Best Railroad Companies To Invest In Right Now

On this day in economic and business history...

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) began its existence in the swelling optimism of a post-panic bull market. That growth continued for five years, with a brief interruption at the turn of the century, before peaking on June 17, 1901. That day marked the start of the longest secular bear market in Dow history.

Trading that day was light, and reports offered little indication of the long-term weakness to come. The export of $4 million worth of gold -- approximately 6.6 tons' worth at prevailing exchange rates -- to cover various debts was the only unpleasant news to be found, as lower gold stores could become a problem in the event of widespread withdrawals. A railroad price war in the American Northwest drew to a close. The damage wrought on the railroad industry by the Panic of 1893 finally seemed to be a thing of the past, and newly instituted railroad dividends and higher earnings appeared everywhere.

Best Railroad Companies To Invest In Right Now: African Metals Corp. (AFR.V)

African Metals Corporation engages in the exploration of mineral properties in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It primarily focuses on the discovery and development of copper and cobalt deposits in the Katanga Copper Belt. The company holds a 57% interest in the Luisha South project, which consists of approximately 16.2 square kilometers and is located to the northwest of Lubumbashi, the Democratic Republic of Congo. African Metals Corporation was incorporated in 1980 and is based in Surrey, Canada.

Best Railroad Companies To Invest In Right Now: Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc(TMO)

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. provides analytical instruments, equipment, reagents and consumables, software, and services for research, manufacture, analysis, discovery, and diagnostics. Its Analytical Technologies segment offers analytical instruments to analyze prepared samples, software interpretation tools, laboratory information management systems, and laboratory automation systems; environmental instruments and integrated systems for environmental monitoring, safety, and security applications; and process instruments, integrated systems, and measurement solutions. It also provides diagnostics products used in healthcare laboratories to prepare and analyze patient samples; and biosciences products comprising reagents and consumables used in life science research, drug discovery, and biopharmaceutical production. The company?s Laboratory Products and Services segment offers laboratory equipment, including sample preparation, environment storage and handling equipment, and laboratory workstations; laboratory consumables; research market solutions consisting of chemicals, instruments and apparatus, liquid handling pumps and devices, and capital equipment and consumables; and healthcare market products comprising analytical equipment, diagnostic tools, and reagents and consumables. It also provides workplace and first responder equipment, protective gear, and apparel; and packaging, warehousing, distribution, labeling, pharmaceutical and biospecimen storage, and analytical laboratory services in the area of drug discovery and pharmaceutical clinical trials. The company serves pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities, research institutions, government agencies, and environmental and industrial process control settings primarily in the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. was founded in 1956 and is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE: TMO  ) snagged a sizable equipment contract from the Department of Defense Monday. In its daily list of contract award announcements, the DoD confirmed that it has reupped a fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment supply agreement with TFS subsidiary Fisher Scientific for a fourth and final option year, ending May 3, 2014.

Hot Companies To Invest In 2014: 3i Group(III.L)

