That's according to a new index to be released today that ranks companies based on how simple they are to engage with.
Southwest was the highest-ranked travel company, coming in at No. 9 out of 125 businesses whose brands are well-known in the U.S., according to a survey by New York-based strategic branding firm Siegel and Gale. The low-cost carrier leaped six spots from where U.S.-based respondents ranked it last year. Amazon was No. 1.
The perception that Southwest offers fair prices that don't dramatically spike because of a host of extra fees being tacked on is key to customers feeling the airline is easy to deal with, says Brian Rafferty, director of global research for Siegel and Gale. "Transparency is one thing Southwest is doing well,'' he says, "and people also . . .feel they have very good service and they care about the customer.''
Top 10 Rising Stocks To Watch For 2015: Chatham Lodging Trust (REIT)
Chatham Lodging Trust is an equity real estate investment trust. The firm invests in the real estate markets of the United States. It primarily invests in premium-branded upscale extended-stay and select-service hotels to create its portfolio. Chatham Lodging Trust was founded on October 26, 2009 and is based in Palm Beach, Florida.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By GURUFOCUS]
LTC Properties Inc. (LTC) operates as a health care real estate investment trust (REIT) in the United States.Yield: 5.2%
Gladstone Commercial Corporation (GOOD) operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) in the United States.Yield: 7.9%
- [By Dividend Monk]
OverviewDigital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: DLR) is a large Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) that focuses on data centers.
Digital Realty provides a number of services, including turn-key modular data center solutions (accounting for 57% of DLR�� rent income) where Digital Realty does practically all of the work, or powered-base buildings (accounting for 32% of DLR�� rent income) where they focus on the real estate, shell, and electrical/mechanical aspects while the client company focuses on the critical data center aspects. Smaller aspects of the business contribute the remaining revenue.
- [By Damian Illia]
Recently, the company decided to reorganize its structure in order to qualify as a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) for tax purposes. Therefore, since Jan. 1, 2014, as a REIT, Crown Castle is able to pay at least 90% of its taxable income to shareholders in the form of dividends every year while driving tax savings and cash flows. Company�� financials for fourth quarter 2013 where above analysts��estimations, with an extensive tower portfolio, expansion of Small Cell business, aggressive deployment of 4G LTE and VoLTE networks and increased usage of smartphones. Moreover, the fact that Crown Castle has more than 97% of the coming year's revenue projections already under contract, has added serious stability to the company�� mid-term performance.
Top 10 Diversified Bank Companies To Invest In Right Now: Fomento Economico Mexicano SAB de CV (FMX)
Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (FEMSA), incorporated on May 30, 1936, is a holding company. The Company conducts its operations through principal holding companies, each of which it refers to as a principal sub-holding company. These companies are Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V. (Coca-Cola FEMSA), which engages in the production, distribution and marketing of soft drinks, and FEMSA Comercio, S.A. de C.V. (FEMSA Comercio), which operates convenience stores. The Company�� convenience store chain OXXO operated a total of 7,492 stores as of March 31, 2010. Compania Internacional de Bebidas, S.A. de C.V. (CIBSA) owns a 53.7% interest in Coca-Cola FEMSA. On April 30, 2010, FEMSA announced the closing of the transaction, pursuant to which FEMSA agreed to exchange 100% of its beer operations conducted by FEMSA Cerveza for a 20% economic interest in the Heineken Group. In February 2009, Coca-Cola FEMSA acquired with The Coca-Cola Company the Brisa bottled water business in Colombia from Bavaria, a subsidiary of SABMiller. Coca-Cola FEMSA acquired the production assets and the rights to distribute in the territory, and The Coca-Cola Company obtained the Brisa brand.
Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V.
Coca-Cola FEMSA is a bottler of Coca-Cola trademark beverages. Coca-Cola FEMSA operates in various territories, including Mexico, a substantial portion of central Mexico (including Mexico City and the states of Michoacan and Guanajuato) and southeast Mexico (including the Gulf region); Central America, including Guatemala (Guatemala City and surrounding areas), Nicaragua (nationwide), Costa Rica (nationwide) and Panama (nationwide); Colombia; Venezuela; Argentina, including Buenos Aires and surrounding areas, and Brazil, including the area of greater Sao Paulo, Campinas, Santos, the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, the state of Minas Gerais and part of the state of Goias.
