Mid-Morning Market Update: Markets Slip; Kohl's Q3 Profit Misses Estimates

Following the market opening Thursday, the Dow traded down 0.09 percent to 15,808.02 while the NASDAQ declined 0.22 percent to 3,956.84. The S&P also fell, dropping 0.04 percent to 1,781.27.

Top Headline
Kohl's (NYSE: KSS) reported an 18 percent drop in its third-quarter profit.

Kohl's quarterly profit declined to $177 million, or $0.81 per share, from a year-ago profit of $215 million, or $$0.91 per share.

Its revenue dropped to $4.44 billion from $4.49 billion. However, analysts were estimating earnings of $0.86 per share on revenue of $4.55 billion. Kohl's also lowered its full-year profit forecast to a range of $4.08 to $4.23 per share, versus its earlier forecast of $4.15 to $4.35 per share. It projects Q4 earnings of $1.59 to $1.74 per share.

Equities Trading UP
SolarCity (NASDAQ: SCTY) shot up 10.25 percent to $59.45 after the company priced $54.425 million of Solar Asset Backed Notes. Baird upgraded the stock from Neutral to Outperform.

Shares of E-Commerce China Dangdang (NYSE: DANG) got a boost, shooting up 6.55 percent to $9.60 after the company reported upbeat Q3 earnings.

CGI Group (NYSE: GIB) was also up, gaining 7.28 percent to $38.59 after the company swung to a profit in the fourth quarter.

Equities Trading DOWN
Shares of Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) were down 13.36 percent to $20.79 after the company posted weaker-than-expected fiscal first-quarter revenue and issued a weak outlook. Cisco also increased its share buyback program by $15 billion. Deutsche Bank downgraded the stock from Buy to Hold.

Kohl's (NYSE: KSS) shares tumbled 7.35 percent to $53.98 after the company reported an 18 percent drop in its third-quarter profit and lowered its outlook.

NetEase (NASDAQ: NTES) was down, falling 4.55 percent to $66.25 after the company posted its Q3 unaudited financial results. Deutsche Bank downgraded the stock from Buy to Hold.

Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded down 0.75 percent to $93.18, while gold traded up 1.06 percent to $1,281.90.

Silver traded up 1.14 percent Thursday to $20.68, while copper fell 0.35 percent to $3.15.

Eurozone
European shares were mostly higher today. The Spanish Ibex Index tumbled 0.37 percent, while Italy's FTSE MIB Index fell 0.79 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX gained 0.67 percent and the French CAC 40 climbed 0.59 percent while U.K. shares rose 0.30 percent.

Economics
US jobless claims fell by 2,000 to 339,000 in the week ended November 9. However, economists were projecting claims to drop to 335,000.

US productivity rose by an annual rate of 1.9 percent in the third quarter, versus economists' expectations for a 2.4 percent increase. Unit-labor costs declined by 0.6 percent.

The US trade deficit increased to $41.8 billion in September, versus a revised $38.7 billion in the prior month. However, economists were expecting the deficit to rise to $39.7 billion. The country's exports fell 0.2 percent to $188.9 billion, while imports climbed 1.2 percent to $230.7 billion.

The Treasury is set to auction 3-and 6-month bills.

Data on money supply will be released at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Posted-In: Earnings News Guidance Eurozone Futures Forex Global Econ #s Economics Hot Intraday Update Markets Movers Tech

(c) 2013 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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Target Corporation Plans to Open Earlier on Thanksgiving Day (TGT)

On Monday, retail giant Target (TGT) announced that its stores will be open on Thanksgiving day, giving shoppers early access to its Black Friday deals.

Beginning at 8:00 pm on Thanksgiving day, Target shoppers will have access to the store’s doorbuster deals, which will take place in store and online from Thursday November 28 to Saturday November 30. Some of Target’s doorbuster deals include Apple iPad Minis for only $299 and the new iPad Air for $479.

Commenting on Target’s Thanksgiving Day plans, executive vice president Kathee Tesija noted “For both our guests and team members, Black Friday is an exciting event that officially marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season. By offering advance access to deals at Target.com and opening our stores earlier, we are making it easier for guests to build a Black Friday ritual that works for them. No matter where or when they choose to shop at Target, guests will be able to kick off their holiday shopping with deep discounts on a wide variety of the season's most popular items.”

Target shares inched 0.88% higher during Monday’s session. Year-to-date, the stock is up 10.69%.

Hot Penny Stocks To Buy For 2014

As China celebrates 2013 and the year of the snake, we are looking at what could be the year of the Federal Budget -- more specifically our debt and how we will manage it for many years to come.

The U.S. has been spending more than it makes for some time now, creating a significant deficit since the end of the Clinton administration (which grows on a daily basis and can be tracked to the penny). Just like any average American household, overspending can carry on for extended periods by rolling over debt and borrowing more and more money in what seems like a never-ending game of chasing our tail.

The government has become an expert at this process. Yet without its spending, some would say our economy could be in much worse shape - keeping the Keynesian theories alive that it�� our government�� responsibility to step in when needed. The battle rages between those who stand behind a balanced budget and those who tolerate massive amounts of national debt as part of our way of life, believing that financing it keeps our country moving along. While both sides argue, no one will really know the answer for many years as both spending and intake tug and pull at each other.

Hot Penny Stocks To Buy For 2014: Atwood Oceanics Inc. (ATW)

Atwood Oceanics, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in offshore drilling, and the completion of exploratory and developmental oil and gas wells. The company owns semisubmersible rigs, semisubmersible tender assist rigs, jack-up drilling rigs, and submersible drilling rigs. As of November 22, 2010, it operated nine mobile offshore drilling units located in offshore southeast Asia, offshore Africa, offshore Australia, offshore South America, and the Mediterranean Sea. The company was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Marc Courtenay]

  That's said, I'd also consider Atwood Oceanics (ATW) an even more irresistible acquisition bulls-eye. This Houston, Texas firm is an offshore drilling contractor that engages in the drilling and completion of exploratory and developmental oil and gas wells.

• [By Alex Planes]

  Investors love stocks that consistently beat the Street without getting ahead of their fundamentals and risking a meltdown. The best stocks offer sustainable market-beating gains, with robust and improving financial metrics that support strong price growth. Does Atwood Oceanics (NYSE: ATW  ) fit the bill? Let's take a look at what its recent results tell us about its potential for future gains.

• [By Charles Mizrahi]

  Companies rely on third party contractors, such as Atwood Oceanics (ATW) to provide rigs in these deep-water environments. High utilization rates have resulted in rig shortages, creating upward pressure on prices. Atwood's largest customers include Chevron (Australia), Noble, and Kosmos Energy Ghana.

Hot Penny Stocks To Buy For 2014: Qualstar Corporation(QBAK)

Qualstar Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and sells automated magnetic tape libraries used to store, retrieve, and manage electronic data primarily in network computing environments worldwide. Its tape libraries consists of cartridge tape drives, tape cartridges, and robotics to move the cartridges from their storage locations to the tape drives under software control. The tape libraries also provide data storage solutions for organizations requiring backup, recovery, and archival storage of critical electronic information. The company also offers ancillary products related to its tape libraries, such as tape media, tape magazines, cables, bar code labels, and fiber channel adapters. In addition, it designs, develops, and sells switching power supplies that are used to convert alternate current line voltage to direct current voltages for use in electronic equipment, such as telecommunications equipment, servers, routers, switches, lighting, and gaming devices. Qualstar Corporation sells its tape drive products primarily to value added resellers and original equipment manufacturers, as well as switching power supplies primarily to original equipment manufacturers, contract manufacturers, and distributors. The company was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Simi Valley, California.

Top 5 Canadian Companies To Own In Right Now: Telestone Technologies Corp.(TSTC)

Telestone Technologies Corporation offers wireless local-access network technologies and solutions primarily in the People?s Republic of China. Its access-network solutions include the research and development, and application of access network technology. The company designs and sells electronic equipments, such as wireless fiber-optic distribution system products, RFPA products, passive components, repeaters, radio frequency peripherals, and base station antennas used to provide access network solutions for 2G, 3G, broadband access, and CATV networks. It also offers project design, project management, installation, maintenance, and other after-sales services. In addition, Telestone provides various solutions to the telecommunications industry, which cover indoor and outdoor environments comprising hotels, residential estates, office buildings, airports, exhibition centers, underground stations, and highways and tunnels. Further, the company engages in the design, develop ment, production and installation, and trading of wireless telecommunication coverage system equipment. It also markets its products to 29 countries, including Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, and Vietnam. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Beijing, China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By insider]

  The valuation box will also clearly indicate it if a company is traded at below its net current asset value (NCAV). Please see the valuation box for Telestone (TSTC) below.

