May certainly ended on a confusing note for the broad-based S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC ) , despite tacking on gains for the seventh consecutive month.
Like yesterday, which saw us rise on what I would have deemed somewhat poor economic news, the S&P 500 fell today on what appeared to be upbeat economic data. The Chicago PMI, which is a measure of manufacturing strength in the Midwest, surged to a reading of 58.7 in May, which is a strong reversal from the slight contraction it experienced in April. Furthermore, the final reading on the University of Michigan consumer sentiment index came in at 84.5, and signals that people are more confident in this recovery than they've been in years.
All that data went for naught, however, as the S&P 500 succumbed to the worries that it's come too far, too fast, and tumbled 23.67 points (-1.43%), to close at 1,630.74. In spite of today's downdraft, three companies bucked today's weakness and moved higher.
Diesel and natural gas engine maker Cummins (NYSE: CMI ) turned in a strong gain of 1.7% despite no company-specific news. In this case, I'd postulate that today's move related to the bullish Chicago PMI data, which would suggest that manufacturing activity is picking up, and that the need for newer, more fuel-efficient engines to power trucking fleets will soon follow. Cummins was certainly sitting prettier when natural gas prices were in the $2/mbtu range, but even now looks like a fantastic value, with natural gas prices topping $4/mbtu, given the high prices of traditional gasoline, and the need for trucking companies to save over the long term by investing now in fuel-efficient engines.
Top 5 Trucking Companies To Invest In 2015: Bowl America Inc (BWL.A)
Bowl America Incorporated, incorporated in July 22, 1958, is engaged in the entertainment business. The Company operates in one segment. Its principal source of revenue consists of fees charged for the use of bowling lanes and other facilities and from the sale of food and beverages for consumption on the premises. Merchandise sales, including food and beverages, were approximately 30% of operating revenues. The balance of operating revenues (approximately 70%) represents fees for bowling and related services. During the fiscal year ended July, 1 2012 (fiscal 2012), the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries operated 19 bowling centers. These 19 bowling centers contain a total of 756 lanes. As of September 1, 2012 the Company and its subsidiaries operated 10 bowling centers in the greater metropolitan area of Washington, D.C., one bowling center in the metropolitan area of Baltimore, Maryland, one bowling center in Orlando, Florida, three bowling centers in the metropolitan area of Jacksonville, Florida, and four bowling centers in the metropolitan area of Richmond, Virginia.
These establishments are air-conditioned with facilities for service of food and beverages, game rooms, rental lockers, and meeting room facilities. All centers provide shoes for rental, and bowling balls are provided free. In addition, each center retails bowling accessories. Most locations are equipped for glow-in-the-dark bowling, popular for parties and non-league bowling. The bowling equipment essential for the Company's operation is readily available. Two of the Company's bowling centers are located in leased premises, and the remaining seventeen centers are owned by the Company.
The Company competes with Brunswick Corporation and AMF Bowling Worldwide, Inc.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Fredrik Arnold]
The balance of the top ten included one technology firm, AT&T Inc. (T) in fourth place; one consumer goods, Altria Group Inc. (MO), placed fifth; Bowl America Class A (BWL.A) in seventh place was the lone service dog. Two utilities, Northwest Natural Gas (NWN), and Consolidated Edison (ED), in ninth and tenth places completed the representation of market sectors in the champions index.
Top 5 Trucking Companies To Invest In 2015: GTx Inc.(GTXI)
GTx, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of small molecules for the treatment of cancer, cancer supportive care, and other serious medical conditions. The company markets FARESTON (toremifene citrate) 60 mg tablets for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer in postmenopausal women primarily through wholesale drug distributors in the United States. It is developing selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs), including Ostarine (GTx-024), which has completed Phase II clinical trial for the prevention and treatment of muscle wasting in patients with non-small cell lung cancer; and CapesarisTM (GTx-758), a selective estrogen receptor alpha agonist that has completed Phase IIa clinical trial for the first line treatment of advanced prostate cancer. In addition, the company is developing estrogen receptor beta agonists and other novel compounds that are in preclinical development stage for the treatment of metabo lic diseases, ophthalmic diseases, cancer, psoriasis, and/or pain. The company was founded in 1997 and is headquartered Memphis, Tennessee.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Paul Ausick]
GTX Inc. (NASDAQ: GTXI) is down 66.9% at $1.38 after posting a new 52-week low of $1.31 earlier today. The biopharmaceutical maker�� shares collapsed on news of a failed trial for its muscle drug.
