When a company announces its intention to deploy capital and repurchase its own shares, the market's reaction is often a positive one. That should not always be the case.
In this segment of The Motley Fool's everything-financials show�Where the Money Is, banking analysts Matt Koppenheffer and David Hanson look back at a few share-buyback programs that crushed stockholders.�
Help us improve and get a�free gift! Take a short survey about this video, and we'll give you access to our special free report "The One Remarkable Stock to Own Now."�Just follow this link�to take the survey and claim your copy of the report.
Many investors are terrified about investing in big banking stocks after the crash, but the sector has one notable standout. In a sea of mismanaged and dangerous peers, it rises above as "The Only Big Bank Built to Last." You can uncover the top pick that Warren Buffett loves in The Motley Fool's�new report. It's free, so click here to access it now.
Top 10 Warren Buffett Stocks To Invest In 2014: Xcel Energy Inc.(XEL)
Xcel Energy Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial customers, as well as to public authorities in the United States. The company generates electricity using coal, nuclear, natural gas, hydro, wood, diesel, and wind energy. It also engages in the purchase, transportation, distribution, and sale of natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers. The company serves customers in portions of Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin. As of December 31, 2010, it provided electricity services to 3,391,611 customers; and natural gas services to 1,893,250 customers. Xcel Energy, through its joint venture interests in WYCO Development LLC, develops and leases natural gas pipeline, storage, and compression facilities. The company was founded in 1909 and is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Richard Young]
With operations spread across eight states, Xcel has 3.4 million electricity customers and 1.9 million natural gas customers. Its infrastructure assets include 87,000 miles of transmission lines, 190,000 miles of distribution lines, 35,500 miles of natural gas pipeline and a variety of power plants. My price chart shows the sharp breakout in Xcel shares since mid-December.
Top 10 Warren Buffett Stocks To Invest In 2014: Mitcham Industries Inc.(MIND)
Mitcham Industries, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the leasing, sale, and service of geophysical and other equipment to the seismic industry worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Equipment Leasing and Seamap. The Equipment Leasing segment leases seismic equipment for short-term leasing primarily to seismic data acquisition contractors and oil field service providers. Its land equipment lease pool includes seismic recording land channels, geophones and cables, and other peripheral equipment; marine seismic equipment lease pool comprises streamers, air compressors, air guns, streamer positioning equipment, energy source controllers, and other equipment; and downhole equipment lease pool consist of downhole seismic tools. This segment is also involved in the sale of new seismic equipment of other manufacturers; heli-pickers and related equipment used in the deployment and retrieval of seismic equipment by helicopter; and equipment, consumables, systems integration, engineering hardware, and software maintenance support services to the seismic, hydrographic, oceanographic, environmental, and defense industries, as well as sells used equipment from its lease pool. The Seamap segment designs, manufactures, and sells a range of products for the marine seismic industry. Its products include GunLink seismic source acquisition and control systems, which are designed to provide operators of marine seismic surveys with precise control of energy sources; and BuoyLink RGPS tracking systems that are used to offer precise positioning of seismic sources and streamers. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Huntsville, Texas.
Best International Stocks To Own Right Now: Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA.OB)
Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) is a government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) chartered by the United States Congress to support liquidity and stability in the secondary mortgage market, where mortgage-related assets are purchased and sold. The Company�� activities include providing market liquidity by securitizing mortgage loans originated by lenders in the primary mortgage market into Fannie Mae mortgage-backed securities (Fannie Mae MBS), and purchasing mortgage loans and mortgage-related securities in the secondary market for its mortgage portfolio. Fannie Mae operates in three business segments: Single-Family business, Multifamily Business (formerly Housing and Community Development (HCD)) and Capital Markets group. Its Single-Family Credit Guaranty and Multifamily businesses work with its lender customers to purchase and securitize mortgage loans customers deliver to the Company into Fannie Mae MBS.
