Alamy In the end, despite much anticipation, Disney (DIS) didn't use much of the Force, Luke. Disney hosted its biennial D23 fan club expo in Anaheim over the weekend, and while Star Wars promised to be a major part of the festivities, the family entertainment giant was surprisingly tight-lipped about the iconic sci-fi franchise. There was little to say by Disney executives on the seventh installment of the movie series that J.J. Abrams will be bringing to a multiplex near you in two years. As for Star Wars-themed attractions, Disney was equally cryptic on any new rides, shows, and attractions that it may open to cash in on the global popularity of its Star Wars characters. There was a Star Wars display hinting at potential attractions, but good luck deciphering the crates on display with lettering indicating that they contain everything from assorted lightsabers to bantha milk. One crate appeared to have housed R2-D2 until he carved his way out. Is the suggestion here that we'll be getting an interactive ride where guests can swing about virtual sabers for points, step into the Mos Eisley cantina or some other elaborate theme restaurant to order the creamy blue bantha beverage, and go on an R2-D2's Great Escape thrill ride? We just don't know, yet. Clearly something is coming. The crates were addressed to Disney's imagineering department, where new attractions are developed. Fans will simply have to wait. What an Amazing Synergy You've Discovered When Disney stunned investors by revealing that it would be spending more than $4 billion to acquire George Lucas' Lucasfilm, the chatter immediately turned to what it could do with the potent Star Wars franchise that seemed to be languishing under its creator. There were no rational fears that Disney would dumb down the defining science fiction property. Mickey Mouse and Pluto weren't going to be cast as Han Solo and Chewbacca, respectively. Minnie Mouse wasn't going to channel Princess Leia. Donald Duck wouldn't be voicing Darth Vader. Disney spent billions buying Pixar and Marvel before Lucasfilm, and it has been smart enough to stay out of the way of the creative process that made those companies tick. But when "Star Wars: Episode 7" hits the silver screen in two years, it's a safe bet that Disney will back the release with Disney Store consumer products. It wouldn't be a shock to see ABC or Disney Channel broadcast the first six movies in anticipation or create spinoffs based on lesser characters. You just know that cool video games will be coming. However, Disney's biggest starring role for the franchise and its familiar characters may very well reside in its theme parks. I've Got a Good Feeling About This Disney already has Star Wars attractions at a couple of its parks around the world. Closer to home, Star Tours -- a motion simulator ride -- has been entertaining guests at Disneyland in California and Hollywood Studios in Florida for ages. However, even after a recent update it's not one of the most popular attractions at either park. At the end of the day, it's just a motion simulator ride. Outside of R2-D2 and a pre-show cameo by C-3PO, the original Star Tours lacked a presence from the franchise's stars. This is a problem that will likely be rectified in time for the 2015 debut of the new movie. The stars of the new movie themselves can even pitch in if it helps make any future additions more relevant. The crates at D23 referred to a "Project Orange Harvest" and it wouldn't be a surprise to see Disneyland get the first crack at a new Star Wars attraction. Will it be a single ride or will Disney give Star Wars its own big chunk of real estate, as rival Comcast (CMCSA) did with Harry Potter two years ago at Islands of Adventure? Comcast's theme park experienced a sharp spike in attendance after The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened as a park within a park. Star Wars certainly has enough ammo to generate even greater buzz for Disney. These Are the Droids You're Looking For Popular chatter on Disney fan sites has been playing up the idea of a villains-themed park since the 1990s, which would giving the company a chance to break out wilder rides than the relatively tame fare at its existing parks. Florida certainly has more than enough land for it to happen, and now that Disney has acquired Pixar and Marvel, it can serve up fiercer baddies than Captain Hook and Cruella de Vil. However, the next step will likely be an elaborately themed "land" in an existing park with a handful attractions that will aim to raise the bar from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. What might Disney do when its abundant financial and technological resources meet a potent portfolio of characters? We haven't seen Disney do a lot with Marvel characters in terms of actual rides, but it's also limited with what it can do in Florida since Comcast's park owns certain Marvel character rights. There are no similar restrictions with Star Wars. We don't know much, but we know that Disney doesn't cut a $4 billion check the way it did to Lucas without a vision for making its investment worth so much more.