Hot Penny Stocks To Buy For 2014: Ruth's Hospitality Group Inc.(RUTH)

Ruth?s Hospitality Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates restaurants in the United States and internationally. It operates the Ruth?s Chris Steak House, Mitchell?s Fish Market, Columbus Fish Market, Mitchell?s Steakhouse, and Cameron?s Steakhouse restaurant concepts in the full-service dining industry. The company?s restaurants cater to families, special occasion diners, and business clientele. As of December 27, 2009, it owned or operated 152 restaurants, including 64 company-owned Ruth?s Chris Steak House Company restaurants, 66 Ruth?s Chris Steak House franchise restaurants, 19 company-owned Mitchell?s Fish Markets, and 3 company-owned Mitchell?s Steakhouse restaurants. The company was formerly known as Ruth?s Chris Steak House, Inc. and changed its name to Ruth?s Hospitality Group, Inc. in February 2008. Ruth?s Hospitality Group, Inc. was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Heathrow, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rick Aristotle Munarriz]

  AP, Rockstar GamesGrand Theft Auto V has been a big winner for Take-Two Interactive. When it releases its earnings this week, we'll find out just how big. You can never know in advance all the news that will move the market in a given week, but some things you can see coming. From earnings reports out of Apple to a deal on burritos on Halloween, here are some of the items that will help shape the week that lies ahead on Wall Street. Monday -- An Apple a Day: Last Tuesday Apple (AAPL) had the ear of consumers as it introduced new iPads, iMacs, and an updated operating system. Monday afternoon it will be time to sway investors with its fiscal fourth quarter report. Apple is still the top dog in consumer electronics, but iPad, iPod, and Mac sales have been slipping lately. Apple's iPhone is the only product category growing, and the end result is that analysts see flat revenue growth at Apple on declining profitability. Apple's quarter ended with the welcome news that it had sold 9 million iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c devices in their initial weekend of availability. Now it's time to see if it was enough to save Apple's quarter. Tuesday -- Game On: After years of sluggish sales the video game console industry showed signs of life last month. Take-Two Interactive's (TTWO) Grand Theft Auto V was a smashing success, helping push the industry to a rare monthly gain. Things will get even more interesting next month when the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 hit the market. The market will get a good read on the state of the industry on Tuesday as Take-Two Interactive and the larger Electronic Arts (EA) report fresh earnings. It may be too early for either company to have reliable projections on how the new consoles will fare, but any insight would be incremental at this point. Wednesday -- Face to Facebook: One of last year's most prolific IPOs was Facebook (FB). The leading social networking website operator went public at $38, but a few months later the stock was -- like th

• [By Timothy Green]

  Another steakhouse operator which recently started paying a dividend is Ruth's Hospitality Group (NASDAQ: RUTH  ) . Ruth's is a small company that operates a handful of restaurant concepts, mainly steakhouses. In 2012 the company recorded about $400 million in revenue and $16 million in net income. The stock trades for about 27 times earnings.

Hot Penny Stocks To Buy For 2014: Universal Corporation(UVV)

Universal Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a leaf tobacco merchant and processor worldwide. It engages in selecting, procuring, buying, processing, packing, storing, supplying, shipping, and financing leaf tobacco for sale to, or for the account of, manufacturers of consumer tobacco products. The company processes and/or sells flue-cured and burley tobaccos, dark air-cured tobaccos, and oriental tobaccos; and provides value-added services, including blending, chemical and physical testing of tobacco, just-in-time inventory management, and manufacturing reconstituted sheet tobacco. Its flue-cured, burley, and oriental tobaccos are used principally in the manufacture of cigarettes; and dark air-cured tobaccos are used in the manufacture of cigars, pipe tobacco, and smokeless tobacco products. The company was founded in 1888 and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Leaf tobacco supplier Universal Corporation (UVV) raised its quarterly dividend 2% to 51 cents per share, payable on Feb. 10 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 13.
  UVV Dividend Yield: 4.06%
  

Hot Penny Stocks To Buy For 2014: (FXPT)

Fox Petroleum Inc., a development stage company, engages in the identification, exploration, acquisition, and development of prospective oil and gas properties. It holds oil and gas interests in a United Kingdom onshore license; and joint venture interests in Texas. The company was formerly known as Nova Resources Inc. and changed its name to Fox Petroleum Inc. in February 2007 to reflect the new direction of its business of oil and gas exploration and development activities. Fox Petroleum Inc. was founded in 2004 and is based in New York, New York.

Orders for long-lasting goods drop 2% in October

WASHINGTON — Businesses spent less last month on machinery, computers and most other items, lowering orders for U.S. long-lasting factory goods. The decline suggests companies may have been reluctant to invest during the 16-day partial government shutdown

The Commerce Department said Wednesday that orders for durable goods dropped 2% in October from September. That follows a 4.1% increase in September from August.

Durable goods are meant to last at least three years.

Demand for commercial aircraft plunged nearly 16% last month, accounting for much of the decline. But orders also fell 1.2% in a closely watched category that excludes volatile transportation and defense orders. That was the second straight drop.

Economists pay closer attention to core capital goods because those orders can reflect businesses' confidence in the economy.

Many companies may have held off placing orders in October, awaiting the outcome of a budget impasse that shut down parts of the federal government.

However, the report conflicts with a private sector survey released earlier this month that showed companies shrugged off the shutdown and boosted orders.

The Institute for Supply Management, a trade group, said factory activity accelerated for the fifth straight month in October to the fastest pace in 2 ½ years. The survey's measure of new orders ticked up and production remained strong, though it slowed from the previous month.

Other reports have suggested that manufacturing has picked up since the spring. Strong auto sales and a healthier housing market have pushed up demand for steel and other metals, auto parts, furniture and appliances.

And factory output rose for the third straight month in October, according to the Federal Reserve, driven higher by greater production of primary metals and furniture.

Overseas demand for many goods has also risen as Europe has climbed out of recession, Japan is growing faster and China's economy has slowed but is still growing a! t a healthy pace.

Changes in aircraft demand can frequently push the overall figure up or down. Aircraft orders soared 59% in September, accounting for most of the total increase in orders that month.

Boeing says it received orders for 79 planes last month, down from 127 in September.

3 Medical Devices Stocks to Sell Now

Popular Posts: 9 Biotechnology Stocks to Buy Now17 Oil and Gas Stocks to Sell Now10 Worst “Strong Sell” Stocks This Week — EGO WLT RBY and more Recent Posts: 5 Best Sectors to Watch This Week 4 Capital Markets Stocks to Sell Now 3 Medical Devices Stocks to Sell Now View All Posts

This week, the overall grades of three medical devices stocks are lower, according to the Portfolio Grader database. Each of these rates a “D” (“sell”) or “F” overall (“strong sell”).

This week, Given Imaging () falls to a D (“sell”), worse than last week’s grade of C (“hold”). Given Imaging has developed a proprietary wireless imaging system that allows a medical professional to examine the gastrointestinal tract. In Portfolio Grader’s specific subcategory of Earnings Surprise, GIVN also gets an F. The stock currently has a trailing PE Ratio of 41.20. .

Greatbatch, Inc. () gets weaker ratings this week as last week’s C drops to a D. Greatbatch develops and manufactures power sources, feedthroughs, and wet tantalum capacitors used in implantable medical devices. The stock gets F’s in Earnings Growth, Earnings Momentum, and Margin Growth. The trailing PE Ratio for the stock is 48.60. .

Tornier NV’s () rating falls this week to an F (“strong sell”), down from last week’s D (“sell”). Tornier designs, outsources the manufacture of and markets orthopedic products. The stock gets F’s in Earnings Momentum and Earnings Revisions. The stock price has fallen 20.8% over the past month, worse than the 1.3% decrease the Nasdaq has seen over the same period of time. .

Louis Navellier’s proprietary Portfolio Grader stock ranking system assesses roughly 5,000 companies every week based on a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. Stocks are given a letter grade based on their results — with A being “strong buy,” and F being “strong sell.” Explore the tool here.

Hot Biotech Companies To Buy For 2014

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made a groundbreaking policy change last year that is having a large impact on the biotech industry and creating a big opportunity for investors.

To create a faster path to commercialization for potentially life-saving drugs and medicine, the FDA in July introduced a new "breakthrough" status for drugs that show "substantial improvement on existing therapies for clinically significant endpoints."

 

For an industry that is accustomed to a costly 10-year commercialization process, the breakthrough status is a welcome shift. An accelerated channel to commercialization could enable drug companies to shave years and billions of dollars from the cumbersome process.

Hot Biotech Companies To Buy For 2014: Medivation Inc.(MDVN)

Medivation, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the development of small molecule drugs for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer, Alzheimer?s disease, and Huntington disease. The company?s product candidates under clinical development include MDV3100, which is in Phase 3 development for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer; and dimebon, which is in Phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of Alzheimer?s disease and Huntington disease. It has collaboration agreements with Pfizer Inc. to develop and commercialize dimebon; and Astellas Pharma Inc. to develop and commercialize MDV3100. The company was founded in 2003 and is based in San Francisco, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Keith Speights]

  Medivation (NASDAQ: MDVN  ) also presents a threat to Provenge. The biotech obtained approval for Xtandi last August. The prostate cancer drug is approved for patients who weren't helped by chemotherapy.

• [By Sean Williams]

  Friday brought equally good news for Medivation (NASDAQ: MDVN  ) and its advanced prostate cancer drug Xtandi, which also received a positive opinion from the EMA's advisory panel. This really shouldn't come as a surprise as Medivation's oral prostate cancer treatment won FDA approval months early in the U.S., and the 4.8 months of extended median survival it delivered compared to the placebo is remarkable for such an advanced stage disease.

