Stocks hit another record high on Thursday, with the S&P 500 and the narrower, price-weighted Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 0.48% and 0.35%, respectively. Both indexes are sitting at all-time highs.
Institutional money managers must report their stock positions to the SEC within 45 days of the end of each calendar quarter, and Warren Buffett's bricks-to-railroad conglomerate, Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-B), follows the same rule. The most noteworthy change Buffett made to Berkshire's portfolio is the addition of a sizable new position ��40.1 million shares valued at $3.4 billion -- in energy super-major Exxon Mobil (XOM) . In fact, Buffett constituted roughly three-quarters of the position in the second quarter and obtained confidential treatment from the SEC in his previous filing as he continued to build the position.
Hot Industrial Disributor Companies To Own In Right Now: Idenix Pharmaceuticals Inc.(IDIX)
Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of human viral diseases in the United States and Europe. Its primary research and development focus is on the treatment of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV). The company?s HCV discovery program focuses on various classes of drugs, including nucleoside/nucleotide polymerase inhibitors, protease inhibitors, non-nucleoside polymerase inhibitors, and NS5A inhibitors. It develops products and drug candidates for the treatment of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type-1, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The company principally has a collaboration agreement with Novartis Pharma AG for the development and commercialization of telbivudine, a drug for the treatment of HBV under the Tyzeka/Sebivo names. Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Idenix Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: IDIX) was also up, gaining a staggering 18.27 percent to $8.08 after the company presented at JP Morgan's annual healthcare conference Wednesday, which has created significant buzz in the pharma sector this week.
- [By Sean Williams]
It certainly wasn't smiles for everyone on the clinical front, though, as Idenix Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: IDIX ) took a late-week 31% tumble after announcing that the FDA was requesting additional safety information about its preclinical investigational hepatitis-C drug, IDX20963. As my Foolish colleague Brian Orelli noted, it's not exactly clear what information the FDA is looking for, but this inquiry puts a hold on Idenix's starting clinical trials until it satisfies the requests of the FDA. This marks the third pipeline candidate that's been placed on clinical hold in just the past year and could be the last straw for fed-up investors. �
- [By Brian Orelli]
Idenix Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: IDIX ) just can't catch a break. The company is down nearly 30% today after announcing that the Food and Drug Administration won't let Idenix start a clinical trial for its hepatitis C drug IDX20963 until the company turns in additional preclinical safety data.
- [By Rick Munarriz]
Briefly in the news
Nokia (NYSE: NOK ) was the subject of not one, but two rumored buyout reports. Things have been rough for the handset giant in recent years, but sometimes a stock gets too cheap to ignore. Idenix Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: IDIX ) shed 31% of its value on Friday, after the FDA requested more information on the biotech's preclinical hepatitis-C drug candidate. Indenix will need to address those concerns before moving on to the critical human trials. The payoffs are huge when a young biotech can get a treatment on the market, but the approval process isn't for the faint of heart. Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT ) backtracked on some of the controversial Xbox One features that were introduced a week earlier. It will no longer require users to go online every 24 hours, and gamers will be able to keep selling or lending their disc-based games.
And now let's take a quick look at some of the other stories that shaped our week.
Best Railroad Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Town Sports International Holdings Inc.(CLUB)
Town Sports International Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates fitness clubs in the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Its facilities include cardiovascular equipment; free weight and strength equipment; group exercise and cycling studios; the entertainment system network; locker rooms, including shower facilities and towel services; and other amenities, such as saunas, babysitting, and a pro-shop. The company also provides swimming pools, and racquet and basketball courts; and programs, which include small group training, children?s programs, and other programs targeting adult members. As of December 31, 2011, it operated 160 fitness clubs comprising 108 New York Sports Clubs, 25 Boston Sports Clubs, 18 Washington Sports Clubs, and 6 Philadelphia Sports Clubs, as well as 3 clubs located in Switzerland. The company is based in New York, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
On Thursday, small cap fitness club owner Life Time Fitness, Inc (NYSE: LTM) lost some weight for investors as analysts gave the stock a workout after its Analyst Day failed to ease their concerns, meanings its worth taking a closer look at the stock along with the performance of Town Sports International Holdings, Inc (NASDAQ: CLUB)�and Steiner Leisure Ltd (NASDAQ: STNR).
