Top 5 Machinery Stocks To Invest In Right Now

Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, fluid handling solutions specialist Graco (NYSE: GGG  ) has earned a respected four-star ranking.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at Graco and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.

Graco facts

Headquarters (founded)

Minneapolis, Minn. (1926)

Market Cap

$3.3 billion

Industry

Industrial machinery

Trailing-12-Month Revenue

$1.0 billion

Top 5 Machinery Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HDD)

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG is a German producer of solutions for the print media industry. The Company divides its activities into the three business segments Heidelberg Equipment, Heidelberg Services as well as Heidelberg Financial Services. Its product portfolio includes the prepress area with the Suprasetter product family; the press area, which comprises Speedmaster product families, that are used for classical offset printing, as well as for special applications, such as ultraviolet (UV) printing; as well as the postpress area, that includes cutters, folders, saddle stitchers, adhesive binders, die-cutting products, folding carton gluing machines and label systems. The Company also offers a range of spare parts and used equipment, as well as training programs and its own printing process automation software, Prinect. As of December 31, 2011, the Company operated three domestic subsidiaries and a number of foreign subsidiaries in Europe, Africa, Asia and Brazil, among others. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Patricio Kehoe]

  Seagate Technology (STX) has the ability to look for strategic acquisitions that easily synergize with the current operations. As a consequence, Seagate is going to acquire Xyratex, whose shares went up 27.3% on the announcement day and remain at that price level. The deal will help Seagate acquire testing equipment for its hard disk drives (HDD) along with storage systems to analyze and manage network data. It is expected that the deal will close in mid-2014, and add about $500 million or more in revenue in its fiscal year 2015.

• [By Nicolas73]

  Seagate Technology (STX) is a company involved in the design, manufacture, marketing and selling of Hard Disk Drives (HDD).

  They produce HDDs for enterprise applications (e.g. enterprise servers), client compute applications (mainly for notebooks), and non-compute applications (e.g. portable devices).

Top 5 Machinery Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Energy Recovery Inc (ERII)

Energy Recovery, Inc. incorporated in April 1992, is engaged in developing, manufacturing and selling of energy recovery devices and circulation pumps primarily for uses in seawater desalination plants that use reverse osmosis technology. The Company's products are sold under the trademarks AquaBold, AquaSpire, ERITM, PXT, Pressure Exchanger, PX Pressure Exchanger, PEIT, Pump Engineering and Quadribaric. The Company develops and sells two main lines of energy recovery devices: PX pressures Exchanger devices and turbochargers. Each line includes a range of models and sizes to address the breadth of required process flow rates, plant designs and sizes. The company has two wholly owned subsidiaries: Energy Recovery Iberia, S.L. and ERI Energy Recovery Ireland Ltd. During the year ended December 2011, the Company merged three subsidiaries including, Osmotic Power, Inc.; Energy Recovery, Inc. International and Pump Engineering, Inc. into the parent company, Energy Recovery, Inc.

Energy recovery devices

The Company's PX offering includes: the PX-300 and PX-Q300; the 65 series (the PX-260, PX-220 and PX-180); the 4S series (PX-140S, PX-90S, PX-70S, PX-45S and PX-30S) and brackish PX devices (for the desalination of water with a lower concentration of salt than seawater). The Company's turbocharger offering includes: the HTCAT series (HTCAT-1800, HTCAT-2400, HTCAT-3600, HTCAT-4800, HTCAT-7200 and HTCAT-9600); the HALO line (HALO-50, HALO-75, HALO-100, HALO-150, HALO-225, HALO-300, HALO-450, HALO-500, HALO-600, HALO-900 and HALO-1200) and the LPT series for brackish water desalination applications (LPT-63, LPT-125, LPT-250, LPT-500, LPT-1000, LPT-2000 and LPT-3200).

High-pressure and Circulation pumps.

