Not only is today the day of�Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE: BRK-A ) (NYSE: BRK-B ) much-anticipated annual meeting, but it's also the day after Berkshire reported its first-quarter results. It makes sense, then that Buffett might have a few words about the quarter during the annual meeting.
Buffett highlighted a few aspects of the quarterly report. He pointed out that foreign currency movements affected the results -- though he underscored the fact that he doesn't pay much attention to those currency fluctuations as it pertains to the businesses. He also noted the continued performance of the BNSF railroad segment, as well as the fact that oil was found near one of the tracks. "And," Buffett quipped, "what better place to find oil?"
But Buffett had his most glowing comments for GEICO. Buffett said that the positive momentum in both closures -- people inquiring about insurance that actually buy -- and persistence -- policy holders renewing policies -- continued and he views this as a very big positive for GEICO and Berkshire as a whole.
Best Quality Companies To Buy For 2015: Trius Therapeutics Inc.(TSRX)
Trius Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of antibiotics for serious, life-threatening infections in the United States. Its lead product includes Torezolid Phosphate, which is in Phase-III clinical trials for the treatment of serious gram-positive bacterial infections, initially for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections. The company is also developing antibiotics for gram-negative infections using its proprietary discovery platform under two contracts funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Defense Threat Reduction Agency. It has a cooperative research and development agreement with Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC for the research and development of gram-negative biodefense pathogens; and a license agreement with Dong-A Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. to develop and sell Torezolid Phosphate outside of Korea. The company was formerly known as Rx3 Pharmac euticals, Inc. and changed its name to Trius Therapeutics, Inc. in February 2007. Trius Therapeutics, Inc. was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Bob's Stocks]
Back on February 4th, I wrote an article regarding another antibiotic stock named Trius Therapeutics (TSRX). It was trading at $5.00 per share at the time, and I put a price per share prediction of $13.00. I also stated it was a takeover target. Yesterday, Cubist Pharmaceuticals bought Trius Therapeutics for $13.50 a share. You can read that article here.
Hot Railroad Stocks To Buy For 2014: Le Gaga Holdings Limited (GAGA)
Le Gaga Holdings Limited engages in cultivating, processing, and distributing vegetables, fruits, and tea leaves in the People�s Republic of China and Hong Kong. The company is also involved in cultivating and selling fir trees. It offers solanaceous vegetables, including sweet peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, pumpkins, and cucumbers; leafy vegetables comprising flowering Chinese cabbage, baby bok choy, and baby Chinese cabbage; and cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and Chinese cabbage. As of March 31, 2012, the company operated 11 farms with an aggregate area of 1,671 hectares in Fujian, Guangdong, and Hebei provinces. It sells approximately 50 varieties of vegetables primarily to wholesalers, institutional customers, and supermarket chains. The company was founded in 2004 and is based in Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Monica Gerson]
Le Gaga Holdings (NASDAQ: GAGA) is estimated to report its Q4 earnings.
Adobe Systems (NASDAQ: ADBE) is expected to post its Q3 earnings at $0.34 per share on revenue of $1.01 billion.
Hot Railroad Stocks To Buy For 2014: Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc.(JOSB)
Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Inc. engages in designing, manufacturing, retailing, and direct marketing men?s tailored and casual clothing and accessories in the United States. The company?s product offerings include tuxedos, suits, shirts, vests, ties, sport coats, pants, sportswear, overcoats, sweaters, belts and braces, socks, and underwear. It sells its products primarily under the Jos. A. Bank label through its own and franchised stores, and catalogs, as well as the Internet at josbank.com. The company also sells branded shoes from various vendors. As of April 30, 2011, it operated 515 retail stores, which consists of 489 company-owned full-line stores, 12 company-owned outlet and factory stores, and 14 stores owned and operated by franchisees in 42 states and the District of Columbia. The company was founded in 1905 and is based in Hampstead, Maryland.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Eric Volkman]
Would anyone care to sell a fine asset to a network of gentlemen's clothing stores? Jos. A. Bank (NASDAQ: JOSB ) is trying to find out the answer to that question. In a press release, the company revealed that it "has been and is considering strategic opportunities to enhance shareholder value, including seeking potential acquisitions."
