Bed Bath and Beyond: Gross Margin Growth Stalls, Stock Falls

Bed Bath and Beyond (BBBY) beat third quarter earnings expectations but the stock fizzled after hours, sliding about 4%.

BBBY posted 95 cents of EPS on $2.34 billion in revenue. EPS beat expectations by 6 cents, and revenue came in just shy of analysts ‘ expectations for $2.35 billion. The company reported that gross margin held steady at 40.9%, the first time in several quarters that the company had not increased its gross margin, the Wall Street Journal noted.

Same store sales rose 4.1%, against a 7% increase last year.

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Merit Medical Systems, Inc. Remained Positive YTD Performance with Positive Distance from SMA200 - NASDAQ:MMSI

Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI) recently hit 52 week peak price $18.15, opened at $16.25 scored +15.41% closed $17.82. MMSI traded on over 1.56 million shares in comparison to average volume of 118,329.00 shares.

MMSI has earnings of $13.32 million and made $283.05 million sales for the last 12 months. Its quarter to quarter sales remained 9.61%. The company has 28.32 million of outstanding shares and 26.65 million shares were floated in the market.

MMSI has an insider ownership at 4.23% and institutional ownership remained 79.71%. Its return on investment (ROI) for the last 12 month was 4.78% as compare to its return on equity (ROE) of .03% for the last 12 months.

The price moved ahead +18.95% from the mean of 20 days, +16.39% from 50 and went up +12.60% from 200 days average price. Company�s performance for the week was +13.87%, +20.65% for month and yearly performance remained +20.16%.

Its price volatility for a month remained 2.99% whereas volatility for a week noted as 4.01% having beta of 0.67. Company�s price to sales ratio for last 12 months was 1.78 while its price to book ratio for the most recent quarter was 2.19 and its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) remained 45.30 million for the past twelve months.

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IBM program promises help to small suppliers

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Small suppliers looking to get online face time with big companies are getting a little help, thanks to a website launched by IBM (IBM, Fortune 500) Thursday.

Supplier Connection is a website that allows small companies to connect with bigger ones and compete for large contracts.

Caterpillar, (CAT, Fortune 500) Dell, (DELL, Fortune 500) Facebook, several large banks and hundreds of big companies have already gotten on board. Nearly 1,000 small companies have joined as well, according to IBM.

Small firms will have access to some of the $300 billion IBM estimates corporations spend on supply chains. They will also get business direction and mentoring.

The health care tax credit few are taking

"It's a very simple concept, but it's a powerful one," said Dick Parsons, chairman of Citigroup (C, Fortune 500), a supporter of the initiative.

The head of the Small Business Administration, Karen Mills, announced her federal agency's support of the program at the New York City launch Thursday. She said the recovering economy has helped small business growth; but much progress depends upon the ability of small firms to connect with large companies.

"The more we can attract large business, the more we'll insource jobs to the United States," Mills said. "And that's how we're going to compete around the world."

Created by IBM in 2010, the website has remained a small test project until now. It was funded by a $10 million grant from the company's charitable arm, the IBM International Foundation.

IBM declined to give numbers to show how the program is performing so far. But the head of the foundation, Stanley Litow, promised "the results will be apparent one year from now." 

To write a note to the editor about this article, click here.

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Daily ETF Roundup: VXX Surges On Greek Woes, FXI Falls On Negative Chinese Outlook

D�j� Vu struck as investors welcomed the worst day of the year thus far. With downgrades, poor economic data, and more troubles from Greece, today felt a lot more like 2011 than it did the bullish 2012 that we have been enjoying. The Dow capped off the day with losses of nearly 90 points while the S&P 500 lost about 0.7%. All but one of the 30 Dow components finished in the black while all ten S&P sectors posted losses on this dismal trading day. The VIX, which is the CBOE Volatility Index, jumped 11.6%, the highest one-day rise in over three months [see also Doomsday Special: 7 Hard Asset Investments You Can Hold in Your Hand].�

As far as�commodities�are concerned, not even gold’s safe haven qualities could keep it afloat today, as the precious metal promptly lost $18.4/oz. while crude oil dipped by $0.84. Commodities had been enjoying a rather strong year, but volatility struck the markets this week, preying on assets that are already known for their rapid daily movements. News also broke today that the S&P downgraded not one, not two, but 34 Italian banks, sending fear pulsating through the global economy. In an effort to keep our readers better educated on the happenings of today’s fast paced financial world, we outline two of the biggest ETF movers on the day [see also Seven Reasons To Hate Gold As An Investment].

One of the biggest ETF winners came from the�S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (VXX), which posted jaw-dropping gains of 8.6%, high marks even for this fund. VXX measures front month VIX contracts and is one of the most popular speculative ETFs on the market, with an ADV topping 18 million. Today’s gains came from the general disarray that struck markets, with the main culprit being the recent Greek debt deal. “An agreement finally came this week but almost immediately ran into problems when European leaders called for additional austerity measures and some Greek lawmakers said they would not support the d! eal̶ 1; writes Reuters.

One of the biggest ETF losers on the day was the�FTSE China 25 Index Fund (FXI), which is the biggest China-specific ETF in�the�world. The fund, which has over $7 billion in assets, lost 2.9% today as economic data weighed on the outlook for the Chinese economy. “China�s exports and imports fell for the first time in two years in January and lending grew less than estimated, adding to signs growth is weakening in the world�s second-largest economy. �Overseas shipments decreased 0.5 percent and imports declined a more-than-forecast 15.3 percent from a year earlier in a month that had four fewer working days than January 2011 because of the Chinese New Year holiday, the customs bureau said today” writes Bloomberg. Only time will tell if China, and the U.S. for that matter, can combat these negative data points with strong economic outlooks [see also ETF Insider: Will Euro Woes Rain On The Bull�s Parade?].

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USD/JPY Technical Analysis for the Week of September 12, 2011 – ForexTV.com

USD/JPY Technical Analysis for the Week of September 12, 2011 ForexTV.com The FX Empire proudly delivers technical analyses, fundamental analyses, Forex news, broker reviews and more; keeping our readers the best informed in the industry. FXEmpire.com is the Forex flagship site of the FX Empire Network. … and more »

{forex} – Google News

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Best Wall St. Stocks Today: C,UBS,ABK,MBI,AXP

As the selling of bank shares has fallen off, Wall St. has begun to believe that the worst of the global banking crisis is in the rear view mirror. Not likely. If investors are surprised that Citigroup (C) fell from $55 to $23, imagine the shock if the bank’s shares move to $15. It has happened before.

UBS (UBS) was hit with another write-down for its subprime assets. That brings their total to $18 billion. The bank’s loss for the last nine months of the year is over $11 billion. Losses at Societe Generale may have been caused in part by one trader, but the financial firm also took large mortgage-related write-offs.

