Sergei Fedorov is generally regarded as the greatest defensive forward in the history of the National Hockey League. He led the Detroit Red Wings to Stanley Cup championships in 1997, 1998, and 2002, and won a Hart Trophy as the league�� most valuable player in 1994.
But like many high-profile athletes, it appears that Fedorov has been the victim of an unscrupulous financial advisor. In 2009, Fedorov sued financial advisor Joseph P. Zada, of Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Zada did not answer the Complaint, and the Wayne County Circuit Court entered a default judgment exceeding $60 million in Fedorov�� favor against Zada. Court records evince vigorous effort to collect the judgment in the four years since it was entered. According to the Detroit Free Press nothing has been collected on it.
$60 million represents Fedorov�� annual player�� salary at the height of his playing career, $10 million, for six years. Fedorov is 43 years of age and retired as a player. It is unlikely that he will make the kind of money in his post-playing career that he did as a player. That train has passed.
Top Undervalued Stocks To Watch Right Now: Meritor Inc (MTOR)
Meritor, Inc. (Meritor), incorporated on March 31, 2000, is a global supplier of a range of integrated systems and components to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and the aftermarket for the commercial vehicle, transportation and industrial sectors. The company serves commercial truck, trailer, off-highway, military, bus and coach and other industrial OEMs and certain aftermarkets. Its products are axles, undercarriages, drivelines, brakes and braking systems. Meritor serves a range of customers globally, including medium- and heavy-duty truck OEMs, specialty vehicle manufacturers, certain aftermarkets, and trailer producers. Its new business segments are Commercial Truck & Industrial; and Aftermarket & Trailer. On January 2, 2012, it completed the sale of its Commercial Truck manufacturing facility located in St. Priest, France to Renault Trucks SAS, an affiliate of AB Volvo.
The Company�� Commercial Truck segment supplies drivetrain systems and components, including axles, drivelines and braking and suspension systems, for medium- and heavy-duty trucks in North America, South America and Europe. The Industrial segment supplies drivetrain systems including axles, brakes, drivelines and suspensions for off-highway, military, construction, bus and coach, fire and emergency, and other industrial applications. This segment also includes all of its original equipment (OE) businesses in Asia Pacific, including all on- and off-highway activities. The Aftermarket & Trailer segment supplies axles, brakes, drivelines, suspension parts, and other replacement and re-manufactured parts, including transmissions, to commercial vehicle and industrial aftermarket customers. This segment also supplies a range of undercarriage products and systems for trailer applications in North America.
Axles, Undercarriage & Drivelines
The Company is a supplier of axles for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. Its truck axle product line includes a range of front steer axles and! rear drive axles. Its front steer and rear drive axles can be equipped with its cam, wedge or air disc brakes, automatic slack adjusters, complete wheel-end equipment, such as hubs, rotors and drums, and (through its WABCO Holdings, Inc. (WABCO) joint venture) anti-lock braking systems (ABS) and vehicle stability control systems.
The Company supplies heavy-duty axles for use in off-highway vehicle applications, including construction, material handling, and mining. It also supplies axles for use in medium- and heavy-duty military tactical wheeled vehicles in North America. It also supplies axles for use in buses, coaches and recreational vehicles, fire trucks and other specialty vehicles in North America, Asia Pacific and Europe.
The Company manufacturers heavy-duty trailer axles in North America. Its trailer axles are available in more than 40 models in capacities from 20,000 to 30,000 pounds for all heavy trailer applications and are available with its range of suspension modules, brake products, including drum brakes, disc brakes, anti-lock and trailer stability control systems, and ABS (through our WABCO joint venture). Its supplies universal joints and driveline components, including its Permalube universal joint and RPL Permalube driveline, which are lubricated designs used in the mileage on-highway market. It supplies drivelines in a range of global regions, for use in numerous on-highway vehicle applications, including construction, material handling and mining. It supplies transfer cases and drivelines for use in medium- and heavy-duty military tactical wheeled vehicles, principally in North America. It also supplies transfer cases for use in specialty vehicles in North America. Anti-lock brakes and stability control systems are also used in military vehicles and specialty vehicles. In addition, it supplies trailer air suspension systems and products with an increasing market presence in North America. It also supplies advanced suspension modules for use in light-, ! medium- a! nd heavy-duty military tactical wheeled vehicles, principally in North America. Through a joint venture, it develops, manufactures and sells truck suspensions, trailer axles and suspensions and related wheel-end products in the South American market.
