Stocks to Watch: Wal-Mart, Qualcomm, Orexigen

Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Monday’s session are Wal-Mart Stores Inc.(WMT), Qualcomm Inc.(QCOM) and Orexigen Therapeutics Inc.(OREX)

Wal-Mart said Chief Executive Officer Mike Duke will retire early next year and be replaced by company veteran Doug McMillon. Mr. McMillon, who is 47 years old and president and CEO of Walmart International, was named to the company’s board effective immediately and will become CEO on Feb. 1. Shares edged up 19 cents to $80 premarket.

Qualcomm said a Chinese government agency is investigating the chip maker under the Chinese antimonopoly law. Qualcomm, a mobile chip maker that supplies the likes of Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co., said it isn’t aware of any activity that violates the antimonopoly law and will continue to cooperate with the National Development and Reform Commission. Shares dropped 2.3% to $71.30 premarket.

Biopharmaceutical company Orexigen Therapeutics Inc. said it will resubmit its new drug application for its weight loss drug in the next few weeks after ruling out cardiovascular risk in obese and overweight patients in a study. The company has been developing a weight-loss ingestible pill called Contrave that it now hopes to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by June 2014. Shares surged 13% to $6.40 premarket.

Shares of touch-sensor technology maker Uni-Pixel Inc.(UNXL) slid after the company disclosed in a Securities & Exchange Commission filing that the agency is inquiring about the company’s business deals. The SEC has looked into the company’s agreements related to its InTouch Sensors, though Uni-Pixel said the inquiry shouldn’t be viewed as an indication that any violations of law have occurred. Shares tumbled 18% to $11.50 premarket.

DaVita Healthcare Partners Inc.(DVA) and Fresenius Medical Care AG(FME.XE) & Co. traded higher after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said it will reduce payments to kidney dialysis providers by less than 1% over the next two years in a reversal of the much-larger cuts it had proposed earlier this summer. The move handed at least a temporary victory to dialysis providers like DaVita and Fresenius. DaVita’s shares jumped 4.4% to $59 premarket, while Fresenius’ stock climbed 7.7% to $34.71.

Allegion(ALLE) PLC will replace J.C. Penney Co.(JCP) in the S&P 500 index after trading concludes Nov. 29, S&P Dow Jones Indices said Friday. Ingersoll-Rand(IR) PLC is due to complete its spinoff of Allegion, which focuses on commercial and residential security, on that date.

McGraw Hill Financial Inc.(MHFI) named Neeraj Sahai as president of Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, succeeding Douglas Peterson, who took over as chief executive of the parent company earlier this month. Mr. Sahai, 56 years old, will step into the new role on Jan. 6. Since 2005, he has worked as the head of Citigroup Inc.'s(C) (C) securities and fund-services business, which offers securities services to investors, issuers and intermediaries.

Tower Group International Ltd.(TWGP), which is struggling due to a soured acquisition, Friday reported its second-quarter financial results after previously postponing the release twice before. Tower Group said its loss widened in the quarter on $578 million in charges to strengthen its loss reserves and a balance sheet writedown.

BMW i3 electric’s oddball option — gas engine

LOS ANGELES -- BMW finally is set to put its futuristic i3 battery car into U.S. showrooms, offering a truly peculiar option for an electric car -- a gas engine.

The company showed off the car today at the Los Angeles Auto Show; on Tuesday it hosted a drive for journalists of a fleet of them from Marina Del Rey on the shore to the downtown L.A. site of the show.

For $3,850 more than the price of the car you can have a 650 cc, two-cylinder BMW motorcycle engine. It's a so-called range extender.

It fires up and runs a generator when the battery pack gets low. Not new. That's how the Chevrolet Volt works.

But offering it as a stand-alone option is unique. Volt and other extended-range electrics have the auxiliary gasoline power built in, period. It's part of the basic design.

BMW thinks most people will buy the i3 as a pure electric when it goes on sale next April on the east side of the U.S. and May in the West. That setup, BMW says, should have a range of 80 to 100 miles.

But for those with serious range anxiety the range-extender option roughly doubles how far you can go before the needs fuel of some kind. A 2.4-gallon gasoline tank feeds the motorcycle engine and a fresh charge -- three hours using a 240-volt circuit to fill a completely drained battery pack -- tops off the feeds the batteries.

The automaker, at a briefing here before reporters drive the a fleet of identical i3 subcompacts to downtown Los Angeles, said the gas engine never drives the wheels, it only runs a generator to keep the battery pack from completely discharging.

Base price is $42,275 including $925 destination and excluding any tax credits.

The i3 comes in three trim levels -- or "worlds" in i-lingo: Base is Mega. Mid-level is Giga. High-end models, like all those in the test fleet here, are called Tera.

Tera interior uses leather on seats, "active" wool and kenaf on door panels. Kenaf is a "cotton-based, hemp-like" material that has the look of old felt or packing ma! terial.

"Active" wool is blend of virgin wool and recycled plastic drink bottles. Eucalyptus wood is used for some dashboard surfaces.

BMW says the i3 weighs a little more than 2,700 pounds, making it the lightest car the company has sold in the U.S. since the 1991 3-series.

The trim weight gives the car strong acceleration -- standstill to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds -- from the electric motor's modest 170 horsepower, 184 pounds-feet of torque.

The exterior is thermoplastic, similar to General Motors discontinued Saturn cars. The panels will deform if they hit something, then spring back into shape -- at low speed, anyway.

Underneath is a carbon-fiber reinforced plastic skeleton. That's mainly why the car weigh what it does. Carbon fiber -- it's what many fishing rods are made from -- is strong without being heavy. Race cars use the material to keep weight down.

Rear doors on the four-door, four-passenger car are hinged at the rear, so open toward the back in a so-called suicide-door pattern.

When the front and rear doors both are open, there's no middle pillar so it's easier to maneuver into and out of the car. But rear riders need front passengers to open their doors before the back doors can be unlatched.

Keeps the kids in place until you're ready to help them out. But could be annoying to older passengers impatient to get out and get on with things.

Three driving modes are supplied. Comfort it the normal setting. EcoPro changes the throttle and other settings and should boost range 12%, says Jose Guerrero, in charge of BMW i-series products.

EcoPro plus cuts back throttle response even more, tries to keep accessories turned off to save the battery and should boost range another 12%, he says.

As hedge funds grow, funds of funds get clipped

With alternative investments more popular than ever, it's ironic that a channel originally designed to broaden distribution is struggling to keep pace.

While the hedge fund industry now boasts a record $2 trillion in assets, following three straight months of inflows, the $469 billion funds-of-hedge-funds space has had just two months of net inflows in the past 24.

“I predicted the demise of the fund-of-funds business coming out of the market crash, and by the end of the decade, my gut says they won't be much of a factor,” said Uri Landesman, president of Platinum Partners, a $1.3 billion hedge fund shop.

The biggest challenge facing the fund-of-funds model, according to Mr. Landesman, is the added layer of fees that investors must absorb in order to participate in an asset class that is already infamous for fee structures that typically start by charging 1% on assets and 10% on investment performance.

Funds of funds, which bundle alternative strategies by investing in multiple underlying hedge fund managers, typically tack on their own fees — which can amount to another 1% on assets and 10% on performance.

A decade ago or more ago, when most investors had neither the assets nor the resources to access hedge funds directly, funds of funds flourished as a gateway into this otherwise exclusive community.

But today, as more hedge funds expand their distribution efforts and the mutual fund industry continues to roll out registered alternative products, the fund-of-funds model is starting to make less sense.

A survey of hedge fund managers and investors, released earlier this week by Greenwich Associates and Ernst & Young, found that 75% of hedge funds in Europe and North America are seeing an increase in direct investing and that they expect the trend to continue.

“Direct investment continues to increase and is preferred by managers, with intermediation shifting away from funds of funds to investment consultants,” said Michael Serota, co-leader of Ernst & Young's Global Hedge Fund Services.

“Some funds of funds are offering more advisory-like services in order to compete,” he added. “With returns likely to remain subdued, and investors finding access easier, there will remain a focus on the costs of intermediation.”

Mr. Landesman said the shift away from funds of funds has been extreme.

“Pre-crash, funds of funds represented about half of our business, but now I'd estimate it's between 5% and 7%,” he said.