- [By Jack Kramer and Nick Martell] Links worth snacking on: Chart of the Week: The six greatest investors of all time. BlackRock Blog: Three ways men and women make different investment decisions. Harvard Business Review: Three mistakes to avoid when networking. Slate: How the burrito is the future of the American economy. Freakonomics: Want to win Olympic medals? Fix your economy. Business Insider: What's inside the $85,000 Academy Awards nominee gift bag? Quartz: Will J. Crew have an IPO, be sold, or merge (with Uniqlo)? Modern Luxury: Young banking bros are heading West. Sorry, Jennifer Lawrence. You were phenomenal in American Hustle, but we think that February deserves a gold statue from the Academy -- not only was it the Dow's best month since January 2013, but the S&P 500 closed above a record 1,850 points for the first time ever. With those kinds of performances, Wall Street should be throwing February an after-party worthy of a Miley Cyrus publicity stunt. � 1. The fourth-quarter earnings winner ...
Domino's Pizza's (NYSE: DPZ ) �earnings were double-stuffed like their crusts, jumping 18% from last year as the chain opens up new ovens internationally. The U.S. market is tight-packed with pizza spots, from your favorite $1-a-slice deal to luxurious brick-oven operations, so the 570-plus new stores abroad are bringing home the bread for Domino's. � But what about expectations? Analysts have already been pretty hungry and bullish on Domino's over 2013. Wall Street was already projecting profit growth of 16% for Domino's and has sent the stock up 63% in the past year. � To show the love, Domino's isn't doing a new extra-pepperoni deal, but increasing its dividend by $0.25 per share. The news is a sign that a growing Domino's is ready to return cash to shareholders as its spreads the dough into new lands.
2. ... and the fourth-quarter earnings loser
Target (NYSE: TGT ) �earnings slid a whopping 46% after the 40-million-credit card s - [By Reuters]
Craig Warga/Bloomberg via Getty Images NEW YORK -- Looks like the best suitor won. After an extended chase that included overtures on both sides, Men's Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank will combine to create the nation's fourth largest seller of menswear. Men's Wearhouse (MW) said Tuesday that it's buying its rival Jos. A. Bank Clothiers (JOSB) for $1.8 billion. The company will pay $65 a share, a 5 percent premium to Jos. A. Bank's most recent closing price. As part of the deal, Jos. A. Bank also said it's terminating its deal to acquire the parent company of Eddie Bauer, which sells rugged outerwear. Shares of both companies rose on the news: Men's Wearhouse's shares were up nearly 5 percent to $57.13, while shares of Jos. A. Bank increased nearly 4 percent to $64.22. The acquisition comes after months of the two chains publicly fighting over who would acquire whom. Industry watchers had speculated that a merger was inevitable given the challenges the companies face in the increasingly competitive menswear landscape. With more than 1,700 U.S. stores and $3.5 billion in annual sales, the combined company's reach in men's clothing will fall behind only Macy's (M), Kohl's (KSS) and J.C. Penney (JCP). "Together, Men's Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank will have increased scale and breadth," Doug Ewert, president and CEO of Men's Wearhouse, said in a statement. Jos. A. Bank made the first move in October when it offered to buy its larger rival for $2.3 billion, just a few months after Men's Wearhouse ousted its founder and chairman. Men's Wearhouse shot down that offer, and turned the tables, offering to buy its rival for $1.54 billion. But after Jos. A. Bank turned down that bid, Men's Wearhouse increased its offer to $1.6 billion, and then again to $1.78 billion. In the middle of the back-and forth, Jos. A. Bank said last month that it was buying the parent of Eddie Bauer, but left the door open for a deal with Men's Wearhouse. At the time, it said if it received
- [By Ben Eisen and Saumya Vaishampayan]
Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc. (JOSB) �slipped 0.3% Friday after the clothing retailer adopted a shareholder-rights plan to limit the stake an investor can take in the company, known as a poison pill. Jos. A. Bank recently fended off a buyout offer from larger competitor Men�� Wearhouse Inc. (MW) , whose shares were up 0.4% Friday.