3i Group Plc is a private equity and venture capital firm specializing in mid venture, late venture, emerging growth, growth capital, middle market, buyout, and mature investments. It prefers to invest in business services, healthcare, consumer, media, oil, gas, power, technology, general industries, financial services, infrastructure, and regional sectors. The firm also seeks to invest in family owned business. It seeks to invest in media businesses at all stages of development and on selective basis, it also makes early-stage venture investments in oilfield technologies. The firm typically makes growth capital investments in medium-sized businesses in the healthcare, financial services, food and drink, media, IT services, support services, and oil and gas sectors. It prefers to invest in buyouts across a broad range of sectors with a particular focus on healthcare, business services, telecommunication, media, consumer, and oil, gas and power. The firm typically invests i n business services with a focus on blue collar services (including cleaning, security, repair and maintenance, and facilities management); white collar services (including consultancy services including engineering, environmental, and recruitment and training and process outsourcing); distribution; and rental services (including hire of equipment and other non consumables). In the healthcare sector it focuses on pharmaceuticals and biotechnology (including supply drug marketing and delivery services, as well as animal health specialists), medical devices and technology (including dialysis and cardiovascular equipment, through to surgical instruments and imaging technology), and specialist care service providers (including care activities for the young, the disabled, and the elderly in their own homes, in hospitals, and in community facilities, and vitally-important diagnostic services). In the consumer sector the firm focuses on consumer goods, retail, food and drinks, and leisure (travel distribution, hotels and resorts, local lei! sure, betting and gaming, and hospitality). In the media sector it prefers to invest in broadcasting and entertainment (including TV, radio, Internet, and mobile broadcasting, the creators and owners of content, and suppliers of allied services), publishing and information (ranging from newspapers, through to directories and business information), marketing services (marketing and advertising including market research), and technology (software and hardware that enables major disruptions within large markets). In the oil, gas, and power sectors the firm focuses on exploration and production, oil services (including services which provide products, people, and technology for all elements of drilling, evaluation, development, construction, and production), and midstream gas and power which includes companies that develop, generate, store, and transmit energy. Within the gas and power sector it seeks to invest in compan ies delivering oil and gas to the consumer, through activities such as gas storage, transportation in liquefied form, refining, and distribution; generating power and transmitting and distributing; developing alternatives to oil and gas, including biofuels; products/components like generators and services such as wind turbine maintenance for related activities. In the technology sector the firm focuses on software and Internet (including digital marketing, e-commerce, social media), online media, telecoms, electronics and semiconductors, IT services, and cleantech (including energy, air and water, waste management, and supporting technologies like sensing and remote monitoring technologies, process innovations, and new materials). In the general industrial sectors it prefers to invest in aerospace and defense; automotive; chemicals; construction and building materials; electronic and electrical equipment; industrial engineering; paper, packaging, and print; and transport and logistics. In the financial sectors it seeks to invest in asset management, specialty finance, general insurance, out! sourcing ! providers, and electronic trading. In the software sector the firm does not invest in generic office and enterprise applications. It prefers to invest in companies across Europe, United States, and Asia. It seeks to make growth investments in China, investing between $20 million and $150 million. For small minority investments the firm seeks invest predominantly in the United Kingdom and Germany. For venture capital investments, it typically invests between ?1 million ($1.99 million) and ?75million ($149.88 million) in seed to late stage in information technology, healthcare, cleantech, oil and gas, and ESAT (electronics, semiconductors, and advanced materials) sectors in Europe and United States. For growth capital investments the firm typically invests up to ?250 million ($499.62 million) per deal, in businesses with enterprise values ranging fr om ?100 million ($199.85 million) to ?1 billion ($1.99 billion), to acquire minority holdings in companies across Europe, Asia, and North America. For infrastructure investments it seeks to invest between ?70 million ($139.89 million) and ?400 million ($799.4 million) per deal, focusing on European, North American, and Asian infrastructure assets. In the software sector it prefers to invest between $2 million to $10 million and for the others range between ?2 million ($3.99 million) and ?50 million ($99.92 million). For buyouts, the firm typically acquires European businesses with an enterprise value up to around ?1billion ($1.99 billion). It seeks to acquire influential or controlling shareholdings in quoted small and mid-cap companies with an enterprise value of ?100 million ($199.85 million) to ?2 billion ($3.99 billion) on the European quoted markets. With a mix of equity and debt, the firm seeks to invest an average of around ?100 million ($199.85 million) in each business in such businesses. The firm also makes mid-market investment across Europe in transactions with an enterprise value of up to ?1 billion ($1.99 billion) when it is the sole investor. It! s Brazil ! team seeks to invest between $30 million and $100 million for majority or minority stakes in businesses with an enterprise value of up to $200 million. The firm typically takes a minority shareholding between 10 percent and 45 percent and a seat on the board with regards to its growth capital investments. It seeks to take a board seat in its portfolio companies with regards to its venture capital investments. 3i Group Plc was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in London, United Kingdom with additional offices across Europe, United States, Brazil and Asia.

