Sunday, August 17, 2014

Top 10 Diversified Bank Companies To Watch For 2014

Add HBO to the growing selection of programming available on Amazon's streaming service Instant Video.

The company announced a multi-year deal with HBO to host several former television series, including The Sopranos, The Wire and Deadwood. Earlier seasons of current shows such as Girls, Veep and The Newsroom will also be available, although HBO's biggest hit, Game of Thrones, is absent.

The first HBO programs will appear on Instant Video on May 21.

"HBO original content is some of the most-popular across Amazon Instant Video ��our customers love watching these shows," says Brad Beale, Amazon's director of content acquisition, in a statement.

Amazon also announced its newly-revealed Fire TV set-top box will add the HBO Go app later this year.

Amazon has a similar content arrangement with Showtime, featuring older series such as The Tudors and The L Word.

Top 10 Prefered Companies To Invest In 2015: Marriott International Inc (MAR)

Marriott International, Inc., incorporated on September 19, 1997, is a diversified hospitality company. It is a lodging company with more than 3,700 properties in 73 countries and territories. It operates in four business segments: North American Full-Service Lodging, which includes the Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Marriott Conference Centers, JW Marriott, Renaissance Hotels, Renaissance ClubSport, and Autograph Collection properties located in the United States and Canada; North American Limited-Service Lodging, which includes the Courtyard, Fairfield Inn & Suites, SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, and Marriott ExecuStay properties located in the United States and Canada; International Lodging, which includes the Marriott Hotels & Resorts, JW Marriott, Renaissance Hotels, Autograph Collection, Courtyard, AC Hotels by Marriott, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Residence Inn, and Marriott Executive Apartments properties located outside the United States and Canada, and Luxury Lodging, which includes The Ritz-Carlton, Bulgari Hotels & Resorts, and EDITION properties worldwide (together with residential properties associated with some Ritz-Carlton hotels). In January 2014, the Company announced that it has sold its leasehold interests in the Renaissance Barcelona Hotel to an affiliate of the Qatar Armed Forces Investment Portfolio (QAFIP).

On November 21, 2011 (the spin-off date), the Company completed a spin-off of its timeshare operations and timeshare development business. Under license agreements with the Company, Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation (MVW) is the developer and operator of timeshare, fractional, and related products under the Marriott brand and the developer of fractional and related products under The Ritz-Carlton brand. The Company receives license fees under these licensing agreements. In April 2012, it opened the Renaissance Barcelona Hotel. In September 2012, its JW Marriott hotel brand has opened JW Marriott Essex House New York in New York City.

The Company is a worldwide operator, franchisor, and licensor of hotels, corporate housing properties, and timeshare properties under a number of brand names. The Company also operates, markets, and develops residential properties and provides services to home/condominium owner associations. As of December 31, 2011, the Company operated, franchised or licensed 3,718 lodging properties worldwide, with 643,196 rooms inclusive of 32 home and condominium products (3,838 units) for which it manages the related owners��associations. As of December 31, 2011, the Company provided 2,166 furnished corporate housing rental units. As of December 31, 2010, it operated 1,104 properties (284,868 rooms) under long-term management agreements with property owners, 45 properties (10,957 rooms) under long-term lease agreements with property owners, and five properties (986 rooms) as owned. During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company bought one land parcel for hotel development and one hotel, and sold two limited-service properties, one full-service property and one land parcel. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had 24671 franchised properties (332,636 rooms), 85 unconsolidated joint venture properties (8,721 rooms), and 64 timeshare, fractional and related properties (12,800 units).

