A quarter of attractive cash flow
Despite lower sales than in the comparable prior-year quarter, Coke enjoyed strong cash flow in the first three months of 2014. The company generated $1.1 billion in cash from operations from $1.6 billion in net income. This compares favorably to the $480 million of operating cash flow generated from $1.8 billion in net income during the same period in 2013. CFO Gary Fayard cited efficient management of working capital as a primary driver of the increased cash flow. This makes sense, for if you look at last year's statement of cash flows for the period, you'll see, conversely, changes in working capital items created the greatest drag on operational cash flow. Fayard also noted that Coca-Cola's largest pension plan is now fully funded, which should also have a positive impact on cash for the rest of the year: Coke's contributions to its pension plans in 2012 and 2013 totaled $1.1 billion and $640 million, respectively.
Hot Tech Stocks To Own Right Now: Chimerix Inc (CMRX)
Chimerix, Inc., incorporated on April, 07, 2000, is a biopharmaceutical company committed to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel, oral antiviral therapeutics that are designed to transform patient care in areas of high unmet medical need. Its lipid technology has given rise to two clinical-stage compounds, CMX001 and CMX157, which have demonstrated the potential for enhanced antiviral activity and safety in convenient, orally administered dosing regimens.
CMX001 is an orally administered drug that utilizes its lipid technology to deliver intracellular concentrations of a potent antiviral compound, cidofovir-diphosphate (CDV-PP). Following oral dosing, CMX001 is absorbed through the gut, remains intact in the plasma, and is readily taken up by and delivered into cells. Once inside cells, CMX001 is converted into CDV-PP, which acts as an alternative substrate in a replicating virus. CMX001 is similar to the drug cidofovir in that both drugs are converted into CDV-PP once inside cells. Although cidofovir is approved for administration in an intravenous formulation, Vistide, it requires a plasma concentration to deliver a therapeutic level of cidofovir into cells and its use is limited due to the risk of kidney damage.
CMX157, Its second clinical stage compound, is an oral nucleotide compound in Phase 1 development for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. In July 2012, the Company granted Merck an exclusive worldwide license to develop and commercialize CMX157 for all human uses. Merck is responsible for all development and marketing activities for CMX157 on a worldwide basis.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Levisohn]
Biotech companies that are most likely to benefit because they are “Ahead in clinical development and/or have established relationships with [the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or] BARDA which may facilitate getting a contract” include GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), NewLink Genetics (NLNK), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and Chimerix (CMRX). Kantor includes Tekmira�(TKMR) and Sarepta (SRPT) among “companies with viable programs” that are “moving forward and likely to attract additional funding.”
Best Income Companies To Own In Right Now: Endeavor IP Inc (ENIP)
Endeavor IP, Inc., formerly Finishing Touches Home Goods Inc., incorporated on December 8, 2009, is an integrated consulting firm that assists individuals, organizations, companies and government agencies in finding solutions to home and workplace-related barriers for seniors and people with disabilities, as well as ergonomics consultancy. The Company�� focused on providing services and products that helps to create barrier-free homes and workplace environments. The Company provides consulting services, including site audits and accessibility/ergonomic planning and development; installation and sales of accessibility, ergonomic and safety products, ergonomic consultancy for homes and businesses. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012, the Company focuses on providing services in two main areas: Accessibility and Ergonomics in the workplace and at home.
The Company offer functional assessment services for commercial and residential properties and offer recommendations based on its assessment to improve accessibility and safety of these sites. The Company offers its clients practical ergonomic solutions by offering consulting services, such as Ergonomic Assessments, Physical Demands Assessments, Disability Management / Return to Work, and Occupational Health and Safety. The Company�� consulting services include Workplace Risk Assessments, Office Layout, New Equipment Selection, Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Assessments, Accessibility and Disability Access Audits, Retail Ergonomics and Ergonomics Standards.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By James E. Brumley]
They say a company is judged by the company it keeps. What's less said - though never disputed - is that a company is equally judged by the kind of talent it can attract... winning people tend to only work for winning companies. In that light, the fact that the newest chief of Endeavor IP Inc. (OTCBB:ENIP) is a former executive from the ranks of Rambus Inc. (NASDAQ:RMBS) and Tessera Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSRA) should underscore just how seriously the market should be taking ENIP. RMBS and TSRA didn't become large powerhouses by hiring folks who don't know what they're doing, and conversely, the fact that a former Rambus and Tessera Technologies guy was willing to step into the unknown and take the helm at Endeavor IP speaks volumes about the potential of the young company's IP portfolio.