UBS says it still has $29 billion in subprime holdings. Citi puts that number at closer to $37 billion. The idea that the value of those holdings is suddenly going to get better in a worsening housing market is counterintuitive. It is also probably just plain wrong.

While the State of NY is trying to strong-arm banks to put up $15 billion in credits for Ambac (ABK) and MBIA (MBI), the fact of the matter is that the bond ratings of those agencies could be cut at any time. If they are, the value of the bonds they insure will almost certainly drop. Big banks have exposure to that pool of debt. Bingo. Another round of lay-offs.

Consumer credit is also worsening. Car and credit card debt pools will be beaten up as 2008 goes on. A look at earnings at American Express (AXP) shows the process has already begun. Large banks hold some of the securities backed by these loans.

One estimate puts total subprime write-downs by banks at $130 billion in 2007. The amount of exposure left on balance sheets could be at least that much again and that does not take into account problems at bond insurers and with consumer debt.

Write-offs in Q1 and Q2 of this year will be stupendous. Count on it.

Douglas A. McIntyre

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The Serious Side of Mexican Forex Trading

In this world, everything goes one step at a time. If your aspiration is to be a doctor, some efforts need to be put in. You’d need to take up medicinal studies and sit for the professional exam in order to be a licensed doctor. Likewise, setting up your own business cannot be accomplished overnight. You will need to acquire the very knowledge of business such as obtaining relevant permits, how to shoulder responsibilities for your member of staffs as well as other essential familiarities. Once these are acquired, it would be easy for you to find the key to a successful business.

The same trend also applies in currency trading. Before you will be able to take part on this high-revenue return market, you need to learn the basics first and determine the variables that may affect your trading activities. Attacking on the battle without necessary arsenal will render your attack a ‘suicide’. Thus, there is a need to take a step back and learn first the basics of currency trading.

Currency trading also follows the trends established in the simple law of supply and demand. In currency trading, you need to buy and sell a pair of foreign currencies to other currency traders within an agreed foreign exchange rate. Such rate is used to compare two pair of currencies and determine their actual market value from the other pair.

So, where is the law of supply and demand applied to the currency trading market? As an overview, this basic economic law determines the price trend of a commodity or service in the market. Once a commodity increased its demand in the market and its supply is limited, its price trend will also increase. On the other hand, if the commodity’s demands sunk down and the supply is overflowing, the price trend will decrease. Just like in a commodity, the actual market value of currencies will also increase once the demand increase above the available currency supply. In the same manner, when the demand for the curren! cies is rated below the available currency supply, its actual market value will also decrease. Typically, the demand for any foreign currency will dictate the future trade of that foreign currency. The possible speculation is dependent on different variables such as the existing business activity in the market and the GDP or the gross domestic product percentage.

Currency trading is a good investment option for it can generate thousands or even millions of dollars worth of revenue. However, there are precautions that you need to remember if you will decide to go on currency trading. Some of these are as follows:

Jamal is an expert in currency and derivatives trading. He is an Ivy Graduate and his latest book Teknik Forex is sold worldwide.

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BB&T: Dividend Dynamo or the Next Blowup?

Dividend investing is a tried-and-true strategy for generating strong, steady returns in economies both good and bad. But as corporate America's slew of dividend cuts and suspensions over the past few years has demonstrated, it's not enough simply to buy a high yield. You also need to make sure those payouts are sustainable.

Let's examine how BB&T (NYSE: BBT  ) stacks up. In this series, we consider four critical factors investors should examine in every dividend stock. We'll then tie it all together to look at whether BB&T is a dividend dynamo or a disaster in the making.

1. Yield
First and foremost, dividend investors like a large forward yield. But if a yield gets too high, it may reflect investors' doubts about the payout's sustainability. If investors had confidence in the stock, they'd be buying it, driving up the share price and shrinking the yield.

BB&T yields 2.1%, slightly higher than the S&P 500's 2%.

2. Payout ratio
The payout ratio might be the most important metric for judging dividend sustainability. It compares the amount of money a company paid out in dividends last year to the earnings it generated. A ratio that's too high -- say, greater than 80% of earnings -- indicates that the company may be stretching to make payouts it can't afford, even when its dividend yield doesn't seem particularly high.

BB&T has a modest payout ratio of 35%.

3. Balance sheet
The best dividend payers have the financial fortitude to fund growth and respond to whatever the economy and competitors throw at them. The Tier 1 capital ratio is a commonly used leverage metric for banks that compares equity and reserves with total risk-weighted assets. In a non-financial crisis, a ratio above 13% is generally considered to be relatively conservative.

BB&T has a Tier 1 capital ratio of 12.4%.

4. Growth
A large ! dividend is nice; a large growing dividend is even better. To support a growing dividend, we also want to see earnings growth.

Like many of its peers, BB&T wasn't completely spared pain during the financial crisis. Over the past five years, earnings per share have fallen at an average annual rate of 8%, while its dividend has fallen at a 17% rate. However, credit quality and earnings, at least, are on the mend, and its dividend has begun to stabilize.

The Foolish bottom line
Although BB&T is showing progress in its recovery and has a decent yield, modest payout ratio, and a reasonable Tier 1 capital ratio, its yield and recent growth history don't say "dividend dynamo" quite yet. That said, I would say that BB&T's dividend scorecard looks pretty strong as far as banks go these days. If you're looking for some great dividend stocks, I suggest you check out "Secure Your Future With 11 Rock-Solid Dividend Stocks," a special report from The Motley Fool about some serious dividend dynamos -- including BB&T. I invite you to grab a free copy to discover everything you need to know about New York Community Bancorp and the 10 other generous dividend payers -- simply click here.

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The Best Stock to Play a Renters Paradise

Welcome to the United States of renters!

Since the recession, nearly every aspect of the rental industry has been on fire. Car rental company Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group (NYSE: DTG  ) , once on its last leg, is now very profitable and up an astonishing 12,195% since hitting a low of $0.62 three years ago. Similarly, AMERCO (Nasdaq: UHAL  ) , the parent of self-moving company U-Haul, reported self-moving equipment rentals jumped 10% in the third quarter.

Even apartment REITs are getting in on the action, with fewer Americans choosing to buy homes. AvalonBay Communities (NYSE: AVB  ) saw its fiscal 2011 total revenue rise 6.2%, with funds from operations jumping 14.3% for the year.

There are more than a dozen different stocks you could buy to play the rental and leasing sector, but none stands out to me more than Mobile Mini (Nasdaq: MINI  ) , one of the few rental and leasing companies to actually miss on its recent earnings results.

Mobile Mini leases nearly 240,000 mobile storage units, so I'd hardly call the company "Mini" by any means. The company's business platform draws from multiple sectors, with construction companies, retailers, and John Q. Public all using Mobile Mini's storage products.