The Company obtains funds to suppo rt its business activities by issuing a variety of debt securities in the domestic and international capital markets. Fannie Mae acquires funds to purchase mortgage-related assets for its mortgage portfolio by issuing a variety of debt securities in the domestic and international capital markets. It also makes other investments. Fannie Mae conducts its business in the United States residential mortgage market and the global securities market. It conducts business in the United States residential mortgage market and the global securities market. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company��
Single-Family Business
Single-Family business includes mortgage securitizations, mortgage acquisitions, credit risk management and credit loss management. Single-Family business works with the Company�� lender customers to provide funds to the mortgage market by securitizing single-family mortgage loans into Fannie Mae MBS. Its Single-Family business also works with its Capital Markets group to facilitate th! e! purchase of single-family mortgage loans for the Company�� mortgage portfolio. Fannie Mae�� Single-Family business prices and manages the credit risk on its single-family guaranty book of business, which consists of single-family mortgage loans underlying Fannie Mae MBS and single-family loans held in its mortgage portfolio. Single-Family business and Capital Markets group securitize and purchase primarily single-family fixed-rate or adjustable-rate, first lien mortgage loans, or mortgage-related securities backed by these types of loans.
The Company securitizes or purchases loans insured by Federal Housing Administration (FHA), loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and loans guaranteed by the Rural Development Housing and Community Facilities Program of the Department of Agriculture, manufactured housing loans, reverse mortgage loans, multifamily mortgage loans, subordinate lien mortgage loans and other mortgage-related securities. I ts Single-Family business securitizes single-family mortgage loans and issues single-class Fannie Mae MBS. Fannie Mae�� Single-Family business securitizes loans solely in lender swap transactions, in which lenders deliver pools of mortgage loans to the Company, which are placed immediately in a trust, in exchange for Fannie Mae MBS backed by these loans. Generally, the servicing of the mortgage loans held in its mortgage portfolio or that backs its Fannie Mae MBS is performed by mortgage servicers on the Company�� behalf. Lenders who sell single-family mortgage loans to Fannie Mae service these loans for the Company. For loans it owns or guarantees, the lender or servicer must obtain its approval before selling servicing rights to another servicer.
Fannie Mae�� mortgage servicers collect and deliver principal and interest payments, administer escrow accounts, monitor and report delinquencies, perform default prevention activities, evaluate transfers of own ership interests, respond to requests for partial releas! es o! f s! ecurit! y, and handle proceeds from casualty and condemnation losses. Its mortgage servicers are the primary point of contact for borrowers and perform implementation of its homeownership assistance initiatives, negotiation of workouts of troubled loans, and loss mitigation activities. Mortgage servicers also inspect and preserve properties and process foreclosures and bankruptcies.
Multifamily Mortgage Business
Multifamily business works with the Company�� lender customers to provide funds to the mortgage market by securitizing multifamily mortgage loans into Fannie Mae MBS. Through its Multifamily business, Fannie Mae provides liquidity and support to the United States multifamily housing market principally by purchasing or securitizing loans that finance multifamily rental housing properties. It also provides some limited debt financing for other acquisition, development, construction and rehabilitation activity related to projects that complement this business. Fannie Mae�� Multifamily business also works with its Capital Markets group to facilitate the purchase and securitization of multifamily mortgage loans and securities for Fannie Mae�� portfolio, as well as to facilitate portfolio securitization and resecuritization activities.
The Company�� multifamily guaranty book of business consists of multifamily mortgage loans underlying Fannie Mae MBS and multifamily loans and securities held in Fannie Mae�� mortgage portfolio. Revenues for Fannie Mae�� Multifamily business are derived from a variety of sources, including guaranty fees received as compensation for assuming the credit risk on the mortgage loans underlying multifamily Fannie Mae MBS and on the multifamily mortgage loans held in its portfolio and on other mortgage-related securities; transaction fees associated with the multifamily business, and other bond credit enhancement related fees. As with the servicing of single-family mortgages, multifamily mortgage servicing is performed by the ! lenders !! who sell ! the mortgages to the Company. Fannie Mae�� Multifamily business is organized and operated as an integrated commercial real estate finance business.
