Hot Japanese Stocks To Buy For 2014

Japan�� stocks led Asian markets higher on Wednesday, ahead of the conclusion of the U.S. Federal Reserve�� policy meeting.

Reuters Enlarge Image Tokyo�� Shinjuku district.

Japanese exports rose 18.4% from a year earlier in November, overshooting expectations for a 17.3% rise. That marked the ninth consecutive month of increase, as manufacturers benefited from a weaker yen brought about by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe�� pro-growth strategies. A recovery in exports is important for the country�� economy ahead of a planned sales-tax increase in April.

5 Best Freight Stocks To Buy For 2015: Health Care REIT Inc (HCN)

Health Care REIT, Inc., incorporated on April 4, 1985, is a real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company�� portfolio has range of seniors housing and healthcare real estate, including seniors housing communities, skilled nursing/post-acute facilities, medical office buildings, inpatient and outpatient medical centers and life science facilities. The Company operates in three segments: seniors housing triple-net, seniors housing operating and medical facilities. Its properties primarily consists of land, building, improvements and related rights. The Company�� hospitals and seniors housing triple-net properties are leased to operators under long-term operating leases. Its medical office building portfolio is primarily self-managed and consists principally of multi-tenant properties leased to health care providers. On January 9, 2013, the Company acquired Sunrise Senior Living, Inc. property portfolio, and the sale of the Sunrise management company. In October 2013, the Company announced the acquisition of the Willows at Hamburg from Health Care REIT, Inc.

Seniors Housing Triple-Net

The Company�� seniors housing triple-net properties include independent living facilities, continuing care retirement communities, assisted living facilities, Alzheimer��/dementia facilities, skilled nursing/post-acute facilities and combinations thereof. It invests primarily through acquisitions and development. Its properties are primarily leased to operators under long-term, triple-net master leases. Its properties include stand-alone facilities that provide one level of service, combination facilities that provide multiple levels of service, and communities or campuses that provide a range of services. Independent living facilities are age-restricted, multifamily properties with central dining facilities that provide residents access to meals and other services, such as housekeeping, linen service, transportation and social and recreational activities. Continuing care retirement comm! unities include a combination of detached homes, an independent living facility, an assisted living facility and/or a skilled nursing facility on one campus.

Assisted living facilities are state regulated rental properties that provide the same services as independent living facilities, but also provide supportive care from trained employees to residents who require assistance with activities of daily living, including, but not limited to, management of medications, bathing, dressing, toileting, ambulating and eating. Certain assisted living facilities may include state licensed settings that specialize in caring for those afflicted with Alzheimer�� disease and/or other types of dementia. Skilled nursing/post-acute facilities are licensed daily rate or rental properties where the majority of individuals require 24-hour nursing and/or medical care. All facilities offer some level of rehabilitation services. Some facilities focus on higher acuity patients and offer rehabilitation units specializing in cardiac, orthopedic, dialysis, neurological or pulmonary rehabilitation. The Company leases 177 facilities to Genesis HealthCare, LLC pursuant to a long-term, triple-net master lease.

Seniors Housing Operating

The Company has relationships with eight operators to own and operate 154 facilities (plus 39 facilities in an unconsolidated joint venture). In each instance, its partner provides management services to the properties pursuant to an incentive-based management contract.

Medical Facilities

The Company�� medical facilities include medical office buildings, hospitals and life science facilities. It leases its medical office buildings to multiple tenants and provides varying levels of property management. The Company�� hospital investments are structured similar to its seniors housing triple-net investments. The medical office building portfolio consists of health care related buildings that include physician offices, ambulatory surgery! centers,! diagnostic facilities, outpatient services and/or labs. Approximately 92% of its medical office building portfolio is affiliated with health systems by having buildings on hospital campuses or serving as satellite locations for the health system and their physicians.

The Company�� hospitals include acute care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, and long-term acute care hospitals. Acute care hospitals provide a range of inpatient and outpatient services, including, but not limited to, surgery, rehabilitation, therapy and clinical laboratories. Inpatient rehabilitation hospitals provide inpatient services for patients with intensive rehabilitation needs. Long-term acute care hospitals provide inpatient services for patients with complex medical conditions that require more intensive care, monitoring or emergency support than is available in most skilled nursing facilities. The life science portfolio consists of laboratory and office facilities designed and constructed for use by biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Senior housing and medical office buildings real estate investment trust Health Care REIT (HCN) raised its quarterly dividend 3.4% to 76.5 cents per share, payable on Nov. 20 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 12.
  HCN Dividend Yield: 5.07%
  

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Health Care REIT (NYSE: HCN  ) is preparing to expand its capital base. The company announced it will issue 20 million shares of its common stock in an underwritten public flotation. The price has been pegged at $73.50 per share. Additionally, the underwriters will be granted a 30-day purchase option for up to an additional 3 million shares.

