and distribution of aftermarket and original equipment electrical components for automobiles, light trucks, heavy-duty trucks, and other vehicles worldwide. In addition, the company owns and operates restaurants comprising the O'Charley's, Ninety Nine Restaurants, Max & Erma's, Village Inn, Bakers Square, and Stoney River Legendary Steaks concepts in the United States. Fidelity National Financial, Inc. is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]
Getty Images One of the joys we have as parents is teaching our three kids about money. With the oldest being just 6, a big part of that revolves around her piggy bank. Whenever she gets a small amount of money, it goes in there, and we talk with her about the importance of saving, giving, and having some to spend on things she wants, which is usually along the lines of a gumball. With a piggy bank, you put money in and take it out. It's a fairly simple tool, and it's great for what it's used for. A 401(k), on the other hand, is a great tool to save for retirement. But increasingly, 401(k)s are being used as something they aren't -– piggy banks. Startling Statistics Recent studies show that Americans are increasingly pilfering from their 401(k) accounts. With the economy being the way it has been since the financial crisis, that's understandable on one level, but the choice can put your retirement plans on a slippery slope. According to the IRS, $57 billion was withdrawn prematurely from 401(k) accounts in 2011 -- up 37 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars from 2003. You could argue that if a person needed the money to survive, then an early withdrawal from a 401(k), even with the tax penalty, is better than other options. That would be right -- to a point. The most disconcerting number, in my opinion, is that younger individuals are withdrawing the most. According to a Fidelity (FNF) study, nearly 40 percent of workers between 20 and 39 are cashing out their 401(k) plans when they change jobs. There could be many reasons for this, but the Fidelity study points out that many don't see the need to roll over their old 401(k)s when the amount being considered is "only" several thousand dollars or a little more. Add that to those people who take out 401(k) loans to fund such things as real estate purchases, and it paints a worrisome picture. The Real Purpose of a 401(k) To a degree that it hasn't for decades, the burden of retirement planning now fall
10 Best Diversified Bank Stocks To Invest In 2015: Brandenburg Energy Corp (BBM)
Brandenburg Energy Corp. is engaged in the business of acquiring and exploring oil and gas properties. The Company��s properties include Holloman Cooper Basin Joint Venture, VG Mineral Claims, Senn Property, Exploration License No. 0932, Labana Property and African Properties. The Senn Property earns a 100% interest on the Senn Block of mineral claims (the Senn Property) located in the District of Kenora, Ontario, Canada. The Uganda-based East African Gold Sniffing Company Limited (EA Gold) is a holder of Mineral Exploration License No. 0932 (EL 0932) covers about two square kilometers. EL 0932 lies 287 kilometers southwest of the Ugandan capital, Kampala, 29 kilometers north of the city of Kasese, in Kasese province. The Labana Property consists of four oil and gas blocks in the Republic of Niger, which includes Dibeilla 1, Dibeilla 2, Dalo, and Mandaram. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Muhammad Bazil]
The value of BlackBerry��s stock was at $7.44 as of yesterday��s (Jan. 1, 2014) close. Although this is still a far cry from its 52-week peak of $18.32, it does represent a month-long recovery coming shortly after the launch of its new BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) application for iPhones and Android devices.
10 Best Diversified Bank Stocks To Invest In 2015: Yum! Brands Inc.(YUM)
YUM! Brands, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a quick service restaurant company in the United States and internationally. It develops, operates, franchises, and licenses a system of restaurants, which prepare, package, and sell various food items, as well as operates Chinese casual dining concept restaurants. The company?s restaurants specialize in chicken, pizza, and Mexican-style food categories. It operates approximately 37,000 restaurants in 110 countries and territories under the KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell brands, as well as approximately 450 casual dining concept restaurants in China. The company was formerly known as TRICON Global Restaurants, Inc. and changed its name to YUM! Brands, Inc. in May 2002. YUM! Brands, Inc. was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rick Aristotle Munarriz]
Taco Bell/AP There will be a new player in the escalating battle for breakfast on Thursday when Yum Brands' (YUM) Taco Bell rolls out its new morning menu, and the stakes are huge. McDonald's (MCD) is the name that most people associate with breakfast fast food. Ever since it introduced the Egg McMuffin in 1972, the world's largest burger flipper has set the bar for convenient morning meals for people on the go. The Waffle Taco will likely be Taco Bell's signature breakfast item. The taco-shaped waffle wrapped around a sausage patty, scrambled eggs and cheese turned heads when it was tested in select locations late last year. However, it's just one of the many items wooing commuters. Naturally there will be eggy breakfast burritos and grilled tacos with either bacon or sausage. The A.M. Crunchwrap gives a morning spin to the Crunchwrap Supreme by blanketing hash browns, scrambled eggs and either bacon or sausage in a pressed and folded flour tortilla. Tough Competition McDonald's is struggling these days, but it's still a fierce competitor when it comes to the first meal of the day. Just ask Burger King (BKW), which finds itself copying McDonald's more often than not, including hotcakes served with sausage and the Egg McMuffin. Just ask Wendy's (WEN), which retreated from its nationwide breakfast menu a couple of years ago. It's starting to work its way back in by introducing breakfast in some markets. Even Starbucks (SBUX) has been feeling the threat of McDonald's as the burger giant beefs up its McCafe line, offering guests drive-thru convenience that many Starbucks locations cannot. Earlier this month Starbucks ran a three-day promotion where it offered free coffee to anyone ordering a breakfast sandwich. It was meant to remind customers that it offers more than just java. Breakfast seems like an easy decision for a fast food leader. Who wouldn't want to milk more revenue out of a location by extending its operating hours? However, with Wendy's coming