- [By John Udovich]
Although some view patent investors or speculators as nothing more than "patent trolls," small cap patent stocks RPX Corporation (NASDAQ: RPXC), Marathon Patent Group Inc (OTCBB: MARA) and Endeavor IP Inc (OTCBB: ENIP) are a couple of interesting options that allow retail investors to invest in patents as they either invest in patents themselves or they provide patent related services. However, there could be risks associated with investing in patent stocks because a bi-partisan bill called the Innovation Act (H.R. 3309) is�working its way through Congress to try and reign in the activities of so-called�patent trolls or companies�who go out and buy or license patents from others and then target alleged infringers with lawsuits.
Best Income Companies To Own In Right Now: Constellation Energy Partners LLC (CEP)
Constellation Energy Partners LLC (CEP) is engaged on the acquisition, development and production of onshore oils and natural gas properties in the United States. All of the Company's proved reserves are located in the Black Warrior Basin in Alabama, the Cherokee Basin in Kansas and Oklahoma, the Woodford Shale in the Arkoma Basin in Oklahoma and the Central Kansas Uplift in Kansas and Nebraska. The Company operates its oil and natural gases properties as one business segment: the exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas. As of December 31, 2011, the Company's total estimated proved reserves were approximately 201.3 billions of cubic feet equivalent (Bcfe), approximately 76% of which were classified as proved developed, and 97% of which are natural gas and 3% of which are oil. As of December 31, 2011, the Company was the operator of approximately 88% of the 2,785 net wells in which the Company owned an interest. In March 2013, it announced sale of its Robinson's Bend Field assets, located in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.
Black Warrior Basin
The Black Warrior Basin is a coalbed methane basins in the country. The multi-seam vertical wells in the basin range from 500 to 3,700 feet deep, with coal seams averaging a total of 25 to 30 feet of net pay per well. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned a 100% working interest (an approximate 75% average net revenue interest) in its wells in the Black Warrior Basin, where the Company had 507 producing natural gas wells. The Black Warrior Basin is located in western Tuscaloosa County and Pickens County, Alabama, and encompasses a surface area of approximately 109 square miles. The field has been developed on 80-acre spacing. As of December 31, 2011, the Company was developing its properties in the field on both 40- and 80-acre spacing. The field has seven compressor stations with 800-1,200 horsepower compressors, approximately 170 miles of gas gathering lines (wells to header) and approximately 25 miles of trans! portation lines (header to compressor). In addition, there are approximately 152 miles of water gathering pipes and 28 miles of water transportation pipes. As of December 31, 2011, the Company's estimated proved reserves in the Black Warrior Basin were approximately 84.9 billions of cubic feet equivalent, approximately 88% of which were classified as proved developed, and all of which are natural gas.
Cherokee Basin
The Cherokee Basin is located in the Mid-Continent region in southern Kansas, northern Oklahoma, and western Missouri. It covers approximately 26,500 square miles. The production is natural gas produced from coals and shales. There are multiple producing coal zones in the Cherokee Basin, including the Rowe, Riverton, Weir-Pitt, and Dawson zones. In addition, there are other productive shale zones, as well as conventional sandstone and limestone potential, which can add natural gas and oil production. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned approximately 2,261 net producing wells in the Cherokee Basin. The Company operates in excess of 20 booster compressors and stations to gets its natural gas to sales points owned by ONEOK Gas Transportation, L.L.C., Scissortail Energy, LLC, Enogex Gas Gathering & Processing, LLC, Enogex Inc., and Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc. The Company operates a substantial portion of its production in the Cherokee Basin. The Company also own a 50% working interest in wells operated by Bullseye Operating, L.L.C. (Bullseye) and a 50% interest in Bullseye itself. Bullseye operates approximately 500 gross wells in Washington and Nowata Counties in Oklahoma and sells its production through the Cotton Valley producers cooperative, Cotton Valley Compression, L.L.C. The Company's gross working interest in its Cherokee Basin properties is approximately 80%, with its average gross working interest in its operated properties being approximately 100% and its average gross working interest in its non-operated Cherokee Basin properties being a! pproximat! ely 50%. As of December 31, 2011, the Company's estimated proved reserves in the Cherokee Basin were approximately 110.7 billions of cubic feet equivalent, approximately 66% of which were classified as proved developed, and 95% of which were natural gas and 5% of which were oil.