• [By Dan Burrows]

  But the TE stock slide does appear to have been arrested, thanks to the extended deep freezes that hit so much of the country during winter. Increased demand gave natural gas prices a pick up after languishing near historic lows for more than a year.

  #8: Health Care REIT (HCN)

  HCN Dividend Yield: 5.42%

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Health Care REIT (NYSE: HCN) shares tumbled 3.91 percent to $63.89 after the company priced 15,500,000 shares of common stock at $63.75 per share.

Hot Japanese Stocks To Buy For 2014: Lifeway Foods Inc (LWAY)

Lifeway Foods, Inc., (Lifeway), incorporated on May 19, 1986, is engaged in the manufacturing of probiotic, cultured, functional dairy and non-dairy health food products. The Company�� primary products are kefir sold under the name Lifeway Kefir and Helios Nutrition Organic Kefir; a line of yogurts sold under the Lassi brand, and BasicsPlus, a dairy based immune-supporting dietary supplement beverage. In addition to the drinkable products, Lifeway manufactures Lifeway Farmer Cheese, a line of various farmer cheeses, a line of gourmet cream cheeses, and Sweet Kiss, a fruit sugar-flavored spreadable cheese similar in consistency to cream cheese. The Company also manufactures and markets a vegetable-based seasoning under the Golden Zesta brand. Lifeway manufactures all of its products at Company-owned facilities and distributes its products throughout the United States.

Lifeway�� primary product, kefir is a fermented dairy product. Lifeway�� Kefir is a drinkable product intended for use as a breakfast meal or a snack, or as a base for lower-calorie dressings, dips, soups or sauces. Kefir is also used as the base of Lifeway�� plain farmer�� cheese, a cheese made without salt, sugar or animal rennet. In addition, kefir is the primary ingredient of Lifeway�� Sweet Kiss product, a fruit sugar-flavored, cream cheese-like spread which is intended to be used as a dessert spread or frosting. Lifeway�� Kefir is a drinkable kefir product manufactured in 10 regular and low-fat varieties, including plain, pomegranate, raspberry, blueberry, strawberry, cherry, peach, banana-strawberry, cappuccino and vanilla, and sold in 32-ounce containers and 8-ounce single serving containers featuring color-coded caps and labels describing nutritional information. The kefir product is marketed under the name Lifeway�� Kefir and is sold by retailers from their dairy sections.

Lifeway�� Organic Kefir meets the organic standards and specifications of the United States Department of Agricul! ture for organic products and is manufactured in five flavors: plain, wildberry, raspberry, strawberry and peach. Lifeway�� Organic Kefir is sweetened with organic cane juice. Lifeway�� Slim6 is a line of low-fat kefir beverages with no added sugar designed for consumers who follow low-carbohydrate diets. Lifeway�� Slim6 has only eight grams of carbohydrates and 2.5 grams of fat per 8-ounce serving and is available in five flavors: strawberries n��cream, mixed berry, tropical fruit, strawberry-banana and an original, unsweetened version. ProBugs is a kefir product that contains 10 live and active kefir cultures. Aimed at children ages 2-9, ProBugscomes in three flavors, Sublime Slime Lime, Orange Creamy Crawler and Goo-Berry Pie and is packaged in no spill spout pouches designed as cartoon bug characters Peter, Polly and Penelope ProBug.

Farmer Cheese is based on a cultured soft cheese and is intended to be used in a variety of recipes as a low fat, low-cholesterol, low-calorie substitute for cream cheese or ricotta, and is available in various styles. Sweet Kiss is a sweet cheese probiotic spread available in five flavors: plain, plain with raisins, apple, peach and chocolate. Elita and Bambino cheeses are low-fat, low-cholesterol kefir based cheese spreads, which are marketed as an alternative to cream cheese. Krestyanski Tworog is a European-style kefir-based soft style cheese which can also be used in a variety of recipes, eaten with a spoon, used as a cheese spread, or substituted in recipes for cream cheese, ricotta cheese or cottage cheese and is marketed to consumers of various Eastern European ethnicities.