- [By Seth Jayson]
Town Sports International Holdings (Nasdaq: CLUB ) reported earnings on July 24. Here are the numbers you need to know.
The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended June 30 (Q2), Town Sports International Holdings met expectations on revenues and met expectations on earnings per share. - [By gurujx]
Town Sports International Holdings Inc (CLUB) Reached the 3-year Low of $5.82
The prices of Town Sports International Holdings Inc (CLUB) shares have declined to close to the 3-year low of $5.82, which is 62.2% off the 3-year high of $14.96.
Best Railroad Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Baytex Energy Corp (BTE)
Baytex Energy Corp. (Baytex), incorporated on October 22, 2010, through its subsidiaries, are engaged in the business of acquiring, developing, exploiting and holding interests in petroleum and natural gas properties and related assets in Canada (in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan) and in the United States (in the states of North Dakota and Wyoming). The Company acts as the financing vehicle for its subsidiaries by providing access to debt and equity capital markets. As of December 31, 2011, its primary assets are Baytex Energy Ltd. (Baytex Energy), which it owns. On February 3, 2011, the Company acquired heavy oil assets located in the Reno area of northern Alberta and the Lloydminster area of western Saskatchewan. On August 9, 2011, the Company acquired natural gas assets located in the Brewster area of west central Alberta. During the year ended December 31, 2011, it completed two dispositions of undeveloped lands; in the Kaybob South area of west central Alberta, it sold six sections of leasehold, including five sections with Duvernay rights, and in the Dodsland area in southwest Saskatchewan, it sold 32,600 net acres of leasehold in the halo of the field.
During 2011, the Company�� production averaged 50,132 barrel of oil equivalent per day, from its properties in Canada. During 2011, production averaged 50,132 barrel of oil equivalent per day. During 2011, light oil and natural gas liquid (NGL) production was 6,769 barrels per day. During 2011, heavy oil production was 35,252 barrels per day. During 2011, natural gas production was 48.7 million cubic feet per day. Its crude oil and natural gas operations are organized into three business units: Alberta/B.C., Saskatchewan and United States. Each business unit has a portfolio of mineral leases, operated and non-operated properties and development prospects. These plays include the Bakken/Three Forks in the Williston Basin of North Dakota and southeast Saskatchewan and the Viking in southwestern Saskatche! wan and eastern Alberta.
Saskatchewan Business Unit
As of December 31, 2011, the Saskatchewan Business Unit accounted for more than 38% of production. The Saskatchewan Business Unit's heavy oil operations include cold primary and thermal (steam-assisted gravity drainage) production. Production is generated from vertical, slant and horizontal wells using progressive cavity pumps capable of handling heavy oil combined with gas, water and sand. Once produced, the oil is delivered to markets in both Canada and the United States on pipelines, tanker trucks or railways. Heavy crude is blended with light-hydrocarbon diluents (such as condensate) prior to being introduced into a sales pipeline. The blended crude oil is then sold by Baytex. During 2011, production in the Saskatchewan Business Unit averaged approximately 20,958 barrels of oil equivalent per day, which was comprised of 19,828 barrels per day of heavy oil, 154 barrels per day of light oil and 5,860 thousand cubic feet per day of natural gas. During 2011, Baytex drilled 93 (87.9 net) wells in the Saskatchewan Business Unit resulting in 84 (78.9 net) oil wells, four stratigraphic test wells, four service wells, and one dry and abandoned well.