Brakes and Braking Systems
The Company is an independent supplier of air brakes to medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicle manufacturers in North America and Europe. Through manufacturing facilities located in North America, Asia Pacific and Europe, it manufactures a range of foundation air brakes, as well as automatic slack adjusters for brake systems. Its foundation air brake products include cam drum brakes, which offer lining life and tractor/trailer interchangeability; wedge drum brakes, which are lightweight and provide automatic internal wear adjustment; air disc brakes, and wheel-end components, such as hubs, drums and rotors. Its brakes and brake system components also are used in medium- and heavy-duty military tactical wheeled vehicles, principally in North America. It also supplies brakes for use in buses, coaches and recreational vehicles, fire trucks and other specialty vehicles in North America and Europe, and also supply brakes for commercial vehicles, buses and coaches in Asia Pacific.
Other Products
The Company sells other complimentary products, including third party and private label items, through its aftermarket distribution channels. These products are sold under master distribution or similar agreements with outside vendors and include brake shoes and friction materials; automatic slack adjusters; yokes and shafts; wheel-end hubs and drums; ABS and stability control systems; shock absorbers and air springs; air brakes, air systems, air dryers and compressors.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Greg Pugh] When investors think of investing in small-cap stocks, they usually consider a technology driven company that’s changing the market place. Seldom do they look at an automotive parts manufacturer as an engine of growth.
You’ll do a double take when you evaluate Meritor (NYSE: MTOR). - [By Roberto Pedone]
Meritor (MTOR) is engaged in the supply of a range of integrated systems, modules and components to original equipment manufacturers and the aftermarket for commercial vehicle, transportation and industrial sectors. This stock closed up 0.87% to $8.16 in Tuesday's trading session.
Tuesday's Range: $8.04-$8.30
52-Week Range: $3.83-$8.50
Tuesday's Volume: 644,000
Three-Month Average Volume: 1.15 millionFrom a technical perspective, MTOR spiked modestly higher here right above its 50-day moving average of $7.82 with lighter-than-average volume. This move is starting to push shares of MTOR within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if MTOR manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $8.47 to its 52-week high at $8.50 with high volume.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in MTOR as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $7.82 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 1.15 million shares. If that breakout hits soon, then MTOR will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that move are $9 to $10.
- [By Travis Hoium]
What: Shares of automotive equipment supplier Meritor (NYSE: MTOR ) jumped 23% today after the company released earnings.
So what: Sales dropped 22% to $908 million and the company reported a net loss of $4 million, or $0.04 per share. Revenue fell short of estimates but investors are clinging to adjusted earnings per share of $0.06, which came in a penny ahead of expectations. �
Best Defensive Companies To Own For 2014: Tri-Continental Corp (TY)
Tri-Continental Corporation (the Fund) is a diversified closed-end management investment company. The Fund�� portfolio consists primarily of large-capitalization stocks representing a range of industry sectors.
Tri-Continental Corporation invests to produce future growth of both capital and income, while providing reasonable current income. The Fund�� investment manager is J. & W Seligman & Co. Incorporated.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rick Aristotle Munarriz]
Alamy What if there was a way to buy Apple (AAPL) -- recently trading near $568 a share -- for just $500? It's not an outlandish scenario. That's essentially what investors buying into Tri-Continental (TY) are doing. Like many closed-end stock funds, Tri-Continental trades for less than the value of its underlying assets. In Tri-Continental's case, its close on Dec. 24 of $20.18 is a 12 percent discount to its net asset value of $22.95 a share. Tri-Continental invests in some of the country's largest companies across various different industries. Apple just happens to be its largest holding at nearly 3 percent of the portfolio, but it's one of the many stocks in Tri-Continental that investors are buying into for pennies on the dollar. If this sounds too good to be true, you would be right. There's a catch -- and a big catch, at that. But let's first explore the largely ignored universe of closed-end funds. Fun with Funds When investors think about mutual funds they are probably referring to the wide universe of open-ended funds. Led by iconic fund families including Vanguard, Fidelity and T. Rowe Price (TROW), these conventional funds sell an unlimited number of shares. They typically are priced just once at the end of every trading day. Buyers invest and sellers cash out at that day's net asset value, or the closing value of all of the stocks and investments in the funds after subtracting any liabilities that is then divided by the number of shares outstanding. Closed-end funds don't play that way. They trade throughout the day on public exchanges. Tri-Continental, for example, trades on the New York Stock Exchange. A closed-end fund doesn't create new shares when investors want to buy or subtract them when those shares are redeemed. There's a set number of shares, and the free markets of supply and demand dictate their price. Tri-Continental isn't new. The fund has been around since 1929, the same year of a historic market crash. It's one of the hund
Best Defensive Companies To Own For 2014: FAB Universal Corp (FU)
FAB Universal Corp.(FAB), formerly Wizzard Software Corporation, incorporated on July 1, 1998, operates in two segments: Software and Media Services. The Software segment engages primarily in the development, sale, and service of custom and packaged computer software products. The Media Services provides podcast hosting, content management tools and advertising services. The Company�� software segment attributes revenues from the development, sale, and service of custom and packaged computer software products at the time the product is shipped and collections are likely and from digital media publishing services at the time the service is provided. Its media segment attributes revenue from digital media publishing service at the time the service is provided and collection is likely. As of September 30, 2012, the Company does not have any inter-segment revenues. On October 12, 2012, it opened a 20,000 square foot Flagship superstore in the Beijing shopping district of SoShow. On September 26, 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of Digital Entertainment International Ltd. (DEI). As of September 30,2012, the Company discontinued its Future Healthcare of America (FHA).
