Friday, May 31, 2013

What Are the City's Expectations for HSBC Holdings?

LONDON -- When weighing up a potential investment, we need to look forward rather than backwards. If you buy a stake in a business, it's the future profits that count -- and the stock market will value your shares based on future expectations.

With that in mind, it can be helpful to review what expert City analysts are expecting a company to earn in the coming years. These expectations can be compared to the share price, to give you a better idea of how the stock market is valuing the business.

Today I'm looking at the earnings per share (EPS) forecasts for HSBC  (LSE: HSBA  ) (NYSE: HBC  ) , the FTSE 100 banking giant. All my figures are courtesy of S&P Capital IQ.

Analysts expect HSBC's profits to be 65 pence per share this year. This means that compared to today's share price of 736 pence, the market is valuing HSBC's shares on a forward price-to-earnings multiple of 11.

Looking ahead, the consensus then calls for an improvement in HSBC's earnings to 69 pence per share for 2014 before jumping to 75 pence in 2015. The data indicates HSBC's revenues meanwhile might grow more slowly however, from £68 billion currently to £74 billion by 2015, annual growth of around 2.3%.

The analyst forecasts for HSBC range far less wildly than estimates for the likes of Lloyds and RBS, where far greater speculative elements enter into analysis. But does this indicate that HSBC is less complex, and a good buy at the current price, or is it just as difficult to value as the other banks?

Whether these projections and the current valuation make the shares of HSBC "fairly priced" is for you to decide.

While HSBC's 4.6% prospective dividend yield is impressive, if you're looking for an even higher-yielding investment, you may want to take a look at "The Motley Fool's Top Income Stock for 2013."

The Fool's choice recently revealed its dividend would increase "at least in line with the rate of U.K. inflation," and provides a market-beating 5% yield.

Just click here to download your free report!

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Top 10 Consumer Service Companies For 2014

Last year, Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX  ) sent a warning shot across Green Mountain Coffee Roasters'� (NASDAQ: GMCR  ) nose with the introduction of the Verismo brewing system. As the latter's K-Cup patent expired and generics flooded the market, investors ran for the hills with the idea of do-no-wrong Howard Schulz moving his company in direct competition. Now, another home-brew innovator may be shaking in its boots as Starbucks has begun offering a new product in select stores. Should SodaStream (NASDAQ: SODA  ) investors fear the Seattle juggernaut?

Starbucks soda?
Most are aware that Starbucks has branched out beyond the typical coffee and espresso offerings. The company offers energy-infused fruit beverages, smoothies, and a full line of accessories in thousands of locations. It's part of the reason that Howard Schulz may be the most beloved CEO in the country. At least, his shareholders think so.

Top 10 Consumer Service Companies For 2014: Tesla Exploration Ltd (TXL.TO)

Tesla Exploration Ltd., a geophysical services company, provides specialized seismic services to the oil and gas exploration industry primarily in North America, Europe, and Africa. It offers three component (3C) technologies for full wave seismic recording services. The 3C technology helps its clients acquire shear wave seismic data in addition to the pressure wave data captured and processed for seismic imaging. The company also provides geophysical services, including survey design and management; seismic data acquisition; seismic data processing and reprocessing; seismic data interpretation; in-seam seismic data acquisition, processing, and interpretation; coal bed methane and gob gas assessments; borehole geophysics, processing, and interpretation; and site investigation geophysics, acquisition, processing, and interpretation. In addition, it offers survey services, which comprise geophysical survey services; precision navigation and survey service support; and data p rocessing, interpretation, and analysis of geological and archaeological resources, as well as involved in the rental of acquisition equipment. The company provides its services to oil and gas exploration and production companies, and marine construction contractors, as well as to the mining industry and engineering firms for environmental applications and mining applications. Tesla Exploration Ltd. was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

Top 10 Consumer Service Companies For 2014: Generac Holdlings Inc. (GNRC)

Generac Holdings Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets a range of generators and other engine powered products for the residential, light commercial, industrial, and construction markets in the United States and Canada. It offers generators and other products fueled by natural gas, liquid propane, gasoline, diesel, and Bi-Fuel under the Generac and Magnum brands. The company�s product line includes residential power products, commercial and industrial power products, and other products. Its residential power products comprise automatic residential standby generators that range in output from 6kW to 60kW; air-cooled residential standby generators, which range in outputs from 6kW to 20kW; and liquid-cooled generators that range in outputs from 20kW to 60kW. The residential power product line also includes portable generators consisting of GP series ranging from 1,850W to 17,500W for homeowners; the XG series ranging from 4,000W to 10,000W for the premium homeowner market; the XP series ranging from 4,000W to 8,000W for the professional contractor market; and the iX series ranging from 800W to 2,000W for the recreational market. The company�s industrial and commercial power products comprise light-commercial standby generators ranging from 22kW to 150kW for grocery stores, convenience stores, restaurants, gas stations, pharmacies, retail banks, and healthcare facilities; single-engine industrial generators, which range in output from 10kW to 600kW; and generator systems ranging from 20kW air-cooled generators to 3mW modular power system for the telecommunications market, as well as aftermarket service parts and RV generators. The company sells its generators through independent residential and industrial dealers, wholesalers, national accounts, private label arrangements, retailers, catalogs, e-commerce merchants, equipment rental companies and dealers, and construction companies. Generac Holdings Inc. was founded in 1959 and is headquartere d in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

5 Best Safest Stocks To Invest In Right Now: ANSYS Inc (ANSS)

ANSYS, Inc. (ANSYS) develops and globally markets engineering simulation software and services used by engineers, designers, researchers and students across a range of industries and academia, including aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, electronics, biomedical, energy and defense. The Company distributes its ANSYS suite of simulation technologies through a global network of independent resellers and distributors (collectively, channel partners) and direct sales offices in global locations. The Company�� product portfolio consists of ANSYS Workbench, multiphysics product, structural mechanics, fluid dynamics, explicit dynamics, electromagnetic, system simulation, simulation process and data management, academic, high-performance computing (HPC), geometry interfaces, meshing and Apache design low-power electronic solutions. On August 1, 2011, the Company acquired Apache Design, Inc.

ANSYS Workbench

ANSYS Workbench is the framework upon which the Company�� suite of advanced engineering simulation technologies is built. The ANSYS Workbench platform delivers productivity, enabling Simulation Driven Product Development.

Multiphysics

The Company�� multiphysics product suite allows engineers and designers to create virtual prototypes of their designs operating under multiphysics conditions. ANSYS multiphysics software enables engineers and scientists to simulate the interactions between structural mechanics, heat transfer, fluid flow and electromagnetics all within a single, engineering simulation environment.

Structural Mechanics

The Company�� structural mechanics product suite offers simulation tools for product design. These tools have capabilities that cover a range of analysis types, elements, contacts, materials, equation solvers and coupled physics capabilities all focused towards understanding and solving complex design problems.

Fluid Dynamics

The Company�� fluid dynamics product suit! e offers modeling of fluid flow and other related physical phenomena. Fluid flow analysis capabilities provide all the tools needed to design new fluids equipment and to troubleshoot already existing installations. The fluid dynamics product suite contains general-purpose computational fluid dynamics software and specialized products to address specific industry applications.

Explicit Dynamics

The Company�� explicit dynamics product suite simulates events involving short-duration, large-strain, large-deformation, fracture, complete material failure or structural problems with complex interactions. This product suite is used for simulating physical events that occur in a short period of time and may result in material damage or failure.

Electromagnetics

The Company�� electromagnetics product suite provides field simulation software for designing high-performance electronic and electromechanical products. The software streamlines the design process and predicts performance - all prior to building a prototype - of mobile communication and Internet-access devices, broadband networking components and systems, integrated circuits (IC) and printed circuit boards (PCB), as well as electromechanical systems such as automotive components and power electronics equipment.

System Simulation

The Company delivers the ability to perform complete simulation studies as a system for some of the product designs. This is accomplished through a complete set of physics solutions that are integrated into a multiphysics capabilities set. A collaborative simulation environment provides modeling scalability for evaluating entire systems, including three dimensional (3-D) high-fidelity models, multibody dynamics, circuit reduced-order models, and any combination of these.

Simulation Process and Data Management

ANSYS Engineering Knowledge Manager (ANSYS EKM) is a solution for simulation-based process and data management. ANSY! S EKM pro! vides solutions to all levels of a company, enabling an organization to address the issues associated with simulation data, including backup and archival, traceability and audit trail, process automation and intellectual property protection.

Academic

The Company�� academic product suite provides a portfolio of academic products based on several usage tiers: associate, research and teaching. Each tier includes various noncommercial products that bundle a range of physics and advanced coupled field solver capabilities. The academic product suite provides entry-level tools intended for class demonstrations and hands-on instruction. It provides flexible terms of use and more complex analysis suitable for doctoral and post-doctoral research projects. The Company also provides a product suitable for student use at home.

High-Performance Computing

The Company�� HPC product suite enables insight into product performance. The HPC product suite delivers cross-physics parallel processing capabilities for the full spectrum of the Company�� simulation software by supporting structural, fluids, thermal and electromagnetic simulations in a single HPC solution.

Geometry Interfaces

The Company offers geometry handling solutions for engineering simulation in an integrated environment with direct interfaces to all CAD systems, support of additional readers and translators. It also offers an integrated geometry modeler focused on analysis.

Meshing

Creating a mesh that transforms a physical model into a mathematical model is a critical and foundational step in almost every engineering simulation study. The Company�� meshing technology provides a means to balance these requirements, obtaining the right mesh for each simulation in the most automated way possible.

