Amid the continued selling pressures on Wall Street, 10 companies managed to delight shareholders on Wednesday with dividend increase announcements.
California Water Services Group (CWT) raised its quarterly payout from 64 cents to 65 cents, giving the company an annualized payout of $2.60.�The dividend will be payable on 2/21/2014 to shareholders on record as of 2/10/2014. The stock will trade ex-dividend on 2/6/2014.
Fidelity National Information Services Ups Dividend by 9.1%Fidelity National Information Services (FIS) raised its dividend from 22 cents to 24 cents per quarter. The company now pays out 96 cents on an annualized basis and has a dividend yield of 1.9%.�The dividend will be payable on 3/31/2014 to shareholders on record as of 3/17/2014. The stock will trade ex-dividend on 3/13/2014.
Top 5 Railroad Stocks To Buy Right Now: Pound/Rand(PX)
Praxair, Inc. engages in the production, distribution, and sale atmospheric and process gases, as well as surface coatings in North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. The company offers atmospheric gases, such as oxygen, nitrogen, argon, and rare gases; and process gases comprising carbon dioxide, helium, hydrogen, electronic gases, specialty gases, and acetylene. It also designs, engineers, and builds equipment that produces industrial gases; and manufactures precious metal and ceramic sputtering targets used primarily in the production of semiconductors. In addition, the company supplies surface coatings consisting of wear-resistant and high-temperature corrosion-resistant metallic and ceramic coatings and powders to the aircraft, energy, printing, textile, plastics, primary metals, petrochemical, and other industries. Further, it provides electric arc, plasma, and oxygen fuel spray equipment, as well as arc and flame wire equipment used for the application of wea r-resistant coatings; and distributes welding equipment purchased from independent manufacturers. The company sells its products primarily through independent distributors. It serves various industries, such as healthcare, petroleum refining, computer-chip manufacturing, beverage carbonation, fiber-optics, steel making, aerospace, chemicals, and water treatment industries. The company was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in Danbury, Connecticut.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Levisohn]
As a reminder, Air Products & Chemicals was in the low $90s when activist Bill Ackman told investors in July 2013 that he had taken a major position in a large-cap, investment-grade US corporation. Since then Air Products & Chemicals has closed its valuation gap with Praxair (PX), although restructuring has been limited so far.
- [By Rich Duprey]
Industrial gas maker Praxair (NYSE: PX ) announced today it is expanding its presence in southern Russia with the acquisition of Volgograd Oxygen Factory, an�industrial gas producer with�some 2,000 customers across the�steel, aerospace, health care, and food and beverage industries, which it says will offer "immediate synergies" with Praxair's newly built�air separation plant in�Volgograd.
- [By Marc Bastow]
Industrial gasses supplier Praxair (PX) raised its quarterly dividend 8% to 65 cents per share, payable on Mar. 17 to shareholders of record as of Mar. 7.
PX Dividend Yield: 2.08%
Top Companies For 2014: WageWorks Inc (WAGE)
WageWorks, Inc., incorporated on January 28, 2000, is an on-demand provider of tax-advantaged programs for consumer-directed health, commuter and other employee spending account benefits (CDBs), in the United States. The Company administers and operates a broad array of CDBs, including spending account management programs such as health and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs), and commuter benefits, such as transit and parking programs. The Company delivers its CDB programs through a scalable delivery model that employer clients and their employee participants may access through a standard Web browser on any Internet-enabled device, including computers, smart phones and other mobile devices such as tablet computers. In January 2013, the Company acquired Benefit Concepts, Inc.
The Company focuses on providing CDB programs to employer clients of any size. It provides marketing programs that are designed to maxmize employee participation in its employer clients��CDB offerings. The Company markets and sells its CDB programs through multiple channels, including direct sales to enterprises, direct sales and through brokers to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), and direct sales to industry purchasing and affiliate groups and through channel partners.
Its SMB distribution channel complements its enterprise sales channel and consists of third party advisors, including insurance agents and benefits consultants who typically have two to three enterprise clients and several hundred smaller employer clients, and institutional resellers, including regional and national insurance carriers, health plans, payroll providers, commercial banks and third-party administrators (TPAs). The Company also sells its programs through group purchasing organizations in which the Company negotiate a standard service contract with group purchasing organizations that are formed by industry specific employers to cov! er their members.
