Not only is today the day of�Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE: BRK-A ) (NYSE: BRK-B ) much-anticipated annual meeting, but it's also the day after Berkshire reported its first-quarter results. It makes sense, then that Buffett might have a few words about the quarter during the annual meeting.
Buffett highlighted a few aspects of the quarterly report. He pointed out that foreign currency movements affected the results -- though he underscored the fact that he doesn't pay much attention to those currency fluctuations as it pertains to the businesses. He also noted the continued performance of the BNSF railroad segment, as well as the fact that oil was found near one of the tracks. "And," Buffett quipped, "what better place to find oil?"
But Buffett had his most glowing comments for GEICO. Buffett said that the positive momentum in both closures -- people inquiring about insurance that actually buy -- and persistence -- policy holders renewing policies -- continued and he views this as a very big positive for GEICO and Berkshire as a whole.
Top 10 High Dividend Stocks For 2015: Symantec Corporation(SYMC)
Symantec Corporation provides security, storage, and systems management solutions internationally. The company?s Consumer segment delivers Internet security, PC tune-up, and online backup solutions and services to individual users and home offices. Its Security and Compliance segment provides solutions for endpoint security and management, compliance, messaging management, data loss prevention, encryption, and authentication services to large, medium, and small-sized businesses, as well as offers solutions through its software-as-a-service (SaaS) security offerings. This segment?s products enable customers to secure, provision, and remotely manage their laptops, PCs, mobile devices, and servers. The company?s Storage and Server Management segment provides storage and server management, backup, archiving, and data protection solutions across heterogeneous storage and server platforms, as well as solutions delivered through its SaaS offerings to large, medium, and small-s ized businesses. Symantec?s Services segment offers implementation services and solutions, including consulting, business critical services, education, and managed security services. The company also provides various enterprise support offerings, such as annual maintenance support contracts, including content, upgrades, and technical support. It sells its products through its eCommerce platform, as well as through distributors, direct marketers, Internet-based resellers, system builders, ISPs, and retail locations worldwide. Symantec markets and sells its products through distributors, retailers, direct marketers, Internet-based resellers, original equipment manufacturers, system builders, and Internet service providers; and its e-commerce channels, as well as direct sales force, value-added and large account resellers, and system integrators. The company was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Equities Trading DOWN
Shares of Symantec (NASDAQ: SYMC) were down 13.42 percent to $18.10 after the company fired President and Chief Executive Steve Bennett and appointed director Michael Brown as interim president and CEO. UBS downgraded the stock from Buy to Neutral and lowered the price target from $27.00 to $21.00. - [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Equities Trading DOWN
Shares of Symantec (NASDAQ: SYMC) were down 11.70 percent to $18.46 after the company fired President and Chief Executive Steve Bennett and appointed director Michael Brown as interim president and CEO. UBS downgraded the stock from Buy to Neutral and lowered the price target from $27.00 to $21.00. - [By Traders Reserve]
For some reason, certain companies can attract buyers no matter the circumstance. I would put Symantec (SYMC) in that category. Shares have gained nearly 20% this year even as Symantec�� prospects deteriorated.
Top 5 Railroad Companies For 2014: Indus Motor Company Ltd (INDU)
Indus Motor Company Limited is a Pakistan-based company mainly engaged in the manufacture of automobiles and trucks. The Company is a joint-venture between the House of Habib, Toyota Motor Corporation and Toyota Tsusho Corporation for assembling, progressive manufacturing and marketing of Toyota-branded vehicles in Pakistan. It also acts as the sole distributor of Toyota-branded vehicles in Pakistan. In addition, the Company also acts as the sole distributor of Daihatsu-branded vehicles in Pakistan and has a license for assembling, progressive manufacturing and marketing of these vehicles in Pakistan. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Nikolaj Gammeltoft]
Procter & Gamble Co., United Technologies Corp. and Nike Inc. lost at least 1.4 percent to lead declines in 28 of 30 stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. (INDU) All 10 of the main industry groups in the S&P 500 fell, led by consumer-staples and energy companies.
- [By Kelley Wright]
This theory can also be applied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU), which has also displayed a long-term, repetitive tendency to fluctuate between high and low dividend yield extremes. Indeed, looking at broad market behavior, we've seen three signs of Overvalued conditions.
- [By Carol Hymowitz]
When a CEO retires, most of the payout comes from shares accumulated in the tenure, Wood said. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) closed above 16,000 for the first time last week.
- [By Inyoung Hwang]
The average company in the Russell 2000 gets 84 percent of its sales from the U.S. and is valued at $972 million, compared with 55 percent and $152 billion for the Dow (INDU), data compiled by Bloomberg show.
Top 5 Railroad Companies For 2014: Revolution Lighting Technologies Inc (RVLT)
Revolution Lighting Technologies Inc., incorporated on December 16, 1993, designs, manufacture, market and sells commercial grade, light emitting diode (LED) replacement light bulbs and LED-based signage, channel letter and contour lighting products. The Company sells these products under the Seesmart, Array Lighting and Lumificient brand names. The Company operates in two segments: LED replacement lamps and fixtures and LED signage and lighting strips. On December 20, 2012, the Company acquired Seesmart Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Simi Valley, California. In August 2013, the Company announced that it has completed the acquisition of Relume Technologies (Relume). In October 2013, the Company announced that it has acquired a portfolio of general illumination LED lighting products, including several product lines from CMG Energy Solutions (CMG). In November 2013, the Company acquired Tri-State LED.