Apache Design Low-Power Electronic Solutions

The Company�� suite of Apache software delivers power analysis and optimization pl! atforms a! long with integrated methodologies that provide capabilities for managing the power budget, power delivery integrity, and power-induced noise in an electronic design, from initial prototyping to system sign-off. These solutions deliver correlation to silicon measurement, and the capacity to handle an entire electronic system, including IC, package, and PCB.

Top 10 Consumer Service Companies For 2014: Loring Ward Intl Ltd (LW.TO)

Leisureworld Senior Care Corp., through its subsidiaries, provides long-term care (LTC) services in Ontario, Canada. As of July 17, 2012, it owned and operated 27 LTC homes in Ontario with 4,474 beds; and 6 retirement residences and 1 independent living residence in Ontario and British Columbia. The company�s homes provide professional nursing and personal support services for community-based home healthcare and LTC homes; and purchasing services, as well as dietary, social work, and other regulated health professional services to homes. It provides long-term care homes for people who do not need to be in a hospital but can not be cared for at home or in an assisted living facility due to illness, injury, frailty, or other limitations. Leisureworld Senior Care Corp. was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Markham, Canada.

Top 10 Consumer Service Companies For 2014: United Overseas Australia Ltd (EH5.SI)

United Overseas Australia Limited engages in the construction, development, and resale of residential and commercial land and buildings primarily in Australia and Malaysia. It is also involved in the investment of rental properties; and investment of UOA real estate investment trust. The company, formerly known as United Overseas Securities Limited, was founded in 1987 and is based in Osborne Park, Australia.

Top 10 Consumer Service Companies For 2014: Kermode Resources Ltd. (KLM.V)

Kermode Resources Ltd. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of natural resource properties. It primarily explores for gold and silver deposits. The company's principal assets include the Eastgate Gold Project located east of Fallon in Churchill County, Nevada, the United States; the Buzz Lake Gold Project situated in the famed Snow Lake Camp in central Manitoba, Canada; and the Jackson's Arm Gold Deposit located in Newfoundland, Canada. The company is based in Vancouver, Canada.

Top 10 Consumer Service Companies For 2014: Kraton Performance Polymers Inc (KRA)

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. engages in the production of styrenic block copolymers (SBCs) and other engineered polymers worldwide. The company offers highly-engineered synthetic elastomers that enhance the performance of various end use products by imparting flexibility, resilience, strength, durability, and processability. It also provides isoprene rubber products for use in the production of medical products, adhesives, tackifiers, paints, coatings, and photo-resistors; and isoprene rubber latex, a substitute for natural rubber latex that are used in surgical gloves and condoms. In addition, the company is involved in the development and commercialization of polyvinyl chloride alternatives for wire, cable, and medical applications; polymers for use in slush molding; and membrane polymers for use in water filtration and breathable fabrics. Further, it offers core commercial grades of SBCs; unhydrogenated SBCs, which are primarily used in paving and roofing, adhesive s, and sealants and coatings, as well as footwear applications; hydrogenated SBCs, which are used in soft touch and flexible materials, personal hygiene products, and automotive components; and compounds, other polymers, resins, oils, or fillers that are used in various consumer and industrial applications. Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. markets its products through various channels, including direct sales force, marketing representatives, and distributors under the Kraton, Cariflex, and Nexar brand names. The company was formerly known as Polymer Holdings LLC and changed its name to Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. in December 2009. Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Top 10 Consumer Service Companies For 2014: Lean Hogs (HE)

Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc., through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in electric utility and banking businesses primarily in Hawaii. The company is involved in the production, purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity from renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, photovoltaic, geothermal, wave, hydroelectric, sugarcane waste, municipal waste, and other biofuels, as well as from fuel oil. It distributes and sells electricity on the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, and Molokai; and serves suburban communities, resorts, the United States armed forces installations, and agricultural operations. As of December 31, 2011, the company had net generating and firm purchased capability of 2,326.9 megawatts. It also engages in providing banking and other financial services, such as accepting savings accounts, checking accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit; and providing loans comprising residential and commercial real es tate, residential mortgage, construction and development, multifamily residential and commercial real estate, consumer, and commercial loans to consumers and business. The company operated 57 branches and 119 automated teller machines. Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. was founded in 1891 and is based in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Top 10 Consumer Service Companies For 2014: Med Biogene Inc. (MBI.V)

Med BioGene Inc., a life science company, engages in the development and commercialization of genomic-based clinical laboratory diagnostic tests. The company�s products include LungExpress Dx, a gene expression-based test for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer that analyzes the molecular profile of a patient�s tumor to provide information to assist in tailoring treatment for that specific patient; and LymphExpress Dx, a gene expression-based microarray diagnostic test for common subtypes of lymphoma. It has collaboration agreement with the University of Ottawa Heart Institute for gene expression-based blood tests for cardiovascular disease. The company also has collaboration agreements with the University Health Network and Duke University. Med BioGene Inc. was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Top 10 Consumer Service Companies For 2014: Meghmani Organics Limited (M30.SI)

Meghmani Organics Limited engages in manufacturing, selling, distributing, and trading pigments and agrochemicals. The company offers pigment products, including Phthalocynine Green 7, copper phthalocynine blue, alpha blue, and beta blue pigments used in various applications, such as printing inks, plastics, rubber, paints, textiles, leather, and paper. It also provides agrochemical products in the categories of pesticide intermediates, technical grade pesticides, and pesticide formulations, which are used in crop protection, public health, termite and insect control, and veterinary applications. The company sells its products directly, as well as through a network of stockists, agents, distributors, and dealers. Meghmani Organics Limited offers its products to customers in India, North America, Europe, Central and Latin America, the Asia-Pacific, South Africa, and Brazil. The company was formerly known as Gujarat Industries. Meghmani Organics Limited was founded in 1986 a nd is based in Ahmedabad, India.

5 Best Beverage Stocks For 2014

It isn't just tiny stocks that are delivering exciting investment returns these days. PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP  ) , for example, surprised investors last week by turning in sizzling results.

The snack and beverage giant reported a 12% rise in profits on a 4% jump in revenue. Pepsi's food division was the star of the show, booking higher sales and expanded market share. After a healthy bounce on the earnings release Pepsi's stock is now up better than 20% this year -- or twice the market's return.

With that strong performance in mind, lets take a look at a few more dividend stocks that have the potential to trounce the market.

Home products
Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG  ) has been stuck playing defense for more than a year. After a rough period of underperformance, the company turned to cutting costs and has been clawing back the market share it had lost to rivals. But P&G is in the middle of an aggressive push for sales growth, with several new product launches, along with a big marketing campaign to back it all up. The company's stock yields 3% even after a 20% run so far in 2013. And it's valued at just 18 times earnings. Both of those stats beat smaller rival Clorox, which yields 2.9% and has a P/E ratio of 21.

5 Best Beverage Stocks For 2014: Molson Coors Brewing Company(TAP)

Molson Coors Brewing Company brews, markets, sells, and distributes beer brands. It sells its products in Canada, under the Coors Light, Molson, Rickard's Red, Carling, Pilsner, Keystone Light, Creemore Springs, and Granville Island brands. The company also brews or distributes products under license from third parties, which include Heineken, Amstel Light, Murphy's, Asahi, Asahi Select, Miller Lite, Miller Genuine Draft, Miller Chill, Milwaukee's Best, Milwaukee's Best Dry, and Foster's. In addition, it imports, distributes, and markets the Corona, Coronita, Negra Modelo, and Pacifico brands, through a joint venture agreement with Grupo Modelo. Further, the company sells various brands in the United States, which include Coors Light, Miller Lite, Coors Banquet, Miller Genuine Draft, MGD 64, Miller Chill, Sparks, Miller High Life, Miller High Life Light, Keystone Light, Icehouse, Mickey's, Milwaukee's Best, Milwaukee's Best Light, Old English 800, Blue Moon, Henry Weinhard 's, George Killian's Irish Red, Leinenkugel's, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Pilsner Urquell, Grolsch, Coors Non-Alcoholic, and Sharp's. Additionally, it sells various brands in the United Kingdom comprising Carling, C2, Coors Light, Worthington's, White Shield, Caffrey's, Kasteel Cru, and Blue Moon, as well as various regional ale brands. The company also sells the Grolsch brands through a joint venture with Royal Grolsch N.V. and the Cobra brands through a joint venture called Cobra Beer Partnership Ltd.; and distributes brands sold under license, including Corona, Coronita, Negra Modelo, Pacfico, Singha, and Magners Draught Cider. In addition, it markets and sells Zima, Si'hai, Coors Gold, and Coors Extra brands to various international markets. The company was formerly known as Adolph Coors Company and changed its name to Molson Coors Brewing Company as a result of its merger with Molson Inc. in February 2005. Molson Coors Brewing Company was founded in 1873 and is headquartere d in Denver, Colorado.

5 Best Beverage Stocks For 2014: Central European Distribution Corp (CEDCQ)

Central European Distribution Corporation (CEDC), incorporated on September 4, 1997, operates primarily in the alcohol beverage industry. CEDC is a producer of vodka and is Central and Eastern Europe�� integrated spirit beverages business. During the year ended December 31, 2011, as measured by total volume, the Company produced and distributed approximately 33.2 million nine-liter cases . The Company�� business primarily involves the production and sale of its own spirit brands (principally vodka), and the importation on a basis of a range of spirits, wines and beers. Its primary operations are conducted in Poland and Russia. In addition the Company also has operations in Hungary and Ukraine. CEDC has six manufacturing facilities located in Poland and Russia. On February 7, 2011, the Company completed purchasing of the remaining stake of the Whitehall Group.