Beyond the extra layer of fees, funds of funds also are hampered by liquidity-related challenges. Part of the original appeal of a! fund of funds was that investors would get better liquidity than they could typically expect from a hedge fund, which offer quarterly liquidity, at best.

But as funds of funds have tried to maintain standards of offering monthly liquidity with 30 days' notice, they have effectively reduced their pool of hedge funds in which they could potentially invest because most hedge funds aren't interested in offering increased liquidity.

“The liquidity issue limits where they can invest, and that in turn limits their size,” said Mr. Landesman.

Of course, the funds-of-funds space isn't exactly rolling over and just waiting to die.

Like the hedge fund industry, itself, a lot of fund-of-funds shops are trying to adapt to the changing dynamics in the alternative investing space.

Aurora Investment Management, an affiliate of Natixis Global Asset Management, would be characterized by most as a fund-of-funds shop.

Asked to describe what the $9 billion asset management firm does, Aurora president Scott Schweighauser said: “We invest capital in hedge funds on behalf of ourselves and our clients.”

But when asked directly if Aurora is a fund-of-funds shop, he said: “We're a hedge fund solutions provider and an intermediary, although traditionally people probably would have described us as a fund- of-funds [provider].”

Mr. Schweighauser's nomenclature reflects both marketing savvy and the realities of the evolution of the fund-of-funds business.

In addition to helping clients invest in hedge funds through commingled funds and separately managed accounts, Aurora launched its first access point for retail investors in April with its own alternative-strategy mutual fund, Aurora Horizons (AHFAX).

“We felt it was important to expand the breadth of our products to make them more available,” Mr. Schweighauser said.

With just $153 million in assets, the mutual fund is still fledging, but Aurora sees potential in the current breakdown of its assets, which stands a! t 80% ins! titutional and 20% individual investor.

“I expect that in five years that breakdown will be closer to 50/50,” Mr. Schweighauser said.

In essence, as the top end of the hedge fund industry pushes toward a more corporate model that includes layers of operational and marketing support to offer more direct investor access, there could still be hope for the fund-of-funds space.

“We're definitely seeing more investors now going directly to hedge funds, as opposed to going through funds of funds, because hedge funds are becoming more institutionalized,” said Natalie Deak, a partner in the hedge fund practice at Ernst & Young.

“But the fund of funds model is also changing to focus more on smaller institutional investors and servicing more of the retail market,” she said.

Uber is delivering kittens for National Cat Day

Celebrate National Cat Day with an Uber-delivered kitten!

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) In honor of the venerated holiday National Cat Day, startup Uber is temporarily expanding past taxi-hailing to ... kitten delivery service.

Uber usually lets its app users order a taxi, black car or SUV to come pick them up at their current location. Tuesday's promotion added a "Kittens!" option to the list. (Yes, exclamation point included.)

For $20, Uber will deliver a kitten for you to snuggle for fifteen minutes -- and even throw in a few cupcakes to add to all the sugary sweetness. The service is available for only a few hours on Tuesday in Seattle, New York and San Francisco.

Uber, which partnered with Internet meme site Cheezburger for the kitten service, will donate all of the fees to one animal shelter in each city, and each of the kittens is available to adopt.

  Grumpy Cat gets Hollywood movie deal

"The Internet is made for kittens," Uber wrote in its press release.

Truer words were never spoken.

News of Uber's Cat Day celebration quickly gained traction in blogs and social media, with people complaining they had been trying for hours to score a kitten, with no success. Some expressed concern that transporting shelter kittens back and forth is cruel, but most simply LOLed at the stunt.

Adding to the hilarity: "Uber for cats" is a semi-often-used joke for ridiculous and derivative startup ideas. CNN.com joked about "Mewber" in a post in May.

The real Uber is exciting to venture capitalists, though. The company is worth a reported $3.4 billion.

Where Will Boeing Go Next?

With shares of Boeing (NYSE:BA) trading around $129, is BA an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let's analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Boeing is an aerospace company. It focuses primarily on engineering, information technology, research and development, test and evaluation, technology strategy development, environmental remediation management, and intellectual property management. The company operates in five segments: Commercial Airplanes, Boeing Military Aircraft, Network & Space Systems, Global Services & Support, and Boeing Capital Corp.

The Boeing Company reported fourth-quarter revenue of $23.8 billion and core earnings per share (non-GAAP) that increased 29 percent to $1.88, driven by strong performance across the company’s businesses and higher deliveries. Fourth-quarter core operating earnings (non-GAAP) of $1.8 billion includes a $406 million non-cash charge to settle A-12 litigation dating back to 1991, retiring a longstanding risk to the company. Excluding the A-12 charge, fourth-quarter 2013 core operating earnings increased 22 percent to $2.2 billion and core operating margin increased to 9.4 percent. Core and GAAP earnings per share includes a charge of $0.34 per share related to A-12 partially offset by a benefit of $0.28 per share for a tax regulation change. "Strong fourth-quarter results underscored an outstanding full year of core operating performance that drove record revenue and earnings and increased returns to shareholders," said Boeing Chair and Chief Executive Officer Jim McNerney.

T = Technicals on the Stock Chart Are Mixed

Boeing stock has been exploding to the upside over the last couple of quarters. However, the stock is currently pulling back and may need time to consolidate. Analyzing the price trend and its strength can be done using key simple moving averages. What are the key moving averages? The 50-day (pink), 100-day (blue), and 200-day (yellow) simple moving averages. As seen in the daily price chart below, Boeing is trading between its rising key averages which signal neutral price action in the near-term.

(Source: Thinkorswim)

Taking a look at the implied volatility (red) and implied volatility skew levels of Boeing options may help determine if investors are bullish, neutral, or bearish.

	Implied Volatility (IV)	30-Day IV Percentile	90-Day IV Percentile
Boeing options	26.81%	83%	80%

What does this mean? This means that investors or traders are buying a very significant amount of call and put options contracts, as compared to the last 30 and 90 trading days.

	Put IV Skew	Call IV Skew
February Options	Average	Average
March Options	Average	Average

As of today, there is an average demand from call and put buyers or sellers, all neutral over the next two months. To summarize, investors are buying a very significant amount of call and put option contracts and are leaning neutral over the next two months.

On the next page, let’s take a look at the earnings and revenue growth rates and the conclusion.

E = Earnings Are Increasing Quarter-Over-Quarter

Rising stock prices are often strongly correlated with rising earnings and revenue growth rates. Also, the last four quarterly earnings announcement reactions help gauge investor sentiment on Boeing’s stock. What do the last four quarterly earnings and revenue growth (Y-O-Y) figures for Boeing look like and more importantly, how did the markets like these numbers?

	2013 Q4	2013 Q3	2013 Q2	2013 Q1
Earnings Growth (Y-O-Y)	28.77%	11.85%	11.02%	18.03%
Revenue Growth (Y-O-Y)	6.65%	10.61%	9.05%	-2.53%
Earnings Reaction	-4.91%*	5.33%	-0.77%	3.00%

Boeing has seen increasing earnings and revenue figures over the last four quarters. From these numbers, the markets have been pleased with Boeing’s recent earnings announcements.

* As of this writing

P = Weak Relative Performance Versus Peers and Sector

How has Boeing stock done relative to its peers, Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), Spirit Aerosystems (NYSE:SPR), Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC), and sector?

	Boeing	Lockheed Martin	Spirit Aerosystems	Northrop Grumman	Sector
Year-to-Date Return	-4.47%	-0.76%	-0.26%	-1.87%	-2.84%

Boeing has been a poor relative performer, year-to-date.

Conclusion

Boeing is an aerospace company and provider of aircrafts and related products and services to corporations and governments worldwide. The company reported fourth-quarter earnings that left investors pleased. The stock has been surging higher but is currently pulling back. Over the last four quarters, earnings and revenue figures have increased. Relative to its peers and sector, Boeing has been a poor year-to-date performer. Look for Boeing to continue to OUTPERFORM.

Chrysler Drives Fiat Profit

NEW YORK (The Deal) -- Fiat SpA on Wednesday announced a new name, a U.S. stock listing and a strong fourth-quarter result, but the company also issued tepid 2014 guidance that serves as a reminder of the challenges that still face the automaker.