The Company competes with TASC, Inc, Aetna, UHC, Aon Hewitt, ADP, Ceridian, CDBs and Bank of America.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Stock Gamer]
WageWorks (WAGE) is a leading provider of tax-advantage programs for consumer-directed benefits ("CDBs") in the US. The company operates and administers a wide range of tax-advantage CDBs including health and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts ("FSAs"), Healthy Savings Accounts ("HSAs"), Health Reimbursement Arrangements ("HRAs"), as well as commuter benefits. WageWorks' CBD programs allow employees to save tax money by using pre-tax earnings to pay for their healthcare and commuter expenses. The programs also enable employers to benefit from reduced payroll taxes as their contributions are deductible for tax purpose, even after factoring in WageWorks' service fees.
- [By John Udovich]
On Wednesday, small cap employee flexible spending account facilitator Wageworks Inc (NYSE: WAGE) rose 12.22% despite a secondary offering that effectively rewarded insiders plus the stock has tripled since last March. However, Wageworks��CEO recently said in a�conference call last week that he believes the�private health care exchanges related to Obamacare are expanding�the company���market plus WAGE also raised its forecast for full-year growth. So�does that make this small cap a buy?�
- [By Laura Brodbeck]
Tuesday
Earnings Expected From: Frontier Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: FTR), GSI Group, Inc. (GSIG), Tesla Motors, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA), WageWorks, Inc. (NYSE: WAGE), DIRECTV (NASDAQ: DTV), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) Economic Releases Expected: �Australian trade balance, New Zealand�� unemployment rate, Canadian trade balance, eurozone PPI, British services PMIWednesday
- [By Seth Jayson]
Calling all cash flows
When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on WageWorks (NYSE: WAGE ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.
Top Companies For 2014: China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation(SNP)
China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation engages in the exploration, development, production, and marketing of crude oil and natural gas properties primarily in China. It operates 16 oil and gas production fields in China. As of December 31, 2010, the company?s estimated proved reserves of crude oil and natural gas consisted of 3,963 million barrels-of-oil equivalent comprising 2,888 million barrels of crude oil and 6,447 billion cubic feet of natural gas. It also engages in the refining of crude oil; marketing and distribution of refined petroleum products; and production and sale of petrochemical products that consist of intermediate petrochemicals, synthetic resins, synthetic fiber monomers and polymers, synthetic fibers, synthetic rubber, and chemical fertilizers, as well as owns and operates oil depots and service stations. The company was founded in 2000 and is based in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China. China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation is a subsidiary of China Petrochemical Corporation.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Duprey]
Just a few years ago, China was in a mad dash to buy up the world's resources, particularly those in Africa.�China Petroleum & Chemical (NYSE: SNP ) , also known as Sinopec, was not only in Argentina taking over Occidental Petroleum's oil and gas fields, but it was also was negotiating for deepwater assets off Angola.
Top Companies For 2014: First Republic Bank (FRC)
First Republic Bank is a full-service bank and wealth management firm. First Republic Bank and its subsidiaries provide private banking, private business banking and private wealth management, including investment, trust and brokerage services. The Company specializes in delivering service through offices in San Francisco, Palo Alto, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Newport Beach, San Diego, Portland, Boston, Greenwich and New York City. The Company's products and services include residential lending, commercial real estate lending, personal lending, private business banking, deposit services, trust services, brokerage services and investment management services. Investment advisory services are provided by First Republic Investment Management, Inc. Trust services are provided by First Republic Trust Company. Brokerage services are offered through First Republic Securities Company, LLC. In March 2012, the Company announced the opening of a new trust company.
The Company offers full-service banking on both coasts, including free online banking, free bill pay and free access to over 800, 000 automated teller machines (ATMs) worldwide. Its private business banking provides specialized services for accounting firms, architecture and design, art and antique dealers, business management firms, business partnership, entertainment/media, entrepreneurs, family offices, financial services, independent school, investment firms, law firms, medical firms, non-profit organizations, private equity funds, property management firms, real estate investors, venture capital funds, wineries, and yacht, golf, city and country clubs. The Company�� private wealth management offers customized investment management, trust, and brokerage services for individuals, trust endowments, and pension plans. Wealth management services include asset allocation, trust administration and custody, portfolio management, financial and estate planning, manager selection and comprehensive brokerage services.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Monica Gerson]
First Republic Bank (NYSE: FRC) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $0.76 per share on revenue of $320.72 million.