• [By Sean Williams]

  A slew of competitors
  We've had two treatments recently approved by the FDA a full three months ahead of their PDUFA date: Medivation (NASDAQ: MDVN  ) and Astella Pharma's Xtandi, and Bayer and Algeta's Xofigo. Xtandi improved median overall survival to 18.4 months, compared with just 13.6 months for the placebo in trials while Xofigo's median overall survival tallied 14 months, compared with 11.2 months for the control arm.

Hot Biotech Companies To Buy For 2014: Savient Pharmaceuticals Inc(SVNT)

Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty biopharmaceutical company, focuses on developing KRYSTEXXA, a biologic PEGylated uricase in the United States. The KRYSTEXXA is being developed as a treatment for chronic gout in patients refractory to conventional therapy. The company also sells and distributes branded and generic versions of oxandrolone, a drug used to promote weight gain following involuntary weight loss. It sells its products directly to drug wholesalers. The company, formerly known as Bio-Technology General Corp. and changed its name to Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in June 2003. Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in East Brunswick, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James E. Brumley]

  It's still too soon to say Savient Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:SVNT) is off and running. In fact, the stock's decidedly NOT off and running yet. But, it's not too soon to put SVNT on your watchlist of potential breakout candidates, as it's much closer to a breakout than most anyone can see.

• [By James E. Brumley]

  Since 2008's implosion from the stock, the interest in Savient Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:SVNT) has been waning. There was a brief burst of bullishness in September of last year, which stirred the bullish pot a little. But, when SVNT started to fade in October of that year - just as quickly as it had perked up - what lingering hopes there were for the stock finally started to melt away. By the middle of this year, pretty much everyone had written Savient Pharmaceuticals off as a lost cause. Big mistake. Over the last few days, SVNT has almost wiggled its way buck into a bullish zone.

Top Financial Companies For 2014: Scancell Holdings PLC (SCLP.L)

Scancell Holdings PLC is a United Kingdom-based company. The Company�� principal activity of the consists of the discovery and development of monoclonal antibodies and vaccines for the treatment of cancer. In April 2012, the Company completed recruitment to the Phase 1 clinical trial of SCIBI. In May 2012, the Company commenced recruitment and treatment of the first patient in the second part of it Phase 1/2 clinical trial of SCIBI. The Phase 2 part of the trial is conducted in five United Kingdom centers in Nottingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds, and Southampton. On August 15, 2012, the Company announced the development of a platform technology, Moditope.

Hot Biotech Companies To Buy For 2014: Merck & Company Inc.(MRK)

Merck & Co., Inc. provides various health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, animal health, and consumer care products. The company?s Pharmaceutical segment provides human health pharmaceutical products, such as therapeutic and preventive agents for the treatment of human disorders in the areas of bone, respiratory, immunology, dermatology, cardiovascular, diabetes and obesity, infectious diseases, neurosciences and ophthalmology, oncology, vaccines, and women's health and endocrine. This segment also offers human health vaccines, such as preventive pediatric, adolescent, and adult vaccines. Its Animal Health segment discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets animal health products. This segment offers antibiotics, anti-inflammatory products, vaccines, products for the treatment of fertility disorders, and parasiticides for cattle, swine, horses, poultry, dogs, cats, salmons, and fish. The Consumer Care segment develops, manufac tures, and markets over-the-counter, foot care, and sun care products. Its over-the-counter product line includes non-drowsy antihistamines; treatment for occasional constipation; decongestant-free cold/flu medicine for people with high blood pressure; nasal decongestant spray; and treatment for frequent heartburn. This segment?s foot care products comprise topical antifungal, and foot and sneaker odor/wetness products; and sun care products include sun care lotions, sprays and dry oils; and sunburn relief products. The company serves drug wholesalers and retailers, hospitals, government agencies, physicians, physician distributors, veterinarians, animal producers, and managed health care providers, as well as food chain and mass merchandiser outlets in the United States and Canada. Merck & Co., Inc. was founded in 1891 and is headquartered in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Maxx Chatsko]

  One company that is about to face the brunt of its patent cliff exposure is Merck (NYSE: MRK  ) , which is set to lose exclusivity for its former megablockbuster Singulair in its last major worldwide markets this year. There are still some interesting molecules in the pipeline and several major approvals pending. However, I don't think Merck stock is worth owning. Here are a few reasons why.

• [By Matt Thalman]

  Merck (NYSE: MRK  ) also announced today that it would be buying back additional shares. The company plans to spend $5 billion on almost 100 million shares that Goldman Sachs owns. While 100 million share buyback sounds great, Merck has 3.02 billion shares outstanding so, although this move will reduce float, the company could have spent the money in a wiser way. Merck has been facing a number of headwinds as major drugs fall off patent protection and with $16 billion in cash but slightly more than $20 billion in debt, shareholders would likely have been better off if the company held on to the $5 billion or paid down some of its debt.

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Big Earnings Movers: Petroleo Brasileiro SA (NYSE: PBR) is up 9.1% at $17.35 after reporting earnings and getting a ratings boost. Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE: MRK) is down 2.5% at $45.39 as the company struggles to boost revenues. Burger King Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: BKW) is up 5.8% at $20.91 as franchise revenues rose much faster than costs. Loews Corp. (NYSE: L) is down 0.2% at $48.70.

Hot Biotech Companies To Buy For 2014: RXi Pharmaceuticals Corp (RXII.PK)

RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation (RXi), incorporated on September 8, 2011, is a development-stage company. The Company is a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing therapies addressing medical needs using RNA interference (RNAi)-targeted technologies. As of July 12, 2012, RXi was focusing on its internal therapeutic development efforts in fibrosis. RXI-109 is its RNAi product candidate, which is a dermal anti-scarring therapy that targets connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). The Company�� therapeutic platform consists of two main components: RNAi Compounds (rxRNA) and Advanced Delivery Technologies. RNAi compounds include rxRNAori, rxRNAsolo and sd-rxRNA, or self-delivering RNA. On April 26, 2012, it completed the spin-off transaction from Galena Biopharma, Inc. (Galena).

In January 2011, the Company announced research results in collaboration with Generex Biotechnology Corporation, and RXi�� wholly owned subsidia ry Antigen Express, Inc., in developing vaccine formulations for immunotherapy. In January 2011, it announced initial results as part of its collaboration with miRagen Therapeutics, Inc. in creating microRNA mimics, or artificial copies of microRNAs, using the Company�� sd-rxRNA technology. In February 2011, it announced the initiation of RXi�� development program for RXI-109.

Senate committee approves Yellen for Fed chair

The Senate Banking Committee voted 14-8 Thursday to send Janet Yellen's nomination to chair the Federal Reserve to the full Senate for confirmation.

Yellen, who is now the Fed's vice chairman, is expected to win confirmation to succeed Ben Bernanke after his second four-year term expires in January. She would become the first woman in the world to head a major central bank.

Republicans Bob Corker, Tennessee; Mark Kirk, Illinois, and Tom Coburn, Oklahoma, broke with other GOP members to support Yellen. Democrat Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., was the only Democrat to vote against Yellen's nomination. Corker had opposed her nomination for vice chair in 2010.

"Dr. Yellen understands the challenges facing our economy and the balance the Fed must strike as we navigate the path back to full employment," committee Chairman Tim Johnson, D-S.D., said in a statement. "Dr. Yellen also showed in her testimony that she understands the importance of completing ongoing Wall Street Reform rulemaking and of the Fed's regulatory role in supervising the riskiest banks.

Yellen, 67, served on the Fed's board in the 1990s. She also has taught economics at the University of California at Berkeley, headed President Clinton's Council of Economic Advisers and served as president of the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank.

Yellen is considered one of the most pro-growth, or "dovish," members of the Fed's policymaking committee, meaning she has placed more emphasis on stimulating job growth than in preventing inflation. Several Republicans indicated they would oppose her nomination.

Yellen also has been instrumental in forging the Fed's easy-money policies that have supported the economy since the financial crisis and in Fed efforts to communicate more clearly to the public and financial markets.

She now faces the challenging task of gradually scaling back the Fed's extraordinary stimulus program without derailing the fragile economic recovery. The Fed is buying $85 billion in government bonds each m! onth to hold down long-term interest rates and spur economic and job growth.

Yellen, and other Fed policymakers, also must be mindful not to move so slowly that they sow the seeds of inflation or fuel asset bubbles as low interest rates drive money to riskier investments.

Senators Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., have said they likely would try to block Yellen's nomination in the Democratic-controlled Senate floor. But a handful of Republicans are expected to join most Democrats to remove the block.

Time to Switch Gears With Mediabistro (MBIS)

Well, I'll be the first to admit it took way longer than I expected, but Mediabistro Inc. (NASDAQ:MBIS) has finally unleashed the strength I saw brewing up four months ago. Now get out. Seriously. Go ahead and take your profits on MBIS and walk away while you still can.

Surprised to hear me say that? I understand. I'm not joking though. But, it's worth adding that my bearish call on MBIS is purely a short-term, technical-based, defensive one only intended to protect what we've gained so far. After a pullback and subsequent hints of a renewed (and better-paced recovery), I'll be encouraging everyone to start wading back into a Mediabistro position again.