Best Railroad Companies To Invest In Right Now: Pharmagap Inc.(GAP.V)

PharmaGap Inc., a biotechnology company, focuses on the development of therapeutic drugs for treatment of cancer and other human disease conditions associated with Protein Kinase C (PKC). Its lead drug compound GAP-107B8, which is in the pre-clinical testing stage for the treatment of cancer. Pharmagap Inc. has a collaboration agreement with Queen's University to develop GAP-107B8 for bladder cancer. The company was founded in 1999 and is based in Ottawa, Canada.

Best Railroad Companies To Invest In Right Now: Sturm Ruger & Company Inc. (RGR)

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of firearms in the United States. The company offers its products under the ?Ruger? name and trademark in four product categories, including single-shot, autoloading, bolt-action, and sporting rifles; over and under shotguns; rimfire autoloading and centerfire autoloading pistols; and single action and double action revolvers. It also manufactures and sells accessories and replacement parts for its firearms. In addition, the company produces and sells investment castings made from steel alloys. Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. sells its firearms through a network of selected licensed independent wholesale distributors; and markets investment castings through manufacturer?s representatives to commercial, sporting goods, and military sectors. The company was founded in 1948 and is based in Southport, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James O'Toole]

  Although the pace of sales has moderated in recent months, gun stocks remain a popular choice among investors. Smith & Wesson shares are up nearly 44% on the year, while fellow gun maker Sturm Ruger (RGR)is up nearly 60%.

• [By Steve Symington]

  On Monday, Sturm, Ruger (NYSE: RGR  ) announced the pending purchase of its third manufacturing plant, representing the gunmaker's first major expansion in more than 25 years.

• [By James Brumley]

  Shares of Sturm, Ruger & Company (RGR) are up 65% year-to-date, and that’s with the sizable pullback from November’s highs. Smith & Wesson Holding (SWHC) has doled out a 57% reward for shareholders this year, with a big chunk of that coming in just the past few weeks. Those performances are far better than the market’s gain for the year.

Best Railroad Companies To Invest In Right Now: Sagent Pharmaceuticals Inc.(SGNT)

Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, develops, sources, and markets pharmaceutical products, principally injectable-based generic equivalents to branded products in the United States. It offers a range of products across anti-infective, oncolytic, and critical care indications in various presentations, including single-and multi-dose vials, pre-filled ready-to-use syringes, and premix bags. The company?s anti-infective products include Levofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibacterial for the treatment of various infections caused by susceptible bacteria in adults of age 18 years or older; and Cefepime, an antibiotic used to treat infections of the urinary tract, and skin and skin structure, as well as moderate to severe pneumonia, intra-abdominal infections, and as empiric therapy for febrile neutropenic patients. Its oncology products comprise Gemcitabine, a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor used for the treatment of ovarian, breast, lung, and panc reatic cancers; and Topotecan, a topoisomerase inhibitor for small cell lung cancer sensitive disease. The company also offers critical care products consisting of Adenosine, an antiarrhythmic used for the treatment of cardiac rhythm disturbances; and Heparin, an anticoagulant used to prevent and treat blood clotting during and after surgery and dialysis. As of December 31, 2011, it marketed 33 generic injectable products; and had a new product pipeline that included 36 products represented by 63 Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs). The company sells its products to pharmaceutical wholesale companies, which then distribute the products to end-user hospitals, long-term care facilities, alternate care sites, and clinics. The company was formerly known as Sagent Holding Co. and changed its name to Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in April 2011. Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Sagent Pharmaceuticals (SGNT) is a pharmaceutical company engaged in developing, manufacturing, sourcing and marketing pharmaceutical products, with a specific emphasis on injectables. This stock closed up 1.1% at $23.58 in Thursday's trading session.

  Thursday's Volume: 235,000
  
  Three-Month Average Volume: 128,231
  
  Volume % Change: 110%

  From a technical perspective, SGNT rose modestly higher here right above its 50-day moving average of $22.32 with above-average volume. This move pushed shares of SGNT into breakout territory, since the stock took out some near-term overhead resistance at $23.50. Shares of SGNT are now quickly moving within range of triggering another near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if SGNT manages to clear its 52-week high at $24.27 with high volume.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in SGNT as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $22.32 and then once it sustains a move or close above its 52-week high at $24.27 with volume that's near or above 128,231 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then SGNT 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 $26.74 to its all-time high at $29.23.