The Company specializes in the distribution of entertainment and audio visual products through its two flagship stores in Beijing as well as its online stores. DEI, through its wholly owned subsidiary and its VIE, is engaged in marketing and distributing various officially licensed digital entertainment products under the FAB brand, including products such as digital music files, Compact Discs(CD), Video Compact Discs (VCD) and Digital Video Disks (DVD) as well as books, magazines, mobile phone accessories and cameras. DEI�� products and services are primarily distributed through its flagship stores, wholesale services, FAB kiosks, and online virtual stores. FAB kiosks, located in high-traffic areas of office buildings, shopping malls, retail stores and airports, are self-service terminals that provide a range of en! tertainment and consumer applications. Its Media is primarily engaged in operating and providing multimedia kiosks for music downloads information exchange and advertising.
MEDIA
The Company distributes over 150,000 media based products including copyrighted DVD��, Blu-ray Discs, music CD��, video games and downloadable digital content through three distribution channels: wholesale and retail, licensing and kiosks. It conducts their retail business through their flagship stores. Each store has over 20,000 square feet in size and carries the selection of copyrighted audio and video products in China, including CDs, VCDs, DVDs, blu-rays, books, magazines and portable electronic devices. It markets their products to individual consumers and audio-video retailers. The flagship stores are recognized by many Chinese consumers as the right place to buy copyright protected products. Celebrity signing events are the driver to FAB�� retail stores which have been used as a venue for Chinese music and movie stars to meet their fans. Its SoShow flagship provides Beijing shoppers with its audio-video hypermarket. As a preferred venue for product announcements, publishing parties, studio releases, author readings, movie showings, live promotional performances and concerts, its SoShow outlet is one of China�� ultra-modern entertainment destination for music lovers, film buffs, game enthusiasts, and early electronic adopters.
The Company's wholesale distribution provides audio-video products such as compact discs, video compact discs and digital video discs as well as books and magazines to audio-video products retailers. It distributes these media products to over 80 customers including Sohu (NASDAQ: SOHU), Dangdang (NYSE: Dang) and Century Outstanding Information Technology Company, a subsidiary of Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN). Its wholesale business caters to three types of customers: retail stores, FAB license stores and small wholesale/resellers. Customers place orders by! telephon! e, through the Internet or in-person and fulfillment is handled by its vehicle fleet or through direct warehouse access. As of September 30, 2012, the Company has over 100 suppliers and 80 wholesale customers, including the Government.
Its Intelligent Media Kiosks are based on 61 national intellectual property rights, are automated teller machine (ATM) style terminals where consumers can download copyrighted music, video games, ringtones, digital books and movies directly to their cell phones, memory sticks or other mobile storage devices. Its Media Kiosks can also run video ads on the high-tech liquid crystal display (LCD) screens and accept payments for utility bills, metro cards, and credit card bills. It is a self-service vending kiosk designed and launched by the Company. The kiosks target the millions of mobile and portable device users combing interactive touch screen and LED display with a selection of copyrighted content such as music, movies and games. There are thousands of licensed digital entertainment content items in each kiosk, such as music, movie and TV episodes, which allows the customer to play or download to their portable device or memory card with payment by cash, its membership card or ATM card. It has deployed over 11,000 kiosks through their licensing program. The kiosks are located in high-traffic areas, such as office buildings, shopping malls, and retail stores. It generates revenues from its Intelligent Media Kiosk business through the sale of licenses and then through ongoing media content download, media membership card sales and kiosk-based advertising.