Turin, Italy-based Fiat, which earlier this month acquired the 41.5% in Chrysler Group it did not own for $4.35 billion, said it would rechristen itself Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV as part of a reorganization that includes moving the company's registration to the Netherlands and claiming a British tax base.

The company, listed on the Milan exchange, also intends to trade in New York.

"A new chapter of our story begins with the creation of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles," company chairman John Elkann said in a statement. "A journey that started over a decade ago, as Fiat sought to ensure its place in an increasingly complex marketplace, has brought together two organizations each with a great history in the automotive industry and different but complementary geographic strengths." The different geographies played into fourth-quarter results: Fiat recorded $1.62 billion in net income, assisted by a one-time tax gain and a robust contribution from Chrysler in North America. Chrysler's strength helped offset European weakness at Fiat. Without Chrysler's contribution, Fiat would have lost 235 million ($321.2 million) during the final three months of 2013. But 2014 still appears challenging. Fiat said it expects a 2014 trading profit of between 3.6 billion and 4 billion, below consensus forecasts of 4.15 billion. The company is also suspending its dividend as part of its effort to rebuild its cash reserves after acquiring Chrysler. The Italian automaker has endeavored under CEO Sergio Marchionne to expand its scale and reach. Fiat began its foray into Detroit by buying 20% of Chrysler as that company emerged from a government- assisted bankruptcy in 2009, gaining majority control in 2011 under a deal with the U.S. Treasury. While North America has been strong for automakers, Europe and Latin America remain troubled. Fiat said that fourth-quarter earnings in Latin America fell 80% year-over-year, and are expected to weigh on results in 2014. More worrying, the company, even post-deal, is still dwarfed by global rivals. The merged entity sold 4.4 million vehicles in 2013, less than half the total of titans General Motors (GM), Toyota Motor (TM) and Volkswagen. Marchionne is expected to detail in May how he intends to blend Fiat and Chrysler into a single entity, a move that should help streamline costs and simplify global product sales and development.

Stock quotes in this article: GM, TM 

10 Best Chemical Stocks For 2015

Typically, when the chairman of a company dies, its shares drop. That hasn’t been the case for Valhi (VHI), Kronos Worldwide (KRO) and NL Industries (NL), which have all advanced today after Harold Simmons passed away.

Getty Images

The Wall Street Journal offers its thoughts on Mr. Simmons:

Mr. Simmons, who died Saturday at age 82, was major donor to the Republican Party, whose money fueled the 2012 presidential campaign and the GOP bid to reclaim Congress.

The Texas billionaire was a controversial figure and often did battle with federal regulators as head of Contran Corp., a holding company for other companies that dealt in hazardous waste and toxic chemicals. He was also a major philanthropist, giving millions to Texas universities, the Dallas Opera and to a girls’ school in Africa founded by Oprah Winfrey.

10 Best Chemical Stocks For 2015: Gulf Resources Inc (GURE)

Gulf Resources, Inc. (Gulf Resources), incorporated on February 28, 1989, is engaged in manufacturing and trading of bromine and crude salt, and manufacturing and selling of chemical products used in oil and gas field exploration, oil and gas distribution, oil field drilling, wastewater processing, papermaking chemical agents and inorganic chemicals. As of December 31, 2011, its products have been sold only within the People�� Republic of China. The Company operates in three segments: bromine, crude salt and chemical products. It manufactures and trades bromine and crude salt through Shouguang City Haoyuan Chemical Company Limited (SCHC), and manufactures chemical products for use in the oil industry and paper manufacturing industry through Shouguang Yuxin Chemical Industry Co., Limited (SYCI). On December 22, 2011, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets owned by Liangcai Zhang in the Shouguang City Yangkou Township Area.

Bromine and Crude Salt

The Company manufactures and distributes bromine through its wholly owned subsidiary, SCHC. Bromine (Br2) is a halogen element and it is a red volatile liquid at standard room temperature, which has reactivity between chlorine and iodine. Elemental bromine is used to manufacture a variety of bromine compounds used in industry and agriculture. Bromine is also used to form intermediates in organic synthesis. Its bromine is used in brominated flame retardants, fumigants, water purification compounds, dyes, medicines and disinfectants. Its production sites are located in the Shandong Province in northeastern China. Its production feeds include natural brine, vitriol, chlorine, sulfur and coal.

Crude Salt

The Company also produces crude salt, which is produced from the evaporation of the wastewater after its bromine production process. Once the brine is returned to the surface and the bromine is removed, the remaining brine is pumped to onsite containing pools and then exposed to natural sunshine. T! his causes the water to evaporate from the brine, resulting in salt being left over afterwards. Crude salt is the principal material in alkali production, as well as chlorine alkali production and is used in the chemical, food and beverage, and other industries.

Chemical Products

The Company produces chemical products through its wholly owned subsidiary, SYCI. The products it produces include hydroxyl guar gum, demulsified agent, corrosion inhibitor for acidizing, bactericide, chelant, iron ion stabilizer, clay stabilizing agent, flocculants agent, remaining agent, expanding agent, bromopropane, environmental friendly additive products, solid lubricant and polyether lubricant.

Gulf Resources competes with Shandong Yuyuan Group Company Limited, Shandong Haihua Group Company Limited, Shandong Dadi Salt Chemical Group Company Limited, Shandong Haiwang Chemical Company Limited, Shandong Weifang Longwei Industrial Company Limited, Shandong Caiyangzi Saltworks, Beijing Tianqing Chemical Company Limited, Shandong Weifang Shuangxing Pesticides Company Limited, Zibo Dacheng Pesticides Company Limited, Befar Group Company Limited, China Eastar (Group) Chemical Industry Company Limited and Pecome Technologies Limited.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Big Earnings Movers: Gogo Inc. (NASDAQ: GOGO) is up 28.3% at $24.05. Gulf Resources Inc. (NASDAQ: GURE) is up 15.8% at $2.46.

  Stocks on the Move: ViroPharma Inc. (NASDAQ: VPHM) is up 25.4% at $49.38 on a $4.2 billion buyout offer from London-listed Shire. Zalicus Inc. (NASDAQ: ZLCS) is down 72.3% at $1.30 on a failed drug trial.

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Another under-$10 basic materials player that's starting to move within range of triggering a major breakout trade is Gulf Resources (GURE), which manufactures and trades bromine and crude salt, and manufactures and sells chemical products used in oil and gas field exploration. This stock has been a favorite target of the bulls so far in 2013, with shares up sharply by 140%.

  If you take a look at the chart for Gulf Resources, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending strong for the last six months, with shares soaring higher from its low of $1.10 to its recent high of $3.10 a share. During that uptrend, shares of GURE have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of GURE within range of triggering a major breakout trade.

  Market players should now look for long-biased trades in GURE if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $2.87 to its 52-week high at $3.10 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 467,986 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then GURE will set up to enter new 52-week high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $4 to $4.50 a share.

  Traders can look to buy GURE off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some near-term support levels at $2.38 a share, or near its 50-day moving average of $2.23 a share. One can also buy GURE off strength once it starts to clear those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

10 Best Chemical Stocks For 2015: PFB Corporation (PFBOF.PK)

PFB Corporation (PFB) is a Canada-based company. The Company, together with its subsidiaries, is engaged in the manufacturing of insulating building products made from expanded polystyrene (EPS) materials and marketing these products in North America. Its main brands include PlastiSpan EPS Product Solutions; Advantage ICFS, Insulspan SIPS, Riverbend Timber Framing and Precision Craft. Expandable polystyrene resin is manufactured at PFB�� polymer plant located in Crossfield, Alberta, for use in downstream EPS manufacturing operations. Plasti-Fab EPS Product Solutions supply the EPS foam core material used to manufacture Insulspan SIPS. Riverbend Timber Framing structures are typically sold with an accompanying Insulspan SIPS enclosure package. Advantage ICF Systems are insulating concrete forming systems that are employed to build insulated foundations and walls from concrete in both residential and commercial markets. On February 1, 2011, the Company acquired Precision C raft Group.