- [By Michael Lewis]
Plenty of U.S. companies are at risk as well. For example,�Yum! Brands� (NYSE: YUM ) , the owner of fast-food chains KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut, has weathered a slowdown in its formerly highflying Asian business. But a massive asset sell-off in China would hurt the company substantially -- likely more than the Doritos Locos Taco can make up for. Luxury-goods companies have enjoyed fantastic stock rises on the back of endless demand for their items in China and other Asian nations. Take Michael Kors (NYSE: KORS ) , for example. The stock is up 160% since its IPO in late 2011. It's not Americans who are driving the growth, and it's certainly not the Europeans -- it's almost a pure play on Asian appetite for brands.�
- [By Johanna Bennett]
But look ahead at 2015, Kalinowski and Kidd��s top picks are Yum Brands (YUM) and Papa John��s International (PZZA).
Papa John��s has risen 25% during the past 12 months. Today, the shares rose 2.3% to $57.12.
- [By John Casteele]
In good company
McDonald's isn't the only fast-food company that's feeling the pinch at the moment. Burger King Worldwide (NYSE: BKW ) , Wendy's, and Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM ) (parent of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and KFC) have all had their share of downward pressure in recent quarters.
10 Best Diversified Bank Stocks To Invest In 2015: Medical Marijuana Inc (MJNA.PK)
Medical Marijuana Inc. (MJNA), incorporated on May 23, 2005, is the publicly held company vested in the medical marijuana and industrial hemp markets. The Company is comprised of a diversified portfolio of products, services, technology and businesses solely focused on the cannabis and hemp industries. These products range from patented based cannabinoid products, to whole plant or isolated high value extracts specifically manufactured and formulated for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmeceutical industries. In March 2013, it sold certain equipment and inventory, web domain names, phone numbers, and all existing and pending agreements with hemp production and processing facilities to CannaVEST Corp.
The Company��s services are varied, ranging from medical clinic management to the capitalization and development of existing industry business and product leaders. Services include development of cannabinoid based health and wellness products, and the development of medical grade compounds. MJNA provides over 50 and patented cannabinoid delivery methods that are more socially and medically acceptable than smoking.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Alan Brochstein]
Taking into account all of the data I have shared, I want to introduce my take on the most important names to follow. My initial list takes into account not only the market cap, but also business model and interest level. These are the stocks that I think merit the most attention (in alphabetical order):
CannaVest (CANV.OB)GW Pharma (GWPH)MedBox (MDBX.PK)Medical Marijuana, Inc. (MJNA.PK)CANV doesn't really trade, as it is held closely by insiders (99.7%, including MJNA). I have a few concerns, including the valuation and some near-term financial challenges typical of a start-up with just one client looking to expand its customer base, but I like the focus and the fact that it is an SEC filer with a relatively clean history (i.e. none of the baggage of some of these other companies). I have spoken to its outsourced CFO and am impressed by his background (has been CFO or held key financial roles at publicly-traded healthcare companies). CANV is the partner to MJNA that is responsible for manufacturing the CBD (Cannibidiol, the cannabinoid in marijuana that is increasingly viewed as offering substantial medical benefits). I am very concerned about the near-term financials, but this is a pure-play with probably a two-year lead over other companies. I don't see a moat in terms of intellectual property or brands, but they have a good lead in terms of sourcing of supply and penetration into potential customers. Quite simply, they don't appear to have competition at present. The company, then, is a call option on CBD demand taking off. It appears that it could be a supplier to even Big Pharma should medical marijuana research move into the mainstream.
10 Best Diversified Bank Stocks To Invest In 2015: Alliance Capital Management Holding L.P. (AB)
AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. provides investment management and related services in the United States and internationally. It offers institutional services, including separately-managed accounts, sub-advisory relationships, structured products, collective investment trusts, mutual funds, hedge funds, and other investment vehicles to unaffiliated corporate and public employee pension funds, endowment funds, domestic and foreign institutions, and governments. The company also provides retail services comprising retail mutual funds, sub-advisory relationships with mutual funds sponsored by third parties, and separately managed account programs sponsored by various financial intermediaries and other investment vehicles. In addition, it provides separately managed accounts, hedge funds, mutual funds, and other investment vehicles for private clients, including high-net-worth individuals, trusts and estates, charitable foundations, partnerships, and private and family corporat ions. Further, AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. offers research services to institutional investors through research, portfolio analysis, and brokerage-related services; and equity capital markets services to issuers of publicly-traded securities. Additionally, it provides distribution, shareholder servicing, and administrative services to its sponsored mutual funds. AllianceBernstein Corporation serves as the general partner of the company. AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. was founded in 1987 and is based in New York, New York. AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. operates as a subsidiary of AXA.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By J. Royden Ward]
AllianceBernstein Holding LP (AB) offers high quality research and diversified investment services to institutional investors and private clients in major global markets. The company is one of the largest US investment advisors, with assets under management totaling $445 billion, as of January 31.
