Monday, October 6, 2014

5 Best Healthcare Technology Stocks To Invest In 2014

Cowen was feeling pretty good about the oil services sector until it surveyed exploration & production firms and found that its original spending estimates were off. Way off. Like a Blaine Gabbert pass.

Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

As a result, the knives have come out. Cowen’s analysts downgraded six stocks–Baker Hughes (BHI), Cameron International (CAM), Nabors Industries (NBR), CGG (CGG), Superior Energy Services (SPN) and Helmerich & Payne (HP)–and cut their estimates on even more. Its analysts explain why:

Our Original E&P Spending Survey published today estimated just 4% growth globally in E&P spend in 2014. Given our estimates were based upon an 8% gain in 2014 and a similar increase in 2015, we are lowering our estimates for many of the stocks we cover.

As the market digests a slower growth outlook for 2014, we think consensus earnings estimates will come down. It will be difficult for the oil service and drilling stocks to perform well given this scenario. Thus, we are lowering our opinion on six of the stocks we cover.

Best Warren Buffett Companies To Invest In 2015: Cobalt International Energy Inc (CIE)

Cobalt International Energy, Inc., incorporated on August 27, 2009, independent, oil-focused exploration and production company with a salt prospect inventory in the deepwater of the United States Gulf of Mexico and offshore Angola and Gabon in West Africa. The Company operates its business in two geographic segments: the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and West Africa. The Company�� oil-focused exploration efforts target subsalt Miocene and Inboard Lower Tertiary horizons in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico. As of December 31, 2012, it drilled as operator four exploratory wells in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico (North Platte #1, Ligurian #1 and #2, and Criollo #1) and participated as a non-operator in three exploratory wells (Heidelberg #1, Shenandoah #1 and Firefox #1) and three appraisal wells (Heidelberg #2, Heidelberg #3, and Shenandoah #2R). The Company�� oil-focused exploration efforts target pre-salt horizons on Blocks 9, 20 and 21 offshore Angola and the Diaba Block offshore Gabon.

U.S. Gulf of Mexico Segment

The Company�� oil-focused exploration efforts target subsalt Miocene and Inboard Lower Tertiary horizons in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico. It also has licensed approximately 78,000 line miles (125,530 kilometers) of 2-D pre-stack depth-migrated seismic data in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico. As of December 31, 2012, it owned working interests in 246 blocks within the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico, representing approximately 1.4 million gross (0.7 million net) undeveloped acres. Most of its U.S. Gulf of Mexico blocks have a 10-year primary term.

The Ardennes #1 exploratory well will target a 3-way structure located in both Miocene and Inboard Lower Tertiary horizons located in Green Canyon blocks 895, 896 and 939, where it named operator and owns a 42% working interest. The Aegean #1 exploratory well will target a 3-way structure in Inboard Lower Tertiary horizons located in Keathley Canyon blocks 162, 163 and 207, where it named operator and ow! n a 37.5% working interest. It has 24% working interest in the Racer prospect and its partners include BHP Billiton Petroleum (Americas) Inc. (60%) and Total (16%). South Platte is a 3-way prospect targeting Inboard Lower Tertiary horizons located in Garden Banks blocks 1003 and 1004 and Keathley Canyon blocks 35 and 36, and owns 60% working interest. Its Baffin Bay is a 4-way prospect targeting Inboard Lower Tertiary horizons located in Garden Banks blocks 956 and 957, and owns 60% working interest.

The Company has one drilling rig, the Ensco 8503, that is performing drilling operations on its operated prospect portfolio in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico. It has one drilling rig, the Ensco 8503, that is performing drilling operations on its operated prospect portfolio in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico. On December 5, 2012, it announced an oil discovery at its North Platte prospect on Garden Banks block 959 in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The North Platte #1 exploratory well is located in approximately 4,400 feet of water and was drilled to a total depth of approximately 34,500 feet. It is a operator of North Platte and own a 60% working interest. Its Heidelberg #1 exploratory well is located in approximately 5,200 feet of water in Green Canyon block 859 within the Tahiti Basin Miocene trend. The Company�� Shenandoah #1 is located in approximately 5,750 feet of water in Walker Ridge block 52, was drilled to approximately 30,000 feet. On February 26, 2013, it announced that the Shenandoah #2R appraisal well had been drilled to a total depth of 31,400 feet in approximately 5,800 feet of water and 1.3 miles southwest of the Shenandoah #1 exploratory well.