I suppose I should go back to the beginning and explain what I saw unfurling with Mediabistro Inc. back on July 30th. There were two things going on. One of them was the fact that after more than a year of lower lows and lower highs, we had finally seen a few weeks' worth of higher highs and higher lows... and they were steady, bordering on freakishly smooth. The other bullish clue popping up at the time was the way MBIS was working on crossing above the 200-day moving average line, which would be a huge buy signal. See the July 30th write-up to see what things looked like then.

Well, it took three months and a couple of different tries, but it was worth the wait. MBIS continued to give us higher highs and higher lows, finally crossing above the 200-day moving average line - as well as all the other key moving average lines - last month. In fact, Mediabistro Inc. shares found support at all of those lines once they were hurdled, which led to the eventual slingshot-like surge we're seeing right now. Take a look.

Red hot for the last few days? Yes, it has been, which is exactly what we've been counting on for months. But, this is most definitely a situation where we don't want to get greedy... especially seeing today's intraday action. Though MBIS hit a high of $3.35 today versus yesterday's high of $3.00, the stock's gotten uncomfortably (for current owners) comfortable at levels under $3.00... well under $3.00, to be precise. After the high-volume buying we saw on Monday and Tuesday followed by today's lethargic effort and lethargic volume, this is looking like the end of the buying interest and the transition into a profit-taking and/or the too-frothy-to-buy situation.

Again, given the bigger-picture tidal shift we've seen over the course of the past few weeks, I'd be perfectly willing to step into Mediabistro Inc. once some of this froth is burned off. But, the potential 40% pullback we're facing from here isn't something I'm interested in simply "riding out". Timing is everything.

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Start ups pitch automated advice at tech confab

At a gathering of geeks, bankers and even some advisers this week in New York, a chorus of developers hawked products, claiming to revitalize — with airtight security, jazzy graphics or habit-forming incentives — the way people pay for investment products, approach personal finance goals such as saving and communicate with their banks.

In timed, seven-minute pitches at the annual FinovateFall (twitter hashtag: #finovate) conference, some executives from startups also pitched software solutions for problems that vex financial advisers.

Finect Inc., for instance, provides a social-networking platform with compliance support, Place2Give uses algorithms to help advisers match their clients to philanthropic groups and Lumesis Inc. offers detailed data and compliance features for municipal bonds.

But a larger and growing cast of developers sidestepped advisers altogether in their pitches Tuesday and Wednesday, touting algorithm-driven online platforms that try to replicate the experience of getting individualized investment advice as a revelation for the vast majority of people, who lack sufficient assets to even get a call back from a wirehouse such as Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley or Wells Fargo Advisors.

(Don't miss: The buzz at FInovate.)

The impact of these burgeoning adviser-emulating platforms on the business of providing investment advice is ambiguous, with industry watchers and developers engaged in a long debate over whether software will supplant or supplement the role of the average, traditional financial adviser.

“The quality advisers who add value and do the right thing don't have anything to worry about,” said Simon Roy, president of Jemstep Inc., whose platform walks investors through a step-by-step process that suggests an ideal asset allocation and whether to buy, sell or hold existing investments. “It's the advisers who are not serving their clients' interest who are more at risk as this wave breaks.”

In addition to recommending what they say are superior asset allocation and investment recommendations, Mr. Roy's product and its peers, including FutureAdvisor and Financial Guard, draw attention to the cost of investment advice by laying out how management and advisory fees affect their returns.

“The asset management style doesn't really lend itself to transparency — people don't see how much they're paying,” said Grant Easterbrook, an analyst who follows the space at Corporate Insight. “It's going to make it much easier to hold advisers accountable.”

But some advisers said they would relish new competition.

“Bring it on,” said Doug Flynn, co-founder of Flynn Zito Capital Management LLC, which manages $300 million in assets in its advisory and brokerage. Mr. Flynn said his business offers high-q! uality, dispassionate advice and a human touch, especially in times when investors most need it — during a market rout, for example.

“How does a computer hand-hold you?” Mr. Flynn said. “How does it talk you off the ledge?”

The products have a range of features. Many begin with a simple questionnaire asking when a person intends to retire, and links with their brokerage accounts to assess their existing portfolios. The software then advises people on the trades they should make — whether to buy or sell a particular fund, for instance.

A number of startup firms have registered enthusiasm from venture capitalists and other investors. Seven of the online advisory businesses that have appeared in Finovate forums since 2009 have raised $97.5 million since February 2012, according to The Finovate Group Inc.

That funding, as well as the prospect of collaborations with existing businesses, has lifted the online advisory product class, according to Mr. Easterbrook.

He said the products have as much a prospect of expanding wealth management to a new market as challenging existing players. Bo Lu, co-founder and chief executive of FutureAdvisor, agrees.

“We're not going to have much of an impact on human financial advisers … the demand for what we as an industry do far outstrips supply right now,” Mr. Lu said. “We would love to work together with advisers on those clients that they wouldn't be able to take otherwise.” Like what you've read?

It Was a Great Run, But It's Time to Say Goodbye to These Bond Insurers (GNW, MTG, RDN)

Never let it be said I didn't follow up on my prior ideas and commentaries. In November of last year I said MGIC Investment Corp. (NYSE:MTG), Radian Group Inc. (NYSE:RDN), and Genworth Financial Inc. (NYSE:GNW) were budding bullish idea.

For those of you with good memories, you'll likely know why that sounds a little bit "off." Though GNW, MTG, and RDN had all three been quite bullish that particular day as well as flashed bursts of bullishness in the days leading up to that November 1st look, the market was still more than a little pessimistic on on insurers like Radian Group, MGIC Investment, and Genworth Financial. I'm sure glad I was willing to go out on a limb. All three stocks have gone on to make big - and surprising - gains.

So do I come here to pound my chest on RDN, GNW, and MTG? Nope - not at all. I'm chiming in again today to let you know if you got in on my advice, it's now time to lock in those gains and get out.

Just so there's no confusion, I don't see any particular overbearing problems hanging over the industry's head. It's just that these stocks have outlived their usefulness and opportunity for us.

Take MGIC Investment Corp. for instance. MTG has advances 340% since then, yet still isn't profitable on a net trailing basis. Positive earnings are sill in the cards. But, priced at 27.6 times 2014's projected income, the value argument is gone, as well as the technical one.

Ditto for Genworth Financial and Radian Group Inc. Both stocks have posted huge gains over the past ten months, and while their forward-looking ratios are more attractive, after a 118% and 200% runup, respectively - given the back stories and timing - you have to believe the best-case scenario has already been priced into RDN and GNW shares.

Just for the record, I would be more than willing to buy back into any and all of these names once we get a healthy pullback and start to see decent evidence of a bullish reversal. While we may not see triple-digit gains again, we could still say solid upside moves.

And on an even larger scale, let the last ten months from MGIC Investment, Radian Group, and Genworth Financial be a reminder that just because a trade isn't popular or seemingly plausible doesn't mean it isn't a good one. I caught all kinds of crap last November for being bullish on these names, but have been plenty vindicated in the meantime.

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Don't Get Sucked in by Fairholme Fund's Great Long-Term Record

Bruce Berkowitz is one of the smartest investors I know. But that's not enough reason to invest in Fairholme Fund (FAIRX), which has just reopened to new investors.

Brains count for a lot. You need to be an independent thinker to be a good investor — and on this score, Berkowitz excels. But to run a mutual fund for individual investors, you also need to employ a strategy that will retain investors, and here Berkowitz falls short. (Berkowitz, who has managed Fairholme since its launch in 1999, declined through a spokesman to be interviewed for this article.)

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Berkowitz is a deep-value investor who studies stocks with utmost care. I admire him for his painstaking work. He rarely trades. Turnover last year was a mere 1.6%. In fact, he changes co-managers almost more often than he buys and sells stocks. Berkowitz lost four co-managers in one four-year stretch and is now Fairholme Fund's sole manager.

While some funds hold only 15 to 20 stocks, Berkowitz takes concentration to an extreme. As of May 31, more than two-thirds of Fairholme's assets were in just three stocks. American International Group (AIG), the insurer that played a leading role in the 2008 financial collapse, accounted for a stunning 48.2% of the fund's assets. Another 13.6% was in Bank of America (BAC), another poster child for the 2008 crisis that subsequently recovered, albeit with the help of a federal bailout. And 8.4% was in Sears Holdings (SHLD), the troubled retail chain. Fairholme only owns 11 stocks, and 76% of its stock money was in financials.

Given the concentration and Berkowitz's predilection for controversial stocks, Fairholme's performance has been pretty much what you'd expect: erratic. In 2010, the fund returned 25.5%, beating Standard & Poor's 500-stock index by 10.4 percentage points. In 2011, the fund plunged 32.4%, trailing the index by an astounding 34.5 percentage points. Last year, Berkowitz gained 35.8% — more than double the S&P. So far this year, Fairholme has returned 19.6%, edging the S&P 500 by 1.8 percentage points (all returns in this article are through August 26).

What would you expect individual investors to do with such volatile returns? In 2010, assets swelled to $18.8 billion. In 2011, they plunged to less than $7 billion, suggesting a massive investor exodus. Today, even with big investment gains in 2012 and 2013, the fund has only $7.9 billion.

