America's spice industry is nothing to sneeze at. Research and Markets reports the industry's revenue came in at $8.4 billion during 2011, with an estimated gross profit of over 35 percent.
So it's serious business when a new FDA report says that 12 percent of spices imported to the U.S. were contaminated by ��ilth����things like insect parts, hair, excrement and other materials like stones, twigs, plastic and rubber bands ��and have an ��verage shipment prevalence��for Salmonella at close to seven percent.
This type of contamination has been an issue before in the U.S. In 2010 at least 272 people in 44 states and Washington, D.C. were sickened by a strain of Salmonella found in black and red pepper used in the production of Italian-style deli meats.
Top Oil Service Companies To Buy Right Now: RDA Microelectronics Inc.(RDA)
RDA Microelectronics, Inc., a fabless semiconductor company, designs, develops, and markets radio-frequency and mixed-signal semiconductors for cellular, broadcast, and connectivity applications. Its products include power amplifiers, transceivers and front-end modules, FM radio receivers and transmitters, set-top box tuners, analog mobile television receivers, walkie-talkie transceivers, LNB satellite downconverters, and Bluetooth system-on-chips for mobile handsets. The company?s products also comprise GSM/EDGE power amplifier modules, GSM transceivers, TD-SCDMA transceivers, SCDMA transceivers, 3G switch modules, GSM power amplifier and switch modules, PHS transceivers, TD-SCDMA/GSM dual-mode transceivers, and radio frequency switches; DVB-T tuners, DVB-S and DVB-S2 satellite tuners, analog mobile television receiver system-on-chips, and FM radio receivers with radio data system; and Bluetooth + FM system-on-chips for mobile handsets and walkie-talkie transceivers for professional applications. Its products are incorporated into mobile handsets, set-top boxes, MP3 players, and other wireless and consumer electronic devices. RDA Microelectronics sells its products through distributors in the People?s Republic of China, southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, Africa, the Russian Federation, and Latin America. The company was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Shanghai, the People?s Republic of China.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
RDA Microelectronics (NASDAQ: RDA) was also up, gaining 11.12 percent to $17.28 after the company announced the receipt of $18.00/ADS acquisition proposal from Tsinghua Unigroup.
Top 10 Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Watch For 2015: ChannelAdvisor Corp (ECOM)
Channeladvisor Corporation, incorporated on June 18, 2001, is a provider of software-as-a-service, or SaaS, solutions that enables retailers and manufacturer customers to integrate, manage and optimize their merchandise sales across hundreds of online channels. Through the Company�� platform, the Company enables its customers to connect with new and existing sources of demand for their products, including e-commerce marketplaces, such as eBay, Amazon and Newegg, search engines and comparison shopping websites, such as Google, Microsoft�� Bing, and Nextag, and emerging channels, such as Facebook and Groupon.
The Company serves customers across a range of industries and geographies. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had over 1,900 customers worldwide. Its customers include both traditional and online retailers, such as Ann Taylor, eBags.com, J&R Electronics and Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, as well as manufacturers of consumer goods, such as Dell, Dooney and Bourke, Lenovo, Sony and Under Armour.
The Company�� suite of SaaS solutions allows its customers to more easily integrate, manage and optimize their online sales across hundreds of available channels through a single, integrated platform. Its suite solutions includes a number of individual offerings, or modules. Each module integrates with a particular type of channel, such as third-party marketplaces, paid search or comparison shopping websites, or supports specific online functionality, such as creating webstores or employing rich media solutions on their websites. The Company provides its customers with a single Web-based interface as the central location for them to control, analyze and manage their online sales across hundreds of available channels and multiple geographies. It provides its customers with actionable insights across the latest channel and consumer trends and general product performance, which enables them to evaluate and, if necessary, improve the efficiency of their business rules on existing or new! channels.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By David Zeiler]
5. ChannelAdvisor Corp. (NYSE: ECOM): ChannelAdvisor provides web-based merchandise management software to businesses like retailers and manufacturers. ECOM (get it, e-commerce) went public May 23 at $14 a share and rose 31.7% on its first day. It currently trades at about $37.57, putting it up 168.36% over its offer price.