Hot Railroad Stocks To Buy For 2014: eHealth Inc.(EHTH)
eHealth, Inc. offers Internet-based insurance agency services for individuals, families, and small businesses in the United States. The company also offers technology licensing and Internet advertising services. Its ecommerce platforms organize and present health insurance information in various formats, as well as enables individuals, families, and small businesses to research, analyze, compare, and purchase various health insurance plans. The company offers various medical health insurance coverage plans, such as preferred provider organization, health maintenance organization and indemnity plans, Medicare plans, short-term medical insurance, student health insurance, and health savings account eligible health insurance plans, as well as ancillary plans, such as dental, vision, and life insurance. Its customers access its ecommerce platforms through its Websites, including eHealth.com, eHealthInsurance.com, eHealthMedicare.com, and PlanPrescriber.com, as well as through a network of marketing partners. The company was incorporated in 1997 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sean Williams]
The other option here is eHealth (NASDAQ: EHTH ) �a private health insurance platform for individuals, families, and small businesses that's been around for years. In its third-quarter results released last week, eHealth noted that membership had risen by 24% to 1.147 million from the year-ago period, clearly showing skepticism in the Obamacare health reform law suggesting the success and options its private platform offers. If there's any company that can use Healthcare.gov's nightmarish start to its advantage, it's eHealth!
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Stocks finished mix today, though it’s probably more fair to say they hardly moved at all.�Intel�(INTC), Facebook (FB) and�Achillion Pharmaceuticals (ACHN) gained, while�CR Bard�(BCR) and eHealth (EHTH) fell.
- [By David Williamson]
Obamacare is racking up expenses, in particular, with the creation of insurance exchanges. In this video, David Williamson looks at this feature of Obamacare, and a possible free market solution. The problem is that these exchanges are proving more expensive than originally thought, up to an estimated $5.7 billion for 2014. No wonder less than half of the states in the country have come on board. One solution is an online insurance exchange. A form of such an exchange already exists. Will it work for a nationwide insurance market?�Hard to say. On the one hand, it could offer small businesses unprecedented access to insurance plans. On the other hand, an online market may simply offer those plans with the best commissions and not the best deals.� (NASDAQ: EHTH )
- [By Sean Williams]
What: Shares of eHealth (NASDAQ: EHTH ) �-- a provider of private market online health insurance services for individuals, families, and small businesses -- jumped as much as 17% after the company reported third-quarter earnings results.
Hot Railroad Stocks To Buy For 2014: Atlas Energy LP (ATLS)
Atlas Energy, L.P. (Atlas Energy), incorporated on December 15, 2005, is a limited partnership. The Company's assets consist of the Company's ownership interests in the Atlas Resource Partners, L.P. (ARP), an independent developer and producer of natural gas, crude oil and natural gas liquids (NGL), with operations in basins across the United States; Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. (APL) a midstream energy service provider engaged in natural gas gathering, processing and treating services in the Anandarko and Permian Basins of the United States, and Lightfoot Capital Partners, LP (Lightfoot LP) and Lightfoot Capital Partners GP, LLC (Lightfoot GP), the general partner of Lightfoot L.P. (collectively, Lightfoot), entities which incubate new master limited partnerships (MLPs) and invest in existing MLPs. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had an approximate 16% general partner interest and 12% limited partner interest in Lightfoot.
