Sunday, February 8, 2015

Hot Quality Stocks To Invest In Right Now

 

Breaking Bad Screening Lab in Hollywood - Saul Goodman Bench (Photo credit: Pop Culture Geek)

Most people don�� pay their lawyer in cash, and most lawyers aren�� like Breaking Bad�� Saul Goodman. Still, Saul has a kind of likable everyman quality that might make paying his fees not too painful. But however you pay legal fees and regardless of to whom, you can reduce their sting by observing six tax rules:

1. You Can�� Deduct Personal Legal Bills. Personal means nondeductible, so the least desirable legal expenses are those of a purely personal nature. Examples include divorce or if a family member sues you for slander. But some legal matters of a personal nature can impact business or investment, making some deductible. See Stars and Their Legal Fees: Another Red Carpet?

Top 5 Machinery Companies To Own For 2015: iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund (EFA)

iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund (the Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the MSCI EAFE Index (the Index). The Index has been developed by Morgan Stanley Capital International, Inc. as an equity benchmark for international stock performance. The Index includes stocks from Europe, Australasia and the Far East. The Index is a capitalization-weighted index that aims to capture 85% of the (publicly available) total market capitalization.

The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. The Fund�� investment advisor is Barclays Global Fund Advisors.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Chris Ciovacco]

    The damage from Wednesday's session did little to disturb the market's longer-term risk tolerance profile, which is easy to understand when you consider the S&P 500 is still up 3 points for the week. However, we have seen some emerging cracks over the past two weeks. Demand for bonds has not surpassed stocks, but there is evidence of an attempt to mount a more formidable charge relative to stocks. Recent interest in defensive consumer staples (XLP) also tells us to keep an open mind about a "give back" after the S&P 500 gained 129 points from the October 9 low to the recent high. The observable evidence in the table above aligns with a growth-oriented allocation, including exposure to broad U.S. stock market (VTI), emerging markets (EEM), foreign stocks (EFA), and technology (QQQ).

  • [By John Waggoner]

    Most broad-based international funds measure themselves against the MSCI Europe, Australasia and Far East index, which measures the performance of large-company stocks headquartered in developed countries outside the United States and Canada. The largest component of the iShares MSCI EAFE exchange-traded fund (ticker: EFA), for example, is Nestle, based in Switzerland.

  • [By Dan Caplinger]

    That last option can actually work well with a diversified portfolio. For instance, Vanguard Total Stock (NYSEMKT: VTI  ) , iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEMKT: EFA  ) , and other high-growth-potential investments can produce the most tax savings in a Roth, while iShares Core Bond (NYSEMKT: AGG  ) , Vanguard Total Bond (NYSEMKT: BND  ) , and other taxable income-oriented investments can fit well in a traditional retirement account.

  • [By anandjha89]

    The markets fell by some 60% from 2008 into 2009. Our balanced income portfolio - 70% bonds to 30% stocks fell by less than 10% from its pre-crash peak. Our balanced portfolio - 60% stocks to 40% bonds fell by some 20%. Our balanced growth portfolio - 75% stocks to 25% bonds fell by some 35%. Our equity portfolio was not available at that time, but certainly the stock market correction was the great equalizer bringing the U.S. (SPY), international (EFA) and Canadian (EWC) markets down by some 60%. You can use those numbers as a general barometer of how asset mix affects volatility, and to match your own risk tolerance level to the asset mix. Are you 'comfortable' with a 60% drop, a 35% drop, a 20% drop or a 10% drop? Mix and match!

Hot Quality Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Biglari Holdings Inc (BH)

Biglari Holdings Inc. is a holding company engaged in a range of diverse business activities. The Company, along with its subsidiaries, is engaged in investment management and the franchising/operating of restaurants. The Company's wholly owned subsidiaries include Steak n Shake Operations, Inc. (Steak n Shake), Western Sizzlin Corporation (Western) and Biglari Capital Corp. (Biglari Capital). Biglari Holdings, as a capital allocating vehicle, is also in the business of owning other businesses in whole and in part. In February 2014, Biglari Holdings Inc and Alpha Media Group announced that the wholly owned subsidiary of Biglari Holdings has acquired MAXIM.

On April 30, 2010, the Company completed the acquisition of Biglari Capital Corp. (Biglari Capital). On March 30, 2010, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Grill Acquisition Corporation, completed the acquisition of Western.

Steak n Shake

The Company is engaged in the ownership, operation, and franchising of Steak n Shake restaurants. Steak n Shake is a American brand serving burgers and milk shakes. Steak n Shake offers its patrons full-service dining with counter and dining room seating, as well as drive-thru and carry-out service. During the fiscal year ended September 29, 2010 (fiscal 2010), counter and dining room sales represented approximately 60% of the sales mix, while sales for off-premises dining represent approximately 40% of the sales mix.

Western Sizzlin

The Company is engaged in the franchising of restaurants. Western Sizzlin offers full service dining of signature steak dishes, as well as other classic American menu items. Western Sizzlin also operates other concepts, Great American Steak & Buffet, and Wood Grill Buffet consisting of hot and cold food buffet style dining.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Michael Lewis]

    The stellar report has the stock trading at its record highs, even in the face of some serious allegations from activist investor and QSR wizard Sardar Biglari of Biglari Holdings (NYSE: BH  ) . Does Biglari's argument still hold water in the face of the vastly improved Cracker Barrel?