In its most recently reported quarter, Mobile Mini's total revenue grew 9.5% on the heels of an 11.5% rise in leasing revenue. Sales revenue ticked up a more modest 1.5%. While these results might seem tame, there are a lot of positives to take from its results.

Nearly every important metric showed growth for the year. Total revenue, sales revenue, sales gross margin, leasing revenue, and free cash flow all rose nicely. In fact, leasing revenue improved sequentially over the year-ago period in every quarter this year -- from 3.6% in Q1, to! 7.6% in Q2, to 9.3% in Q3, and finally 11.5% in the fourth quarter.

Still, it's easy for pessimists to come down hard on Mobile Mini because of the large amount of debt it carries on its balance sheet ($708 million). But Mobile Mini has made big strides in this department. Since it purchased Mobile Storage Group in 2008, it has paid down $235 million, or one-quarter of its then-outstanding debt. It also refinanced its revolving credit line this past quarter for a savings of half a percentage point.

Mobile Mini looks poised to grow whether or not the economy is booming and should continue to see strength from all of its business segments. Projected to grow at 14% over the next five years, I feel that even with it trading at 21 times forward earnings, the company is a bargain over the long term. If Mobile Mini can maintain discipline regarding acquisitions and continues to use its free cash flow to pay off its debt, in a few years, there's a possibility shareholders could even receive a dividend. With that said, I plan to make a CAPScall of outperform on Mobile Mini.

Disagree with me? Share your opinion with your fellow Fools in the comments section below, and consider adding Mobile Mini to your free and personalized watchlist.

Don't let your search for great companies end here. Our chief investment officer recently identified a company he's dubbed the "Costco of Latin America," and it just so happens to be the Motley Fool's Top Stock for 2012. Find out the name of this company for free for a limited time only.

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Gartner Passes This Key Test

There's no foolproof way to know the future for Gartner (NYSE: IT  ) or any other company. However, certain clues may help you see potential stumbles before they happen -- and before your stock craters as a result.

A cloudy crystal ball
In this series, we use accounts receivable and days sales outstanding to judge a company's current health and future prospects. It's an important step in separating the pretenders from the market's best stocks. Alone, AR -- the amount of money owed the company -- and DSO -- the number of days' worth of sales owed to the company -- don't tell you much. However, by considering the trends in AR and DSO, you can sometimes get a window onto the future.

Sometimes, problems with AR or DSO simply indicate a change in the business (like an acquisition), or lax collections. However, AR that grows more quickly than revenue, or ballooning DSO, can also suggest a desperate company that's trying to boost sales by giving its customers overly generous payment terms. Alternately, it can indicate that the company sprinted to book a load of sales at the end of the quarter, like used-car dealers on the 29th of the month. (Sometimes, companies do both.)

Why might an upstanding firm like Gartner do this? For the same reason any other company might: to make the numbers. Investors don't like revenue shortfalls, and employees don't like reporting them to their superiors.

Is Gartner sending any potential warning signs? Take a look at the chart below, which plots revenue growth against AR growth, and DSO:

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Data is current as of last fully reported fiscal quarter. FQ = fiscal quarter.

The standard way to calculate DSO uses average accounts receivable. I prefer to look at end-of-quarter receivables, but I've plotte! d both a bove.

Watching the trends
When that red line (AR growth) crosses above the green line (revenue growth), I know I need to consult the filings. Similarly, a spike in the blue bars indicates a trend worth worrying about. Gartner's latest average DSO stands at 82.9 days, and the end-of-quarter figure is 90.6 days. Differences in business models can generate variations in DSO, and business needs can require occasional fluctuations, but all things being equal, I like to see this figure stay steady. So, let's get back to our original question: Based on DSO and sales, does Gartner look like it might miss its numbers in the next quarter or two?

I don't think so. AR and DSO look healthy. For the last fully reported fiscal quarter, Gartner's year-over-year revenue grew 11.9%, and its AR grew 15.4%. That looks OK. End-of-quarter DSO increased 3.2% over the prior-year quarter. It was down 2.5% versus the prior quarter. Still, I'm no fortuneteller, and these are just numbers. Investors putting their money on the line always need to dig into the filings for the root causes and draw their own conclusions.

What now?
I use this kind of analysis to figure out which investments I need to watch more closely as I hunt the market's best returns. However, some investors actively seek out companies on the wrong side of AR trends in order to sell them short, profiting when they eventually fall. Which way would you play this one? Let us know in the comments below, or keep up with the stocks mentioned in this article by tracking them in our free watchlist service, My Watchlist.

• Add Gartner to My Watchlist.

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The Dumbest Investment Move - SmartMoney.com

There are plenty of stupid investments you can make in this world. Stock in Pets.com and Washington Mutual didn't work out so well. Nor did those Las Vegas condos. Some of the social media and Web 2.0 stocks flying high on Wall Street will probably follow suit. But the most foolish investment of all may be right in front of you. And there's a worrying chance you're buying it. The investment? Stock in your own employer.

More From Brett Arends

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Late last year the Employee Benefits Research Institute, a think tank, published its most recent study of 401(k) retirement plans. The good news is that employees overall cut their exposure to their employers' stock; it accounted for only 8 percent of all 401(k) assets in 2010, continuing a downward trend that goes back to 1999, reported EBRI's Jack VanDerhei and colleagues.

The fine print isn't quite so good, it turns out. According to EBRI's data, only about 40 percent of workers were members of plans which offered company stock as an option. Employees in those plans are still investing from 16 to 19 percent of their plan portfolios, on average, in their employer's stock. At the same time, they have been shrinking their overall equity exposure dramatically. For those employees, company stock accounts, remarkably, for about a third of their entire equity exposure in the plan.

The ROI column in the March issue of Smart Money contained an error. The article reported that about 40 percent of 401(k) plans offered company stock as an investment option. It should have read that about 40% of workers were members of plans which offered company stock as an option.

 

Owning Company Stock in 401(k) Could Cost You

4:40

SmartMoney columnist Brett Arends is on Mean Street to make the point that among the many dumb investment decisions one can make, owning your company stock in your 401(k) ranks near the top of that list. Photo: Reuters.

One dollar in your employer for each two dollars spread across all the other companies out there? It makes no sense.

But isn't it a good idea for employees to own a piece of the firm? Doesn't it incentivize them to work for the good of the company, to create value and put stockholders first? Phooey. This is what you hear, but it's little better than Orwellian propaganda. None of it stacks up.

Let's ! look at the flaws: First, you already have a big investment in your employer. You work there. If you are hoping to work there for some time, it may well be the biggest investment in your portfolio.

Bet Against Bosses

Investors who buy their employer's stock are making a very big wager on their company's success. In theory, the safer play would be to find investments that make money if the employer hits a rough patch.

