Thursday, February 20, 2014

Top 10 Oil Service Companies To Invest In Right Now

Shares of Dell (NASDAQ: DELL  ) fell as low as $12.71 on Friday, even as founder Michael Dell's proposal to buy the company for $13.65 goes before shareholders two weeks from now. At first glance, Dell might seem like a no-brainer "buy" candidate (invest $12.71 now, get $13.65 after the proxy vote on July 18).

However, this is far from being the whole story. An activist campaign led by Carl Icahn's Icahn Enterprises (NASDAQ: IEP  ) investment fund has made Dell perhaps the riskiest stock in the market. Icahn believes that Michael Dell's proposal to buy the company significantly undervalues Dell. Yet while Icahn probably has the heft (and the votes) to scuttle Dell's go-private deal, he is unlikely to garner enough support to implement his proposal to increase shareholder value through a $14 tender offer.

The results are likely to be very disappointing for Dell shareholders. If this "clash of the titans" between Dell and Icahn ends in a stalemate, the company will find itself without a clear strategic direction and its valuation could revert to a much lower multiple, in keeping with Dell's uncertain prospects.

Top 10 Oil Service Companies To Invest In Right Now: Helphire Group(HHR.L)

Helphire Group plc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of non-fault accident management assistance and related services in the United Kingdom. It offers replacement hire vehicles, vehicle repair management solutions, full claims handling assistance, uninsured loss recovery, personal injury management, and intervention services, as well as a host of bespoke services. The company was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Bath, the United Kingdom.

Top 10 Oil Service Companies To Invest In Right Now: Acorda Therapeutics Inc.(ACOR)

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc., a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company, engages in the identification, development, and commercialization of novel therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS), spinal cord injury (SCI), and other central nervous system disorders primarily in the United States. Its marketed products include Ampyra (dalfampridine), a potassium channel blocker for improving walking in patients with MS; and Zanaflex Capsules and Zanaflex tablets (tizanidine hydrochloride), a short-acting drug for the management of spasticity. The company also markets products for the improvement of walking in adult patients with MS with walking disability under the Fampyra name internationally. Its lead research and development programs include three biologic therapeutic approaches for restoring neurologic and cardiac function, which comprise Neuregulin Program for developing Glial Growth Factor 2, a molecule in the Phase I clinical trial for the treatment of heart failure; Remyelina ting Antibodies Program for developing rHIgM22, an antibody in the preclinical stage for treating MS; and Chondroitinase Program, a research stage program focused on developing chontroitinase as a therapeutic to break down inhibitory factors in the scar tissue that develops as a result of an injury to the CNS. In addition, the company has in-licensed a clinical-stage program, AC105, to develop an acute treatment for neurological trauma. It has collaboration agreement with Biogen Idec International GmbH to develop and commercialize products containing aminopyridines to the treatment of MS. Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. was incorporated in 1995 and is headquartered in Hawthorne, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Sean Williams]

    What: Shares of Acorda Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ACOR  ) , a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company with a focus on central nervous system disorders, jumped as much as 13% after the company reported positive phase 2 trial data for experimental drug Ampyra for the treatment of post-stroke deficits.

  • [By Eric Volkman]

    Acorda Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ACOR  ) today announced its selection of a new�CFO. Michael Rogers replaces David Lawrence, who has been named chief of business operations. �

  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    Acorda Therapeutics (ACOR) has dropped today after announcing the results of a clinical trial.

    Getty Images

    From Accorda’s press release:

    Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. today announced data from a Phase 2 proof-of-concept study of dalfampridine extended release tablets, 10 mg (dalfampridine-ER) in people with post-stroke deficits. In the study, treatment with dalfampridine-ER was well-tolerated and improved walking, as measured by the Timed 25-Foot Walk test (T25FW).

    RBC Capital Markets’ Michael Yee and team put the news in context:

    In the short-term, ACOR’s scripts look a bit mediocre tracking a tad shy of Q3 consensus, and overall new scripts are down too. Longerterm, we believe value creation will need to come from 1) expanding the label to a new indication in “post-stroke” pts which is going into Phase II/III and could theoretically double the commercial sales, 2) its re-myelinating antibody rHigM22 in Phase I might get attention because Biogen’s Phase II LINGO re-myelinating program could be very intriguing in H2:14. Risks are that a Paragraph IV should be expected in January 2014 around the corner and the “post-stroke” data is interesting but not as compelling versus the MS indication. Overall, however this will take some time to play out as the next post-stroke study doesn’t even begin until Q2:14 so data not until at least 2015+. That said, expectations are pretty low and we think the stock is pretty cheap at $1.1B EV or ~3x sales plus all potential upside from label expansion or pipeline.

    MannKind (MNKD), meanwhile, has gained after asking the FDA to approve its inhaled diabetes drug Afrezza. The Associated Press has the details:

    MannKind has no drugs on the market. It first filed for Food and Drug Administration approval of Afrezza in March 2009, and in early 2011 the FDA told the company to run more clinical studies. The agency wanted MannKind to use the stu

Hot Value Stocks To Buy For 2015: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSM)

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is a Taiwan-based company principally engaged in the research, development, manufacture and distribution of integrated circuit (IC) related products. The Company operates its businesses through wafer manufacture, mask production, wafer testing and packaging components. The Company also involves in the provision of production management, customer services and design services. Its products and services are applied in the manufacture of personal computers and peripheral products, information related products, wire and wireless communication systems, automobile and industrial equipment, as well as consumer electronic products, such as digital disk players, digital televisions (TVs), game consoles, digital cameras, among others. Its customers include Altera, AMD, Broadcom, Marvell, NVIDIA, Qualcomm, Analog Devices, Freescale, NXP and Texas Instruments, among others. In July 2010, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. acquired mechanical and engineering equipment from ASML HONG KONG LTD. In September 2010, the Company acquired a set of equipments from ASML HONG KONG LTD. In December 2010, the Company acquired a set of equipment from TOKYO ELECTRON LTD., KLA-TENCOR CORP. and NOVELLUS SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL,B.V. In January 2011, the Company announced that it had acquired a set of equipment from KLA-TENCOR CORP., a set of equipment and facility, and another set of equipment from VARIAN SEMI. EQUIP. ASSOCIATES GmbH. In March 2011, the Company acquired a set of equipments from Rudolph Technologies, Inc.In March 2011, the Company acquired a set of equipments from Rudolph Technologies, Inc. In May 2011, it acquired a set of equipments form APPLIED MATERIALS SOUTH EAST ASIA PACIFIC LTD., Hamatech APE Gmbh and CO. KG, TOKYO ELECTRON LTD., DAINIPPON SCREEN MFG. CO., LTD., and VARIAN SEMI. EQUIP. ASSOCIATES GMBH.