CEDC is an importer of spirits, wines and beers in Poland, Russia and Hungary. The Company maintains import contracts for a number of internationally recognized brands, including Jim Beam Bourbon, Campari, Jagermeister, Remy Martin Cognac, Corona, Budweiser (Budvar), E&J Gallo wines, Carlo Rossi wines, Sutter Home wines, Metaxa Brandy, Sierra Tequila, Teacher�� Whisky, Cinzano, Old Smuggler, Grant�� Whisky and Concha y Toro wines. In addition to its operations in Poland, Russia, and Hungary the Company has Ukraine and distribution agreements for its vodka brands in a number of key export markets including the United Kingdom, Ukraine, the Baltics and the CIS for Green Mark, Zhuravli, Parliament and Zubrowka, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, France for Zubrowka and many other Western European countries. In 2011, exports represented 11% of its sales by value.

Poland

In Poland, CEDC is the vodka producers with a brand portfolio that includes Absolwent, Zubrowka, Zubrowka Biala, Bols, Palace and Soplica brands, each of which it produces at its Polish distilleries. It produces and sells vodka! s primarily in three vodka sectors: premium, mainstream, and economy. The Company owns two production sites in Poland: one in Oborniki and one in Bialystok. In the Oborniki distillery, it produces the Bols and Soplica vodka brands, among other spirit brands. In Bialystok it produces Absolwent and Zubrowka. Zubrowka is also exported out of Poland to many markets around the world, including the United States, England, Japan and also France. In addition to the Absolwent and Zubrowka brands, in Bialystok it produces the Zubrowka Biala brand. The Company has rights to import and distribute approximately 70 brands of spirits, wine and beer into Poland. It also provides marketing support to the suppliers. During 2011, the Company sold approximately 10.7 million nine-liter cases of vodka, wine and spirits through its Polish business during 2011 including both its own produced vodka brands as well as its exclusive agency import brands. During 2011, the Company sold approximately 191 thousand nine-liter cases of Zubrowka outside of Poland. During 2011, the Company�� Polish operations accounted for 26.3% of its revenue.

Russia

CEDC produces Green Mark in Russia and the sub-premium vodkas in Russia, Parliament and Zhuravli. During 2011 the Company introduced new brands to the Russian market Talka, Sotka and Silver Blend. The Company also produces Yamskaya, the economy vodka in Russia, and premixed alcohol drinks, or long drinks. The Company also owns Whitehall, which holds the exclusive rights to the import of such leading premium wine and spirit brands as Concha y Toro, Paul Masson, Robert Mondavi, DeKuyper, Jose Cuervo and Label 5. In addition to these import activities, Whitehall has distribution centers in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Rostov as well as a wine and spirits retail network located in Moscow. During 2011, the Company�� Russian operations accounted for 70.2% of its revenue. During 2011,the Company produced and sold approximately 16.6 million nine-liter cases of vodka th! rough its! Russian business in the main vodka segments in Russia: premium, sub-premium, mainstream, economy and cheap. In addition it produced and sold approximately 2.8 million nine-liter cases of long drinks.

Hungary

The Company sells Royal Vodka in Hungary through its Bols Hungary subsidiary. The imported brands to Hungary include Bols Vodka, Zubrowka, Royal Vodka, Campari, Cinzano, Jaegermeister, Bols Liqueurs, Cointreau, Carolans, Galliano, Irish Mist, Jose Cuervo, Calvados Boulard, Remy Martin, Metaxa, St Remy, Grant��, Glenfiddich, Tullamore Dew and Old Smuggler.

Top Services Stocks To Buy Right Now: Pepsico Inc.(PEP)

PepsiCo, Inc. engages in the manufacture, marketing, and sale of foods, snacks, and carbonated and non-carbonated beverages worldwide. The company operates in four divisions: PepsiCo Americas Foods (PAF); PepsiCo Americas Beverages (PAB); PepsiCo Europe; and PepsiCo Asia, Middle East, and Africa (AMEA). The PAF division offers Lay?s and Ruffles potato chips, Doritos and Tostitos tortilla chips and dips, Cheetos cheese flavored snacks, Fritos corn chips, Quaker Chewy granola bars, and SunChips multigrain snacks in North America; Quaker oatmeal, Aunt Jemima mixes and syrups, Cap?n Crunch cereal, Quaker grits, and Life cereal, as well as Rice-A-Roni, Pasta Roni, and Near East side dishes in North America; and various snack foods under Doritos, Marias Gamesa, Cheetos, Ruffles, Emperador, Saladitas, Sabritas, and Lay?s brands in Latin America. The PAB division provides carbonated soft drinks, beverage concentrates, fountain syrups, and finished goods under Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, 7UP, Tropicana Pure Premium, Electropura, Sierra Mist, Epura, and Mirinda brands; ready-to-drink tea, coffee, and water products through joint ventures with Unilever and Starbucks; and sells concentrate to authorized bottlers, and branded finished goods directly to independent distributors and retailers. This division also manufactures third-party brands, such as Dr Pepper, Crush, Rock Star, and Muscle Milk. The PepsiCo Europe division offers Frito Lay Snacks, Pepsi-Cola beverages, Gatorade sports drinks, Tropicana juices, and Quaker foods in Europe. The AMEA division provides snack food under the Lay?s, Kurkure, Chipsy, Doritos, Smith?s, Cheetos, Red Rock Deli, and Ruffles brands; Quaker-brand cereals and snacks; and beverage concentrates, fountain syrups, and finished goods under the Pepsi, Mirinda, 7UP, and Mountain Dew brands. PepsiCo, Inc. was founded in 1898 and is headquartered in Purchase, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Chuck]

    PepsiCo Inc. is a strong defensive play with steady and stable growth and dividend yield. It provides investors with a place to park low-risk capital.

    The stock has had a tight trading range in the last year. It is extremely liquid and has a liquid options market.

    Let’s buy our exposure while the market is weak overall, but use the market to help average into this one. If you want to invest 3% of your low-risk portfolio, let’s buy 2% at market now.

    For the last third, let’s put in a limit order at 5% below your first fill.

    Pepsi also makes a great covered-call vehicle. The stock is not going to run away from us if we cap our near-term upside, and if it did, we can always repurchase it on weakness.

  • [By Steven Goldberg]

    PepsiCo (PEP, $82.51, 2.6%) will likely never catch up with number one Coca-Cola (KO) in the soft drink business, but it is the dominant player globally in salty snacks. Brands include Lay's, Ruffles, Doritos, Cheetos and Tostitos, not to mention Quaker Oatmeal, Rice-a-Roni, Gatorade and Tropicana. The stock trades at a somewhat pricey 17 times estimated year-ahead earnings.

  • [By JON C. OGG]

    Pepsico, Inc. (NYSE: PEP) was most recently at $64.67 and the analyst community price target is $76.67.  Investors get a 3.2% dividend here and its shares are down 10% from its 52-week high. The price to book value is 4 and its return on equity is about 28%.  S&P has an “A” rating its local long-term system.  Pepsi is often considered to be more like Coca-Cola, but its snack food business gives it at least some of the same aspects of Kraft.  CEO Indra Nooyi has been performing well and growing its international operations.  We would not expect for Pepsi to break itself up.

  • [By Hesler]

    PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP) engages in the manufacture, marketing, and sale of foods, snacks, and carbonated and non-carbonated beverages worldwide. The company has raised distributions for 39 years in a row. The 10 year annual dividend growth rate is 13%/year. The last dividend increase was 7.30% to 51.50 cents/share. Analysts are expecting that PepsiCo will earn $4.65/share in 2012. I expect that the quarterly dividend will reach 55 cents/share in 2012. Yield: 3.20%

5 Best Beverage Stocks For 2014: Fomento Economico Mexicano SAB de CV (FMX)

Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (FEMSA), incorporated on May 30, 1936, is a holding company. The Company conducts its operations through principal holding companies, each of which it refers to as a principal sub-holding company. These companies are Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V. (Coca-Cola FEMSA), which engages in the production, distribution and marketing of soft drinks, and FEMSA Comercio, S.A. de C.V. (FEMSA Comercio), which operates convenience stores. The Company�� convenience store chain OXXO operated a total of 7,492 stores as of March 31, 2010. Compania Internacional de Bebidas, S.A. de C.V. (CIBSA) owns a 53.7% interest in Coca-Cola FEMSA. On April 30, 2010, FEMSA announced the closing of the transaction, pursuant to which FEMSA agreed to exchange 100% of its beer operations conducted by FEMSA Cerveza for a 20% economic interest in the Heineken Group. In February 2009, Coca-Cola FEMSA acquired with The Coca-Cola Company the Brisa bottled water business in Colombia from Bavaria, a subsidiary of SABMiller. Coca-Cola FEMSA acquired the production assets and the rights to distribute in the territory, and The Coca-Cola Company obtained the Brisa brand.

Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V.

Coca-Cola FEMSA is a bottler of Coca-Cola trademark beverages. Coca-Cola FEMSA operates in various territories, including Mexico, a substantial portion of central Mexico (including Mexico City and the states of Michoacan and Guanajuato) and southeast Mexico (including the Gulf region); Central America, including Guatemala (Guatemala City and surrounding areas), Nicaragua (nationwide), Costa Rica (nationwide) and Panama (nationwide); Colombia; Venezuela; Argentina, including Buenos Aires and surrounding areas, and Brazil, including the area of greater Sao Paulo, Campinas, Santos, the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, the state of Minas Gerais and part of the state of Goias.