Hot Undervalued Companies To Invest In Right Now: American Vanguard Corp (AVD)

American Vanguard Corporation, incorporated on January 2, 1969, operates as a holding company. The Company is primarily a chemical manufacturer that develops and markets products for agricultural and commercial uses. The Company manufactures and formulates chemicals for crops, human and animal protection. The Company conducts its business through its subsidiaries, AMVAC Chemical Corporation (AMVAC), GemChem, Inc. (GemChem), 2110 Davie Corporation (DAVIE), Quimica Amvac de Mexico S.A. de C.V. (AMVAC M), AMVAC de Costa Rica Sociedad Anonima (AMVAC CR), AMVAC Switzerland GmbH (AMVAC S), AMVAC do Brasil Representacoes Ltda (AMVAC B), AMVAC Chemical UK Ltd. (AMVAC UK), AMVAC CV (AMVAC CV), AMVAC Netherlands BV (AMVAC BV), and Envance Technologies, LLC (Envance). In July 2012, the Company completed the restructuring of the International Sales & Marketing function of its principal operating subsidiary, AMVAC Chemical Corporation. On November 30, 2012, AMVAC and TyraTech, Inc. formed Envance Technologies, LLC, in which the Company owns 60% of the equity interest. In July 2012, the Company formed AMVAC CV and AMVAC BV.

AMVAC is a chemical manufacturer that develops and markets products for agricultural and commercial uses. It manufactures and formulates chemicals for crops, human and animal health protection. These chemicals, which include insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, molluscicides, growth regulators, and soil fumigants, are marketed in liquid, powder, and granular forms. AMVAC owns and/or operates the Company�� domestic manufacturing facilities and is also the parent company for all its foreign companies. DAVIE owns real estate for corporate use.

GemChem is a national chemical distributor. GemChem, in addition to purchasing key raw materials for the Company, also sells into the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and nutritional markets. GemChem is a wholly owned subsidiary of AVD.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Margins matter. The more American Vanguard (NYSE: AVD  ) keeps of each buck it earns in revenue, the more money it has to invest in growth, fund new strategic plans, or (gasp!) distribute to shareholders. Healthy margins often separate pretenders from the best stocks in the market. That's why we check up on margins at least once a quarter in this series. I'm looking for the absolute numbers, so I can compare them to current and potential competitors, and any trend that may tell me how strong American Vanguard's competitive position could be.

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Calling all cash flows
  When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on American Vanguard (NYSE: AVD  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

• [By Travis Hoium]

  What: Shares of specialty chemical maker American Vanguard (NYSE: AVD  ) fell 17% today after cautioning about second-quarter earnings.

10 Best Chemical Stocks For 2015: BASF India Ltd (BASF)

BASF India Limited is a chemical company. The Company�� portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. The Company has six segments: Agricultural Solution, Performance Products, Plastics, Chemicals, Functional Solution and Others. Agricultural Solution includes agrochemicals. Agricultural Solution is seasonal in nature. Performance Products include tanning agents, leather chemicals, textile chemicals, dispersion chemicals, specialty chemicals and high-value fine chemicals. Its performance products are used in the food, pharmaceuticals, animal feed and cosmetics industries. Plastics include expandable polystyrene (EPS), engineering plastics and polyurethanes. Chemicals include inorganic chemicals, intermediates and petrochemicals. Functional Solution includes catalysts, coatings and construction chemicals. Others include technical and service charges.

10 Best Chemical Stocks For 2015: Bacanora Minerals Ltd (BCN)

Bacanora Minerals Ltd. (Bacanora) is an exploration-stage company. The Company is a mining company engaged in exploration for mineral deposits in Mexico. The Company�� mineral properties include Tubutama Borate, Magdalena Borate and Sonora Lithium. The Company�� exploration activities include Borate Properties and Lithium Property. Mineramex Limited is the Company�� wholly owned subsidiary, whose assets consist of 99.9% interest of Minera Sonora Borax, S.A. de C.V. (MSB) and 60% interest of Minerales Industriales Tubutama, S.A. de C.V. (MIT). Tubutama Borate project consists of six mining concessions with a total area of 1,661 hectares. The concessions are located 15 kilometers from the town of Tubutama, and they are 100% owned by MIT. The Magdalena Borate project consists of seven concessions, with a total area of 15,508 hectares. The concessions are located 15 kilometers from the city of Magdalena and the city of Santa Ana, and are 100% owned by MSB.

10 Best Chemical Stocks For 2015: Airgas Inc.(ARG)

Airgas, Inc., through its subsidiaries, distributes industrial, medical, and specialty gases, as well as hardgoods in the United States. The company offers various gases, including nitrogen, oxygen, argon, helium, and hydrogen; welding and fuel gases, such as acetylene, propylene, and propane; and carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, ultra high purity grades, special application blends, and process chemicals. Its hardgoods products comprise welding consumables and equipment, safety products, and construction supplies, as well as maintenance, repair, and operating supplies. The company also engages in the rental of gas cylinders, cryogenic liquid containers, bulk storage tanks, tube trailers, and welding and welding related equipment. In addition, the company manufactures and distributes liquid carbon dioxide, dry ice, nitrous oxide, ammonia, refrigerant gases, and atmospheric merchant gases. It serves repair and maintenance, industrial manufacturing, energy and infrastructure co nstruction, medical, petrochemical, food and beverage, retail and wholesale, analytical, utilities, and transportation industries. The company operates an integrated network of approximately 1100 locations, including branches, retail stores, packaged gas fill plants, specialty gas labs, production facilities, and distribution centers. Additionally, it provides retail solutions to retail customers, such as florists, grocers, restaurants and bars, tire and automotive service centers, and others. The company markets its products through multiple sales channels, including branch-based sales representatives, retail stores, strategic customer account programs, telesales, catalogs, e-business, and independent distributors. Airgas, Inc. was founded in 1982 and is based in Radnor, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Airgas (NYSE: ARG) is expected to report its Q2 earnings at $1.22 per share on revenue of $1.28 billion.

  The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $1.55 per share on revenue of $21.68 billion.

10 Best Chemical Stocks For 2015: OCI Partners LP (OCIP)

OCI Partners LP, incorporated on February 07, 2013, owns and operates an integrated methanol and ammonia production facility that is strategically located on the Texas Gulf Coast near Beaumont. The Company is a methanol producer in the United States with an annual methanol production capacity of approximately 730,000 metric tons and an annual ammonia production capacity of approximately 265,000 metric tons, and it is in the early stages of a debottlenecking project that increases its annual methanol production capacity by 25% to approximately 912,500 metric tons and its annual ammonia production capacity by 15% to approximately 305,000 metric tons.

Both methanol and ammonia are global commodities that are essential building blocks for numerous end-use products. Methanol is a liquid petrochemical that is used in a variety of industrial and energy-related applications. Methanol is used in industrial applications to produce adhesives used in manufacturing wood products, such as plywood, particle board and laminates, resins to treat paper and plastic products, paint and varnish removers, solvents for the textile industry and polyester fibers for clothing and carpeting. Methanol is also used outside of the United States as a direct fuel for automobile engines, as a fuel blended with gasoline and as an octane booster in reformulated gasoline. In the United States, ammonia is primarily used as a feedstock to produce nitrogen fertilizers, such as urea and ammonium sulfate, and is also directly applied to soil as a fertilizer. In addition, ammonia is widely used in industrial applications, particularly in the Texas Gulf Coast market, including in the production of plastics, synthetic fibers, resins and numerous other chemical compounds.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Stocks on the Move: Potbelly Corp. (NASDAQ: PBPB) is up 119.1% at $30.68 after a blistering IPO at $14 a share. OCI Partners LP (NYSE: OCIP) is up 5.6% at $19.01 after an IPO at $18.00 a share. Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corp. (NYSE: CHMI) is down 7.6% at $18.48 following its IPO on Friday morning. Discovery Laboratories Inc. (NASDAQ: DSCO) is up 37.1% at $2.70 following approval of updated specifications for a drug to prevent respiratory distress in premature infants. Forest Oil Corp. (NYSE: FST) is down 9.7% at $5.74 following the sale of $1 billion worth of assets in the Texas panhandle.