Capital Markets
Capital Markets group's primary business activities include mortgage and other investments, mortgage securitizations, structured mortgage securitizations and other customer services, and interest rate risk management. Capital Markets group manages the Company�� investment activity in mortgage-related assets and other interest-earning, non-mortgage investments. It funds its investments primarily through proceeds the Company receives from the issuance of debt securities in the domestic and international capital markets. Its business activity is focused on making short-term use of its balance sheet rather than long-term investments. Activities Fannie Mae is undertaking to provide liquidity to the mortgage market include whole loan conduit, early funding, real estate mortgage investment c onduit (REMICs) and other structured securitizations and dollar roll transactions. Whole loan conduit activities include its purchase of both single-family and multifamily loans principally for the purpose of securitizing them. During the year ended December 31, 2010, it was engaged in dollar roll activity. A dollar roll transaction is a commitment to purchase a mortgage-related security with a concurrent agreement to re-sell a similar security at a later date or vice versa.
Fannie Mae�� Capital Markets group is engaged in issuing both single-class and multi-class Fannie Mae MBS through both portfolio securitizations and structured securitizations involving third party assets. Its Capital Markets group creates single-class and multi-class Fannie Mae MBS from mortgage-related assets held in its mortgage portfolio. Fannie Mae�� Capital Markets group may sell these Fannie Mae MBS into the secondary market or may retain the Fannie Mae MBS in its investment portf olio. The Company�� Capital Markets group cr! eates sin! gle-c! lass and ! multi-class structured Fannie Mae MBS, for its lender customers or securities dealer customers, in exchange for a transaction fee. The Company�� Capital Markets group provides its lender customers and their affiliates with services that include offering to purchase a range of mortgage assets, including non-standard mortgage loan products; segregating customer portfolios to obtain optimal pricing for their mortgage loans, and assisting customers with hedging their mortgage business.
Although the Company�� Capital Markets group�� business activities are focused on short-term financing and investing, revenue from its Capital Markets group is derived primarily from the difference, or spread, between the interests it earns on its mortgage and non-mortgage investments and the interest it incurs on the debt the Company issues to fund these assets. Its Capital Markets revenues are primarily derived from the Company�� mortgage asset portfolio. Capital Markets gro up funds its investments primarily through the issuance of a variety of debt securities in a range of maturities in the domestic and international capital markets. Investors in the Company�� debt securities include commercial bank portfolios and trust departments, investment fund managers, insurance companies, pension funds, state and local governments, and central banks.
The Company competes with Freddie Mac, FHA and Ginnie Mae.
Top 10 Warren Buffett Stocks To Invest In 2014: Flowers Foods Inc (FLO)
Flowers Foods, Inc. (Flowers Foods), incorporated in October 2000, is a producer and marketer of bakery products in the United States. The Company is the producer and marketer of packaged bakery foods for retail and foodservice customers in the United States. Flowers Foods operates 44 bakeries that produce a range of bakery products, which include breads, buns, rolls, snack cakes, and pastries. These products are sold through a direct-store-delivery network with access to approximately 70% of the United States population in the East, South, and Southwest, as well as in certain markets in California. Select Flowers products are sold nationwide through customers' delivery systems. Among the Company�� top brands are Nature�� Own and Tastykake. The Company has two business segments: direct-store-delivery (DSD segment) and warehouse delivery segment (warehouse segment). In May 2011, the Company acquired Tasty Baking Company. In July 2012, it acquired Lepage Bakeries, Inc.
