One of our latest value recommendations is a firm that provides top-quality pet products and services in North America; this recession-resistant industry should produce steady growth in future years, suggests J. Royden Ward, editor of Cabot Benjamin Graham Value Investor.
PetSmart (PETM) carries a broad selection of high-quality pet supplies at everyday low prices. Stores offer 10,000 items, including nationally recognized brand names, as well as an extensive selection of private brands.
In 2013, its 1,289 stores produced an industry-leading $7.0 billion in revenue. Its broad product assortment is complemented by a selection of value-added pet services; virtually all of its stores offer complete pet training services and feature pet styling salons that provide high-quality grooming services.
PetSmart emphasizes premium dog and cat foods, many of which are not available at supermarkets, warehouse clubs, or mass merchandisers. The company also offers its own brands in supermarkets and pet stores.
Best Valued Companies To Own For 2015: Navigant Consulting Inc (NCI)
Navigant Consulting, Inc., incorporated in 1996, is an independent specialty consulting firm. Professional services include dispute, investigative, economic, operational, risk management technology, financial and regulatory advisory solutions. The Company provides companies, legal counsel and governmental agencies facing the challenges of uncertainty, risk, distress and significant change. It provides a range of offerings to its client base. It operates in four segments: Business Consulting Services, Dispute and Investigative Services, Economic Consulting and International Consulting. On July 15, 2011, the Company acquired assets of Ignited Solutions, LLC. In October 2011, the Company acquired Paragon Health, a national physician practice management and consulting firm specializing in Cardiovascular practices. Effective July 9, 2013, the Company acquired The Anson Group LLC.
The Business Consulting Services reporting segment provides strategic, operational, financial, regulatory and technical management consulting services to clients, principally C suite and corporate management, governmental entities and law firms. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the reporting segment consisted of three operating segments, Energy, Healthcare and Other Business Consulting. The Energy and Healthcare business units are defined as operating segments due to their size, importance and organizational reporting relationships. The Energy and Healthcare operating segments provide services to clients in those respective markets and the Other Business Consulting operating segment provides operations advisory, valuation and restructuring services to clients in the financial services and other industries..
The Dispute and Investigative Services reporting segment provides a range of services to clients facing the challenges of disputes, litigation, forensic investigation, discovery and regulatory compliance. The clients of this segment are principally law firms, corporate general counsel and cor! porate boards and government agencies.
The Economic Consulting reporting segment provides economic and financial analyses of legal and business issues principally for law firms, corporations and governmental agencies. Expertise includes areas, such as antitrust, corporate finance and governance, bankruptcy, intellectual property, investment banking, labor market discrimination and compensation, corporate valuation and securities litigation.
The International Consulting reporting segment provides a mix of dispute and business consulting services to clients predominately outside North America. The clients are principally C suite and corporate management, governmental entities and law firms. The clients are principally C suite executives and corporate management, governmental agencies and law firms.
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 Navigant Consulting (NYSE: NCI ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below. - [By MONEYMORNING]
In fact, of the 10 companies examined, Navigant Consulting Inc. (NYSE: NCI) is the only one that has received no new contract awards since the GAO's March 31 study cutoff date. (The firm is tasked with data collection and customer outreach.)
In late October, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius testified under oath to Congress to address the Obamacare website launch disaster. She began with a prepared statement, with comments like "You deserve better," "I apologize," and "I'm accountable to you."
Top 10 Services Stocks To Watch For 2014: Cablevision Systems Corporation (CVC)
Cablevision Systems Corporation provides telecommunications and media services. It operates in two segments, Telecommunications Services and Other. The Telecommunications Services segment is involved in television business, including video, high-speed data, and VoIP operations, as well as the provision of commercial data and voice services. The Other segment offers Newsday, a daily newspaper; amNewYork, a free daily newspaper; and Star Community Publishing, a group of weekly shopper publications; and newsday.com and exploreLI.com. This segment also engages in motion picture theatre business, Clearview Cinemas; provision of the News 12 Networks, a regional news programming services; and the MSG Varsity network, a network covering high school sports and activities, and other local programs, as well as cable television advertising. Cablevision Systems Corporation was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Bethpage, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Will Ashworth]
If other cable companies — like Charter Communications (CHTR), Cablevision (CVC) and Cox Communications — decide to merge in order to keep pace with Comcast, content providers could be under the gun once more.