10 Best Chemical Stocks For 2015: LyondellBasell Industries NV(LYB)

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. manufacturers and sells chemicals and polymers, refines crude oil, produces gasoline blending components, and develops and licenses technologies for production of polymers. The company?s Olefins and Polyolefins segment offers olefins, including ethylene, propylene, and butadiene; aromatics, such as benzene and toluene; polyolefins, which comprise polypropylene (PP), high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, and linear low-density polyethylene; specialty polyolefins, including catalloy process resins, PP compounds, and polybutene-1 resins; and ethylene derivatives, which comprise ethanol. Its Intermediates and Derivatives segment provides propylene oxide (PO); PO co-products, including styrene monomers and TBA derivative isobutylene; PO derivatives, such as propylene glycol, propylene glycol ethers, and butanediol; acetyls, such as methanol, acetic acid, and vinyl acetate monomers; ethylene derivatives, which comprise ethylene oxide , ethylene glycol, and ethylene glycol ethers; and flavor and fragrance chemicals. The company?s Refining and Oxyfuels segment offers gasoline and components, ultra low sulfur diesel, jet fuel, and lube oils; diesel, feedstock, fuel oil, gasoline, and bitumen; and gasoline blending components, including methyl tertiary butyl ether, ethyl tertiary butyl ether, and alkylate. Its Technology segment develops and licenses polyolefin and other process technologies. This segment also develops, manufactures, and sells polyolefin catalysts, as well as provides technology services, which comprise safety reviews, training and start-up assistance, engineering services for process and product improvements, and manufacturing troubleshooting. LyondellBasell Industries N.V. has operations in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and internationally. The company was founded in 2005 and is based in Rotterdam, Netherlands. LyondellBasell Industries N.V. is a subsidiary of Prochemie GmbH.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Specialty materials-maker LyondellBasel Industries� (NYSE: LYB  ) �announced yesterday�that�it was raising its quarterly dividend payment by 25%, to $0.50 per share, as well as authorizing the repurchase of up to 10% of the company's outstanding shares.

• [By Taylor Muckerman]

  Along with Dow, DuPont (NYSE: DD  ) and LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB  ) are two companies that have used this access to their advantage. All three will be reporting earnings this week. Motley Fool analyst Taylor Muckerman expects margins to remain relatively high, but the growth we have seen over the past few years might begin to slow. In addition, he touches on some of the future market dynamics that will likely roll out as the available infrastructure continues to increase. Details can be found in the video below.

10 Best Chemical Stocks For 2015: Intrepid Potash Inc (IPI)

Intrepid Potash, Inc.( Intrepid), incorporated on November 19, 2007, is a producer of muriate of potash (potassium chloride or potash) in the United States and are engaged the production and marketing of potash and langbeinite (sulfate of potash magnesia), another mineral containing potassium, magnesium, and sulfate, that is produced from langbeinite ore and as Trio when it refers to sales and marketing. Its Carlsbad assets consist of underground mining operations, which are supported by surface processing facilities. It is also operators of solar solution mining operations, as its Moab and Wendover facilities both utilize these techniques for recovering potash. Its revenues are generated from the sale of potash and Trio. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned five potash production facilities, three in New Mexico and two in Utah. Its two products are potash and langbeinite, which is marketed as Trio.

Potash

The Company derives revenues and gross margin are derived from the production and sales of potash. Its potash is marketed for sale into three primary markets: the agricultural market as a fertilizer, the industrial market as a component in drilling and fracturing fluids for oil and gas wells, and the animal feed market as a nutrient. Its sales of potash tend to focus on agricultural areas and feed manufacturers in central and western United States, as well as oil and gas drilling areas in the Rocky Mountains and the greater Permian Basin area.

Trio

Trio is marketed into two primary markets, the agricultural market as a fertilizer and the animal feed market as a nutrient. It markets Trio internationally through an exclusive marketing agreement with PCS Sales (USA), Inc. (PCS Sales) for sales outside the United States and Canada and through a non-exclusive agreement for sales into Mexico.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Quintaro]

  Nocella initiated coverage on the following stocks:

  Mosaic (NYSE: MOS) - Outperform, $57 price target - The analyst is attracted to a recent trend toward "improving demand in the potash and phosphate markets" and an expectation for "substantial" returns to holders over the next few years. Nocella noted the company's solid position in the phosphate market which could "better position Mosaic if others are interested in its potash assets." Agrium (NYSE: AGU) - Outperform, $122 target - Called Agrium's input business "the most diverse, vertically integrated" within the Ag space. Sees "a clear path to strong earnings growth from both its Retail and Wholesale" units which could translate to "robust cash flows with lower volatility." Potash (NYSE: POT) - Market Perform, $37 target. CF Industries (NYSE: CF) - Market Perform, $235 target. Interpid Potash (NYSE: IPI) - Market Perform, $16 target.

  Also impacting the Ag names Wednesday is headlines out of CF the company is working with investment banks related to an MLP.

• [By CJ Capital Research]

  Potash is an abundant commodity with enough global deposits to last essentially forever. However, Potash deposits that are economically minable are concentrated in only a handful of countries and dominated by a handful of producers like Uralkali, Belaruskali, K+S, Potash Corp , Mosaic (MOS), Agrium (AGU), and Intrepid Potash (IPI).

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Intrepid Potash (IPI) has fallen 1.3% to $16.00 after it was downgraded to Underweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.

  Shares of Potbelly (PBPB) rose 129% $32 on their first day of trading.

10 Best Chemical Stocks For 2015: Air Products and Chemicals Inc. (APD)

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. provides atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, equipment, and services worldwide. The company?s Merchant Gases segment sells atmospheric gases, such as oxygen, nitrogen, and argon; process gases, including hydrogen and helium; and medical and specialty gases for the metal, glass, chemical processing, food processing, healthcare, steel, general manufacturing, and petroleum and natural gas industries. This segment also offers respiratory therapies, home medical equipment, and infusion services primarily in Europe. Its Tonnage Gases segment provides hydrogen, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, oxygen, and syngas to the energy production and refining, chemical, and metallurgical industries; and produces dinitrotoluene used in the manufacture of a precursor of polyurethane foam. The company?s Electronics and Performance Materials segment offers nitrogen trifluoride, silane, arsine, phosphine, white ammonia, silicon tetra fluoride, carbon tetrafluoride, hexafluoromethane, critical etch gases, and tungsten hexafluoride; and tonnage gases, specialty chemicals, and services and equipment for the manufacture of silicon and compound semiconductors, thin film transistor liquid crystal displays, and photovoltaic devices. This segment also provides performance materials for a range of products, including coatings, inks, adhesives, civil engineering, personal care, institutional and industrial cleaning, mining, oil refining, and polyurethanes. Its Equipment and Energy segment designs and manufactures cryogenic equipment for air separation, hydrocarbon recovery and purification, natural gas liquefaction, and helium distribution; and offers plant design, engineering, procurement, and construction management services for the chemical and petrochemical manufacturing, oil and gas recovery and processing, and steel and primary metals processing industries. The company was founded in 1940 and is based in All entown, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  As mining, metal fabrication, and food industries expand in Chile, the need for industrial gases is growing such that specialty gas maker Air Products� (NYSE: APD  ) announced it will build a new facility in Antofagasta as well as�expand the capacity of its Graneros plant south of�Santiago at a cost of more than $15 million.

• [By Chuck Saletta]

  Make hay while the sun shines
  For instance, the biggest gainer in the IPIG portfolio this past week was Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE: APD  ) . The company reported so-so earnings but nevertheless leaped skyward after adopting a poison pill on rumors that it may be a target of activist investor Bill Ackman. While the gain is nice, the drivers are dubious, and it suggests a healthy dose of skepticism is warranted.

• [By Vanina Egea]

  Some say that specializing in one product is the path to success. Others argue that diversifying is a policy against economic recessions. Time has proved that neither strategy is wrong, and that each one has an expiration date. Here are two chemical companies that started with one product and have eventually diversified: DuPont (DD) and Air Products & Chemicals (APD). Let's take a look into their prospects for the years to come.

• [By David Smith]

  The company generates its CO2 from several sources, including the largest reserves east of the Mississippi River and sizable positions in the Rocky Mountains. It also receives man-made carbon dioxide from an Air Products & Chemicals (NYSE: APD  ) hydrogen plant at Port Arthur, Texas.