Hot Quality Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Guggenheim CurrencyShares Euro Trust (FXE)

Guggenheim CurrencyShares Euro Trust, formerly CurrencyShares Euro Trust, is a grantor trust. The Trust issues shares (the Shares) in blocks of 50,000 (a Basket) in exchange for deposits of euro and distributes euro in connection with the redemption of Baskets. The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the price of euro plus accrued interest. The Shares are intended to offer investors an opportunity to participate in the market for the euro through an investment in securities. The Shares are bought and sold on NYSE Arca. The Shares are backed by the assets of the Trust, which does not hold or use derivative products. The Trust holds euro and, from time to time, issues Baskets in exchange for deposits of euro and distributes euro in connection with redemptions of Baskets.

The Sponsor is Rydex Specialized Products LLC. The Bank of New York Mellon serves as the Trustee. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., London Branch is the Depository. The Depository maintains two deposit accounts for the Trust, a primary deposit account which may earn interest and a secondary deposit account which does not earn interest (Deposit Accounts). The secondary deposit account is used to account for interest received and paid out on creations and redemptions of Baskets. The secondary account is also used to account for interest, if any, earned on the primary deposit account, pay Trust expenses and distribute any excess interest to Shareholders on a monthly basis.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Richard Cox]

    Elsewhere, similar market reactions could were seen after last week's monetary policy meeting at the European Central Bank [ECB]. The ECB also did little to signal changes to its own stimulus programs, which was not a total surprise, given the fact that the bank reduced interest rates by 25 basis points to new all-time lows at 0.75% at last month's meeting. The main potential for surprise, however, came from the possibility that the central bank would announce the implementation of negative interest rates (the rate paid to commercial banks when holding money). Since this would have been a bearish outcome for the EUR/USD, markets have since bought the Euro, pushing the CurrencyShares Euro Trust ETF (FXE) higher.

  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    The euro has dropped about 0.8% against the dollar, while the CurrencyShares Euro Trust ETF (FXE) has dropped 0.7% to $136.71 and the Currency Shares Japanese Yen Trust ETF (FXY) has fallen 1%. The ProShares UltrasShort Euro ETF (EUO) has gained 1.3% to $16.77, while the ProShares UltraShort Yen (YCS) has gained 1.9% to $66.58.

Hot Quality Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Cleco Corporation (CNL)

Cleco Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity in Louisiana. As of December 31, 2009, it had ownership interest in 3 steam electric generating stations and 1 gas turbine with a combined name plate capacity of 1,359 megawatts, and a combined electric net generating capacity of 1,318 megawatts. The company served approximately 277,000 customers in 107 communities in the central and southeastern Louisiana. It also owns and operates a natural gas-fired merchant power plant, as well as has a 50% interest in another natural gas-fired merchant power plant located in Louisiana. Cleco Corporation was founded in 1934 and is based in Pineville, Louisiana.

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 Cleco (NYSE: CNL  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

Hot Quality Stocks To Invest In Right Now: FNB United Corp.(FNBN)

FNB United Corp. operates as the bank holding company for CommunityONE Bank, National Association that provides consumer, mortgage, and business banking services to individual and business customers in North Carolina. Its deposit products include checking accounts, interest checking accounts, money market accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and individual retirement accounts. The company?s loan products portfolio comprises commercial and agricultural loans, real estate construction loans, real estate residential loans, and consumer loans. It also offers debit cards, credit cards, online and mobile banking, cash management, investment management, and trust services, as well as operates automated teller machines. In addition, it originates, underwrites, and closes loans for sale into the secondary market. FNB United operates through 45 offices. The company was formerly known as FNB Corp. and changed its name to FNB United Corp. in April 2006. FNB United Cor p. was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in Asheboro, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Holly LaFon]

    The second stock, FNB United Corp. (FNBN), is 95.4% off of its three-year high, but it has also had a stock split in that time. It has also seen greater insider activity. Five unique insiders bought shares of the company, for a total number of six insider buy transactions in the past month.

Hot Quality Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Carrizo Oil & Gas Inc.(CRZO)

Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc., an independent energy company, engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas in the United States and the United Kingdom. The company holds interest in crude oil and liquids plays in the Eagle Ford Shale in south Texas; the Niobrara Formation in Colorado; the Utica Shale in Ohio and Pennsylvania; and the Huntington Field in the U.K. North Sea. It also owns interest in natural gas plays in the Barnett Shale in North Texas; and the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania, New York, and West Virginia; as well as in the onshore Gulf Coast area and the Camp Hill field in Texas. As of December 31, 2011, the company had a proved oil and gas reserves of 935.6 billion cubic feet equivalent comprising 728 billion cubic feet of natural gas; 30.5 million barrels of oil or other liquid hydrocarbons (MMbbls) of oil and condensate; and 4.1 MMbbls of natural gas liquids, as well as operated 349 gross producing oil and gas wells. Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Robert Rapier]

    Eagle Ford crude driller Carrizo Oil & Gas (Nasdaq: CRZO) is up nearly 14 percent since we added it to the Aggressive Portfolio on Dec. 11, and here too there was no company-specific news. Rather, Carrizo appears to have benefited from the end in mid-December of the sharp autumn correction in drillers’ share prices.

  • [By The Energy Report]

    TER: In one of your recent newsletters listing your favorites in the Utica, you had ranked Gulfport as the first in the Utica but Rex Energy second and Carrizo Oil & Gas Inc. (CRZO) third. How does Carrizo fit in here?

  • [By Aimee Duffy]

    Production results have fueled record numbers for producers big and small, including EOG Resources (NYSE: EOG  ) and Carrizo Oil & Gas (NASDAQ: CRZO  ) . EOG is the largest producer in the play, and production has exceeded management's expectations, reaching 153,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day by the end of the first quarter of this year. Carrizo is a much smaller operation, but its production has also exceeded management's expectations, reaching 9,500 bpd in the second quarter.

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