Coca-Cola FEMSA produces, markets and distributes Coca-Cola trademark beverages, own brands and b! rands licensed from the Company. The Coca-Cola trademark beverages include sparkling beverages (colas and flavored sparkling beverages), water, and still beverages (including juice drinks, ready-to-drink teas and isotonics). Out of the more than 100 brands and line extensions of beverages sold and distributed by Coca-Cola FEMSA, its most important brand, Coca-Cola, together with its line extensions, Coca-Cola light, Coca-Cola Zero and Coca-Cola light caffeine free, accounted for 61.4% of total sales volume during the year ended December 31, 2009. Coca-Cola FEMSA�� next largest brands, Ciel (a water brand from Mexico), Fanta (and its line extensions), Sprite (and its line extensions), ValleFrut and Hit, accounted for 10.5%, 5.8%, 2.6%, 1.5% and 1.3%, respectively, of total sales volume in 2009. Coca-Cola FEMSA uses the term line extensions to refer to the different flavors in which it offers its brands.

Coca-Cola FEMSA produces, markets and distributes Coca-Cola trademark beverages in each of its territories in containers authorized by The Coca-Cola Company, which consist of a variety of returnable and non-returnable presentations in the form of glass bottles, cans and plastic bottles made of polyethylene terephtalate (PET). Coca-Cola FEMSA uses the term presentation to refer to the packaging unit in which it sells its products. Presentation sizes for its Coca-Cola trademark beverages range from a 6.5-ounce personal size to a 3-liter multiple serving size. For all of its products excluding water, Coca-Cola FEMSA considers a multiple serving size as equal toor larger than one liter. In addition, it sells some Coca-Cola trademark beverage syrups in containers designed for soda fountain use, which it refers to as fountain. It also sells bottled water products in bulk sizes, which refers to presentations equal to or larger than five liters, which have a much lower average price per unit case than its other beverage products.

In Mexico, Coca-Cola FEMSA�� product portfolio consis! ts of Coc! a-Cola trademark beverages, and includes Mundet trademark beverages licensed from FEMSA in some Mexican territories. Coca-Cola FEMSA�� product sales in Latincentro consist predominantly of Coca-Cola trademark beverages. Per capita consumption of its sparkling beverages products in Colombia and Central America was 92 and 146 eight-ounce servings, respectively, in 2009. Its product portfolio in Venezuela consists of Coca-Cola trademark beverages. Sparkling beverages per capita consumption of its products in Venezuela was 174 eight-ounce servings during 2009. Coca-Cola FEMSA�� product portfolio in Mercosur consists mainly of Coca-Cola trademark beverages, and the Kaiser beer brand in Brazil, which Coca-Cola FEMSA sells and distributes on behalf of FEMSA Cerveza. Sparkling beverages per capita consumption of its products in Brazil and Argentina was 214 and 359 eight-ounce servings, respectively, in 2009.

The Company competes with Pepsi Beverage Company, Grupo Embotelladores Unidos, S.A.B. de C.V., Grupo Jumex, Groupe Danone, Cadbury Schweppes, Big Cola, Consorcio AGA, S.A. de C.V., Postobon, Florida Ice and Farm Co. S.A., Cerveceria Nacional, S.A., Pepsi-Cola Venezuela, C.A., AmBev and Quilmes Industrial S.A.

FEMSA Comercio, S.A. de C.V.

FEMSA Comercio operates a chain of convenience stores in Mexico, under the trade name OXXO. OXXO stores are concentrated in the northern part of Mexico, but also have a presence in central Mexico and the Gulf coast. FEMSA Comercio is the largest single customer of FEMSA Cerveza and of the Coca-Cola system in Mexico. During 2009, a typical OXXO store carried 1,954 different store keeping units (SKUs) in 31 main product categories.

The Company competes with 7-Eleven, Super Extra, Super City, Circle-K and AM/PM.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jon Markman]

    Renowned trader, journalist and money manager Jon Markman finished one spot ahead of La Monica last year thanks to Hershey‘s (NYSE:HSY) 20% returns. This year, he’s trading in the sweets for emerging market pick Fomento Economico Mexicano (NYSE:FMX), often referred to asFemsa.

    While Markman thinks the U.S. will struggle with austerity in the coming months, he also believes that if we head just a little bit south, we will find one of the greatest potential growth profiles in the world: Mexico, where Femsa is based.

    “Femsa caters to more than 1.7 million retailers and 215 million consumers, and is the No. 1 beverage provider in every region that it operates in. The firm has grown revenues by 16% annually for the last 10 years,” he explains.

    In fact, last year, FMX tallied impressive 44% gains. On the next pullback, he says, it will be time to buy.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Top 5 Food Stocks To Watch For 2014

Go to your local grocery store, and just about any item you pick up will tell you the ingredients in the can, box, or bag. But if the Big Milk lobby gets its way, one thing you won't realize until you read the fine print is that your jug of chocolate milk is loaded with artificial sweeteners.

Several years ago, the International Dairy Foods Association and the National Milk Producers Federation petitioned the FDA to drop the requirement that labels identify when artificial sweeteners like aspartame have been added to milk.�Mind you, they're not trying to put aspartame or sucralose in the milk -- it's already there -- they just don't want you to know about it. Now the agency is about to make a decision on it.

How now, brown cow?
Specifically, the petition asks the agency to allow the use of "any safe and suitable" sweetener for milk and some 17 other milk and cream products such as�sweetened condensed milk, whipping cream, yogurt, and eggnog without having it called out. Since the government doesn't recognize any health problems caused by artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose, the milk producers want to be able to call milk sweetened with them "milk."

Top 5 Food Stocks To Watch For 2014: SAP AG(SAP)

SAP AG provides business software primarily in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific Japan region. The company?s products includes SAP Business Suite software, which supports large organizations in their core business operations, such as supplier relationship, production, warehouse management, sales, administration, and customer relationship; SAP Business All-in-One, a business management software that assists midsize companies in managing various business functions, including financials, human resources, procurement, inventory, manufacturing, logistics, product development, sales, and marketing; SAP Business One, a business management application for small businesses; and SAP Business ByDesign, an on-demand solution for integrated business management applications. Its products also comprises SAP BusinessObjects Edge business intelligence and enterprise performance management solutions; Xcelsius, a data visualization software; Crystal Reports, which helps users design interactive reports; Sybase IQ, an optimized analytics server designed to deliver results for business intelligence, analytics, data warehousing, and reporting solutions; SAP solutions for sustainability; and SAP NetWeaver technology platform, which integrates information and business processes across various technologies and organizational structures. In addition, the company offers industry and solution-focused, business transformation, information technology transformation, custom development, and support services; and program, project management, quality assurance, and education and certification services. It sells its products through its subsidiaries and resellers. SAP AG has a strategic relationship with Cap Gemini S.A. to develop and deploy enterprise mobility solutions. The company was formerly known as SAP Aktiengesellschaft Systeme, Anwendungen, Produkte in der Datenverarbeitung. SAP AG was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Walldorf , Germany.

Top 5 Food Stocks To Watch For 2014: Nestle SA (NESN.VX)

Nestle SA is a Swiss Company engaged in the nutrition, health and wellness sectors. It is the holding company of the Nestle Group, which comprises subsidiaries, associated companies and joint ventures throughout the world. It has such business units as Food and Beverage, Nestle Waters and Nestle Nutrition. It is also active in the pharmaceutical sector. It divides its products into Powdered and liquid beverages, Water, Milk products and Ice cream, Nutrition, Prepared dishes and cooking aids, Confectionery, PetCare and Pharmaceutical products. In February 2011, the Company acquired CM&D Pharma Ltd.

5 Best Canadian Stocks To Invest In 2014: McCormick & Company Inc (MKC)

McCormick & Company, Incorporated (McCormick) manufactures, markets and distributes spices, seasoning mixes, condiments and other flavorful products to the food industry, retail outlets, food manufacturers and foodservice businesses. The Company�� sales, distribution and production facilities are located in North America and Europe. Additional facilities are based in China, Australia, Mexico, India, Singapore, Central America, Thailand and South Africa. The Company operates in two business segments: consumer and industrial. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2011, the Company�� consumer business contributed 59% of sales and 79% of operating income and the industrial business contributed 41% of sales and 21% of operating income.

McCormick�� products are sold directly to customers and also through brokers, wholesalers, and distributors. In the consumer segment, products are resold to consumers through a range of retail outlets, including grocery, mass merchandise, warehouse clubs, discount, and drug stores under a range of brands. In the industrial segment, products are used by food and beverage manufacturers as ingredients for their finished goods and by food service customers as ingredients for menu items to enhance the flavor of their foods. Customers for the industrial segment include food manufacturers and the foodservice industry supplied both directly and indirectly through distributors.

Consumer Business

The Company�� brands in the Americas include McCormick, Lawry�� and Club House. The Company also markets brands, such as Zatarain��, Thai Kitchen and Simply Asia. In Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) its brands include the Ducros, Schwartz and Kamis brands of spices, herbs and seasonings and a line of Vahine brand dessert items. In the Asia/Pacific region its primary brand is McCormick, with the exception of India where its joint venture owns and trades under the Kohinoor brand. The Company�� customers span a variety of retail o! utlets that include grocery, mass merchandise, warehouse clubs, discount and drug stores, served directly and indirectly through distributors or wholesalers. In addition to marketing its products to these customers, the Company is also a supplier of private label items, also known as store brands. More than 250 other brands are sold in the United States with additional brands in international markets.