North American Full-Service Segment, North American Limited-Service Segment, International Segment Lodging Products

Marriott Hotels & Resorts is the Company�� global flagship brand, serving business and leisure upper-upscale travelers and meeting groups. Marriott Hotels & Resorts properties are located in downtown, urban, and suburban areas, near airports, and at resort locations. As of December 31, 2011, there were 492 Marriott Hotels & Resorts properties (178,854 rooms), excluding JW Marriott and Marriott Conference Centers. As of December 31, 2011, there were 10 Marriott Conference Centers (2,915 rooms) throughout the United States. JW Marriott is a global luxury brand made up of a collection o! f propert! ies and resorts. As of December 31, 2011, there were 53 properties (23,826 rooms) primarily located in gateway cities and upscale locations globally. Renaissance Hotels properties are located in downtown locations of major cities, in suburban office parks, near gateway airports, and in destination resorts. As of December 31, 2011, there were 154 Renaissance Hotels properties (52,966 rooms), including two Renaissance ClubSport properties (349 rooms).

The Autograph Collection consists of upper-upscale and luxury, independent hotels located in major cites. As of December 31, 2011, there were 27 Autograph Collection properties (6,105 rooms) operating in the United States.

During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company entered into joint ventures with AC Hotels of Spain to create the AC Hotels by Marriott co-brand. AC Hotels typically contain 50 to 150 rooms and are located in destination, downtown, and suburban markets. As of December 31, 2011, there were 80 AC Hotels by Marriott properties (8,371 rooms) in Spain, Italy, and Portugal. Courtyard is the Company�� select-service hotel product for the upper-moderate price tier. The hotels typically contain 90 to 150 rooms in suburban locales and 140 to 340 rooms in downtown domestic and international locales. As of December 31, 2011, there were 913 Courtyards (134,719 rooms) operating in 37 countries and territories.

Fairfield Inn & Suites offers a range of amenities, including free in-room high-speed Internet access and free wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) access in the lobby, on-site business services (copying, faxing, and printing), a business center/lobby computer with Internet access and print capability, continental breakfast buffet, The Market, exercise facilities, and a swimming pool. In addition, suite rooms provide guests with separate areas for sleeping, working, and relaxing, as well as in-room amenities, including a microwave and refrigerator. As of December 31, 2011, there were 431 Fairfield Inn & Suites propert! ies and 2! 49 Fairfield Inn properties operating in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. SpringHill Suites properties typically have 90 to 165 suites. The brand offers a broad range of amenities, including free in-room high-speed Internet access and free Wi-Fi access in the lobby, The Market (a self-serve food store open 24 hours a day), complimentary hot breakfast buffet, lobby computer and on-site business services (copying, faxing, and printing), exercise facilities, and a swimming pool. As of December 31, 2011, there were 285 properties (33,466 rooms) located in the United States and 2 properties (299 rooms) in Canada.

Residence Inn is North America�� hotel brand designed for business and leisure travelers staying five or more nights. As of December 31, 2011, there were 617 Residence Inn properties (74,867 rooms) located in the United States, Canada, Costa Rica, United Kingdom, and Germany. As of December 31, 2011, 193 TownePlace Suites properties (20,048 rooms) were located in 42 states. Marriott ExecuStay provides furnished corporate apartments for long-term stays nationwide. As of December 31, 2011, Marriott leased approximately 2,200 apartments and its 11 franchisees leased approximately 2,500 apartments. Apartments are located in 43 different markets in the United States, of which 34 are franchised. Marriott Executive Apartments provides temporary housing for business executives and others who need accommodations outside their home country, usually for 30 or more days. As of December 31, 2011, 20 Marriott Executive Apartments and two other Serviced Apartments properties (3,700 rooms total) were located in 16 countries and territories. All Marriott Executive Apartments are located outside the United States.

Luxury Segment Lodging Products

The Ritz-Carlton is a global luxury lifestyle brand, which consists of hotels and resorts. The Ritz-Carlton properties include spa and wellness facilities, restaurants, championship golf courses, and The Ritz-Carlton Club Level! . Through! a joint venture with jeweler and luxury goods designer Bulgari SpA, the Company operates the luxury hotel properties in prime locations under the name Bulgari Hotels & Resorts. As of December 31, 2011, it operated the Bulgari Milano Hotel (58 rooms), in Milan, Italy, and the Bulgari Bali Resort, which features 59 private villas, two restaurants, and comprehensive spa facilities. It also operates two restaurants in Tokyo, Japan, which are co-located with two Bulgari retail stores. The EDITION brand offers a lodging experience on a global scale.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Matt Thalman]

    In the following video, Fool contributor Matt Thalman discusses a few different metrics and areas investors should focus their attention on when looking at Marriott's (NYSE: MAR  ) upcoming earnings report.

