2014 Top Stocks Market, Best Stocks Investment In 2014, Top Stocks For 2014: 3/9/14

Which Potash Producer Will Cut Its Dividend Next?

There seems little worry that PotashCorp (NYSE: POT ) will cut its dividend -- which it called "sacrosanct" this past December -- even though it's planning on cutting some 18% of its workforce this year in the face of flagging demand.

Neptune Terminal facility, Vancouver, B.C. Source: Canpotex

Yet, Europe's leading potash player K+S (NASDAQOTH: KPLUY ) just said that, because of the upheaval that's occurred in the market, it was slashing its dividend by 82% for 2013, reducing the payout ratio to just 11% of adjusted after tax earnings, a far cry from the miner's usual ratio of between 40% and 50%. Could this signal a new era of austerity that will ultimately see Potash, Agrium (NYSE: AGU ) , and Mosaic (NYSE: MOS ) end up whacking their payouts, as well?

Revenues at K+S barely moved at all last year, creeping up to 3.95 billion euros from 3.935 billion, but operating earnings fell by 18% from the year ago period because of lower potash prices. China recently set a new, lower floor for pricing after reaching an agreement with Russian potash producer Uralkali for $305 per metric tonne for the first half of 2014, a 24% discount to the levels paid in the same period last year. Shortly thereafter Canpotex, the North American potash marketing arm owned by PotashCorp, Agrium, and Mosaic, also signed a contract for the sale of the fertilizer nutrient into China. Though it didn't disclose the deal's value, it said it was at competitive rates. Last year, it had secured a price of $400 per tonne.

There was a lot of speculation beforehand on what price China would pay for potash, as its purchases typically set the tone for contracts everywhere. It's the world's biggest wheat grower and second-biggest corn producer, so it remains a significant importer of potash along with the U.S., India, and Brazil. Buyers held off on making purchases until greater clarity was given as to where pricing would go, though the market expected them to settle in the $300 level following the breakup of the Belarusian cartel last summer; but no one wanted to be first to jump the gun.

Potassium Chloride (Muriate of Potash) Spot Price Chart

Potassium Chloride (Muriate of Potash) Spot Price data by YCharts

With that event out of the way now, however, the surety potash producers were seeking seems to have returned. There's even the possibility the cartel will get back together, possibly leading to higher prices once more. Uralkali broke away from the partnership it had with Belaruskali in a bid to gain more market share. As a low-cost producer, it was willing to sacrifice price for volume. That sent everyone else into a tailspin, and caused the slump that led to K+S slashing its dividend.

The miner will use the savings to bump up its own production by expanding its Legacy project in Canada, with the goal of bringing it online in 2016 despite the weak pricing environment at the moment.

A dividend cut for PotashCorp still doesn't appear to be in the cards. Unlike K+S, which discontinued its nitrogen operations in 2012, the North American producer achieved record nitrogen sales volume of 5.9 million tonnes last year, 19% above the year-ago totals, even though prices were weaker. It's also still producing significant amounts of free cash flow, almost $1.6 billion worth at the end of 2013, suggesting it has substantial financial resources still available to it.

Agrium, on the other hand, burned through cash last year, recording a $100 million deficit in free cash flow, which could always pressure its payout that is currently yielding 3.2%. Mosaic, the fourth largest producer of potash in the world accounting for approximately 14% of estimated global annual potash production and 43% of estimated North American annual potash production, was also FCF positive, which should keep its 2% dividend intact.

If the situation in the Ukraine breaks down further, and sanctions are imposed on Russia, potash producers could even gain as potash remains an important export for the country. Although K+S found it expedient to cut its dividend to finance its growth program, I don't see Potash or Mosaic following suit. If conditions fail to markedly improve, however, Agrium could see pressure mount to conserve its cash.

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StoneMor Partners L.P. Q4 Loss Narrows; Revenue Rises (STON)

On Friday, cemetery operator StoneMor Partners L.P. (STON) reported that its net loss for the fourth quarter narrowed from last year, aided by a 6.4% rise in revenue.STON’s Earnings in Brief

STON reported a Q4 net loss of $3.5 million, compared to a loss of $3.9 million a year ago. Revenue was $63.1 million, up from $59.3 million last year. For FY2013, the company reported a net loss of $19.0 million, compared to a loss of $3.0 million in 2012. The large loss in 2013 was primarily due to costs related to the early retirement of senior notes. Revenue for the year rose to $246.6 million in 2013, from $242.6 million in 2012.

CEO Commentary

Lawrence Miller, President and CEO of STON commented: “StoneMor closed the year with a solid fourth quarter, showing improvement over the fourth quarter of 2012 in nearly every category,” s

“GAAP revenues and operating income in the fourth quarter of 2013 both improved over the fourth quarter of last year, while such non-GAAP financial measures as production based revenue and adjusted operating profits showed very strong growth, up 17.4% and 73.1% respectively. Driving much of this performance has been the ongoing contributions from acquisitions made in 2012 and 2013. The contributions from acquisitions also helped power a 75.9% increase in our distributable cash flow (non-GAAP) compared to the fourth quarter of 2012.

STON’s Dividend

STON paid its last 60 cent quarterly dividend on February 14. We expect the company to announce its next dividend in April.

Stock Performance

StoneMor Partners shares were mostly flat during premarket trading Friday. The stock is down 3.8% YTD.

As Congress Dawdles, States Take Policy Lead

With Congress paralyzed by partisanship and legislative peace unlikely to break out anytime soon, states are aggressively setting public policy at a pace last seen in the late 1950s and early 1960s, when states took an early interest on both sides of civil rights legislation.

See Also: States With the Scariest Death Taxes

Civil rights issues are at the forefront again. But states will also take the lead on economic and social matters, even environmental concerns. And they'll do so for years to come. Now, as in the Civil Rights era, U.S. lawmakers and judges will be slow to catch up.

The minimum wage fight offers a clear example of states taking the lead. Already, 21 states exceed the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour. At least five others -- Arkansas, Hawaii, Idaho, South Dakota and West Virginia -- are weighing legislation to top the federal rates. And a handful of states that already pay more than Uncle Sam requires -- Alaska, California, Illinois, Massachusetts and Rhode Island -- are considering going even higher. Meanwhile, legislation to boost the federal minimum to more than $10, in stages, is stalled in the Republican-led House.

Another example: Federal land use challenges, backed mostly by Republicans in the West. The federal government controls about half of all land west of the Rocky Mountains, a throwback to when the federal government owned the territories. Utah and other states want to manage forests and expand business uses on the land, including exploring for natural gas and oil. States also want to collect property taxes on tax-exempt acres.

Look for states to prevail at some point down the line, with help from the right-leaning Supreme Court.

States are taking the lead on scaling back the costs of public pensions, too. They're on the hook for a combined $757 billion in pension liabilities at a time when their budgets are already lean and federal funds are hard to come by.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) is ahead of the pack. His pension fight has put him near the top of many short lists of potential Republican presidential nominees for 2016. Other states have made cuts as well, and more will follow, mostly by reducing or eliminating defined benefit programs for new public workers.

Down the road, look for more state and local initiatives. Among them:

Efforts to legalize and tax the sale of marijuana. It's one tax that has broad support.
A push to crack down on an industrial chemical used to produce plastic water bottles, sippy cups for toddlers and other consumer products. Federal regulation may follow, but it will take years, giving states plenty of time to take the lead.
Proposed regulations on food, including curbs on genetically altered crops and trans fats.

States don't have free rein, of course. They can't pass immigration laws that are tougher than the federal statutes. They can't alter or eliminate the federal tax system. They can't ratify their own trade treaties with foreign powers.