Put options are one relatively inexpensive approach. Puts are contracts that give an investor the right to sell a stock at a predetermined price within a specified time range. If the price of a stock goes down, the put options effectively become more valuable. For example, if shares in Employer Inc. sink from $50 to $25, an investor who owned a $40 put option on Employer Inc. could buy shares at the $25 market price and sell them for the "strike" price of $40, earning a handsome profit.

The prices of puts are called "premiums"; if an investor chooses not to exercise his option (say, if the stock doesn't sink), he loses the premium. Wading in can get complicated, so first-timers may want to consult their broker for guidance.

The value of an investment comes from its cash flow. Let's say you're hoping to earn a modest $45,000 a year for the next 10 years. An annuity producing that series of cash flows might cost you about $380,000. For 20 years: Nearly $600,000.

No, a job and an annuity aren't identical -- annuities don't demand you work for the money. But the analogy is useful. Your cash flow already gives you a huge stake in the company. Do you need to double down?

Legions of workers did just that and became two-time losers. Their employer collapsed. They lost their incomes and their savings at the same time. Think of Enron. Think of WorldCom. Think of all those who worked at banks that! collaps ed in 2008. Bank of America and Citigroup avoided bankruptcy, but their stocks fell to pennies on the dollar.

In theory, at least, it would make more sense to bet against your employer -- or your entire industry -- than on it. That way, you're protected against an industry-wide meltdown. Any Lehman Brothers staffers who bought "put" options on the banking industry, or default swaps that paid out if their company imploded, would have had a better 2008.

The second problem with investing in your own employer's stock? It's based on the theory that you'll benefit from the company's improved performance and that you'll be incentivized to contribute. You'll be a stockholder as well as an employee, and you'll think like one. Employees buying company stock think they will have some influence over how it does.

Good luck with that.

The theory's fine if you work for yourself, or in a small partnership. But in a company of 500 or 1,000? Dream on. No matter how hard you work, you won't have any material effect on the share price. The only individuals who can do that are the senior executives.

Getting Wiser

Though Investors are holding less of their employers' stock in their 401(k)s, some experts say they still hold too much.

• 2010: 8%
• 2005: 13%
• 2000: 19%

Speaking of whom: Many people who buy company stock think they are following safely in the footsteps of top executives. But this, too, is an illusion. Even if the CEO holds $10 million in company stock, so what? His financial situation is totally different from yours. He may hold $50 million in other investments. If he gets canned, he may have a golden parachute and a network of golden handshakes to fall back on. So the "big bet" he's taking may not be what it seems.

And are CEOs really investing in the company? Most ! just get free stock and options -- which they then sell. Among top executives, stock "sales outweigh purchases by a substantial margin," says Lucien Bebchuk, a Harvard professor and a leading expert on executive pay; most of them, he adds, "keep getting equity incentives as part of their compensation and they unload them over time."

Vickers Stock Research, which follows executive trades, says that over time, the amount of stock sold by U.S. executives outweighs the amount bought by more than two to one. Do you think they know something?

Corrections & Amplifications
The ROI column in the March issue of Smart Money contained an error. The article reported that about 40 percent of 401(k) plans offered company stock as an investment option. It should have read that about 40% of workers were members of plans which offered company stock as an option.

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Dollar drops against rivals after jobs report

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) � The U.S. dollar dropped against other major currencies on Friday after government data triggered worries about the health of the U.S. labor market and the economic recovery.

The dollar index DXY , which tracks the performance of the greenback against a basket of other major currencies, fell to 79.878 in recent trade. It was at 80.084 before the jobs data and at 80.101 late Thursday.

The benchmark index traded 1.1% lower than a week ago. It�s posted declines over the previous three weeks.

Click to Play

U.S. adds 120,000 jobs in March

The U.S. economy added 120,000 jobs last month, less than expected and an indication that momentum could be slowing. Photo: Getty Images

The decline for the dollar came after the Labor Department reported that the U.S. economy added 120,000 jobs in March. In contrast, economists had expected a gain of 210,000 jobs. Read more about the jobs report.

�With equity markets closed on Friday, the March nonfarm payrolls report offered a unique opportunity for volatility amid otherwise quiet trading conditions,� said Christopher Vecchio, currency analyst at DailyFX.

�Indeed, volatility was afoot following the disappointing 120,000 print, which was exactly half of the official government reading for February at 240,000,� he said.

Beyond the headline reading, the jobless rate slipped to 8.2% from 8.3% as discouraged workers continued to leave the labor force, but the recent developme! nt may d o little to bring about another large-scale asset purchase program, as Fed officials see the recovery gathering pace throughout the year,� said DailyFX currency analyst David Song.

�We should see fundamentals playing an increased role in driving the USD as central bank officials see scope to start normalizing monetary policy towards the end of the year,� he said. And �As the [Federal Reserve Open Market Committee] looks to conclude its easing cycle in 2012, we will maintain a bullish outlook for the greenback.�

Against the Japanese yen, which tends to be seen as a safe-haven currency, the dollar USDJPY �dropped 0.9% to trade at 81.54 yen. Earlier, it hit a low of �81.29, according to data from FactSet Research. A week ago, it traded at �82.30.

The euro EURUSD �gained 0.2% to $1.3086 after rising as high as $1.3112, according to FactSet. It traded at $1.332 last Friday.

�We really didn�t have much coming out of Europe in light of the holiday, but the single currency is lagging behind its major counterparts as heightening financing costs across the periphery countries raise the threat for contagion,� said Song.

The British pound GBPUSD �added 0.3% to $1.5872. A week ago, it was at $1.598.

Most markets, including stocks and commodities, are closed for Good Friday. The bond market is open, with Treasury yields falling sharply. Read more about Treasurys.

�Considering that the U.S.! dollar sold off against the Japanese yen alongside a collapse in Treasury yields, it�s clear that market participants have shifted yield expectations following the March jobs data,� said DailyFX�s Vecchio. �[Federal Reserve] speak is now increasingly important in the week ahead, as a lack of a plan to help the U.S. labor market could shake what has been fragile market confidence.�

U.S. stock futures fell sharply after the jobs data. Read more about the reaction in stock futures.

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(NHPR, DTLK, UTEK, LCAV) Noticeable Stocks by DrStockPick.com

National Health Partners, Inc. (NHPR)

National Health Partners, Inc. is a national healthcare savings organization that provides discount healthcare membership programs to uninsured and underinsured people through a national healthcare savings network called “CARExpress.” CARExpress is one of the largest networks of hospitals, doctors, dentists, pharmacists and other healthcare providers in the country and is comprised of over 1,000,000 medical professionals that belong to such PPOs as CareMark and Aetna.