Top 10 Diversified Bank Companies To Watch For 2014: Jarden Corp (JAH)

Jarden Corporation (Jarden), incorporated on December 11, 2001, is a global consumer products company. The Company operates in three segments through a range of brands, including: Outdoor Solutions: Abu Garcia, Aero, Berkley, Campingaz, Coleman, ExOfficio, Fenwick, Gulp!, K2, Marker, Marmot, Mitchell, Penn, Rawlings, Shakespeare, Stearns, Stren, Trilene, Volkl and Zoot; Consumer Solutions: Bionaire, Crock-Pot, FoodSaver, Health o meter, Holmes, Mr. Coffee, Oster, Patton, Rival, Seal-a-Meal, Sunbeam, VillaWare and White Mountain, and Branded Consumables: Ball, Bee, Bernardin, Bicycle, Billy Boy, Crawford, Diamond, Dicon, Fiona, First Alert, First Essentials, Hoyle, Kerr, Lehigh, Lillo, Loew-Cornell, Mapa, NUK, Pine Mountain, Quickie, Spontex and Tigex. On December 31, 2012, American Capital Ltd sold its portfolio company Lifoam Holdings, Inc. to the Company. In October 2013, Jarden Corporation completed its acquisition of Yankee Candle Investments LLC from a fund managed by Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC.

Outdoor Solutions

The Outdoor Solutions segment manufactures or sources, markets and distributes global consumer lifestyle products for outdoor and outdoor-related activities. For general outdoor activities, Coleman is a brand for lifestyle products, offering an array of products that include camping and outdoor equipment such as air beds, camping stoves, coolers, foldable furniture, gas grills, lanterns and flashlights, sleeping bags, tents and water recreation products, such as inflatable boats, kayaks and tow-behinds. The Outdoor Solutions segment is also a provider of fishing equipment under brand names, such as Abu Garcia, All Star, Berkley, Fenwick, Gulp!, JRC, Mitchell, Penn, Pflueger, Sebile, Sevenstrand, Shakespeare, Spiderwire, Stren, Trilene, Ugly Stik and Xtools. Team sports equipment for baseball, basketball, field hockey, football, lacrosse and softball products are sold under brand names, such as deBeer, Gait, Miken, Rawlings and Worth. Alpine and nordic skiing! , snowboarding, snowshoeing and in-line skating products are sold under brand names, such as Atlas, Full Tilt, K2, Line, Little Bear, Madshus, Marker, Morrow, Ride, Tubbs, Volkl and 5150 Snowboards.

Water sports equipment, personal flotation devices and all-terrain vehicle gear are sold under brand names, such as Helium, Hodgman, Mad Dog Gear, Sevylor, Sospenders and Stearns. The Company also sells technical and outdoor apparel and equipment under brand names, such as CAPP3L, Ex Officio, K2, Marker, Marmot, Planet Earth, Ride, Volkl and Zoot, and air beds under brand names, including Aero, Aerobed and Aero Sport. The Company has warehouse and distribution facilities in Canada, Europe, Latin America, the Pacific Rim and the United States. It also uses third party warehouses and logistical services. It manufactures its products at facilities in China, Europe, Latin America and North America, as well as through third-party sourcing, primarily in Asia.

Consumer Solutions

The Consumer Solutions segment manufactures or sources, markets, and distributes a line of household products, including kitchen appliances and home environment products. This segment maintains a portfolio of brands, including Bionaire, Crock-Pot, FoodSaver, Health o meter, Holmes, Mr. Coffee, Oster, Patton, Rival, Seal-a-Meal, Sunbeam and Villaware. The principal products in this segment include clippers and trimmers for professional use in the beauty and barber and animal categories; electric blankets, mattress pads and throws; household kitchen appliances, such as blenders, coffeemakers, irons, mixers, slow cookers, toasters, toaster ovens and vacuum packaging machines; home environmental products, such as air purifiers, fans, heaters and humidifiers; products for the hospitality industry, and scales for consumer use.