And states won't always win in courts, especially if personal rights are in play. Sometime in the not-distant future, the Supreme Court will rule on same-sex marriages, likely allowing them. States are divided on the question, though public backing of such marriages is growing.

The pendulum will swing toward federal power again at some point.

Until then, governors and state lawmakers will embrace their starring roles.

U.S. stock futures trade in narrow range

U.S. stock futures traded in a tight range on Thursday and were up slightly before the market opened.

Dow Jones industrial average index futures were up 0.1%, Standard & Poor's 500 index futures rose 0.2% and Nasdaq index futures added 0.2%.

Global stocks continued to focus on CHina's economy and a possible slowdown.

In early European trading, stocks clung to a tight range. Britain's FTSE 100 inched down 0.2% to 6,610 while Germany's DAX rose 0.2% to 9,208.

Asian stock markets were mixed. Japan's Nikkei 225 lost 0.1% to 14,815.98 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 0.7% to 21,756.08. In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite rose 1.1% to 2,019.11.

Oil prices rose in early trading a day after falling below $100 a barrel. A barrel of benchmark crude for April delivery was up 45 cents to $98.44 in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell $2.04, or 2%, to close at $97.99 on Wednesday.

U.S. stocks closed mixed on Wednesday as the Dow fell 11.17 points, or 0.1% to close at 16,340.08. The Dow has now fallen for three consecutive days. The S&P 500 index was basically flat, rising 0.57 to 1,868.20 and the Nasdaq composite index rose 16.14 points, or 0.4% at 4,323.33. The Nasdaq broke it's four day losing streak.

WEDNESDAY: Stocks close mixed; Dow falls for a third day

Ministers optimistic over deal on bank-rescue system

BRUSSELS—Euro-zone finance ministers expressed optimism on Monday that they could strike a deal with European lawmakers on a single authority to wind down failing banks before European elections in May.

But negotiations over the shape of a planned single resolution mechanism looked set to be complicated by continued disagreements over how to finance the system, and a Finnish vote that limits that country's room for maneuver in the talks.

"I'm optimistic we'll get a deal in the coming days," Jeroen Dijsselbloem, President of the Eurogroup of euro zone finance ministers, said on his way into two days of meetings in Brussels.

European Union governments are rushing to complete a law on the single resolution mechanism before the European Parliament dissolves for elections in May. The resolution mechanism is the final leg in the bloc's ambitious banking union project, which aims to draw a line under its recent debt crisis.

EU finance ministers have agreed among themselves on the shape of the resolution mechanism, but the deal must still be ratified by European lawmakers, who have agreed on a different version of the proposal and are threatening to block a deal unless their concerns are met. The euro zone finance ministers' meeting precedes Tuesday's meeting of ministers from all 28 EU nations and a negotiating session among government representatives, the Parliament and the European Commission due Wednesday.

A compromise must be agreed by March 26 if it is to be voted on at the Parliament's last full meeting in April.

An expanded version of this report appears on WSJ.com.

Yacktman Funds Comments on Avon Products

Avon Products Inc. shares declined due to poor quarterly results and increased market concerns about fines related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) investigation. Turnarounds generally take time, and we continue to have confidence that the new management team is taking the correct steps to improve the business. We believe the concerns about the potential magnitude of FCPA fines are overstated given the practices that Avon Products Inc. is being investigated for as well as previous FCPA fines levied on other firms. The shares remain inexpensive based on our assessment of normalized earnings and the potential value to a strategic buyer.

From Yacktman Funds' 2013 Annual Report - Portfolio Manager's Comments

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Hot Low Price Stocks To Invest In Right Now

With shares of Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) trading around $78, is WMT an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE or STAY AWAY? Let�� analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Wal-Mart operates retail stores in various formats around the world. The company’s slogan, “Everyday Low Prices,” is also its pricing philosophy, under which it prices items at a low price every day. Wal-Mart operates in three business segments: the Walmart U.S. segment, the Walmart International segment, and the Sam�� Club segment. It�operates retail stores, restaurants, discount stores, supermarkets, supercenters, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, apparel stores, Sam�’s Clubs, neighborhood markets, and other small formats, as well as Walmart.com and Samsclub.com. Through its retail channels, Wal-Mart is able to provide a variety of products and services at very affordable prices to consumers and companies worldwide. For consumers and businesses looking for one location that contains a wide variety of products and services, Wal-Mart is the spot and will continue to be well into the future.

Hot Low Price Stocks To Invest In Right Now: United Technologies Corporation(UTX)

United Technologies Corporation provides technology products and services to the building systems and aerospace industries worldwide. The company?s Otis segment designs, manufactures, sells, and installs passenger and freight elevators, escalators, and moving walkways, as well as provides maintenance and repair services. Its Carrier segment offers heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems, controls, services, and energy-efficient products for residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation applications. The company?s UTC Fire and Security segment provides electronic security products comprising intruder alarms, and access control and video surveillance systems; fire safety products, such as specialty hazard detection and fixed suppression products, fire extinguishers, fire detection and life safety systems, and other firefighting equipment; systems integration, video surveillance, installation, maintenance, and inspection services; and mon itoring, response, and security personnel services. Its Pratt and Whitney segment supplies aircraft engines for the commercial, military, business jet, and general aviation markets; industrial gas turbines; geo thermal power systems; and space propulsion systems, as well as provides fleet management, maintenance, repair, and overhaul services. The company?s Hamilton Sundstrand segment supplies aerospace products, such as power generation, management and distribution, flight control, engine control, environmental control, auxiliary power units, and propeller systems; and industrial products, including air compressors, metering pumps, and fluid handling equipment under the Sullair, Sundyne, and Milton Roy names. Its Sikorsky segment manufactures military and commercial helicopters, as well as offers aftermarket helicopter and aircraft parts and services. United Technologies Corporation was founded in 1934 and is based in Hartford, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Ben Fox Rubin]
United Technologies Corp.(UTX) issued profit and revenue targets for 2014 that mostly fell short of Wall Street’s expectations, as the industrial conglomerate signaled asset sales will temper top-line growth.

Hot Low Price Stocks To Invest In Right Now: SouFun Holdings Ltd (SFUN)

SouFun Holdings Limited (SouFun), incorporated on June 17, 2004, operates as a real estate Internet portal in China. The Company also operates home furnishing and improvement Websites. Through SouFun's Websites, it provides marketing, e-commerce, listing, and other value-added services for China's real estate and home-related sectors. SouFun's Internet portal focuses and supports SouFun's users in seeking information on the real estate and home-related sectors in China. SouFun maintains about 100 offices to focus on local market needs and its Website and database contains real estate related content covering more than 320 cities in China. Its www.soufun.com Website contains links to other specialized real estate and home furnishing and improvement Websites, including its www.jiatx.com Website, its e-commerce transaction and payment platform. The Company's service offerings include marketing services, E-commerce services, listing services and other value-added services.

Marketing Services

The Company offers marketing services on its Websites, mainly through advertisements, to real estate developers in the marketing phase of new property developments, as well as to real estate agencies and suppliers of home furnishing and improvement and other home-related products and services who wish to promote their products and services. Its marketing services are delivered through its Website www.soufun.com and include traditional Internet advertisements, such as banners, links, logos and floating signs, as well as featured promotions, such as Internet advertisements, combined with its other services.