Top Integrated Utility Companies For 2015: Tower Group Inc.(TWGP)
Tower Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides commercial, specialty, and personal property and casualty insurance products and services to businesses in various industries and to individuals in the United States. The company offers commercial multiple-peril packages that comprise property, liability, business interruption, equipment breakdown, fidelity, and inland marine coverages; workers? compensation policies; commercial and personal automobile policies; personal packages; and mono-line commercial general liability and commercial umbrella policies for individuals and business owners. It also writes commercial fire and allied lines policies for the protection of commercial buildings; and inland marine insurance protection for the property of businesses that is not at a fixed location and for items of personal property that are easily transportable, including builders risk, contractors? equipment and installation, domestic transit and transportation, fine arts, property floaters, and leased property. In addition, the company provides homeowners and personal dwellings policies, which offer property and liability coverages for one and two-family, and owner-occupied residences; and additional coverage to the homeowner for personal umbrella and personal inland marine. Further, it offers various services, such as underwriting, claims administration, operational and technology services for other insurance companies. The company markets its products and services through its independent retail, wholesale, and program underwriting agents. Tower Group, Inc. was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in New York, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Levisohn]
Today, however, investors are having none of it. As of 1:42 p.m., just three Dow components are in the red, and even the defense contractors are gaining, despite the fact that the government shutdown doesn’t look to be ending. Boeing (BA), for instance has gained 2.9% to $117.74, and United Technologies (UTX) has advanced 2.3% to $105.16. And if I’ve counted correctly, just 17 S&P-500 stocks are now in negative territory–led higher by companies such as Best Buy (BBY), which has gained 7.3% to $38.90 after Stifel Nicolaus said more people expecting to shop in its stores, and Invesco (IVZ), which has risen 4.9% to $33.75 after saying assets-under-management grew. Even Tower Group International (TWGP), the seriously troubled insurer, is up p 9.9% at $4.10.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Back in my trading days, a disembodied voice would come over the speakers on the floor reminding us “not to catch a falling knife” whenever a stock was in free fall. I’m reminded of that now as I watch shares of Tower Group International (TWGP) tumble this morning.
- [By Monica Gerson]
(c) 2013 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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Top 5 Trucking Companies To Invest In 2015: U.S. Geothermal Inc. (HTM)
U.S. Geothermal, Inc. engages in the acquisition, development, and utilization of geothermal resources in the western region of the United States. It constructs and manages power plants that utilize geothermal resources to produce energy. The company operates two power plants, including the Raft River geothermal power project located in the Raft River area of southern Idaho; and a 3.6 MW operating geothermal power plant and approximately 30,734.21 acres of geothermal energy leases and certain ground water rights located north of Reno, Nevada. It also holds interests in the Neal Hot Springs project located in eastern Oregon, which is under construction; Raft River project with 10 parcels comprising 783.93 acres of fee land and 4,736.79 acres of contiguous leased geothermal rights located on private property in Cassia County, Idaho; and lease contracts for approximately 21,905 acres of land and geothermal rights located in the San Emidio Desert, Nevada. In addition, the comp any has a geothermal lease contract for Granite Creek assets comprising approximately 2,443 acres of land and geothermal water rights located in the northwestern Nevada; and owns a geothermal concession consisting of 24,710 acres located southwest of Guatemala City, the Republic of Guatemala. Further, it has a joint venture agreement for geothermal rights for 3,615 acres located in northwestern Nevada. U.S. Geothermal, Inc. was founded in 2002 and is based in Boise, Idaho.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
In addition, there are some other good articles (U.S. Geothermal: When Opportunity Knocks.... (HTM)�and U.S. Geothermal is a "Buy"... For the Right Kind of Investor (HTM)) about U.S. Geothermal Inc that were just published on our site. So I won�� recover the same territory and there appears to be no news to explain yesterday�� jump.
- [By Bryan Murphy]
It's fun to be right, particularly when it has to do with stock-picking. Sometimes though, being right can be a real pain in the @#$%. Case in point? U.S. Geothermal Inc. (NYSEMKT:HTM). It was only two days ago that yours truly deemed HTM was a good-looking "buy" for true long-termers. Then today happens... a 27% rally that should have wise investors - even those who stepped into U.S. Geothermal with a long-term mindset - at least thinking about locking in their profits and walking away with a quick score. After all, you can always buy HTM back later.
Top 5 Trucking Companies To Invest In 2015: Destination Maternity Corporation(DEST)
Destination Maternity Corporation engages in the design and retail of maternity apparel. It offers casual and career wear, formal attire, lingerie, sportswear, and outerwear. As of September 30, 2011, the company operated 2,352 retail locations, including 658 stores in 50 states of the United States (U.S.), Puerto Rico, Guam, and Canada; and 1,694 leased departments located within department stores and baby specialty stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. It operates stores under the Motherhood Maternity, A Pea in the Pod, and Destination Maternity names. Motherhood Maternity brand serves the value-priced portion of the maternity apparel business with stores located in regional malls, strip and power centers, and central business districts. A Pea in the Pod brand serves the medium-priced and luxury portion of the maternity apparel business with stores located in regional malls, lifestyle centers, central business districts, and stand-alone stores. Destination Maternity brand provides Motherhood and Pea merchandise with stores located in regional malls and lifestyle centers. The company also sells its merchandise on the Internet through DestinationMaternity.com and brand-specific Web sites. In addition, Destination Maternity Corporation offers Two Hearts Maternity by Destination Maternity collection at Sears stores in the U.S. through a leased department relationship. Further, the company distributes its Oh Baby by Motherhood collection through a license arrangement at Kohl?s stores in the U.S. and through Kohls.com. Additionally, it had 66 international franchised locations comprised of 15 stand-alone stores in the Middle East and South Korea under the Destination Maternity name; and 51 shop-in-shop locations in India and South Korea. The company was formerly known as Mothers Work, Inc. and changed its name to Destination Maternity Corporation in December 2008. Destination Maternity Corporation was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Philad elphia, Pennsylvania.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Seth Jayson]
Calling all cash flows
When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Destination Maternity (Nasdaq: DEST ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below. - [By Marc Bastow]
Maternity apparel designer and retailer Destination Maternity (DEST) raised its quarterly dividend 6.7% to 20 cents per share, payable on Mar. 28 to shareholders of record as of Mar 7.
DEST Dividend Yield: 2.96%
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