The DSD segments focuses on the production and marketing of bakery products to United States customers in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and Southwest, as well as select markets in California and Nevada primarily through its DSD system. The warehouse segment produces snack cakes and breads and rolls that are shipped both fresh and frozen to national retail, foodservice, vending, and co-pack customers through their warehouse channels. The Company�� brands include Whitewheat, Cobblestone Mill, Blue Bird, ButterKrust, Dandee, Mary Jane, and Mary Jane and Friends. During the year ended December 31, 2011, it introduced the new products under this brand, including Nature�� Own Whitewheat Sandwich Rounds; Nature�� Own Whole Grain Sandwich Rolls and Hot Dog Rolls; Nature�� Own Cinnamon Raisin Thin Sliced Bagels; Nature�� Own Soft Oatmeal Specialty Bread; Nature�� Own 100% Whole Grain Specialty Bread, and Nature�� Own Honey Wheat Berry Specialty Bread. In addition to Nature�� Own, its DSD segment also marke! ts: a range of specialty breads and rolls under the Company-owned Cobblestone Mill brand; white breads and buns under regional company owned and franchised brands, such as Sunbeam, Bunny, Aunt Hattie��, Holsum, and ButterKrust; Tastykake and Blue Bird branded snack cakes and pastries; flour, white, and corn tortillas under the Mi Casa and Frestillas brands, and fresh packaged bakery products under store brands for retailers.
The Company�� warehouse segment markets a range of specialty breads and rolls under the European Bakers brand, breads, buns, and rolls for specific foodservice customers, and tortillas and tortilla chips under Leo�� Foods and Juarez. This segment�� snack cakes are sold under the Mrs. Freshley��, Broad Street Bakery, and store brands. Its warehouse segment products are distributed nationally through retail, foodservice and vending customer warehouses.
The Company competes with Grupo Bimbo S.A. de C.V./Bimbo Bakeries, Hostess Brands, Inc., Sara Lee Corporation, Campbell Soup Company, McKee Foods Corporation, Cloverhill Bakery, Hostess Brands, Inc., Alpha Baking Co., Inc., Rotella�� Italian Bakery, United States Bakery, Turano Baking Company and All Round Foods, Inc.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Portfolio Grader]
This week, Flowers Foods’ (NYSE:FLO) ratings are up from a B last week to an A. Flowers Foods produces and markets packaged bakery foods for retail and foodservice customers. Wall Street has pushed the stock higher by 6.1% over the past month.
Top 10 Warren Buffett Stocks To Invest In 2014: novae group ord gbp0.10(NVA.L)
Novae Group plc engages in the provision of insurance and reinsurance underwriting services primarily in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Italy. The company underwrites a range of insurance products, including bloodstock, cargo, credit indemnity and financial services, energy, financial institutions, casualty, marine hull, marine liability, marine war, medical malpractice, motor, political risks, political violences, professional indemnity, property, and general liability insurance. It also underwrites various classes of reinsurance products comprising agriculture, aviation, credit and surety, engineering, general liability, marine, motor, and property. The company is based in London, the United Kingdom.
Top 10 Warren Buffett Stocks To Invest In 2014: Trilogy Energy Tr (TET.TO)
Trilogy Energy Corp. acquires, develops, produces, and sells natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids in Canada. It holds interests in oil and natural gas properties, and related assets located in the Kaybob and Grande Prairie areas of Alberta. As of December 31, 2011, Trilogy Energy Corp. had approximately 415,837 net acres of undeveloped land base in Alberta. The company is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.
Top 10 Warren Buffett Stocks To Invest In 2014: Morgan Sindall(MGNS.L)
Morgan Sindall Group plc engages in the construction and regeneration businesses primarily in the United Kingdom. The company offers design, construction, and infrastructure services to public and private sector clients. It also develops, constructs, refurbishes, and maintains affordable houses, as well as creates homes for rent, shared ownership, and sale. In addition, the company involves in refurbishment and fit out projects for the office, education, retail, hotel, and leisure sectors. Further, it engages in the urban renewal activities through mixed use projects, such as creating commercial, leisure, residential, and community facilities in partnership with landowners, local authorities, and investors. The company provides various services, including construction plant hiring, and office design and build services, and as well as involves in project investments and insurance activities. Morgan Sindall Group plc is based in London, the United Kingdom.
