This series, brought to you by Yahoo! Finance, looks at which upgrades and downgrades make sense, and which ones investors should act on. Today, our headlines feature a pair of upgrades for AT&T (NYSE: T ) and IMAX (NYSE: IMAX ) . But the news isn't all good, so before we get to those, let's find out first why...
Liquidity Services is drying up
Shares of surplus, scrap, and salvage merchandise liquidator Liquidity Services (NASDAQ: LQDT ) are getting vaporized Monday, down nearly 4% as of this writing. For this, you can (at least partly)�blame analysts at the Benchmark Company, who cut their price target on Liquidity to $47.
Now granted, $47 is still a pretty optimistic target for Liquidity investors to shoot for. The stock today trades under $34, so a move to $47 would still produce about a 38% profit -- not quite as good as the 40%-plus profit Benchmark used to predict, but still an attractive prospect.
Problem is, it's hard to see how Liquidity gets there. Even after today's sell-off, the shares still cost nearly 28 times earnings -- pricey for a company expected to grow its profits at about 18% per year over the next five years. It's also worth pointing out that the profits Liquidity's earning today aren't of particularly high quality. If Liquidity reported "earning" $40 million last year, its actual cash flows from operations were only $24 million, and, once you subtract capex, actual free cash flow at the firm was less than $17 million.
Top 5 Asian Stocks To Watch For 2015: Acme United Corp (ACU)
Acme United Corporation, incorporated in 1882, is a worldwide supplier of cutting, measuring and safety products to the school, home, office, hardware and industrial markets. It markets and sells under five main brands - Westcott, Clauss, Camillus, PhysiciansCare and Pac-Kit. The Company has grouped its operations into three segments based on the Company's geographical organization and structure: United States, which includes its Asian operations; Canada and Europe. On February 28, 2011, the Company purchased all of the assets of The Pac-Kit Safety Equipment Company, which is a manufacturer of first aid kits for the industrial, safety, transportation and marine markets. In June 2012, the Company acquired selected assets of The C-Thru Ruler Company. In August 2013, the Company purchased a manufacturing and distribution center in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
The Company's operations are in the United States, Canada, Europe (located in Germany) and Asia (located in Hong Kong and China). The operations in the United States, Canada and Europe are primarily engaged in product development, marketing, sales, administrative and distribution activities. The operations in Asia consist of sourcing, product development, production planning, quality control and sales activities.
Cutting
Principal products within the cutting device category are scissors, shears, guillotine paper trimmers, rotary paper trimmers, rotary cutters, knives, hobby knives and blades, utility knives, pruners, loppers, saws, manicure products, medical cutting instruments and pencil sharpeners. During the year ended December 31, 2011, products introduced included an expanded line of heavy duty school and office iPoint pencil sharpeners. Other recent product introductions included Westcott TrimAir paper trimmers with patented titanium coating and a blade change system for rotary and personal trimmers, Westcott Ultra Soft Handle scissors with anti-microbial product protection, True Professional sewing shear! s, as well as a line of iPoint pencil sharpeners utilizing the Company's non-stick coating. The Company also added to its KleenEarth family of recycled products by modifying the production process to allow for multi-colored products as opposed to the traditional black. During 2011, Clauss introduced the AirShoc line of titanium coated non stick garden tools.
Measuring
Principal products within the measuring instrument category are rulers, and math tools. During 2011, product introductions included Westcott branded compasses, protractors, rulers and math kits with anti-microbial product protection.
Safety
Principal products within the safety product category are first aid kits, personal protection products and over-the-counter medication refills. The Company markets these products under the PhysiciansCare brand.
The Company competes with Fiskars Corporation, Helix International Ltd. and Johnson and Johnson.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Bristol Voss]
Acme United (NYSE: ACU) is a global supplier of cutting, measuring and safety products to consumer and industrial markets. It has neatly tracked the S&P small-cap index and shown the least volatility of the three stocks. While its $43.7 million market cap is the lowest of the three, its nearly $14 share price is the highest. It has a forward P/E of 9.2, and its dividend yield is the best of the three at 2.3%. In its most recent quarter, Acme posted a 7% increase in net income and a 3% rise in earnings.
Top US Companies To Watch In Right Now: Market Vectors Steel ETF (SLX)
Market Vectors Steel ETF (the Fund) seeks to replicate as closely as possible the price and yield performance of the NYSE Arca Steel Index (STEEL or the Index) by investing in a portfolio of securities that generally replicates STEEL. STEEL, calculated by the NYSE Alternext, is a modified market capitalization-weighted index consisting of publicly traded companies predominantly involved in the production of steel products or mining and processing of iron ore. The Index includes companies primarily involved in a variety of activities related to steel production, including the operation of manufacturing mills and fabrication of steel products. Companies eligible for inclusion in Index should be engaged in solar power and related products and services, deriving at least 66% of revenues from it with market cap exceeding $100 million, and should have three-month trading volume equal to or greater than $1 million per day. Its investment advisor is Van Eck Associates Corporation. Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
On Monday, Goldman Sachs upgraded the whole steel sector from Cautious to Neutral and specifically upgraded small cap and mid cap steel stocks AK Steel Holding Corporation (NYSE: AKS), United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) and Steel Dynamics Inc. (NASDAQ: STLD) to Buy with price targets of $6, $30 and $22, respectively, but should you go for one of these individual steel stocks or for the Market Vectors Steel ETF (NYSEARCA: SLX)? To begin with, Goldman Sachs says that the�supply-demand fundamentals for steel are starting to look more appealing as some supply has been taken out plus they have a very bearish view on input costs (as in iron ore)���which bodes well for steel producers in the long run. Moreover, recently filed trade cases could provide some tailwind���if they are successful.�Of course a rising tide can lift all ships, but Goldman Sachs suggests that you go for the following�small cap or mid cap steel stocks:�
- [By Ben Levisohn]
In our late October report on X, we noted the Company was “scratching the surface” on operational improvement, and we expected shares to edge higher over the near term. While X shares have appreciated by 16% since that report vs. the S&P 500 of +4% and the [Market Vectors Steel ETF (SLX)] of +3%, we believe shares have more room to run based on our positive carbon hot-rolled steel pricing revisions for 2014: meaningful raw material cost tailwinds (coal, scrap, iron ore); low Street EPS and EBITDA expectations for 2014-2015; an ever-increasing interest rate environment (benefits for pension exposure); more evidence of European macro stability; and above-average likelihood of incremental operational efficiency announcements such as a joint venture or tolling agreement with Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (ATI).