- [By Garrett Cook]
ChannelAdvisor (NYSE: ECOM) shares shot up 5.09 percent to $24.34. Deutsche Bank upgraded Channel Advisor from Hold to Buy. ChannelAdvisor is expected to release its Q2 financial results on August 4, 2014.
- [By Garrett Cook]
ChannelAdvisor (NYSE: ECOM) shares shot up 5.14 percent to $24.35. Deutsche Bank upgraded Channel Advisor from Hold to Buy. ChannelAdvisor is expected to release its Q2 financial results on August 4, 2014.
- [By Garrett Cook]
ChannelAdvisor (NYSE: ECOM) shares shot up 4.40 percent to $24.18. Deutsche Bank upgraded Channel Advisor from Hold to Buy. ChannelAdvisor is expected to release its Q2 financial results on August 4, 2014.
Top 10 Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Watch For 2015: Supernus Pharmaceuticals Inc (SUPN)
Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Supernus), incorporated on March 30, 2005, is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing products for the treatment of central nervous system diseases, including neurological and psychiatric disorders. Supernus is developing several product candidates in neurology and psychiatry to address opportunities in epilepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Supernus�� two epilepsy product candidates are SPN-538 and Epliga. Epliga is in Phase III clinical trials. Supernus ADHD product candidates include SPN-810 (molindone hydrochloride), a treatment for impulsive aggression in patients with ADHD, and SPN-812, a non-stimulant treatment for ADHD. Both of these programs are in Phase II. In addition to these four products candidates, Supernus has several additional product candidates in various stages of development, including SPN-809. Its wholly owned subsidiary includes TCD Royalty Sub LLC.
Supernus�� Late-Stage Neurology Portfolio
SPN-538 is an oral once-daily extended release topiramate product for the treatment of epilepsy. Topiramate is marketed by Johnson & Johnson under the brand name Topamax and is available in a generic form. As of December 31, 2009, Topiramate was available only in immediate release form and is indicated for monotherapy and adjunctive therapy of epilepsy and for the treatment of migraine. It works by enhancing the inhibitory effect of the Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) neurotransmitter that regulates neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system, blocking the excitatory effect of the glutamate neurotransmitter, blocking the sodium channel and inhibiting the carbonic anhydrase enzyme.
Epliga is an oral once-daily extended release formulation of oxcarbazepine. As of December 31, 2009, Epliga was in Phase III trials. Oxcarbazepine is marketed by Novartis under the brand name Trileptal and is available in a generic form. Trileptal is indicated for monotherap! y and adjunctive therapy of epilepsy. Oxcarbazepine is an active voltage-dependent sodium channel blocker.
Supernus�� Psychiatry Portfolio
SPN-810 (molindone hydrochloride) is a treatment for impulsive aggression in patients with ADHD. As of December 31, 2009, it was in Phase II. SPN-810 is based on molindone hydrochloride. As of December 31, 2009, the Company had completed four clinical trials for SPN-810, including a Phase IIa trial, in which it tested the safety and tolerability of immediate release molindone hydrochloride in children with ADHD who suffer from serious persistent conduct problems. This open-label, dose-ranging trial randomized 78 children, 6-12 years of age, into one of four treatment groups, which were given four different doses of immediate release molindone hydrochloride, between 10 milligram and 40 milligram per day, depending on weight, three times a day over a six-week treatment period, after 2-5 weeks of titration. SPN-810 was well tolerated in the trial with no clinically meaningful changes in standard hematology, clinical chemistry values, vital signs or electrocardiogram results. SPN-810 also showed improvements on the primary and secondary outcome measures, such as conduct problem and ADHD scales, across all four treatment groups. SPN-812 is a non-stimulant treatment for ADHD. As of December 31, 2009, SPN-812 was in Phase II. SPN-812 is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor.
Supernus�� Technology Platforms
The Company has a long track record of developing products by applying technologies to known drugs to improve existing therapies and to enable the treatment of new indications. Supernus�� main technology platforms include: Microtrol (multiparticulate delivery platform), Solutrol (matrix delivery platform) and EnSoTrol (osmotic delivery system). The Company�� technologies have been used in the approved and marketed products, including Carbatrol (carbamazepine), Equetro (carbamazepine), Adderall XR (mixe! d ampheta! mine salts), Sanctura XR (trospium chloride), Oracea (doxycycline) and Intuniv (guanfacine).