Branded Consumables

The Branded Consumables segment manufactures or sources, markets and distributes a line of branded consumer products, including arts and c! rafts pai! nt brushes, brooms, brushes, buckets, children�� card games, clothespins, collectible tins, condoms, cord, rope and twine, dusters, dust pans, feeding bottles, fencing, fire extinguishing products, firelogs and firestarters, home canning jars and accessories, kitchen matches, mops, other craft items, pacifiers, plastic cutlery, playing cards and accessories, rubber gloves and related cleaning products, safes, security cameras, security doors, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, soothers, sponges, storage organizers and workshop accessories, teats, toothpicks, window guards and other accessories. This segment markets its products under the Aviator, Ball, Bee, Bernardin, Bicycle, Billy Boy, BRK, Crawford, Diamond, Dicon, Fiona, First Alert, First Essentials, Hoyle, Java-Log, KEM, Kerr, Lehigh, Lillo, Loew-Cornell, Mapa, NUK, Pine Mountain, Quickie Green Cleaning, Quickie Home-Pro, Quickie Microban, Quickie Original, Quickie Professional, Spontex, Tigex and Wellington brand names, among others.

The Company manufactures products, such as firelogs and firestarters, kitchen matches and metal closures for its home canning jars in its domestic facilities. It also manufactures playing cards and certain baby care products, home care products, healthcare products and home safety products at facilities worldwide, including facilities in Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and South America.

Process Solutions

In addition to the three primary business segments, the Company�� Process Solutions segment manufactures, markets and distributes a variety of plastic products, including closures, contact lens packaging, medical disposables, plastic cutlery and rigid packaging. Its materials business produces specialty nylon polymers, conductive fibers and monofilament used in various products, including woven mats used by paper producers and weed trimmer cutting line, as well as fiberglass radio antennas for marine, citizen band and military applications. It is also a producer o! f niche p! roducts fabricated from solid zinc strip and is the supplier of copper-plated zinc penny blanks to the United States Mint and a supplier to the Royal Canadian Mint, as well as a supplier of brass, bronze and nickel-plated finishes on steel and zinc for coinage to other international markets. In addition, it manufactures a line of industrial zinc products marketed worldwide for use in the architectural, automotive, construction, electrical component and plumbing markets.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By John Udovich]

    Everyone is familiar with�the Tupperware brand from�consumer products stock Tupperware Brands Corporation (NYSE: TUP) and you are probably familiar with the brands�of mid cap stock Jarden Corp (NYSE: JAH) along with small cap stocks Libbey Inc (NYSEMKT: LBY) and Lifetime Brands Inc (NASDAQ: LCUT); but what about the stocks themselves? Chances are, their brands or products are right under your nose at home and you probably don�� know anything about the mid cap or small cap stock behind them.

  • [By Will Ashworth]

    One of the only ways to fight this is by getting bigger. A good example in another industry is Jarden (JAH), a consumer goods business with annual revenues of $7.4 billion. It�� as big as it is in order to be able to provide a larger assortment of products to Walmart (WMT), its biggest customer, representing 20% of overall sales. Without this wide assortment, Bentonville would have to go elsewhere for sales. The same scenario applies to cable and television content.

  • [By Will Ashworth] On September 3 Jarden (NYSE:JAH) announced it was acquiring Yankee Candle Company for $1.75 billion. Almost all the media I've seen since regarding the acquisition has been quite favorable. As I write this almost a full week has passed; the 10% uptick on the news is holding steady. It appears no one has a problem with this deal--except me. Read on and I'll explain why Jarden may be burning the candle at both ends.