TSMC's customers include semiconductor companies, ranging from fabless semiconductor and systems companies, such as Advanced Micro Devices, In! c., Altera Corporation, Broadcom Corporation, Marvell Semiconductor Inc., MediaTek Inc., nVidia Corporation and Qualcomm Incorporated, to integrated device manufacturers, such as LSI Corporation, STMicroelectronics and Texas Instruments Inc. Fabless semiconductor and system companies accounted for approximately 80%, and integrated device manufacturers accounted for approximately 20% of its net sales as of December 31, 2009.

The Company manufactures semiconductors using CMOS and BiCMOS processes. The BiCMOS process combines the speed of the bipolar circuitry and the power consumption and density of the CMOS circuitry. It uses the CMOS process to manufacture logic semiconductors, memory semiconductors, including static random access memory (SRAM), flash memory, mixed-signal/ radio frequency (RF) semiconductors, which combine analog and digital circuitry in a single semiconductor, micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS), which combines micrometer featured mechanical parts, analog and digital circuitry in a single semiconductor, and embedded memory semiconductors, which combine logic and memory in a single semiconductor. The BiCMOS process is used to make high-end mixed-signal and other types of semiconductors.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Alex Planes]

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

  • [By Robert Martin]

    The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is fairly heavily weighted in several countries. EEM has allocated 18% of its holdings to Chinese securities, 16% to South Korea, 11.5% to Brazil and 11% to Taiwan. Every other country comprises less than 10% of the fund. Samsung (SSNLF) is the current top holding, at almost 4%, with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM) and China Mobile (CHL) rounding out the top three.

  • [By Ashraf Eassa]

    Is the tide turning?
    According to Digitimes, chip manufacturer Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE: TSM  ) , or TSMC, has apparently begun to see an uptick in orders from PC-levered names such as AMD (NYSE: AMD  ) and NVIDIA. (Intel builds its chips at its own manufacturing plants). While this is mildly positive for TSMC, which is also levered to the fast-growing mobile markets, it could end up being very positive for Intel and the PC-levered names in general.

Top 10 Oil Service Companies To Invest In Right Now: Educational Development Corporation(EDUC)

Educational Development Corporation operates as a trade publisher of a line of children?s books in the United States. It distributes children?s books published by Usborne Publishing Limited in the United Kingdom. The company offers various books, including Touchy-Feely board books, jigsaw puzzle books, activity and flashcards, adventure and search books, art books, sticker books, and foreign language books, as well as science and math titles, and chapter books and novels. It sells books through two divisions, Usborne Books and More, and Publishing. The Usborne Books and More division distributes books through independent consultants, who hold book showings in individual homes; and through book fairs, direct sales, and Internet sales. It also distributes these titles to school and public libraries. The Publishing division markets books to bookstores, toy stores, specialty stores, museums, and other retail outlets. It distributes books through commissioned trade representati ves who call on book, toy, specialty stores, and other retail outlets; and through in-house marketing by telephone to the trade. The company was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Top 10 Oil Service Companies To Invest In Right Now: Atlatsa Resources Corp (ATL)

Atlatsa Resources Corporation is engaged in mining, exploration and development of mineral deposits located in the Bushveld Igneous Complex (BIC), South Africa. The principal business activity is the mining and exploration of platinum group metals (PGM), through its mineral property interests. The Company�� subsidiaries include N1C Resources Incorporation, Anooraq Minera Mexicana, N2C Resources Incorporation, Plateau Resources Proprietary Limited, Bokoni Holdings Proprietary Limited, Bokoni Mines Proprietary Limited, Boikgantsho Proprietary Limited, Kwanda Proprietary Limited, Ga-Phasha Proprietary Limited, Middlepunt Hill Management Services (Proprietary) Limited and Lebowa Platinum Mine Limited. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Roberto Pedone]

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

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

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

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

Top 10 Oil Service Companies To Invest In Right Now: Unico American Corporation(UNAM)

Unico American Corporation, an insurance holding company, underwrites property and casualty insurance. The company provides property, casualty, and health insurance products, as well as insurance premium financing and membership association services. Its commercial property coverage insures against loss or damage to buildings, inventory, and equipment from natural disasters, including hurricanes, windstorms, hail, water, explosions, and severe winter weather, as well as other events, such as theft and vandalism, fires, storms, and financial loss due to business interruption resulting from covered property damage. The company also provides commercial liability coverage against third party liability from accidents occurring on the insured's premises or arising out of its operation, as well as writes separate policies to insure commercial property and commercial liability risk on a mono-line basis. In addition, it offers sells and services automobile rental policies; and medi cal and dental policies. The company markets its insurance products primarily through independent insurance agents and brokers. It operates primarily in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. The company was founded in 1969 and is based in Woodland Hills, California.

Top 10 Oil Service Companies To Invest In Right Now: E-House(China)

E-House (China) Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates as a real estate services company in China. It provides primary real estate agency services, secondary real estate brokerage services, real estate information and consulting services, real estate advertising services, real estate online services, and real estate investment fund management services. The company offers primary real estate agency services to real estate developers of residential properties. Its secondary real estate brokerage services include offering advisory services on choices of properties; accompanying potential buyers on house viewing trips; drafting purchase contracts; negotiating price and other terms; and providing preliminary proof of title, as well as coordinating with the notary, the bank, and the title transfer agency. The company also provides market information to buyers and sellers based on its research, as well as listing and brokerage services comprising sales and rentals. Its real estate consulting services include land acquisition consulting and land development consulting. The company?s real estate information services comprise the sale of online subscriptions to its proprietary CRIC system to support its primary and secondary real estate agency services. Its real estate advertising services comprise advertising design and sales in print and other media. The company?s real estate online services include real estate news, information, property data, and access to online communities to real estate consumers and participants through local Web sites. Its real estate investment fund management activities consist of investments in China?s real estate sector. E-House (China) Holdings Limited was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Shanghai, the People?s Republic of China.

