Eighty-six percent of affluent U.S. investors were optimistic about investments, according to a Legg Mason survey published this week.
Seventy-four percent of investors thought that U.S. equities offered the best opportunities in 2014.
Respondents were less enthusiastic about international equities, favored by 53% of those surveyed, followed by real estate (38%), gold or other precious metals (33%), U.S. bonds (31%), cash (28%), nontraditional investments (24%) and international bonds (19%).
These were the average asset allocation among affluent investors in the survey:
Although the majority of investors said they would maintain their asset allocation over the next 12 months, 25% said they would increase their allocation to equities and another 25% said they would increase their allocation to cash.
“There is a promising amount of optimism among U.S. investors, and much of it is focusing on U.S. equities,” Matthew Schiffman, managing director and head of global marketing at Legg Mason Global Asset Management, said in a statement.
10 Best Supermarket Stocks To Own For 2015: Control4 Corp (CTRL)
Control4 Corporation, incorporated on March 27, 2003, is a provider of automation and control solutions for the connected home. The Company provides its consumers with the ability to integrate music, video, lighting, temperature, security, communications and other functionalities into a unified home automation solution. The Company's solution functions as the operating system of the home, making connected devices work together to control, automate and personalize the homes of its consumers. Control4 Home Operating System (C4 OS) is one of the product line of the Company. It embeds its C4 OS in a range of products, including controller appliances, interfaces and connected devices that interact with various music, video, lighting, temperature, security, communications and other devices. The Company offers its 4Sight subscription service, which allows consumers to control and monitor their homes remotely from their smartphone, tablet or laptop, and allows its dealers to perform remote diagnostic services. The Company's 4Sight allows consumer to remotely unlock the front door to let in a repairman, to turn on the air conditioning on the way home, and to monitor the home security cameras from a smartphone. In addition, its 4Store application marketplace offers a range of third-party applications for use with the Company's products. The Company's solution provides consumers with access to over 6,400 third-party devices.
Software Platform
At the center of the Control4 product line is the Control4 Home Operating System, and the associated application software and software development kits (SDKs). The high-level software components include Director, Navigator, Composer Professional Edition, Composer Home Edition and Composer Media Edition, DriverWorks SDK, and Navigator SDK and Application SDK. Director is a real-time, extensible home operating system kernel that is responsible for monitoring and receiving events from numerous devices and services, processing those events according ! to consumer personalized settings, and then dispatching commands to the appropriate devices to perform predefined actions. Navigator displays intuitive and rich graphical user interfaces on televisions, in-wall and table-top touch panels, smartphones and tablets, as well as list-based devices, such as a remote controls with LCD text-displays. Composer Professional Edition is a software application that enables trained and certified Control4 dealers and installers to design, configure and personalize a Control4 home automation system for consumers. Composer Home Edition and Media Edition enable consumers to view and configure their Control4 managed devices. These drag-and-drop programs provide the ability to manage digital media and create and modify simple programs and policies (such as changing lighting scenes, modifying custom buttons and controlling behaviors among devices based on schedules or times of the day). DriverWorks SDK is a software development kit that enables dealers, programmers and device manufacturers to independently develop and test custom two-way interface drivers to support the integration of a new device or device model into its system, or to customize and enhance an existing driver. Navigator SDK and Application SDK are software development kits that enable third-party dealers and programmers to customize and deliver new application functionality within Navigator user interfaces on Control4 interface devices through the development of applications.
Products with Embedded Software and Services
The Company's controller appliances run its Director software to monitor, process and automate events, statuses and actions for numerous devices and services, creating a connected home experience. It offers the HC-800, a whole home controller appliance, and the HC-250, a single-room controller appliance. It also licenses its Director software on the new Sony ES 5800 and 2800 receivers, transforming them into controller appliances with home theater audio and video ! capabilit! ies. The Company offers touch panels, handheld remote controls and keypads as interface devices. It also develops and delivers software applications for Apple iOS and Android smartphones and tablets that enable these personal devices to become control interfaces to Control4 connected homes, both on-premise and remotely. The Company offers network-enabled 4x4 and 8x8 zone audio amplifiers, and a 16x16 audio matrix switch for versatile multi-room and whole-home audio distribution. It also offers an integrated digital media player for integration of local digital audio and video, as well as Wi-Fi and Ethernet amplified speaker points for streaming digital audio to speakers in areas without an audio receiver.