• [By Rich Smith]

  Sagent Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SGNT  ) �is recalling three lots of Vecuronium Bromide for Injection, 10mg (NDC number 25021-657-10). Vecuronium Bromide for Injection is a neuromuscular blocking agent used in addition to general anesthesia to facilitate insertion of endotracheal tubes, and to provide skeletal muscle relaxation during surgery or mechanical ventilation.�

• [By CRWE]

  Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:SGNT), a leader of specialty pharmaceutical products with an emphasis on the injectable market, reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012.

Best Railroad Companies To Invest In Right Now: Amerco (UHAL)

AMERCO, through its subsidiary U-Haul International, Inc., a do-it-yourself moving and storage operator that supplies products and services to help people move and store their household and commercial goods in the United States and Canada. The company engages in the rental of trucks, trailers, specialty rental items, and self-storage spaces primarily to the household mover as well as sales of moving supplies, towing accessories and propane. It also offers eMove, an online marketplace, which connects consumers to independent moving help service providers and independent self-storage affiliates, as well as manages self-storage properties. In addition, the company provides loss adjusting and claims handling services, as well as underwrites moving and storage protection packages, including Safemove and Safetow that provide moving and towing customers with a damage waiver, cargo protection, and medical and life insurance coverage; Safestor, which protects storage customers from loss on their goods in storage; and Super Safemove that offer rental customer with a layer of primary liability protection. Further, it provides life and health insurance products primarily to the senior market through the direct writing or reinsuring of life insurance, medicare supplement, and annuity policies. The company rents its orange and white U-Haul trucks and trailers, as well as offers self-storage rooms through a network of approximately 1,400 company operated retail moving centers and approximately 15,000 independent U-Haul dealers. Its rental fleet consists of approximately 101,000 trucks, 82,000 trailers, and 33,000 towing devices, as well as operates approximately 1,115 self-storage locations in North America, with approximately 411,000 rentable rooms. The company was founded in 1945 and is based in Reno, Nevada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  Given my druthers, were I asked to recommend a truck rental shop today, I think I'd have to go with U-Haul owner AMERCO (NASDAQ: UHAL  ) instead. It's got the free cash flow that Ryder lacks, plus a cheaper P/E, a slightly faster growth rate, and a smaller debt load. Honestly, I don't "love" AMERCO either -- but it's a heck of a better value than Ryder.

Best Railroad Companies To Invest In Right Now: Natural Resource Partners LP (NRP)

Natural Resource Partners L.P. is a limited partnership. The Company is engaged principally in the business of owning, managing and leasing mineral properties in the United States. It owns coal reserves in the three United States coal-producing regions: Appalachia, the Illinois Basin and the Western United States, as well as lignite reserves in the Gulf Coast region. The Company is engaged in the ownership and leasing of mineral properties and related transportation and processing infrastructure. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned or controlled approximately 2.3 billion tons of proven and probable coal reserves and it also owned approximately 380 million tons of aggregate reserves in a number of states across the country. During the year ended December 31, 2011, its lessees produced 49.2 million tons of coal from its properties. In addition, the Company�� lessees produced 49.2 million tons of coal from its properties. The Company�� operations are conducted through, and its operating assets are owned by, its subsidiaries. The Company owns its subsidiaries through a wholly owned operating company, NRP (Operating) LLC. NRP (GP) LP, which is its general partner, which conducts its business and manages its operations. Because its general partner is a limited partnership, its general partner, GP Natural Resource Partners LLC, conducts its business and operations. Robertson Coal Management LLC owns all of the membership interest in GP Natural Resource Partners LLC. In addition to its preparation plants, the Company owns coal handling and transportation infrastructure in West Virginia, Ohio and Illinois. In February 2011, it acquired approximately 500 acres of mineral and surface rights related to limestone reserves on the Tennessee River near Paducah, Kentucky. In March 2011, it acquired approximately 500 acres of mineral and surface rights related to limestone reserves in Cleveland, Tennessee near Chattanooga. In July 2011, it acquired approximately 44,000 acres of coal reserves and coal bed met! hane located in Pennsylvania and Illinois. In February 2012, the Company acquired coal reserves at the Deer Run mine near Hillsboro, Illinois and approximately 9,500 net mineral acres located in the Mississippian Lime oil play in Northern Oklahoma. In March 2012, the Company acquired the rail loadout, associated infrastructure assets and a contractual overriding royalty interest on certain tonnage at the Sugar Camp mine near Benton, Illinois. In May 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of approximately 19,200 net mineral acres in the Mississippian Lime oil play in North Central Oklahoma.