Top 10 Oil Service Companies To Invest In Right Now: Labat Africa Ltd (LABJ.J)

Labat Africa Ltd. is a South Africa-based company engaged in the provision and delivery of management, business and retail services to commerce, industry, national and local government, the international market and all other organizations and individuals having a need for such services. Its subsidiaries included South African Micro-Electronics Systems (Pty) Ltd., Integrated Circuit Design Center (Pty) Ltd. and SAMES Properties (Pty) Ltd.

Top 10 Oil Service Companies To Invest In Right Now: Red Fork Energy Ltd(RFE.AX)

Red Fork Energy Limited operates as an oil and gas exploration and production company in the United States. The company engages in the exploration, appraisal, development, and production of oil and gas in the mid-continent region of the United States. It explores for conventional oil and gas horizons, shallow coal bed methane horizons, and shale gas. The company holds interests in Big River Mississippi project covering approximately 50,000 acres located in northern Oklahoma; and West Tulsa project comprising approximately 15,000 acres, Osage project covering approximately 5,000 acres, and East Oklahoma project comprising approximately 110,000 acres in Tulsa, Oklahoma. As of June 30, 2011, it had proved reserves of 8.0 million barrels of oil equivalent. Red Fork Energy Limited was founded in 2004 and is based in Perth, Australia.

Top 10 Oil Service Companies To Invest In Right Now: Parker Drilling Company(PKD)

Parker Drilling Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides contract drilling and drilling-related services in the United States, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East (AME), the Asia Pacific, and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). As of December 31, 2010, its fleet consisted of 11 rigs in the CIS/AME region; 10 rigs in the Americas region, including 7 land rigs and 1 barge rig in Mexico, and 2 land rigs in Colombia; 5 land rigs in the Asia Pacific region, including 2 rigs in Indonesia, 1 rig in Papua New Guinea, and 2 rigs in New Zealand; 13 barge drilling rigs in the inland shallow waters of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico; and 1 unassigned land rig held in New Iberia, Louisiana. The company also offers premium rental tools, including drill pipe, drill collars, tubing, high- and low-pressure blowout preventers, choke manifolds, junk and cement mills, and casing scrapers for land and offshore oil and gas drilling and workover activities. In addition, it provides non-capital intensive services, such as front end engineering and design; engineering, procurement, construction, and installation; operations and maintenance; and other project management services, which include labor, maintenance, and logistics for operators who own their own drilling rigs. The company serves independent and national oil and gas companies, and integrated service providers. Parker Drilling Company was founded in 1934 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Rich Smith]

    Houston-based Parker Drilling Co. (NYSE: PKD  ) has a new CFO.

    On Thursday, Parker announced that it has hired away offshore driller Ensco plc's vice president and treasurer, Christopher T. Weber, to become its own senior VP and Chief Financial Officer. Weber will take office on May 20.

Top 10 Oil Service Companies To Invest In Right Now: Generex Biotechnology Corp (GNBT)

Generex Biotechnology Corporation, incorporate in September 1997, is a development stage-company. The Company is engaged in the research and development of drugs delivery systems and technologies. The Company focuses at the technology for the administration of formulations of large molecule drugs to the oral (buccal) cavity using a hand-held aerosol applicator. Through the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Antigen Express, Inc. (Antigen), the Company has expanded its focus to include immunomedicines incorporating vaccine formulations. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2011, the Company has received regulatory approval in Ecuador, India, Lebanon and Algeria for the commercial marketing and sale of Generex Oral-lyn. Using the Company's buccal delivery technology, the Company has also launched an over-the-counter glucose spray called Glucose RapidSpra.

The Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Antigen, concentrates on developing vaccine formulations that work by stimulating the immune system to either attack offending agents or to stop attacking benign elements. The Company's immunomedicine products are based on two platform technologies and are in the early-stages of development. The Company continues clinical development of Antigen's synthetic peptide vaccines designed to stimulate a potent and specific immune response against tumors expressing the HER-2/neu oncogene for patients with HER-2/neu positive breast cancer in a Phase II clinical trial and patients with prostate cancer and against avian influenza in two Phase I clinical trials. The Company initiated a Phase I clinical trial in patients with either breast or ovarian cancer.

The Company's buccal delivery technology involves the preparation of formulations in which an active pharmaceutical agent is placed in a solution with a combination of absorption enhancers and other excipients classified generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when used in accordance with speci! fied quantities and other limitations. The resulting formulations are aerosolized with a pharmaceutical grade chemical propellant and are administered to patients using the Company's RapidMist brand metered dose inhaler. The device is a small, lightweight, hand-held, easy-to-use aerosol applicator comprised of a container for the formulation, a metered dose valve, an actuator and dust cap. Using the device, patients self-administer the formulations by spraying them into the mouth. The device contains multiple applications, the number being dependent, among other things, on the concentration of the formulation. Absorption of the pharmaceutical agent occurs in the buccal cavity, principally through the inner cheek walls.

The Company competes with Pfizer, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk Merck & Co., Inc., GlaxoSmithKline PLC, Novartis, Inc., MedImmune Inc., MannKind Corporation, Alkermes, Inc. CPEX Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Nektar Therapeutics, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Cephalon, Inc., Micromet, Inc., Novavax, Inc., Sanofi Pasteur Inc., Dendreon Corporation's, Rxi Pharmaceuticals Corporation's, Cell Genesys, Inc., Pharmexa-Epimmune, Inc. and CEL-SCI Corporation's.