The Company�� Ardmore, Alberta is developed in the Sparky, McLaren and Colony formations. During 2011, average production was approximately 652 barrels per day of heavy oil and 158 thousand cubic feet per day of natural gas. During 2011, one well was drilled. As of December 31, 2011, Baytex had 34,000 net undeveloped acres in this area. Its Carruthers property consists of separate North and South oil pools in the Cummings formation. During 2011, 13 wells were drilled. During 2011, average production was approximately 2,444 barrels per day of heavy oil and 489 thousand cubic feet per day of natural gas. As of December 31, 2011, Baytex had 10,600 net undeveloped acres in this area. During 2011, the Company�� Celtic, Saskatchewan producing property produced averaged 3,013 ! barrels p! er day of heavy oil and 538 thousand cubic feet per day of natural gas. During 2011, Baytex drilled seven oil wells in the area. The Company�� Cold Lake, Alberta is a heavy oil property. Production is from the Colony, Upper McLaren, Rex and Sparky formations. During 2011, average oil production was approximately 270 barrels per day. During 2011, Baytex had 11,300 net undeveloped acres in this area.
During 2011, in Kerrobert SAGD project, the Company placed two new well pairs on production. During 2011, average production from the Kerrobert area was approximately 3,350 barrels per day of heavy oil, 154 barrels per day of light oil, and 1,999 thousand cubic feet per day of natural gas. During 2011, Baytex drilled five oil wells and eight service wells in this area. As of December 31, 2011, Baytex had 38,600 net undeveloped acres in this area. Lindbergh is a non-operated heavy oil property. Baytex has a 21.25% working interest in this property. During 2011, average production in this area was approximately 673 barrels per day of heavy oil and 71 thousand cubic feet per day of natural gas. During 2011, four wells were drilled in this area. As of December 31, 2011, Baytex had 800 net undeveloped acres in this area. During 2011, its Marsden/Epping/Macklin/Silverdale, Saskatchewan produced approximately 2,102 barrels per day of oil and 290 thousand cubic feet per day of natural gas. During 2011, nine oil wells were drilled in this area. Its Tangleflags is characterized by multiple-zone reservoirs with production from the Colony, McLaren, Waseca, Sparky, General Petroleum and Lloydminster formations. During 2011, Baytex drilled 11 horizontal oil wells in the Lloydminster formation. During 2011, average production was approximately 1,763 barrels per day of heavy oil and 543 thousand cubic feet per day of natural gas.
Alberta/B.C. Business Unit
The Alberta/B.C. Business Unit possesses a range of light oil, heavy oil and natural gas properties. During 2011, the Alberta/B.C.! Business! Unit produced light and heavy gravity crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids from fields in Alberta and British Columbia and accounted for approximately 58% of production. During 2011, production from this business unit averaged 27,833 barrel of oil equivalent per day, which was comprised of 15,425 barrels per day of heavy oil, 5,282 barrels per day of light oil and NGL and 42.8 million cubic feet per day of natural gas. During 2011, the Alberta/B.C. Business Unit participated in the drilling of 71 wells resulting in 61 oil wells, one natural gas well, seven stratigraphic test wells, one service well and one dry and abandoned well. As of December 31, 2011, its net undeveloped lands in this business unit totaled approximately 474,000 acres. During 2011, production from Bon Accord area was averaged approximately 905 barrels per day of light oil and 1,742 million cubic feet per day of natural gas. Natural gas is processed at two Baytex-operated plants and oil is treated at three Baytex-operated batteries. During 2011, in this area, Baytex drilled 11 horizontal Viking oil wells. As of December 31, 2011, Baytex had 18,300 net undeveloped acres in this area.