The Company manufactures and sells high-pressure feed, circulation and booster pumps for uses with its energy recovery devices in reverse osmosis desalination plants. The Company's line of pumps includes the AquaBold series (AquaBold 2x3x5, AquaBold 3x4x7 and ! AquaBold 4x6x9); the AquaSpire series (AquaSpire-300, AquaSpire-450, AquaSpire-600, AquaSpire-900, AquaSpire-1200, AquaSpire-1800, AaquaSpire-2400, AquaSpire-3600, AquaSpire-4800, AquaSpire-7200 and AquaSpire-9600) and a line of small circulation pumps.

Technical support and Replacement parts

The Company provides engineering and technical support to customers during product installation and plants commissioning. The Company also offers replacement parts and services for its PX devices and turbochargers. The Company's PX devices and turbochargers are also used to retrofit or replace older energy recovery devices in existing desalination plants.

The Company Competes with Flowserve Corporation (Flowserve) based in Irving, Texas and Fluid Equipment Development Company, Clyde Union Ltd., Duchting Pumpen Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co KG, KSB Aktiengesellschaft, Torishima Pump Mfg. Co., Ltd. and Sulzer Pumps, Ltd.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ant贸nio Costa]

  Energy Recovery, Inc. (NASDAQ: ERII) broke out of a small consolidation area with heavy volume and will likely have the attention of the swing-traders in the next days.

Top Canadian Stocks To Own For 2014: Cummins Inc.(CMI)

Cummins Inc. designs, manufactures, distributes, and services diesel and natural gas engines, electric power generation systems, and engine-related component products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Engine, Power Generation, Components, and Distribution. The Engine segment offers a range of diesel and natural gas powered engines under the Cummins and other customer brand names for the heavy-and medium-duty truck, bus, recreational vehicle, light-duty automotive, agricultural, construction, mining, marine, oil and gas, rail, and governmental equipment markets. This segment also provides new parts and service, as well as remanufactured parts and engines. The Power Generation segment offers power generation systems, components, and services, including diesel, natural gas, gasoline, and alternative-fuel electrical generator sets for use in recreational vehicles, commercial vehicles, recreational marine applications, and home stand-by or residential applications. This segment also provides components that make up power generation systems, such as engines, controls, alternators, transfer switches, and switchgears. The Components segment supplies filtration products, turbochargers, aftertreatment systems, intake and exhaust systems, and fuel systems for commercial diesel applications. This segment offers filtration and exhaust systems for on-and off-highway heavy-duty and mid-range equipment, as well as supplies filtration products for industrial and passenger car applications. This segment also develops after treatment and exhaust systems to help customers meet emissions standards and fuel systems. The Distribution segment provides parts and services, as well as service solutions, including maintenance contracts, engineering services, and integrated products. The company sells its products to original equipment manufacturers, distributors, and other customers. Cummins Inc. was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Columbus, Indiana.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jim Jubak]

  Some individual stocks are already close to, or slightly over, that 3% dip benchmark. Cummins (CMI), for example, is down 2.9% from December 2 through the December 4 close. Flowserve (FLS) is down 3.4% from November 25 through December 4.

• [By Jim Jubak]

  Okay, I think we're starting to get an idea for what might be the ideal kind of stock for the economy as we're looking at it, and if you look at the analyst state that Cummins—that's symbol (CMI), they're a diesel engine manufacturer—recently held on September 16, you get a sense of what that is. What they said hit a very good chord with Wall Street. You had people raising their target prices by $20 and $30 a share. Cummins trades at $135, so that's not quite as big as if you were talking about a $20 increase on a $50 stock, but still pretty impressive.

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, diesel engine manufacturer Cummins (NYSE: CMI  ) has earned a coveted five-star ranking.

• [By John Kell]

  Cummins Inc.(CMI) said its fourth-quarter earnings rose 17%, as the supplier of engines for heavy-duty trucks reported revenue growth in its components and engine segments divisions. Sales beat expectations, but the bottom line missed.