Top 10 Oil Service Companies To Invest In Right Now: MWI Veterinary Supply Inc.(MWIV)

MWI Veterinary Supply, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the distribution of animal health products to veterinarians in the United States and the United Kingdom. It primarily offers pharmaceuticals, vaccines, parasiticides, diagnostics, capital equipment, supplies, specialty products, veterinary pet food, and nutritional products. The company?s pharmaceutical products include anesthetics, analgesics, antibiotics, ophthalmics, and hormones; vaccine products consist of small animal, equine, and production animal biologicals; and parasiticides are used for control of fleas, ticks, flies, mosquitoes, and internal parasites. Its diagnostics products comprise consumable in-clinic tests for detecting heartworm, lyme, feline leukemia, and parvovirus, as well as consumable products for measuring blood chemistry, electrolyte balance, and cell counts; capital equipment products include anesthesia machines, surgical monitors, diagnostic equipment, dental machines, cage s, lights, and x-ray machines; and supplies consists of syringes, instruments, bandages, IV products, surgical consumables, grooming materials, and other small equipment items. The company?s veterinary pet foods products include foods for specialty diets and premium pet foods; and nutritional products comprise dietary supplements, vitamins, dental chews, and specialty treats. As of September 30, 2011, it served approximately 24,000 veterinary practices in the United States; and 1,500 veterinary practices in the United Kingdom. The company was formerly known as MWI Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to MWI Veterinary Supply, Inc. in April 2005. MWI Veterinary Supply, Inc. was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Boise, Idaho.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    Overvalued companies include MWI Veterinary (MWIV) and�Stericycle (SRCL), while companies with attractive valuations include Cardinal Health (CAH), Selected Medical (SEM). He’s not a fan of Intrexon (XON) but calls�Aratana (PETX) a “hidden gem.”

Top 10 Oil Service Companies To Invest In Right Now: Desmarais Energy Corp (DES.V)

Desmarais Energy Corporation, a junior oil and gas exploration and production company, engages in the exploration, development, production, and acquisition of oil and gas reserves in western Canada. The company operates approximately 40 sections of prospective lands and approximately 25 kilometers of pipelines in the Barrhead area of west central Alberta; and holds a 100% interest in 1600 acres of undeveloped lands in south east Alberta. Desmarais Energy Corporation was founded in 1994 and is based in Calgary, Canada.

Top 10 Oil Service Companies To Invest In Right Now: Swift Transportation Company(SWFT)

Swift Transportation Company, through its subsidiary, Swift Transportation Co., LLC, operates as a multi-faceted transportation services company and truckload carrier in North America. The company offers its truckload services through dry van, temperature-controlled, flatbed, and specialized trailers; and rail intermodal services. It also provides freight brokerage and logistics management services to other trucking companies, as well as leases tractors and offers repair services. As of December 31, 2011, the company operated a tractor fleet of approximately 15,900 units, including 11,900 tractors driven by company drivers and 4,000 owner-operator tractors; 50,600 trailers; and 6,200 intermodal containers in the United States and Mexico. It serves various industries, such as retail, discount retail, consumer products, food and beverage, manufacturing, and transportation and logistics industries. The company, formerly known Swift Holdings Corp., and was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    Shares of Heartland Express have gained 50% this year, trumping the 38% rise in Con-Way (CNW) and the 29% advance in J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) but lagging Old Dominion Freight Lines (ODFL) and Swift Transportation (SWFT).

  • [By Sean Williams]

    For this week's round of "Better Know a Stock," I'm going to take a closer look at Swift Transportation (NYSE: SWFT  ) .

    What Swift Transportation does
    Swift is a transportation services trucking and intermodal company in North America. The company primarily transports discounted consumer goods, perishable and non-perishable foods, and manufactured goods. As of the end of 2012 Swift operated 15,300 tractors, 52,800 trailers, and had 8,700 intermodal containers.

  • [By Seth Jayson]

    Swift Transportation (NYSE: SWFT  ) reported earnings on July 24. Here are the numbers you need to know.

    The 10-second takeaway
    For the quarter ended June 30 (Q2), Swift Transportation met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

Top 10 Oil Service Companies To Invest In Right Now: Capitol Federal Financial(CFFN)

Capitol Federal Financial, Inc. is the bank holding company for Capitol Federal Savings Bank through which it provides commercial banking products and services. The company offers deposit products, such as checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, and retirement accounts. Its lending products include consumer loans comprising home equity loans and lines of credit, home improvement loans, auto loans, and loans secured by savings deposits; loans secured by first mortgages on non-owner-occupied one- to four-family residences; multi-family and commercial real estate loans; construction loans secured by residential or commercial properties; and real estate loans secured by multi-family dwellings. The company also provides telephone and Internet banking services. It serves the metropolitan areas of Topeka, Wichita, Lawrence, Manhattan, Emporia and Salina, and Kansas, as well as a portion of the metropolitan area of greater Kansas City t hrough a network of 35 traditional and 10 in-store banking offices. The company was founded in 1893 and is headquartered in Topeka, Kansas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Rich Duprey]

    Financial services company�Capitol Federal Financial� (NASDAQ: CFFN  ) announced yesterday its third-quarter dividend of $0.075 per share, the same rate it's paid since 2011.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

3 Stocks Under $10 Making Big Moves on Big Volume

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- A smart trader keeps a close eye on unusual upside volume in stocks -- and unusual volume in a stock that trades below $10 should really make you sit up and pay attention.

>>5 Stocks Set to Soar on Bullish Earnings

Stocks that trade below $10 a share can make big moves to the upside very quickly, and short-term traders can try to capture some of that massive volatility. Regardless of the reason behind it, when a stock makes a large-percentage move, it is often just the start of a new major trend -- a trend that can lead to huge profits.

If you time your trade correctly, combining technical indicators with fundamental trends, discipline and sound money management, you will be well on your way to investment success.

>>5 Rocket Stocks to Buy for Big Gains

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at a several stocks under $10 that are making sharp moves higher with unusual upside volume flows.

BlackBerry

BlackBerry (BBRY) engages in the design, manufacture and marketing of wireless solutions worldwide. This stock is trading up 5% to $9.44 in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $9.24-$9.65

52-Week Range: $5.44-$16.82

Tuesday's Volume: 19.28 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 25.13 million

From a technical perspective, BBRY is jumping higher here with decent upside volume flows. This stock recently formed a double bottom chart pattern at $8.92 to $8.95. Following that bottom, shares of BBRY have started to spike higher and move within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if BBRY manages to take out its 200-day moving average of $9.72 to some more near-term overhead resistance at $10.10 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in BBRY as long as it's trending above those double bottom support zones at $8.95 to $8.92 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 25.13 million shares. If that breakout hits soon, then BBRY will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $10.85 to $11.65, or even $12.18.