Basics Plus is a kefir-based beverage product designed to support gastrointestinal functions and the immune system. Kefir Starter is a powdered form of kefir that is sold in envelope packets and allows a consumer to make his or her own drinkable kefir at home by adding milk. Lifeway continues to develop sales of this product through the Internet. Lassi is a c! ultured d! rink inspired by the traditions of India and is sold in 8-ounce containers in two flavors, strawberry and mango. Golden Zesta is a vegetable-based seasoning, which, because of its low sodium content, may also be used as a salt substitute and is marketed to delicatessens, gourmet shops and ethnic grocers. Helios Nutrition Organic Kefir is a kefir product made from organic milk and manufactured with a blend of active cultures. It is sold in 8 and 32 ounce bottles and made in five flavors: peach, plain, strawberry, vanilla and raspberry.

The Company competes with Danone Foods, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  In possibly related news, shares of a Danone sometimes-partner, sometimes-rival in the drinkable yogurt market, kefir-maker Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ: LWAY  ) , is seeing its shares come under pressure Tuesday. Specializing in grocery sales, Lifeway also operates a chain of yogurt-inspired restaurants of its own known as "Starfruit Cafe." As Danone shares gain 0.5%, Lifeway is down 4.5%.

• [By James Brumley]

  Once the budget impasse is wrapped up though, a new Dairy Stabilization Act should be right around the corner. That’s good news for a small-cap company like dairy farm Lifeway Foods (LWAY), which saw its shares fall nearly 25% over the course of August and September when the budget impasse was shaping up.

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Dairy Products: This industry tumbled 2.12% by 10:50 am. The worst stock within the industry was Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ: LWAY), which fell 0.9%. Lifeway Foods' PEG ratio is 3.56.

• [By Rich Smith]

  Shares of Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ: LWAY  ) are on a tear, up nearly a full $1 (or 8.3%) since reporting earnings last week. But is the price spike justified? Let's find out.

Hot Japanese Stocks To Buy For 2014: Brown-Forman Corp (BFB)

Brown-Forman Corporation, incorporated on October 19, 1933, primarily manufactures, bottles, imports, exports, markets, and sells a variety of alcoholic beverage brands. The Company�� principal brands are Jack Daniel�� Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel�� Tennessee Whiskey, Pepe Lopez Tequilas, Jack Daniel�� Single Barrel, Woodford Reserve Bourbons, Jack Daniel�� Ready-to-Drinks, Canadian Mist Blended Canadian Whiskies, Jack Daniel�� Tennessee Honey, Chambord Liqueur, Jack Daniel�� Winter Jack Chambord Vodka, Gentleman Jack, Collingwood Canadian Whisky, Southern Comfort, Early Times Bourbon, Southern Comfort Ready-to-Drinks, Early Times flavored line extensions, Southern Comfort flavored line extensions, Early Times Kentucky Whisky, Finlandia Vodkas, Korbel California Champagnes, Finlandia Ready-to-Drinks, Little Black Dress Vodkas, Antiguo Tequila, Maximus Vodkas, el Jimador Tequilas, Old Forester Bourbon, el Jimador New Mix Ready-to-Drinks, Sonoma-Cutrer Wines, Herradura Tequilas, and Tuaca Liqueur.

The Company�� products are sold in more than 150 countries around the world. The Company�� international markets include Australia, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Germany, Poland, France, Russia, Japan, Turkey, Canada, Spain, Czech Republic, South Africa, Brazil and Italy.

The Company competes with Bacardi Limited, Beam Inc., Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A., Diageo plc, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.A., Pernod Ricard S.A., and Remy Cointreau S.A.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Wednesday

  Earnings Expected From: Christopher & Banks Corporation (NYSE: CBK), Brown Forman Corporation (NYSE: BFB), Express, Inc. (NYSE: EXPR), Avago Technologies (NASDAQ: AVGO) Economic Releases Expected: US nonfarm employment change, US trade balance, Canadian trade balance, US new home sales, US ISM non-manufacturing PMI

  Thursday

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Brown-Forman (NYSE: BFB  ) reported earnings on June 5. Here are the numbers you need to know.