Industrial Business

In its industrial business, the Company provides a range of products to multinational food manufacturers and foodservice customers. The foodservice customers are supplied both directly and indirectly through distributors. Its range of products include seasoning blends, natural spices and herbs, wet flavors, coating systems and compound flavors. In addition to a broad range of flavor solutions, we strive to achieve customer intimacy.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Portfolio Grader]

    This week, McCormick & Co. (NYSE:MKC) pushes up from a B to an A rating. McCormick & Company makes and distributes spices, herbs, seasonings, and specialty foods to the food industry.

Top 5 Food Stocks To Watch For 2014: Prestige Brand Holdings Inc.(PBH)

Prestige Brands Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in marketing, selling, and distributing over-the-counter healthcare and household cleaning products primarily in North America. The company?s Over-The-Counter Healthcare segment offers a portfolio of OTC products under nine core OTC brands, including Chloraseptic sore throat remedies, Clear Eyes eye drops, Compound W wart removers, Dramamine motion sickness products, Efferdent and Effergrip denture products, Little Remedies pediatric healthcare products, Luden's cough drops, PediaCare pediatric healthcare products, and The Doctor?s brand of oral care products. This segment also provides other significant brands that include Dermoplast first-aid products, Murine eye and ear care products, NasalCrom allergy relief product, New-Skin liquid bandage, and Wartner wart removers. Its Household Cleaning segment markets household cleaning products, such as abrasive and non-abrasive tub and tile cleaner, scrubb ing pads and sponges, dilutables, anti-bacterial hard surface spray for counter tops, and glass cleaners under the Comet, Chore Boy, and Spic and Span brands. Prestige Brands Holdings distributes its products through various retail channels, including drug, food, dollar, and club stores, as well as supermarkets and mass merchandisers. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Irvington, New York.

Top 5 Food Stocks To Watch For 2014: Nash-Finch Company(NAFC)

Nash-Finch Company operates as a wholesale food distributor in the United States. The company?s Military segment distributes grocery products to the United States military commissaries and exchanges in the United States and the District of Columbia, Europe, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Azores, Egypt, and Bahrain. Its Food Distribution segment sells and distributes various branded and private label grocery products and perishable food products to approximately 1,500 independent retail locations through its 14 distribution centers. This segment also provides various services, including promotional, advertising, and merchandising programs; installation of computerized ordering, receiving, and scanning systems; retail equipment procurement assistance; accounting, budgeting, and payroll contract services; consumer and market research; remodeling and store development services; supply chain through Internet services; and securing existing grocery stores. The company?s Retail segment operates corporate-owned grocery stores under the Sun Mart, Econofoods, AVANZA, Family Thrift Center, Pick ?n Save, Family Fresh Market, Prairie Market, Saver?s Choice, Wally?s Supermarkets, and Wholesale Food Outlet banners primarily in the states of Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. This segment?s conventional grocery stores offer a range of grocery products and services, such as fresh meat counters, delicatessens, bakeries, eat-in cafes, pharmacies, banks, and floral departments, as well as provide check cashing, fax services, and money transfer services. As of December 31, 2011, the company served 93 retail stores operating under the IGA banner and 50 retail stores under the Food Pride banner; and operated 43 conventional supermarkets, 1 AVANZA grocery store, 1 Wholesale Food Outlet grocery store, and 1 Saver?s Choice store. Nash-Finch Company was founded in 1885 and is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Hot Diversified Bank Companies To Buy For 2014

At the Google (NASDAQ: GOOG  ) I/O conference last week, Google bragged that Android has enjoyed over 900 million device activations to date, nearly twice that of Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) 500 million iOS devices sold. However, there is more to the story than just sheer numbers. In this video, Fool contributor Steve Heller explains to Erin Miller why he thinks Android is an underestimated power.

As one of the most dominant Internet companies ever, Google has made a habit of driving strong returns for its shareholders. However, like many other web companies, it's also struggling to adapt to an increasingly mobile world. Despite gaining an enviable lead with its Android operating system, the market isn't sold. That's why it's more important than ever to understand each piece of Google's sprawling empire. In The Motley Fool's new premium research report on Google, we break down the risks and potential rewards for Google investors. Simply click here now to unlock your copy of this invaluable resource.

Hot Diversified Bank Companies To Buy For 2014: Desert Energy Ltd(DSN.AX)

Desert Mines and Metals Limited engages in the exploration of uranium, iron ore, copper, gold, and nickel in Australia. It holds interest in the Camel Hills project through a joint venture with Aurora Minerals located in Western Australia. The company was formerly known as Desert Energy Limited and changed its name to Desert Mines and Metals Limited in December 2011. Desert Mines and Metals Limited is based in Belmont, Australia.

Hot Diversified Bank Companies To Buy For 2014: Lam Research Corporation(LRCX)

Lam Research Corporation designs, manufactures, markets, refurbishes, and services semiconductor processing equipments used in the fabrication of integrated circuits. The company offers etch products that remove portions of various films from the wafer in the creation of semiconductor devices. Its etch products include dielectric etch, conductor etch, three-dimensional integrated circuit etch, MEMS devices, CMOS image sensors, and power devices for etching process. Lam Research Corporation also provides wafer cleaning steps that comprise post-etch and post-strip cleans, and pre-diffusion and pre-deposition cleans; and single-wafer wet clean and plasma-based bevel clean systems. The company offers its products to semiconductor manufacturers. It operates in the United States, Europe, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and the Asia Pacific. Lam Research Corporation was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Fremont, California.

10 Best Value Stocks For 2014: Gold Bullion(GBB.V)

Gold Bullion Development Corp., a junior mining and exploration company, engages in acquiring, exploring, and evaluating mineral resource properties in Canada. It primarily explores for gold and silver. The company focuses on its 100% owned, the Granada Gold Property, located near Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. Gold Bullion Development Corp. was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

2 Dividend Stocks for the Next Decade

"Only buy something that you'd be perfectly happy to hold if the market shut down for 10 years," Warren Buffett has famously said. Easier said than done, but it's an aim to strive for -- especially for dividend investors who are counting on dividend stocks to provide them with reliable income for years to come. On that note, here are two stock ideas that might fit the mold.

Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX  )
With a dividend yield of just 1.32%, Starbucks isn't typically referred to as a dividend stock. But investors with a long time horizon who buy Starbucks at today's price may lock in a substantial yield for the future.

Currently, Starbucks pays out just 42% of earnings in dividends, leaving plenty of breathing room for dividend growth in the future. In fact, Starbucks has already made a habit of increasing its dividend every year since it announced its first dividend in 2010.


Source: SEC filings for years shown. 2013 is projected forward at the current quarterly dividend amount.

Dividend growth rates will undoubtedly continue to decelerate, but probably not by much. Starbucks' scale advantages should continue to provide the company significant benefits, helping it maintain above-average levels of profitability over the long haul. In the U.S. alone, Starbucks has over 11,100 points of distribution -- that's about 3,900 more locations than runner-up Dunkin' Donuts. Furthermore, Starbucks is envied for its control of its own consumer product distribution, which gives the company significant cost advantages over its competitors. 

Then there's Starbucks' monstrous growth opportunity in emerging markets like China, Brazil, and India. Management expects to triple its 500-store presence in China by 2015. Even more, they believe 4,000 to 5,000 locations in China alone is plausible over the longer term.

With Starbucks' low payout ratio, scale, and growth opportunities in mind, I think this forecast for its dividend growth over the next 10 years is conservative.


Source: Author's estimates.

If Starbucks could pull this off, the company's dividend would be about $2.08 10 years from now, yielding investors a 3.3% dividend yield at today's price. Though this yield isn't substantial, my estimates were very conservative. Who knows? With so much growth opportunity, Starbucks may be able to increase its dividend by 15% or more every year for the next 10 years.

IBM (NYSE: IBM  )
Yes, Warren Buffett has said that tech companies are risky bets. But he made an exception to this rule when it came to IBM, Berkshire Hathaway's third-largest equity holding. It turns out that tech companies can have economic moats too. Just imagine the synergy of the market leaders in enterprise software, services, and hardware all under one corporate umbrella -- that's IBM. So don't count tech stocks completely out of your dividend stocks prospects.

At today's price, IBM's dividend yields investors a 1.88% return. Already, the company has proven both its capability and its willingness to increase its dividend; in the last five years, the company has faithfully increased its dividend by about 15% per year.


Source: SEC filings for years shown. 2013 is projected forward at the current quarterly dividend amount.

Even after such significant dividend increases, IBM is only paying out 24% of its earnings, leaving plenty of room for dividend growth. If the company continued to increase its dividend at a conservative estimate of 10% annually for the next five years, and 5% for the next five, IBM's dividend growth would look like this:


Source: Author's estimates.

If this estimate holds true, 10 years from now IBM investors could receive as much as $8.99 in dividends every year. At today's price, that's about a 4.3% yield.

Take a risk on the dividend, not on the business
Obviously these recommendations are for investors with very long time horizons. If you need income now, these might not be the best dividend stocks for you since their current yields are so low. Even more, there is no certainty that either of these companies will ever pay handsome dividend yields. But, more important, these are great businesses that will likely protect your principal.

A dividend is great, but risking my principal just to get a high dividend is something I'd rather not do.

What do you think? Are these good dividend stocks for long-term investors? 

If you're an investor who prefers returns to rhetoric, you'll want to read The Motley Fool's new free report "5 Dividend Myths... Busted!" In it, you'll learn which stocks provide premium growth and whether bigger dividends are better. Click here to keep reading.