Andatee China Marine Fuel Services

Andatee China Marine Fuel Services (AMCF), through its subsidiaries, engages in the production, storage, distribution and trading of blended marine fuel oil for cargo and fishing vessels in the People's Republic of China. This stock is trading up 8% to $1.89 a share in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $1.75-$1.93

52-Week Range: $0.48-$2.75

Tuesday's Volume: 193,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 192,169

From a technical perspective, AMCF is soaring higher here right above its 50-day moving average of $1.63 with above-average volume. This move has started to push shares of AMCF into breakout territory, since the stock has flirted with some near-term overhead resistance at $1.89. Shares of AMCF are now starting to trend within range of triggering an even bigger breakout trade. That trade will hit if AMCF manages to take out some more near-term overhead resistance at $2.20 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in AMCF as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $1.63 and then once it sustains a move or close above $2.20 with volume that hits near or above 192,169 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then AMCF will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at its 52-week high of $2.75.

Hot Bank Companies To Own In Right Now

Kopin

Kopin (KOPN) develops display products and computer headset technology. This stock is trading up 5% to $4.18 in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $3.95-$4.29

52-Week Range: $3.06-$4.62

Thursday's Volume: 228,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 140,627

From a technical perspective, KOPN is ripping higher here right off its 50-day moving average of $4 with above-average volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last few weeks, with shares moving higher from its low of $3.51 to its intraday high of $4.29. During that move, shares of KOPN have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move is quickly pushing shares of KOPN within range of triggering a big breakout trade. That trade will hit if KOPN manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $4.52 to its 52-week high at $4.62 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in KOPN as long as it's trending above Tuesday's low of $3.95 or above its 200-day at $3.74 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 140,627 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then KOPN will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $5.50 to $6.

To see more stocks under $10 that are making notable moves higher with volume, check out the Stocks Under $10 Spiking Higher With Unusual Volume portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.


RELATED LINKS:



>>4 Big-Volume Stocks Triggering Breakouts



>>5 Shareholder Yield Stocks to Beat the S&P



>>5 Big Trades for a Correction Day

Follow Stockpickr on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned.

Roberto Pedone, based out of Delafield, Wis., is an independent trader who focuses on technical analysis for small- and large-cap stocks, options, futures, commodities and currencies. Roberto studied international business at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and he spent a year overseas studying business in Lubeck, Germany. His work has appeared on financial outlets including

CNBC.com and Forbes.com.

You can follow Pedone on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zerosum24 or @zerosum24.


Monday, February 17, 2014

Stocks to Watch: Cyan, Neurocrine Biosciences, SandRidge

Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Tuesday’s session are Cyan Inc.(CYNI), Neurocrine Biosciences Inc.(NBIX) and SandRidge Energy Inc.(SD)

Shares of Cyan slumped 25% to $3.86 premarket after the company drastically cut its fourth-quarter revenue expectations due to a sharp drop in orders from the company’s largest customer, Windstream Holdings Inc.(WIN) Cyan is a provider of software-defined networking and packet-optical platforms for network operators.

Neurocrine Biosciences said a Phase II study showed positive results to treat patients suffering from tardive dyskinesia, a condition that is characterized by involuntary repetitive movements such as lip smacking and grimacing. Shares of the biopharmaceutical company soared 54% to $15.05 premarket as Neurocrine said the Phase II study showed a “statistically significant and clinically meaningful” reduction in tardive dyskinesia symptoms.

SandRidge Energy agreed to sell its Gulf of Mexico business to Fieldwood Energy LLC for $750 million in cash, allowing SandRidge to focus more on its onshore operations. Shares edged up 3.1% to $6 premarket.

American Airlines Group Inc.(AAL) said Tuesday that it has begun to align the customer loyalty programs of American Airlines and US Airways, a move that comes about a month after the two airlines merged.

CBS Corp.(CBS) said its outdoor advertising business plans to offer $800 million in notes ahead of its upcoming spinoff through an initial public offering.

Commercial Metals Co.'s(CMC) fiscal first-quarter earnings fell 7.6% as the scrap-metal processor’s revenue in several key segments dropped and the top line missed estimates.

Community Health Systems Inc.(CYH) somewhat tempered the hospital company’s 2013 revenue expectations, citing a greater than expected deterioration in overall volume during the last quarter, partly hurt by a softer flu season.

Eli Lilly & Co. provided an earnings outlook for the year that was mostly higher than expectations despite anticipated declines in revenue as key drugs lose market exclusivity.

Honeywell International Inc.(HON) agreed to sell its friction-materials business unit to Federal-Mogul Corp.'s(FDML) (FDML) European business for roughly $155 million. The deal, expected to close in the second half of this year, includes two plants in China and Romania.

Madison Square Garden Co. said Chief Financial Officer Bob Pollichino will retire in the fall, capping a 36-year career with the entertainment company. Until his retirement, Mr. Pollichino will continue with the company and assist with the search for his successor.

Oracle Corp. agreed to buy software company Corente, continuing its recent string of acquisitions that has focused mostly on bolstering its cloud-based software services.

Orexigen Therapeutics Inc. said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has set a target date of June 10 to rule on the company’s resubmitted new drug application for weight loss treatment Contrave.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Would you trust this man in a speeding Maserati?

Alex Pettyfer might be the kind of young actor who carries himself with a certain degree of cockiness (some have called it arrogance, some have said even worse).

But would you trust this kind of extreme confidence on camera behind the wheel of a super-hot 445-horsepower Maserati Gran Turismo?

That was situation faced by director Shana Feste who worked with the headstrong actor in the remake of the Brooke Shields' 1981 romantic classic Endless Love (which opened Friday, just in time for Valentine's Day).

Feste says Pettyfer, who plays a blue-collar son of a mechanic, was chomping on the bit to drive the sports car and drive it fast.

"Alex has some experience with race car driving. If you wanted to get Alex excited all you had to do was mention driving. He was thrilled when the day finally arrived," says Feste.

Here's the scene. Both Pettyfer and Dayo Okeniyi portray regular guys who work as valets at the posh country club. They exchange words with a totally haughty rich guy driving a Maserati who drops his keys rudely rather than just handing them to the boys (the modern equivalent of twirling his mustache).

Alex Pettyfer about to take the wheel of the Maserati Gran Turismo for a joyride with co-star Dayo Okeniyi.(Photo: HO)

Pettyfer and Okeniyi's character end up joyriding in the car along with Gabriella Wilde, who plays the rich girl falling in love with Pettyfer.

Naturally the joy ride required scenes of speedy driving and Feste says she trusted Pettyfer with the keys for one shot that calls for the car to go screaming around the corner.

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"All of the ca! meras were right outside frame near the road. And we were all very nervous," says Feste. "I was pregnant and standing there right on the side. And before we started everyone was pretty sure we should be backing up."