E-commerce services

The Company offers e-commerce services, including SouFun membership services and online transaction platform services. It provides both free and paid SouFun membership services to registered members its SouFun cards. Its free services include primarily regular updates regarding local property developments, tours to visit property developments an! d other services relating to property purchases. The Company�� paid services primarily include offers to purchase properties with discounts from its partner developers and information and related services to facilitate property purchases. In addition, through its www.jiatx.com Website, it offers an online transaction platform and related e-commerce services to home furnishing and improvement vendors in China.

Listing services

The Company offers basic and special listing services. Its basic listing services are mainly offered to real estate agents, brokers, developers, property owners and managers and suppliers of home furnishing and improvement and other home-related products and services. Its basic listing services allow its customers to post information of their products and services on its Websites. The Company�� special listing services offer customized marketing programs involving both online listings and offline themed events.

Other value-added services

The Company offers subscription-based access to its information database and research reports and total Web solution services. The Company provides online content subscription services on either a flat-fee subscription basis for database access or a per-project basis for its research services. It charge subscription fees based on the number of databases that the subscriber would like to access.

The Company competes with E-House (China) Holdings, Sohu.com Inc.�� focus.cn, Anjuke.com, Tencent�� fangqq.com, Szhome.com and House365.com.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Belinda Cao]
SouFun Holdings Ltd. (SFUN), China�� biggest real estate website, fell 2.8 percent to $23.01 April 5, extending its drop in the week to 12 percent. Short seller Glaucus Research Group rated the company a ��trong sell��in an April 4 report, saying that SouFun spent millions of dollars buying luxury real estate in New York and transferred money to charities of ��ubious authenticity.��
[By MONEYMORNING]
SouFun Holdings Ltd. (ADR) (NYSE: SFUN) is another noteworthy holding. The company controls an Internet portal focused on real estate and home improvement in China.
[By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Leading and Lagging Sectors
Wednesday morning, the financial sector proved to be a source of strength for the market. Leading the sector was strength from SouFun Holdings (NYSE: SFUN) and E-House (China) Holdings (NYSE: EJ). In trading on Wednesday, energy shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.67 percent. Among the energy stocks, Endeavour International (NYSE: END)was down more than 22 percent, while TransGlobe Energy (NASDAQ: TGA) tumbled around 6 percent.

Best Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now: Brown & Brown Inc. (BRO)

Brown & Brown, Inc., a diversified insurance agency, engages in the marketing and sale of insurance products and services in the United States. Its Retail division provides insurance products and services to commercial, public and quasi-public entity, professional, and individual customers. This division offers property insurance relating to physical damage to property, and resultant interruption of business or extra expense caused by fire, windstorm, or other perils; casualty insurance relating to legal liabilities, workers� compensation, and commercial and private passenger automobile coverage; fidelity and surety bonds; group and individual life, accident, disability, health, hospitalization, medical, and dental insurance, as well as provides risk management and loss control surveys and analysis, and consultation services. The company�s National Programs division offers professional liability and related package insurance products for dentists, lawyers, accountants, o ptometrists, opticians, insurance agents, financial service representatives, benefit administrators, real estate brokers, real estate title agents, and escrow agents. This division also markets its products and services to specific industries, trade groups, public and quasi-public entities, and market niches through independent agents. The company�s Wholesale Brokerage division markets and sells excess and surplus commercial insurance products and services to retail insurance agencies; and reinsurance products and services to insurance companies. Its Services division offers insurance-related services, including third-party claims administration and comprehensive medical utilization management services for the workers� compensation and various liability arenas; medicare set-aside services; and social security disability and medicare benefits advocacy services. Brown & Brown, Inc. was founded in 1939 and is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Marc Bastow]
Diversified insurance company Brown & Brown (BRO) raised its quarterly dividend 11.1% to 10 cents per share, payable Nov. 13 to shareholders of record as of Oct. 30. This is the 20th consecutive annual increase in BRO’s dividend.
BRO Dividend Yield: 1.21%
[By Eric Volkman]
Brown & Brown's� (NYSE: BRO ) �Q1 results have been released. For the quarter, net profit notched a new quarterly record at just over $60 million ($0.41 per diluted share), up 22% from the $49 million ($0.34) in the same period the previous year. Total revenue also improved over that time frame, coming in at $335 million against Q1 2012's figure of $302 million.
[By Monica Gerson]
Brown & Brown (NYSE: BRO) is projected to post its Q3 earnings at $0.40 per share on revenue of $348.85 million. Brown & Brown shares rose 0.58% to close at $32.99 on Friday.

Hot Low Price Stocks To Invest In Right Now: ExactTarget Inc (ET)

ExactTarget, Inc. is a global provider of cross-channel, interactive marketing software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions. The Company�� solutions provide marketers with a suite of integrated applications. The Company�� suite of cross-channel, interactive marketing applications include e-mail, mobile, social media and sites, is built on its flexible multi-tenant SaaS platform. These channel applications are integrated with its campaign management, calendaring, dashboard, integrated reporting, marketing automation and data management tools. The Company also provides open application programming interfaces (APIs) and developer tools that allow third parties to embed its technology into their solutions and build applications on its platform. The Company generates revenue through the sale of subscriptions to its suite of cross-channel, interactive marketing SaaS solutions and the delivery of professional services. It serves a range of clients across many industries and sizes. Professional services revenue consists primarily of fees associated with training, implementation, integration, deliverability, campaign services and strategic consulting. In October 2012, it acquired iGoDigital.

The Company�� direct client base consisted of over 4,700 organizations as of June 30, 2012, ranging from enterprises to small businesses in numerous industries, including retail and e-commerce, media and entertainment, travel and hospitality, financial services and insurance, technology, daily-deal and flash-sale and marketing service providers. Among its direct clients are the United States-based companies, such as Ally Financial, Inc., Angie�� List, Inc., CareerBuilder, LLC, Groupon, Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Oakley, Inc., OneAmerica Financial Partners, Inc., One King�� Lane, Inc., Papa John�� International, Inc., priceline.com Incorporated, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Tommy Hilfiger Group, WellPoint, Inc. and Zappos.com, Inc. Companies also include Abril Gro! up (Brazil), Fairfax Media Limited (Australia), Icelandair Group (Iceland) and Telegraph Media Group Limited (United Kingdom).

Interactive Marketing Hub

The Interactive Marketing Hub provides marketers with a solution to engage in cross-channel marketing. The Interactive Marketing Hub integrates its e-mail, mobile, social media and sites Channel Applications with data management and marketing automation Hub Applications. Built on its cloud-based FUEL platform, these applications integrate with Hub Tools, which include a calendar, campaigns, dashboards and integrated reporting. Channel Applications provide interactive marketing engagement solutions to plan, automate, deliver and optimize messages across e-mail, mobile, social media and sites. The Company�� core edition is designed for small and medium-sized organizations, as well as departments within enterprises and provides content management tools, segmentation tools and reporting, such as opens, clicks, bounces and other performance metrics.

The Advanced Edition includes content syndication, dynamic content, relational data, advanced marketing automation, triggered and transactional communications for e-statements, alerts and order confirmations and advanced reporting. The Advanced Edition also provides full access to its FUEL platform�� open integration framework and developer tools that facilitates integration with other business systems and applications. Enterprise Edition is built for large, distributed enterprises that need centralized control and compliance for e-mail marketing communications. The Enterprise Edition includes international sending, advanced role and permission administration, content locking and sharing, and enterprise analytics and reporting. The Enterprise Edition can also include its Xpress Sending interface that enables non-technical users within distributed marketing organizations to create and send e-mails using pre-approved content via defined templates.

