AFP/Getty ImagesSamsung's Galaxy Gear smartwatch. From a widely dissed $7.2 billion buyout to a record month for automakers, here's a rundown of the week's best and worst moves in the business world. Apple (AAPL) -- Winner It's time to get excited about Apple again. The consumer tech giant confirmed that it will be hosting a media event on Tuesday. There's plenty of speculation on what the iEverything company will be unveiling. It's widely believed that Apple will not only unveil the updated iPhone 5S, but also a cheaper iPhone 5C that it can market to prepaid carriers in this country and the vast majority of wireless companies overseas that don't subsidize the cost of iPhones. Apple's market share in smartphones has fallen from 17 percent to 13 percent over the past year according to industry watcher IDC. It needs a hit next week. It also wouldn't hurt if the Cupertino bellwether surprised the market with a few unexpected products and features. Microsoft (MSFT) -- Loser The software giant's move to buy Nokia's (NOK) handset business in a deal valued at roughly $7.2 billion was good news for Nokia's beleaguered shareholders, but Microsoft investors weren't impressed. Nokia's Lumia has been the best ambassador for Microsoft's Windows Phone mobile operating system. But acquiring the Finnish company's devices and services business may prove problematic. There weren't too many companies backing Microsoft's fledgling platform, but buying Nokia will scare away HTC, Samsung, and others that have been showing Windows Phone some support in the past. The success of Windows as a mobile platform now rests entirely on Nokia's shoulders. Microsoft's making a pretty big bet here. Detroit -- Winner The City of Detroit became a punch line again when it filed for bankruptcy this summer, but let's give it up for the resilient nature of the American auto industry. Automakers reported their sales for the month of August this week, and all of the major players came through with encouraging double-digit percentage gains. An amazing 1.5 million new vehicles were sold in this country last month, 17 percent ahead of the number of trucks and cars that cleared the showroom last August. The improving economy and an uptick in employment levels are helping. It also doesn't hurt that the average car on the road is 11 years old. That's a lot of pent-up demand for new rides. Let's also not forget to credit the recent spike in oil prices. As gasoline gets more expensive, drivers are drawn to newer, more fuel-efficient cars. Facebook (FB) -- Loser Shares of the leading social network operator may have hit fresh 52-week highs this week, but some critics argue that the company's behavior is hitting new lows. Privacy groups are asking regulators to delve into the proposed policy changes at Facebook that will allow the site to use names and images of its more than a billion users in marketing initiatives. "This means, for example, that you permit a business or other entity to pay us to display your name and/or profile picture with your content or information, without any compensation to you," it reads. Facebook apologists will argue that the site's entitled to make money off the website that it's making available for free. But Facebook can't afford to have users turn hostile. Even if the privacy groups are painting an unlikely portrait of what Facebook will do, there's a reputation that needs to be defended here. Smartwatches -- Winner Wearable computing has been an industry buzzword since last year, and a key component has been the speculation that smartwatches -- wrist-hugging devices that interact with smartphones and tablets to provide interactive information -- will be insanely popular. Tech giants have been slow to hit the market with their devices since the Kickstarter-funded Pebble came out. But things picked up this week when Samsung and Qualcomm (QCOM) introduced their smartwatches. They're not cheap; either one will set you back around $300 this holiday season. However, people were initially turned off by the high prices of smartphones and tablets, too, and eventually, consumers came around. They'll probably warm up to wearable devices as they garner more attention.
Top 5 Value Stocks To Watch Right Now: Tupperware Corporation(TUP)
Tupperware Brands Corporation operates as a direct seller of various products across a range of brands and categories through an independent sales force. The company engages in the manufacture and sale of kitchen and home products, and beauty and personal care products. It offers preparation, storage, and serving solutions for the kitchen and home, as well as kitchen cookware and tools, children?s educational toys, microwave products, and gifts under the Tupperware brand name primarily in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Asia Pacific, and North America. The company provides beauty and personal care products, which include skin care products, cosmetics, bath and body care, toiletries, fragrances, nutritional products, apparel, and related products principally in Mexico, South Africa, the Philippines, Australia, and Uruguay. It offers beauty and personal care products under the Armand Dupree, Avroy Shlain, BeautiControl, Fuller, NaturCare, Nutrimetics, Nuvo, and Swissgar de brand names. The company sells its Tupperware products directly to distributors, directors, managers, and dealers; and beauty products primarily through consultants and directors. As of December 26, 2009, the Tupperware distribution system had approximately 1,800 distributors, 61,300 managers, and 1.3 million dealers; and the sales force representing the Beauty businesses approximately 1.1 million. The company was formerly known as Tupperware Corporation and changed its name to Tupperware Brands Corporation in December 2005. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.
Top 5 Value Stocks To Watch Right Now: Caterpillar Inc.(CAT)
Caterpillar Inc. manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives worldwide. It operates through three lines of businesses: Machinery, Engines, and Financial Products. The Machinery business offers construction, mining, and forestry machinery, including track and wheel tractors, track and wheel loaders, pipelayers, motor graders, wheel tractor-scrapers, track and wheel excavators, backhoe loaders, log skidders, log loaders, off-highway trucks, articulated trucks, paving products, skid steer loaders, underground mining equipment, tunnel boring equipment, and related parts. It also manufactures diesel-electric locomotives; and manufactures and services rail-related products and logistics services for other companies. The Engines business provides diesel, heavy fuel, and natural gas reciprocating engines for Caterpillar machinery, electric power generation systems, marine, petrol eum, construction, industrial, agricultural, and other applications. It offers industrial turbines and turbine-related services for oil and gas, and power generation applications. This business also remanufactures Caterpillar engines, machines, and engine components; and offers remanufacturing services for other companies. The Financial Products business provides retail and wholesale financing alternatives for Caterpillar machinery and engines, solar gas turbines, and other equipment and marine vessels, as well as offers loans and various forms of insurance to customers and dealers. It also offers financing for vehicles, power generation facilities, and marine vessels. The company markets its products directly, as well as through its distribution centers, dealers, and distributors. It was formerly known as Caterpillar Tractor Co. and changed its name to Caterpillar Inc. in 1986. Caterpillar Inc. was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Shauna O'Brien]
Bank of America/Merrill Lynch reported on Tuesday that it has cut its estimates on Caterpillar Inc. (CAT).