Coca-Cola FEMSA produces, markets and distributes Coca-Cola trademark beverages, own brands and b! rands licensed from the Company. The Coca-Cola trademark beverages include sparkling beverages (colas and flavored sparkling beverages), water, and still beverages (including juice drinks, ready-to-drink teas and isotonics). Out of the more than 100 brands and line extensions of beverages sold and distributed by Coca-Cola FEMSA, its most important brand, Coca-Cola, together with its line extensions, Coca-Cola light, Coca-Cola Zero and Coca-Cola light caffeine free, accounted for 61.4% of total sales volume during the year ended December 31, 2009. Coca-Cola FEMSA�� next largest brands, Ciel (a water brand from Mexico), Fanta (and its line extensions), Sprite (and its line extensions), ValleFrut and Hit, accounted for 10.5%, 5.8%, 2.6%, 1.5% and 1.3%, respectively, of total sales volume in 2009. Coca-Cola FEMSA uses the term line extensions to refer to the different flavors in which it offers its brands.
Coca-Cola FEMSA produces, markets and distributes Coca-Cola trademark beverages in each of its territories in containers authorized by The Coca-Cola Company, which consist of a variety of returnable and non-returnable presentations in the form of glass bottles, cans and plastic bottles made of polyethylene terephtalate (PET). Coca-Cola FEMSA uses the term presentation to refer to the packaging unit in which it sells its products. Presentation sizes for its Coca-Cola trademark beverages range from a 6.5-ounce personal size to a 3-liter multiple serving size. For all of its products excluding water, Coca-Cola FEMSA considers a multiple serving size as equal toor larger than one liter. In addition, it sells some Coca-Cola trademark beverage syrups in containers designed for soda fountain use, which it refers to as fountain. It also sells bottled water products in bulk sizes, which refers to presentations equal to or larger than five liters, which have a much lower average price per unit case than its other beverage products.
In Mexico, Coca-Cola FEMSA�� product portfolio consis! ts of Coc! a-Cola trademark beverages, and includes Mundet trademark beverages licensed from FEMSA in some Mexican territories. Coca-Cola FEMSA�� product sales in Latincentro consist predominantly of Coca-Cola trademark beverages. Per capita consumption of its sparkling beverages products in Colombia and Central America was 92 and 146 eight-ounce servings, respectively, in 2009. Its product portfolio in Venezuela consists of Coca-Cola trademark beverages. Sparkling beverages per capita consumption of its products in Venezuela was 174 eight-ounce servings during 2009. Coca-Cola FEMSA�� product portfolio in Mercosur consists mainly of Coca-Cola trademark beverages, and the Kaiser beer brand in Brazil, which Coca-Cola FEMSA sells and distributes on behalf of FEMSA Cerveza. Sparkling beverages per capita consumption of its products in Brazil and Argentina was 214 and 359 eight-ounce servings, respectively, in 2009.
The Company competes with Pepsi Beverage Company, Grupo Embotelladores Unidos, S.A.B. de C.V., Grupo Jumex, Groupe Danone, Cadbury Schweppes, Big Cola, Consorcio AGA, S.A. de C.V., Postobon, Florida Ice and Farm Co. S.A., Cerveceria Nacional, S.A., Pepsi-Cola Venezuela, C.A., AmBev and Quilmes Industrial S.A.
FEMSA Comercio, S.A. de C.V.
FEMSA Comercio operates a chain of convenience stores in Mexico, under the trade name OXXO. OXXO stores are concentrated in the northern part of Mexico, but also have a presence in central Mexico and the Gulf coast. FEMSA Comercio is the largest single customer of FEMSA Cerveza and of the Coca-Cola system in Mexico. During 2009, a typical OXXO store carried 1,954 different store keeping units (SKUs) in 31 main product categories.
The Company competes with 7-Eleven, Super Extra, Super City, Circle-K and AM/PM.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dividends4Life]
Memberships and Peers: PEP is a member of the S&P 500, a Dividend Aristocrat, a member of the Broad Dividend Achievers��Index and a Dividend Champion. The company's peer group includes: The Coca-Cola Company (KO) with a 2.8% yield, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. (DPS) with a 3.2% yield and Fomento Econ (FMX) with a 1.7% yield.
- [By Dividends4Life]
Memberships and Peers: KO is a member of the S&P 500, a Dividend Aristocrat, a member of the Broad Dividend Achievers��Index and a Dividend Champion. The company's peer group includes: Dr. Pepper Snapple Group (DPS) with a 3.2% yield, Pepsico Inc (PEP) with a 2.6% yield and Fomento Economico ADR (FMX) with a 1.7% yield.