United States
Top Financial Companies To Watch For 2014: ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited (ASA)
ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited is a self management investment trust. The firm invests in the public equity markets across the globe. It primarily invests in stocks of companies engaged in the exploration, mining or processing of gold, silver, platinum, diamonds, or other precious minerals. ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited was founded in 1958 and is based in San Mateo, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Joe Eqcome]
Actionable Items:
Highest Positive Spread: Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund (JLS)Focus Stock: LMP Real Estate Income Fund (RIT)Last Week's Focus Stock: ASA Gold and Precious Metals (ASA)ECB cuts its rates: The European Central Bank (ECB) will cut its benchmark rate a quarter-of-a-point to 0.5%.
Top Financial Companies To Watch For 2014: Citizens First Corporation(CZFC)
Citizens First Corporation operates as a holding company for Citizens First Bank, Inc., which provides various financial services to individual and corporate customers in Kentucky. The company?s deposit products include checking accounts, savings accounts, NOW accounts, money market accounts, sweep accounts, fixed and variable rate IRA accounts, Christmas Club accounts, and certificate of deposit accounts. Its loan portfolio comprises commercial loans primarily to small and medium-sized businesses; commercial real estate loans; and residential real estate loans to borrowers for purchasing and refinancing one-to-four family properties. The company also provides personal loans and lines of credit to consumers for various purposes, such as purchase of automobiles, boats, and other recreational vehicles, as well as for home improvements and personal investments. In addition, it offers other banking services, including debit cards, credit cards, safekeeping and safe deposit bo xes, ACH and other direct deposit services, savings bond redemptions, cashiers checks, travelers? checks, and letters of credit, as well as cash management services, wire transfer services, and loan participations. Further, the company provides title insurance services to mortgage loan customers, as well as other insurance and trust services. It operates 9 locations in Barren, Hart, Simpson, and Warren counties of Kentucky; and 15 automated teller machines in Kentucky. The company was incorporated in 1975 and is headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
10 Best Canadian Stocks To Own Right Now: The Navigators Group Inc.(NAVG)
The Navigators Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in underwriting ocean marine, property and casualty, professional liability, and specialty insurance products and services. The company?s marine and inland marine insurance products include marine and energy liability, cargo, craft/fishing vessel, bluewater hull, brownwater hull, protection and indemnity, war, customs bonds, commercial output policy, construction, transportation, specialty, specie, and marine excess-of-loss reinsurance Its property and casualty insurance products comprise general and environmental liability, umbrella and excess, offshore energy, onshore energy, operational engineering, construction, life sciences, exporters package liability, accident and health reinsurance, Latin America property and casualty reinsurance, agriculture reinsurance, professional liability reinsurance, bloodstock, and the U.S. casualty insurance products. The company?s professional liability products inclu de directors and officers, employment practices, fiduciary, crime, accountants professional, lawyers professional, insurance agent errors and omissions, miscellaneous professional, technology and media, design professionals, and real estate agent liability insurance products. The Navigators Group, Inc. distributes its products through global, national, and regional retail and wholesale insurance brokers. The company was founded in 1981 and is based in Rye Brook, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Levisohn]
Tower Group has dropped 40% to $4.43 today, and some other small insurers are also getting dinged this morning. HCI Group (HCI) has fallen 1.8% to $39.36, Stewart Information Services (STC) has declined 0.7% to $31.36 and the Navigators Group (NAVG) has ticked down 0.4% to $56.10.
- [By CRWE]
The Navigators Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:NAVG) reported that its principal underwriting agency subsidiary, Navigators Management Company, Inc., has expanded Adrien T. Robinson’s responsibilities to include the open-brokerage products of Life Sciences, Global Package, Environmental Casualty, Commercial Auto and Excess Casualty Retail. Mr. Robinson was previously President of the Environmental Casualty division.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Tower Group has dropped 12% to $3.88 today at 11:39 a.m., while Stewart Information Services (STC) has dipped 0.1% to $31.16, the�Navigators Group�(NAVG) has fallen 1.4% to $54.78 and HCI Group�(HCI) has gained 1% to $38.16.
Top Financial Companies To Watch For 2014: Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ)
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Advisors' Opinion:- [By Brian Pacampara]
Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, the Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (NYSE: FAZ) have received the dreaded one-star ranking.
