Fast-food behemoth Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM ) wowed investors a few months back when it reported great sales figures driven by an unlikely suspect: Taco Bell. The news sparked a wave of discussion on topics ranging from whether the company has a genius marketing campaign to whether it's fueling the U.S. diabetes epidemic. Whatever your opinion, Taco Bell's recent efforts have led the company in an otherwise difficult market. For the recently completed quarter, Yum! saw a tremendous drop-off in profit from its China division. Though it beat the Street on earnings, internal comps are down compared to the year-ago quarter. Here's what you need to know about Yum! going forward.
Earnings recap
Starting at the bottom, EPS came in at $0.70 for the parent company behind Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut. This arrives ahead of Wall Street's estimates, but also represents an 8% slip from the prior year's numbers. Top-line revenues came in at $2.54 billion -- short of the Street, and again, an 8% drop from the 2012. The culprit was quickly and easily identifiable: China.
Hot Small Cap Stocks To Own For 2015: ImmunoCellular Therapeutics Ltd (IMUC)
ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd., incorporated on March 20, 1987, is a clinical-stage biotechnology company. The Company is engaged in developing immune-based therapies for the treatment of cancers, such as brain, ovarian and other solid tumors. Immunotherapy is an approach to treat cancer in which a patient�� own immune system is stimulated to target tumor antigens, which are molecular signals that the immune system uses to identify foreign bodies. The Company�� products include ICT-107, ICT-140, ICT-120, ICT-109 and DIAAD. ICT-107, the pipeline product, is a Phase II therapeutic dendritic cell (DC) vaccine for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the common and lethal type of brain cancer. ICT-107 is designed to activate a patient�� immune system to target six different tumor-associated antigens. In February 2012, it acquired a world-wide license from the University of Pennsylvania and The John Hopkins University (JHU).
The Company in addition to ICT-107, is also developing other therapeutic DC vaccines: ICT-140 for ovarian cancer and ICT-121 for recurrent GBM. ICT-140 targets seven tumor-associated antigens expressed on ovarian cancer cells. ICT-107 is a DC vaccine that targets six different tumor-associated antigens that are found on patients��tumor cells; four of the six antigens are expressed on CSCs. The therapeutic vaccine is used subsequent to conventional therapy or concomitantly with chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed GBM. ICT-140 is a DC vaccine that targets seven different ovarian cancer antigens. ICT-121 is a DC vaccine that targets CD133 antigens; it has the potential to be a universal cancer vaccine because CD133 is widely expressed on CSCs from a majority of cancers. Data from this small study demonstrated that ICT-109 had a statistically ability to discriminate between cancerous and non-cancerous samples, suggesting the potential to detect pancreatic and lung cancer in plasma and serum study sets. The DIAAD (differential immunization for an! tigen and antibody discovery) platform it acquired from Molecular Discoveries utilizes immunological tolerization to accelerate the discovery of the molecular differences between diseased cells and their normal counterparts. The monoclonal antibodies produced by DIAAD provide the basis for the discovery and development of its potential diagnostic and therapeutic products.
The Company competes with Dendreon, Oncothyreon, Galena, Bavarian Nordic and Immunovaccine, Northwest Biotherapeutics, Prima Biomed, DCPrime, Roche/Genentech, Seattle Genetics, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Immunogen.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Smith On Stocks]
Using my assumptions, the common of Agenus might be worth about $7.00 per share in early 2014 based on the royalties from the Glaxo vaccines and the net operating loss carry forward even if every other asset in the company were valued at zero. However, there may be substantial value in Agenus' internal vaccine programs in recurrent and newly diagnosed glioblastoma and the genital herpes vaccine. Based on a comparison to peer companies like Northwest Biotherapeutics (NWBO) and ImmunoCellular Therapeutics (IMUC), I believe that the internal programs at Agenus currently may be worth $150 million or $4.45 per share. Adding this to the value of the MAGE A-3 vaccine could produce a stock price of $11.00 in early 2014.