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sara Sjolin]
Shares of Supernus Pharmaceuticals (SUPN) �could also be active, after the company jumped 20% after-hours on Monday after a drug on which the firm collaborated received Food and Drug Administration approval.
Top 10 Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Watch For 2015: Micropac Industries Inc (MPAD)
Micropac Industries, Inc. (Micropac), incorporated on March 3, 1969, manufactures and distributes various types of hybrid microelectronic circuits, solid state relays, power operational amplifiers, and optoelectronic components and assemblies. Micropac�� products are used as components in a range of military, space and industrial systems, including aircraft instrumentation and navigation systems, power supplies, electronic controls, computers, medical devices, and high-temperature (200o degree Celsius) products. The Company�� products are either custom (being application-specific circuits designed and manufactured to meet the particular requirements of a single customer) or standard components. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 (fiscal 2011), its custom-designed components accounted for approximately 34% of its revenue and standard components accounted for approximately 66% of its revenue.
Micropac occupies approximately 36,000 square feet of manufacturing, engineering and office space in Garland, Texas. The Company owns 31,200 square feet of that space and leases an additional 4,800 square feet. It also sub-contracts some manufacturing to Inmobiliaria San Jose De Ciuddad Juarez S.A. DE C.V, a maquila contract manufacturer in Juarez, Mexico.
Micropac provides microelectronic and optoelectronic components and assemblies along with contract electronic manufacturing services, and offers a range of products sold to the industrial, medical, military, aerospace and space markets. The Microcircuits product line includes custom microcircuits, solid state relays, power operational amplifiers, and regulators. During fiscal 2011, microcircuits product line accounted for 51% of its revenue and the optoelectronics product line accounted for 62% of its business respectively. The Company�� core technology is the packaging and interconnects of miniature electronic components, utilizing thick film and thin film substrates, forming microelectronics circuits. Other technologi! es include light emitting and light sensitive materials and products, including light emitting diodes and silicon phototransistors used in its optoelectronic components, and assemblies.
The Company�� basic products and technologies include custom design hybrid microelectronic circuits, solid state relays and power controllers, custom optoelectronic assemblies and components, optocouplers, light-emitting diodes, Hall-Effect devices, displays, power operational amplifiers, fiber optic components and assemblies, and high temperature (200o degree Celsius) products. Micropac�� products are primarily sold to original equipment manufacturers (OEM��) who serve major markets, which includes military/aerospace, such as aircraft instrumentation, guidance and navigations systems, control circuitry, power supplies and laser positioning; space, which include control circuitry, power monitoring and sensing, and industrial, which includes power control equipment and robotics.
The Company�� products are marketed throughout the United States and in Western Europe. During fiscal 2011, approximately 21% of the Company�� revenue was from international customers. The Company�� major customers include contractors to the United States Government. During fiscal 2010, sales to these customers for the Department of Defense (DOD) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) contracts accounted for approximately 62% of its revenues. The Company�� customers are Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, Rockwell Int��, and NASA.
The Company compete with Teledyne Industries, Inc., MS Kennedy, Honeywell, Avago and International Rectifier.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Geoff Gannon] % of NCAV, has similar (slightly better) z- and f-scores, a FCF margin of 6%, but has ROA of 28%.
ADDvantage (AEY) sells at 95% of NCAV, has similar (in the ballpark) scores and FCF and ROA of 23%.The slightly better businesses are currently more expensive in terms of price/NCAV. They have less asset-based downside protection, but they are better businesses.
How do you quantify and qualify what is cheap enough? To me, there's a big difference in relative cheapness in a company selling at 74% of NCAV versus one selling at 95%. I'm wondering if I'm putting too much weight on this cheapness measurement instead of acknowledging that any decent business selling at less than NCAV is cheap enough. Yet, one has to have some quantifiable idea of when something is not cheap enough anymore.
Can you help me put this into a unified framework?
Dan
There�� a great post over at Oddball Stocks called: �� Stock is a Business�� Read it. Then go over to Richard Beddard�� Interactive Investor Blog. Bookmark that blog. Read it religiously. He looks at Ben Graham type stocks in the U.K. And he looks at them not just as stocks but as pieces of a business.