Northern Appalachia

The Beaver Creek property is located in Grant and Tucker Counties, West Virginia. During 2011, 2.4million tons were produced from this property. The Company leases this property to Mettiki Coal, LLC, which is a subsidiary of Alliance Resource Partners L.P. Coal is produced from an underground longwall mine. It is transported by truck to a preparation plant operated by the lessee. Coal is shipped primarily by truck to the Mount Storm power plant of Dominion Power and to various export customers. During 2011, 366,000 tons were produced from Allegany County. The Company leases this property to Vindex Energy, a subsidiary of Arch Coal. Coal from this property is produced from a surface mine. The raw coal is trucked to the Warrior plant of Allegheny Energy. During 2011, 283,000 tons were produced from Area F property. It leases this property to Carter Roag, a subsidiary of Metinvest. Coal from this property is produced from an underground mine. The raw coal is trucked to a preparation plant operated by the lessee. Coal is shipped via rail to domestic metallurgical customers and exported for use by Metinvest.

Central Appalachia

The VICC/Alpha property is located in Wise, Dickenson, Russell and Buchanan Counties, Virginia. During 2011, 4.9 million tons were produced from this property. It primarily leases this property to a subsidiary of Alpha Natu! ral Resou! rces. Production comes from both underground and surface mines and is trucked to one of four preparation plants. Coal is shipped through both the CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads to utility and metallurgical customers. Customers include American Electric Power, Southern Company, Tennessee Valley Authority, VEPCO and the United States Steel and to various export metallurgical customers. The Lynch property is located in Harlan and Letcher Counties, Kentucky. During 2011, 4.8 million tons were produced from this property. The Company primarily leases the property to a subsidiary of Massey Energy. Production comes from both underground and surface mines. Coal is transported by truck to a preparation plant on the property and is shipped primarily on the CSX railroad to utility customers, such as Georgia Power and Orlando Utilities.

The Dingess-Rum property is located in Logan, Clay and Nicholas Counties, West Virginia. This property is leased to subsidiaries of Massey Energy and Patriot Coal. During 2011, 2.8 million tons were produced from the property. Coal is shipped through the CSX railroad to steam customers, such as American Electric Power, Dayton Power and Light, Detroit Edison and to various export metallurgical customers.

The VICC/Kentucky Land property is located primarily in Perry, Leslie and Pike Counties, Kentucky. During 2011, 2.5 million tons were produced from this property. Coal is produced from a number of lessees from both underground and surface mines. Coal is shipped primarily by truck but also on the CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads to customers, such as Southern Company, Tennessee Valley Authority and American Electric Power. The Lone Mountain property is located in Harlan County, Kentucky. During 2011, 2.1 million tons were produced from this property. The Company leases the property to a subsidiary of Arch Coal, Inc. Production comes from underground mines and is transported primarily by beltline to a preparation plant on adjacent property and shipped o! n the Nor! folk Southern or CSX railroads to utility customers, such as Georgia Power and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

The D.D. Shepard property is located in Boone County, West Virginia. This property is primarily leased to a subsidiary of Patriot Coal Corp. During 2011, two million tons were produced from the property. Both steam and metallurgical coal are produced by the lessees from underground and surface mines. Coal is transported from the mines through belt or truck to preparation plants on the property. Coal is shipped through the CSX railroad to various domestic and export metallurgical customers. The Pardee property is located in Letcher County, Kentucky and Wise County Virginia. During 2011, 1.8 million tons were produced from this property. It leases the property to a subsidiary of Arch Coal, Inc. Production comes from underground and surface mines and is transported by truck or beltline to a preparation plant on the property and shipped primarily on the Norfolk Southern railroad to utility customers, such as Georgia Power and the Tennessee Valley Authority and domestic, and export metallurgical customers, such as Algoma Steel and Arcelor.