Top 10 Diversified Bank Companies To Invest In Right Now: Amgen Inc.(AMGN)
Amgen Inc., a biotechnology medicines company, discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets human therapeutics based on advances in cellular and molecular biology for grievous illnesses primarily in the United States, Europe, and Canada. The company markets recombinant protein therapeutics in supportive cancer care, nephrology, and inflammation. Its principal products include Aranesp and EPOGEN erythropoietic-stimulating agents that stimulate the production of red blood cells; Neulasta and NEUPOGEN to stimulate the production of neutrophils, which is a type of white blood cell that helps the body to fight infections; and Enbrel, an inhibitor of tumor necrosis factor that plays a role in the body?s response to inflammatory diseases. The company also markets other products comprising Sensipar/Mimpara, a small molecule calcimimetic that lowers serum calcium levels; Vectibix, a monoclonal antibody that binds specifically to the epidermal growth factor receptor; and Nplate, a thrombopoietin (TPO) receptor agonist that mimics endogenous TPO, the primary driver of platelet production. In addition, it provides Denosumab, a human monoclonal antibody that targets RANKL, an essential regulator of osteoclasts. Further, the company offers product candidates in mid-to-late stage development in a variety of therapeutic areas, including oncology, hematology, inflammation, bone, nephrology, cardiovascular, and general medicine consisting of neurology. It markets its products to healthcare providers, including physicians or their clinics, dialysis centers, hospitals, and pharmacies; consumers; and wholesale distributors of pharmaceutical products. The company has various collaborative arrangements with Pfizer Inc.; GlaxoSmithKline plc; Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited; Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited; Array BioPharma Inc.; Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co. Ltd.; and Cytokinetics, Inc. Amgen Inc. was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Marc Bastow]
Now, before we get to the list, I’ll admit the thought of taking a bit of a flyer with “found” money crossed my mind. Dan Burrows suggested that doubling up on some current winners could pay out well, and any of the the three he suggests could be worth the gamble. However, I might look at biotechnology giant Amgen (AMGN). The company is at the forefront of genetically based research for cancer, anemia and other illnesses; it pays a dividend (unlike most biotechs); and it trades for just under a 20x P/E multiple.
- [By Sean Williams]
Onyx Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ONXX ) is having a garage sale, but it doesn't appear that Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN ) has been invited.
- [By Peter Stephens]
Fourth-quarter results released by Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN ) were roughly in line with Wall Street estimates. So, while shares didn't react particularly strongly (and have pretty much tracked the wider Nasdaq index since their release), there were a number of positives in the results that investors should be happy to hear about.
Top 10 Diversified Bank Companies To Invest In Right Now: Chemung Financial Corp (CHMG)
Chemung Financial Corporation, incorporated on January 2, 1985, is a financial holding company. The Company was organized for the purpose of acquiring Chemung Canal Trust Company (the Bank). The Company provides a range of financial services, such as insurance products, mutual funds, and brokerage services. The subsidiaries of the Company include Chemung Canal trust Company and CFS Group, Inc. CFS Group, Inc. offers a range of financial services including mutual funds, full and discount brokerage services, annuity and other insurance products and tax preparation services. Chemung Canal Trust Company is a full-service community bank with full trust powers. The Company manages its operations through two primary business segments: core banking and wealth management group services. The core banking segment provides revenues by attracting deposits from the general public and using such funds to originate consumer, commercial, commercial real estate, and residential mortgage loans, primarily in the Company�� local markets and to invest in securities. The wealth management group services segment provides revenues by providing trust and investment advisory services to clients.
The Bank is a New York chartered commercial bank, which engages in full-service commercial and consumer banking and trust business. The Bank's services include accepting time, demand and savings deposits, including negotiable order of withdrawal (NOW) accounts, savings accounts, insured money market accounts, investment certificates, fixed-rate certificates of deposit and club accounts. The Bank's services also include making secured and unsecured commercial and consumer loans, financing commercial transactions (either directly or participating with regional industrial development and community lending corporations), and making commercial, residential and home equity mortgage loans, revolving credit loans with overdraft checking protection and small business loans. Additional services include renting safe deposit faciliti! es and the provision of networked automated teller facilities and an Internet banking product featuring bill payment services. Wealth management services provided by the Bank include services as executor and trustee under wills and agreements, and guardian, custodian, trustee and agent for pension, profit-sharing and other employee benefit trusts, as well as various investment, pension, estate planning and employee benefit administrative services.
Lending Activities
At December 31, 2011, 22.5% of the Corporation�� loans consist of commercial real estate loans to borrowers in the real estate, rental or leasing sector. The major portion of this sector comprises borrowers that rent, lease or otherwise allow the use of their own assets by others. The Bank�� loan portfolio includes commercial, financial and agricultural loans, commercial mortgages, residential mortgages, indirect consumer loans, and consumer loans. As of December 31, 2011, the total loan portfolio of the Bank was at $796,915,000.
Investment Activities
The Bank�� investment portfolio consists of obligations of the United States Government and the United States Government sponsored entities; mortgage-backed securities, residential; obligations of states and political subdivisions; corporate bonds and notes; SBA (small business administration ) loan pools; trust preferred securities, and corporate stocks. As of December 31, 2011, the investment portfolio of the Bank was at $289,182,000.