10 Best Chemical Stocks For 2015: PPG Industries Inc.(PPG)

PPG Industries, Inc. manufactures and supplies protective and decorative coatings. The company offers coatings products for automotive and commercial transport/fleet repair and refurbishing, specialty coatings for signs, and light industrial coatings; and sealants, coatings, and technical cleaners/transparencies for commercial, military, regional jet, general aviation aircraft, and transparent armor for military land vehicles. It also provides coatings and finishes for the protection of metals and structures to metal fabricators, heavy duty maintenance contractors, and manufacturers of ships, bridges, rail cars, and shipping containers; and coatings to painting and maintenance contractors. In addition, PPG sells industrial and automotive coatings to manufacturing companies; adhesives and sealants for the automotive industry; metal pretreatments and related chemicals; and coatings and inks for aerosol, food, and beverage containers. Further, it supplies lenses, sunlenses, a nd optical lens materials; amorphous precipitated silicas for tire and battery separator markets; and Teslin substrate used in radio frequency identification tags and labels, e-passports, drivers? licenses, and identification cards applications. Additionally, PPG offers chlor-alkali and derivative products, such as chlorine, caustic soda, vinyl chloride monomer, chlorinated solvents, calcium hypochlorite, ethylene dichloride, hydrochloric acid, and phosgene derivatives to chemical processing, rubber and plastics, paper, minerals, metals, and water treatment industries. It also produces flat glass and continuous-strand fiber glass for commercial and residential construction, wind energy, energy infrastructure, transportation, and electronics industries. PPG sells its products through company-owned stores, home centers, paint dealers, and independent distributors, as well as directly to customers worldwide. The company was founded in 1883 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pe nnsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Players throughout the paint industry have seen their prospects rise in light of the housing recovery. In its most recent report, Sherwin-Williams (NYSE: SHW  ) posted record profits and sales for its first quarter, as net income rose 17%. Sherwin projected that revenue growth would likely accelerate during the rest of the year. Fellow competitor PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG  ) also managed to top earnings estimates in its quarterly report last month, although its sales didn't produce the increase that analysts had expected to see.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG) is expected to report its Q3 earnings at $2.34 per share on revenue of $3.96 billion.

  Nucor (NYSE: NUE) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $0.39 per share on revenue of $4.78 billion.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  But the industry has gone through some major merger and acquisition activity recently. Sherwin-Williams announced last November that it will acquire Mexico's Consorcio Comex for $2.34 billion, giving the company greater geographical and product diversity. That'll be an important source of growth for Sherwin-Williams, as rival PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG  ) recently closed on its $1.05 billion acquisition of Akzo Nobel and its architectural coatings business. Moreover, with DuPont (NYSE: DD  ) having sold off its performance-coatings business, which focuses largely on automotive paint, to private equity firm Carlyle Group, Sherwin-Williams needed to boost its size in order to keep up with its competition.

10 Best Chemical Stocks For 2015: PFB Corporation (PFBOF)

PFB Corporation (PFB) is a Canada-based company. The Company, together with its subsidiaries, is engaged in the manufacturing of insulating building products made from expanded polystyrene (EPS) materials and marketing these products in North America. Its main brands include PlastiSpan EPS Product Solutions; Advantage ICFS, Insulspan SIPS, Riverbend Timber Framing and Precision Craft. Expandable polystyrene resin is manufactured at PFB�� polymer plant located in Crossfield, Alberta, for use in downstream EPS manufacturing operations. Plasti-Fab EPS Product Solutions supply the EPS foam core material used to manufacture Insulspan SIPS. Riverbend Timber Framing structures are typically sold with an accompanying Insulspan SIPS enclosure package. Advantage ICF Systems are insulating concrete forming systems that are employed to build insulated foundations and walls from concrete in both residential and commercial markets. On February 1, 2011, the Company acquired Precision Craft Group.

10 Best Chemical Stocks For 2015: Calgon Carbon Corp (CCC)

Calgon Carbon Corporation is a provider of products, services, and solutions for purifying water and air. The Company operates in three reportable segments: Activated Carbon and Service, Equipment, and Consumer. The Activated Carbon and Service segment manufactures granular and powdered activated carbon for use in applications to primarily remove organic compounds from water, air and other liquids and gases. The service aspect of the segment consists of reactivation and the leasing, monitoring and maintenance of carbon adsorption equipment. The Equipment segment provides solutions to customers��air and water purification problems through the design, fabrication, installation, and sale of equipment systems that utilize a combination of the Company�� enabling technologies: carbon adsorption, ultraviolet light (UV), Ballast Water Treatment (BWT), and advanced ion exchange separation (ISEP). The Consumer segment primarily consists of the manufacture and sale of carbon cloth. On March 31, 2011 the Company completed the acquisition of Calgon Carbon Japan KK (CCJ).

Activated Carbon and Service

The sale of activated carbon is the principle component of the Activated Carbon and Service business segment. Activated carbon is a porous material that removes organic compounds from liquids and gases by a process known as adsorption. In adsorption, unwanted organic molecules contained in a liquid or gas are attracted and bound to the surface of the pores of the activated carbon as the liquid or gas is passed through. The primary raw material used in the production of the Company�� activated carbons is bituminous coal which is crushed, sized and then processed in low temperature kilns followed by high temperature furnaces. The Company also markets activated carbons from other raw materials, including coconut shell and wood. The Company produces and sells a range of activated, impregnated or acid washed carbons in granular, powdered or pellet form. Granular activated carbon (GAC) particl! es are irregular in shape and generally used in fixed filter beds for continuous flow purification processes.

Another component of the Activated Carbon and Service business segment are the optional services associated with supplying the Company�� products and systems required for purification, separation, concentration, taste and odor control. The Company offers a variety of treatment services at customer facilities, including carbon supply, equipment leasing, installation and demobilization, transportation and spent carbon reactivation. Other services include feasibility testing, process design, performance monitoring and maintenance of Company-owned equipment. The central component of the Company�� service business is reactivation of spent carbon and re-supply. The Company provides reactivation/recycling services in packages ranging from a 55 gallon drum to truckload quantities.

Equipment

Along with providing activated carbon products, the Company has developed a portfolio of standardized, pre-engineered, adsorption systems capable of treating liquid flows from 1 gallons per minute to 1,400 gallons per minute, which can be delivered and installed at treatment sites. These self-contained adsorption systems are used for vapor phase applications, such as volatile organic compound (VOC) control, air stripper off-gases, and landfill gas emissions. Liquid phase equipment systems are used for applications of potable water, process purification, wastewater treatment, groundwater remediation and de-chlorination. The Company produces a range of odor control equipment, which typically utilizes catalytic activated carbon to control odors at municipal wastewater treatment facilities and pumping stations. The Company�� variety of equipment systems treats the odors that emanate from municipal wastewater treatment facilities and the sewage collection systems that bring the waste to the treatment plant.

The ISEP (Ionic Separator) continuous ion exchange units ! are used ! for the purification and recovery of many products in the food, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries. The ISEP Continuous Separator units perform ion exchange separations using countercurrent processing. The ISEP and CSEP (chromatographic separator) systems are used at over 300 installations worldwide in more than 40 applications in industrial settings, as well as in environmental applications, including perchlorate and nitrate removal from drinking water. The Hyde GUARDIAN System was developed as a chemical-free, International Maritime Organization (IMO) type approved, ballast water management solution. The system is designed to meet the needs of ship owners to install treatment system.

Consumer

The primary product offered in the Consumer segment is carbon cloth. Carbon cloth, which is activated carbon in cloth form, is manufactured in the United Kingdom and sold to the medical, military, and specialty markets. Zorflex Activated Carbon Cloth can be used in numerous additional applications, including sensor protection; filters for ostomy bags; wound dressings; conservation of artifacts, and respiratory masks.