Top US Companies To Watch In Right Now: American Heritage International Inc (AHII)
American Heritage International Inc., formerly Cumberland Hills Ltd., incorporated on January 19, 2010, intends to focus on electronic cigarette. The Company�� product includes American Heritage, American One, American Freedom, American Nights, American Standard and Smoking Alternative Gums and Mints.
The Company�� initial and primary line will be the American Heritage line. American One is a disposable Electronic Cigarette, good for over 500 draws, about the equivalent of over two packs of traditional cigarettes. American Freedom will be the brand name for its Nicotine-Free line of Electronic Cigarettes. American Nights will be a product line targeted to the young adult market of social smokers. Smoking Alternative products will include gums, and mints.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Bryan Murphy]
Lorillard Inc. (NYSE:LO), Altria Group Inc. (NYSE:MO), and the rest of the big tobacco names may want to take notice. For that matter, anyone with a presence in the electronic cigarette market (which still includes the aforementioned Altria and Lorillard, but many other small payers too) may want to pay attention as well.... e-cig newcomer American Heritage International Inc. (OTCBB:AHII) has just added two states to the number where its premium product can be purchased. The young company promised it was going to expand after jumping into the game on a small scale in - and this isn't a misprint - January of this year. With today's addition of Nevada and Illinois, AHII is now giving MO and LO a run for their money in eleven states. Thirty-nine more to go.
- [By James E. Brumley]
The winds of change are blowing in the cigarette arena, and though in a superficial sense it looks like the usual big tobacco names such as Reynolds American, Inc. (NYSE:RAI) or Lorillard Inc. (NYSE:LO) are positioning to retain their dominance in the new era of cigarette smoking, in reality, it's a little name like American Heritage International Inc. (OTCBB:AHII) that could end up beating the big guys at their own game.
- [By Bryan Murphy]
Enter American Heritage International Inc. (OTCBB:AHII). No, it's not marijuana play. It's also not a maker of marijuana vending machines. It's an electronic cigarette maker still in its initial expansion phase, and seeing the potential of vending machines (but without the risk and potential legal hurdles of marijuana vending machines), the company announced this morning it has inked a deal with a major operator of vending machines to sell its e-cigs.
- [By John Udovich]
After marijuana, the electronic cigarette sector and e-Cig stocks or industry players�like�Reynolds American, Inc (NYSE: RAI), mCig Inc (OTCBB: MCIG), Victory Electronic Cigarettes Corp (OTCMKTS: ECIG) and American Heritage International Inc (OTCBB: AHII) is looking like the next hot niche sector for investors. However, electronic cigarette stock investors should be aware of the following�recent good and bad news from the sector that needs to be digested:
Top US Companies To Watch In Right Now: Expeditors International of Washington Inc.(EXPD)
Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. provides logistics services in the United States and internationally. The company?s services include consolidation or forwarding air and ocean freight; distribution management; vendor consolidation; cargo insurance; purchase order management; and customized logistics information. Its airfreight services comprise the procurement of shipments from its customers; determination of the routing; consolidation of shipments bound for a particular airport distribution point; and selection of the airline for transportation to the distribution point. The company also offers breakbulk services that include receiving and breaking down consolidated airfreight lots and arranging for distribution of the individual shipments. Its ocean freight and ocean services include ocean freight consolidation; and handling full container loads. In addition, the company acts as a customs broker, who assists importers to clear shipments through customs by pre paring required documentation, calculating and providing for payment of duties on behalf of the importer, arranging for any required inspections by governmental agencies, and arranging for delivery; and provides other value added services at destination, such as warehousing and product distribution, time definite transportation, and inventory management. Further, it offers custom clearances for goods moving by rail and truck between the United States, Canada, and/or Mexico; and customs consulting services The company?s customers primarily include retailers, distributors of consumer electronics, department store chains, clothing and shoe wholesalers, manufacturers, and catalogue stores. Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. was founded in 1979 and is based in Seattle, Washington.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Duprey]
Global logistics specialist Expeditors International (NASDAQ: EXPD ) announced yesterday that the company's CEO would retire effective�March 1.�
- [By Ben Levisohn]
The express-delivery company has gained 28% during the past three months, trumping the 18% return from�United Parcel Service�(UPS), the 4.6% gain in J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) and the 0.2% rise in Expeditors International of Washington�(EXPD).
No comments:
Post a Comment