The Company� �s mobil! e applications enable marketers to create, automate, deliver personalized inbound and outbound short message service (SMS) mobile messages and support messaging in more than 80 countries worldwide. Through these applications, clients can easily create polls, quizzes, surveys, contests, mobile tickets, coupon redemption, SMS alerts and mobile opt-in for e-mail campaigns. Its social media applications provide solutions to manage engagement on social networks, such as Twitter and Facebook and integrate social data and interactions into cross-channel campaigns. SocialEngage (powered by CoTweet) provides a social media management application that enables teams to manage multiple social media accounts with administrator-defined user permissions and roles.

SocialPages provides a drag and drop interface that allows marketers to create, publish and manage branded Facebook pages and tabs that display content and incorporate engaging features, such as forms, YouTube videos, Flickr galleries and the Facebook Like button. The Company�� sites application provides a solution to drag and drop interface microsites into cross-channel marketing campaigns. Hub Applications provide capabilities for advanced cross-channel marketing automation, data management, customer data segmentation and analysis. Audience Builder provides a drag-and-drop interface that enables marketers to explore multiple data scenarios through filtering and segmentation to create target audiences in for any campaign or automated messaging series.

Automation Studio provides a drag and drop interface to plan, create and execute complex, multi-stage, recurring cross-channel campaigns based on consumer behavior, time or custom attributes. Automated communications can be triggered by events, such as product purchases, online registrations or Website browsing behavior. The Company�� Hub Tools enable integrated planning, cross-channel campaign management and reporting. Calendar provides a single view of planned and completed camp! aigns, ev! ents and interactions across e-mail, mobile, Facebook, Twitter and Websites. Campaigns enables marketers to define interactive marketing campaigns and associated content and interactions across e-mail, mobile, Facebook, Twitter and Websites.

Pulse provides dashboards that display information, such as the number of Facebook fans, Twitter followers, e-mail subscribers and current status of automated programs and engagement metrics, such as opens, clicks and conversions. Integrated Reporting provides contextual and reporting throughout its Interactive Marketing Hub. The Company�� applications are built and delivered on its cloud-based FUEL platform. FUEL provides an open integration framework, enabling clients and third-party application providers to integrate data from systems, such as customer relationship management (CRM), Web analytics, and e-commerce through its partner ecosystem of productized integrations with providers, such as Microsoft Dynamics CRM, salesforce.com, inc., SAP, and Adobe Omniture.

Common Data Model creates a cross-channel view of each consumer by aggregating online behavioral data, channel engagement history, communication preferences and other online or offline data. Security provides a single sign-on environment for all Interactive Marketing Hub applications secured by multiple technologies, including but not limited to two-factor authentication, Internet protocol (IP) whitelisting and IP blocking, and enables monitoring and alerting of system activity.

Developer Tools provide a library of user interface controls and APIs that enable developers to build applications with a common look and feel on its cloud-based platform. Integration Framework provides a suite of integration capabilities that include its open APIs, CRM and Web analytics integrations, Embedded/Xpress Marketing and HubExchange. Its Embedded/Xpress Marketing solution enables independent software vendors and developers to embed the functionality of its e-mail and mobile applic! ations di! rectly into their technology offerings. The Company�� HubExchange enables marketing technology providers to develop and sell applications built on its platform.

Services

The Company complements its suite of cross-channel, interactive marketing SaaS solutions with a range of professional services. Its collaborative and full-service offerings include Training, Implementation, Integration, Deliverability, Campaign Services and Strategic Consulting. The Company offers a variety of methods of introduction to its products, including self-help resources, Web-based and on-site training, enterprise workshops and train the trainer programs. Clients who purchase implementation services are assigned an implementation consultant who works with them to adopt and deployment its solutions. Through its platform�� integration framework, the Company�� applications can be integrated with CRM, Web analytics, e-commerce and other business systems. It provides consulting and program management to help clients define, develop and implement interactive communication strategies.

The Company competes with Aprimo, Inc., CheetahMail Inc., e-Dialog Inc., Eloqua Limited, Epsilon Data Management, LLC, Marketo, Inc., Responsys, Inc., Silverpop Systems Inc., StrongMail Systems, Inc., Unica Corporation, Yesmail, Buddy Media, Inc. and Radian6 Technologies, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Brian Pacampara]
What: Shares of ExactTarget (NYSE: ET ) soared 52% today after cloud technologist salesforce.com (NYSE: CRM ) agreed to acquire the marketing software company for $2.5 billion.
[By Chris Hill]
Dollar General's (NYSE: DG ) first-quarter profits rose rose 3%, but the retailer cut guidance for the full year. Business market software maker ExactTarget (NYSE: ET ) rose more than 50% after Salesforce.com (NYSE: CRM ) agreed to buy the company for more than $2.3 billion. Zynga (NASDAQ: ZNGA ) held firm after shares tanked on Monday in the wake of the company announcing it's cutting 18% of its staff. And IBM (NYSE: IBM ) buys a company to better compete in the cloud computing space. In this installment of Investor Beat, our analysts discuss four stocks making big moves.
[By GURUFOCUS]
ExactTarget Inc. (ET) is a provider of cross channel interactive marketing solutions based in Indianapolis, IN. The company went public in November of 2012 at $19 and on June 4, 2013 received a $33.75 cash tender offer from Salesforce.com, a global leader in cloud computing based CRM software. The two companies had partnership agreements in the past, and this combination represents Saleforce.com's largest acquisition to date. The $2.5 billion offer, which came at a premium of over 50% to the previous close of ExactTarget shares, closed on July 12, 2013 for an annualized return of 1.74%.�
From Mario Gabelli's third quarter 2013 commentary.

Also check out: Mario Gabelli Undervalued Stocks Mario Gabelli Top Growth Companies Mario Gabelli High Yield stocks, and Stocks that Mario Gabelli keeps buying

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[By Tim Brugger]
Salesforce.com (NYSE: CRM ) has made an offer to acquire cloud marketing firm ExactTarget (NYSE: ET ) in a deal valued at approximately $2.5 billion, salesforce.com announced today.

Hot Low Price Stocks To Invest In Right Now: WPP plc (WPPGY)

WPP plc provides communications services worldwide. Its Advertising and Media Investment Management segment plans and creates marketing and branding campaigns; and designs and produces advertisements for television, cable, the Internet, radio, magazines, and newspapers, as well as outdoor locations, including billboards. This segment also has media investment management capabilities in the areas of business science, consumer insight, communications and media planning implementation, interactions, content development, and sports and entertainment marketing. The company�s Consumer Insight segment offers custom research services in various sectors, including strategic market studies; brand positioning; equity research; customer satisfaction surveys; product development; international research; advanced modeling; advertising research; pre-testing, tracking, and sales modeling; and trends and futures research and consultancy. Its Public Relations & Public Affairs segment provi des advice to clients that seek to communicate with consumers, governments, and/or the business and financial communities. This segment�s activities include corporate, financial, and marketing communications; crisis management; reputation management; public affairs; and government lobbying. The company�s Branding & Identity, Healthcare, and Specialist Communications segment engages in branding and identity; healthcare communications; and direct, digital, promotional, and relationship marketing activities. This segment also offers specialist communications services, such as custom media and multicultural marketing; event, sports, youth, and entertainment marketing; corporate and business-to-business; and media, technology, and production services, as well as digital and measurable interactive marketing, digital marketing strategy, mobile solutions, and platforms services. The company has a strategic partnership with Twitter, Inc. WPP plc was founded in 1971 and is based in London, the United Kingdom.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Kevin Godbold]
So this series aims to identify appealing FTSE 100 investment opportunities and today I'm looking at�WPP� (LSE: WPP ) (NASDAQ: WPPGY ) , which provides marketing communications services such as advertising and public relations.
[By Alan Oscroft]
WPP (LSE: WPP ) (NASDAQ: WPPGY )
WPP shares have gained a modest 0.5% after the advertising giant revealed an acquisition. The firm's wholly owned operating network VML will take a 49% stake in Polish digital agency Heureka Group, with an option to acquire a majority stake at a later date.