West Africa Segment

As of December 31, 2012, the Company had drilled as operator one exploratory well on Block 21 offshore Angola (Cameia #1) and one appraisal well on Block 21 offshore Angola (Cameia #2). As of December 31, 2012, its working interests in Blocks 9, 20 and 21 offshore Angola and the Diab! a Block o! ffshore Gabon consisted of an aggregate 5,652,687 gross (1,840,581 net) undeveloped acres. It has a pre-salt prospect inventory offshore West Africa. This inventory includes dozens of prospects in various states of maturation on Blocks 9, 20 and 21 offshore Angola and the Diaba Block offshore Gabon. The Mavinga #1 exploratory well will target pre-salt horizons in Block 21 offshore Angola, where it named operator with a 40% working interest. The Lontra #1 exploratory well will target pre-salt horizons in Block 20, and owns 40% working interest. The Bicuar #1 exploratory well will target pre-salt horizons in Block 21 offshore Angola, and owns 40% working interest. The Idared #1 exploratory well will target pre-salt horizons in Block 20 offshore Angola. The Baleia #1 exploratory well will target pre-salt horizons in Block 20 offshore Angola, and owns 40% working interest. The Loengo #1 exploratory well will target pre-salt horizons in Block 9 offshore Angola. Its Diaman #1 exploratory well owns 21.25% working interest. Its Diamon South #1 exploratory well will test pre-salt horizons on the Diaba block offshore Gabon, where Total Gabon is the named operator and we own a 21.25% working interest. The Company has two drilling rigs under contract to support its pre-salt exploratory drilling campaign offshore Angola: the Diamond Ocean Confidence and the Petroserv SSV Catarina. It has the right to use the Ocean Confidence to complete the DST on the lower reservoir penetrated by the Cameia #2 appraisal well and drill two additional wells, which will include its Mavinga #1 exploratory well and one additional well.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Aaron Levitt]

    Offering both promise and fortune, Africa is certainly one of the last frontiers in investing. But it can be a pretty cruel mistress as well. Investors in independent oil and gas producer Cobalt International Energy, (CIE) are finding that out the hard way.

  • [By Jayson Derrick]

    Cobalt Energy (NYSE: CIE) provided an update on its Gulf of Mexico drilling operations. The company announced that its Aegean #1 exploratory well in Keathley Canyon Block 163 did not encounter commercial hydrocarbons and operations are underway to plug and abandon the wellbore. Shares hit new 52 week lows of $13.75 before closing at $14.84, down 5.24 percent.

5 Best Healthcare Technology Stocks To Invest In 2014: Sify Technologies Limited(SIFY)

Sify Technologies Limited provides enterprise and consumer Internet services primarily in India. The company offers various corporate network/data services comprising e-commerce and network connectivity solutions, such as end-to-end services network, application, and security services; voice origination and termination services; co-location and managed hosting services; and system integration services for data centre build, hardware distribution, security solutions, and turnkey projects. It also provides application services, including SLEMS and Microsoft Exchange messaging platforms; I-test for online assessment and LiveWire, which enable management of training processes across the organization; document management system for the management of documents electronically; and Forum, a forward supply chain solution. In addition, the company operates e-Ports that offer browsing, chat, email, gaming, utility bill payment, travel ticketing, hotel booking, mobile recharge, Intern et telephony, and online share trading services; and portals, which provide news, views, reviews, interactions, and services in the areas of movies, sports, finance, food, videos, astrology, online games, shopping, and travel, as well as offers content offerings and broadband services. Further, it provides infrastructure management services, such as network management, datacenter and helpdesk outsourcing, desktop and storage outsourcing, IT security outsourcing, LAN and WAN outsourcing, database and telecom outsourcing, and application monitoring and management services to automotive, chemical, media, and financial enterprises; and virtualization design, integration, and deployment services for servers, storage, networks, and end user clients. Sify has approximately 1,278 e-Ports in 200 towns and cities; and serves 1,06,000 broadband subscribers through 1500 cable TV Operators. The company, formerly known as Sify Limited, was founded in 1995 and is based in Chennai, India. Advisors' Opinion:

  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Leading and Lagging Sectors
    Technology stocks gained Tuesday, with Ku6 Media Co (NASDAQ: KUTV) leading advancers. Among leading tech stocks, gains came from Rubicon Technology (NASDAQ: RBCN), Bitauto Holdings (NYSE: BITA) and Sify Technologies (NASDAQ: SIFY). Utilities shares dropped by 0.11 percent in the US market today.

  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Leading and Lagging Sectors
    Technology stocks gained Tuesday, with Ku6 Media Co (NASDAQ: KUTV) leading advancers. Among leading tech stocks, gains came from Rubicon Technology (NASDAQ: RBCN), Bitauto Holdings (NYSE: BITA) and Sify Technologies (NASDAQ: SIFY).