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Viacom Ups Dividend by 9%

Content provider Viacom  (NASDAQ: VIAB  )  announced yesterday its second-quarter dividend of $0.30 per share for its Class A and Class B stock, a 9% increase from the $0.275 per share payout made last quarter.

The board of directors said the quarterly dividend is payable on July 1 to the holders of record at the close of business on June 14. The bank has raised the payout every year for the past three years.

Viacom President and CEO Philippe Dauman said:

Viacom is pleased to provide even greater value to shareholders through another increase in our quarterly dividend -- the third increase since we initiated our dividend three years ago.  Our solid balance sheet and strong cash flow provide us the flexibility for continued investment in our popular brands and properties while delivering substantial capital directly to stockholders through dividends and our ongoing $10 billion share repurchase program.

The regular dividend payment equates to a $1.20-per-share annual dividend, yielding 1.7% based on the closing price of Viacom's stock on May 22.

VIAB Dividend Chart

VIAB Dividend data by YCharts
Chart does not reflect new, higher dividend payment announcement.

Friday, May 24, 2013

10 Best Consumer Service Stocks For 2014

McDonald's� (NYSE: MCD  ) �has elected Steve Easterbrook�as its new executive vice president and global chief brand officer. The 18-year McDonald's veteran returns to the company following a stint as the CEO of Wagamama, a U.K.-based Japanese noodle restaurant chain.

Easterbrook will be responsible for global marketing, menu development, and consumer and business insights. He replaces Kevin Newell, who recently assumed the new role of chief brand and strategy officer for McDonald's�USA.�

A U.K. native, Easterbrook became CEO of McDonald's U.K. in 2006. By the end of 2010, after serving as corporate vice president and chief brand officer, he was promoted to president of McDonald's Europe, a role in which he was responsible for around 7,000 restaurants in 39 countries. He left McDonald's the following year to become the CEO of U.K. chain PizzaExpress, and from there he took the reins at Wagamama.

10 Best Consumer Service Stocks For 2014: Knightsbridge Tankers Limited(VLCCF)

Knightsbridge Tankers Limited, through its subsidiaries, engages in the seaborne transportation of crude oil and dry bulk cargoes worldwide. The company?s customers include oil companies, tanker companies, dry bulk companies, petroleum products traders, government agencies, and other entities. As of September 6, 2011, it owned and operated a fleet of four double-hull very large crude carriers, and four Capesize dry bulk carriers. The company was founded in 1996 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda.

10 Best Consumer Service Stocks For 2014: Crescent Financial Corporation(CRFN)

Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Crescent State Bank that provides commercial and retail banking services to individuals and small-to-medium sized businesses in North Carolina. Its deposit products include non-interest bearing checking accounts, interest bearing checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit. The company?s loan portfolio comprises real estate mortgage and construction loans; and small business administration guaranteed loans; commercial mortgage loans; and commercial loans, including secured loans for working capital, expansion, and other business purposes. It also offers consumer loans, such as automobile loans, boat and recreational vehicle financing, home equity and home improvement loans, and miscellaneous secured and unsecured personal loans; home equity lines of credit; residential real estate loans; and credit cards. In addition, the company provides on-line bankin g and bill paying, on-line check images, wire transfers, ACH originations, and stop payment orders of checks services, as well as investment and courier services. As of August 2, 2011, it operated 15 banking offices in Cary, Apex, Clayton, Holly Springs, Southern Pines, Pinehurst, Sanford, Garner, Raleigh, Wilmington, and Knightdale, North Carolina. The company was formerly known as Crescent Financial Corporation and changed its name to Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc. in November 2011. Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Cary, North Carolina. Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Piedmont Community Bank Holdings, Inc.

5 Best Gas Utility Stocks For 2014: Exar Corporation(EXAR)

Exar Corporation, a fabless semiconductor company, engages in the design, sub-contract manufacture, and sale of silicon, software, and subsystem solutions for industrial, telecom, networking, and storage applications. Its product portfolio includes power management and interface components, communications products, storage optimization solutions, network security, and applied service processors. The company?s products has applications in portable electronic devices, set top boxes, digital video recorders, telecommunication systems, servers, enterprise storage systems, and industrial automation equipment. Exar Corporation sells its products to distributors and original equipment manufacturers or their contract manufacturers worldwide. It markets its products through independent sales representatives, distributors, direct sales organization, and catalog distributors. The company was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Fremont, California.

10 Best Consumer Service Stocks For 2014: Cleveland BioLabs Inc.(CBLI)

Cleveland BioLabs, Inc., a biotechnology company, engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of products for cancer treatment, and protection of normal tissues from radiation and other acute stresses. Its products include Protectan CBLB502, a radioprotectant molecule with multiple medical and defense applications for reducing injury from acute stresses, such as radiation and chemotherapy by mobilizing various natural cell protecting mechanisms, including inhibition of apoptosis, reduction of oxidative damage, and induction of factors that induce protection and regeneration of stem cells in bone marrow and the intestines; Protectan CBLB612, a modified lipopeptide mycoplasma that acts as a stimulator and mobilizer of hematopoietic stem cells to peripheral blood, providing hematopoietic recovery during chemotherapy and during donor preparation for bone marrow transplantation; and Curaxins, which are small molecules intended to destroy tumor cells by simultan eously targeting two regulators of apoptosis. The company has a strategic research partnership with Roswell Park Cancer Institute to develop its anticancer and radioprotectant drug candidates; a strategic partnership with ChemBridge Corporation to access a chemical library of 214,000 compounds; and a strategic alliance with The Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF). It also has a cooperative research and development agreement with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc.; and CCF to evaluate its radioprotective drug candidates and their effects on intracellular and extracellular signaling pathways. The company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Buffalo, New York.

10 Best Consumer Service Stocks For 2014: Pampa Energia S.A.(PAM)

Pampa Energia S.A., through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity in Argentina. It has an installed hydro electricity generation capacity of approximately 2,217 megawatts. The company also joint-controls the operation and maintenance of the high-tension transmission network covering 10,613 kilometers (km) of own lines, as well as 6,110 km of high-tension lines belonging to Empresa de Transporte de Energ� El�tricapor Distribuci� Troncal de la Provincia de Buenos Aires Sociedad An�ima Transba S.A. It distributes electricity to approximately 3.5 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers. The company was formerly known as Pampa Holding S.A. and changed its name to Pampa Energia S.A. in September 2008. Pampa Energia S.A. was incorporated in 1945 and is headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

10 Best Consumer Service Stocks For 2014: C Ltd(CEO.AX)

Draig Resources Limited engages in the development and exploration of coal projects primarily in Mongolia. It develops 8 coal licenses in that cover 624.97 square kilometers in Ovorhangay and South Gobi provinces. The company was formerly known as C@ Limited and changed its name to Draig Resources Limited in December 2011. Draig Resources Limited was incorporated in 2004 and is based in West Perth, Australia.

10 Best Consumer Service Stocks For 2014: North Group Finance Limited (NOR.V)

North Group Finance Limited engages in investing and merchant banking businesses in Canada and Germany. It makes long-term investments in Internet technologies/e-commerce and undervalued companies; and short-term investments. The company also provides bridge loans, which offer tailored lending solutions to companies in need of access to short-term financing for capital investment or to further a company's business and/or restructuring plans. Its merchant banking operations include financial and management services for corporate finance transactions comprising mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, and corporate restructurings. The company was formerly known as North Group Limited and changed its name to North Group Finance Limited in December 2005. North Group Finance Limited is based in Vancouver, Canada.

10 Best Consumer Service Stocks For 2014: NTT DOCOMO Inc(DCM)

NTT DOCOMO, Inc. provides wireless telecommunications services, packet communications services, and satellite mobile communications services in Japan. It offers wireless voice and data communication services, such as second generation (2G) and third generation (3G) cellular services, and mobile multimedia services. The company provides mova services, on the 2G network, compatible with voice and data communication; FOMA services, on its 3G network, with voice and high-speed data communication, which are compatible with various services, such as videophone and video content downloading; and i-mode services, which are wireless Internet access services. As of March 31, 2010, it had approximately 56.08 million cellular subscribers. NTT DOCOMO also offers packet communications services, such as wireless data communications services using packet switching; satellite mobile communication services for communications in case of emergencies; and international calling and internationa l roaming services. In addition, the company provides mopera U Internet connection services for data cards and smartphones; embedded modules for automobile fleet management, wireless credit card settlement systems, and telemetric systems for automatic inventory checks between vending machines and service centers; and MyArea services that offer high-speed packet communication services for homes. Further, it offers home shopping services through TV media, high-speed Internet connection services for hotel facilities, advertisement services, and credit services, as well as develops, sells, and maintains IT systems. The company was formerly known as NTT Mobile Communications Network, Inc. and changed its name to NTT DOCOMO, Inc. in April 2000. NTT DOCOMO was founded in 1991 and is based in Tokyo, Japan. NTT DOCOMO, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Hesler]

    Japan’s largest wireless telecom operator has a 49% market share, holds $11 billion in cash, and pays a 3.2% dividend. Need I say more? Okay I will. It’s free cash flow if very strong and the company is reasonably valued at 11 times forward earnings and less than five times cash flow.

    The company is a technological leader, being the first to roll out a high-speed third-generation (3G) network. In December 2010, it began offering long-term evolution (LTE) 4G broadband services, which have much higher profit margins than basic voice service. Phone service is recession-resistant as Japanese loves to talk. The company is also benefitting from the strong growth in emerging markets because it owns a 27% stake in India’s fourth-largest wireless operator (Tata Teleservices).