Sources of Funds
The Bank�� source of funds includes non-interest-bearing demand deposits, interest-bearing demand deposits, savings and insured money market deposits, and time deposits. As at December 31, 2011, the total deposits of the Bank was at $965,183,000.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Doug Hughes]
Steve Halpern: Okay, today we��e going to walk through two specific investment ideas that you find attractive in the banking sector. The first is Chemung Financial (CHMG), a New York-based operation that happens to be one of the oldest banks in the country. Could you tell us a little more about that?
Top 10 Diversified Bank Companies To Invest In Right Now: NYSE Euronext Inc.(NYX)
NYSE Euronext, through its subsidiaries, operates securities exchanges. It operates various stock exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), NYSE Arca, Inc., and NYSE Amex LLC in the United States; and five European-based exchanges that comprise Euronext N.V. ? the Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Lisbon stock exchanges, as well as the NYSE Liffe derivatives markets in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Lisbon. The company?s Derivatives segment provides access to trade execution in derivatives products, options, and futures; offers clearing services for derivative products; and sells and distributes market data and related information. NYSE Euronext?s Cash Trading and Listings segment engages in offering access to trade execution in cash trading and settlement of transactions in European markets; obtaining new listings and servicing existing listings; selling and distributing market data and related information; and providing regulatory services. Its Info rmation Services and Technology Solutions segment operates sell side and buy side connectivity networks for its markets and for other market centers, and market participants in the United States, Europe, and Asia; provides trading and information technology software and solutions; sells and distributes market data and related information to data subscribers for proprietary data products; and offers asset management services, and consultancy services to exchanges and liquidity centers. The company is headquartered in New York, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Michael P. Regan]
A computer from NYSE Arca, NYSE Euronext (NYX)�� all-electronic exchange, handling Nasdaq-listed stocks was the machine that had trouble connecting with the SIP, a person familiar with the situation, who asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to discuss the issue, said last week.
Top 10 Diversified Bank Companies To Invest In Right Now: First Trust Health Care AlphaDEX Fund (FXH)
First Trust Health Care AlphaDEX Fund (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of an equity index called the StrataQuant Health Care Index (the Index). The Index is an enhanced index created and administered by the AMEX, which employs the AlphaDEX stock selection methodology to select stocks from the Russell 1000 Index. The AMEX constructs the Index by ranking the stocks, which are members of the Russell 1000 Index on growth factors, including 3, 6 and 12-month price appreciation, sales to price and one-year sales growth, and separately on value factors, including book value to price, cash flow to price and return on assets. The selected stocks are divided into quintiles based on their rankings and the top ranked quintiles receive a higher weight within the Index. The Index is reconstituted and rebalanced quarterly. The Fund�� investment advisor is First Trust Advisors L.P. Advisors' Opinion:- [By David Fabian]
Another interesting ETF that treads the line between passive and active investing in the healthcare field is the First Trust Health Care AlphaDEX Fund (FXH). This ETF is a smart beta strategy that screens healthcare stocks for book value, cash flow, and return on assets.
Top 10 Diversified Bank Companies To Invest In Right Now: Alon USA Partners LP (ALDW)
Alon USA Partners, LP (Alon USA), incorporated on August 17, 2012, owns and operates refining and petroleum products marketing business. Its integrated downstream business operates primarily in the South Central and Southwestern regions of the United States. It owns and operates a crude oil refinery in Big Spring, Texas with total throughput capacity of approximately 70,000 barrels per day (bpd). The crude oil pipelines the Company utilizes consist of the Amdel, White Oil, Mesa Interconnect, Centurion and Centurion Interconnect. Its Big Spring refinery produces ultra-low sulfur gasoline, ultra-low sulfur diesel, jet fuel, petrochemicals, petrochemical feedstocks, asphalt and other petroleum products.
During the year ended December 31, 2011 and the six months ended June 30, 2012, sour crude, such as West Texas Sour (WTS), represented approximately 80.4% and 80.4% of its throughput, respectively, and sweet crude, such as West Texas Intermediate (WTI), represented approximately 15.8% and 17.1% of its throughput, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2011 and the six months ended June 30, 2012, the Company produced approximately 49.1% and 49.2% gasoline, 32.3% and 32.5% diesel/jet fuel, 7.1% and 6.4% asphalt, 6.0% and 6.0% petrochemicals and 5.5% and 5.9% other refined products, in each case, respectively. The Company distributes fuel products through a product pipeline and terminal network of seven pipelines totaling approximately 840 miles and six terminals that it owns or access.
The Company competes with Chevron, ExxonMobil and Shell.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rick Munarriz]
Wednesday
Alon Partners USA (NYSE: ALDW ) reports on Wednesday. Analysts see the oil refiner earning $1.36 per unit on Wednesday, and that's welcome news for investors. Alon Partners is set up as a limited partnership, passing on most of the money it makes to its stakeholders.
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