Hot Low Price Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Middlesex Water Co (MSEX)

Middlesex Water Company (Middlesex), incorporated in 1897, is a water utility company. The Company owns and operates regulated water utility and wastewater systems in New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. Middlesex also operates water and wastewater systems under contract on behalf of municipal and private clients in New Jersey and Delaware. It operates in two segments: Regulated and Non-Regulated. During the year ended December 31, 2011, its Regulated segment contributed approximately 90% of total revenues. The Regulated segment consists of collecting, treating and distributing water on a retail and wholesale basis to residential, commercial, industrial and fire protection customers in parts of New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. This segment also includes regulated wastewater systems in New Jersey and Delaware. The Non-Regulated segment consists of non-regulated contract services for the operation and maintenance of municipal and private water and wastewater systems in New Jersey and Delaware.

The Company�� subsidiaries include Tidewater Utilities, Inc. (Tidewater) and Tidewater�� wholly owned subsidiaries, Southern Shores Water Company, LLC (Southern Shores) and White Marsh Environmental Systems, Inc. (White Marsh). Its other subsidiaries are Pinelands Water Company (Pinelands Water) and Pinelands Wastewater Company (Pinelands Wastewater) (collectively, Pinelands), Utility Service Affiliates, Inc. (USA), Utility Service Affiliates (Perth Amboy) Inc., (USA-PA), Tidewater Environmental Services, Inc. (TESI) and Twin Lakes Utilities, Inc. (Twin Lakes).

Middlesex System

The Middlesex System in New Jersey provides water services to approximately 60,000 retail customers, primarily in eastern Middlesex County, New Jersey and provides water under wholesale contracts to the City of Rahway, Townships of Edison and Marlboro, the Boroughs of Highland Park and Sayreville and the Old Bridge Municipal Utilities Authority. The Middlesex System treats, stores and dis! tributes water for residential, commercial, industrial and fire prevention purposes. The Middlesex System also provides water treatment and pumping services to the Township of East Brunswick under contract. The Middlesex System produced approximately 64% of its 2011 consolidated operating revenues.

The Middlesex System�� retail customers are located in an area of approximately 55 square miles in Woodbridge Township, the City of South Amboy, the Boroughs of Metuchen and Carteret, portions of the Township of Edison and the Borough of South Plainfield in Middlesex County and, to a minor extent, a portion of the Township of Clark in Union County. Retail customers include a mix of residential customers, industrial concerns and commercial and light industrial facilities.

The contract customers of the Middlesex System comprise an area of approximately 146 square miles with a population of approximately 303,000. Contract sales to Edison, Sayreville, Old Bridge, Marlboro and Rahway are supplemental to the existing water systems of these customers. The Middlesex System provides treated surface water under long-term agreements to East Brunswick, Marlboro, Old Bridge and Sayreville. Middlesex provides water service to approximately 300 customers in Cumberland County, New Jersey. Its Middlesex System, which produced approximately 15.6 billion gallons in 2011, obtains water from surface sources and wells, or groundwater sources.

Tidewater System

Tidewater, together with its wholly owned subsidiary, Southern Shores, provides water services to approximately 36,000 retail customers for domestic, commercial and fire protection purposes in over 300 separate community water systems in New Castle, Kent and Sussex Counties, Delaware. White Marsh is an additional wholly owned subsidiary that is unregulated as to rates and operates water and wastewater systems under contract for approximately 4,700 residential customers. White Marsh also owns the office buildings that Tid! ewater us! es as its central business office campus. The Tidewater System produced approximately 25% of its 2011 consolidated operating revenues. Its Tidewater System produced approximately 2 billion gallons in 2011 from 159 wells.

Utility Service Affiliates-Perth Amboy

Utility Service Affiliates-Perth Amboy (USA-PA) operates the City of Perth Amboy, New Jersey�� water and wastewater systems under a 20-year agreement, which expires in 2018. USA-PA serves approximately 11,000 homes and businesses, most of which are served by both the water and wastewater systems. USA-PA produced approximately 9% of its 2011 consolidated operating revenues.

Pinelands System

Pinelands Water provides water services to approximately 2,500 residential customers in Burlington County, New Jersey. Pinelands Water produced less than 1% of its 2011 consolidated operating revenues. Pinelands Water is not physically interconnected with the Middlesex System. Pinelands Wastewater provides wastewater services to approximately 2,400 residential customers. Under contract, it also services one municipal wastewater system in Burlington County, New Jersey with approximately 200 residential customers. Water supply to its Pinelands System is derived from four wells, which produced approximately 159.1 million gallons in 2011.

Utility Service Affiliates, Inc.

Utility Service Affiliates, Inc. (USA) offers residential customers in New Jersey and Delaware water service line and sewer lateral maintenance programs (LineCare). USA produced less than 1% of its 2011 consolidated operating revenues.

TESI System

TESI provides wastewater services to approximately 2,200 residential retail customers in Delaware. TESI produced approximately 1% of its 2011 consolidated operating revenues. The TESI System treated approximately 76.8 million gallons in 2011. The TESI System consists of seven wastewater treatment systems in Southern Delaware.

Twin Lakes Sys! tem

Twin Lakes provides water services to approximately 120 residential customers in Shohola, Pennsylvania. Twin Lakes produced less than 1% of its 2011 consolidated operating revenues. Water supply to Twin Lakes��customers is derived from two wells, which delivered approximately 26.6 million gallons in 2011.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Marc Bastow]
Utility operator Middlesex Water (MSEX) raised its quarterly dividend 1.3% to 18 cents per share, payable on Dec. 2 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 15. The increase marks the 41st consecutive annual dividend increase.
MSEX Dividend Yield:�3.53%

Hot Low Price Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Dow Treasuries(DV)

DeVry Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides educational services worldwide. The company operates various institutions, including Advanced Academics, American University of the Caribbean, Becker Professional Education, Carrington College and Carrington College California, Chamberlain College of Nursing, DeVry Brasil, DeVry University, and Ross University. These institutions offer an array of programs in business, healthcare, and technology, as well as serve students in middle school through postsecondary education, and accounting and finance professionals. It offers career-oriented associate, bachelor?s, and master?s degree programs in technology, science, business, arts, and nursing; medical and veterinary medical education; and undergraduate and graduate programs focused in business management, nursing, law, and engineering, as well as online learning solutions for middle and high school education. The company also prepares students for careers in healthcare th rough certificate, associate, and bachelor?s degree programs; and candidates for the certified public accountant examination, chartered financial analyst professional certification examinations, and the project management professional certification examination, as well as provides continuing professional education programs and seminars in accounting and finance. DeVry Inc. was founded in 1931 and is headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Ben Levisohn]
Shres of Corinthian have dropped 4.2% to $1.96 but don’t seem to be hitting other for profit universities. ITT Educational Services (ESI) has gained 2.2% to $31, Apollo Group (APOL) has risen 0.7% to $20.44 and Devry (DV) is up 0.9% at $31.95.
[By Jeremy Bowman]
So what: ITT Educational Services (NYSE: ESI ) reported earnings earlier this morning, shooting up 30%, and earlier this week,�Capella Education (NASDAQ: CPLA ) jumped 15% after reporting, and is now approaching a new 52-week high. The education sector has gotten hammered over the last couple of years, but investors seem to be getting the feeling that enrollment numbers are bottoming. One exception was DeVry (NYSE: DV ) , which fell sharply after reporting earnings earlier this week, but still managed to gain 5.8% today.
[By Ben Levisohn]
The filing, however, hasn’t had much of an impact. Shares of ITT Educational Services have dropped just 3.4% this week but have gained 95% so far in 2013. Corinthian Colleges (COCO), on the other hand, has dropped 27% this year, while DeVry Education (DV) has gained 50% and Apollo Education (APOL) has advanced 30%.