    The Deal's Positives

    The company does a good job explaining why it's acquiring Yankee Candle. It comes down to six reasons:

    1. Yankee Candle are market leaders in premium scented candles.

    2. Its brand awareness results in repeat purchases providing recurring revenue.

    3. It does well in good and bad economic cycles.

    4. Free cash flow is strong and growing.

    5. It will add 10% to its pro forma adjusted earnings per share and that's before any synergies.

    6. It didn't have to go through a bidding war.

    You don't have to be a rocket scientist to see that the deal boosts its margins in impressive fashion. Its adjusted gross margin will increase 320 basis points to 32.1% while its adjusted EBITDA margin improves 140 basis points to 13.2%. And all it has to do to achieve these improvements is to shell out $1.75 billion paid using cash on its books, new equity and some additional debt. In this low-rate environment it doesn't seem like a bad proposition. Especially if it can generate permanent cost savings through economies of scale, etc.

    What it really brings to the table is top-line growth. In 2012, Yankee Candle's revenues increased by 7.4% year-over-year to $844.2 million. Meanwhile, Jarden's revenues in 2012 were flat year-over-year at $6.7 billion. Its 542 retail stores delivered same-store sales growth of 2.5% in 2012, which is more than respectable. Where it really shined was online, which saw comparable sales in its consumer direct

Top 10 Diversified Bank Companies To Watch For 2014: ECOtality Inc (ECTYQ)

Ecotality, Inc., incorporated in 1999, is a provider of electric transportation and storage technologies. The Company provides electric vehicle infrastructure products and solutions that are used in on-road, grid-connected vehicles (including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) and battery electric vehicles (BEV)), material handling and airport electric ground support applications. Through its main operating subsidiary, Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation (eTec), the Company�� primary product offering is the Minit-Charger line of advanced battery fast-charge systems that are designed for various motive applications. In addition to its electric transportation focus, Ecotality, Inc. is also involved in the development, manufacture, assembly and sale of specialty solar products, advanced battery systems, and hydrogen and fuel cell systems. Its subsidiaries and primary operating segments consist of eTec, Innergy Power Corporation (Innergy), and ECOtality Stores (doing business as Fuel Cell Store). In addition, the Company has a wholly owned subsidiary in Mexico providing manufacturing services for it and a wholly owned subsidiary in Australia, ECOtality Australia Pty Ltd, to market and distribute battery charging equipment to support on-road electric vehicles, industrial equipment, and electric airport ground support equipment.

The Company�� products include energy engineering services (hydrogen, solar, battery, coal gasification and energy delivery infrastructure); eTec�� Minit-Charger fast-charge systems for material handling and airport ground support equipment; charging systems (Level 2 and 3) for on-road grid-connected electric vehicles; eTec Bridge Power Manager (BPM) systems; hydrogen internal combustion engine (HICE) vehicle conversions; industrial battery systems; solar panel production; specialty solar solutions; specialty thin-sealed lead battery products, and various solar products for consumer, emergency response programs and remote power systems. The Compan! y�� products also include third-party hydrogen and education related products, and EV Microclimate Program.

Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation

As the Company�� primary operating subsidiary, eTec is engaged in the research, development and testing of advanced transportation and energy systems, and is the exclusive provider of the Minit-Charger line of battery fast-charge systems and technologies. Specializing in alternative-fuel, hybrid and electric vehicles and infrastructures, eTec offers consulting, technical support and field services. The Minit-Charger brand is the result of a consolidation of the two fast-charging technologies: eTec SuperCharge and Edison Minit-Charger. In March 2008, all eTec fast-charging products, including the eTec SuperCharge product line, were consolidated under the eTec Minit-Charger brand.

eTec holds the exclusive contract for the United States Department of Energy�� (DoE) Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity (AVTA) program and has conducted more than six million miles of vehicle testing on more than 200 advanced fuel vehicles. The Company acquired eTec as an expansion platform for its core capability in battery technologies, fast charging systems, energy distribution infrastructure, and advanced vehicle technologies and testing, which includes electric vehicle (EV), hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), PHEV and hydrogen vehicle technologies. As of December 31, 2009, eTec had installed more than 5,100 charging stations for motive applications.