Here�� what Richard said in a post called ��iving Up on Mastery of the Universe��
I need to know:
1. Whether the managers have made good decisions in the past, and whether their incentives work in the interests of the owners, because those kind of managers often add value to a company.
2. The products a company sells will still be in demand for years to come, because if they��e not then the past, which we know, does not tell us anything about the future, which we don��.
3. A company is financially strong enough to withstand the kinds of shocks companies typically experience bearing in mind some are more sensitive to events than others.
4. How to judge whether the share price undervalues the company, bearing in mind the preceding three factors.
- [By Geoff Gannon] strong>ADDvantage Technologies (AEY)
路 Solitron Devices (SODI)
路 OPT-Sciences (OPST)
Micropac
Micropac is 76% owned by Heinz-Werner Hempel. He�� a German businessman. You can see the German company he founded here. He�� had control of Micropac for a long-time. I don�� have an exact number in front of me. But I would guess it�� been something like 25 years.
ADDvantage
ADDvantage Technologies is controlled by the Chymiak brothers. See the company�� April 4 press release explaining their decision to turn over the CEO position to an outsider. Regardless, the Chymiaks still control 47% of the company. Ken Chymiak is now chairman. And David Chymiak is still a director and now the company�� chief technology officer. Clearly, it�� still their company.
By the way, the name ADDvantage Technologies has nothing to do with the Chymiaks. Today�� AEY really traces its roots to a private company called Tulsat. The Chymiak brothers acquired that company about 27 years ago. So, effectively, when you buy shares of AEY you are buying into a 27-year-old family-controlled company.
That�� pretty typical in the world of net-nets.
Solitron
Solitron Devices is 29% owned by Shevach Saraf. He has been the CEO for 20 years. The post-bankruptcy Solitron has never known another CEO. Before the bankruptcy, Solitron was a much bigger, much different company. So even though we are not talking about the founder here ��and even though 70% of the company�� shares are not held by the CEO ��we��e still talking about a company where one person has a lot of control. Solitron only has three directors. Saraf is the chairman, CEO, president, CFO and treasurer. Neither of the other two directors joined the board within the last 15 years. So, we aren�� talking about a lot of tumult at the top.
In fact, profitable net-nets seem to be especially common candidates for abandoning the responsibilities of a public comp
Top 10 Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Watch For 2015: Medifirst Solutions Inc (MFST)
Medifirst Solutions, Inc. (MSI), incorporated in November 2010, is a development-stage company. The Company is engaged in business planning activities, including researching the industry, identifying target markets for its products, developing its Medifirst Solutions, Inc. models and financial forecasts. The Company has diverse product line, including both consumer products and digital media. The Company intends to launch Florida Health Community as an on-line healthcare directory and social media site geared towards both professionals and consumers. MSI also intends to produce a tabloid size newsletter with healthcare industry related news and events. Its products include Miracle-cig and Florida Health Community Website and newsletter. In February 2014, the Company announced that it has acquired Consumer Resources Consultants Inc., a provider of online remote technical support to PC users.
The Florida Health Community Website is designed to be a medical directory with a social media component for users. The Miracle-cig is a name for its brand of disposable electronic cigarette. It is sold online at www.miraclecig.com. It intends to offer the Miracle-cig through retail outlets and convenience stores throughout the United States. It intends to add an electronic cigarette that is packaged and marketed to consumers 21 to 25 years old. The Miracle-cig will be sold at a suggested retail price of $9.95 per unit. It purchases the Miracle-cig directly from the manufacturer in China. Florida Health Community.com (FHC) is a Website currently under construction.