The Company�� Darwin/Nina/Goodfish/Lafond, Alberta produces natural gas from the Bluesky formation. During 2011, production averaged approximately 3,746 million cubic feet per day of natural gas. As of December 31, 2011, Baytex had 27,300 net undeveloped acres in this area. During 2011, the Company�� Leahurst, Alberta produced averaged approximately 2,633 million cubic feet per day of natural gas and 13 barrels per day of NGL from this multi-zone, year-round access area. Natural gas production from the Edmonton, Belly River, Viking and Mannville formations is processed. Baytex holds a total of 263 net sections of oil sands leases in the Peace River oil sands area, which includes the legacy Seal area and the Reno area. During 2011, production from the Peace River area was 15,425 barrels per day, which was comprised of 13,746 barr! els per d! ay from Seal and 1,679 barrels per day from Reno. During 2011, Baytex drilled 25 cold horizontal production wells and seven stratigraphic test wells at Seal and two cold horizontal production wells at Reno. The Peace River area includes 152,500 net undeveloped acres, including 57,000 net undeveloped acres at Seal and 95,500 net undeveloped acres at Reno.
During 2011, the Company�� Pembina production averaged 2,633 barrels per day of light oil and NGL and 22,428 million cubic feet per day of natural gas. During 2011, Baytex participated in drilling 19 wells in this area, resulting in 17 oil wells, one natural gas well, and one dry and abandoned well. During 2011, Pembina area drilling included five operated and 12 non-operated Cardium horizontal wells and completed with multi-stage fracture stimulations. During 2011, the Company�� production from Red Earth area averaged approximately 42 million cubic feet per day of natural gas and 522 barrels per day of light oil and NGL. During 2011, the Company�� Richdale/Sedalia property�� production averaged approximately 3,845 million cubic feet per day of natural gas and eight barrels per day of NGL. During 2011, the Company�� production from Stoddart area averaged approximately 4,498 million cubic feet per day of natural gas and 713 barrels per day of oil and NGL. During 2011, production from Turin was averaged approximately 345 barrels per day of oil and NGL and 856 million cubic feet per day of natural gas. Production is from the Second White Specks, Milk River, Bow Island, Mannville, Sawtooth and Livingstone formations.
United States Business Unit
During 2011, the Company focused its activities on the light oil resource play located in the Divide and Williams Counties of North Dakota. Production is from horizontal wells using multi-stage hydraulic fracturing in the Bakken and Three Forks formations. As of December 31, 2011, Baytex owned approximately 61,000 (24,800 net) developed acres. During 2011, Baytex parti! cipated i! n the drilling of 34 Bakken/Three Forks oil wells. During 2011, net production from the United States properties averaged 1,341 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By GURUFOCUS]
Canadian Trusts- Baytex Energy Trust (BTE) | Yield: 6.1%
- Enerplus Resources Fund (ERF) | Yield: 5.6%
- Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGH) | Yield: 7.1% - [By Robert Rapier]
There are a number of quality Canadian E&P companies that are attractive at current prices. Among my favorites are Baytex Energy (NYSE: BTE, TSE: BTE), Cenovus Energy (NYSE: CVE, TSE: CVE) and Canadian Natural Resources (NYSE: CNQ, TSE: CNQ) I also like Peyto Exploration & Development (TSE: PEY, OTC: PEYUF) for aggressive investors. We have often discussed putting Peyto in one of the portfolios, but I would ideally like it a bit cheaper.
Best Railroad Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Nuveen Virginia Premium Income Municipal Fund (NPV)
Nuveen Virginia Premium Income Municipal Fund is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Nuveen Investments, Inc. The fund is co-managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors, Inc. and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC. It invests in the fixed income markets of Virginia. The fund invests primarily in municipal securities rated Baa/BBB or better. It invests in securities that provide income exempt from federal and Virginia income tax. The fund employs fundamental analysis with bottom-up stock picking approach to create its portfolio. It benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the S&P National Municipal Bond Index and the S&P Virginia Municipal Bond Index. Nuveen Virginia Premium Income Municipal Fund was formed on January 12, 1993 and is domiciled in the United States.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Chuck Carnevale]
Moreover, at this point I would like to add that the real meaning of forecasting future earnings is so we can determine what the size and amount of the future cash flows that a stock under consideration might be capable of generating for us. This is important, because assessing the net present value of our expected future income stream, is at the heart of determining fair value (intrinsic value). Calculating net present value (NPV) is functionally-related to today's wide utilization of discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis as a stock selection tool. I will elaborate more on this important metric in part B of this article.