Top 5 Machinery Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Barnes Group Inc (B)

Barnes Group Inc. is an international aerospace and industrial components manufacturer and logistics services company serving a range of end markets and customers. The products and services provided by Barnes Group are critical components for applications, which provide transportation, communication, manufacturing and technology. The Company operates under two global business segments: Logistics and Manufacturing Services, and Precision Components. On December 30, 2011, the Company sold its Barnes Distribution Europe (BDE) business to Berner SE. In August 2012, the Company acquired Synventive Molding Solutions.

Logistics and Manufacturing Services

Logistics and Manufacturing Services provides logistics support and repair services. Value-added logistics support services include inventory management, technical sales, and supply chain solutions for maintenance, repair, operating, and production supplies and services. Repair services provided include the manufacturing of spare parts for the refurbishment and repair of engineered components and assemblies for commercial and military aviation. Logistics and Manufacturing Services has sales, distribution, and manufacturing operations in the United States, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Mexico, Singapore, Spain and the United Kingdom. Products and services are available in more than 30 countries.

The global operations are engaged in supplying, servicing and manufacturing of maintenance, repair and operating components. Activities include logistics support through vendor-managed inventory and technical sales for stocked replacement parts and other products, catalog offerings and custom solutions, and the manufacture and delivery of aerospace aftermarket spare parts, including the revenue sharing programs (RSPs) under, which the Company receives right to supply designated aftermarket parts over the life of the related aircraft engine program, and component repairs. In addition, the manufacturing and supplying of aerospace! aftermarket spare parts, including the RSPs, are dependent upon the reliable and timely delivery of components.

Precision Components

Precision Components is a global supplier of engineered components for critical applications focused on providing solutions for a industrial, transportation and aerospace customer base. It is equipped to produce every type of precision spring, from fine hairsprings for electronics and instruments to heavy-duty springs for machinery, as well as precision-machined and fabricated components and assemblies for OEM turbine engine, airframe and industrial gas turbine builders globally, and the military. It is also a manufacturer and supplier of precision mechanical products, including precision mechanical springs, compressor reed valves and nitrogen gas products. Precision Components also manufactures punched and fine-blanked components used in transportation and industrial applications, nitrogen gas springs and manifold systems used to control stamping presses, and retention rings, which position parts on a shaft or other axis.

Precision Components has a customer base with products purchased by durable goods manufacturers located in industries, including transportation, consumer products, farm equipment, telecommunications, medical devices, home appliances and electronics, and airframe and gas turbine engine manufacturers for commercial and military jets, business jets, and land-based industrial gas turbines. Long-standing customer relationships enable Precision Components to participate in the design phase of components and assemblies, through which customers receive the benefits of manufacturing research, testing and evaluation. Products are sold through Precision Components��direct sales force and a distribution channel. Precision Components has manufacturing, sales, assembly and distribution operations in the United States, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Korea, Mexico, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand and the United Kingdo! m.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Citing the benefits of providing high-margin, low-cost consumables with a broad distribution footprint throughout the U.S. and Canada, industrial supplier MSC Industrial Direct (NYSE: MSM  ) announced today that it has completed the�acquisition of Barnes Group's (NYSE: B  ) �North American distribution business�for $550 million.

• [By Dave and Donald Moenning]

  For those investors that like the comfort generally provided by a diversified portfolio, here's an idea that will allow you to (a) maintain a diversified allocation in your portfolio and (b) stay out of trouble when the big, bad bears come to call on an asset class or two.