- [By M. Joy Hayes]
With no alternative candidates, there's no guarantee that directors will leave even if they fail to receive majority support. Consider the case of Cablevision (NYSE: CVC ) . In 2010 and 2012, directors Thomas V. Reifenheiser, John R. Ryan, and Vincent S. Tese remained on the board even though they all failed to receive majority support in the company's 2010 and 2012 elections. Worse, Cablevision renominated the shunned directors yet again in 2013.
- [By Teresa Rivas]
On the flip side, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) takes the dubious honor of most overbought: It has 40.3% to fall, based on its Goldman �target price. �The top five includes Cablevision Systems (CVC) Hewlett-Packard (HPQ), Intel (INTC) and U.S. Steel (X). Other big players on the list are Microsoft (MSFT), Cliffs Natural Resources (CLF), and Staples (SPLS).
- [By Paul Ausick]
SNL Kagan noted that cable outfits like Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA), Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) and Cablevision Corp. (NYSE: CVC) saw subscriber losses double to 607,000. Cable�� share of the pay TV market has now fallen to 55.3%.
Top 10 Services Stocks To Watch For 2014: Paradise Inc (PARF)
Paradise, Inc., incorporated in September, 1961, conducts operations through two business segments: Candied Fruit and Molded Plastics. The Candied Fruit segment is engaged in the production of candied fruit, a basic fruitcake ingredient, sold to manufacturing bakers, institutional users, and retailers for use in home baking. Based on market conditions, it is also engaged in the processing of frozen strawberry products for sale to commercial and institutional users, such as preservers, dairies and drink manufacturers. The Molded Plastics segment is engaged in the production of plastic containers for the Company�� products and other molded plastics for sale to unaffiliated customers.
During the year ended December 31, 2011, in terms of candied fruit sales, approximately 20% were shipped to manufacturing bakers and other institutional users, with the balance being sold through supermarkets and other retail outlets for ultimate use in the home. Sales to retail outlets are usually generated through registered food brokers operating in exclusively franchised territories.
The Company�� trademarks Paradise, Dixie, Mor-Fruit and Sun-Ripe are registered with the appropriate Federal and State authorities for use on the Company�� candied fruit. During 2011, the Company derived approximately 15% of its consolidated net sales from Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Geoff Gannon]
What is the advantage of being a huge company? There are some. For one, we know the business is ��or was ��growable. A lot of small companies stay small because their circle of competence is small. Paradise (PARF) is an over the counter stock. It has a market cap of $10 million. And it dominates the candied fruit market in the U.S. Why isn�� the company bigger?
Top 10 Services Stocks To Watch For 2014: Vivendi SA (VIVHY)
Vivendi SA (Vivendi), incorporated on December 18, 1987, is a communications and entertainment company. As of December 31, 2009, the Company had six business segments: Activision Blizzard, Universal Music Group, SFR, Maroc Telecom Group, GVT (Holding) S.A. (GVT) and Canal+ Group. Activision Blizzard develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software, online or on other media (such as console and personal computer (PC)). Universal Music Group is engaged in the sale of recorded music (physical and digital media), exploitation of music publishing rights, as well as artist services and merchandising. SFR is engaged in the phone services (mobile, broadband Internet and fixed) in France. Maroc Telecom Group is a telecommunication operator (mobile, fixed and Internet) in Africa, principally in Morocco, as well as in Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Gabon and Mali. GVT is a Brazilian fixed and broadband operator. Canal+ Group is engaged in publishing and distribution of pay-television mainly in France, in both analog and digital (terrestrially, via satellite or ADSL), as well as film production in Europe. In July 2013, Vivendi SA and Universal Music Group announced the completion of the sale of Parlophone Label Group to Warner Music Group Corp.