Hot Low Price Stocks To Invest In Right Now: iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR)

iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF, formerly iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Index Fund, seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Standard & Poor's SmallCap 600 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of publicly traded securities in the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market. The Index serves as the underlying index for the S&P 600/Citigroup Growth and Value Index series. The component stocks are weighted according to the total float-adjusted market value of their outstanding shares. The component stocks in the Index have a market capitalization between $300 million and $1 billion (which may fluctuate depending on the overall level of the equity markets), and are selected for liquidity and industry group representation. The Index is adjusted to reflect changes in capitalization resulting from mergers, acquisition, stock rights, substitutions and other capital events.

The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Index Fund�� investment advisor is Barclays Global Fund Advisors.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By John Udovich]
One of the most famous scenes in the cult classic, the Graduate, was when Mr. McGuire�took Dustin Hoffman�� character aside and said�"Ben, I want to say one word to you, just one word: Plastics"; but what about the Berry Plastics Group Inc (NYSE: BERY) and its performance verses that of the�iShares S&P 500 Index ETF (NYSEARCA: IVV), iShares Russell Midcap Index Fund ETF (NYSEARCA: IWR) and iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Index ETF (NYSEARCA: IJR)? I should mention that plastics and the Berry Plastics Group was not the place to be yesterday as the stock took a tumble on reduced guidance.
[By Chris Ciovacco]
In Thursday's ETF analysis, evidence is presented that supports increasing demand for assets that get a tailwind from a weak U.S. dollar, including emerging markets (EEM) and foreign stocks (EFA). Casting a wider economic net, our market model told us to start buying stocks last week even with the threat of a U.S. default. Wednesday, we continued with our incremental allocation shifts by adding some exposure to the energy sector. Thursday, we sat tight holding long positions in small caps (IJR), Europe (FEZ), emerging markets and technology (QQQ). The upper bounds of the bullish S&P 500 trend channel shown below may offer some resistance to the market's near vertical ascent.

Hot Low Price Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Solutia Inc(SOA)

Solutia Inc. and its subsidiaries manufacture performance materials and specialty chemicals used in various consumer and industrial applications. The company?s Advanced Interlayers segment provides polyvinyl butyral (PVB) sheet that is used in the manufacture of laminated glass for automotive and architectural applications, and as an encapsulant in photovoltaic applications primarily under the SAFLEX name; ethyl vinyl acetate films under the VISTASOLAR name for photovoltaic module encapsulation; and specialty intermediate PVB resin and plasticizer products under the BUTVAR name. Its Performance Films segment manufactures solar control, decorative, safety and security window films for aftermarket automotive and architectural applications under the LLUMAR, V-KOOL, H�ER OPTIK, VISTA, GILA, and FORMULA ONE HIGH PERFORMANCE AUTOMOTIVE TINT names; and advanced film components that are used in electronics and energy industrial products under the FLEXVUE name. The company?s Te chnical Specialties segment manufactures and sells chemicals for the rubber, solar energy, process manufacturing, and aviation industries. This segment offers insoluble sulfur under the CRYSTEX name; and antidegradants, which are used in pneumatic tire components, solid tires, belts, hoses, cables, automotive mounts, bushings, and general mechanical products under the SANTOFLEX name. This segment also provides heat transfer fluids that are used for indirect heating or cooling of chemical processes in various types of industrial equipment and in solar energy power systems under the THERMINOL name; and aviation hydraulic fluids for airline airframe manufacturers and aviation maintenance facilities under the SKYDROL name. The company sells its products to end users in various industries through distributors and franchisees, as well as through its sales force in the United States, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. Solutia Inc. was founded in 1901 and is headquartere d in St. Louis, Missouri.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Holly LaFon]
His largest new buys in the first quarter are: Penn Virginia Group Holdings LP (PVG), Wynn Resorts Ltd. (WYNN), Methanex Corp. (MEOH), Solutia Inc. (SOA) and Georgia Gulf (GGC). Of his top eight stocks, five are from the chemicals industry.

Hot Low Price Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Point.360(PTSX)

Point.360 operates as an integrated media management services company in the United States. It offers film, video and audio post-production, archival, duplication, computer graphics, and data distribution services. The company also provides services to edit, master, reformat, covert, archive, and distribute its clients? film and video content, including television programming, feature films, and movie trailers. Its value-added services comprise visual effects, video and data editing, graphics and animation, digital color correction, picture restoration, audio post-production, audio restoration and layback, closed captioning and subtitling, foreign language mastering, standards conversion, broadcast encoding, global distribution and syndication, and archival services. In addition, Point.360 is involved in the rental and sale of DVDs and video games to consumers through its Movie>Q retail stores. Its customers include independent motion picture and television production com panies, television program suppliers, national television networks, infomercial providers, local television stations, television program syndicators, corporations, and educational institutions, as well as advertising agencies, and corporate or instructional video providers. The company is based in Burbank, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Lisa Levin]
Point.360 (NASDAQ: PTSX) shares reached a new 52-week low of $0.528. Point.360's trailing-twelve-month ROE is -12.69%.

QC Holdings (NASDAQ: QCCO) shares tumbled 3.68% to reach a new 52-week low of $1.83. QC Holdings shares have dropped 42.60% over the past 52 weeks, while the S&P 500 index has gained 31.67% in the same period.

Hot Low Price Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Ingredion Inc (INGR)

Ingredion Incorporated (Ingredion), formerly Corn Products International, Inc., incorporated on March 27, 1997, is a global manufacturer and supplier of starch and sweetener ingredients to a range of industries, including packaged food, beverage, brewing and industrial customers. The Company's product line includes starches and sweeteners, animal feed products and edible corn oil.

The Company's starch-based products include both food-grade and industrial starches. The Company's sweetener products include glucose syrups, high maltose syrups, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), caramel color, dextrose, polyols, maltodextrins and glucose and syrup solids. The Company's products are derived primarily from the processing of corn and other starch-based materials, such as tapioca, potato and rice.

Sweetener Products

The Company's sweetener products represented approximately 44% of the Company's net sales for the year ended December 31, 2012. Glucose syrups are fundamental ingredients used in food products, such as baked goods, snack foods, beverages, canned fruits, condiments, candy and other sweets, dairy products, ice cream, jams and jellies, prepared mixes and table syrups. Glucose syrups offer functionality in addition to sweetness to processed foods. High Maltose Syrup is special type of glucose syrup, which is primarily used as a fermentable sugar in brewing beers. High maltose syrups are also used in the production of confections, canning and some other food processing applications. The Company's high maltose syrups actually speeds the fermentation process, allowing brewers to increase capacity without adding capital.

High fructose corn syrup is used in a variety of consumer products, including soft drinks, fruit-flavored beverages, baked goods, dairy products, confections and other food and beverage products. In addition to sweetness and ease of use, high fructose corn syrup provides body,humectancy and aids in browning, freezing point and crystalliza! tion control.