Top 5 Machinery Stocks To Invest In Right Now: AGCO Corporation (AGCO)

AGCO Corporation manufactures and distributes agricultural equipment and related replacement parts worldwide. The company provides tractors, including compact tractors for small farms and specialty agricultural industries comprising dairies, landscaping, and residential areas; utility tractors, such as two-wheel and all-wheel drive versions for small and medium-sized farms, and specialty agricultural industries consist of dairy, livestock, orchards, and vineyards; and horsepower tractors for large farms and on cattle ranches for hay production. It also offers application equipment, which includes self-propelled, three and four-wheeled vehicles, and related equipment for use in the application of liquid and dry fertilizers, and crop protection chemicals; chemical sprayer equipment for planting crops; and related equipment that comprises vehicles for waste application, as well as provides combines. In addition, the company offers hay tools and forage equipment consisting rou nd and rectangular balers, self-propelled windrowers, disc mowers, spreaders and mower conditioners for harvesting and packaging vegetative feeds; and engines, such as diesel engines, gears, and generating sets. Further, it provides implements, including disc harrows for improving field performance; heavy tillage to break up soil and mix crop residue; and field cultivators for preparing smooth seed bed and destroy weeds, as well as offers tractor-pulled planters and loaders. Additionally, the company provides precision farming technologies to enhance productivity and profitability on the farm; and other advanced technology precision farming products to gather information, such as yield data, as well as offers wholesale financing and retail financing. It markets its products under the Challenger, Fendt, Massey Ferguson, and Valtra brand names through a network of independent dealers and distributors. AGCO Corporation was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Duluth, Georgia .

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Kubota isn't the only company aggressively challenging Deere. AGCO (NYSE: AGCO  ) has made aggressive expansion efforts in Africa, working with specialty agricultural lender Rabobank to try to help farmers on the continent buy more farming equipment. Moreover, both AGCO and CNH Global (NYSE: CNH  ) have made emerging markets like Latin America a high priority, reaping benefits from the more rapidly expanding economies among Latin American nations. Deere has targeted Latin America as well, but it hasn't been as aggressive with its international efforts as its peers. Deere's stock price has reflected its lack of initiative in expanding globally:

Don't Be Aggressive With Sirius XM?

Jim Cramer suggested that a cautious stance is in order for Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI  ) during last night's Mad Money show.

"I think Sirius Radio is a slow grower here," he warned.

Cramer sees the shares gradually moving from $3 to $3.50, but he feels that speculators holding out for a pop to $5 will be disappointed. The growth isn't there, he offers.

"Don't be aggressive!"

The problem, naturally, is that Sirius XM investors have been bred to be aggressive. The stock is volatile. It has rallied over the past four years, clocking in as a whopping 60-bagger since bottoming out in early 2009. However, the stock also crashed in the years preceding that run. Volatility cuts both ways.

It's been feast or famine with Sirius XM, and now Cramer is advising investors not to be aggressive? To be fair, Sirius XM's growth has slowed in recent years. Subscriber growth has slowed to the single digits, and that's unlikely to change in the near term. Sirius XM's emergence as a profitable media giant was a validating moment, but that stabilizing turn has already been priced into the shares.

Why shouldn't Sirius XM investors be happy with the 14% return from yesterday's close to $3.50? It's not a bad return. It's not as if Sirius XM is as risky as it was during its dark days of 2009, so it's not as if shareholders should expect a big risk-adjusted return.

However, there are a few things that could send the stock past $3.50 sooner rather than later.

For starters, Cramer is only half-right about Sirius XM not being a growth story at this point. Revenue growth isn't likely to accelerate in the near term, but it's a different story on the way down to the bottom line.

Sirius XM's guidance calls for revenue to climb just 9% in 2013, but adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow are expected to climb 20% and 27%, respectively. This trend will continue given the scalable model. As long as subscriber growth continues, Sirius XM's bottom-line performance should surpass its top-line upticks.

There are also online opportunities. Worrywarts paint Pandora (NYSE: P  ) as a threat, but it's also an opportunity, as Sirius XM has introduced some interesting Web-based features over the past year. Receiver-based subscribers have to pay a few dollars more a month for online access, so the online migration is a way for Sirius XM to push its average revenue per user higher.

The two-way nature of cyberspace also opens the door for e-commerce opportunities and more value for advertisers buying ads on the non-commercial-free stations.