On April 30, 2012, ARP acquired 277 billion cubic feet equivalent of proved reserves, including undeveloped drilling locations, in the core of the Barnett Shale from Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc. (Carrizo). The assets include 198 gross producing wells. On July 26, 2012, ARP acquired Titan Operating, L.L.C. (Titan), which owned approximately 250 billion cubic feet equivalent of proved reserves and associated assets in the Barnett Shale on approximately 16,000 net acres. Titan's assets are located in close proximity to the assets acquired from Carrizo in the Barnett Shale. On September 24, 2012, ARP acquired Equal Energy, Ltd�� (Equal) remaining 50% interest in approximately 8,500 net undeveloped acres. On December 20, 2012, ARP acquired 210 billion cubic feet equivalent of proved reserves in the Fort Worth basin from DTE Energy Company (DTE). The assets include 261 gross producing wells on over 88,000 net acres. The acreage position includes approximately 75,000 net acres prospective for the Marble Falls play, in which there are over 700 identified vertical drilling l! ocations..
In February 2012, APL acquired a gas gathering system and related assets, at its WestOK region. In June 2012, APL acquired a gas gathering system and related assets in the Barnett Shale in Tarrant County, Texas. In December 2012, APL acquired 100% interests held by Cardinal Midstream, LLC (Cardinal) in three wholly owned subsidiaries. The assets of these companies include gas gathering, processing and treating facilities in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas as the Tupelo plant, the East Rockpile treating facility, a fixed fee contract gas treating business, a 60% interest in Centrahoma Processing, LLC (Centrahoma), the Coalgate and Atoka plants, and the prospective Stonewall plant.
Atlas Resource Partners
During the year ended December 31, 2012, ARP�� average daily net production was approximately 77.2 million cubic feet equivalent. As of December 31, 2012, ARP owned production positions, including the Barnett Shale and Marble Falls play in the Fort Worth Basin in northern Texas; the Appalachia basin, including the Marcellus Shale and the Utica Shale; the Mississippi Lime and Hunton plays in northwestern Oklahoma, and the Chattanooga Shale in northeastern Tennessee, the Niobrara Shale in northeastern Colorado, the New Albany Shale in southwestern Indiana, and the Antrim Shale in Michigan. ARP has ownership interests in over 525 wells in the Barnett Shale and Marble Falls play. ARP has ownership interests in over 10,200 wells in the Appalachian basin, including approximately 270 wells in the Marcellus Shale. The Chattanooga Shale in northeastern Tennessee, the Niobrara Shale in northeastern Colorado, the New Albany Shale in southwestern Indiana, and the Antrim Shale in Michigan.
Atlas Pipeline Partners
APL conducts its business in the midstream segment of the natural gas industry through two reportable segments: gathering and processing, and transportation, treating and other. The gathering and processing segment consist! s of the A! rkoma, WestOK, WestTX and Velma operations, which are comprised of natural gas gathering and processing assets servicing drilling activity in the Anadarko, Arkoma and Permian Basins, and natural gas gathering assets located in the Barnett Shale play in Texas and the Appalachian Basin in Tennessee. Gathering and processing revenues are derived from the sale of residue gas and NGLs and the gathering and processing of natural gas.
APL's gathering and processing operations, own, have interests in and operate 12 natural gas processing plants with aggregate capacity of approximately 1,090 million cubic feet per day located in Oklahoma and Texas; a gas treating facility located in Oklahoma, and approximately 10,100 miles of active natural gas gathering systems located in Oklahoma, Kansas, Tennessee and Texas. APL's gathering systems gather natural gas from oil and natural gas wells and central delivery points and deliver this gas to processing plants, as well as third-party pipelines.
APL's gathering and processing operations are located in Golden Trend, Mississippian Limestone and Hugoton field in the Anadarko Basin; the Woodford Shale; the Spraberry Trend, which is an oil play with associated natural gas in the Permian Basin, and the Barnett Shale. APL's gathering systems are connected to approximately 8,600 receipt points, consisting of individual well connections and secondarily, central delivery points, which are linked to multiple wells.