The Company competes with Norit, N.V., Mead/Westvaco Corporation, Siemens Water Technologies, Trojan Technologies, Inc., Xylem, Wedeco Ideal Horizons, Panasia, Alfa Lavel Tumba AB, Hyde Marine, Inc. and Wartsila.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Inyoung Hwang]

  Computacenter Plc (CCC) slipped 4.5 percent to 543 pence, its biggest drop since June. UBS AG lowered the technology-services provider to neutral from buy, citing its valuation. The shares have climbed to 13.18 times estimated earnings from 11.81 times at the end of last year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

10 Best Chemical Stocks For 2015: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company(DD)

E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company operates as a science and technology company worldwide. It operates in seven segments: Agriculture & Nutrition, Electronics & Communications, Performance Chemicals, Performance Coatings, Performance Materials, Safety & Protection, and Pharmaceuticals. The Agriculture & Nutrition segment provides hybrid seed corn and soybean seed, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, value enhanced grains, and soy protein under the Pioneer brand name. The Electronics & Communications segment supplies materials and systems for photovoltaic products, consumer electronics, displays, and advanced printing. The Performance Chemicals segment offers fluorochemicals, fluoropolymers, specialty and industrial chemicals, and white pigments for various markets, such as plastics and coatings, textiles, mining, pulp and paper, water treatment, and healthcare. The Performance Coatings segment supplies high performance liquid and powder coatings for motor vehicle origi nal equipment manufacturers (OEM); the motor vehicle after-market; and general industrial applications, such as such as coatings for heavy equipment, pipes and appliances, and electrical insulation. The Performance Materials segment provides polymers, elastomers, films, parts, and systems and solutions for the automotive OEM and associated after-market industries, as well as electrical, electronics, packaging, construction, oil, photovoltaics, aerospace, chemical processing, and consumer durable goods. The Safety & Protection segment primarily offers nonwovens, aramids, and solid surfaces for the construction, transportation, communications, industrial chemicals, oil and gas, electric utilities, automotive, manufacturing, defense, homeland security, and safety consulting industries. The Pharmaceuticals segment represents its interest in the collaboration relating to Cozaar/Hyzaar antihypertensive drugs. The company was founded in 1802 and is headquartered in Wilmington, Dela ware.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chris Hill]

  Groupon (NASDAQ: GRPN  ) gets an upgrade. Smith & Wesson (NASDAQ: SWHC  ) announces a $100-million stock buyback plan. Restoration Hardware (NYSE: RH  ) forecasts strong revenue and profit in the second quarter. And DuPont (NYSE: DD  ) warns on earnings. In this installment of Investor Beat, Motley Fool analysts Ron Gross and James Early discuss four stocks making big moves.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  The synthetic trinity
  Together, Monsanto, DuPont (NYSE: DD  ) , and Syngenta�control 53% of the world's seed production, yet their reach is far greater as they sign�cross-licensing agreements with other companies. Monsanto recently hooked up with�Dow Chemical (NYSE: DOW  ) and Bayer to have its technology embedded in their products.

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Had the politicians in Washington D.C. not come together,�this article could have been talking about the amazing repeats in history of October stock market crashes. Here are some post-1987 crash levels of existing DJIA components then versus now on a split-adjusted and dividend-adjusted trading basis.

  American Express Co.�(NYSE: AXP) was $3.48 then versus $80.52 now. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) was $1.12 versus $38.78 now. DuPont (NYSE: DD) was $5.50 then versus $59.62 now. General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) $1.69 then versus $25.55 now. International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE: IBM) $15.67 then versus $173.78 now. 3M Co. (NYSE: MMM) was $6.63 then versus $122.84 now. McDonald’s Corp.�(NYSE: MCD) was $3.00 then versus $95.20 now.

  Again, future bear markets and market crashes will come. They always do. Until then, enjoy this raging bull market we have in stocks.

Medical Devices: 5 Healthcare Stocks to Buy

Popular Posts: 5 Tech Stocks With Electric Dividend YieldsMore U.S. Companies Realize China Isn’t Worth the Trouble5 Biotech Stocks With Big Catalysts on the Horizon Recent Posts: Medical Devices: 5 Healthcare Stocks to Buy Amazon Earnings Preview: Can New Projects Boost AMZN Stock? Gold Prices Start 2014 on the Right Foot, But Don’t Get Used to It View All Posts

While makers of medical devices have stomached more than a year’s worth of an extra 2.3% tax on everything they sell making their wares a little less marketable, they’re still surviving after all.

Indeed, given how well some of these healthcare stocks have performed so far in 2014, one has to wonder whether investors now believe they’ve overshot on their pessimism surrounding these stocks.

Either way, a handful of medical device makers are looking like great buys at their current prices, despite a nagging tax — part of Obama’s healthcare overhaul — that has been making life difficult for them since the beginning of 2013.

In no particular order, here’s a look at five appealing healthcare stocks dealing in medical devices:

Medical Devices: Medtronic (MDT)

As much of a hurdle as the still-fairly new excise creates for device makers, demand for heart-surgery and cardiovascular equipment is almost always in a position to override price-related balks.

Enter Medtronic (MDT).

Already established as one of the leading medical equipment manufacturers in the world, Medtronic is now blazing new trails for itself. A couple weeks ago, its CoreValve heart-valve-replacement hardware was given regulatory approval by the FDA, and its SureScan pacemaker was deemed safe for patients needing an MRI, with none of the usual positioning restrictions necessary with other pacemakers. The CoreValve could be a real game-changer, as its use is minimally invasive; there’s nothing out there as easy for heart patients to tolerate.

Shares of MDT stock have fallen 6% since their early January peak, but have been in an uptrend since late 2011 … one of the few stocks in the medical device world that has been rock-solid in a rocky environment.

Medical Devices: ConMed Corp. (CNMD)

With a market cap of only $1.2 billion, ConMed Corp. (CNMD) isn’t exactly a household name. That doesn’t mean CNMD stock can’t be a potent addiction to a portfolio, though.

ConMed develops surgical products and monitoring devices. At first glance, its lineup seems run-of-the-mill within the medical device world. The longer an investor studies its vast array of surgical products, however, the clearer it becomes that ConMed has mastered the art of minimally invasive solutions.

In this new era of stingier insurers and pickier patients, the importance of such procedures can’t be overstated.

Medical Devices: St. Jude Medical (STJ)

While St. Jude Medical (STJ) might not have a flagship product that turns heads every time it’s mentioned, it more than makes up for a lack of pizzazz with a large library of highly marketable and consistently-selling medical devices. And, jiving with that broad observation is last quarter’s 2.5% improvement in the bottom line, and a 2014 outlook that affirmed the company’s expectation for a return of earnings and revenue growth.

Throw in the fact that St. Jude Medical just authorized a STJ stock buyback program of $700 million — versus a market cap of roughly $18 billion — and what you’ve got is the convergence of a bunch of bullish factors that didn’t exist before.

All that being said, while St. Jude Medical might have never been known as a device pioneer, the acquisitions of Nanostim and Endosense have given STJ stock holders some exposure to pacemakers without pesky leads (where the “pulse” is created), and exposure to atrial fibrillation treatment without the use of drugs. This year might mark a serious upgrade for the company’s product lines.

Medical Devices: Smith & Nephew plc (SNN)

Priced at a trailing P/E of 24 and a forward-looking P/E of 17, it’s not like you can call Smith & Nephew plc (SNN) a screaming value. It’s a reliable growth machine, however, in terms of earnings as well as revenue.

This year shouldn’t be any different for anyone who owns SNN stock. In fact, Smith & Nephew plc might have a much better 2014 (and beyond) than most investors may be expecting.

How so? In November, Smith & Nephew unveiled a biocomposite material for use in arthroscopic surgeries — the Healicoil suture anchor — and just last week the company announced encouraging results from a third-party study of its negative-pressure wound therapy system used on closed surgical incisions. It sounds minor, but that technology could open a big door for Smith & Nephew as well as SNN stock owners.

Medical Devices: Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) shares took a big hit late last week following its fourth-quarter numbers, but bear in mind that ISRG stock had been through an overheated run-up in the days before that. Even with Friday’s 6% selloff, Intuitive Surgical shares are up 7% year-to-date — a paradigm shift compared to 2013′s 21% slide.

So what makes ISRG stock such a hot buy now? After all, the company warned investors to expect lower revenues, and this is the same company that makes the highly suspect, possible-problem-causing da Vinci robotic surgery system.

As is so often the case, the story was made far more dramatic than it really was. It looks like the market’s starting to figure that out, bidding ISRG stock up as a result.

Just brace for more volatility, as some traders and observers (and those with short positions in the stock) are apt to rehash the da Vinci news and the revenue warning repeatedly in the foreseeable future.