But she held her ground. When Pettyfer sped through, Feste could see Okeniyi wide-eyed in the passenger seat.

"(Okeniyi) had real fear in his eyes. But Alex pulled it off," says Feste. "But he scared he scared the hell out of Dayo and Gabriella. He totally showed off."

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Goldman: Aluminum Looks Good; By the Way, We Own Warehouses Full of the Stuff

An analyst at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS) has raised its price target on Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA) from $12 to $15, a jump of about 36% from the stock's trading price of around $11 and change late Tuesday afternoon. The research note is cited a Barron's:

We expect [Alcoa] to see multiple expansion as investors gain more confidence in the demand growth for automotive aluminum sheet, growing aerospace demand, and its continued cost cutting initiative in the upstream businesses. We believe automotive aluminum will be the fastest growing market for metals over the next several years, where Alcoa has a leadingposition in the US.

Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) has reduced the weight of its F-150 pickup by 700 pounds using aluminum instead of steel for some body panels, and Goldman's analyst thinks other carmakers will follow suit. That is good news for Alcoa, but it's also good news for Goldman.

Goldman owns a Detroit-based warehouse operator, Metro International, that has been the subject of complaints from aluminum users like The Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) which filed a complaint with the London Metal Exchange (LME) in 2011 alleging that Metro brought aluminum into its warehouses and then refused to let the stuff leave, which caused delays in delivery, higher storage charges, and, ultimately, higher prices for aluminum.

Last July Goldman agreed to swap spot shipments for its warehoused aluminum after Coca-Cola and MillerCoors again complained of difficulty in getting aluminum shipped from the warehouse. In late December Goldman announced an increase of $0.03 per metric ton effective in April, from $0.48 to $0.51, to store aluminum in its warehouse.

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Goldman's shares are up more than 2% late in the day Tuesday at $164.62 in a 52-week range of $137.29 to $181.13.

Alcoa's shares are up about 2.6% at $11.35 in a 52-week range of $7.63 to $12.32.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Rieder: Keller's surprise move to digital start-up

When you think of people leaving The New York Times to join a digital start-up, former Executive Editor Bill Keller is not exactly the name that first leaps to mind.

Keller, after all, is the guy who seemed to relish picking fights with digital totems.

He portrayed news aggregators, including aggregator-to-the-stars Arianna Huffington of Huffington Post fame, as a larcenous bunch of Somali pirates. After allowing his 13-year-old daughter to join Facebook, he wrote that he felt "a little as if I had passed my child a pipe of crystal meth." No great fan of Twitter, so beloved by so many digital news enthusiasts, he once tweeted: "#TwitterMakesYouStupid. Discuss."

It once seemed as if Keller was positioning himself as the curmudgeonly white knight standing steadfastly at the bridge to protect traditional journalism from the evil digital hordes.

But now, we have Keller going all Nate Silver on on us. He's leaving the Times after 30 years to become editor-in-chief of The Marshall Project, a non-profit journalism outfit that will explore the criminal justice system in the United States.

In announcing his surprise career move, Keller, 65, told the Times that in his new venture, he wants to "use all the tools that digital technology offers journalists in terms of ways to investigate and to present on a subject that really matters personally."

NEW VENTURE: Keller leaves NYTimes for news site Marshall Project

RIEDER: An encouraging flurry of news initiatives

Keller, who has been a Times columnist since he stepped down as executive editor in 2011, has had a distinguished career at the paper. A stellar foreign correspondent, he served as Times bureau chief in Johannesburg and Moscow, winning a Pulitzer Prize in 1989 for his reporting on the breakup of the Soviet Union.

But it was his eight-year stint as the paper's top news executive that was the high-water mark of his years as a Times man.

Keller played an important role in helping overcome two major crise! s and preserving the Times as an invaluable purveyor of high-quality public service journalism, at a time when such journalism was under siege.

That's a big deal not just for the paper and its readers and staff. It's a big deal for American democracy.

Because the Times isn't just another news outlet. As the world's pre-eminent journalistic player, it has a special niche. Even at a time when the news landscape has become so sharply fragmented, the Times can have an outsize impact. If it retreats from a bedrock commitment to serious news, that's an incalculable loss.

When Keller took over as executive editor in 2003, the paper was reeling in the wake of the Jayson Blair plagiarism/fabrication scandal and the scorched-earth management techniques of Keller's predecessor, Howell Raines.

Keller, who had been passed over when Raines got the job, came in and righted the ship.

What's more, he had to confront the overwhelming financial tumult that engulfed the newspaper business in the Internet era. As ad revenue plummeted, paper after paper made huge cuts to their newsgathering operations.

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Particularly vulnerable were vital investigative reporting and international news. Eighteen papers and two chains eliminated all — yes, all — of their foreign bureaus between 1998 and 2011.

The Times has not been immune to these pressures. It has made its share of cuts. At one point, it even was forced to take out a big loan from a controversial Mexican billionaire to stay afloat.

But far more than most news outlets, the Times didn't retreat. Times Publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. deserves huge credit for keeping the spigot flowing. But save some props for Keller, the newsroom leader. The Times won 18 Pulitzers on his watch.

So now Keller moves from the Times next month to The Marshall Project, the latest in a series of intriguing, hig! h-profile! new journalism initiatives, this one launched by Wall Street Journal reporter-turned-money-manager Neil Barsky. Keller says that in addition to original reporting, the site, set to make its debut in the second quarter of the year, will feature — here's that word — "aggregation of interesting research and interesting voices on the justice system." Maybe Keller has a little Somali pirate in him, after all.

While digital start-ups have taken a variety of approaches, Keller says he sees a parallel between his new baby and ProPublica, the non-profit investigative reporting outfit that has had extraordinary success since its founding in 2007 — and teamed with the Times on a Pulitzer-winning project.

Not too shabby a role model.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

New Microsoft CEO's collegial style sparks hope

LOS ANGELES (AP) — It was a fleeting moment once the camera had gone off, but some say it's indicative of the leadership style Satya Nadella brings to his new job as CEO of Microsoft.

Nadella's impromptu town hall webcast had interrupted business meetings between Microsoft employees and outside partners at the company's Executive Briefing Center in Redmond, Wash. Hours earlier, he had been named only the third leader in company history. When the brief webcast was over, he didn't want to hog the limelight.