  The 10-second takeaway
  For the quarter ended April 30 (Q4), Brown-Forman met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

Hot Japanese Stocks To Buy For 2014: Caterpillar Inc.(CAT)

Caterpillar Inc. manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives worldwide. It operates through three lines of businesses: Machinery, Engines, and Financial Products. The Machinery business offers construction, mining, and forestry machinery, including track and wheel tractors, track and wheel loaders, pipelayers, motor graders, wheel tractor-scrapers, track and wheel excavators, backhoe loaders, log skidders, log loaders, off-highway trucks, articulated trucks, paving products, skid steer loaders, underground mining equipment, tunnel boring equipment, and related parts. It also manufactures diesel-electric locomotives; and manufactures and services rail-related products and logistics services for other companies. The Engines business provides diesel, heavy fuel, and natural gas reciprocating engines for Caterpillar machinery, electric power generation systems, marine, petrol eum, construction, industrial, agricultural, and other applications. It offers industrial turbines and turbine-related services for oil and gas, and power generation applications. This business also remanufactures Caterpillar engines, machines, and engine components; and offers remanufacturing services for other companies. The Financial Products business provides retail and wholesale financing alternatives for Caterpillar machinery and engines, solar gas turbines, and other equipment and marine vessels, as well as offers loans and various forms of insurance to customers and dealers. It also offers financing for vehicles, power generation facilities, and marine vessels. The company markets its products directly, as well as through its distribution centers, dealers, and distributors. It was formerly known as Caterpillar Tractor Co. and changed its name to Caterpillar Inc. in 1986. Caterpillar Inc. was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Having completed one share repurchase agreement last month for $1 billion, heavy-equipment manufacturer Caterpillar� (NYSE: CAT  ) announced today that it's launching a second round of buybacks, purchasing the stock from Societe Generale,�one of the largest European financial-services groups.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  When the Dow's movements don't make sense, it's more important to focus on fundamentals in your investing. For instance, Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT  ) has struggled recently because of its high exposure to the slowing Chinese economy, and that has held the stock back despite the Dow's record run. Yet with an attractive valuation of just 11 times trailing earnings, Caterpillar offers a margin of safety even if the reductions in future earnings estimates that we've seen recently continue. You'd have to see substantial further deterioration in the global economic environment before Caterpillar's stock would look expensive at these levels.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Stocks failed to follow through on yesterday’s gains as lukewarm economic data kept the market running in place. Goldman Sachs (GS), Boeing (BA), JPMorgan Chase�(JPM), Caterpillar (CAT) and United Health (UNH) fell.

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]

  Caterpillar is a provider of construction and related industrial products and services during a time where countries around the world are seeing expansion. Shares of Caterpillar crossed above their 200 day moving average of $85.26, changing hands as high as $85.38 per share. The stock has remained neutral in recent months and is currently in a range. Over the last four-quarters, earnings and revenues have been decreasing which has left investors optimistic about the company. Relative to its peers and sector, Caterpillar has been a weak year-to-date performer. WAIT AND SEE what Caterpillar does in coming quarters.

Hot Japanese Stocks To Buy For 2014: AVEO Pharmaceuticals Inc.(AVEO)

AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the discovery and development of cancer therapeutics. The company?s lead product candidate, Tivozanib (AV-951), is a novel, highly potent and selective oral inhibitor of the vascular endothelial growth factor, or VEGF, receptors 1, 2, and 3. It is also leading the clinical development of AV-299, which includes conducting multiple Phase I clinical trials and preparing for the conduct of multiple Phase II clinical trials. The company?s product candidate in preclinical development is AV-203, a potent ErbB3 antibody that has demonstrated efficacy in vivo. It has strategic partnerships with OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Merck, and Biogen Idec, Inc. AVEO Pharmaceuticals was formerly known as GenPath Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and changed its name to AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in March 2005. The company was founded in 2001 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Brian Orelli]

  AVEO Pharmaceuticals' (NASDAQ: AVEO  ) announced yesterday that the Food and Drug Administration rejected its kidney cancer drug tivozanib.

• [By James E. Brumley]

  Looks out Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. (NASDAQ:SNTA), and AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVEO), you're on notice too. Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated (NASDAQ:CORT) is nipping at your heels, and better still, shares of the company looks like they're about to dole out a sizeable reward to investors who see the writing on the wall.