Dextrose has a range of applications in the food and confection industries, in solutions for intravenous and other pharmaceutical applications, and numerous industrial applications like wallboard, biodegradable surface agents and moisture control agents. Dextrose functionality in foods, beverages and confectionary includes sweetness control; body and viscosity; acts as a bulking, drying and anti-caking agent; serves as a carrier; provides freezing point and crystallization control; and aids in fermentation. Dextrose is also a fermentation agent in the production of light beer. In pharmaceutical applications dextrose is used in IV solutions as well as an excipient suitable for direct compression in tableting.

Polyols products are sugar-free, reduced calorie sweeteners primarily derived from starch or sugar for the food, beverage, confectionery, industrial, personal and oral care, and nutritional supplement markets. In addition to sweetness, polyols inhibit crystallization; provide binding, humectancy and plasticity; add texture; extend shelf life; prevent moisture migration, and are an excipient suitable for tableting.

Maltodextrins and Glucose Syrup Solids products have a multitude of food applications, including formulations where liquid syrups cannot be used. Maltodextrins are resistant to browning, provide solubility, have a low hydroscopicity (do not retain moisture), and are ideal for their carrier/bulking properties. Glucose syrup solids have a bland flavor, remain clear in solution are easy to handle and provide bulking properties.

Starch Products

The Company's starch products represented approximately 37 % of the Company's net sales for 2012. Starches are an important component in a range of processed foods, where they are used for adhesions, clouding, dusting, expansion, fat replacement, freshness, gelling, glazing, mouth feel, stabilization and texture. Starches are also used in paper production to create a smooth s! urface fo! r printed communications and to improve strength in recycled papers. Specialty starches are used for enhanced drainage, fiber retention, oil and grease resistance, improved printability and biochemical oxygen demand control. Industrial starches are used in the production of construction materials, textiles, adhesives, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, as well as in mining, water filtration and oil and gas drilling. Specialty starches are used for biomaterial applications including biodegradable plastics, fabric softeners and detergents, hair and skin care applications, dusting powders for surgical gloves and in the production of glass fiber and insulation.

Co-Products and others

Co-products and others accounted for 19% of the Company's net sales for 2012. Refined corn oil (from germ) is sold to packers of cooking oil and to producers of margarine, salad dressings, shortening, mayonnaise and other foods. Corn gluten feed is sold as animal feed. Corn gluten meal is sold as high protein feed for chickens, pet food and aquaculture.

The Company competes with ADM Corn Processing Division (ADM), Cargill, Inc. and Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Dividends4Life]
Memberships and Peers: ADM is a member of the S&P 500, a Dividend Aristocrat, a member of the Broad Dividend Achievers��Index and a Dividend Champion. The company's peer group includes: Bunge Limited (BG) with a 1.6% yield, Ingredion Incorporated (INGR) with a 2.4% yield and Griffin Land & Nurseries Inc. (GRIF) with a 0.7% yield.

Hot Low Price Stocks To Invest In Right Now: First Security Group Inc.(FSGI)

First Security Group, Inc. operates as the holding company for FSGBank that provides banking and financial products and services to various communities in eastern and middle Tennessee and northern Georgia. The company offers various deposit services, such as checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. It offers commercial loans, including loans to smaller business ventures, credit lines for working capital, short-term seasonal or inventory financing, and letters of credit; real estate?construction and development loans to residential and commercial contractors and developers; and consumer loans to individuals for personal, family, and household purposes, including secured and unsecured installment and term loans. The company also offers commercial mortgage loans to finance the purchase of real property; commercial leasing for new and used equipment, fixtures, and furnishings to owner-managed businesses; and leasing for forklifts, heavy equipment, and other machinery to owner-managed businesses primarily in the trucking and construction industries. It also provides trust and investment management, mortgage banking, financial planning, and electronic banking services, such as Internet banking, online bill payment, cash management, ACH originations, wire transfers, direct deposit, traveler?s checks, safe deposit boxes, United States savings bonds, and remote deposit capture, as well as equipment leasing. The company operates 38 full-service banking offices and 1 loan and lease production office. Its market areas include in Bradley, Hamilton, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, McMinn, Monroe, Putnam, and Union counties, Tennessee; and Catoosa and Whitfield counties, Georgia. First Security Group was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Ning Jia]
The case for First Security Group (FSGI) is interesting. It is bank holding company that is obscure, cheap and unloved. As the company completed the recapitalization earlier this year, I think the market has been under-appreciating its potential to return to growth and profitability as a result of the much-needed recapitalization.
[By Roberto Pedone]
First Security Group (FSGI) operates as the holding company for FSGBank, which provides banking products and services to various communities in Tennessee and Georgia. This stock closed up 6.5% to $2.29 in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $2.16-$2.30

52-Week Range: $1.30-$7.45

Tuesday's Volume: 80,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 509,606

From a technical perspective, FSGI ripped higher here right above some near-term support levels at $2.14 to $2.12 with lighter-than-average volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of FSGI within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if FSGI manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $2.38 to $2.52 and then once it clears its 200-day moving average at $2.80 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in FSGI as long as it's trending above some key support levels at $2.14 to $2.12 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 509,606 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then FSGI will set up to re-fill some of its previous gap down zone from June that started at $5.08.

Hot Low Price Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Trinity Industries Inc.(TRN)

Trinity Industries, Inc. provides products and services to the industrial, energy, transportation, and construction sectors primarily in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Sweden. The company?s Rail Group manufactures and sells railcars, including auto carrier, box, gondola, hopper, intermodal, specialty, and tank cars; and railcar components, such as couplers and axles. This group also offers repair and coating services. It primarily serves railroads, leasing companies, and industrial shippers of various products. Trinity Industries? Railcar Leasing and Management Services group leases tank cars and freight cars to industrial shippers and railroads operating in petroleum, chemical, agricultural, and energy industries with a fleet of 54,595 owned or leased railcars; provides management and administrative services; and manages railcar fleets on behalf of third parties. The company?s Construction Products group produces ready mix concret e; produces and distributes construction aggregates, including crushed stone, sand and gravel, asphalt rock, and specialty sands and gravel; manufactures highway products and other steel products for infrastructure related projects; supplies ready mix concrete; and provides hot-dip galvanizing services for fabricated steel materials. It primarily serves contractors and subcontractors in the construction and foundation industry. Trinity Industries? Inland Barge group manufactures inland barges; and fiberglass reinforced lift covers. It serves commercial marine transportation companies. The company?s Energy Equipment group manufactures structural wind towers, tank containers, and tank heads for pressure vessels; fertilizer containers; and tank heads for non-pressure vessels, LPG tanks, and utility, traffic, and lighting structures. It serves turbine producers, as well as industrial plants, utilities, residences, and small businesses. The company was founded in 1933 and is he adquartered in Dallas, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Shauna O'Brien]
On Friday, Trinity Industries Inc (TRN) announced that it has raised its dividend by 15.4%.

The company’s board has approved an increase in its quarterly dividend from 13 cents to 15 cents per share, or 60 cents annually.

The dividend will be paid on October 31 to shareholders of record on October 15. The stock will go ex-dividend on October 10.