The firm, which currently has a “Neutral” rating on CAT, has lowered estimates on the company through 2015. Analysts currently have a $88 price target on CAT, suggesting a 1% increase from the stock’s current price of $86.88.
Caterpillar shares were mostly flat during Tuesday morning trading. The stock has been mostly flat YTD.
Best High Tech Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Schlumberger N.V.(SLB)
Schlumberger Limited, together with its subsidiaries, supplies technology, integrated project management, and information solutions to the oil and gas exploration and production industries worldwide. The company?s Oilfield Services segment provides exploration and production services; wireline technology that offers open-hole and cased-hole services; supplies engineering support, directional-drilling, measurement-while-drilling, and logging-while-drilling services; and testing services. This segment also offers well services; supplies well completion services and equipment; artificial lift; data and consulting services; geo services; and information solutions, such as consulting, software, information management system, and IT infrastructure services that support oil and gas industry. Its WesternGeco segment provides reservoir imaging, monitoring, and development services; and operates data processing centers and multiclient seismic library. This segment also offers variou s services include 3D and time-lapse (4D) seismic surveys to multi-component surveys for delineating prospects and reservoir management. The company?s M-I SWACO segment supplies drilling fluid systems to improve drilling performance; fluid systems and specialty tools to optimize wellbore productivity; production technology solutions to maximize production rates; and environmental solutions that manages waste volumes generated in drilling and production operations. Its Smith Oilfield segment designs, manufactures, and markets drill bits and borehole enlargement tools; and supplies drilling tools and services, tubular, completion services, and other related downhole solutions. The company?s Distribution segment markets pipes, valves, and fittings, as well as mill, safety, and other maintenance products. This segment also provides warehouse management, vendor integration, and inventory management services. Schlumberger Limited was founded in 1927 and is based in Houston, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Tony Daltorio]
The biggest oilfield service companies should get a big lift from the boom, Moors said. That includes Schlumberger Ltd. (NYSE: SLB), Halliburton Co. (NYSE: HAL), Weatherford International Ltd. (NYSE: WFT), and Baker Hughes Inc. (NYSE: BHI).
- [By Jonas Elmerraji]
2013 has been a stellar year for shares of oil service giant Schlumberger (SLB). Since the calendar flipped over to January, SLB has rallied more than 25%, beating the broad market's impressive pace by double digits. As oil prices linger on the high end of their historic range, SLB is well positioned to keep ticking higher.
Schlumberger provides must-have services to national and supermajor oil firms as well as smaller E&Ps, offering up niche services like seismic surveys and well drilling and positioning. In a nutshell, SLB's job is to pull oil out of the ground as efficiently as possible. Oil firms turn to Schlumberger because the tasks they need to accomplish are too nuanced or proprietary to pull off in-house. So as long as the company continues to pour cash into R&D for drilling technology and software, the firm should continue to score lucrative contracts.
Some of Schlumberger's most attractive opportunities right now come from overseas. The firm is one of the largest oil servicers in Russia, a key growth market in the years ahead. It's also got an important presence in smaller oil markets, where it's a big fish in a small pond. A big scale and stellar reputation should guarantee Schlumberger an attractive piece of the oil pie for years to come.
Top 5 Value Stocks To Watch Right Now: Dollar Tree Inc.(DLTR)
Dollar Tree, Inc. operates discount variety stores in the United States and Canada. Its stores offer merchandise primarily at the fixed price of $1.00. The company operates its stores under the names of Dollar Tree, Deal$, Dollar Tree Deal$, Dollar Giant, and Dollar Bills. Its stores offer consumable merchandise, including candy and food, and health and beauty care, as well as household consumables, such as paper, plastics, household chemicals, in select stores, and frozen and refrigerated food; variety merchandise, which includes toys, durable housewares, gifts, party goods, greeting cards, softlines, and other items; and seasonal goods, such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas merchandise. As of April 30, 2011, it operated 4,089 stores in 48 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 88 stores in Canada. The company was founded in 1986 and is based in Chesapeake, Virginia.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lawrence Meyers]
The finance sector, as mentioned, can make money in many ways. The second-highest growth sector is expected to be consumer discretionary, with a 6.2% increase. When you look at earnings from luxury brands like Tiffany & Co. (TIF), and that the hotel sector continues to do very well, it suggests that those people who are in good financial shape are spending their money. Meanwhile, dollar players like Dollar Tree (DLTR) continue to perform very well, suggesting that folks with less money are spending it on cheaper items.
- [By Lawrence Meyers]
As a convenience store, it doesn’t have direct competition from�Dollar Tree (DLTR) or Family Dollar (FDO) because these dollar stores aren�� exclusively focused on food (and they have no gasoline or cigarette sales), and they��e targeted at the folks who are trying to save money over convenience, not vice versa. The convenience angle is another reason why�Walmart (WMT) and Costco (COST)�aren’t competitors, since those behemoths are about a total shopping experience.
No comments:
Post a Comment