SPEECH TECHNOLOGY & SERVICES GROUP
Its legacy Speech Technology & Services Group sells and licenses speech programming tools, related speech products and services, and distributable speech engines in over 13 languages worldwide. It receives the majority of its sales leads through arrangements with AT&T, as well as through its own Internet marketing efforts through Google, Yahoo and! other In! ternet search engines. The Speech Technology and Services Group's immediate focus is to increase revenue and be a preferred supplier for speech technologies to businesses worldwide, emphasize great technologies, competitive prices, and support to the speech development community and offer non-technical hosted speech conversion services to companies.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Bryan Murphy]
If history is any indication, than roughly half of you are about to hate me for what I'm about to say regarding Fab Universal Corp. (NYSEMKT:FU), while the other half of anyone reading this will likely love me for it - there is no in between. Here goes... FU is poised to make a fairly significant pullback following last week's heroic rally.
- [By Sally Jones]
Here’s a look at three application software companies currently on a 52-week low and still held by a few billionaires. The9 Ltd. (NCTY), Merge Healthcare Inc. (MRGE) and FAB Universal Corp. (FU) are more than 52% off a 52-week high.
Best Defensive Companies To Own For 2014: Central Garden & Pet Company (CENTA)
Central Garden & Pet Company produces and sells various products for the pet, and lawn and garden supplies markets in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Pet, and Lawn and Garden. The Pet segment supplies products for dogs and cats comprising edible bones, edible and non-edible chews, dog and cat food and treats, toys, pet carriers, grooming supplies, and other accessories; and food, cages and habitats, toys, chews, and related accessories for birds, small animals, and specialty pets. It also offers animal and household health, and insect control products; aquariums, furniture and lighting fixtures, pumps, filters, water conditioners, food and supplements, and information and knowledge resources for fish, reptiles, and other aquarium-based pets; and products for horses and livestock. This segment sells its products to independent pet distributors, retail chains, grocery stores, mass merchants, and bookstores under various brand names, which include Ada ms, Aqueon, Avoderm, BioSpot, Farnam, Four Paws, Kaytee, Nylabone, Pinnacle, TFH, Zilla, Altosid, Comfort Zone, Coralife, Interpet, Kent Marine, Oceanic Systems, Pet Select, Pre-Strike, Super Pet, and Zodiac. The Lawn and Garden segment provides grass seeds; wild bird feed, bird feeders, bird houses, and other birding accessories; weed, grass, ant and other herbicide, insecticide, and pesticide products; and decorative outdoor lifestyle and lighting products, such as comprising potteries, trellises and other wood products, and holiday lighting products. This segment sells its products to retail chains, independent garden distributors, grocery stores, nurseries, and garden supply retailers under the AMDRO, GKI/Bethlehem Lighting, Ironite, Pennington, Sevin, Grant�s, Lilly Miller, Matthews Four Seasons, New England Pottery, Norcal Pottery, Over-N-Out, Smart Seed, and The Rebels brand names. The Company was founded in 1955 and is based in Walnut Creek, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sean Williams]
Green paw
The month of May has been one to forget for shareholders of Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ: CENT ) (NASDAQ: CENTA ) . The maker of pet products as well as seeds and herbicides for lawn care tumbled after it missed Wall Street's earnings estimates for a second straight quarter. The biggest downside pressure came from its lawn care segment, which saw expenses rise as fertilizer margins fell. However, now could be the time to consider jumping on board this interesting pet/lawn care hybrid company, as it has the potential to unlock shareholder value in a number of ways. - [By Will Ashworth]
At the end of the day, Liquidity Services is a business whose need is an ongoing one. With no debt and lots of cash, I like LQDT’s chances.
Small Caps to Buy #3: Central Garden & Pet (CENTA)In addition to its stock dropping 36% in 2013, Central Garden & Pet (CENTA) has underperformed the S&P 500 by almost 18 percentage points during the past five years while everyone and their dog — small caps, large caps, whatever — has seen impressive gains over that same period.
Best Defensive Companies To Own For 2014: Peabody Energy Corporation(BTU)
Peabody Energy Corporation engages in the mining of coal. It mines, prepares, and sells thermal coal to electric utilities and metallurgical coal to industrial customers. The company owns interests in 30 coal mining operations located in the United States and Australia, as well as owns joint venture interest in a Venezuela mine. It is also involved in marketing, brokering, and trading coal. In addition, the company develops a mine-mouth coal-fueled generating plant; and Btu Conversion projects that are designed to convert coal to natural gas or transportation fuels; and clean coal technologies. As of December 31, 2011, it had 9 billion tons of proven and probable coal reserves. The company was founded in 1883 and is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Tyler Crowe]
Today, it's a different story. We have reduced natural gas imports by 200 billion cubic feet per month, and the prices have converted several power plants, coal's largest customer, to use gas instead. Not only has this deflected all that gas back into the global market, but it has also sent U.S. coal overseas. In 2012, Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU ) saw a 13% reduction in U.S. coal generation use and exported 120 million tons of�metallurgical�and thermal coal. The combination of these moves has severely brought down the price of coal around the world and caused several shale gas candidates -- Europe, China, and India -- to increase their coal consumption.