Creating a healthcare system that works for everyone requires bold measures. But before bold measures can be developed and adopted, citizens must understand what drives the cost of health care and how to improve the quality of care from an objective, analytical perspective. Since 1960, health care spending has risen from 5.1 percent of the Gross Domestic Product to nearly 15 percent in 2000.

It is really hard to find an amount of people who are unable to acquire healthcare insurance because of lack of sufficient financial standing. We know for sure that to acquire affordable medical care facilities in the US these days without any sort of medical coverage is not easy.
To increase the gravity of the situation, the mandatory access to health insurance, according to the Affordability Act, has added to the woes of these residents. Low income medical insurance always comes as a blessing for those who cannot buy health insurance.
National Health Partners, Inc.’s primary target customer group is the 47 million Americans who have no health insurance of any kind. The company’s secondary target customer group includes the millions of Americans who lack complete health insurance coverage. The company is headquartered in Horsham, Pennsylvania.

The CARExpress dental program gives immediate savings. There are no limits to visits and as a member of CARExpress can save between 15% - 50% off on dental services through this pa! rticipat ing network of 76,000 dentists and specialists nationwide including: General Dentists; Endodontists; Orthodontist; Periodontist; Oral Surgeons.

For more information on the company, please visit its website at www.nationalhealthpartners.com

Datalink Corp. (Nasdaq:DTLK) announced that it will issue a news release Wednesday April 20, 2011 after the stock market closes to announce first quarter operating results for 2011. Datalink will hold a conference call shortly afterward at 4:00 p.m. central time during which time Datalink’s president and chief executive officer, Paul Lidsky, and vice president of finance and chief financial officer, Greg Barnum, will discuss company results and provide a business overview. Participants can access the conference call by dialing (877) 277-9804. Participants will be asked to identify the Datalink conference call and provide the designated identification number (53318947). A live Webcast of the conference call can be heard via Datalink’s website at www.datalink.com.

Datalink Corporation engages in the design, installation, and support of data center solutions to mid and large-size companies. It offers a suite of practice-specific analysis, design, implementation, management, and support services.

Ultratech, Inc. (Nasdaq:UTEK) plans to announce its first quarter 2011 earnings results before the market opens on Thursday, April 21, 2011. Ultratech will host an earnings conference call featuring remarks by Arthur W. Zafiropoulo, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Bruce Wright, Senior Vice President Finance and CFO, followed by a live Q&A session. The conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet beginning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time/8:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Thursday, April 21, 2011. To listen to the call over the internet or to obtain dial-in information for the call, please go to the investor relations section of the Ultratech website at http://ir.ultratech.com.

Ultratech, Inc. de! velops, manufactures, and markets photolithography and laser thermal processing equipment. It supplies step-and-repeat photolithography systems based on one-to-one imaging technology to semiconductor device manufacturers for applications involving line geometries of 0.75 microns or greater and to nanotechnology manufacturers.

LCA-Vision Inc. (Nasdaq:LCAV) reported that 18,857 procedures were performed during the first quarter of 2011, compared with 19,066 procedures (62 vision centers) during the first quarter of 2010. Same-store procedures (54 vision centers) increased by 8% year-over-year from 17,408 procedures during the first quarter of 2010, the second consecutive quarter of year-over-year same-store procedure growth. LCA-Vision will release first quarter 2011 financial results prior to market opening on Tuesday, April 26, 2011. A conference call and webcast to discuss the results also will be held on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time.

LCA-Vision Inc. provides fixed-site laser vision correction services under the LasikPlus brand. The company offers laser vision correction procedures to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

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Finding an Edge When the Market Moves Higher

It is becoming more and more difficult for me to deny the rally we are now witnessing. The market is melting up right before our very eyes. Bears will try to explain away the 5%-plus move in the S&P so far this year as a fluke or a temporary reaction to oversold conditions. But there are simply too many forces at work right now that are encouraging the market to seek higher ground…

We�ve entered a high-stakes election year, where the market should cycle into strength as those in power attempt to win the hearts and minds of the electorate…

The slow-burn of the Eurozone crisis is also beginning to fade. Negative headlines and poor economic data � the exact same information that paralyzed investors just a few weeks ago � just don�t seem to matter anymore…

Some analysts (including a few of my colleagues) are attributing recent market strength to the Facebook effect. But I�m not completely sold on this explanation at all. Your mom and her friends talking about the Facebook IPO does not trigger a broad market rally. Sure, stocks in similar sectors will see some buying. But no one is bidding up shares of Waste Management in anticipation of Facebook going public.

However, Facebook�s impending offering is a symptom of the market rally itself. The billionaires and soon-to-be billionaires behind the IPO weren�t going to float this stock to the general public while the rest of the market was having a fire sale. That�s not good business. Waiting until the market has its legs back will always trigger a rush of offerings that have been patiently waiting in the wings � this one just happens to be a biggie.

But it doesn�t matter who is right � it all comes down to this: the bears might win today or tomorrow, or even most of next week. But ultimately, they will suffer as stocks continue to rally, sparking short-covering that will push the market up even faster…

That�s the thing with early-stage market rallies. Buying is contagious. And when it spr! eads, th ose on the wrong side of the coin are unceremoniously slaughtered. The euphoria of stocks moving higher after months of declines lobotomizes traders. They will jump on the big move, shoving aside anyone who gets in their way.

Of course, this is not a friendly game. At the beginning of a new trend, there are winners � and losers. If you don�t properly position yourself in the early stages of a rally, you will lose. It�s a simple as that…

If you�re buying stocks that are the strongest movers off the market�s lows � with the intention of holding them � you could be setting yourself up for failure. These stocks that catch fire and outperform during an initial broad rally are usually the most heavily-oversold names on the market. Most of the time, it�s because these stocks don�t have the fundamentals to backstop any intense selling pressure.

To put this into perspective, take a look at this chart of Response Genetics Inc. from 2009:

RGDX is a micro-cap biotech with no earnings and very few assets. The stock jumped big in March 2009 as the broad market put in a bottom, but the rally couldn�t hold. Investors moved on to other stocks that offered a stronger financial cushion.

Fast forward to present day, and we�re seeing similar action in RGDX:

After a sharp selloff in 2011, RGDX is roaring back to life. But while this stock might make a fine day-trade, I don�t see it holding up as a viable medium- to long-term investment. History could very well repeat itself here � with RGDX ending up back at $1 before the market runs out! of stea m.

On the other hand, the stocks you can find that will ride this emerging rally will have the backing of solid fundamentals and tangible industry trends. You�ll still have the upside of an in-favor stock � but your risk will be mitigated by revenue and earnings growth and the powerful economic conditions that drive the particular sector or industry.