Fairholme's long-term results are dandy. Over the past ten years, it returned an annualized 11.1% — an average of 3.7 percentage points per year more than the S&P 500 and good enough for the fund to rank in the top 1% of large-company value funds.

But the average investor in the fund hasn't done half that well. According to Morningstar, the flows into and out of the fund were so poorly timed that the average investor earned only 4.4% annualized.

Is that Berkowitz's fault? After all, he didn't buy and sell at the wrong times. But he ran the fund in such a way that it was bound to happen.

What's more, in my view, this fund is positioned to crash and burn again in the next bear market. Fairholme is 75% more volatile than the S&P. I've never seen a fund that didn't ultimately pay for its high volatility.

Last February, stunned by poorly timed redemptions that forced him to sell shares in stocks he liked, Berkowitz did the right thing: He closed the fund to new investors, thereby stemming the flow of hot money.

Then on August 19, he did the wrong thing: He reopened the fund to new investors. Berkowitz told the Wall Street Journal that he sees opportunity in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the mortgage giants that were seized by the government during the financial crisis. He already has investments in both.

Berkowitz may turn out to be right on this bet. But given the political gridlock in Washington, even if he is right, I wouldn't expect any constructive government action that would boost the share prices of Fannie and Freddie until at least 2017.

All in all, Fairholme is a good fund to watch for entertainment value and to see what Berkowitz is up to. But don't be tempted to invest in it. It's too risky. Berkowitz should close it for good to new investors.

Steven T. Goldberg is an investment adviser in the Washington, D.C. area.

The Deal: Crown Castle's Lead on Tower Deal May Rest on REIT

NEW YORK (The Deal) -- With AT&T's (T) wireless towers on the market, Crown Castle's (CCI) recent decision to accelerate its conversion to a real estate investment trust has drawn increased attention. The move to the tax-light structure could affect its approach to financing a purchase of AT&T's towers.

Becoming a REIT would place requirements on the wireless tower operator's cash deployments. However, it could also increase Crown Castle's access to the equity markets, which would help it bid for AT&T's assets without adding excessive leverage.

AT&T had hired bankers and made progress in marketing the towers, sources said. Though Bloomberg reported that the Dallas telecom is seeking $5 billion for the towers, one person said the first round of bids had occurred and that the price would be lower.

The portfolio includes about 11,000 towers that produce about $200 million in cash flow and represent one of the last major targets in the industry. "I think Crown Castle is still in the driver's seat on the AT&T towers," Jonathan Schildkraut of Evercore Partners said. "A contributing factor to the timing of this announcement may have been the likely need to raise equity to acquire [AT&T]'s Towers, and the rightful expectation that early REIT conversion would be positively received by the market," he said of Crown Castle's announcement in September that it would change its capital structure sooner than previously expected. Schildkraut suggested that the final sale price may not represent the "true cost" of the towers. AT&T would like to keep the right to upgrade the towers, and would likely fold an agreement into the sale. "Eighteen to 20 times cash flow will be the headline number," he said. "The true cost will include whatever upgrade rights AT&T is able to negotiate." That would put the valuation at $3.6 billion to $4 billion. Kevin Smithen of Macquarie Capital estimated that AT&T's towers could raise $4.5 billion to $5 billion, based on a multiple of $400,000 to $450,00 per tower. There are other acquisitive tower operators. Earlier this month, rival American Tower agreed to pay $4.8 billion for Global Tower Partners, backed by Macquarie Infrastructure Partners Inc., Dutch pension fund manager PGGM BV and company management.

Moody's Investors Service analyst Gregory Fraser suggested that the timing of Crown Castle's announcement, just days after American Tower's latest deal, was not coincidental.

"Because American Tower is issuing a significant amount of debt to make this purchase, it has no more flexibility to make another large acquisition," he said. "With American Tower out of the running for a big acquisition, this means Crown will have a better chance of acquiring AT&T's towers."

American Tower touted its investment-grade balance sheet when it announced the deal for Global Tower, saying that its liquidity was one reason its bid prevailed.

Crown Castle, on the other hand, is speculative grade. That could present problems when it comes to its REIT structure and financing something as big as the AT&T purchase. "With rising interest rates, balance sheet matters more than ever, particularly with strategic activities," said EA Markets LLC co-founder Reuben Daniels, who advised American Tower on the Global Tower Partners deal. The New York investment bank, which is not part of a lending institution, advises clients on matters related to capital structure. "There is a view today that money is cheap and will be plentiful for years to come," he said. "Once the tide of liquidity is withdrawn from the system, to paraphrase Warren Buffett, 'that's when you find out who is swimming naked.'/" An investment-grade rating is "really important for a REIT," he said. The combination of high leverage and cash flow distribution requirements of a REIT can create "capital allocation hurdles," he said, noting that there are not many examples of low BB rated REITs. "You can't do everything," Daniels explained. "A REIT conversion can change a company's priority of cash flow allocations for dividends, debt reduction, share repurchase, capital expenditure or acquisitions." If access to capital is reduced, management's ability to make capital allocation decisions can be "severely constrained." Steven Marks of Fitch Ratings Inc. said that most of the REITs that his company rates are investment grade. "There are a few reasons why that is," he explained, including that commercial real estate is an asset that can support leverage and most REITs have access to mortgages. They tend to access the bond market because they want to, not because they have to.

There is also the fact that REIT bond investors may be prohibited from buying securities issued below investment grade.

"A REIT typically only wants to issue bonds if it is investment grade," he said.

Moody's analyst Fraser noted that data center REITs DuPont Fabros Technology and CyrusOne are Ba1 and B1, respectively.

"It is not necessary for a REIT to be investment grade," he said. In theory, a REIT structure should improve Crown's cost of capital to finance such a large asset purchase. REITs enjoy substantial tax benefits, Fraser said, and a company's cash flow metrics should look a little better than the typical non-REIT that pays taxes. Another benefit is that real estate investment trusts typically have a 39-year depreciation schedule, while non-REITs generally depreciate assets over 15 to 20 years. "If you have a lower depreciation expense," he said, "this will boost your reported earnings." Shifts in the market may also motivate Crown Castle to convert now. REIT's high dividend yields appeal to equity investors, and often deliver higher valuation multiples. "The window for that may be closing," Fraser said. Tapering by the Federal Reserve could reduce Treasury prices and push yields higher. Investors who are now drawn to equity REITs could be drawn to government notes. "You may see an outflow of investment from REITs to Treasuries," he said. It could behoove Crown Castle to act now, while the markets are more receptive to REITs. Of course, the availability of AT&T's towers provides additional motivation. Crown Castle declined to comment. AT&T did not respond to queries. Written by Chris Nolter

Why Investors Dread Yet Another Debt Ceiling Fight

A U.S. debt ceiling debate is once again on Congress' agenda. Congress has about three weeks to pass a budget, and the White House has said that U.S. President Barack Obama will not negotiate over raising the 2013 debt ceiling provisions.

We've seen this script before on debt ceiling deadlines, and with so many other pressing issues. Congress will again kick the can down the road.

Before that, a brewing showdown will again unfold, one with distinct consequences for other forms of legislation and the country.

Republicans will likely display the debt ceiling talks to voice opposition to other parts of the Obama agenda. According to policy experts, 80 GOP members of the House have said they will only support a budget resolution that defunds Obamacare.

With this year's IRS mishaps, the revelations of the National Security Agency spying program, and Congressional approval hovering at near lows, the debt ceiling is creating a cloud of uncertainty that could leave Washington in complete disarray...

U.S. Debt Ceiling: A Game of Chicken

Congress has raised the debt ceiling - which refers to the amount of money the country can borrow - on 78 occasions since 1960, with 49 increases happening under Republican presidents and 29 under Democratic presidents, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.

The United States hit its $16.7 trillion borrowing ceiling in May 2013; however, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew has used a number of tricks to delay the official date that the government is unable to meet its financial obligations.

That date, which now is arbitrary and somewhat dangerous given so, will hit in mid-October to coincide with the looming Congressional showdown.

That showdown, however, is part of a very crowded political calendar that will likely require some maneuvering on both sides.

Even though Lew and President Obama have vowed not to negotiate, the legislative body has several critical votes on the docket. For example, Congress is expected to debate immigration reform at a time when it was expected to be the sole big-ticket item on the fall schedule.

Now that there are other issues, the debt ceiling debate has more ammo for both sides - and this is contributing to a perfect storm for the markets...

What Would Happen in a Government Shutdown?

Many argue that a government shutdown would immediately lead to a U.S. default on its obligations. It would mark the first time in the U.S. government's history that it has not paid its debts.

As a result, it would dramatically raise interest rates, require immediate cuts to government budgets, and sack the value of government bonds owned around the world. In addition, the United States would slash or halt government-issued income streams like Social Security, Medicare reimbursements, and military salaries.

"Operating the government with no borrowing authority, and with only the cash on hand on a given day, would place the United States in an unacceptable position," Jack Lew wrote in a letter to Republican House Speaker John Boehner.

The financial impact is obvious. But additional market factors like Syria and the U.S. Federal Reserve's desire to taper its $85-billion-a-month bond-purchasing program are creating the markets' "perfect storm."

Rising interest rates could lead to catastrophic damage as the United States must service higher interest payments. These payments provide no value to the economy and only act as a drain on production and savings.