The Company offers a suite of lighting products that provide personalized control and energy management. Its suite of wireless light switches and dimmers can replace devices in an existing home or be installed in new homes. It offers in-wall wireless switches and dimmers for 120V, 240V and 277V electrical loads, which meet the requirements of North America and many international markets. The also plan to offer panelized systems, where all of the lighting control will be done on a remote panel. Its new Control4 lighting products will have the ability to measure how much energy each load is using and provide suggestions to the consumer on how to conserve energy and reduce costs. The Company offers devices that provide energy savings, convenience and efficiency for temperature control. Its wireless multi-stage thermostat is completely programmable with up to six set points per day and, using its 4Sight subscription service, is remotely accessible and controllable. The Company provides a set of products and software services created by the Company, as well as distribute certified third-party products, including deadbolts, door and window sensors, motion sensors, garage access systems and water leak detection systems, from its security partners, such as Baldwin, Card Access, Kwikset and Yale. ! The Compa! ny offers full motion video and hi-fidelity audio intercom capability through its in-wall and tabletop touchscreens, as well as its exterior weather-resistant door stations. 4Sight is a subscription service that enables 24x7 home monitoring and control from virtually anywhere, remote home programming and support, and instant email alerts based on home events so that homeowners are always in-the-know.
The Company offers a subscription service called 4Sight that enables remote access to the connected home without exposing the installer or consumer to the complexities of communicating around firewalls and private Internet Protocol addresses. This service facilitates connections between remote client devices and its systems through a cloud-based service. Using 4Sight, consumers can remotely monitor and control their Control4 systems as if they were at their homes.
The Company competes with AMX, Crestron, Apple, Google, Microsoft and Samsung, Savant, Logitech, Lutron, Nest, Roku, Sonos and Universal Remote Control, ADT, Comcast, Verizon and Vivint.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jon C. Ogg]
Control4�Corp. (NASDAQ: CTRL) was started as Buy at Canaccord Genuity on a likely late Tuesday call. This one was started as Buy at BofA/Merrill Lynch on Tuesday as the broker quiet period ended.
- [By Jason Moser]
In this edition of The Motley Fool's "Ask a Fool" series,�Motley Fool�analysts Jason Moser and Brendan Mathews take a question from a reader who asks, "Is there any specific reason why�Control4 (NASDAQ: CTRL ) is pretty volatile? Seems like it's up or down over 5% everyday!"
Top 10 Promising Companies To Invest In 2014: LMI Aerospace Inc.(LMIA)
LMI Aerospace, Inc. provides design engineering services, structural assemblies, kits, and components to the aerospace, defense, and technology markets primarily in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Aerostructures and Engineering Services. The Aerostructures segment fabricates, machines, finishes, integrates, assembles, and kits formed close tolerance aluminum, specialty alloy, and composite components, as well as higher level assemblies. Its aerospace products include wing slats and flapskins; winglet leading edges and related wing modification kits; fuselage and wing skins; helicopter cabin, aft section, and pylon components and assemblies; door surrounds, components, assemblies, and floorbeams; thrust reversers and engine nacelles/cowlings; cockpit window frames and landing light lens assemblies; interior components; structural sheet metal and extruded components; tailcone assemblies; and housings and assemblies. This segment also offers value-add ed services related to the design, production, assembly, and distribution of aerospace components. The Engineering Services segment provides design, engineering, and program management services, such as structural design and analysis, systems design and integration, tool design and fabrication, certification planning support, risk mitigation and producibility trade studies, and the development of program schedules and resource planning. Its services include wing/wingbox, fixed and moveable leading edges/trailing edges, fuselage, empennage, and tailcone design; winglet/wing mod design; nacelle, engine cowl, and thrust reverser design; weight improvement engineering; helicopter fuselage, cockpit, cabin frames, skins, longerons, and beams; aircraft modification engineering; aviation training system; aviation maintenance engineering; manufacturing engineering; and aviation system software engineering. The company was founded in 1948 and is based in St. Charles, Missouri.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sally Jones] % over 12 months, Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) has a market cap of $45.06 billion. The current share price is $140.67, and trades with a P/E of 15.00. The dividend yield is 3.30%.
Lockheed Martin Corporation was formed in 1995 by combining the businesses of Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta Corporation. Lockheed Martin operates in four principal business segments: Aeronautics, Electronic Systems, Information Systems & Global Services and Space Systems.
Guru Action: As of Sept. 30, 2012, Jim Simons bought a new holding of 145,800 shares at an average price of $121.40 for a gain of 15.9%.
Guru Ray Dalio sold out his LMT after 16 quarters of high gains. In the third quarter of 2013, he sold 10,176 shares at an average price of $121.40 for a gain of 15.9%.
Numerous gurus traded LMT in third quarter.
There is recent insider selling.
Historical share pricing, revenue and net income tracking:
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B/E Aerospace Inc. (BEAV)
Up 93% over 12 months, B/E Aerospace Inc. has a market cap of $9.05 billion.