Top 10 Gas Utility Stocks To Buy For 2014: Capital City Bank Group(CCBG)
Capital City Bank Group, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Capital City Bank that provides commercial and retail banking products and services. Its deposit products include negotiable order of withdrawal accounts, money market accounts, checking and savings accounts, and time deposits. The company offers financing for commercial business properties, equipment, inventories, and accounts receivable, as well as commercial leasing and letters of credit; commercial and residential real estate lending; retail credit products, including personal loans, automobile loans, boat/recreational vehicle loans, home equity loans, and credit card programs; and tax-exempt loans, lines of credit, and term loans. It also provides treasury management services, merchant credit card transaction processing services, automated teller machines (ATMs), debit/credit cards, night deposit services, safe deposit facilities, PC/Internet banking, and mobile banking services. In addition, the c ompany offers asset management, trust, mortgage banking, merchant services, and data processing services, as well as securities brokerage services, including U.S. government bonds, tax-free municipal bonds, stocks, mutual funds, unit investment trusts, annuities, life insurance, and long-term health care. It serves individuals, corporations, and other business clients, including commercial developers and investors, residential builders and developers, community developers, state and local governments, public schools and colleges, charities, and membership and not-for-profit associations. As of January 27, 2012, the company operated 70 banking offices and 79 ATMs in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. Capital City Bank Group, Inc. was founded in 1895 and is headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dividends4Life]
Fair Value: In calculating fair value, I consider the NPV MMA Differential Fair Value along with these four calculations of fair value, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description:
1. Avg. High Yield Price
2. 20-Year DCF Price
3. Avg. P/E Price
4. Graham Number
CTBI is trading at a premium to all four valuations above. The stock is trading at a 53.5% premium to its calculated fair value of $29.43. CTBI did not earn any Stars in this section.
Dividend Analytical Data: In this section there are three possible Stars and three key metrics, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description:
1. Free Cash Flow Payout
2. Debt To Total Capital
3. Key Metrics
4. Dividend Growth Rate
5. Years of Div. Growth
6. Rolling 4-yr Div. > 15%
CTBI earned one Star in this section for 1.) above. A Star was earned since the Free Cash Flow payout ratio was less than 60% and there were no negative Free Cash Flows over the last 10 years. The company has paid a cash dividend to shareholders every year since 1988 and has increased its dividend payments for 33 consecutive years.
Dividend Income vs. MMA: Why would you assume the equity risk and invest in a dividend stock if you could earn a better return in a much less risky money market account (MMA) or Treasury bond? This section compares the earning ability of this stock with a high yield MMA. Two items are considered in this section, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description:
1. NPV MMA Diff.
2. Years to > MMA
The negative NPV MMA Diff. means that on a NPV basis the dividend earnings from an investment in CTBI would be less than a similar amount invested in MMA earning a 20-year average rate of 3.41%. If CTBI grows its dividend at 1.5% per year, it will never equal a MMA yielding an estimated 20-year average rate of 3.41%.
Memberships and Peers: CTBI is, a member of the Broad Dividend Achieve
Top 10 Gas Utility Stocks To Buy For 2014: SIGA Technologies Inc.(SIGA)
SIGA Technologies, Inc., a pharmaceutical company, engages in the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical solutions for smallpox, Ebola, dengue, Lassa fever, and other dangerous viruses. Its lead product is ST-246, an orally administered antiviral drug that targets orthopoxviruses. The company also has two drug series in the pre-clinical development stage against four serotypes of virus for dengue disease. In addition, it is developing anti-arenavirus drug for hemorrhagic fever arenaviruses and other hemorrhagic fever viruses, including Rift Valley Fever, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, and Ebola; and a broad spectrum antiviral candidate against viruses in the Poxviridae, Filoviridae, Bunyaviridae, Arenaviridae, Flaviviridae, Togaviridae, Retroviridae, and Picornaviridae families. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in New York, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Monica Gerson]
SIGA Technologies (NASDAQ: SIGA) is expected to post its Q4 earnings at $0.62 per share on revenue of $47.00 million.
Posted-In: Earnings scheduleEarnings News Pre-Market Outlook Markets
- [By Roberto Pedone]
Another under-$10 name pharmaceutical player that's starting to move within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Siga Technologies (SIGA), which discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes drugs to prevent and treat diseases including smallpox, Ebola, dengue, Lassa fever and other dangerous viruses. This stock is off to a strong start in 2013, with shares up by 35%.