Best Railroad Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Methode Electronics Inc (MEI)
Methode Electronics, Inc., incorporated on April 27, 1966, is a manufacturer of component and subsystem devices with manufacturing, designs and testing facilities in China, Egypt, Germany, India, Lebanon, Malta, Mexico, the Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Company operates in four segments: automotive, interconnect, power products, and other. The Company designs, manufactures and markets devices employing electrical, radio remote controls, electronic, wireless and sensing technologies. The Company's components are found in the primary end markets of the aerospace, appliance, automotive, construction, consumer and industrial equipment, communications, including information processing and storage, networking equipment, wireless and terrestrial voice/data systems, rail and other transportation industries.
Automotive
The Company�� automotive segment supplies electronic and electro-mechanical devices and related products to automobile original equipment manufacturers, (OEMs), either directly or through their tiered suppliers. The Company's products include control switches for electrical power and signals, connectors for electrical devices, integrated control components, switches and sensors that monitor the operation or status of a component or system, and packaging of electrical components.
Interconnect
The interconnect segment provides a variety of copper and fiber-optic interconnect and interface solutions for the aerospace, appliance, commercial, computer, construction, consumer, material handling, medical, military, mining, networking, storage, and telecommunications markets. Solutions include conductive polymers, connectors, custom cable assemblies, industrial safety radio remote controls, optical and copper transceivers, personal computer and express card packaging and terminators, solid-state field effect interface panels, and thick film inks. Services include the design and installation of f! iber optic and copper infrastructure systems, and manufacturing active and passive optical components.
Power products
The power products segment manufactures braided flexible cables, current-carrying laminated bus devices, custom power-product assemblies, high-current low voltage flexible power cabling systems and powder coated bus bars that are used in various markets and applications, including aerospace, computers, industrial and power conversion, inverters and battery systems, insulated gate bipolar transistor solutions, military, telecommunications, and transportation.
Other
The other segment includes a designer and manufacturer of magnetic torque sensing products, and independent laboratories that provide services for qualification testing and certification, and analysis of electronic and optical components.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Levisohn]
Methode Electronics (MEI) has gained 33% to 23.43 today after the company reported better revenue and profit numbers than even the most positive analyst had expected. It also raised its guidance well above previously announced levels.
AFP/Getty ImagesThe component maker reported a profit of 36 cents a share, above forecasts for 21 cents, and sales of $167.3� million dollars, beating forecasts for $148.5 million. It also said that it expected full-year earnings to fall in a range of $1.40 to $1.60, well above analyst forecasts for $1.05.
Baird’s David Leiker and Joseph Vruwink call it a “breakout quarter.” They write:
Upside across all segments and all line items with 41% revenue surge coming in 10% above expectations. One-half of the beat from revenue with balance split among gross margin, SGA and lower tax rate. Launches going very well, continuing the performance seen in April quarter.
Automotive results accounted for two-thirds of the upside at the pre-tax line. The upside was spread between stronger revenues ($0.03), gross profits ($0.03) and expense control ($0.02). While North American sales improved 86% on the K2XX launch (we assumed 56% growth), international revenues also contributed favorably with 26% growth in Europe (new business and Ford�� (F) recovery) and 22% growth in Asia.
Competitor AVX Corp. (AVX) has gained 1.1% to $12.96, while Molex (MOLX) has dropped 0.2% to $29.28 and Amphenol (APH) has ticked up 0.3% to $76.32.
- [By Holly LaFon]
Can you discuss three stocks that have been successful this year? What did you initially like about them and what helped them turn around?Methode Electronics (MEI) is an automotive component supplier, with automotive customers accounting for about 60% of its revenues. The company classifies the other 40% of its revenues as non-auto, which includes home appliance touch screens and sensors.
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