Renasant (NASDAQ: RNST) is expected to post its Q3 earnings at $0.31 per share on revenue of $60.87 million.
Top Companies For 2014: Legg Mason Inc. (LMI)
LMI Aerospace Inc. provides structural assemblies, kits and components, and design engineering services to the aerospace and defense markets in the United States. The company�s Aerostructures segment fabricates, machines, finishes, integrates, assembles, and kits machined and formed close tolerance aluminum, specialty alloy, composite components, and assemblies. Its products include wing slats and flap skins/components, and ailerons; winglet edges and modification kits; fuselage and wing skins; wing panels; helicopter cabin and aft section components; tail cone and edge assemblies; thrust reversers and engine nacelles/cowlings; door components, assemblies, and floor beams; cockpit window frames and landing light lens; and cockpit crew floor and bulkhead structure assemblies. This segment also provides wheel well and electronic rack assemblies; interior components; structural sheet metal, machined, milled, and extruded components; housings and assemblies; auxiliary power u nit components; fans and heat exchangers; ProWall engineered containers; and assemblies and components for rail yard switching equipment. Its Engineering Services segment offers engineering design, analysis, repair, certification, and program management services. This segment provides structural design and analysis services, including wing/wingbox, fixed and moveable leading edges/trailing edges, empennage, and tail cone design; winglet/wing mod design; nacelle, engine cowl, and thrust reverser design; weight improvement engineering; helicopter fuselage, cockpit, cabin frames, skins, longerons, and beams; and aircraft modification engineering services. It also offers systems design and integration, tool design and fabrication, manufacturing engineering, after-market engineering and support, aviation training system, and aviation maintenance engineering; and aviation system software engineering services. LMI Aerospace Inc. was founded in 1948 and is based in St. Charles, Miss ouri.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sofia Horta e Costa]
Lonmin Plc (LMI) jumped 2.8 percent to 295 pence, extending its biggest weekly rally in almost four months. Morgan Stanley upgraded the shares to overweight from equal weight, meaning that investors should buy more of the shares. The brokerage described their valuation as attractive.
Top Companies For 2014: Regal Entertainment Group(RGC)
Regal Entertainment Group, through its subsidiaries, operates a theatre circuit in the United States. The company develops, acquires, and operates multi-screen theatres primarily in mid-sized metropolitan markets and suburban growth areas of larger metropolitan markets under the Regal Cinemas, United Artists, and Edwards brand names. As of February 13, 2012, it operated 6,614 screens in 527 theatres in 37 states and the District of Columbia. Regal Entertainment Group was founded in 2002 and is based in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Brian Nichols]
Thanks to visionaries like Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, Reed Hastings, and Larry Page, the way we view, interact, and process data has changed and this includes all of the major industries within technology and entertainment. Today, it's a mobile world, yet the one industry that remains unchanged is very much the movie industry. According to DreamWorks Animation (NASDAQ: DWA ) CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg, this could spell trouble, especially for the likes of Carmike Cinemas (NASDAQ: CKEC ) , Regal Entertainment (NYSE: RGC ) , and AMC Entertainment Holdings (NYSE: AMC ) .
- [By Sean Williams]
Other companies, specifically in the service industry -- which pay a broad spectrum of wages -- have also been cutting jobs and/or hours in direct response to Obamacare. Movie theater chain Regal Entertainment (NYSE: RGC ) cut thousands of workers' weekly hours to 29 or less in order to exempt itself from having to provide them health care. Companies in excess of 50 employees are required to provide access to health care for their employees and could be asked to step in and help if the cost of health care exceeds 9.5% of that employee's income. Sure, a worker whose hours are cut back from 40 to 25 may be eligible for bigger health care subsidies, but at what cost? They've just lost 15 hours of weekly pay on a regular basis as a direct cause of Obamacare's upcoming implementation, which will affect countless other aspects of their life beyond health care!
- [By Seth Jayson]
Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC ) reported earnings on April 30. Here are the numbers you need to know.
The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 28 (Q1), Regal Entertainment Group met expectations on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share. - [By John Maxfield]
Sean Williams provided a more nuanced take on this issue in "Will Obamacare Turn America into a Nation of Part-Time Workers?" After citing Regal Entertainment's (NYSE: RGC ) move to reduce hours for thousands of its non-salaried employees, Sean concluded: "While I don't think we'll see a dramatic shift to part-time employment, I also wouldn't be shocked to see certain business sectors pull what Regal Entertainment did to its employees, either."
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