As of this writing, James Brumley did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.

Left Hand Milk Stout lives up to gold medal

Beer Man is a weekly profile of beers from across the country and around the world.

This week: Left Hand Milk Stout

Left Hand Brewing Co., Longmont, Colo.

www.lefthandbrewing.com

Count Left Hand Brewing Co. as one of the big winners in the recently concluded Great American Beer Festival, and for good reason.

The annual festival was held Oct. 10-12 in Denver, and once again showed the continuing growth and strength of the U.S. craft beer market.

The 4,809 entries from 745 breweries increased 12% from the 2012 event and included 230 first-time entrants. There were 49,000 public attendees who had the pleasure of drinking the great beers from around the country.

The list of winners can be found online here.

For those disappointed that their favorite brewery or brewpub did not show up on the list, it's important to know that not every brewery or brewpub in the country gets a chance to compete. Online registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and it was filled within an hour, so a good number of worthy breweries were not even able to take part.

Left Hand Brewing Co. of Longmont, Colo., and Firestone Walker Brewing Co. of Paso Robles, Calif., tied for the most gold medals with three each. The top breweries in the country in their size categories were Baker City Brewing Co., Baker City, Ore.; Devil's Backbone Brewing Co., Roseland, Va.; Firestone Walker Brewing Co.; and SandLot, Denver.

Left Hand won a gold medal in the Sweet Stout category for its Milk Stout and was certainly deserving. This year-round beer has a nice oily body and a slight sweet cream flavor that offsets the bitterness from the dark and roasted malts. A touch of oat adds to the creaminess of the 6% ABV beer.

The aroma and flavor is of chocolate, cocoa and vanilla, with the coffee aspects more in the background, as it should be for a milk or sweet stout. The carbonation is a bit less than typical for most beers, but appropriate for this style.

Left Hand beers ar! e available in about 27 states; its online Beer Finder link is here.

A follow-up to last week's column about Samuel Adams' Tetravis: While a couple of retailers in my area said their distributor would not be carrying it, other distributors say their allocations of it are on back order and encourage patience for those looking for the beer.

Michelle Diamandis, public relations supervisor for Boston Beer Co., maker of Samuel Adams beers, had this to say: "Tetravis will in fact be available nationwide and is currently rolling out to different areas of the country. It is definitely a bit scarce right now. We anticipate it will become more readily available in the next month or so."

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Many beers are available only regionally. Check the brewer's website, which often contains information on product availability. Contact Todd Haefer at beerman@postcrescent.com. To read previous Beer Man columns Click here.

Ruby Tuesday Gains 5% Ahead of Earnings

Ruby Tuesday (RT) is scheduled to release earnings after the close but investors are already betting on the outcome.

REUTERS

Shares of Ruby Tuesday have gained 4.8% to $7.59 this morning, making it the third-best performer in the S&P 1500 and outpacing other restaurant stocks. Jack in the Box (JACK) has dropped 0.8% to $38.76, DineEquity (DIN), which operates Applebee’s and IHOP, has gained 0.1%% to 66.12, Denny’s (DENN) has fallen 0.2% to $6.06 and recent-IPO Potbelly (PBPB) has gained 1.7% to $30.73.

The stock might be getting a boost from B. Riley & Co., which started Ruby Tuesday with a Buy rating this morning. Its analysts write:

We initiate coverage of Ruby Tuesday, Inc. (RT) with a Buy rating primarily reflecting our belief that persistent erosion of sales has troughed, thus, positioning the company to recover when both the economy improves and the new menu/media platforms take hold.  We have concerns about relevancy of the brand given persistent same-store sales (SSS) declines.  However, we believe RT's consumer has had significant changes thrown at them over the last decade creating, in our opinion, confusion on how to use the brand (and to some degree alienation).  This confusion has led to greater sales volatility versus peers during periods of compressed cycles of consumer spending as discretion heightens – we believe consistency and certainty with the guest experience wins in challenged times – and we expect the relatively new management team to deliver a consistent guest experience.

Shares of Ruby Tuesday have dropped 3.4% so far this year, even after today’s bounce.

U.K. Stocks Drop Amid U.S. Budget Concern as SSE Tumbles

U.K. stocks fell as utilities retreated and U.S. politicians discussed a budget to prevent their government from shutting down next month.

SSE Plc and Centrica dropped more than 4 percent as Citigroup Inc. said rising energy prices may lead to government intervention. Carnival Plc (CCL) slid 6.7 percent as brokerages including Morgan Stanley and Natixis downgraded the shares. ICAP Plc (IAP) lost 1.8 percent after U.K. and U.S. authorities fined the broker $88 million on charges of rigging key interest rates.

The FTSE 100 Index retreated 19.93 points, or 0.3 percent, to 6,551.53 at the close in London. The equity benchmark has still risen 2.2 percent in September, extending its gain this quarter to 5.4 percent, as the Federal Reserve refrained from reducing its monthly asset purchases. The gauge has rallied 11 percent this year. The FTSE All-Share Index also slipped 0.3 percent today, while Ireland's ISEQ Index lost 0.1 percent.

"The political debate over energy prices introduces uncertainty about future prospects for suppliers should Labour come into power," said Richard Hunter, head of equities at Hargreaves Lansdown Plc in London. "The broader U.K. market is affected by the political posturing that has started in the U.S. about a potential shutdown of the government. In the absence of specific company news, we may see the markets tread water in the next few weeks."

Energy Prices

SSE Plc (SSE) slid 5.8 percent to 1,489 pence as Citigroup said in a note that the supplier of gas and electricity would suffer the most from price caps or other forms of government intervention because it gets 97 percent of revenue from the U.K.

Centrica Plc (CNA), the biggest energy supplier to U.K. homes, slipped 4.1 percent to 375.6 pence, the biggest drop since May 2010. Ed Miliband, the leader of the Labour Party, yesterday pledged to freeze energy bills if he wins the next general election. He added that rising prices have enriched power companies at the expense of consumers.

In the U.S., lawmakers have until Monday to approve emergency legislation to keep the federal government operating from Oct. 1, the beginning of the 2014 fiscal year, through Dec. 15. Failure to pass the bill may lead to a government shutdown.

A Commerce Department report showed that durable-goods orders gained 0.1 percent in August. The median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg had projected a drop of 0.2 percent. Bookings for goods meant to last at least three years declined a revised 8.1 percent in July.

House Sales

A separate release showed that new house sales increased to a 421,000 annual pace last month. Economists had projected that sales of new residential properties would increase to 420,000, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

Carnival dropped 6.7 percent to 2,106 pence as Morgan Stanley lowered its recommendation on the shares to underweight, which is similar to a sell rating, from equal weight. The world's largest cruise-ship operator has tumbled 12 percent since the close on Sept. 23, the biggest two-day decline since January 2012, after it unexpectedly forecast that it may report a loss in its fiscal fourth quarter.

"Carnival's early 2014 guidance implies a sluggish yield recovery and a step up in costs," Morgan Stanley analysts led by Jamie Rollo wrote in a note. "A major restructuring and/or cash return look unlikely as supports to the stock."

Separately, Natixis downgraded Carnival to reduce from neutral and Numis Corp. lowered its rating to hold from add. The company yesterday said fourth-quarter earnings excluding some items will range from a loss of 3 cents a share to a profit of 3 cents. Analysts on average had projected 9 cents a share, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

ICAP Fine

ICAP, the world's biggest broker of transactions between banks, slipped 1.8 percent to 388.4 pence as U.S. prosecutors charged three former employees with fraud in a five-year international investigation into interest-rate manipulation.

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission asked the company to pay $65 million, while the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority fined it 14 million pounds ($22.5 million).

Tesco Plc (TSCO) dropped 3.5 percent to 360.9 pence. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut its rating on the shares to underweight from neutral, meaning that investors should hold less of the shares than are represented in benchmark indexes. The brokerage cited weak same-store sales and said that initiatives such as 'Double Clubcard Points' in 2010 and the 'Price Promise' in 2013 have had limited success.

Travis Perkins Plc gained 2.3 percent to 1,661 pence. UBS AG raised its recommendation on the shares to buy from neutral, citing the company's high exposure to the U.K.'s economic recovery.