If you take a look at the chart for SIGA Technologies, you'll notice that this stock has been trending inside of a consolidation pattern for the last two months, with shares moving between $3.16 on the downside and $3.74 on the upside. Shares of SIGA have just started to spike higher above its 50-day moving average at $3.27 a share and it's now moving within range of triggering a big breakout trade above the upper-end of its recent range.
Market players should now look for long-biased trades in SIGA if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $3.70 to $3.74 a share and then once it takes out more resistance at $4 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 263,209 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then SIGA will set up to re-test or possibly take out its 52-week high at $4.60 a share. If that level gets taken out with volume, then SIGA could easily tag its next major overhead resistance levels at $5 to $5.90 a share.
Traders can look to buy SIGA off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 200-day moving average of $3.26 a share, or below more key support at $3.16 a share. One can also buy SIGA off strength once it clears those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.
Top 10 Gas Utility Stocks To Buy For 2014: Strattec Security Corporation(STRT)
Strattec Security Corporation engages in the design, development, manufacture, and marketing of automotive access control products. The company?s products include mechanical locks and keys, electronically enhanced locks and keys, steering column and instrument panel ignition lock housings, latches, power sliding door systems, power lift gate systems, power deck lid systems, door handles, and related products. It also provides full service and aftermarket support for its products. The company offers its products primarily for automotive manufacturers. It markets its products in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, South America, Korea, and China. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Martin Vlcek]
Strattec Security Corp. (STRT) is a growing small-cap company with more than 100 years in the automotive supply industry and strong sales growth since 2009. The success and growth of Strattec are still mostly influenced by the global automotive markets. As many analysts still predict ongoing industry growth, the company is poised to continue strongly benefiting from this automotive tailwind. However, the company's recent diversification efforts into new product lines, industries outside of automotive and countries outside of the U.S. have created multiple new growth drivers that will ensure Strattec's continued robust sales and EPS expansion. The company's growth has also become much more balanced and more resilient to a potential automotive industry shock or U.S. slowdown.
- [By Monica Wolfe]
Strattec Security (STRT)
Last week Mario Gabelli increased his position in Strattec Security. The guru increased his position 4.82% by adding a total of 13,136 shares to his holdings. He bought these shares at an average price of $43.15, and since then the price per share has increased approximately 5%.
Top 10 Gas Utility Stocks To Buy For 2014: American Capital Mortgage Investment Corp (MTGE)
American Capital Mortgage Investment Corp., incorporated on March 15, 2011, is a real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company�� investment objective is to provide risk-adjusted returns to its investors over the long-term through a combination of dividends and capital appreciation. It invests to achieve this objective by selectively constructing and managing a mortgage investment portfolio consisting of asset classes that, when properly financed and hedged, are designed to produce risk adjusted returns across a variety of market conditions and economic cycles. In December 2013, American Capital Mortgage Investment Corp, through its subsidiary acquired Residential Credit Solutions, Inc.
The Company is externally managed and advised by American Capital MTGE Management, LLC. American Capital MTGE Management, LLC is an indirect subsidiary of American Capital, LLC, which is a wholly portfolio company of American Capital, Ltd.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Duprey]
Mortgage REIT�American Capital Mortgage (NASDAQ: MTGE ) announced yesterday its second-quarter dividend of $0.80 per share, an 11% decrease from the payout it made to investors last quarter of $0.90 per share.
- [By Dan Caplinger]
But those fears continued to expand in the second quarter, and the bond market finally made significant moves that hurt bond prices and sent yields soaring. In response, many mortgage REITs expanded their purview to go beyond their traditional agency-backed securities. Annaly Capital (NYSE: NLY ) , for instance, started adding securities backed by commercial mortgages, while Armour Residential (NYSE: ARR ) set the stage for a shift by changing its charter to allow non-agency purchases. But because American Capital Agency has a sister REIT, American Capital Mortgage (NASDAQ: MTGE ) , that has a broader scope, CIO Gary Kain plans to keep American Capital Agency's investing strategy true to its name by staying focused on agency-backed bonds.
- [By Brian Pacampara]
Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, mortgage REIT American Capital Mortgage Investment (NASDAQ: MTGE ) has earned a coveted five-star ranking.