Woodford Shale
The Woodford Shale is located in the Arkoma Basin in southern Oklahoma. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned 82 well bores, or approximately 9 net producing wells, located in Coal and Hughes counties. This area is gas-rich and is characterized by multiple productive zones. The production of natural gas in the Woodford Shale comes from shale rock that has been stimulated through fracturing jobs after a horizontal well has been drilled. As of December 31, 2011, the Company's 82 wells had an average gross working interest of 11.3% and an average net revenue interest of 9.1%. Approximately 90% of the wells are operated by affiliates of Devon Energy Corporation (Devon) and Newfield Exploration Mid-Continent, Inc. (Newfield), with the remaining wells operated by three additional companies. As of December 31, 2011, the Company's estimated proved reserves in the Woodford Shale were approximately 5.2 billions of cubic feet equivalent.
Central Kansas Uplift
The Central Kansas Uplift is an oil prone region located in Kansas and southern Nebraska. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had a gross acreage position of 4,345 acres, or approximately 1,050 net acres and the Company owned 39 gross wells, or approximately 8 net producing wells. Murfin Drilling Company, Inc., an oil producer in Kansas, operates all of the Company's wells in this region. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the average gross working interest in the wells is approximately 21% and the average net revenue interest is approximately 17%. As of December 31, 2011, the Company's proved reserves in the Central Kansas Uplift were approximately 0.5 billions of cubic feet equivalent, approximately 88%! of which! were classified as proved developed and all of which were oil.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Smith]
The bulk of these awards came in the form of a single multiple-award, task-order contract to be shared among several energy companies:
Constellation Energy Partners LLC's (NYSEMKT: CEP ) Constellation NewEnergy subsidiary Privately held ECC Renewables LLC Enel Green Power North America, a subsidiary of Italy's Enel SpA LTC Federal LLC Siemens' (NYSE: SI ) Government Technologies unitThese five firms are now authorized to bid for individual task orders under an umbrella contract for the procurement of renewable and alternative energy from facilities that are designed, financed, constructed, operated and maintained by private companies on private land under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense. The ceiling value on this contract is $7 billion, thus accounting for 84% of the value of all Pentagon contracts awarded yesterday.
Best Income Companies To Own In Right Now: KB Home (KBH)
KB Home is a homebuilding company. The Company constructs and sells homes through its operating divisions under the name KB Home. The Company operates in nine states and 32 markets, including California, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Texas, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia. The Company organizes its homebuilding operations into four segments: West Coast, Southwest, Central and Southeast. In July 2012, it acquired land within the Elworthy Ranch property in the town of Danville. In September 2012, it acquired Mason Ranch, which is a 330-acre land asset in Cedar Park/Leander West, submarkets in metropolitan Austin. In December 2012, the Company acquired 65 lots in Fuquay-Varina, N.C.
Homebuilding
The Company�� homebuilding operations offers a variety of homes designed primarily for first-time, move-up and active adult homebuyers, including attached and detached single-family homes, townhomes and condominiums. It offers homes in development communities, at urban in-fill locations and as part of mixed-use projects. During the fiscal year ended, November 30, 2011 (fiscal 2011), the Company, through its homebuilding segment, delivered 5,812 homes. During fiscal 2011, homebuilding operations accounted for 99.2% of the total revenues.