On November 13, 2009, Vivendi acquired an aggregate of 29.9% of GVT�� outstanding voting shares from Swarth Investments LLC, Swarth Investments Holdings LLC and Global Village Telecom (Holland) BV. In addition, Vivendi acquired from third parties an additional 8% interest in GVT's outstanding shares. On December 28, 2009, Canal+ Group, Vivendi�� subsidiary, acquired TF1�� 9.9% interest in the capital of Canal+ France. On July 31, 2009, Maroc Telecom acquired 51% controlling interest in Sotelma. On August 27, 2009, CID, a company 40% owned by SFR and 60% by other financial investors, acquired the 62% interest in 5 sur 5.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Demitrios Kalogeropoulos]
Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI ) is striking out on its own. The company reached a purchase agreement with Vivendi (NASDAQOTH: VIVHY ) �to transfer enough shares so that it will become an independent company, one that's majority-owned by public investors rather than a single corporation.
Top 10 Services Stocks To Watch For 2014: Signet Jewelers Limited(SIG)
Signet Jewelers Limited operates as a specialty jewelry retailer in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and the Channel Islands. The company retails jewelry, watches, and associated services. As of January 28, 2012, it operated a network of 1,318 stores in 50 states in the United States that trade nationally in malls and off-mall locations as ?Kay Jewelers?, and regionally under various mall-based brands, as well as operated as destination superstores under the ?Jared The Galleria Of Jewelry? trade name. The company also operated a network of 535 stores in the United Kingdom, including 14 stores in the Republic of Ireland and 3 in the Channel Islands under the ?H.Samuel?, ?Ernest Jones?, and ?Leslie Davis? trade names in high street locations and shopping malls. Signet Jewelers Limited was founded in 1950 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Seth Jayson]
Signet Jewelers (NYSE: SIG ) reported earnings on May 23. Here are the numbers you need to know.
The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended May 4 (Q1), Signet Jewelers missed estimates on revenues and beat slightly on earnings per share. - [By Marshall Hargrave]
The industry gets a little smaller
One risk to Tiffany might be the joining of forces by two of the largest jewelers in the U.S., Signet Jewelers (NYSE: SIG ) and Zale. The acquisition of Zale by Signet will strengthen Signet's market share to 16% for U.S. retail jewelers. - [By Aaron Smith]
Shares surged 12% for Signet (SIG)in premarket trading, while Zale (ZLC) shares soared 40%.
Signet, which has 1,400 stores in the U.S. and 500 in the U.K., has agreed to buy the Dallas-based Zale, which has 1,680 stores in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, in a cash deal for $21 per share.
Top 10 Services Stocks To Watch For 2014: Team Inc.(TISI)
Team, Inc. provides specialty maintenance and construction services for maintaining high temperature and high pressure piping systems and vessels that are utilized in heavy industries. It offers inspection and assessment services, such as inspection and evaluation of piping, piping components, and equipment; field heat treating services, including electric resistance and gas-fired combustion; leak repair services comprising on-stream repairs of leaks in pipes, valves, flanges, and other parts of piping systems and related equipment; and fugitive volatile organic chemical emission leak detection services consisting of identification, monitoring, data management, and reporting. The company also provides hot tapping services, such as hot tapping, Line-stop, and Freeze-stop services; field machining services, including the use of portable machining equipment to repair or modify machinery, equipment, vessels, and piping systems, as well as flange facing, pipe cutting, line bori ng, journal turning, drilling, and milling services; and technical bolting services comprising the use of hydraulic or pneumatic equipment with bolt tightening techniques for leak-free connections, plant maintenance, and expansion projects, as well as bolt disassembly and hot bolting services. In addition, it offers field valve repair services consisting of on-site repairs to manual and control valves, and pressure and safety relief valves, as well as specialty valve actuator diagnostics and repair. The company markets its services to companies in a various heavy industries, which include the petrochemical, refining, power, pipeline, steel, pulp and paper, and shipbuilding industries, as well as to municipalities, original equipment manufacturers, distributors, and engineering and construction firms. It operates in the United States, Canada, Europe, and internationally. The company was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Alvin, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Laura Brodbeck]