The week before Christmas, I laid out three major stock trends that I believed would shape the market in 2012. The first major trend revolves around a slew of pharmaceutical patents that are set to expire this year. That means Pharma stocks that are favorably positioned in the generics business should easily outperform the market.

Here�s one of the fastest-growing, profitable small-caps in the generic drug industry:

Akorn Inc. (NASDAQ:AKRX) might not be one of the best performing stocks so far this year. However, the stock continues to build on its market-beating trend from 2011 while the business consistently grows its profits and raises guidance. That�s why I recommended this stock to my readers last year � and why we�re still holding the stock today.

If you continue to seek out stocks like AKRX that have strong fundamentals and a steady, rising trend, you should have no problem avoiding the garbage stocks that sucker in so many investors during the early stages of a bull market rally…

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Best Wall St. Stocks Today: AET,MO,BBBY,BA,CLWR,ETN,HUM,MPEL,MET,NVDA,ZQK,RSG,HOT,UNH,WM,WSM

These are some of this Friday’s key analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen in Wall Street research calls.

Aetna Inc. (NYSE: AET) Started as Hold at Jefferies.
Altria Group Inc. (NYSE: MO) Cut to Hold at Citigroup.
Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY) Started as Neutral at Robert W. Baird.
Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) Cut to Market Perform at Bernstein.
Clearwire Corporation (NASDAQ: CLWR) Raised to N
eutral at BofA/Merrill Lynch.
Eaton Corp. (NYSE: ETN) Raised to Conviction Buy List at Goldman Sachs.
Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) Started At Hold By Jefferies
Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. (NASDAQ: MPEL) Raised to Buy at Daiwa.
MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) Cut to Equal-weight at Morgan Stanley.
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) Raised to Buy at Needham.
Quiksilver Inc. (NYSE: ZQK) Cut to Underperform at FBR.
Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) Started as Outperform at William Blair.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: HOT) Started as Neutral at Janney.
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. (NYSE: UNH) Started as Hold at Jefferies.
Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE: WM) Started as Outperform at William Blair.
Williams-Sonoma Inc. (NYSE: WSM) Started as Outperform at Robert W. Baird.

You can join our free daily email distribution list to hear more about dividend trends, analyst upgrades and downgrades, top day trader and active trader alerts, news on Buffett and other investment gurus, IPOs, secondary offerings, private equity, and more.

JON C. OGG

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NHPR, WBCO, CRWE, SIAL, NEPT - NASDAQ Stock Highlights and News!! From DrStockPick.com

NHPR, National Health Partners, Inc., NHPR.OB

National Health Partners, Inc., a leading provider of unique discount healthcare membership programs, recently announced that NHPR has achieved positive earnings for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 compared to a loss of $522,542 for the same period last year. Revenues for the 3rd quarter grew 12.3% over the same period last year. NHPR attributes the net earnings to the significant cost-cutting initiatives taken over the past couple of quarters and which is continuing in the 4th quarter.

�I am thrilled to announce that we have finally achieved profitability,� stated David M. Daniels, President and Chief Executive Officer of NHPR. �Due to the fact that our limited medical provider unexpectedly decided to exit the marketplace, we were unable to add any new CARExpress Plus limited medical sales during the 3rd quarter. Yet, despite this temporary setback, we were still able to substantially increase our revenue and reach profitability which is a testament to the underlying strength we have with our core CARExpress health discount programs. Although we achieved positive results in revenues and earnings, we anticipate much better results going forward into 2011.�

Mr. Daniels further states �We are seeing continuous growth during the current 4th quarter which should provide strong momentum for the 1st quarter of 2011. Our future has never looked brighter and I am quite confident that we will be able to see accelerating growth in both revenues and earnings. With our continued focus on keeping our operating costs down while at the same time building our revenues at an accelerating rate, we are in a very good position to see very strong earnings growth going forward. I will be providing more information on new business ventures in the very near term that will change the entire complexion of the company and I look forward to continuing to build on the succ! ess that we have already started achieving in the 3rd quarter.�

The uninsured pay out more for care-and acquire less-than those with insurance. However , if the uninsured are unable to pay, health care providers switch those costs to individuals who can pay-those to whom have insurance coverage. This leads to higher costs for those who buy the insurance on the specific market, as well as staff who get insurance plan for themselves and their own families through their occupation. The need for affordable healthcare alternatives has never been greater.

To learn more about NHPR visit: http://www.nationalhealthpartners.com

Washington Banking Company (Nasdaq:WBCO), the holding company for Whidbey Island Bank, reported that it was named to the SNL Financial Top 100 Best-Performing Community Banks in 2010.

WBCO ranked 75th in the nation and was the only company headquartered in Washington State to make the elite list.

Crown Equity Holdings Inc. (CRWE.OB)

Crown Equity Holdings has opened another office in Pakistan to expand business. This office is located in the city of Attock, Pakistan. This CRWENewswire team now has and additional workforce of 25 new associates, which increased CRWE�s up to date news and world affairs from the Mid-East, Far East and Europe online news wires.

The existing office in Islamabad plus the new office in the city of Attock is managed by Zeeshan Shabbir.

Crown Equity Holdings completed its Arabic language CRWE Newswire site for news occurring in Pakistan and around the world.

�As always, I am thrilled to increase our team of correspondents to offer our readerships a global perspective on top stories.� stated Kenneth Bosket, President of Crown Equity Holdings.

Crown Equity Holdings Inc. announced in June of 2010 its 1- 10 forward stock split, as well ! as in Au gust 2010 announced that the company had surpassed One Million dollars (1,000,000) in sales (this compares to $232,510 for the three quarters ending September 30, 2009 and $659,907 total sales for the year 2009). CRWE is utilizing today�s technology to advertise, promote and market public companies globally. CRWE�s proprietary network technology allows their publishing department to get their content to millions of readers daily across the world. CRWE publishes financial content to all the major countries and covers all the accredited stock exchanges. The goal for 2010 is to have all CRWE�s clients� press releases, articles and news content published in every major financial country�s native language.

In addition to Crown Equity Holdings Inc. offering �I/R� service, CRWE has a dedicated in-house advertising server, allowing for faster response and a wider variety of ad space offerings to those interested in advertising on their numerous internet and affiliate internet properties.

Sigma-Aldrich Corporation (Nasdaq:SIAL) will hold its quarterly conference call to discuss first quarter results on April 26, 2011 at 10:00 AM Central (11:00 AM Eastern).

Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc. (Nasdaq:NEPT) reported that Bayer Healthcare, LLC Consumer Care Division has formally launched its Arctic Wonder proprietary Neptune Krill Oil in the United States in March 2011 after a successful market test.

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Best Wall St. Stocks Today: GE,ABT

GE (GE) continues to try to revive its mediocre stock price by using acquisition to bulk up divisions that already have strong results. The big conglomerate is close to buying the diagnostics business of Abbott (ABT). The business has revenue of just under $ 4 billion. GE’s healthcare operations have revenue of about $17 billion.