On August 5, 2009, eTec was selected by the DoE for a grant to undertake the deployment of EVs and charging infrastructure. On September 30, 2009, eTec accepted the grant. eTec, as the lead applicant for the proposal, partnered with Nissan North America to deploy EVs and the charging infrastructure to support them. The project will install electric vehicle charging infrastructure and deploy up to a total of 4,700 Nissan battery electric vehicles in strategic markets in fiv! e states:! Arizona, California, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington.

Innergy Power Systems

Innergy Power Systems is based in San Diego, California, with a manufacturing facility in Tijuana, Mexico. Innergy is a manufacturer of both renewable energy solar modules and thin-sealed rechargeable batteries, as its solar photovoltaic (PV) product line addresses the worldwide demand for solar energy products and off-grid power. Innergy�� fiberglass reinforced panel (FRP) solar modules are designed to meet a range of applications for emergency preparedness and recreation. Applications include logistics tracking, asset management systems, off-grid lighting, mobile communications, mobile computing, recreational vehicles, signaling devices and surveillance cameras. Innergy and the Company�� wholly owned subsidiary providing manufacturing services, Portable Energy De Mexico, S.A. DE C.V., provides the Company the ability to further expand its production, manufacturing and assembly capabilities for Innergy�� solar products and energy storage devices, as well as products of its other subsidiaries, including eTec�� Minit-Charger products.

ECOtality Stores (doing business as Fuel Cell Store)

ECOtality Stores is the Company�� wholly owned subsidiary and operates as its online retail division. Fuel Cell Store (www.fuelcellstore.com) is an e-commerce marketplace that offers consumers an array of fuel cell products from around the globe. Based in San Diego, California, and with international operations in Japan, Russia, Italy and Portugal, Fuel Cell Store develops, manufactures and sells a range of fuel cell products that includes fuel cell stacks, systems, component parts and educational materials. In addition to primary retail operations, Fuel Cell Store also offers consulting services for high schools, colleges and research institutes, and is available to host workshops, conferences and corporate events.

Hydrality

Hydrality is a reactor system t! hat store! s and delivers hydrogen on-demand using magnesium compounds and water. The EPC/Hydrality technology was initially developed in conjunction with National Aeronautics and Space Administration�� (NASA) Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and subsequently advanced by Arizona State University, Green Mountain Engineering and Airboss Aerospace, Inc. The Company initially sought to design and license a Hydrality system for use in motorized vehicles and industrial equipment, it has identified several additional applications for Hydrality that include stationary applications for remote power, back-up power systems, and large-scale industrial and utility use.

The Company competes with AeroVironment, Inc., Aker Wade Power Technologies LLC, Power Designers, LLC, and C&D Technologies, Inc., Better Place, Coulomb Technologies, AeroVironment, Inc., Aker Wade Power Technologies, LLC, Delta-Q Technologies, Elektromotive, BP Solar International Inc., Evergreen Solar, Inc., First Solar Inc., Kyocera Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Motech Industries Inc., Q-Cells AG, Sanyo Corporation, Sharp Corporation, SolarWorld AG, Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd., Airgas, Inc., Air Liquide, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Linde AG, Praxair Technology, Inc., Distributed Energy Systems Corporation, Hydrogenics Corporation, Statoil Hydro, Teledyne Energy Systems, Inc., Heliocentris Fuel Cells AG, Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies, Ltd., BCS Fuel Cells, Inc., Electrochem, Inc., Fuel Cell Scientific, LLC, GasHub Technology, JHT Power, H-Tech, Inc., Element-1 Power Systems and miniHYDROGEN.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By abirk]

    Founded in 1883, Kroger, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a retailer in the United States. The company also manufactures and processes food for sale in its supermarkets. With a market cap of 22.72 billion, this Cincinnati, Ohio, based company is the seventh largest grocery retailer in the world and, along with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT) and Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST), one of only three U.S. companies in the top ten. Extending well beyond its retail grocer core business, Kroger operates under nearly two dozen banners including: Kroger Real Estate, The Little Clinic, I-Wireless, Kroger Convenience Stores, Littman Jewelers, Fred Meyer Jewelers, Kroger Manufacturing, Kroger Pharmacies, and the recently-acquired Harris Teeter Supermarkets, Inc. (HTSI) (merger transaction between the two companies was completed on January 28, 2014). About half of the Kroger's supermarkets include gas stations. Further, partnering with Ecotality, Inc. (ECTYQ), Kroger has introduced electric car charging stations.