- [By Dan Caplinger]
In the following video, Dan Caplinger, The Motley Fool's director of investment planning, goes through a few situations where an IRA rollover might not be ideal. Dan notes that Franklin Templeton (NYSE: BEN ) , AllianceBernstein (NYSE: AB ) , Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS ) , and other companies often offer cheaper class of mutual funds that would otherwise carry sales loads or higher fees outside a 401(k). Dan also talks about company stock and the special rules for 401(k)s that own it, as well as the importance of looking at overall fees to decide if your 401(k) is the best place to invest or whether an IRA rollover will help you more.
- [By Inyoung Hwang]
Investors had declared the stock of AllianceBernstein Holding LP (AB) a loser. From Jan. 1, 2010, to Aug. 23, 2012, it had declined 43 percent compared with a 33 percent gain for the Standard & Poor��s 500 Index. Nevertheless, on that day, Credit Suisse Group AG analyst Craig Siegenthaler lifted his rating on the New York-based money manager��s shares to a buy.
10 Best Diversified Bank Stocks To Invest In 2015: Realty Income Corporation(O)
Realty Income Corporation engages in the acquisition and ownership of commercial retail real estate properties in the United States. The company leases its retail properties primarily to regional and national retail chain store operators. As of December 31, 2006, it owned 1,955 retail properties located in 48 states, covering approximately 16.7 million square feet of leasable space. The company also held a portfolio of 60 properties through its wholly owned subsidiary, Crest Net Lease, Inc. (Crest), as of the above date. Realty Income Corporation has elected to be treated as a real estate investment trust (REIT) under the Internal Revenue Code. As a REIT, it would not be subject to federal income taxes provided it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income to its shareholders. The company was founded in 1969 and is based in Escondido, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Adam Aloisi]
While a more conservative triple net REIT like Realty Income (O) engages in leaseback transactions with time tested, mundane industries such as drug stores, auto parts distributors, and restaurants, DLR, a public entity for less than 10 years, is building somewhat specialized structures with raised floors to accommodate miles of wiring and hundreds of electronic components. Looking long-term, though trends would indicate that growth here will sustain, I'd argue that technological evolution and data compaction could lessen the need for gigantic data centers at some point in the future.
- [By Brad Thomas]
It seems that Mr. Market has seen the mispriced risk associated with MPW's differentiated higher risk value proposition. Simply said, it makes no sense to invest in a REIT that pays out a dividend yield of 5.3% when it's acquiring properties at 9%. In other words, I can buy shares in Realty Income (O) today ($47.73) and get a 4.7% dividend yield with much less risk.
- [By David Dittman]
Answer: Realty Income Corp (NYSE: O) and WP Carey & Co (NYSE: WPC), up to 45 and 55, respectively.
Question: Bell Alliant Inc (TSX: BA, OTC: BLIAF) has been weak/flat even though the overall market has been strong. Great dividend; is it solid? Is it worth continuing to hold?
10 Best Diversified Bank Stocks To Invest In 2015: King George Financial Corp (KGF)
King George Financial Corporation is a Canada-based company. The Company operates in the area of commercial and residential real estate investment holding and development, as well as medium to long term investment in real estate and hotel related marketable securities. The Company has four segments: rental operation, real estate development, management and finance services, and others. Its principle assets include an office building in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, held through its 100% subsidiary 905 W. Pender Investments Ltd; real estate located in the City of Surrey, British Columbia, held through its subsidiary 0819277 BC Ltd, 0788607 BC Ltd, and 50% ownership interest in Surrey Campus Residences Joint Venture. The real estate assets consist of residential building lots, and investment in common shares of Allied Hotel Properties Inc., a hotel ownership and management company, and United Malayan Land BHD (UML), a Malaysian real estate development company. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sofia Horta e Costa]
Kingfisher Plc (KGF) declined 5.7 percent to 373.6 pence, its biggest loss in more than two years, after Chief Executive Officer Ian Cheshire said consumer confidence in France ��is still weak with no obvious signs of an imminent improvement.�� Europe��s largest home-improvement retailer also reported same-store sales growth of 0.4 percent for its B&Q chain in the U.K. and Ireland, missing analysts�� estimates. France accounted for about 40 percent of its sales and the U.K. for 41 percent, data compiled by Bloomberg showed.