5 Best Healthcare Technology Stocks To Invest In 2014: BioTime Inc (BTX)

BioTime, Inc., incorporated on November 30, 1990, is a biotechnology company focused on the emerging field of regenerative medicine. Its commercial strategy is focused on its line of research products, such as ACTCellerate cell lines and associated ESpan culture media, HyStem hydrogels, human embryonic stem (hES) cell lines, and royalties from Hextend. Its focus is to provide regenerative therapies for age-related degenerative diseases. In January 2011, the Company acquired the assets of Cell Targeting, Inc. (CTI), a biotechnology company focused on methods of painting molecules on the surface of cells, which in turn causes the cells to adhere to particular tissues, such as those afflicted with disease. On March 21, 2011, the Company acquired Glycosan BioSystems, Inc. (Glycosan) through a merger of Glycosan with OrthoCyte Corporation (OrthoCyte). Through the merger, OrthoCyte acquired all of Glycosan�� assets, including Glycosan�� Hystem hydrogel product line. In March 2011, the Company entered into an agreement with XenneX, Inc., pursuant to which it organized LifeMap Sciences, Inc. (LifeMap), a subsidiary formed to advance the development and commercialization of its human embryonic stem (hES) cell data base. In August 2011, four hES cell lines (ESI-035, ESI-049, ESI-051 and ESI-053) developed by its subsidiary ES Cell International (ESI) were approved by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for inclusion in the NIH Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry. In May 2012, the Company acquired XenneX, Inc., through a merger of XenneX into LifeMap Sciences. In September 2012, the Company formed a wholly owned subsidiary, BioTime Acquisition Corporation. In October 2013, Geron Corporation announced the closing of the transaction to divest the Company's stem cell assets to Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc., a subsidiary of BioTime, Inc.

HyStem is a biomaterial, which mimics the human extracellular matrix, which is the network of molecules surrounding cells in organs and tissues which is essent! ial to cellular function. Its HyStem hydrogels may have other applications when combined with the diverse and scalable cell types its scientists have isolated from hES cells. HyStem-Rx is a clinical grade formulation of HyStem-C, a biocompatible, implantable hyaluronan and collagen-based matrix for cell delivery in human clinical applications. Its subsidiary, OncoCyte Corporation, is developing PanC-Dx, a non-invasive blood-based cancer screening test designed to detect the presence of various human cancers, including cancers of the breast, lung, bladder, uterus, stomach, and colon, during routine check -ups. BioTime Asia, Limited (BioTime Asia) sells products for research use and may develop therapies to treat cancer and neurological and orthopedic diseases in Asia. OrthoCyte Corporation (OrthoCyte) is developing therapies to treat orthopedic disorders, diseases and injuries. ReCyte Therapeutics, Inc. (ReCyte Therapeutics) is developing therapies for age-related cardiovascular and blood disorders. Cell Cure Neurosciences Ltd. (Cell Cure Neurosciences), is a biotechnology company focused on developing stem cell-based therapies for retinal and other neurological disorders, including the development of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration. LifeMap Sciences, Inc. (LifeMap) is advancing the development and commercialization of our embryonic stem cell database and plans to make the database available for the marketing of research products and for use by stem cell researchers at pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and other institutions via paid subscriptions or on a fee per use basis.

The Company�� blood plasma expander product, Hextend, is a physiologically balanced intravenous solution used in the treatment of hypovolemia, a condition caused by low blood volume, often from blood loss during surgery or injury. Hextend maintains circulatory system fluid volume and blood pressure, and keeps vital organs perfused during surgery and t! rauma car! e. Hextend is manufactured and distributed in the United States by Hospira, Inc., and in South Korea by CJ CheilJedang (CJ), under license from it.

Human Embryonic Stem Cell Lines for Research Use

Combined with the Company�� ACTCellerate technology, it derives of a range of markets human embryonic progenitor cells (hEPCs). ESI�� six current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) hES cell lines have been approved by the NIH for inclusion in the Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry, which renders those cell lines eligible for use in federally funded research. The ESI hES cell lines are available for purchase through www.biotimeinc.com. It also markets hEPCs developed using ACTCellerate technology. Its hEPCs are also available for sale through www.biotimeinc.com. It derived the complete genome sequence of five of the ESI hES cell lines to facilitate the development of products derived from these cell lines. It has made these GMP-grade cell lines, along with certain documentation and complete genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequence information, available for sale.

The Company offers human stem cell products and technology that can be used by researchers at universities and at companies in the bioscience and biopharmaceutical industries. It has developed research and clinical grade hES cell lines, which it markets for both basic research and therapeutic product development. It also markets human embryonic progenitor cell (hEPCs) developed using ACTCellerate technology. These hEPCs are purified lineages of cells, which are intermediate in the developmental process between embryonic stem cells and fully differentiated cells. The ACTCellerate cell lines are also available for purchase through http://www.biotimeinc.com.

Human Embryonic Progenitor Cells

Through the Company�� subsidiary ReCyte Therapeutics, it had a license from Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (ACT) to use ACTCellerate technology, and the rights to market more than 200 human c! ell types! made using that process. ACTCellerate allows the rapid isolation of hEPCs, which are cells that are intermediate in the developmental process between embryonic stem cells and fully differentiated cells.