"If you have to get back to (a meeting) because it's more interesting or important, please...," Nadella said as the town hall transitioned into a light reception.

The gesture is just one example of Nadella's calming, collegial style, which stands in stark contrast to the blustery, passionate, rally-the-troops approach employed by Microsoft's previous CEO, Steve Ballmer.

Experts on leadership say the change in tone is a necessary cultural shift for a mature company transitioning into new businesses while letting go of past successes and missed opportunities.

"It's very symbolic," says Suresh Kotha, a professor at the University of Washington's Foster School of Business in Seattle. "I think that sends a very strong message, that work is important."

"He's saying 'I'm here to help you, I'm humble, I'm willing to listen,'" Kotha says. "Symbolically I think it's very important to see he's separating himself from Steve Ballmer."

Ballmer is known for his larger-than-life displays of emotion. At his farewell address to Microsoft employees in September, he high-fived and hugged audience members, pumped his fists in the air, and even shed tears as the popular 1987 song "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" played on the sound system. In a video of the event widely viewed on YouTube, he screams: "You work for the greatest company in the world!"

Observers still remember Ballmer's intense competitiveness. At a 2009 company meeting at Seattle's Safeco field, he pretended to! stomp on an iPhone he snatched from a Microsoft employee. During a public Q&A in 2012, he slammed Google's Android mobile operating system as "wild" and "uncontrolled."

Compare that to Nadella's comments at a financial analysts meeting in September, where he described how Microsoft's mobile device management software has to handle devices that run on Apple's iOS, Google's Android and Microsoft's Windows equally: "Enterprises are heterogeneous, and we recognized that," he said.

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Richard Metheny, a management coach for executive search firm Witt/Kieffer, latched onto comments Nadella made in introducing himself as CEO, about how he buys more books and signs up for more online courses than he could possibly finish.

"It means he's open to ideas, open to others," Metheny says. "Perhaps he'll have the ability to get Microsoft to loosen up a little and focus on innovation rather than be accused of bringing in a solution that brings in money immediately."

One problem Microsoft faces is its legacy of competing internal fiefdoms, says Douglas McKenna, a management consultant who advised Microsoft from 1985 to 1993 and worked at the company from 1993 through 2001.

Founder Bill Gates and Ballmer believed the clash of ideas resulted in the best rising above the rest, McKenna says. That style of management, coupled with a so-called stack ranking system that graded employees on a bell curve, resulted in a company full of "competitive people who learned that climbing over each other and battling across divisions is the way to get ahead," McKenna says.

Breaking down those barriers will be important for Microsoft at a time when software and services are expected to work across many platforms and devices, McKenna says. It's a task that could benefit from Nadella's collaborative approach.

"You have to have people who are willing to release their convi! ctions an! d try something new," McKenna says.

The company has already begun the shift — with a reorganization launched in July that Ballmer called "One Microsoft." And in November, the company eliminated the bell-curve performance review system that rewarded workers for outdoing their peers. It was an acknowledgement that the tactics that helped Microsoft grow into one of the world's most dominant software companies isn't working as well anymore.

What's often required of companies that have hit their peak is a leader who is analytical — rather than driven and as expressive as Ballmer was — especially when trends point downward, says William Klepper, a professor of management at Columbia Business School.

Microsoft's stock price peaked in 1999 and the wave of success the company rode on the back of its Windows operating system for personal computers is ending, he says. It hit an all-time split-adjusted high of $59.97 near the peak of the tech stock bubble in late December 1999. On Friday, shares traded mostly flat, finishing the week at $36.53.

"What they need to do is start their 'second wave' thinking," Klepper says. "That takes patience, due diligence and a deep dive to do that kind of thing. That is very much in the style of both Nadella and Gates."

Nadella has already indicated that innovation will be key for Microsoft and in another collaborative turn, he asked Gates to increase his time at the company to help plot future strategy, to which Gates agreed. Nadella has said repeatedly since being named CEO that the technology industry "doesn't respect tradition."

And he has been lauded by many people — including Ballmer — for having the ability to pick a strategy that makes sense.

Riverbed Technology CEO Jerry Kennelly, who persuaded Nadella to join his computer networking company's board last March, credits Nadella with preventing the company from "taking a wrong turn." As management was considering moving in a new direction, Nadella delivered hard-edged advic! e "in a w! ay that is constructive and collaborative," Kennelly says.

"At the end of the day, technology is all about having the right product at the right time in the right market," Kennelly says. "The keys to the kingdom are your product strategy and your market strategy, and that is where Satya has been helpful for us."

Business Writer Michael Liedtke in San Francisco contributed to this report.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

AbbVie Inc Reports Positive Results from SAPPHIRE-II Study (ABBV)

On Tuesday, AbbVie Inc (ABBV) released phase III results from the SAPPHIRE-II study, which is the second of six phase 3 studies for the treatment of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 (GT1) infection.

AbbVie reported that in the study, which included 394 patients, 96% of those who has previously failed pegylated interferon and ribavirin treatment in the past sustained virologic response at 12 weeks with the regimen.

There are 160 million infected with hepatitis C worldwide. ABBV’s HCV program is currently the largest all oral, interferon-free clinical program in GT1 patients being conducted.

AbbVie shares were mostly flat during Tuesday morning trading. The stock is up 50% YTD.

Monday, February 3, 2014

LA sues Wells Fargo, Citigroup over foreclosures

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles city attorney sued Wells Fargo and Citigroup on Thursday, alleging the companies engaged in mortgage discrimination that led to a wave of foreclosures in minority communities during the housing crash.

A Wells Fargo Bank branch in Oakland, Calif.(Photo: Justin Sullivan Getty Images)

The twin lawsuits, filed in federal court, are the latest fallout from the 2008 collapse of the subprime mortgage industry, which sparked a string of actions against various lenders by federal agencies and city governments.

The city attorney's suits allege a "continuing pattern of discriminatory mortgage lending practices" in Los Angeles that violate the federal Fair Housing Act. They claim Wells Fargo and Citigroup at first refused to grant mortgages in minority neighborhoods — a practice known as redlining — and later targeted black and Hispanic neighborhoods for predatory loans, known as reverse redlining.

Wells Fargo and Citigroup both said the suits are meritless.

"We are disappointed that the LA attorney does not recognize our deep commitment to fair lending," a Citigroup statement said.