APL's transportation and treating operations consists of 17 gas treating facilities used to provide contract treating services to natural gas producers located in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas, and a 20% interest in West Texas LPG Pipeline Limited Partnership (WTLPG), which owns a common-carrier pipeline system, which transports NGLs from New Mexico and Texas to Mont Belvieu, Texas for fractionation. WTLPG is operated by Chevron Pipeline Company, an affiliate of Chevron Corporation (Chevron), which owns the remaining 80% i! nterest. ! The contract gas treating operations are located in various shale plays, including the Avalon, Eagle Ford, Granite Wash, Haynesville, Fayetteville and Woodford.
The Company competes with Access Midstream Partners, LP; Caballo Energy, LLC, Carrera Gas Company; Copano Energy, LLC; Crosstex Energy Services, L.P.; DCP Midstream, LLC; Energy Transfer Partners, LP.; Enogex, LLC; Lumen Midstream Partners, LLC; MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P.; Mustang Fuel Corporation; ONEOK Field Services Company, LLC; Scissor Tail Energy, LLC; SemGas, L.P.; Southern Union Company; Superior Pipeline Company, LLC; Targa Resources Partners LP, and West Texas Gas, Inc.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Matt DiLallo]
The management team at oil and gas company�Atlas Energy (NYSE: ATLS ) has really taken Warren Buffett's advice to heart. Buffett's old adage to "be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful" seems to be that team's approach. After selling its shale assets to Chevron at the top of the market, the company has been diligently acquiring natural gas assets at the market's low. That blueprint continues to be followed as evidenced by the recently announced acquisition of substantial natural gas assets via its master limited partnership, Atlas Resource Partners (NYSE: ARP ) .
Hot Railroad Stocks To Buy For 2014: Watsco Inc.(WSO)
Watsco, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the distribution of air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration equipment in the United States. It distributes residential central air conditioners; gas, electric, and oil furnaces; commercial air conditioning and heating equipment and systems; and other specialized equipments. The company also distributes various parts, including replacement compressors, evaporator coils, motors, and other component parts; and supplies comprising thermostats, insulation material, refrigerants, ductwork, grills, registers, sheet metal, tools, copper tubing, concrete pads, tape, adhesives, and other ancillary supplies. It serves approximately 50,000 contractors and dealers that service the replacement and new construction markets. The company also exports its products to Latin America and the Caribbean. Watsco, Inc. was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Michael Flannelly]
Watsco Inc (WSO), a distributor of air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration equipment, announced early on Wednesday that it is raising its quarterly dividend payout by 60%.
The company will now pay a quarterly dividend of 40 cents per share, up from the previous payout of 25 cents per share. This dividend will be paid on October 31 to shareholders of record on October 15, with an ex-dividend date of October 10.
Albert H. Nahmad, Watsco’s Chairman & Chief Executive Officer stated, “Our philosophy of sharing cash flow through dividends continues. As we have stated many times in the past, our goal over the long-term is to pay increasing dividends while maintaining a conservative balance sheet with capacity to make investments in our business and build our network. We will consider future increases in light of such investment opportunities, cash flow, general economic conditions and our overall financial condition.��/p>
Watsco shares were inactive during pre-market trading on Wednesday. The stock is up 25.49% year-to-date.
- [By Marc Bastow]
HVAC parts and components distributor Watsco (WSO) announced a 60% dividend increase to 40 cents per share, payable Oct. 31 to shareholders of record as of Oct. 10.
WSO Dividend Yield: 1.7% - [By Greg Williamson]
A successful HVAC distribution company with great growth potential
An excellent way to profit from these tailwinds is by investing in Watsco (NYSE: WSO ) (NYSE: WSO ) (NYSE: WSO ) . Watsco is a leading distributor of HVAC equipment, with more than 570 locations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Watsco also exports products to Latin America and the Caribbean.
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