10 Best Consumer Service Stocks For 2014: Jemtec Inc (JTC.V)

JEMTEC Inc. provides integrated technology systems for community-based corrections in Canada. The company offers services and technologies for offender monitoring to Canadian federal and provincial correctional departments under project agreements. Its services and technologies include global positioning systems, electronic monitoring, alcohol detection, and voice verification technologies related to the location verification of offenders and individuals under restrictions in the community. The company�s services and technologies give public agencies, such as courts, correctional services, police services, immigration authorities, and other entities the means to verify if individuals are complying with legally-imposed orders, including house arrest, home curfew, abstinence from alcohol, and movement restrictions. Its solutions provide individuals and their families with options to develop release plans as an alternative to custody ahead of bail or immigration hearings, or as part of a reporting requirement. JEMTEC Inc. was incorporated in 1981 and is headquartered in North Vancouver, Canada.

10 Best Consumer Service Stocks For 2014: Simon Property Group Inc.(SPG)

Simon Property Group, Inc. is a real estate investment trust. The firm engages in investment, ownership, and management of properties. It invests in the real estate markets across the globe. The firm?s portfolio includes regional malls, premium outlet centers, the mills, community / lifestyle centers, and international properties. Simon Property Group was founded in 1960 and is based in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Can Marvell Technology Keep Up in Mobile?

Tomorrow, Marvell Technology (NASDAQ: MRVL  ) will release its latest quarterly results. The key to making smart investment decisions on stocks reporting earnings is to anticipate how they'll do before they announce results, leaving you fully prepared to respond quickly to whatever inevitable surprises arise.

Marvell Technology has historically made a name for itself selling storage controllers for hard-disk drives in PCs and notebook computers. But with PC sales dwindling, Marvell has also tried to cash in on the mobile revolution, making a variety of analog, digital, and mixed-signal microprocessors for smartphones and tablets. Can the company make a successful transition? Let's take an early look at what's been happening with Marvell Technology over the past quarter and what we're likely to see in its quarterly report.

Stats on Marvell Technology

Analyst EPS Estimate

$0.14

Change From Year-Ago EPS

(39%)

Revenue Estimate

$721.55 million

Change From Year-Ago Revenue

(9.4%)

Earnings Beats in Past 4 Quarters

2

Source: Yahoo! Finance.

Can Marvell Technology make mobile pay this quarter?
Marvell's earnings prospects have gotten a bit more promising lately, as analysts have boosted their estimates for the April quarter by $0.01 per share and added $0.05 to their full-year EPS consensus. The stock has performed even better, rising about 25% since mid-February.

The big challenge that Marvell has had to face going back well beyond the past quarter is the decline on the PC side of its business. In particular, Western Digital (NASDAQ: WDC  ) and Seagate Technology (NASDAQ: STX  ) have been at the forefront of consolidation in the hard-drive industry, buying up operations from former rivals and thereby concentrating Marvell's exposure to a shrinking number of players in the space. Yet both Western Digital and Seagate have had to look to create hybrid solid-state/hard-disk drives to stay competitive with pure solid-state drives. If either company decides that Marvell's controller chips aren't necessary, it would have a huge impact on Marvell's overall business.

In response, Marvell has turned to mobile for growth, and its new PXA1088 quad-core processor is designed to attack the low end of the mobile market. With these chips, the company isn't trying to compete with faster products like those from Qualcomm, which ended up replacing Marvell as the primary chip provider to BlackBerry several years ago. Rather, it's aiming squarely at emerging-market countries, where cost-effectiveness is far more important than state-of-the-art technology.

Nevertheless, Marvell won't have the mobile market to itself either. Despite Qualcomm's advances, it also has an extensive arsenal of lower-range chips and technology that allow it to do extremely well in lower-end markets. NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA  ) has also shared Marvell's difficulty in staying relevant in the high-end smartphone market, but part of NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun Huang's vision for the chip maker involves using less advanced versions of its Tegra and Icera chips to power cheaper devices in the emerging-market world.

In Marvell's quarterly report, watch to see whether the company continues to see more of a revenue shift toward mobile and away from storage. Eventually, Marvell will have to make a full transition in order to keep its growth prospects as strong as possible.

While Seagate Technology pays a significant and growing dividend and seems able to generate the cash flow to support it, a global slowdown in demand for digital memory storage has begun to put pressure on margins. Is Seagate worthy of your investment consideration (and dollars)? The Motley Fool answers this question and more in our most in-depth Seagate research available for smart investors like you. Thousands have already claimed their own premium ticker coverage, and you can gain instant access to your own by clicking here now.

Click here to add Marvell Technology to My Watchlist, which can find all of our Foolish analysis on it and all your other stocks.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Why Taminco Shares Jumped

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of Taminco (NYSE: TAM) were looking brighter today, gaining as much 13% after a promising quarterly earnings report, its first as a public company.

So what: The world's largest alkylamine maker, and supplier for industries ranging from agriculture to oil and gas to personal care, said net sales were up 10% to a record $310 million, and volume increased 7% to 144,000 tons. Earnings per share came in at $0.16, a huge turnaround from a year ago, when the company had a loss of $0.88 a share. Gross profit increased by more than 600% from a year ago. Estimates were unavailable for the newly public company, but CEO Laurent Lenoir touted the company's "successful execution of recent growth projects in North America."

Now what: Lenoir noted that first-quarter performance was strong in nearly every segment except crop protection, which was affected by adverse weather conditions. Looking ahead, he sees record EBITDA for the year but did not give a range on any financial numbers such as revenue and earnings per share. The funds from the recent IPO should help alleviate the company's interest expense and fuel future growth, but I'd like to see the top line grow faster than 10% before getting on board.

What macro trend was Warren Buffett referring to when he said "this is the tapeworm that's eating at American competitiveness"? Find out in our free report: "What's Really Eating at America's Competitiveness." You'll also discover an idea to profit as companies work to eradicate this efficiency-sucking tapeworm. Just click here for free, immediate access.


Monday, May 20, 2013

Capital Southwest to Change CEOs in June

Dallas-based Capital Southwest Corp. (NASDAQ: CSWC  ) will have a new CEO soon. The asset manager and venture capitalist says Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer Gary L. Martin will resign effective June 17 and be replaced by new President and CEO Joseph B. Armes, who currently serves as CEO of family investment vehicle JBA Investment Partners.

Martin joined Capital Southwest in 1972 as chief financial officer.

In a filing with the SEC, Capital Southwest disclosed that it will be paying Armes an annual base salary of $430,000, plus:

An annual cash bonus of up to 150% of base salary. 7,500 stock options vesting over five years. 1,250 shares of restricted stock. 6,000 "phantom stock options," which allow Armes to benefit from an appreciation in Capital Southwest's stock price (if it happens) as if he had exercised stock options and sold stock for a profit -- but do not require him to go through with the actual mechanics of such exercise and sale.

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Hot Cheapest Companies To Own For 2014

Lately, there's been a lot of talk about drones and their place in safeguarding America. And while there's still controversy surrounding their use, there's no denying that drones are an effective weapon of war -- both for spying, er "observation," and taking out enemy targets. They are so effective, in fact, that a new frontier is opening up to drone warfare -- namely, the sea. For both Raytheon (NYSE: RTN  ) and SAIC (NYSE: SAI  ) , this is good news.

Unmanned to the rescue
Right now there are an estimated 600 submarines from 43 countries that the Navy is responsible for tracking, according to Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA. Understandably, this isn't the cheapest venture for the Navy, but because of the potential security threat these subs pose, it's essential. Consequently, DARPA, along with Raytheon and SAIC, have teamed up to develop a cost-effective solution -- the Anti-Submarine Warfare Continuous Trail Unmanned Vehicle, or ACTUV.�

Hot Cheapest Companies To Own For 2014: The First of Long Island Corporation(FLIC)

The First of Long Island Corporation operates as a bank holding company for The First National Bank of Long Island that provides various financial services. It offers various deposit products, including checking, money market, savings, escrow service and interest on lawyer, time deposit, NOW, rent security, holiday club, and individual retirement accounts. The company?s loan portfolio consists of commercial and industrial loans; residential and commercial mortgage loans; home equity loans and lines; multifamily loans; construction loans; consumer loans, such as auto and home improvement loans, personal loans, overdraft checking lines, and credit cards; commercial loans, which include short-term business loans, term and installment loans, revolving credit term loans, and loans secured by marketable securities, general business assets, deposits, and surrender value of life insurance policies; and commercial and standby letters of credit. In addition, it provides account rec onciliation, ATM banking, bank by mail, bill payment, cash management, collection, drive-through banking, personal money orders, Internet and telephone banking, merchant credit card depository, lock box, night depository, payroll, remote deposit, securities transactions, signature guarantee, trust and investment management, wire transfers and foreign cables, and withholding tax depository services, as well as offers controlled disbursement accounts, travelers and counter checks, mutual funds, annuities, life insurance and securities, safe deposit boxes, and the U.S. savings bonds. Further, the company provides pension trust, personal trust, estate, and custody services; and insurance agency services, as well as owns a real estate investment trust. It offers its services to privately owned businesses, professionals, consumers, public bodies, and other organizations through its 34 branches primarily in Long Island and Manhattan. The company was founded in 1927 and is based in Glen Head, New York.