The lawsuits contend that "vulnerable, underserved borrowers" denied by years of redlining jumped at the chance to obtain subprime home loans they couldn't afford, then were hit by a swarm of foreclosures when the housing bubble burst and they were denied refinancing.

"Since 2008, banks have foreclosed on approximately 1.7 million homes in California, and Wells Fargo is responsible for nearly one in five of these foreclosures," the lawsuit against Wells Fargo says.

A loan in a predominantly minority neighborhood of Los Angeles is nearly five more times more likely to result in foreclosure that one ! in a predominantly white neighborhood, the suit claims.

"These foreclosures often occur when a minority borrower who previously received a predatory loan sought to refinance the loan, only to discover that Wells Fargo refused to extend credit at all, or on equal terms as when refinancing similar loans issued to white borrowers," it says.

The foreclosures caused property values to tumble, costing the city tax revenue, and leaving it holding the bag for the cost of cleaning up and policing vacant properties, the lawsuit claims.

Citigroup said it "considers each applicant by the same objective criteria, which are blind to race, ethnicity, gender and any other prohibited basis," the bank said. "Using these objective criteria allows us to lend on terms that are consistent with the risk profile of each borrower and gives millions of qualifying consumers the opportunity to own a home."

"Wells Fargo has been a part of Southern California for over a century and we are proud of our record as a fair and responsible lender," that bank said in a statement, adding that the allegations "do not in any way reflect our values as a company."

Both lawsuits seek unspecified reparations and damages. However, they cite a report by the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment and the California Reinvestment Coalition that estimated the mortgage crisis resulted in more than 200,000 foreclosures from 2008 to 2012, with $481 million in lost property tax revenue to the city, and $1.2 billion in Los Angeles for "increased costs of safety inspections, police and fire calls, trash removal and property maintenance."

The Los Angeles city attorney's office has previously gone after other mortgage lenders in state court, blaming them for urban blight sparked by the housing market collapse.

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Ongoing lawsuits filed against Deutsche Bank AG in 2011 a! nd US Ban! corp last year contend that the lenders destroyed neighborhoods by wrongly kicking people out of homes and leaving hundreds of properties to become trash-strewn crime magnets.

Bank officials said that they are not responsible for the decline.

The banks have been hit by other mortgage-related lawsuits in recent years. Last month, Wells Fargo disclosed that it will pay $335 million to resolve claims that it misled Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac about risky mortgage securities before the housing market collapsed.

In 2011, Wells Fargo agreed to pay $85 million to settle civil charges that it falsified loan documents and pushed borrowers toward subprime mortgages with higher interest rates during the housing boom. It was the largest penalty ever imposed by the Federal Reserve in a consumer-enforcement case.

Last year, Wells Fargo and Citigroup were among banks that reached a $25 billion settlement with attorneys general in 49 states over alleged widespread mortgage abuses. The banks did not admit or deny guilt in that settlement, which did not protect them from other litigation.

New York's state attorney general announced in October that he was suing Wells Fargo to force compliance with terms of the settlement.

Saturday, February 1, 2014

2 Stocks Under $10 Moving Higher

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- At Stockpickr, we track daily portfolios of stocks that are the biggest percentage gainers and the biggest percentage losers.

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Stocks that are making large moves like these are favorites among short-term traders because they can jump into these names and try to capture some of that massive volatility. Stocks that are making big-percentage moves either up or down are usually in play because their sector is becoming attractive or they have a major fundamental catalyst such as a recent earnings release. Sometimes stocks making big moves have been hit with an analyst upgrade or an analyst downgrade.

Regardless of the reason behind it, when a stock makes a large-percentage move, it is often just the start of a new major trend -- a trend that can lead to huge profits. If you time your trade correctly, combining technical indicators with fundamental trends, discipline and sound money management, you will be well on your way to investment success.

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With that in mind, let's take a closer look at a several stocks under $10 that are making large moves to the upside.

Westell Technologies

Westell Technologies (WSTL), through its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures and distributes telecommunications products to telephone companies and other telecommunications service providers. This stock closed up 10.2% to $3.77 a share in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $3.46-$3.92

52-Week Range: $1.75-$4.90

Thursday's Volume: 403,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 239,516

From a technical perspective, WSTL jumped sharply higher here right above some near-term support at $3.27 with above-average volume. This move briefly pushed shares of WSTL back above its 50-day moving average of $3.82, after the stock tagged an intraday high of $3.92. Shares of WSTL closed just below that level at $3.77. This spike is now starting to push shares of WSTL within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if WSTL manages to take out Thursday's high of $3.92 to some more key overhead resistance levels at $4.07 to $4.20 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in WSTL as long as it's trending above Thursday's low of $3.46 or above more support at $3.27 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 239,516 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then WSTL will set up re-test or possibly take out its 52-week high at $4.90.

Arcos Dorados

Arcos Dorados (ARCO) is an Argentina-based company engaged in the operation of McDonald's franchisees. This stock closed up 4.1% to $9.31 a share in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $8.93-$9.36

52-Week Range: $8.74-$15.52

Thursday's Volume: 3.68 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 1 million

From a technical perspective, ARCO spiked notably higher here right above its 52-week low of $8.93 with monster upside volume. This stock has been downtrending badly for the last two months, with shares dropping from its high of $12.48 to its low of $8.74. During that downtrend, shares of ARCO have been consistently making lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of ARCO into oversold territory, since its current relative strength index reading is 29.65. Oversold can always get more oversold, but it's also an area where a stock can experience a powerful bounce higher from.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ARCO as long as it's trending above its 52-week low of $8.74 and then once it sustains a move or close above Thursday's high of $9.36 to some more near-term overhead resistance at $9.75 with volume that hits near or above 1 million shares. If we get that move soon, then ARCO will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $10.50 to its 50-day moving average of $11.30.

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To see more stocks that are making notable moves higher, check out the Stocks Under $10 Moving Higher portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.


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Follow Stockpickr on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned.

Roberto Pedone, based out of Delafield, Wis., is an independent trader who focuses on technical analysis for small- and large-cap stocks, options, futures, commodities and currencies. Roberto studied international business at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and he spent a year overseas studying business in Lubeck, Germany. His work has appeared on financial outlets including

CNBC.com and Forbes.com.

You can follow Pedone on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zerosum24 or @zerosum24.