The Abbott division does have relatively small operating margins. In the first nine months of 2006, the unit was 18% of the Abbott topline but only 7% of operating profits.

The financials of the unit have to make Wall St. wonder if GE is trying a bit to hard to build businesses that might be viewed as a better use of its management time than divisions like NBC Universal.

If so, GE’s stock price may not continue its recent rise.

Douglas A. McIntyre can be reached at douglasamcintyre@247wallst.com. He does not own securities in companies that he writes about.

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Choosing Choosing Between Selling Your Home and Refinancing Your Mortgage Is Simple

Homeowners may possibly be concerned with tough housing market place to make the most of low mortgage refinance rates. Refinancing a house loan may well lower monthly mortgage payments substantially. It may well consolidate high interest mortgage loans, credit card balances and private loans in to 1 low monthly payment. Men and women could have an chance to sort their monetary difficulties. With so several rewards of refinancing a residence mortgage loan, it could be a shame to miss on these low rates.

Many people purchase a residence using the intention of setting up a loved ones house and see property purchasing as an investment for the future.

Though Residence costs could be down in the moment, investing inside your property is nonetheless 1 of the safest outlet for your funds. Quite a few homeowners enjoy to refinance their property mortgage loan, but they are able to not qualify for property loans. They had been late in entering housing market place within the last boom and caught residence costs just just before it began its downfall. Nevertheless, you’ll find nonetheless some homeowners with superior equity and in an enviable position. Refinance property mortgage loan is an instrument to lessen household costs to inexpensive levels for the eligible homeowners. Mortgage refinancing decisions must be taken based on the positive aspects and savings afforded by it. The worth of a household would have an effect on possibility of refinancing household loans. Nonetheless, homeowners need to not hold back from a saving chance, since the worth of their house may well be falling.

In reality, declining residence costs really should make homeowners additional determined to obtain a mortgage refinance. When the housing market place is stalling, it could be challenging to sell a house and get out of mortgage. Moreover, this difficult environment may well last for a lengthy time. It would make sense to prepare the ship for tough waters.

Lowering monthly residence loan payments a! long wit h other costs would make far more dollars accessible for spending. Rather, the savings could possibly be applied to pay the mortgage quicker, too.

A most likely difficulty is that the further the home costs go down the a lot more it becomes tricky to obtain a refinance mortgage. Then, homeowners could be stuck with high mortgage interest rates at the same time as the houses they are able to not sell. Furthermore, lenders could set greater loan needs consequently of poor loan books the lenders carry at these times. By growing the good quality of new borrowings lenders would wish to boost their overall credit risk.

Yet another factor is that appraisers could commence obtaining conservative with their valuations and drive down residence rates artificially.

Existing trend is that homeowners minimize their mortgages with cash from their savings to qualify for the good mortgage refinance rates. A lot of people would not sell their property even the rates had been incredibly tempting. So why ought to they be excessively concerned when the home rates are down temporarily.

Instead of worrying about home costs, they do what they are able to to lower their monthly mortgage payments.

Please visit our articles about NSO Insurance and Estrella Insurance

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Good Stocks To Invest In 2012

If you typed into a search engine "best stocks to buy right now" boy are you stupid. This reflects a complete and total ignorance of how the market really works. You sort of deserve what you get if you're that stupid.

In this video, Lance is not mad about amateur traders searching for what are the best stocks to buy right now. What sets Lance off is that organizations that you think have standards like Yahoo Finance, CNN Money, Fortune, and Investors Business Daily routinely publish so called "news" about what are the best stocks to buy right now. The truth is that money managers have paid to be listed in these articles and the real reason for these articles is not to help you make money but instead to push up the stocks for these money managers who already hold positions in these stocks.

One of the first things you should do to start making money in the stock market is to stop getting your stock picks from articles on Yahoo Finance or money managers who appear on TV.

In the video below, Lance reveals a recent article over Yahoo Finance that will get you screaming mad. He performs technical analysis on these so called best stocks to buy revealing horrible charts and institutional selling.

Good Stocks To Invest In 2012:Avon Products Inc. (AVP)

 Avon Products Inc. manufactures and markets beauty and related products worldwide. Its product categories include color cosmetics, fragrances, skin care, and personal care; fashion jewelry, watches, apparel, footwear, and accessories; and gift and decorative products, housewares, entertainment and leisure, and children?s and nutritional products. Avon Products Inc. markets its products through direct selling and independent representatives, as well as through distributorships. The company was founded in 1886 and is based in New York, New York.

Good Stocks To Invest In 2012:America First Tax Exempt Investors L.P. (ATAX)

 America First Tax Exempt Investors, L.P. engages in acquiring, holding, selling, and dealing with a portfolio of federally tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds. As of March 31, 2011, it held 20 tax-exempt mortgage bonds secured by 20 multifamily apartment properties containing a total of 3,606 rental units. America First Capital Associates Limited Partnership Two serves as the general partner of the company. The company was founded in 1998 and is based in Omaha, Nebraska.

Good Stocks To Invest In 2012:Feihe International Inc. (ADY)

 Feihe International, Inc. engages in the production and distribution of infant formula, milk powder and soybean, rice, and walnut products in the People?s Republic of China. It offers milk powder for infants and young children formulated for zero to six months, six months to one year, one to three years, and three to six years of age, as well as for expectant mothers, students, and for the middle-aged and elderly populations. The company also processes and distributes raw milk powder to beverage manufacturers and other wholesalers for use in their blended drink products. In addition, it offers soybean powder, an alternative to milk powder primarily for seniors; rice cereal, an alternative to milk powder principally for young children, teenagers, and seniors; walnut products, including walnut powder and walnut oil; and other products, which include cream, skim milk powder, full milk powder, butter, other related milk powder products, and water and cheese marketed primarily for children. Further, the company processes and distributes semi-finished rice cereal to wholesalers and retailers. As of August 9, 2011, it had approximately 200 company-owned milk collection stations; 7 production facilities with an aggregate milk powder production capacity of approximately 1,950 tons per day; and a distribution network that reaches approximately 80,000 retail outlets. The company was formerly known as American Dairy, Inc. and changed its name to Feihe International, Inc. in October 2010. Feihe International, Inc. is based in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China.