The Kingston property is located in Fayette and Raleigh Counties, West Virginia. This property is leased to a subsidiary of Alpha Natural Resources. During 2011, 1.5 million tons were produced from the property. Both steam and metallurgical coal are produced from underground and surface mines and has been historically transported by belt or truck to a preparation plant on the property or shipped raw. Coal is shipped via both the CSX railroad and by truck to barges to steam customers and various export metallurgical customers.

Southern Appalachia

The BLC properties are located in Kentucky and Tennessee. During 2011, 1.2 million tons were produced from these properties. The Company leases these properties to a number of operators, including Appolo Fuels Inc., Bell County Coal Corporation and Kopper-Glo Fuels. Prod! uction co! mes from both underground and surface mines and is trucked to preparation plants and loading facilities operated by its lessees. Coal is transported by truck and is shipped through both CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads to utility and industrial customers. Customers include Southern Company, South Carolina Electric & Gas, and numerous medium and small industrial customers. The Oak Grove property is located in Jefferson County, Alabama. During 2011, 470,000 tons were produced from this property. The Company leases the property to a subsidiary of Cliffs Natural Resources, Inc. Production comes from an underground mine and is transported primarily by beltline to a preparation plant. The metallurgical coal is then shipped through railroad and barge to both domestic and export customers.

Illinois Basin

The Williamson property is located in Franklin and Williamson Counties, Illinois. The property is under lease to an affiliate of the Cline Group. During 2011, 6.8 million tons were mined on the property. This production is from a longwall mine. Production is shipped primarily through CN railroad to customers, such as Duke and to various export customers. The Macoupin property is located in Macoupin County, Illinois. The property is under lease to an affiliate of the Cline Group. During 2011, 1.8 tons were shipped from the property. Production is from an underground mine and is shipped through the Norfolk Southern or Union Pacific railroads or by barge to customers, such as Western KY Energy and other midwest utilities or loaded into barges for shipment to export customers. The Sato property is located in Jackson County, Illinois. During 2011, 363,000 tons were produced from the property. The property is under lease to Knight Hawk Coal LLC, an independent coal producer. As of December 31, 2011, production was from a surface mine, and coal was shipped by truck and railroad to various midwest and southeast utilities.

Northern Powder River Basin

The Western Ener! gy proper! ty is located in Rosebud and Treasure Counties, Montana. During 2011, 2.7 million tons were produced from the Company�� property. A subsidiary of Westmoreland Coal Company has two coal leases on the property. Coal is produced by surface dragline mining, and the coal is transported by either truck or beltline to the four-unit 2,200-megawatt Colstrip generation station located at the mine mouth and by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad to Minnesota Power. A small amount of coal is transported by truck to other customers.

BRP Properties

As of December 31, 2011, BRP had acquired, in several stages, approximately 8.8 million mineral acres in 29 states from International Paper. As of December 31, 2011, BRP held 78 revenue generating leases. BRP�� assets include approximately 300,000 gross acres of oil and gas mineral rights in Louisiana, of which over 72,000 acres were under lease, as of December 31, 2011. In addition, BRP holds a gross production royalty interest on approximately 23,000 mineral acres under lease in Louisiana. The remaining oil and gas mineral acreage in Louisiana is not leased. As of December 31, 2011, BRP owned nearly 246,000 gross mineral acres of primarily lignite coal rights in the Gulf Coast region, of which approximately 5,000 acres are leased under three separate leases in Louisiana and Alabama. In addition to the coal rights, BRP held aggregate reserves, including limestone, granite, clay, and sand and gravel reserves, under lease in six states. As of December 31, 2011, other mineral rights held by BRP included coalbed methane rights in four Gulf Coast states, metals rights in three states, approximately 450,000 acres of water rights in East Texas, geothermal rights and royalty interests in the Gulf Coast and Pacific Northwest and carbon sequestration rights primarily in the Gulf Coast region.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  With steam coal prices continuing to be weak due to the inroads made by natural gas, Natural Resource Partners (NYSE: NRP  ) has decided if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. It announced Monday it is buying producing�oil and gas�properties located in the Williston Basin of North Dakota and Montana from�Abraxas Petroleum (NASDAQ: AXAS  ) for $35.3 million in cash.