- [By Amanda Alix]
2. Congress is eyeballing the REIT sector's special tax status
The U.S. Congress is currently going over the tax code with a fine-tooth comb looking for loopholes, and the REIT industry's special tax status is coming under review. Though The Wall Street Journal�notes that a change in the law that allows REITs to avoid corporate taxes on income as long as they pay out 90% of earnings isn't certain, neither is it out of the realm of possibility -- possibly making dividends like those paid by American Capital Agency and its hybrid cousin American Capital Mortgage (NASDAQ: MTGE ) a lot less hefty.
Top 10 Gas Utility Stocks To Buy For 2014: Zalicus Inc.(ZLCS)
Zalicus Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the discovery and development of drug candidates focusing on the treatment of pain and inflammation. The company?s clinical and preclinical product candidates for pain and inflammatory diseases include Synavive, a glucocorticoid product candidate, which is in Phase 2b clinical development for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis; Z160, an N-type calcium channel blocker for chronic pain; Z944, a T-type calcium channel blocker to treat acute or chronic inflammatory pain; and N-type and T-type calcium and sodium channel blockers for the treatment of chronic pain. It has a research collaboration and license agreement with the Novartis Institutes of Biomedical Research; collaboration agreement with Mallinckrodt Inc., Fovea Pharmaceuticals SA, and Amgen Inc; and a cooperative research and development agreement with the United States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases. The company was formerly known as C ombinatoRx, Incorporated and changed its name to Zalicus Inc. in September 2010. Zalicus Inc. was founded in 2000 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Bryan Murphy]
To say that Zalicus Inc. (NASDAQ:ZLCS) has been all over the map of late is an understatement. From a low of $0.48 in late July to a high of $0.82 by early August to a low of $0.56 again by the middle of the month, ZLCS has been too erratic for most traders to take a swing it. As they say though, that was then and this is now. All the volatility kinks appear to have been worked out, and now that the dust has settled we can see new bullishness emerging.... and this time, it should last as while.
Top 10 Gas Utility Stocks To Buy For 2014: Micron Technology Inc.(MU)
Micron Technology, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and marketing of semiconductor devices worldwide. Its products include dynamic random access memory (DRAM) products that provide data storage and retrieval, which include DDR2 and DDR3; and other specialty DRAM memory products, including DDR, SDRAM, DDR and DDR2 mobile low power DRAM, pseudo-static RAM, and reduced latency DRAM. The company also offers NAND flash memory products, which are electrically re-writeable and non-volatile semiconductor devices that retain content when power is turned off. In addition, it provides NOR flash memory products that are electrically re-writeable and non-volatile semiconductor memory devices; phase change memory products; and image sensor products. Micron Technology?s products are used in a range of electronic applications, including personal computers, workstations, network servers, mobile phones, flash memory cards, USB storage devices, digital still c ameras, MP3/4 players, and in automotive applications. It sells its products to original equipment manufacturers and retailers through internal sales force, independent sales representatives, and distributors, as well as through a Web-based customer direct sales channel. The company was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Boise, Idaho.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By ICRAOnline]
Revenue for the last quarter stood at $73.4 million, up 27.9% from the year-ago quarter. This was primarily driven by the growth in memory technology licensing, coupled with impressive performance of its security technology licensing business. During the quarter, Rambus also signed new licensing agreements with tech giant Samsung Electronics, Micron Technology (MU), STMicroelectronics (STM), LSI Semiconductor (LSI) and SK Hynix. However, the company�� LED lighting business failed to make any significant contribution.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Can you decide which is the bigger disaster? On the one hand, there’s the Other Woman, the new Cameron Diaz flick that’s most notable for a slow motion shot of her and a bikini-clad Kate Upton running. On the other, there’s the stock market which finished down this week after tumbles by Netflix (NFLX) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) outweighed big gains in Apple (AAPL), Micron Technology (MU) and Diamond Offshore (DO).
- [By Lauren Pollock]
Micron Technology Inc.(MU) and Rambus Inc.(RMBS) said they have ended a series of court battles that stretched for 13 years, with Micron agreeing to pay up to $280 million to Rambus over seven years. The deal announced late Monday gives Micron, one of the biggest makers of memory chips, rights to use Rambus patents in certain products. Rambus shares surged 9.7% to $9.36 premarket, while Micron was inactive.
- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU) was also up, gaining 10.40 percent to $23.99 after the company reported stronger-than-expected fiscal first-quarter results.
No comments:
Post a Comment