Good Stocks To Invest In 2012:Precision Castparts Corporation (PCP)

 Precision Castparts Corp. (PCC) manufactures and sells metal components and products worldwide. Its Investment Cast Products segment offers aerospace structural and airfoil castings; industrial gas turbine (IGT) castings; artificial hips and knees; parts for satellite launch vehicles; landing gear struts and engine inlets for unmanned aerial vehicles; impellers for pumps and compressors; components for armament systems; and alloys for other manufacturers of investment castings. The company?s Forged Products segment provides forged components for jet engines, including fan discs, compressor discs, turbine discs, seals, spacers, shafts, hubs, and cases; airframe structural components, such as landing gear beams, bulkheads, wing structures, engine mounts, struts, tail flaps, and housings; discs, spacers, and valve components for steam turbine and IGT engines; shafts, cases, and compressor and turbine discs for marine gas engines; mechanical and structural tubular forged products for energy markets; and forged components for propulsion systems on nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers, as well as forgings for pumps, valves, and structural applications. PCC?s Fastener Products segment offers aerospace fasteners comprising bolts, nuts, nut plates, latches, expandable diameter fasteners, quick release pins, hydraulic fittings, bushings, inserts, collars, and other precision components. It also provides refiner plates and screen cylinders for the pulp and paper industry; metal-injection-molded and ThixoFormed components; grinder pumps and components for sewer systems; gas monitoring systems for the power generation industry; and thread-rolling and trimming dies, pins and steel, and carbide forging tools for fastener production. PCC sells its fastener products and services through a network of distributors and independent sales representatives, as well as through a direct sales and marketing staff. The company was founded in 1949 and is based in Portland, Oregon.

Good Stocks To Invest In 2012:ABB Ltd (ABB)

 ABB Ltd. provides power and automation technologies for utility and industrial customers worldwide. The company?s Power Products division manufactures and sells high- and medium-voltage switchgear and apparatus, circuit breakers, power and distribution transformers, and sensors. ABB?s Power Systems division provides integrated power and automation solutions for power generation plants; alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) transmission systems; and flexible alternating current systems technologies. It also offers land and submarine cables, as well as accessories and services for medium- to high-voltage AC and DC systems; air- and gas-insulated substations; and network management solutions to help manage power networks. In addition, this division offers support agreements and retrofits to spare parts, service, consulting, and training; and undertakes analyses and design of new transmission and distribution systems. The company?s Discrete Automation and Motion division manufactures and sells motors, generators, variable speed drives, programmable logic controllers, rectifiers, excitation systems, robotics, and related services for a range of applications in factory automation, process industries, and utilities. Its Low Voltage Products division provides protection, control, and measurement for electrical installations, enclosures, switchboards, electronics, and electromechanical devices for industrial machines, plants, and related services. It also makes building control systems for home and building automation. The company?s Process Automation division offers integrated process control and instrumentation systems, plant electrification systems, information management systems, and industry-specific application knowledge for industries, such as pulp and paper, minerals and mining, metals, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, turbocharging, power, and marine. ABB Ltd. was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland.

Advisors' Opinion:

• By Matth! ews At 2011-9-28

  ABB Ltd. (NYSE:ABB): Change 0% to $16.77. ABB Limited provides power and automation technologies. The Company operates under segments that include power products, power systems, automation products, process automation and robotics.

Good Stocks To Invest In 2012:American Software Inc. (AMSWA)

 American Software, Inc. and its subsidiaries develop, market, and support a portfolio of software and services that deliver enterprise management and collaborative supply chain solutions worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Supply Chain Management, Enterprise Resource Planning, and Information Technology Consulting. The Supply Chain Management segment provides collaborative supply chain solutions, which include supply chain planning, inventory optimization, manufacturing, and transportation and logistics solutions to streamline the market planning, management, production, and distribution of products for manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and retailers. It also markets and sells Demand Solutions product line to small and medium sized enterprises through its value-added reseller distribution network; and offers Logility Voyager Solutions suite to customers with distribution-intensive supply chains through direct and indirect sales channels. The Enterprise Resource Planning segment offers purchasing and materials management, customer order processing, financial, e-commerce, flow manufacturing, and traditional manufacturing solutions, as well as provides industry-specific business software to retailers, importers, and manufacturers in the apparel, footwear, sewn products, and furniture industries. The Information Technology Consulting segment provides information technology staffing and consulting services, as well as support for software products, such as software enhancements, documentation, updates, customer education, consulting, systems integration, and maintenance services. The company serves retail, apparel, consumer packaged goods, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, industrial products, and other manufacturing industries through its direct and indirect sales channels. American Software, Inc. was founded in 1970 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Good Stocks To Invest In 2012:Constellation Energy Group Inc. (CEG)

 Constellation Energy Group, Inc. operates as an energy company in the United States and Canada. The company develops, owns, operates, and maintains fossil and renewable generating facilities. As of December 31, 2010, it holds interests in qualifying facilities and power projects totaling to 9,030 megawatt (MW), as well as manages approximately 1,100 MW associated with long-dated tolling agreements. The company also provides operation and maintenance services, including testing and start-up to the owners of electric generating facilities. In addition, it offers electricity, natural gas, and other energy products and services to wholesale and retail electric and natural gas customers. The company supplies approximately 119 million megawatt hours (MWH) of aggregate electricity to distribution utilities, municipalities, residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental customers; approximately 334 million British Thermal Units of natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental customers; and approximately 7.8 million tons of coal primarily to its own fleet. Further, it manages generation facilities and natural gas properties; provides risk management services; trades energy and energy-related commodities; manages upstream natural gas activities; designs, constructs, and operates renewable energy, heating, cooling, and cogeneration facilities; provides home improvements; and engages in the sale of electric and gas appliances, and servicing of heating, air conditioning, plumbing, electrical, and indoor air quality systems. Additionally, the company purchases, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity, as well as purchases, transports, and sells natural gas in central Maryland. It maintains approximately 240 substations and approximately 1,300 circuit miles of transmission lines, and approximately 24,800 circuit miles of distribution lines. The company was founded in 1906 and is based in Baltimore, Maryland.

Good Stocks To Invest In 2012:Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF)

 Sun Life Financial Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides various life and health insurance, savings, investment management, retirement, and pension products and services to individuals and corporate customers. It offers individual life insurance policies, including individual term life, universal life, critical illness, disability, accident, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance policies; and group life insurance policies. The company also provides individual health insurance, long-term care insurance, group health benefits, dental benefits, and group insurance; and various individual and group annuity, retirement, and investment income products and services, such as mutual and pooled funds, variable and fixed annuities, savings, retirement and pension plans, and education savings. In addition, it offers asset management services for corporate retirement plans, separate accounts, public or government funds, and insurance company assets to institutional clients; and advisory services to individual investors. Further, the company provides run-off reinsurance services. Sun Life Financial Inc. distributes its products through direct sales agents, independent and managing general agents, financial intermediaries, broker-dealers, banks, pension and benefit consultants, and other third-party marketing organizations. The company operates primarily in Bermuda, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, the Philippines, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Sun Life Financial Inc. was founded in 1999 and is based in Toronto, Canada.

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