The current share price is $86.28, and trades with a P/E of 25.60. The company does not pay a dividend.
B/E Aerospace Inc. is a global manufacturer of aircraft cabin interior products and a distributor of aerospace fasteners and consumables.
Guru Action: As of Sept. 30, 2012, Guru Ken Fisher is one of four gurus making a new buy. Fisher bought a new holding of 21,800 shares at an average price of $70.20 for a gain of 23%.
Guru Larry Robbins was one of two gurus selling out in the third quarter. Robbins sold 341,692 shares at an average price of $70.20 for a gain of 22.9%.
Here�� a lot more guru action and recent insider selling.
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GuruFocus "Real Time Picks" reports the stock purchases and sales that Gurus have made within the prior 2 weeks. The report time lag can be as short as 2 days after the date of the transaction. This feature
Top 10 Promising Companies To Invest In 2014: Stanley Furniture Company Inc.(STLY)
Stanley Furniture Company, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and imports wood furniture products for the residential market. It offers a line of adult furniture products comprising dining, bedroom, home office, home entertainment, and accent items under the Stanley Furniture brand name; and children?s furniture product line under the brand name of Young America. The company provides its products under various design categories, including traditional, continental, contemporary, transitional, and cottage designs. Stanley Furniture Company, Inc. sells its furniture products through independent sales representatives to independent furniture stores, interior designers, smaller specialty retailers, regional furniture chains, buying clubs, and e-tailers in the United States. Stanley Furniture Company, Inc. was founded in 1924 and is based in High Point, North Carolina.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Anna Prior]
Stanley Furniture Co.(STLY) said it will close a North Carolina factory that manufactures its Young America brand, shifting operations to its growing Stanley line. The move will delay the company’s first-quarter report until after the market closes on April 30 as the company evaluates restructuring charges. Shares dropped 4.8% to $2.60 premarket.
Top 10 Promising Companies To Invest In 2014: Tenaris S.A.(TS)
Tenaris S.A., through its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of steel pipe products. The company produces and sells both seamless and welded steel tubular products and related services for the oil and gas industry, particularly oil country tubular goods used in drilling operations, and certain other industrial applications with a production process that consists in the transformation of steel into tubular products. It also offers welded steel pipe products primarily used in the construction of major pipeline projects for the transportation of gas and fluids. In addition, the company provides sucker rods, casing and tubing, drill pipes, thermal tubulars, coiled tubing, premium connections, pipe accessories, welded steel pipes for electric conduits, industrial equipment, and raw materials. Further, it involves in the ownership and licensing of steel technology, as well as in the financial sector. The company serves oil and gas companies, car manufacturers, ref ineries, and petrochemical and gas-processing plants, as well as engineering companies engaged in constructing oil and gas gathering, transportation, and processing facilities. It operates in North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Far East, and Oceania. The company is headquartered in Luxembourg. Tenaris S.A. is a subsidiary of San Faustin N.V.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Charles Sizemore]
One option is via the Global X FTSE Argentina 20 ETF (ARGT), a basic of liquid Argentine stocks. ARGT is heavily weighted in international oil and gas pipeline maker Tenaris (TS) and in state oil company YPF(YPF), at 20% and 13% of the portfolio, respectively.
- [By GURUFOCUS]
Maverick appeared to be one of the few bargains still available in the oils service and equipment sector in 2005. Shareholders were rewarded a year later when the company was acquired by Tenaris (TS) at a price of 65 dollars a share in June of 2006. - [By Rich Bieglmeier]
Tenaris SA (TS) shares are outperforming the market today. The extra oomph comes via an upgrade from Goldman Sachs. Analyst, Henry Tarr lifted his recommendation to "Neutral" from "Sell."
Top 10 Promising Companies To Invest In 2014: TGC Industries Inc.(TGE)
TGC Industries, Inc. provides geophysical services for clients in the oil and gas business in the United States and Canada. It conducts three-D surveys and seismic data acquisition services primarily to onshore oil and natural gas exploration and development companies for use in the onshore drilling and production of oil and natural gas. The company also owns a data bank that contains gravity data and magnetic data from oil and natural gas producing areas located in the United States. It operates 8 seismic crews in the lower 48 states in the United States, as well as 2 crews in Canada. The company was formerly known as Tidelands Geophysical Co., Inc. and changed its name to TGC Industries, Inc. in July 1986. TGC Industries, Inc. was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Plano, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Roberto Pedone]
TGC Industries (TGE) provides geophysical services to companies in the oil and gas industry in the U.S. and Canada. This stock closed up 1.8% to $3.86 in Tuesday's trading session.