The Company competes with Green Smoke, NJOY. Eco and Blu.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Peter Graham]
The marijuana field keeps sprouting small cap marijuana stocks like Primco Management Inc (OTCBB: PMCM), Medifirst Solutions Inc (OTCMKTS: MFST) and Modern Mobility Aids, Inc (OTCMKTS: MDRM) which are all trying to seek a high by playing up their connections (no matter how tenuous�� to what many consider to be the next high flying sector. But are these small cap marijuana stocks just blowing smoke at investors? Here is a quick reality check:
Top 10 Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Watch For 2015: Mecox Lane Limited(MCOX)
Mecox Lane Limited, through its subsidiaries, engages in the design and sale of apparel, accessories, and home and healthcare products through its online platform and stores in the People?s Republic of China. Its apparel and accessories include women?s T-shirts, sweaters, jeans, dresses, outerwear, purses, and shoes, as well as offers kids? apparels and men?s apparels. The company also provides home furnishings and other small household appliances; a large-rim cup to cook instant noodles; beauty and healthcare products, such as skin care, fragrance, cosmetics, and other personal care products; and pet-related and other products. It sells its products under Euromoda and Rampage brands, as well as under third-party brands. In addition, the company involves in the telephonic sale of garments, accessories, and other products; and wholesale and retail of garments. Further, it offers software development and information technology support services. As of December 31, 2010, t he company operated 451 stores, including 327 franchised stores and 124 directly operated stores in 172 cities. Mecox Lane Limited distributes its products through company-owned and franchised stores, as well as through its M18.com e-commerce Website. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Shanghai, the People?s Republic of China. Mecox Lane Limited is a subsidiary of Mecox Lane.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Roberto Pedone]
Mecox Lane (MCOX) offers a selection of products apparel, accessories and home and health care products through its online platform and third party e-commerce websites. This stock closed up 13.5% to $4.10 in Tuesday's trading session.
Tuesday's Range: $3.62-$4.18
52-Week Range: $1.67-$7.88
Tuesday's Volume: 274,000
Three-Month Average Volume: 238,211From a technical perspective, MCOX exploded higher here right above some near-term support at $3.42 and back above its 50-day moving average of $4 with above-average volume. This stock has been trending sideways and consolidating over the last two months, with shares moving between $3.23 on the downside and $4.58 on the upside. This spike on Tuesday is quickly pushing shares of MCOX within range of breaking out above the upper-end of its recent range. That trade will hit if MCOX manages to clear Tuesday's high of $4.18 and then above more resistance at $4.58 with high volume.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in MCOX as long as it's trending above its 200-day at $3.24 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 238,211 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then MCOX will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $6 to its 52-week high at $7.88.
Top 10 Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Watch For 2015: Heartland Express Inc (HTLD)
Heartland Express, Inc. (Heartland), incorporated on August 8, 1986, is a short-to-medium haul truckload carrier. The Company provides regional dry van truckload services through its regional terminals plus its corporate headquarters. The Company transports freight for shippers and generally earns revenue based on the number of miles per load delivered. The Company�� primary traffic lanes are between customer locations east of the Rocky Mountains. The Company is a holding company of Heartland Express Inc. of Iowa, Heartland Express Services, Inc., Heartland Express Maintenance Services, Inc. and A & M Express, Inc. Heartland operates nine specialized regional distribution operations in Atlanta, Georgia; Carlisle, Pennsylvania; Chester, Virginia; Columbus, Ohio; Jacksonville, Florida; Kingsport, Tennessee; Olive Branch, Mississippi; Phoenix, Arizona, and Seagoville, Texas. The Company operates maintenance facilities at all regional distribution operating centers along with shop only locations in Fort Smith, Arkansas and O��allon, Missouri. In November 2013, Heartland Express Inc acquired 100% of the stock of Gordon Trucking, Inc.
The Company�� operations department is responsible for maintaining the continuity between the customer�� needs and Heartland�� ability to meet those needs by communicating customer�� expectations to the fleet management group. They are charged with development of customer relationships, ensuring service standards, coordinating proper freight-to-capacity balancing, trailer asset management, and daily tactical decisions pertaining to matching the customer demand with the appropriate capacity within geographical service areas. They assign orders to drivers based on well-defined criteria, such as driver safety and United States Department of Transportation (the DOT) compliance, customer needs and service requirements, on-time service, equipment utilization, driver time at home, operational efficiency, and equipment maintenance needs. Fleet management is r! esponsible for driver management and development. Their responsibilities include meeting the needs of the drivers within the standards that have been set by the organization and communicating the requirements of the customers to the drivers on each order to ensure successful execution. Serving the short-to-medium haul market (500 miles average length of haul in 2012) permits the Company to use primarily single, rather than team drivers and dispatch loads directly from origin to destination without an intermediate equipment change other than for driver scheduling purposes.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Equities Trading UP
Heartland Express (NASDAQ: HTLD) shot up 19.72 percent to $17.14 after the company reported that it has acquired Gordon Trucking for $300 million.