Trinity Industries shares were mostly flat during premarket trading Friday. The stock is up 20% YTD.
[By Holly LaFon]
Another area that is intriguing to us is the North American energy sector which looks to have a number of interesting catalysts currently. While the energy sector is at present only a modest overweight in the portfolios, we have been encouraged by several trends taking place for a number of years. These positive developments are also having an impact that goes far beyond the energy sector itself. Many believe that the U.S. will become energy independent and possibly a net exporter of natural gas and oil (currently restricted by law) in the next decade. This opinion is based primarily on the development of new drilling techniques (i.e. horizontal drilling, and high pressure fracking) that have enabled companies to access oil and natural gas reserves in shale formations that were previously not economically viable. The ability to tap into this acreage is a game-changer in our view and is already having a tremendous impact on the economy. Employment rates in these mostly rural areas surrounding the shale basins are very high and companies thus find hiring extremely competitive. Strong labor markets tend to create strong local economies. Oil States International (OIS) has been able to capitalize on this trend by providing housing and other services to oil service workers that are in demand in the area. CST Brands (CST) operates gas stations in Texas, but it is increasingly looking to broaden its product offering beyond fuel. Rail companies like Union Pacific (UNP), Canadian Pacific (CP), Kansas City Southern (KSU) and Genesee and Wyoming (GWR) have also benefited substantially. Given that shale areas are rural and often lacking infrastructure, substantial investment must be made to support drilling and production activities. Without pipelines in place, railroads have been the primary takeaway mechanism for moving production to the various clusters of refining capacity around the United States. In order to serve this demand, massive investment in railcars has been nee

Hot Low Price Stocks To Invest In Right Now: LIN TV Corp(TVL)

LIN TV Corp., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a local television and digital media company. It operates or services 32 network-affiliates, television station Websites, and mobile products in 15 U.S. markets. The company?s television stations, which are affiliated with a national broadcast network, deliver local news and community stories, as well as sports and entertainment programming to 7.4% of U.S. television homes. It is also involved in the convergence of local broadcast television and the Internet through its television station Websites and local online technologies. In addition, LIN TV Corp. offers its content online and on mobile applications. The company was formerly known as Ranger Equity Holdings Corporation and changed its name to LIN TV Corp. in February 2002. LIN TV Corp. was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island.

Advisors' Opinion:

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

Hot Low Price Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.(CMG)

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. develops and operates fast-casual, fresh Mexican food restaurants in the United States, Canada, and England. Its restaurants primarily offer burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, and salads. As of December 31, 2011, it operated 1,230 restaurants, which includes 1 ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is based in Denver, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

[By Doug Ehrman]
At a luncheon at which he gave the keynote address, bond guru Jeff Gundlach lit into Chipotle (NYSE: CMG ) , saying the stock should be on investors' shortlist. The negative comment piles on those made by David Einhorn last fall and drove the stock lower. Despite Gundlach's stature in the investment community, the case against Chipotle is not black and white
[By Demitrios Kalogeropoulos]
Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG ) will release its second quarter results on Thursday, July 18, after the market's closing bell. Here's what to look for in the report.
[By Jon C. Ogg]
Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. (NYSE: CMG) was raised to Hold from Underperform at Jefferies.

Devon Energy Corp. (NYSE: DVN) was started as Buy with a $75 price target at Canaccord Genuity.
[By Jim Royal]
Today, let's look at Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG ) and three of its peers.

The cash king margin
Looking at a company's cash flow statement can help you determine whether its free cash flow backs up its reported profit. Companies that can create 10% or more free cash flow from their revenue can be powerful compounding machines for your portfolio. A sustained high cash king margin can be a good predictor of long-term stock returns.

Defense lawyer: Madoff was villain, not client

NEW YORK — The defense lawyer for former Bernard Madoff aide Annette Bongiorno displayed a familiar photo of the Ponzi scheme mastermind on courtroom video monitors Tuesday during his closing arguments in her fraud trial.

That's how Bongiorno viewed her boss before the world learned Madoff ran a scam that stole an estimated $20 billion from thousands of investors, said attorney Roland Riopelle. Then he displayed a New York Magazine image that depicted Madoff as the malevolent Joker character from a recent Batman movie.

"That's how he really was," Riopelle told jurors.

The dramatic illustration summed up the central defense argument of Bongiorno and four former co-workers accused of knowingly participating in and profiting from the massive fraud.

"Mrs. Bongiorno relied on Mr. Madoff, and she was fooled by him," said Riopelle, who characterized the longtime aide who helped oversee accounts for her boss' most senior clients as another "victim of the fraud."

The argument came in the closing days of a trial that began in early October and represents the first Madoff-related criminal proceeding to be heard by a jury. Madoff pleaded guilty after his scam collapsed in December 2008. He's now serving a 150-year prison term.

The former co-workers similarly face potential sentences of decades behind bars if convicted following jury deliberations expected to start as soon as Friday. Along with Bongiorno, they include ex-Madoff operations manager Daniel Bonventre, JoAnn Crupi, who oversaw the bank account for the investment business, and former Madoff computer programmers Jerome O'Hara and George Perez.

The March 2, 2009 New York magazine cover's representation of Bernard Madoff as the Joker from Batman.(Photo: New Yo! rk Magazine)

Riopelle focused part of his closing argument questioning prosecution evidence that showed Bongiorno collected a six-figure salary and owned a Madoff investment account that purportedly held $50 million.

"What matters is what she knew," not her finances, argued Riopelle.

He noted that Frank DiPascali, the former Madoff financial lieutenant who pleaded guilty and testified against his former co-workers drained his investment account and had a $5 million negative balance when the scam collapsed.

"That, ladies and gentlemen, is the act of a man who knew it was a fraud," Riopelle told jurors.

In contrast, Bongiorno left what seemed to be a fortune in her account, said Riopelle, who argued that behavior supported her innocent plea. The purported riches "went up in smoke" after Madoff's arrest and confession, he said.

Earlier Tuesday, O'Hara defense attorney Gordon Mehler challenged the significance of a 2006 note the former Madoff computer programmer wrote in his personal notebook. Prosecutors argued the note, in which O'Hara wrote "I will not lie anymore," appeared to show he knew about the fraud.

But Mehler showed that the statement appeared to refer to lies O'Hara told to Madoff when asked about progress on a computer programs the financier needed to doctor financial records. Trial evidence showed O'Hara and Perez had deleted the programs from the office computer system without Madoff's knowledge.

Mehler described the programmers' action as a "courageous" decision that helped prove their innocence.

Does redo make Nissan's 'ugliest' car worse?

When automotive designers make a terrible mistake, they often retreat back to the safety of a banal look, something that won't offend, or for that matter, impress.

So you have to admire the brash designers at Nissan who, after absorbing three years of criticism over the look the Juke, have decided to double down. For the refreshed version being shown this week at the Geneva Motor Show, the small crossover gets a makeover that makes it even more, to use Nissan's terminology, "polarizing."

The new one is sure to raise the question: Can an ugly car get even uglier?

It doesn't happen often. When Subaru launched the B9 Tribeca with a big, ugly "nose" of sorts for a grille, it toned down the front to make it more plain for the refresh, just before the whole model was killed. Ford botched the redesign of its breathtakingly beautiful original Taurus in the 1980s, going to a "jelly bean" look with rounded sides like an old Coke bottle. For the third generation, the car got a forgettable appearance that made it the mainstay of rental car fleets.

Then there is Juke. It has been a frequent target of top-10 ugliest car lists. Test Drive's James R. Healey sounded almost complimentary in 2011 when it referred to Juke as "mutt ugly." Why? The whole vehicle has an odd shape with a weird front end. The headlights are where the foglights should be. The parking lights are where the headlights should be.

Customers must like it. It hasn't sold badly overall, although small crossovers have become a hot segment.

To amp up its uniqueness, Nissan designers have played more heavy on a V-shaped design on the front. Those little lamps on top of the fenders now have LED daytime running lights, at least for the European version.

Nissan loves the Juke as well. At the Geneva Motor Show, Executive Vice President Andy Palmer referred to Juke as a "true segment pioneer" with "tons of personality."

We'll see if the extra personality continues to play well when it comes to the U.S.