The road to $5 was never going to be easy. Sirius XM has a lot to prove if it wants to deem itself worthy of a market cap well north of $30 billion. However, don't tell investors not to be aggressive with Sirius XM. It's the only way that people know how to play the high-beta media giant.

Deep tracks
Despite Sirius XM being one of the market's biggest winners since bottoming out three years ago, there is still some healthy upside to be had if things go right for it -- and plenty of room for it to fall if things don't. Read all about Sirius in The Motley Fool's premium report. To get started, just click here now.

 

Friday Links

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -

A weekly collection of design, data and interactive links.

Design/Data viz
Commoditized Warfare | Part of Yosuke Ushigome's Commoditised Warfare series.
Confusion of the Stars | Soviet Lithuanian children's book illustration.
Patatap | Visualize sounds with your keyboard.
Cyber Warfare | Real-time map.
Flipboard Design Process | A look at how Flipboard automates its layouts.

Photo/Video
Romain Laurent | Animated photography.
Nintendo History | A look at Nintendo's 124-year history.
Point Cloud City | Google Street View depth map and openFrameworks.
Crazy Furniture | Making classroom furniture go crazy.

See last week's links

Have a nice weekend!
@dubly and @talyellin

Advanced Cannabis Solutions Temporarily Gets CANN-ed

Hot Warren Buffett Stocks To Own For 2014

Related FULL 3 Unique Income Investments Stocks Hitting 52-Week Highs Related CANN 3 Things That Could Extinguish The 'Reefer Rally' How Would a Hypothetical Marijuana ETF Do This Year?

Advanced Cannabis Solutions (OTC: CANN) was suspended from trading Thursday morning by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

An SEC report questioned the Colorado based company, inquiring about the possibility of undisclosed affiliates and shareholders unlawfully distributing securities.

As a result, shares of CANN are suspended until April 9, 2014.

In an email to Benzinga, CANN CFO Christopher Taylor said that "the management of the company [is] as shocked as anyone," further noting that "this does not pertain to any of the restricted shares owned by the founders or officers.

"This relates to stock that has been sold that is free trading, and we have no control over these sales."

See also: 14 Cannabis Stocks To Watch In 2014

420 Investor Alan Brochstein called CANN "one of the best companies in the [cannabis] space," noting that this is most likely a third-party problem with an individual investor breaking the rules.

Brochstein also pointed out that when other cannabis companies have had trade halted (AVNE, CDFT, and PTOG), the SEC provided incredibly vague reports regarding the suspensions, while the report for CANN has very specific language.

Full Circle Capital (NASDAQ: FULL), a business development firm that has significant investments in CANN, is trading down today on the news of the suspension.

FULL has paid CANN $500,000 in warrants, which is part of a $30 million dollar senior secured convertible note purchase agreement.

In addition to the CANN news, FULL paid a monthly dividend of .067 per share on March 14, and is trading ex dividend thursday.

At the time of publication, FULL was trading down 16.71 percent.

Posted-In: 420 investor cannabis marijuana SECNews Emerging Markets Movers & Shakers Politics Legal Economics Markets General Best of Benzinga

© 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

  Most Popular UPDATE: BofA Announces $4B Buyback Plan, Raises Qtr. Dividend from $0.01 to $0.05/Share UPDATE: Facebook to Acquire Oculus VR for About $2B Advanced Cannabis Solutions Temporarily Gets CANN-ed Federal Reserve Board announces approval of capital plans of 25 bank holding companies participating in the Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review Spotify Vs. Pandora Vs. Google Music Vs. iTunes Radio Vs. Xbox Music UPDATE: Bank of America Announces Settlements With Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and New York Attorney General Related Articles (FULL + CANN) Advanced Cannabis Solutions Temporarily Gets CANN-ed 3 Things That Could Extinguish The 'Reefer Rally' How Would a Hypothetical Marijuana ETF Do This Year? 3 Unique Income Investments Around the Web, We're Loving...