Top 10 Warren Buffett Stocks To Invest In 2014: Market Leader Inc(LEDR)
Market Leader, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides software-as-a-service-based business and marketing solutions for real estate professionals primarily in the United States and Canada. It offers real estate agents and brokerage companies with software-as-a-service based products, as well as online lead-generation, online prospect management, online real estate portal content and advertising, and customer coaching and training solutions. The company also offers consumers with free access to the information and tools they need throughout the home buying and selling process through its national consumer real estate sites. Its consumer Web sites include: JustListed.com, a service that notifies home buyers as soon as new homes hit the market; HouseValues.com, a service, which provides home sellers with market valuations of their current homes; and HomePages.com, a real estate portal that enables consumers to see the home listings in their area, view detailed neighbor hood and school data, compare recent home sales, find local real estate agents, and find the value of their own homes. In addition, the company offers Growth Leader, a Website and customer relationship management tool for real estate agents; RealtyGenerator, a lead-generation and lead management system for real estate brokerage offices; and ActiveRain.com that provides professional networking, referral, recruitment, content syndication, and online marketing services for professionals in real estate and related businesses. Market Leader, Inc. markets its products to individual agents and brokerage offices directly, as well as through marketing partnerships with real estate franchise networks. The company was formerly known as Housevalues, Inc. and changed its name to Market Leader, Inc. in November 2008. Market Leader, Inc. was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Kirkland, Washington.
Top 10 Warren Buffett Stocks To Invest In 2014: Perma-Fix Environmental Services Inc.(PESI)
Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as an environmental and technology know-how company in the United States. It operates in two segments, Treatment and Services. The Treatment segment provides nuclear, low-level radioactive, mixed waste containing hazardous and low-level radioactive constituents, and hazardous and non-hazardous waste treatment, processing, and disposal services primarily through four licensed and permitted treatment and storage facilities. It also engages in the research and development activities to identify, develop, and implement waste processing techniques for problematic waste streams. The Services segment offers on-site waste management services to commercial and government customers; and operates an equipment calibration and maintenance laboratory that services, maintains, and calibrates health physics and industrial hygiene instrumentation. It also provides technical services, which include health physic and radiological control technician services; safety and industrial hygiene services; and staff augmentation services, such as consulting, engineering, project management, waste management, environmental, and decontamination and decommissioning field personnel, technical personnel, and management and services. In addition, this segment offers consulting engineering services, including consulting environmental services comprising air, water, and hazardous waste permitting; air, soil, and water sampling; compliance reporting; emission reduction strategies; compliance auditing; and various compliance and training activities. The company serves research institutions, commercial companies, and public utilities, as well as governmental agencies through direct sales and intermediaries. Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. was founded in 1990 and is based in Atlanta, Georgia.
Top 10 Warren Buffett Stocks To Invest In 2014: Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. (MMC)
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., a professional services company, provides advice and solutions in the areas of risk, strategy, and human capital. It operates in two segments, Risk and Insurance Services, and Consulting. The Risk and Insurance Services segment provides risk management and insurance broking, reinsurance broking, and insurance program management services for businesses, public entities, insurance companies, associations, professional services organizations, and private clients. The Consulting segment offers advice and services to the managements of organizations in the area of human resource consulting, comprising retirement and investments, health and benefits, outsourcing and talent; and strategy and risk management consulting, such as management, economic, and brand consulting. The company also provides investment consulting services for endowments and foundations in the United States; health and benefit recordkeeping, and employee enrollment technology; human resource knowledge, data, and solutions for professionals in various industries; and Medicaid policy consulting services. It principally serves customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Asia Pacific, and Continental Europe. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. was founded in 1871 and is headquartered in New York, New York.
No comments:
Post a Comment