Moving forward, the economy will likely remain in a holding pattern as Congress focuses on Syria first and investors await a critical announcement by the Fed on tapering its quantitative easing (QE) bond-buying program come Sept. 18.

For more on how the QE taper could affect markets, check out this chart.

5 Stocks Under $10 Set to Soar

 DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- There isn't a day that goes by on Wall Street when certain stocks trading for $10 a share or less don't experience massive spikes higher. Traders savvy enough to follow the low-priced names and trade them with discipline and sound risk management are banking ridiculous coin on a regular basis.

Just take a look at some of the hot movers in the under-$10 complex from Thursday, including Biostar Pharmaceuticals (BSPM), which is soaring higher by 49%; YuMe (YUME), which is ripping to the upside by 30%; BioFuels Energy (BIOF), which is jumping higher by 27%; and Metabolix (MBLX), which is spiking higher by 34%. You don't even have to catch the entire move in lower-priced stocks such as these to make outsized returns when trading.

One low-priced stock that recently soared higher was healthcare player NuPathe (PATH), which I highlighted in Nov. 7's "5 Stocks Under $10 Set to Soar" at $1.75 per share. I mentioned in that piece that shares of NuPathe had just started to reverse its downtrend, which was signaling that the downside volatility for the stock was potentially over in the short-term. That reversal in trend was quickly pushing shares of PATH within range of triggering a breakout trade above some near-term overhead resistance at $1.79 a share.

Guess what happened? Shares of NuPathe didn't wait long to trigger that breakout, since the stock exploded the upside on Nov. 8 with monster upside volume. Shares of PATH went on to tag an intraday high the following trading session at $2.42 a share. That represents a big gain of close to 40% in just a few days for anyone who bought shares of PATH and played this breakout setup. As you can see, trading breakouts that trigger with volume can produce huge profits in very short order.

Low-priced stocks are something that I tweet about on a regular basis. I frequently flag high-probability setups, breakout candidates and low-priced stocks that are acting technically bullish. I like to hunt for low-priced stocks that are showing bullish price and volume trends, since that increases the probability of those stocks heading higher. These setups often produce monster moves higher in very short time frames.

I'm not as eager to recommend investing long-term in stocks that trade less than $10 a share because these names can be very speculative, and the odds for picking the long-term winners aren't great. But I definitely love to trade stocks that are priced below $10. I like to view them as a trading vehicle with lots of volatility and lots of upside when the trade is timed right.

When I trade under-$10 names, I do it almost entirely based off of the charts and technical analysis. I also like to find under-$10 names with a catalyst, but that's secondary to the chart and volume patterns.

With that in mind, here's a look at several under-$10 stocks that look poised to potentially trade higher from current levels.

Demand Media

One under-$10 Internet services player that's starting to move within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade is Demand Media (DMD), which focuses on an Internet-based model for the professional creation and distribution of content at scale. This stock has been hit hard by the bears so far in 2013, with shares off by 44%.

If you take a look at the chart for Demand Media, you'll notice that this stock has recently formed a triple bottom over the last month, with shares finding buying interest at $4.80, $4.72 and $4.88 a share. Shares of DMD have now started to spike higher off those support levels, and the stock is quickly moving within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in DMD if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $5.39 to $5.46 and then once it takes out its 50-day moving average at $5.76 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 681,665 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then DMD will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $6.50 to $7 a share. Any high-volume move above $7.14 would then give DMD a chance to re-fill some of its previous gap down zone from June that started near $8.50 a share.

Traders can look to buy DMD off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support levels at $4.88 or at $4.72 a share. One can also buy DMD off strength once it clears those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Atlatsa Resources

Another stock that's starting to move within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Atlatsa Resources (ATL), which engages in the mining, exploration and development of platinum group metals properties located in the Bushveld Igneous Complex in South Africa. This stock has been on fire so far in 2013, with shares up a whopping 198%.

If you take a look at the chart for Atlatsa Resources, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending strong for the last two months and change, with shares soaring higher from its low of 28 cents per share to its intraday high of 46 cents per share. During that uptrend, shares of ATL have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. Shares of ATL have now started to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at 43 cents to 44 cents per share. That move is quickly pushing shares of ATL within range of triggering another big breakout trade.

Market players should now look for long-biased trades in ATL if it manages to break out above its 52-week high at 50 cents per share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above that level with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 170,178 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then ATL will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are its next major overhead resistance levels at 63 cents to 73 cents per share, or even 80 cents per share.

Traders can look to buy ATL off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day moving average of 39 cents per share, or near more support at 37 cents per share. One can also buy ATL off strength once it clears its 52-week high at 50 cents with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Achillion Pharmaceuticals

An under-$10 biotechnology player that's starting to trend within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Achillion Pharmaceuticals (ACHN), discovers, develops and commercializes anti-infective drug therapies in the U.S. and internationally. This stock has been destroyed by the sellers so far in 2013, with shares down big by 66%.

If you take a look at the chart for Achillion Pharmaceuticals, you'll notice that this stock has been trending sideways for the last month and change, with shares moving between $2.26 on the downside and $2.98 on the upside. This sideways trading pattern is occurring after shares of ACHN gapped down sharply in late September from $7.50 to under $3 with heavy downside volume. Shares of ACHN are now starting to trend higher and move within range of triggering a big breakout trade above the upper-end of its sideways trading chart pattern.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ACHN if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $2.85 to $2.98 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 2.76 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then ACHN will set up to re-test or possibly take out its gap down day high from September at $3.62 a share. Any high-volume move above that level will then give ACHN a chance to re-fill some of its previous gap down zone that started at $7.50 a share.

Traders can look to buy ACHN off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support levels at $2.44 to $2.26 a share. One can also buy ACHN off strength once it clears those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Silver Standard Resources

An under-$10 basic materials player that's starting to move within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade is Silver Standard Resources (SSRI), which engages in the acquisition, exploration, development and operation of silver-dominant resource properties principally in the Americas. This stock has been hammered by the bears so far in 2013, with shares off by 59%.

If you take a look at the chart for Silver Standard Resources, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending modestly for the last few weeks, with shares moving higher from its low of $5.47 to its recent high of $6.27 a share. During that uptrend, shares of SSRI have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of SSRI within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade.

Market players should now look for long-biased trades in SSRI if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $6.27 to $6.38 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 1.75 million shares. If that breakout hits soon, then SSRI will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $7.55 to its 200-day moving average at $7.81 a share.

Traders can look to buy SSRI off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some near-term support at $5.47 a share. One can also buy SSRI off strength once it clears those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Vringo

One final under-$10 application stock that's starting to move within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade is Vringo (VRNG), which innovates, develops and monetizes mobile technologies and intellectual property. This stock is off to a slow start in 2013, with shares up just 8.7%.

If you take a look at the chart for Vringo, you'll notice that this stock formed a major bottoming chart pattern over the last month and change, with buyers stepping in to support the stock near $2.60 a share. Following that bottom, shares of VRNG have now started to uptrend from $2.64 to its intraday high of $3.15 a share. That move is starting to push shares of VRNG within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in VRNG if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance at $3.20 to $3.40 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 1.40 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then VRNG will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $3.90 to its 52-week high at $4.05 a share. Any high-volume move above $4.05 will then give VRNG a chance to tag its next major overhead resistance levels at $4.42 to $5 a share.

Traders can look to buy VRNG off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day at $2.89 a share, or around that major support zone near $2.60 a share. One can also buy VRNG off strength once it clears those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

To see more hot under-$10 equities, check out the Stocks Under $10 Setting Up to Explode portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

Schoolbook Publisher Houghton Mifflin Gains In Trading Debut

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co.’s shares jumped in their trading debut, after the schoolbook publisher priced its initial public offering for less than it expected.

Shares of the Boston company — which also publishes popular titles such as “Curious George” and J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” as well as a new book about Yogi Berra — were up 21% at $14.51 in late-morning trading, moments after opening at $14 on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

Insiders such as hedge fund firms Paulson & Co. and Avenue Capital Group will receive all proceeds from the offering. Late Wednesday, they agreed to a price of $12 a share for the 18.3 million-share deal, raising $219 million before the potential sale of additional shares by underwriters.

Houghton Mifflin had expected the shares to fetch $14 to $16 each, according to a regulatory filing.

The IPO follows a restructuring last year that eliminated about $3 billion in debt, the legacy of a pair of acquisitions in 2006 and 2007 that created the company in its current form. The financial crisis caught the company wrongfooted soon after it took on the heavy debt load, as budget cuts by state and local governments slashed spending on K-12 textbooks.

Houghton Mifflin’s education business accounts for the vast bulk of its sales — 88% of its total revenue last year.   For 2012, Houghton Mifflin posted a loss of $87 million as sales slipped 0.7% from a year earlier to $1.3 billion.

A group of investment firms such as Paulson & Co., Avenue, Anchorage Capital Group LLC and BlackRock Inc.(BLK) will continue to own most of the company after the IPO.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc.(GS) led the offering with Morgan Stanley(MS). 

Oil Plays: Refining and Shipping

Although we always recommend that investors maintain a highly diversified portfolio, two of our latest featured ideas are in the oil sector; one is a refiner and the other is an oil shipper, notes value investor John Buckingham, editor of The Prudent Speculator.