  • [By Sean Williams]

    Captain, I just don't have the infrastructure!
    Without question, car companies are on a quest to create the perfect blend of performance, fuel-efficiency, and zero emissions. At the moment, only one company has done a good job of that, and its name is Tesla Motors. But looking at the big picture, the electric vehicles that Tesla produces make up just a fraction of the current automotive market. The real barrier to entry for any alternative modes of transportation is a lack of infrastructure, which is why I think the recent rally in ECOtality (NASDAQOTH: ECTYQ  ) is unwarranted.

Top 10 Diversified Bank Companies To Watch For 2014: PIMCO Intermediate Municipal Bond Strategy Fund (MUNI)

PIMCO Intermediate Municipal Bond Strategy Fund, formerly, PIMCO Intermediate Municipal Bond ETF (the Fund), seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its assets in a diversified portfolio of debt securities whose interest is, in the opinion of bond counsel for the issuer at the time of issuance, exempt from federal income tax (Municipal Bonds). Municipal Bonds are issued by or on behalf of states and local governments and their agencies, authorities and other instrumentalities. The Fund may only invest in the United States dollar-denominated investment grade debt securities, rated Baa or higher by Moody��, or equivalently rated by S&P or Fitch. It may invest 25% or more of its total assets in Municipal Bonds that finance similar projects, such as those relating to education, health care, housing, transportation and utilities. The Fund�� investment advisor is Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (PIMCO). Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Mary Anne & Pamela Aden]

    The ones we like best and recommend buying are the iShares 20+ year Treasury Bond (TLT), the iShares 10-20 year Treasury Bond (TLH), Proshares Ultra 20+ year Treasury (UBT) and Pimco Intermediate Muni Bond strategy ETF (MUNI).

Top 10 Diversified Bank Companies To Watch For 2014: Radware Ltd.(RDWR)

Radware Ltd. provides application delivery solutions and network security solutions to banks, insurance companies, manufacturing and retail, government agencies, media companies, and service providers worldwide. The company offers AppDirector Intelligent Application Delivery Controller for data center optimization and to eliminate traffic surges, server bottlenecks, connectivity disconnects, and downtime for business continuity; and Alteon Application Switch application delivery controller that supports local, global, and transparent load-balance, multi-homing network load-balance, and bandwidth management capabilities. It also provides AppXML, which offers XML and Web services communications for mission-critical applications; AppWall, a Web application firewall (WAF) appliance that secures Web applications; LinkProof that manages wide area networks and Internet traffic for networks; Content Inspection Director, a smart redirection and dynamic policy enforcement device to meet contemporary carrier needs; and Session Initiation Protocol Director, an application delivery controller for application vendors, telecom equipment manufacturers, and system integrators. In addition, the company offers DefensePro Intrusion Prevention and Denial of Service products that protect against worms, bots, viruses, malicious intrusions, and DOS attacks; Inflight, a hardware device that provides online and network-based monitoring solutions; and APSolute Vision, an appliance-based management and monitoring system for information technology staff to centrally manage distributed devices and check the performance and security of enterprise wide application delivery infrastructures. It markets and sells its products primarily through distributors and resellers in North America, Europe, and Asia, as well as directly to select customers in the United States. Radware Ltd. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Evan Niu, CFA]

    What: Shares of Radware (NASDAQ: RDWR  ) have fallen by as much as 24% after the company announced disappointing preliminary earnings for the first quarter.