The Company�� LED replacement lamps and fixtures segment include the Seesmart business and the Array business, which has been integrated with the Seesmart business. The LED signage and lighting strips segment is comprised of the Lumificient business.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Paul Ausick]
Big Earnings Movers: The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) is up 2.1% at $68.58 on a good showing for its films but not so much for its TV programming. Molycorp Inc. (NYSE: MCP) is up 1.8% at $4.85 after offering a weakish outlook. Revolution Lighting Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: RVLT) is up 21.5% at $3.28 after a strong report and reaffirmed solid outlook.
- [By Paul Ausick]
Without making too much fuss over a small-cap stock, Revolution Lighting Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: RVLT) is seeing its share price rise by nearly 25% today after reporting results this Friday morning. Yahoo! Finance does not have any estimates for the company, but Revolution posted an operating loss of $3.1 million in the quarter, more than four times worse than its loss in the same period in 2012. Even with adjustments Revolution�� operating loss totaled $1.8 million.
- [By Stock Investor]
First up we have Revolution Lighting Technologies, Inc (RVLT). As of last week RVLT had a market cap of $280m. Revenues for the last year came in at $4.4m. The company is averaging a cash burn of approximately $7m per quarter over the last two quarters. If I give the company the benefit of the doubt and assume the $7.5m of investments they made last quarter was a one time event, the cash burn then drops to under $4m per quarter. In March RVLT raised $5m from the issuance of shares priced at $1.17. The company is still in need of additional financing, and with the stock price up 400% in the last three months, it would be wise for them to issue shares right now. This increases the risk for investors dramatically right now.
- [By Roberto Pedone]
Another under-$10 stock that's starting to move within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Revolution Lightning Technologies (RVLT), which designs, manufactures, markets and sells, commercial grade, LED replacement lamps, LED fixtures and LED-based signage, channel-letter and contour lighting products. This stock has been a monster for the bulls so far in 2013, with shares up a whopping 445%.
If you take a look at the chart for Revolution Lightning Technologies, you'll notice that this stock has recently formed a double bottom chart pattern at $2.19 to $2.22 a share. Following that bottom, shares of RVLT exploded to the upside and hit a recent high of $3.96 a share with strong upside volume flows. Shares of RVLT are now finding some buying interest right around its 50-day moving average of $3.36 a share. If that level can hold, then RVLT will set up to resume its uptrend and potentially trigger another big breakout trade.
Market players should now look for long-biased trades in RVLT if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $3.70 to $3.80 a share and then above more resistance at $3.96 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 1.21 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then RVLT will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $4.94 to $5.50 a share.
Traders can look to buy RVLT off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day moving average at $3.36 a share, or around $3 a share. One can also buy RVLT 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 5 Railroad Companies For 2014: EarthLink Inc.(ELNK)
EarthLink, Inc. provides communications services to individual and business customers in the United States. It operates in two segments, Consumer Services and Business Services. The Consumer Services segment offers Internet access and related value-added services. It provides dial-up Internet and narrowband access, broadband access, and voice-over-Internet-protocol services, as well as value-added services that include products for protection, communication, and performance, such as security products, premium email only, home networking, email storage, and Internet call waiting. This segment offer its products and services primarily through its call centers, search engine marketing, affinity marketing partners, resellers, and marketing alliances. The Business Services segment offers integrated communications services, such as secure IP-based networks, virtual private networks, Internet access, local telephone and long distance services, enhanced services, access trunks, pr ivate line services, asynchronous transfer mode/frame relay services, and mobile data and voice services, as well as installation, managed network, remote access, and disaster recovery services. It also provides wholesale services comprising broadband transport services, including private line, Ethernet private line, and wavelength services; local communications and local dial tone communications services; live and automated operator, and directory assistance services; and dedicated Internet access services and direct connectivity. In addition, this segment leases server space and provides Web hosting services that enable customers to build and maintain an online presence, including domain names, storage, mailboxes, software tools to build Web sites, e-commerce applications, and 24/7 customer support. This segment offers its services through direct sales, and independent dealers and sales agents. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Duprey]
Continuing its efforts to transform itself from a pure Internet service provider into an information technology company, EarthLink (NASDAQ: ELNK ) announced Monday it is buying�cloud computing and hosted IT services provider CenterBeam for $22 million.�
- [By Geoff Gannon] nflation growth: Dun & Bradstreet (DNB)
路 Inflation plus population growth: CEC Entertainment (CEC)
路 Nominal GDP Growth: Village Supermarket (VLGEA)
Over the last 10 years ��population growth, inflation, and real output per person growth has been so low it�� hard to tell the difference between companies growing at the rate of inflation, along with the population, or along with the economy.
You have to squint really hard to see any difference in the revenue growth records of DNB, Chuck E. Cheese, and Village.
This will not be true in all countries and at all times.
A literally no growth company like Earthlink is actually shrinking. It just happens to look like it�� staying perfectly flat because inflation is hiding the company�� real decay rate. In real terms, the company has been shrinking by about 3% a year for the last 10 years. So, Earthlink is not a no growth company. It�� shrinking.
That�� a bad sign. And, frankly, I don�� know how to value Earthlink. You would need to evaluate it as a turnaround or something ��not as a business that�� simplly stuck in place. I don�� know how to do that.
So, Earhtlink goes into the ��oo hard��pile.
Dun & Bradstreet and CEC Entertainment are actual no growth businesses. This is hidden by their constant share buy backs. So, if you look at their earnings per share growth they look kind of like Peter Lynch�� idea of a ��low growth��company or even a ��talwart�� They aren��. They��e no growth businesses.
The same is pretty much true with Village Supermarket. Although this is complicated. The nature of their business ��high volume, low cost groceries ��means they can appear to be a no growth business when they are actually just keeping prices down and increasing volume. You would need to check their sales numbers more carefully. Grocery stores often discuss inflation in their annual reports. Village Supermarket always does t
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