Through an agreement with ReCyte Therapeutics, Millipore Corporation became a global distributor of ACTCellerate hEPC lines. In addition to the products, which it is co-marketing with Millipore, it offers 92 other ACTCellerate hEPC lines for purchase at www.biotimeinc.com. Through its subsidiary LifeMap, it provides online biomedical database services to increase awareness of molecular markers and diverse cell types comprising its ACTCellerate hEPC lines. It also focuses to market additional cell types manufactured with its PureStem technology. PureStem cell lines are produced by the exogenous expression of specific transcription factors, which regulate the differentiation of cell types from hES or induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. BioTime Asia has an agreement with Shanghai Genext Medical Technology Co., Ltd. to sell ACTCellerate hEPC lines and related ESpan growth media to the medical and biological research communities in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau on an exclusive basis. The marketing agreement includes provisions for an initial stocking inventory and annual milestones to maintain exclusivity. The Company�� California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM)-funded research addresses the need for industrial scale production of purified therapeutic cells.

hES Cells Carrying Genetic Diseases

The Company focuses to add to its product line muscle progenitor cells produced from five hES cell lines carrying genes for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy Type I, facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy 1A, and Becker muscular dystrophy. It obtained the diseased hES cell lines from Reproductive Genetics Institute (RGI).

ESpan Cell Growth Media

The Company is marketing a range of! cell-gro! wth media products called ESpan. These growth media are optimized for the growth of hEPC types. Cells need to be propagated in liquid media, in both the laboratory setting, where basic research on stem cells is performed, and in the commercial sector. Its ESpan products are marketed through Millipore and Genext.

ESpy Cell Lines

The Company focuses for development of ESpy cell lines. The ability of the ESpy cells to emit light will allow researchers to track the location and distribution of the cells in both in vitro and in vivo studies.

HyStem Hydrogel for Research and HyStem-Rx for Cell Delivery Medical Devices

HyStem is a patented biomaterial that mimics the ECM, the network of molecules surrounding cells in organs and tissues that is essential to cellular function. Its HyStem technology forms the foundation for stem cell delivery products in both the adult and embryonic stem cell marketplace, including products manufactured using its ACTCellerate technology. As an injectable product, HyStem-Rx may address need in cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries and other procedures by transplanting adipose derived cells or other adult stem cells. The transfer of cells in HyStem-Rx localizes the transplanted cells at the intended site and by providing a three-dimensional scaffold upon which cells can rebuild normal tissue. HyStem-Rx may support other emerging cell and tissue transplant therapies, such as those derived from hES and iPS cells, in addition to its potential application in the treatment of a range of conditions such as osteoarthritis, brain tumors, stroke, bone fracture, and wounds.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By John Udovich]

    Stem cell stocks have not exactly been the best performers lately in part because the controversy over their use has died down over the years while major breakthroughs have been few or far between, but the industry along with small cap stem cell stocks Pluristem Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: PSTI), BioTime, Inc (NYSEMKT: BTX) and BioRestorative Therapies (OTCBB: BRTX) are still quietly producing their share of news or minor breakthroughs worth taking note of. Just consider the following stem cell news or news from small cap players in the sector:

  • [By Brian Pacampara]

    Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, biotechnology company BioTime (NYSEMKT: BTX  ) has received the dreaded one-star ranking.

5 Best Healthcare Technology Stocks To Invest In 2014: iShares Micro-Cap ETF (IWC)

iShares Russell Microcap Index Fund (the Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell Microcap Index (the Index). The Index measures the micro-cap sector of the United States equity market and consists of those securities having the highest historical trading volumes of that index. The Index is a capitalization-weighted index and includes companies ranging in total market capitalization from approximately $50 million to $550 million.

The Index represents approximately 3% of the market capitalization of listed United States equity securities. The Fund uses a representative sampling strategy in seeking to track the Index. iShares Russell Microcap Index Fund's investment advisor is Barclays Global Fund Advisors.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jim Fink]

    Simply buying a small-cap ETF like the iShares Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) of the iShares Russell Microcap (NYSE: IWC) doesn’t work. Over the past 11 years, the Russell 2000 index (median market  cap of $460 million) has declined in January seven times (64% of the time) and has actually performed worse than the S&P 500 a majority of the time (6 out of 11). The Russell Microcap index (median market cap of $152 million) has only been around for seven Januarys (since 2006) and it has underperformed the S&P 500 in four of those years (a majority of the time). December relative performance has been no better for IWM, which underperformed the S&P 500 a majority of the time over the past 11 years, but IWC has done much better in December, outperforming the S&P 500 in each of its first seven years of existence. Like I said earlier, however, microcap “gains” are suspect.

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