Best Railroad Companies To Invest In Right Now: Memtec Ltd t/over(MET.AX)

Mt Isa Metals Limited engages in the discovery, exploration, and development of mineral deposits. It primarily explores for gold, copper, iron-oxide, zinc, uranium, silver, and lead deposits. The company holds interests in a portfolio of tenement positions covering approximately 4,000 square kilometers located in the Mount Isa region of north-west Queensland, Australia, as well as in Burkina Faso, west Africa. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is based in Brisbane, Australia.

Best Railroad Companies To Invest In Right Now: Applied Materials Inc.(AMAT)

Applied Materials, Inc. provides manufacturing equipment, services, and software to the semiconductor, flat panel display, solar photovoltaic (PV), and related industries worldwide. The company?s Silicon Systems Group segment offers a range of manufacturing equipment used to fabricate semiconductor chips or integrated circuits. This segment provides systems that perform primary processes used in chip fabrication, including atomic layer deposition, chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, electrochemical deposition, rapid thermal processing, chemical mechanical planarization, wet cleaning, and wafer metrology and inspection, as well as systems that etch or inspect circuit patterns on masks used in the photolithography process. Its Applied Global Services segment offers products and services designed to enhance the performance and productivity, and reduce the environmental impact of the fab operations of semiconductor, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), and solar P V manufacturers. The company?s Display segment provides products for manufacturing thin film transistor LCDs for televisions, personal computers (PCs), tablet PCs, smartphones, and other consumer-oriented electronic applications. Its Energy and Environmental Solutions segment offers manufacturing systems for the generation and conservation of energy, as well as manufacturing solutions for wafer-based crystalline silicon applications. This segment also provides roll-to-roll vacuum Web coating systems for deposition of a range of films on flexible substrates for functional, aesthetic, or optical properties; and roll-to-roll machine for depositing ultra-thin aluminum films for flexible packaging applications. The company serves manufacturers of semiconductor wafers and chips, flat panel LCDs, solar PV cells and modules, and other electronic devices. Applied Materials, Inc. was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Stephen Simpson, CFA]

  Ultratech isn't the only game in town, though, and there are multiple technologies and process steps that are going to play significant roles in the production of FinFETs and 3D circuits. With that, I would take a look at Mattson Technologies (MTSN), as this company has already accomplished the not-so-easy task of gaining meaningful share in the dry strip, rapid thermal processing (RTP), and etch markets despite competing with giants like Lam Research (LRCX), Applied Materials (AMAT), and Tokyo Electron (TOELY.PK).

• [By Rex Crum]

  Semiconductor-equipment maker Applied Materials Inc. (AMAT) �rose more than 7%, to $17.14, after the company said it would acquire Tokyo Electron Ltd. in an-all stock deal. Applied Materials Chief Executive Gary Dickerson will be CEO of the combined company.

• [By Stoyan Bojinov]

  The Santa Clara-based semiconductor machinery manufacturer, Applied Materials (AMAT), announced quarterly operating results after the closing bell on Thursday, which barely topped analyst estimates.�

  AMAT Earnings in Brief

  -AMAT announced Q4 EPS of $0.19, managing to beat the projected figure of $0.18 per share by a penny.
  -The company raked in revenues of $2.09 billion, coming in above the expected figure of $1.99 billion; this figure was 5% higher than the previous quarter and was largely bolstered by growth in silicon systems orders.
  -Net sales in Q4 came in at $1.99 billion, up 1% sequentially.

  Updated Guidance

  Applied Materials updated its guidance for Q1 2014 . The company now expects EPS to come in at $0.20-$0.24, compared to the Wall Street consensus of $0.23.

  CEO Commentary

  Gary Dickerson, AMAT’s president and CEO, had the following to say about the most recent quarter:�”This has been a transformative year for Applied Materials as we shaped a more competitive company, reduced overhead expenses, stepped up investment in product development and built momentum for profitable growth.” He went onto add, “As we look ahead to 2014, we expect stronger investment by our semiconductor and display customers and major technology inflections in transistor and memory that play to our strengths.”