Tuesday's Range: $3.76-$3.89
52-Week Range: $3.69-$8.53
Tuesday's Volume: 382,000
Three-Month Average Volume: 114,667From a technical perspective, TGE jumped modestly higher here right above some near-term support at $3.69 with above-average volume flows. This stock recently formed a double bottom chart pattern at $3.72 to $3.69. Following that bottom, shares of TGE have now started to spike higher and it's quickly moving within range of triggering a big breakout trade. That trade will hit if TGE manages to take out some key near-term overhead resistance levels at $3.95 to $4 with high volume.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in TGE as long as it's trending above those double bottom support levels and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 114,667 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then TGE will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $4.25 to its 50-day moving average of $4.52, or even $4.75 to $5.
Top 10 Promising Companies To Invest In 2014: Impax Laboratories Inc.(IPXL)
Impax Laboratories, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of bioequivalent pharmaceutical products. The company operates in two divisions, Global Pharmaceuticals and Impax Pharmaceuticals. The Global Pharmaceuticals division develops, manufactures, sells, and distributes generic pharmaceutical products. It provides its generic pharmaceutical prescription products directly to wholesalers and retail drug chains; and generic pharmaceutical over-the-counter and prescription products through unrelated third-party pharmaceutical entities. The Impax Pharmaceutical division develops proprietary brand pharmaceutical products that address central nervous system disorders, including Alzheimer?s disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, epilepsy, migraines, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson?s disease, and schizophrenia, as well as promotes third-party branded pharmaceutical products. As of May 2, 2011, the com pany marketed 101 generic pharmaceuticals, which represent dosage variations of 29 different pharmaceutical compounds; and another 16 of its generic pharmaceuticals representing dosage variations of 4 different pharmaceutical compounds. It markets and sells its generic pharmaceutical prescription drug products in the continental United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The company has a strategic alliance agreement with Teva Pharmaceuticals Curacao N.V. Impax Laboratories, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Hayward, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Max Macaluso, Ph.D.]
RLS hasn't been a high-priority target for the pharma industry given the lackluster sales of Requip and Horizant, a third competitor of�UCB's Neupro, and a number of generic alternatives. Impax Laboratories (NASDAQ: IPXL ) was one of the few developing a new therapy, called IPX159, but Impax put the kibosh on the drug after it failed to meet its primary endpoint in a phase 2b study. According to its latest quarterly report, Impax has no other RLS drugs in development and seems to be focusing on getting its rejected Parkinson's disease drug Rytary back to the FDA for a second chance at approval.
Top 10 Promising Companies To Invest In 2014: Utah Medical Products Inc.(UTMD)
Utah Medical Products, Inc. produces medical devices for the healthcare industry primarily in the United States and Europe. The company provides labor and delivery/obstetrics products, including fetal monitoring accessories, vacuum-assisted delivery systems, and other obstetrical tools, as well as neonatal intensive care products, such as DISPOSA-HOOD, an infant respiratory hood; DELTRAN PLUS, a blood pressure monitoring system; and GESCO, a biocompatible silicone catheter. It also offers umbilical vessel and artery, thermosensitive polyurethane, and peripherally inserted central venous catheters; enteral feeding devices; DIALY-NATE, a disposable peritoneal dialysis set; PALA-NATE, a silicone oral protection device; and MYELO-NATE for obtaining cerebral spinal fluid samples. In addition, the company provides gynecology/urology/electrosurgery products comprising LETZ System to excise cervical intraepithelial neoplasia; FINESSE electrosurgical generator; FILTRESSE evacuators ; EPITOME, an electrosurgical scalpel; PATHFINDER PLUS, an endoscopic irrigation device; LIBERTY system to treat and control urinary incontinence in women; ENDOCURETTE, a curette for uterine endometrial tissue sampling; TVUS/HSG-Cath to assess abnormal uterine bleeding; and LUMIN for manipulating the uterus. Further, it offers DELTRAN for blood pressure monitoring; and pressure monitoring accessories, components, and other molded parts. The company?s products are used in neonatal intensive care units, labor and delivery departments, and women?s health center in hospitals, as well as in outpatient clinics and physician's offices. It markets its products through direct sales representatives, independent manufacturers? representatives, specialty distributors, national hospital distribution companies, and other medical device manufacturers; and through other medical device companies and independent medical products distributors. The company was founded in 1978 and is headquar tered in Midvale, Utah.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Geoff Gannon]
Utah Medical Products (UTMD)
There are some interesting stories on that list. Buffett watchers know The Washington Post. Ben Graham fans know National Presto. Anyone who follows net-nets is familiar with Micropac. If you��e a high ROC investor you��e probably come across Utah Medical Products (operating margins are over 30%). Atrion has one of the most interesting histories of value creation starting in the 1990s. And Arden is a grocer that earns a 15% return on equity in a bad year.
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