  • [By Seth Jayson]

    Radware (Nasdaq: RDWR  ) reported earnings on July 25. Here are the numbers you need to know.

    The 10-second takeaway
    For the quarter ended June 30 (Q2), Radware met expectations on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

  • [By Evan Niu, CFA]

    Rival ADC vendor Radware (NASDAQ: RDWR  ) also issued disappointing preliminary results this morning, with its own revenue projected at $45 million -- also below its guidance. Radware said sales were strong in the U.S. market but cited weakness in EMEA and China for its weakness.

Top 10 Diversified Bank Companies To Watch For 2014: Extreme Biodiesel Inc (XTRM)

Extreme Biodiesel Inc., formerly Book Merge Technology, Inc., incorporated on February 28, 2008, is engaged in manufacturing of home biodiesel processors. The Company focuses to produce alternative fuel. The Company has a bio diesel refinery and factory for refining diesel oil and manufacturing bio diesel processors. On October 11, 2010, the Company acquired a 51% interest in EGT. on October 11, 2010, the reverse acquisition was effected. On March 31, 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of EGT.

The Company�� products include standard extractor, extreme extractor, extreme mini-refinery, extreme purification system, titration kit, dispensing pump with meter and oil collection pump. The standard extractor is a biodiesel processor, which requires a water-wash process to purify the biodiesel. Extreme extractor is a waterless purification system. The Mini Refinery is the waterless system, which can make 600 gallons of quality biodiesel per day.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Peter Graham]

    Small cap resource or green stocks Paradigm Resource Management Corp (OTCMKTS: PRDC), Extreme Biodiesel Inc (OTCMKTS: XTRM) and Pan Global Corp (OTCMKTS: PGLO) have all been getting some attention lately thanks in part to a few paid stock promotions. However, two of these small cap appear to be the subject of minimal paid promotion activity, but even a small paid promotion or investor relations campaign can increase a stock�� volatility. So do these three small cap resource or green stocks have what it takes to deliver some Christmas cheer for investors and traders alike? Here is a quick reality check:

Top 10 Diversified Bank Companies To Watch For 2014: Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc.(KTOS)

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. provides mission critical products, services, and solutions in the United States. The company?s Kratos Government Solutions segment offers various services comprising weapon systems sustainment, lifecycle support, and extension; command, control, communications, computing, combat systems, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance services, including cybersecurity, cyberwarfare, information assurance, and situational awareness solutions; military range operations and technical services; missile, rocket, and weapons systems test and evaluation; mission launch services; modeling and simulation; unmanned aerial vehicle products and technology; advanced network engineering and information technology services; and public safety, security, and surveillance systems integration. Its Public Safety & Security segment provides independent integrated solutions for homeland security, public safety, critical information, and security and su rveillance systems. This segment?s solutions consists of designing, installing, and servicing building technologies that protect people, critical infrastructure, assets, information, and property in various areas, such as the design, engineering, and operation of command and control centers; design, engineering, deployment, and integration of access control; building automation and control; communications; digital and closed circuit television security and surveillance; fire and life safety; maintenance services; and product support services. The company primarily serves the United States government agencies, including the department of defense, classified agencies, intelligence agencies, other national security agencies, and homeland security related agencies. The company was formerly known as Wireless Facilities, Inc. and changed its name to Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. in September 2007. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in San Diego, Cali fornia.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By MONEYMORNING]

    And in subsequent reports this summer, we recommended Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS), a defense-and-cybersecurity stock that zoomed as much as 50% before surrendering some of those gains. We still have a double-digit profit in the stock. And we continue to like it for the long haul.

  • [By William Patalon III]

    Since we recommended Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS) back on June 6, the stock has soared nearly 40%.

    And we believe there's more to come.

  • [By Rich Smith]

    On Monday, the Department of Defense awarded 19 contracts, which added�up to just under $1.5 billion in total value. The largest award went to a private company to pay for "full line food distribution" in Okinawa. But even so, there were a few contracts worth noting, going to publicly traded companies:

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