Earnings Releases Expected: A. Schulman, Inc. (NASDAQ: SHLM), Team, Inc. (NYSE: TISI), ZEP Inc. (NYSE: ZEP)
Economic Releases Expected: Japanese current account, US consumer credit, Chilean trade balance, Swiss CPI, Spanish industrial production, German industrial production
Top 10 Services Stocks To Watch For 2014: Quadrant 4 Systems Corp (QFOR)
Quandrant4 Systems Corp., formerly Zolon Corporation, incorporated on May 9, 1990, is focused in the information technology (IT) sector as a provider of Software as a Service (SaaS) based technology products to enterprise customers in addition to custom software development, life cycle maintenance, outsourcing and consulting services. The Company intends to provide IT consulting services; managed services; software product architecture; software development, maintenance and outsourcing and industry-specific software solutions primarily to enterprises engaged in the Financial Services, Retail and Healthcare sectors, but not limited to, IT services/solutions, managed services, software product architecture, development, maintenance and outsourcing, IT consulting and specific industry-focused software products and/or technology. On July 1, 2011, the Company merged VSG Acquisition Corp. and Resource Mine Acquisition Corp. into ISS Acquisition Corporation, all wholly-owned subsidiaries, which was then, renamed Quadrant 4 Consulting, Inc. Effective February 26, 2013, the Company acquired BlazerFish LLC, Teledata Technology Solutions Inc and Momentum Mobility.
Financial Services
The Company recognizes the changing regulatory environment as well as trends in the interaction between financial services providers and their customers and the role of technology and business-process solutions. It helps its customers implement customer-relationship-management tools based on newer trends and technology. Ite also helps its customers develop and maintain their technology infrastructure in light of regulatory factors, investing markets and demands for analysis.
Health Care and Life Sciences
In the Healthcare sector, the Company represent marketing opportunities. These opportunities are in part driven by regulatory climate while both payers and providers are recognizing that new set of technologies can play a role in achieving additional cost savings and efficiencies. I! t helps its customers integrate their needs of providing Healthcare services, managing information, managing preventive health services with the ever-increasing regulatory framework in which Healthcare services are provided. Its consulting services help customers deliver Healthcare or financing for Healthcare to get the affordability and availability to the patients using technology and business-processes in the areas of records management, billing, back-office services and service-provision analysis.
The Company competes with Accenture, IBM Global Services and Cap Gemini.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By RedChip]
Quadrant 4 Systems (OTCQB: QFOR), a provider of informational technology software and services, is focused on four key areas that are shaping the future of business: social media, mobile technology, big-data analytics, and cloud computing. According to market research firm IDC, these four areas are expected to account for $5 trillion in spending by 2020. QFOR's solutions help blue-chip companies such as Walgreens, Ford, Citibank, and Cisco improve their efficiency and better serve their customers.
- [By RedChip]
Q4 Systems Corporation (OTCQB: QFOR) today released Version 2.0 of its healthcare exchange platform. The Q4 healthcare exchange (QHIX) was launched in July, 2013. The Version 2.0 includes a Reach and Teach Member Engagement module, which the company believes makes its exchange the most comprehensive, easy-to-use, private health exchange platform available and far superior to all government exchanges.
- [By Peter Graham]
Small cap stocks Eyes on The Go Inc (OTCMKTS: AXCG), Quadrant 4 Systems Corp (OTCMKTS: QFOR) and Cloud Security Corp (OTCMKTS: CLDS) were getting attention last week, but all three stocks trended downward on Monday. It should be mentioned that none of these stocks have been overly or heavily paid promotions. So what will these three small cap stocks do on the last trading day of the year and for the rest of this week? Here is a closer look:
- [By Peter Graham]
Small cap stocks 7 Star Entertainment Inc (OTCMKTS: SAEE), Quadrant 4 Systems Corp (OTCMKTS: QFOR) and Virtual Sourcing, Inc (OTCMKTS: PGCX) surged or rose 35%, 18.9% and 11.27%, respectively, on Friday. Moreover, all three small cap stocks have been the subject of paid promotions albeit they have not been as heavily promoted as a number of other stocks were last week. So will these three small caps keep rising this week or head in the other direction? Here is a closer look to help you decide:
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