- [By Dan Caplinger]
In response, Arch Coal has sought to increase its exports to countries where coal is still in higher demand. With its deal with Kinder Morgan (NYSE: KMI ) to help boost its export capacity, Arch hopes that boosting its access to export markets will provide a new avenue for selling its coal. Yet again, Arch suffers a competitive disadvantage here compared to rival Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU ) , because Peabody's resources are better located strategically to take advantage of export opportunities.
- [By Aaron Levitt]
While Gazprom will be the major winner of this, the potential losers include U.S. coal stocks Arch Coal (ACI) and Peabody Energy (BTU). Both have already felt the one-two punch of dwindling demand here at home coupled with rising environmental regulations. As two of the biggest suppliers to China, the deal could mean more losses for investors as the Asian Dragon replaces coal with Russian piped gas.
- [By Louie Grint]
One example is Arch Coal (NYSE: ACI ) , which is the second-largest coal producer in the U.S. The company holds thermal coal operations in its Central Appalachia mine, but unfortunately, this mine holds high costs and is in secular decline. This is why Arch Coal is shifting its focus toward metallurgical coal, particularly higher-quality coking coals that hold lower costs compared to other competitors in the region. Hence, in the event of higher thermal coal demand, we might not see Arch Coal making extra cash.
But there's another coal producer that is better positioned than Arch Coal, Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU ) . The company holds an interesting asset that is located in one of the lowest-cost coal-mining regions in the world: the Powder River Basin. The geology in the area allows easier extraction and thus lower operation costs. So, with this abundant, low-sulfur, low-cost mine, Peabody could arrange coal shipments at competitive prices to meet a possible higher European demand.
Best Defensive Companies To Own For 2014: Ironwood Pharmaceuticals Inc.(IRWD)
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. discovers, develops, and commercializes medicines targeting therapeutic needs. The company is developing Linaclotide, a first-in-class compound that is in Phase III clinical trials for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation, chronic constipation, and other lower gastrointestinal conditions. It also focuses on the research and development of early stage product candidates and preclinical research in various therapeutic areas, including gastrointestinal disease, pain and inflammation, respiratory disease, and cardiovascular disease. The company has a collaboration agreement with Forest Laboratories, Inc. to jointly develop and commercialize linaclotide in North America; a license agreement with Almirall, S.A. to develop and commercialize linaclotide in Europe; and a license agreement with Astellas Pharma Inc. that provides Astellas Pharma with the right to develop and commercialize linaclotide in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia. It serves patients, payors, and healthcare providers. The company was formerly known as Microbia, Inc. and changed its name to Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in April 2008. Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sean Williams]
What: Shares of Ironwood Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: IRWD ) , a specialty biopharmaceutical company, gained as much as 11% after the company reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings results.
Best Defensive Companies To Own For 2014: Supertex Inc.(SUPX)
Supertex, Inc., together with its subsidiary, Supertex Limited, designs, develops, manufactures, and markets high voltage analog and mixed signal integrated circuits (IC) primarily in Asia, the United States, China, and Europe. The company offers high voltage analog multiplexer switches, pulsers, high-speed MOSFET drivers, and discrete high voltage MOSFETs and arrays for the medical electronics market. It also provides LED driver products, including linear regulators and switching regulators for general lighting in automotive, industrial, and consumer applications; and for backlighting in LCD TVs, monitors, and laptop screens. In addition, the company offers electroluminescent lamps for backlighting hand-held instruments, such as cell phone keypads, watches, monochrome flat screens, and MP3 players; and driver ICs for driving non-impact printers and plotters. Further, it provides high voltage amplifier ICs to drive optical micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) for use in optical switching applications in the telecommunications market; high voltage electronic switch ICs for use in telephones; high voltage ICs for use as ring generators; and protection ICs for line cards. Additionally, the company offers ICs and DMOS devices primarily for various industrial applications. It markets and sells its products through direct sales personnel, independent sales representatives, and distributors primarily to original equipment manufacturers of electronic products. The company was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lauren Pollock]
Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Monday’s session are AutoNavi Holdings Ltd.(AMAP), Dick's Sporting Goods Inc.(DKS) and Supertex Inc.(SUPX)
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