Hot Cheapest Companies To Own For 2014: Millenium India Acquisition Company Inc.(SMCG)

Millennium India Acquisition Company Inc. is a close-ended investment company. The firm primarily intends to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, or other similar transaction with one or more businesses that have operations primarily in India. It seeks to invest in companies operating in the financial services sector, healthcare, infrastructure and consumer, retail, and hospitality sectors. The firm primarily invests in private equity of SMC Group. Millennium India Acquisition Company Inc. was formed on March 15, 2006 and is domiciled in the United States.

Hot Rising Companies To Own For 2014: Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd(NDM.TO)

Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd., through its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in the United States. The company?s principal properties include the Pebble copper-gold-molybdenum deposit and 650 square miles of direct and indirect interests in mineral claims in southwest Alaska. The company was formerly known as Northern Dynasty Explorations Ltd. and changed its name to Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. in October 1997. Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Hot Cheapest Companies To Own For 2014: La Mancha Resource Com Npv (LMA.TO)

La Mancha Resources Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the mining, exploration, and production of gold properties in Africa, Australia, and Argentina. Its principal properties include the Frog�s Leg and White Foil mines located in Western Australia. The company also holds interests in the Ity gold mine located in western C么te d�Ivoire; and the Hassai mine located in northeastern Sudan. La Mancha Resources Inc. was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. As of September 10, 2012, La Mancha Resources, Inc. was taken private.

Sunday, May 19, 2013

How to Teach Your Kids to Invest

Warren Buffett famously started investing when he was just 11 years old -- and he's often quipped that he started too late. As Foolish investors, we know that our biggest advantage is time. The power of compounding practically guarantees success if you're invested for long enough. So it's easy to look back as an adult and wonder how things would have been different if we'd started as kids. And of course, it's a small leap from that to thinking about how our own kids could fare if they start today.

Kids do understand games, and they understand the concepts of keeping score and, of course, winning. With a little guidance, it is possible to get them started -- and even excited about -- investing. Click the video below to find out how.

There's no doubt that Apple is at the center of technology's largest revolution ever, and that longtime shareholders have been handsomely rewarded with over 1,000% gains. However, there is a debate raging as to whether Apple remains a buy. The Motley Fool's senior technology analyst and managing bureau chief, Eric Bleeker, is prepared to fill you in on reasons to buy and reasons to sell Apple, and what opportunities are left for the company (and your portfolio) going forward. To get instant access to his latest thinking on Apple, simply click here now.

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More Expert Advice from The Motley Fool
The Motley Fool's chief investment officer has selected his No. 1 stock for the next year. Find out which stock in our brand-new free report: "The Motley Fool's Top Stock for 2013." I invite you to take a copy, free for a limited time. Just click here to access the report and find out the name of this under-the-radar company.

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Top Trucking Stocks To Invest In Right Now

There's a lot of clamor about using natural gas to fuel trucking fleets in the United States, and now it looks as if several retail and consumer-goods companies want it to happen. Some companies, including UPS (NYSE: UPS  ) , are quick to catch on, and others aren't far behind. While natural gas might not be the perfect solution for every part of the country, fleet vehicles in certain parts of the country could benefit greatly from the $1.50 discount per gallon equivalent that natural gas has over diesel.�

Fleet vehicles and trucking have been in the sights of natural gas for quite some time, and several companies are tailoring their business to spur the evolution. In this video, Fool.com contributor Tyler Crowe talks with Aimee Duffy about what makes fleet vehicles the best candidates for natural gas and who stands to benefit from expanded natural gas use.�

Top Trucking Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Stronghold Met (Z.V)

Eagle Mountain Gold Corp., a mining exploration company, focuses on the discovery of gold in Guyana. The company is conducting a 15,000 meter drill program on its flag ship property, the Eagle Mountain Project in Guyana through a joint venture with IAMGOLD Corporation. The company was formerly known as Stronghold Metals Inc. and changed its name to Eagle Mountain Gold Corp. in July 2012. Eagle Mountain Gold Corp. was incorporated in 2003 and is based in Vancouver, Canada.

Top Trucking Stocks To Invest In Right Now: ARM Holdings PLC (ARMH)

ARM Holdings plc (ARM), incorporated on October 16, 1990, designs microprocessors, physical intellectual property (IP) and related technology and software, and sells development tools. As of December 31, 2012, the Company operated in three business segments: the Processor Division (PD), the Physical IP Division (PIPD) and the System Design Division (SDD). ARM licenses and sells its technology and products to international electronics companies, which in turn manufacture, markets and sells microprocessors, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and application-specific standard processors (ASSPs) based on ARM�� technology to systems companies for incorporation into a range of end products. It also licenses and sells development tools directly to systems companies and provides support services to its licensees, systems companies and other systems designers.

ARM processor architecture and physical IP is used in embedded microprocessor applications, including cellular phones, digital televisions, mobile computers and personal computer peripherals, smart cards and microcontrollers. ARM�� principal geographic markets are Europe, the United States and Asia Pacific. ARM�� product offering includes microprocessor Cores: RISC microprocessor cores, including specific functions, such as video and graphics IP and on-chip fabric IP; embedded software; physical IP; development tools, and support and maintenance services.

Processor Division

The PD encompasses those resources that are centered on microprocessor cores, including specific functions, such as graphics IP, fabric IP, embedded software IP and configurable digital signal processing (DSP) IP. Service revenues consist of design consulting services and revenues from support, maintenance and training.

Physical IP Division

The PIPD is focused on building blocks for translation of a circuit design into actual silicon. During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company�� total av! erage PIPD headcount was 557. ARM is a provider of physical IP components for the design and manufacture of integrated circuits, including systems-on-chip (SoCs). ARM Artisan physical IP products include embedded memory, standard cell and input/output components. Artisan physical IP also includes a limited portfolio of analog and mixed-signal products. ARM�� physical IP components are developed for a range of process geometries ranging from 20 nanometer - 250 nanometer. ARM licenses its products to customers for the design and manufacture of integrated circuits used in complex, high-volume applications, such as portable computing devices, communication systems, cellular phones, microcontrollers, consumer multimedia products, automotive electronics, personal computers and workstations and many others.

ARM�� embedded memory components include random access memories, read only memories and register files. These memories are provided in the form of a configurable memory compiler, which allows the customer to generate the appropriate configuration for the given application. ARM�� memory components include many configurable features, such as power-down modes, low-voltage data retention and fully static operation, as well as different transistor options to trade off performance and power. In addition, ARM�� memory components include built-in test interfaces that support the industry test methodologies and tools. ARM memory components also offer redundant storage elements.

ARM�� memory components are designed to enable the chip designer maximum flexibility to achieve the optimum power, performance, and density trade-off. ARM offers standard cell components that are optimized for high performance, high density or ultra high density. ARM logic products deliver optimal performance, power and area when building ARM Processors, Graphics, Video and Fabric IP along with general SoC subsystem implementation. ARM delivers physical interface for a range of DDR SDRAM (double-data rate s! ynchronou! s dynamic random-access memory) applications ranging from mission critical applications to low-power memory sub-systems. Silicon on Insulator (SOI) products is an alternative methodology to traditional semiconductor fabrication techniques.

System Design Division

The SDD is focused on the tools and models used to create and debug software and system-on-chip (SoC) designs. ARM�� software development tools help a software design engineer deliver products right the first time. Engineers use these tools in the design and deployment of code, from applications running on open operating systems right through to low-level firmware. The ARM Development Studio is a hardware components that allow the software designer to connect to a real target system and control the system for the purposes of finding errors in the software. The ARM DSTREAM unit allows the software developer to control the software running on the prototype product and examine the internal state of the prototype product. ARM Development Boards are ideal systems for prototyping ARM-based products. The ARM Microcontroller Development Kit supports ARM-based microcontrollers and 8051-based microcontrollers from companies, such as Analog Devices, Atmel, Freescale, Fujitsu, NXP, Samsung, Sharp, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments and Toshiba. The ARM Microcontroller Development Kit is used by developers who are building products and writing software using standard off-the-shelf microcontrollers.

The ARM Microprocessor Families

ARM architecture processors offers a range of performance options in the ARM7 family, ARM9 family, ARM11 family, ARM Cortex family and ARM SecurCore family. The ARM architecture gives systems designers a choice of processor cores at different performance/price points. The ARM7 offers 32-bit architecture capable of operating from 8/16-bit memory on an 8/16-bit bus through the implementation of the Thumb instruction set. The ARM9 family consists of a range of microprocessors in ! the 150-2! 50MHz range. Each processor has been designed for a specific application or function, such as an application processor for a feature phone or running a wireless fidelity (WiFi) protocol stack. The ARM9 family consists of a range of microprocessors in the 150-250 megahertz range. The ARM11 family consists of a range of microprocessors in the 300-600 megahertz range. ARM Cortex family is ARM�� family of processor cores based on version 7 of the ARM Architecture. The family is split into three series: A Series, A Series and M Series.

Top Gold Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Tessera Technologies Inc.(TSRA)

Tessera Technologies, Inc., through its subsidiaries, develops, licenses, and delivers miniaturization technologies and products for electronic devices worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Intellectual Property and DigitalOptics. The Intellectual Property segment offers semiconductor packaging technologies, which create mechanical and electrical connection between semiconductor chips and systems, such as computers and communication equipments through connection to printed circuit boards. The DigitalOptics segment provides mobile camera module solutions in categories, including actuator technologies, image enhancement solutions, and wafer level optics that can be applied to mobile phones and other consumer electronic products. It also offers customized micro-optic lenses from diffractive and refractive optical elements to integrated micro-optical subassemblies. This segment serves customers in digital still cameras and mobile handsets markets, as well as semicon ductor lithography, high-end communication routers, military and defense, and barcode scanners markets. Tessera Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.