Top Financial Companies To Watch For 2014: Aflac Incorporated(AFL)
Aflac Incorporated, through its subsidiary, American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac), provides supplemental health and life insurance. The company offers various voluntary supplemental insurance products, including cancer plans, general medical indemnity plans, medical/sickness riders, care plans, living benefit life plans, ordinary life insurance plans, and annuities in Japan. It also provides loss-of-income products, such as life and short-term disability plans; and products designed to protect individuals from depletion of assets, which comprise hospital indemnity, fixed-benefit dental, vision care, accident, cancer, critical illness/critical care, and hospital intensive care plans in the United States. The company sells its products through sales associates and brokers, affiliated corporate agencies, independent corporate agencies, and individual agencies. Aflac Incorporated was founded in 1955 and is headquartered in Columbus, Georgia.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Chuck Saletta]
And in what was probably the fastest transition from strength to struggle for the portfolio, supplemental insurance giant Aflac (NYSE: AFL ) reported weak earnings just after being picked. Still, the company's solid balance sheet, reasonable valuation, and very strong dividend history made it a solid business to own, in spite of those short-term worries.
- [By Brian Pacampara]
What: Shares of Aflac (NYSE: AFL ) climbed 1.5% this morning after FBR Capital upgraded the life insurer from market perform to outperform.
- [By Dan Caplinger]
Ask most people about Aflac (NYSE: AFL ) , and they'll automatically start talking about the company's duck commercials. But those who've focused more on Aflac stock than on its advertising have been richly rewarded lately, and with new efforts to foster growth in the insurance company's largest market, Aflac has huge potential to cash in on improving conditions among its customer base.
- [By Matt Koppenheffer and David Hanson]
In this segment of The Motley Fool's financials-focused show, Where the Money Is, banking analysts David Hanson and Matt Koppenheffer rank insurance stocks. The stocks ranked include: Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-A ) (NYSE: BRK-B ) , Markel (NYSE: MKL ) , AIG (NYSE: AIG ) , and Aflac (NYSE: AFL ) . Berkshire Hathaway may be No.1 in the guy's hearts, but it is it also the top pick in their rankings?
Top Financial Companies To Watch For 2014: The Hanover Insurance Group Inc.(THG)
The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, underwrites commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance coverage in the United States. It operates in three segments: Commercial Lines, Personal Lines, and Other Property and Casualty. The Commercial Lines segment provides coverage for commercial multiple peril; commercial automobile; workers? compensation; and other commercial coverages, including specialty program business, inland marine, and bonds, as well as umbrella, general liability, fire, specialty property, and professional and management liability. The Personal Lines segment offers coverage for personal automobile, homeowners, and other personal lines, such as inland marine, umbrella, fire, personal watercraft, and earthquake. The Other Property and Casualty segment provides investment advisory services; and manages assets for unaffiliated institutions, such as insurance companies, retirement plans, and foundations. The company sells its p roducts and services through a network of independent agents. The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. was founded in 1844 and is headquartered in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Top Financial Companies To Watch For 2014: Western Asset Global High Income Fund Inc (EHI)
Western Asset Global High Income Fund, Inc is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC. The fund is also co-managed by Western Asset Management Company, Western Asset Management Company Limited, and Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd. It invests in the fixed income markets across the globe. The fund invests in undervalued bonds of companies operating across diversified sectors. It seeks to invest in a portfolio of below investment grade fixed income securities, emerging market fixed income securities and investment grade fixed income securities. The fund employs quantitative analysis to build its portfolio. It invests in fixed income securities with an average credit quality of BB as per S&P and an average duration of 3.8 years. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Index, the Barclays Capital U.S. Corporate High Yield 2% Issuer Cap Index, and the JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Global. It was formerly known as Salomon Brothers Global High Income Fund Inc. Western Asset Global High Income Fund, Inc was formed on July 28, 2003 and is domiciled in the United States.
Top Financial Companies To Watch For 2014: Mountview Estates Plc(MTVW.L)
Mountview Estates P.L.C. operates as a property trading company in the United Kingdom. The company trades in regulated tenancy, life tenancy, and ground rent units, as well as owns and acquires tenanted residential properties. Its properties are located in Belsize Park, London. Mountview Estates P.L.C. was founded in 1937 and is based in London, the United Kingdom.
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