Financial Services
The financial services segment provides title and insurance services to its homebuyers. This segment also provided mortgage banking services to the Company�� homebuyers indirectly through KBA Mortgage, LLC (KBA Mortgage), a former unconsolidated joint venture of a subsidiary of ours and a subsidiary of Bank of America, N.A., from the venture�� formation until June 30, 2011, when it ceased offering mortgage banking services. Effective June 27, 2011, it entered into a marketing services agreement with MetLife Home Loans, a division of MetLife Bank, N.A. Under the agreement, MetLife Home Loans��personnel, located on site at several of its new home communities, can offer financing options and re! sidential consumer mortgage loan products to its homebuyers, and originate residential consumer mortgage loans for homebuyers who elect to use MetLife Home Loans. The Company�� homebuyers may also elect to use other providers of mortgage banking services. Its financial services operations accounted for 0.8% of the Company�� total revenues in fiscal 2011.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rick Aristotle Munarriz]
Joe Raedle/Getty Images Lennar (LEN) and KB Home (KBH) are the latest homebuilders to step up with their quarterly results, and the numbers are generally pretty flattering. KB Home moved higher on Wednesday after posting a larger-than-expected profit. Revenue climbed 11 percent to $450.7 million as strong growth in the Southwest, Central and Southeast regions were more than enough to offset a decline in the West. The 1,442 homes it delivered during the quarter that ended in February was fewer than the 1,485 properties it handed over a year earlier. The key to the revenue growth is that the average selling price rose 12 percent to $305,200. It was an even better story for Lennar on Thursday morning. Revenue soared 38 percent to $1.4 billion as a 13 percent increase in home deliveries was boosted by the fact that the average selling price was 18 percent higher than it was a year earlier. Profitability also blew past analyst expectations. Since prices for new homes are climbing faster than the actual raw materials and building costs, most real estate developers are posting explosive growth on the bottom line. Everything seems to be going right for the homebuilders, but let's approach reports with caution. Reasons to Worry Homebuilders have been rallying in recent years. Lennar shares have popped 12-fold since bottoming out at $3.42 a little less than six years ago. KB Home has seen its stock more than triple since hitting rock bottom at $5.02 less than three years ago. Investors can never forget that these same companies were trading a lot higher than they are right now in 2006 and 2007, just before the real estate market collapsed to trigger the financial crisis that was felt around the world. No one is predicting that we're approaching that kind of asset bubble, but it should be clear that the housing market has been outrunning its fundamentals lately. Zillow's Home Value Index shows that real estate prices have moved 5.6 percent higher over the past yea
- [By Sean Williams]
The other factor that'll weigh on Trulia's success or failure is whether or not the homebuilding market is cooperating. Luckily for Trulia, we're seeing continued signs of success across the board with the National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index coming in at a seven-year high yesterday. KB Home (NYSE: KBH ) , for instance, which focuses on middle-and-upper income first-time and trade-up buyers, saw revenue increase 59% in the first-quarter from the year-ago period as its average selling price vaulted higher by 24%. Even struggling homebuilder Beazer Homes (NYSE: BZH ) , which tends to market toward lower- to middle-income first-time buyers and retired persons, saw its revenue leap 51% as average selling prices added nearly 13% in the second quarter. The point is that low inventory levels are leading to higher home prices and renewed interest in owning a home.
Best Income Companies To Own In Right Now: Texas Roadhouse Inc.(TXRH)
Texas Roadhouse, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates a full-service casual dining restaurant chain. It operates restaurants under the Texas Roadhouse and Aspen Creek names. The company also provides supervisory and administrative services for other license and franchise restaurants. As of December 27, 2011, it owned and operated 294 restaurants; and franchised and licensed an additional 72 restaurants in 47 states in the United States, and Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. The company was founded in 1993 and is based in Louisville, Kentucky.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Chris Dieterich]
In food, Morgan Stanley suggests that WhiteWave Foods (WWAV), which makes products such organic dairy and almond milks, might benefit from “consumers��ability to’��rade up’ out of conventional foods.” The same principle applies to Texas Roadhouse (TXRH).