• [By Sean Williams]

  What: Shares of cancer therapeutics company AVEO Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AVEO  ) absolutely imploded, losing as much as 57% ��and dropping as much as 70% for the week at one point ��after its metastatic renal cancer carcinoma drug, Tivozanib, failed to win the backing of the Food and Drug Administrations' panel.

Hot Japanese Stocks To Buy For 2014: Smith & Wesson Holding Corp (SWHC)

Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (Smith & Wesson), incorporated on June 17, 1991, is a manufacturer of firearms. The Company manufactures a range of handguns, modern sporting rifles, hunting rifles, black powder firearms, handcuffs, and firearm-related products and accessories for sale to a range of customers, including gun enthusiasts, collectors, hunters, sportsmen, competitive shooters, individuals desiring home and personal protection, law enforcement and security agencies and officers, and military agencies in the United States and globally. It sell its products under the Smith & Wesson brand, the M&P brand, the Thompson/Center brand, and the Walther brand. The Company manufactures its firearm products at its facilities in Springfield, Massachusetts and Houlton, Maine. On July 26, 2012, it sold all of the assets of Smith & Wesson Security Solutions, Inc.

Firearms

During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2012 (fiscal 2012), the Company introduced multiple new handgun and modern sporting rifle models, and one new bolt action rifle platform. The Company's rifle introductions included the addition of the M&P15 300 Whisper to the Company's line of modern sporting rifles. As of April 30, 2012, the Company participated in three categories of the long-gun market and both core categories of the handgun market.

Handguns

The Company manufactures an variety of handgun models that include revolvers and pistols. A revolver is a handgun with a cylinder that holds the ammunition in a series of rotating chambers that are successively aligned with the barrel of the firearm during each firing cycle. There are two general types of revolvers: single-action and double-action. The Company's small-frame revolvers have been carried by law enforcement personnel and personal defense-minded citizens. The Company's revolvers are available in a variety of models and calibers, with applications in virtually all professional and personal markets.

The Company�� M! &P15 Series of modern sporting rifles are designed to satisfy the functionality and reliability needs of global military, law enforcement, and security personnel. These rifles are also popular as sporting target rifles and are sold to consumers through the Company's sporting good distributors, retailers, and dealers. The Company has a range of product portfolio of modern sporting rifles, which includes a lower price-point, sport model, a .22 caliber model, and a fully automatic model designed for the exclusive use of military and law enforcement agencies throughout the world.

Hunting Firearms

The Company manufactures three lines of bolt-action rifles under its Thompson/Center brand consisting of several models in each line. The Company's hunting rifles are offered in 16 different calibers. Bolt-action rifles operate by the cycling of a bolt handle that allows for both the loading and unloading of rounds through a magazine fed system.

During fiscal 2012, the Company introduced the Dimension bolt action rifle platform. Under the Company's Thompson/Center brand, the Company also offers seven models of American-made single shot black powder, or muzzle loader, firearms. The Company offers eight models of interchangeable, single shot firearm systems that deliver numerous gun, barrel, caliber configurations, and finishes. These systems can be configured as a center-fire rifle, rim-fire rifle, shotgun, black powder firearm, or single-shot handgun for use across the entire range of big- and small-game hunting.

Handcuffs

The Company manufactures handcuffs and restraints in the United States. The Company fabricates these products from the carbon or stainless steel.

Smith & Wesson Academy

Through the Smith & Wesson Academy, the Company offers instruction designed to meet the training needs of law enforcement and security customers worldwide. Classes are conducted at the Company's facility in Springfield, Massachusetts or o! n locatio! n around the world.

Specialty Services

The Company's services include forging, heat treating, finishing, and plating. It provides services to third-party customers.

The Company competes with Ruger,Taurus, Beretta, Glock, Heckler & Koch, Sig Sauer, Springfield Armory, Bushmaster, Rock River, Stag Arms, DPMS, Browning, Marlin, Remington, Ruger, Savage, Weatherby, CVA, Traditions, and Winchester.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sara Murphy]

  The focus then was about avoiding "bad" stocks -- companies like�Smith & Wesson� (NASDAQ: SWHC  ) �were kicked out of SRI portfolios because of their involvement in firearms production. But banishing Smith & Wesson from the list of qualifying companies also meant passing up the 444% gains it achieved in the last 10 years.