HollyFrontier (HFC) is one of the largest independent petroleum refiners in the US, with operations throughout the Midwest, Southwest, and Rocky Mountain regions.

Through five complex refineries (which allows Holly to process lower cost heavy sour crude into a higher percentage of fuel), its subsidiaries produce and market gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, asphalt, heavy products, and specialty lubricant products.

We like that its refineries are in good locations, with relatively easy access to multiple pipeline networks, and that it sells its products in some of the fastest growing markets in the country.

We believe the combination of refinery complexity, crude flexibility, and growth markets gives HFC strong competitive advantages.

The firm has a strong balance sheet that sports over $4.90 of net cash per share. HFC generates strong free cash flow, that, coupled with the balance sheet, supports management's ability to continue to pay, not only regular dividends, but also special dividends.

While most publications will show a 2.7% yield for HFC, including special dividends (that have been paid since Q3 2011), the actual payout has been better than 7%.

Ship Finance International (SFL) primarily engages in the transportation of crude oil and oil products, dry bulk, and containerized cargos, and in offshore drilling and related activities.

SFL has a fleet of 65 vessels and rigs, which includes: 17 Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), 15 container vessels, 12 oil/bulk/ore vessels, seven Suezmax vessels, six offshore supply vessels, one jack-up drilling rig, two semi-submersible vessels, two chemical tankers, two car carriers, and one drillship.

While near-term headwinds persist in the oil tanker market, we like that SFL continues to diversify its fleet, moving more heavily into dry bulk, container transportation and drilling.

Long term, we believe that elevated crude oil prices and the demand for global energy infrastructure will benefit the company.

We are also encouraged by SFL's $5.8 billion of contracted revenue backlog, with 68% of that via contracts that have ten or more years remaining on them. Ship Finance shares currently offer investors a juicy 10.1% yield.

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The All-American "Short Squeeze" No One Else Sees

Everyone knows the U.S. housing "recovery" has been resurrected on slippery ground. But now that we're finally about to slip - big time - no one sees it coming...

Then again, how could they?

The numbers are incredibly misleading...

According to the Commerce Department, new residential home sales in July fell a whopping 13.4% from their June sales pace. And sales in April, May, and June were all revised significantly lower.

Yet according to the National Association of Realtors, existing home sales (completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops) increased 6.5%... to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.39 million in July, from a downwardly revised 5.06 million in June.

On the surface, the divergence is confusing. But not when you look below the surface, where the real money gets made.

As you'll see (before anyone else), the housing "recovery" is just one giant "short squeeze."

And you can make a flat-out killing the moment it ends...

Meet America's Biggest Home Buyers

The divergence in sales of new homes vs. existing homes can be explained as a function of three factors: investor interest, pricing, and potential appreciation.

In just the last two years, institutional investors, hedge funds, private equity firms, and real estate investment trusts have raised more than $18 billion and bought more than 100,000 single-family homes.

Blackstone Group L.P.'s Invitation Homes unit has spent over $5 billion buying more than 32,000 single-family homes. They are the largest owner of homes in the United States.

American Homes 4 Rent, which went public last month and is the second-largest single-family homeowner in the United States, has spent $3.4 billion buying up almost 20,000 single-family homes and said in their August earnings call that they're spending $100 million a month buying more homes.

These institutional buyers aren't buying new homes in bulk; they're buying existing homes in bulk... and one at a time.

New homes, built by giant national builders like Pulte, Lennar, and Toll Brothers, as well as new homes built by small regional and local builders, are priced according to their cost to build, with hoped-for profit margins added on. Generally, there isn't a lot of negotiating room on prices.

Additionally, new homes are financed by builders' banks who build cushions into their loans. And since loans are "new," they can remain outstanding a lot longer than old loans before banks have to classify them as "non-performing."

That gives builders of new homes greater pricing and staying power. In other words, builders aren't readily discounting their inventories to make them attractive to new home buyers.

On the existing homes' side of the street, there's a lot more room to negotiate...

A Crowd of Highly Motivated Sellers... Who Love Cash

Distressed property owners - banks holding foreclosures, beleaguered individual owners, and short-selling owners (those selling homes for less than their mortgaged loan values) - have all been eager to sell... especially for cash, which institutional buyers readily dangle in front of them.

While institutional investors often pay cash, they are in fact financing the cash they're laying out. With interest rates as low as they are, especially for corporate borrowers able to float their I.O.U.s in the bond market, amassing cash hoards against their stock-based equity collateral (via covenant-lite bond offerings) adds to their massive buying power.

New homes tend to appreciate based on "at-the-market" trends, while existing homes are often perceived as having inherently more room to appreciate. That's because many existing homes were previously valued significantly above current market prices. Homes in neighborhoods that once enjoyed solid appreciation rates but have been deeply discounted are desirable purchases on account of the "bounce-back in price" perception.

That's why existing home sales have held up better than new home sales.

Now let's look at house price appreciation trends, which have been robust to say the least.

Just keep in mind the impact the billions of dollars being applied to the market by institutions is having on pricing trends in the existing home market...

A Dangerous Double Dip Looms

The national median existing home price for all housing types was $213,500 in July, which is 13.7% above July 2012 and marks 17 consecutive months of year-over-year price increases, which last occurred from January 2005 to May 2006.

The median price rose at double-digit rates for the past eight months and is only 7.3% below the all-time record of $230,400, posted in July 2006. Two years ago, the median price was 25.7% below the peak.

New home prices haven't risen as quickly. In 2009, after falling 6.6% from faltering 2008 prices, the median new home price was $216,700. As of July 2013 the median new home price is $257,200, which is an 18% increase over the 2009 price level.

In spite of the recent divergence in the pace of sales and rates of change in sales trends between existing and new homes sales, prices on both streets have risen steadily.

Given the rapid appreciation rates of both new and existing home prices and the outsized impact institutional buying has had on existing home sales price appreciation, unless inventories of new and existing homes drop precipitously, it's not only unlikely that the recovery in housing will continue, but it's likely to peter out and result in a double-dip backward slide.

Why? Housing has risen too far too fast off its floor given trends in economic growth, employment, interest rates, lending standards, mortgage money availability, and consumer confidence.

We're already seeing a back-up in pending sale contracts, refinancings, and new money purchase loans on account of the tick up in rates. Which, on a historic basis, are still very low. If rates continue to climb on the long end of the yield curve, buyers will balk. If rates tick up on the short end of the yield curve, banks will balk at lending. In other words, if the Fed does not continue to engineer a steep yield curve, then purchase money will become tighter and tighter.

There can't be any meaningful recovery in housing beyond the bounce we've seen unless lenders loosen underwriting standards and make loans plentiful.

The back-office mechanics that previously facilitated the robust velocity of mortgage money availability, meaning the ability of lenders to package, securitize, and offload loans from their balance sheets, are still clogged up.

Risk-retention rules pertaining to how much lenders have to retain on their balance sheets against loans they make, in the form of the as-yet unfinished qualified residential mortgage (QRM or QM) rules, will be an impediment to robust lending.

U.S. regulations and Basel rules are still being written, rewritten, and challenged by banks who argue that more stringent reserve ratios, leverage ratios, and risk-asset definitions will be too restrictive and will result in credit tightening. So far, the net result is that banks aren't inclined to flush mortgage conduits with money if they don't know how those loans will be accounted for by regulators.

The bottom line, again:

You can't sustain a robust housing recovery without banks' willing participation.

Then there's the economy, unemployment, and home purchaser confidence.

None of those metrics are encouraging.

While second-quarter GDP growth was revised to 2.5% from 1.7%, the pace of growth remains well below the expected 3% rate economists had projected for 2013.

Unemployment is still stubbornly high and may remain above 7% as the new structural level of unemployment becomes harder and harder to bring down.

Technology and productivity gains have eviscerated middle-management jobs, and Obamacare threatens to reduce the ranks of the fully employed in the future as companies opt for more part-time workers to reduce their mandated contributions under the new healthcare regime rules.

This Is a Classic Short Squeeze 5 Ways to Short the "Recovery" Capital Wave Forecast readers will have a chance to play housing's "double dip" in a number of ways.

But here are a few of the recommendations Shah will consider when it's time to move:

1. Shorting homebuilders like Pulte (PHM), Lennar (LEN), and Toll Brothers (TOL).

2. Selling short one or two majors while selling calls on homebuilder ETFs.

3. Buying puts on discretionary-based ETFs, especially the one that equally weights the stocks that make up its underlying portfolio -Guggenheim S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Discretionary ETF (RCD).

4. Buying puts on leveraged REITS that bet on mortgage-backed portfolios.

5. Shorting banks that haven't cleaned up the mortgage-backed securities bets on their balance sheets.

Last, but certainly not least, future homebuyers are witnessing the evaporation of their own potential equity build-up as rapidly rising prices are squeezing any cushion new buyers would have hoped to enjoy. As that appreciation gets ratcheted out of the market for new buyers, banks will increasingly demand more skin in the game on account of expected or hoped-for equity cushion build-up rapidly disappearing.

The rapid rise in home prics looks to me like a classic short squeeze.

Investors have bid up home prices off the floor so as to make rentals more expensive and force individual homebuyers to pay full price for whatever inventory is on the market.