- [By Timothy Green]
This leads me to steakhouse operator Texas Roadhouse (NASDAQ: TXRH ) . The stock currently trades for around $25 per share, and with earnings of $1 per share last year this puts the P/E ratio at a lofty 25. Texas Roadhouse operates about 400 restaurants, and in 2012 recorded $1.26 billion in revenue. It seems that the company is being valued at a high multiple like many other small to mid-sized restaurant chains. But there's a big problem.
Best Income Companies To Own In Right Now: Mine Safety Appliances Company (MSA)
Mine Safety Appliances Company develops, manufactures, and supplies health and safety products used by workers in the fire service, homeland security, construction, and other industries, as well as the military. It offers respiratory protection products, including self contained breathing apparatus, air-purifying respirators, gas masks, and escape hoods; and portable and permanent gas detection instruments, such as single-and multi-gas hand-held detectors, multi-point permanently installed gas detection systems, flame detectors, and open-path infrared gas detectors. The company also provides thermal imaging cameras; head, eye, face, and hearing protection products, such as industrial hard hats, fire helmets, and military helmets and communication systems; and body protection products comprising fall protection equipment and ballistic body armor. In addition, it offers consumer and contractor safety products through retail channels. The company?s products are used by first responders; general industry workers; military personnel; oil, gas, petrochemical, and chemical workers; hazmat and confined space workers; and construction workers and contractors. Mine Safety Appliances Company sells its products in North America, Europe, and internationally. The company was founded in 1914 and is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Chuck Saletta]
Two of those companies, railroad tycoon CSX (NYSE: CSX ) and safety equipment provider Mine Safety Appliances (NYSE: MSA ) , paid out higher per-share amounts than they did last quarter. Both raised their payments by about 7% -- with CSX's moving from $0.14 to $0.15 per share and Mine Safety Appliances' rising from $0.28 to $0.30.
- [By Aaron Levitt]
For investors, American Railcar could be one best sleepy plays on the shale boom.
Mine Safety Appliances (MSA)No industry likes seeing more regulations — except for those firms that help energy companies comply with those new rules. In the oil and gas industry that would be Mine Safety Appliances (MSA).
- [By Chuck Saletta]
Take Mine Safety Appliances (NYSE: MSA ) , for instance. The safety equipment provider missed expectations in its most recent quarter. But its very solid balance sheet helps protect it from the cyclicality in its industry, and its overall strength enabled it to increase its dividend last week, in spite of that short-term weakness. That solid balance sheet was one of the key factors that led to its selection for the iPIG portfolio and the reason the portfolio still has room for the company even though it slipped.
Best Income Companies To Own In Right Now: Unilever NV (UNA)
Unilever N.V. (NV) is a supplier of fast moving consumer goods. The two parent companies, NV and Unilever PLC (PLC), together with their group companies, operate as the Unilever Group (Unilever). The Company�� four product areas are Personal Care, Foods, Refreshment and Home Care. The Company's personal care, which includes sales of skincare and haircare products, deodorants and oral care products; foods, which includes sales of soups, bouillons, sauces, snacks, mayonnaise, salad dressings, margarines and spreads; refreshment, which includes sales of ice cream, tea-based beverages, weight-management products and nutritionally enhanced staples sold in developing markets and home care, which includes sales of home care products, such as laundry tablets, powders and liquids, soap bars and a range of cleaning products. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Adi Narayan]
Unilever (UNA) fell short on its public offer to raise its majority holding in Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (HUVR) to 75 percent, ending up with about a two-thirds stake after some shareholders of the Mumbai-based company opted not to sell.
- [By Inyoung Hwang]
Unilever (UNA) slipped 2.8 percent to 27.94 euros after saying sales growth slowed as trading in emerging markets deteriorated at a faster rate. Underlying group sales for the three months will rise 3 percent to 3.5 percent, the maker of Lipton tea and Dove soap said late yesterday in a statement. That compares with 5 percent growth in both the first half and second quarter.
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