Hot Japanese Stocks To Buy For 2014: American Campus Communities Inc (ACC)

American Campus Communities, Inc., incorporated on March 9, 2004, is a self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company specializes in the acquisition, design, financing, development, construction management, leasing and management of student housing properties. Through the Company�� interest in American Campus Communities Operating Partnership LP (the Operating Partnership), the Company owns, manages and develops student housing properties in the United States. It operates in four segments: Wholly-Owned Properties, On-Campus Participating Properties, Development Services and Property Management Services. As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� property portfolio contained 116 properties with approximately 71,800 beds in approximately 22,900 apartment units. Of the 116 properties, 11 were under development as of December 31, 2011. In July 2012, the Company acquired University Commons, a 480-bed off-campus community serving students attending the University of Minnesota. In September 2012, it acquired Campus Acquisitions��15 student housing properties with 6,579 beds. On November 30, 2012, the Company acquired student housing properties with 12,049 beds, including 366 beds at an additional phase from affiliates of Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P.

In December 2011, the Company acquired a 79.5% interest in a partnership that owns a 258-unit, 901-bed property (The Varsity) located near the campus of the University of Maryland in College Park, and a 367-unit, 1,026-bed wholly owned property (26 West) located near the campus of The University of Texas in Austin. In November 2011, the Company acquired a 370-unit, 684-bed wholly owned property (Studio Green) located near the campus of Florida State University in Tallahassee. In September 2011, the Company acquired a 216-unit, 792-bed wholly owned property (Eagles Trail) located near the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. In July 2011, the Company acquired a retail shopping! center located near the campus of the University of Central Florida in Orlando. In April and May 2011, the Company sold four owned off-campus properties (Campus Club - Statesboro, River Club Apartments, River Walk Townhomes and Villas on Apache).

Through the Company�� taxable REIT subsidiaries (TRS), it also provides construction management and development services, primarily for student housing properties owned by colleges and universities, charitable foundations, and others. As of December 31, 2011, the Company provided third-party management and leasing services for 31 properties (nine of which the Company served as the third-party developer and construction manager) that represented approximately 24,200 beds in approximately 9,600 units, and one joint venture property in which the Company owns a noncontrolling interest with approximately 600 beds in approximately 200 units. As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� total owned, joint venture and third-party managed portfolio included 148 properties with approximately 96,600 beds in approximately 32,700 units.

The Company�� wholly-owned properties segment include American Campus Equity (ACE). Its On-Campus Participating Properties segment includes four on-campus properties owned by one of its TRSs that are operated under long-term ground/facility leases with two university systems. The Company�� third-party services consist of development services and management services and are typically provided to university and college clients. Many of its third-party management services are provided to clients for whom it also provides development services. The Company�� Development Services segment consists of development and construction management services that it provides through one of its TRSs for third-party owners. These services range from short-term consulting projects to long-term development and construction projects.

The Company�� pre-development services typically include feasibility studies for thir! d-party o! wners and design services. Feasibility studies include an initial feasibility analysis, review of conceptual design, and assistance with master planning. Construction management services consist of hiring of project professionals and a general contractor, coordinating and supervising the construction, equipping and furnishing process on behalf of the project owner, including site visits, hiring of a general contractor and project professionals, and coordination and administration of all activities necessary for project completion. The Company�� Property Management Services segment, conducted by its TRSs, includes revenues generated from third-party management contracts in which it is responsible for marketing, leasing administration, facilities maintenance, business administration, accounts payable, accounts receivable, financial reporting, capital projects and residence life student development.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By GURUFOCUS]

  American Campus Communities, Inc. (ACC), an owner, manager, and developer of student housing, decreased 15.2% in the third quarter as the company's lease rates were weaker than expected. Supply in some of its markets increased, and REITS were hurt in the third quarter from rising yields as the 10-year Treasury yield approached 3% and made dividend yields on many REITs less attractive. However, we continue to believe the company is the best in its industry at developing properties and should improve its yields next year as the market absorbs the excess supply. (David Baron)

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  American Campus Communities (ACC) made the grade after three insiders at the student housing REIT bought $186,800. Leading the charge was CFO Jonathan Graf, who bought 3,700 shares for $67,700. InsiderScore categorized this combined purchase as a ��luster Buying Unusual Event��and also notes that the purchases came after ACC released weak earnings and lowered its guidance.