Once the trade is fully priced and at new highs, on a relative time and appreciation basis, the buying power represented by the bottom-feeding institutional money will dry up, and only homebuyers in a solidly growing economy with greater employment opportunities and bankable confidence will be left to take prices higher and provide forward momentum for the recovery in housing.

As a trader, I say: "Good luck with that."

I'll be watching the trend rollover and will look to short the housing recovery in the not too distant future.

I'll let you know...

Hot Warren Buffett Companies To Own In Right Now

LONDON -- One of�Warren Buffett's famous investing sayings is "be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful" -- or, in other words, sell when others are buying and buy when they're selling.

But we might expect Foolish investors to know that, and looking at what Fools have been buying recently might well provide us with some ideas for good investments.

So, in this series of articles, we're going to look at what customers of The Motley Fool ShareDealing Service have been buying in the past week or so, and what might have made them decide to do so.

Handsome dividend
The share price of telecoms giant�Vodafone Group� (LSE: VOD  ) (NASDAQ: VOD  ) hasn't had a bad year so far. Despite some up and downs -- and the downs have been quite large at times, with an 8% slide over the course of 10 days in February, prompted by city super-investor Neil Woodford selling his Invesco Perpetual High Income fund's holdings in the company -- it's up almost 22% in 2013.

Hot Warren Buffett Companies To Own In Right Now: Provident Financial(PFG.L)

Provident Financial plc provides personal credit products to the non-standard lending market in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It offers home credit loans, including small and unsecured loans under the Provident Personal Credit and Greenwood Personal Credit brands, as well as shop cards and shopping vouchers; direct repayment loans under the Real Personal Finance brand; and credit cards. The company?s home credit is used for various events, such as Christmas, weddings, and birthdays, as well as to cope with an unexpected bill. It sells its products primarily through agents, Internet, and direct mail. The company was founded in 1880 and is headquartered in Bradford, the United Kingdom.

Hot Warren Buffett Companies To Own In Right Now: Speedway Motorsports Inc.(TRK)

Speedway Motorsports, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a promoter, marketer, and sponsor of motor sports activities in the United States. The company principally owns and operates Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Infineon Raceway, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and Texas Motor Speedway racing facilities. The company also provides souvenir merchandising services; food, beverage, and hospitality catering services; and radio programming, production, and distribution services. In addition, it develops electronic media promotional programming; and distributes wholesale and retail racing, and other sports related souvenir merchandise and apparel. Further, the company manufactures and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing cars and parts; and produces and sells an environmentally-friendly micro-lubricant. Speedway Motorsports has a joint venture with International Speedway Corporat ion to produce, market, and sell licensed motorsports collectible and consumer products, primarily trackside event souvenir merchandising. The company was founded in 1959 and is based in Concord, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [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 Speedway Motorsports (NYSE: TRK  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

• [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 Speedway Motorsports (NYSE: TRK  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

Top 10 Oil Companies To Own In Right Now: MicroStrategy Incorporated(MSTR)

MicroStrategy Incorporated provides enterprise software platforms for business intelligence (BI), and mobile and social intelligence applications worldwide. The company offers MicroStrategy 9, an integrated BI platform that enables businesses to make business decisions. The MicroStrategy 9 platform?s product components comprise Intelligence Server, a foundation for the BI platform; Report Services, a reporting engine delivering production and operational reports, managed metrics reports, and interactive dashboards; OLAP Services that allows Web and desktop users to manipulate Intelligent Cubes databases; Web, a Web interface providing query, reporting, and analysis; Distribution Services that offers automated report and dashboard distribution; Office, which enables Microsoft Office users to create, run, edit, and format MicroStrategy report; and Desktop that provide users access to data through analytical applications. The MicroStrategy 9 platform?s product components al so include Architect, whose data sources are modeled through an intuitive graphical user interface; SDK to integrate MicroStrategy 9 features and functionality into any application on multiple platforms; Integrity Manager to compare and verify reports? consistency; Command Manager that automates MicroStrategy administrative tasks; Enterprise Manager to provide prebuilt reports and dashboards; Object Manager that allows administrators to manage disparate and distributed environments; MultiSource Option allowing users to report, analyze, and monitor data; Transaction Services that provides write-back capabilities; and Clustering Option, a plug-and-play add-on to Intelligence Server. The company also offers technical support, consulting, education, and cloud-based solutions. It serves retail, communications, financial services, insurance, healthcare, manufacturing, technology, consumer goods, and public services industries. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Tysons Corner, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Evan Niu, CFA]

  What: Shares of MicroStrategy (NASDAQ: MSTR  ) have plunged today by as much as 13% after the company reported first-quarter earnings.

  So what: Revenue in the first quarter added up to $130.2 million, a 6% decline from a year ago. That translated into a loss from continuing operations of $5.2 million, or $0.46 per share. Those figures looked poor relative to consensus estimates, which were calling for $152.4 million in sales and $0.35 per share in profit.

• [By Seth Jayson]

  MicroStrategy (Nasdaq: MSTR  ) is expected to report Q2 earnings around July 29. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:

  The 10-second takeaway
  Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict MicroStrategy's revenues will wither -1.9% and EPS will wither -40.0%.

Hot Warren Buffett Companies To Own In Right Now: Queensland Minerals Ltd (QML.V)

Dunav Resources Ltd. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties in Serbia. It holds mineral licenses related to the Tulare copper and gold project, the Surdulica molybdenum project, and other early stage projects. The company was formerly known as Queensland Minerals Ltd. and changed its name to Dunav Resources Ltd. in May 2011. Dunav Resources Ltd. was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Longueuil, Canada.

Hot Warren Buffett Companies To Own In Right Now: Echo Automotive Inc (ECAU)

Echo Automotive, Inc. formerly Canterbury Resources, Inc., incorporated on September 2, 2008, is a development-stage company. The Company develops technologies and products that allow the conversion of existing vehicles into fuel-efficient hybrids and plug-in hybrids. The Company�� EchoDrive solution is a bolt-on easy-install system to convert existing fleet vehicles to electric assists. The Company provides solutions to assist companies in making the transportation technologies. As of September 21, 2012 Canterbury Resources, Inc. merged with Echo Automotive, Inc., with Echo Automotive, Inc. being the acquirer. In April 2013, Echo Automotive Inc acquired the entire share capital of Advanced Technical Asset Holdings LLC.

The EchoDrive platform enables existing vehicles to leverage grid power. During driving, EchoDrive applies that stored energy through the electric motor to assists the power train when the internal combustion engine is inefficient, significantly reducing the workload of the engine and the use of fossil fuels.

Hot Warren Buffett Companies To Own In Right Now: Heritage Oil Corp Com Stk Npv (HOC.TO)

Heritage Oil Plc operates as an independent oil and gas exploration and production company. It has an exploration appraisal and development asset in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq; exploration assets in Malta, Tanzania, Pakistan, Libya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo; and a producing property in Russia. The company was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in St Helier, the Channel Islands.

Hot Warren Buffett Companies To Own In Right Now: BancFirst Corporation(BANF)

BancFirst Corporation operates as the holding company for BancFirst that provides commercial banking services to retail customers and small to medium-sized businesses in the non-metropolitan trade centers of Oklahoma and the metropolitan markets of Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Lawton, Muskogee, Norman, and Shawnee. It offers various deposit services, such as checking, negotiable order of withdrawal, savings, money market, sweep, club, and individual retirement accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. The company?s loan portfolio comprises commercial loans offered to small to medium-sized businesses in light manufacturing, local wholesale and retail trade, commercial and residential real estate development and construction, services, agriculture, and energy industries; commercial mortgages; working capital lines of credit; and other forms of asset-based financing. BancFirst?s loan portfolio also includes agricultural loans; small business administration guaranteed loans; an d financing for automobiles, residential mortgage loans, home equity loans, and other personal loans. In addition, the company offers funds transfer services, collections, safe deposit boxes, cash management services, retail brokerage services, insurance, and overdraft protection and autodraft services. Further, it provides trust services, as well as acts as executor, administrator, trustee, and transfer agent; and item processing, research, and correspondent banking services. Additionally, the company involves in the investment management and administration of trusts for individuals, corporations, and employee benefit plans; and provision of investment options. As of July 19, 2011, it operated 89 banking locations serving 50 communities in Oklahoma. The company was formerly known as United Community Corporation and changed its name to BancFirst Corporation in November 1988. BancFirst Corporation was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Hot Warren Buffett Companies To Own In Right Now: Golden Arrow Resources Corporat (GRG.V)

Golden Arrow Resources Corporation, a junior mineral exploration company, engages in advancing, identifying, and acquiring precious and base metal projects in Argentina. It has interests in approximately 40 exploration properties. The company�s projects include Potrerillos gold-silver project, Pescado gold project, and Mogote copper-gold-silver porphyry/epithermal project in San Juan Province; Chinchillas silver project located in Jujuy Province; Purulla copper-moly project in Catamarca Province; Don Bosco Copper-Gold Project, Caballos copper-gold project, and Varitas Polymetallic project in La Rioja Province; and Costa Property, Las Bayas property, and Victoria property in Chubut Province. Golden Arrow Resources Corporation is based in Vancouver, Canada.