  Dividend Policy Updates

  The company made no changes to its dividend policy. Applied Materials has a tendency to increase its payout in the first quarter of the year, and investors should watch out for this in 2014; most recently in Q1 2013, it raised its quarterly distribution from $0.09 to $0.10 a share.

  Stock Performance

  Investors weren’t too surprsied by AMAT’s results as the stock shed less than 1% in after hours trading on Thursday. Year-to-date, this stock has gained a stellar 53%.

Best Railroad Companies To Invest In Right Now: China Green Agriculture Inc.(CGA)

China Green Agriculture, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the research, development, production, and sale of various types of fertilizers and agricultural products in the People?s Republic of China. Its fertilizer products include humic acid-based compound fertilizers, compound fertilizers, blended fertilizers, organic compound fertilizers, slow-release fertilizers, water-soluble fertilizers, and mixed organic-inorganic compound fertilizers. The company markets its fertilizer products to private wholesalers and retailers of agricultural farm products in 22 provinces, 4 autonomous regions, and 3 central government-controlled municipalities. It also engages in the development, production, and distribution of agricultural products, such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, and colored seedlings. The company sells its decorative flowers to flower shops, luxury hotels, and government agencies; fruits and vegetables to supermarkets and upscale restaurants; and seedlings to city planning departments in Shaanxi and its neighboring provinces. China Green Agriculture, Inc. is based in Xian, the People?s Republic of China.

Best Railroad Companies To Invest In Right Now: PacWest Equities Inc (PWEI)

PacWest Equities Inc., incorporated on June 4, 2004, specializes in working with underperforming companies and bringing together the resources needed for them to attain financial stability and growth. The Company�� focus is on companies showing a positive upside while struggling to bring new technologies and products to market. The Company provides solutions by leveraging investor relations, facilitating creative product development and fostering interactive services partnerships. The Company�� focus is on expanding green market products as a key component of its PacWest strategy. The Company�� subsidiary, World EcoSource Corp, is a technology-based company, which has developed the MobileFeed(R) and MobileFood(R) systems helping offset deficient worldwide food production for both animals and humans. On October 15, 2012, the Company announced that, through its wholly owned subsidiary, World EcoSource Corp., it completed the acquisition of PurGro Electronics, LLC.

MobileFeed(R) and MobileFood(R) systems provides turnkey solutions for either the production of livestock based consumables or human based protein and vegetable consumables. The Company�� subsidiary, Green Rhino Inc., manufactures products and markets the Green Rhino line of products. Green Rhino provides a line of biodegradable all purpose, non toxic cleaners that can be coupled with a heavy duty equipment parts and military weapons washing systems using its bio-remediation process. Green Rhino All Purpose Cleaner Degreaser (APC) is non toxic, non abrasive, and biodegradable.

The Company competes with Clorox (Green Works), SC Johnson and Sons, Simple Green Ecolab, Seventh Generation and Method Products.

Best Railroad Companies To Invest In Right Now: The AES Corporation(AES)

The AES Corporation, through its subsidiaries, operates as a power company in Latin America, Africa, North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The company owns and operates two businesses, Generation and Utilities. The Generation business owns and/or operates power plants to generate and sell power to wholesale customers, such as utilities and other intermediaries. It generates electricity through various sources, including coal, gas, fuel oil, biomass, hydroelectric, wind, and solar. The Utilities business owns and/or operates utilities to distribute, transmit, and sell electricity to end-user customers in the residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental sectors. As of December 31, 2010, the company owned electricity generation and distribution facilities with a total capacity of approximately 40,500 megawatts and distribution networks serving approximately 12 million people in 28 countries. The AES Corporation was founded in 1981 and is based in Arlingto n, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By David Dittman]

  TECO Energy Inc (NYSE: TE), a member of the UF Dividend Watch List, was highest at 94.6 percent. AES Corp (NYSE: AES), the January 2014 UF Growth Spotlight, was lowest at 12.4 percent.