Fed Official: Jobless Rate Seen Falling Below 6% This Year

Brennan Linsley/APJob seekers at a job fair in Denver. HONG KONG -- The U.S. unemployment rate will fall below 6 percent by the end of this year, a Federal Reserve official said Wednesday, offering a bullish view on the country's economy after central bank comments sent shock waves through financial markets last week. James Bullard, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, said that the outlook for the U.S. economy is "quite good," despite data from early in the year. "The biggest thing is that unemployment has come down more quickly than expected," said Bullard, speaking on a panel at the annual Credit Suisse (CS) investor conference in Hong Kong. He added later during a question and answer session that more progress is needed in the labor market before U.S. policymakers can consider raising interest rates. Bullard is known to be one of the Fed's more hawkish policymakers. He previously advocated for a rate hike as early as 2014, a stance he appears to have backed away from. U.S. monetary policy tightening took center stage last week after a two-day policy meeting, when the Fed said it expected to keep benchmark interest rates near zero for a "considerable time" after it wrapped up a bond-buying stimulus program, which it is widely expected to do toward the end of the year. Pressed on the statement at a news conference afterward, Fed Chairman Janet Yellen said the phrase "probably means something on the order of around six months or that type of thing." Stocks and bonds immediately tumbled as traders took the statement to suggest rate hikes could come sooner than they had anticipated. Bullard has joined other Fed officials in playing down the "six months" comment from Yellen, saying it was in line with what the private sector was anticipating. He repeated that view Wednesday. The unemployment rate for February rose to 6.7 percent from a five-year low of 6.6 percent as Americans flooded into the labor market to search for work. But the rate hovering around the Fed's previous 6.5 percent benchmark has raised the prospect of the central bank moving to push up rates more quickly than some in the market previously expected. Fed officials appear increasingly worried that keeping policy so easy for so long could encourage investors to take too many risks, building bubbles that may eventually pop and roil financial markets. The U.S. economy is "set for a pretty good year," Bullard said Wednesday. "Despite the spate of weaker data in the January, February time frame." The Fed has held rates near zero since late 2008 to help the economy recover from the 2007-2009 recession. Bullard was asked about where he saw interest rates in 2016, at which point he referred to his "dot." The Fed introduced a "dot chart" in its January 2012 economic projections. Each dot represents the view of an individual policymaker on how they see the appropriate level of interest rates for the coming few years. "I'm here to tell you that my dot has not changed," Bullard said. Data on Tuesday showed U.S. consumer confidence surged to a six-year high in March and house prices increased solidly in January, positioning the economy for stronger growth after a weather-induced soft spot. -.

5 Best Canadian Stocks To Invest In Right Now

5 Best Canadian Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Mistras Group Inc (MG)

Mistras Group, Inc. provides technology-enabled asset protection solutions to evaluate the structural integrity and reliability of critical energy, industrial, and public infrastructure worldwide. It provides traditional non-destructive testing (NDT) services; advanced NDT services; and mechanical integrity services. The company also offers software solutions, including Plant Condition Monitoring Software and Systems, an enterprise software that allows its customers for the warehousing and analysis of data. In addition, it provides Advanced Data Analysis Pattern Recognition and Neural Networks software, which enables acoustic emission (AE) experts to develop automated remote monitoring systems; AE Software Platform, a windows based real time application software; Loose Parts Monitoring Software program for monitoring, detecting, and evaluating metallic loose parts in nuclear reactor coolant systems; and Automated UT and Imaging Analysis Software for analyzing ultrasonic in spection data, and visualizing and identifying the location and size of flaws. Further, the company's technology packages include TANKPAC for tank inspections; POWERPAC for monitoring discharges in critical power grid transformers; and Acoustic Combustion Turbine Monitoring System, an on-line system to detect stator blade cracks in gas turbines. Additionally, it offers digital radiographic systems to solve specific industrial problems; AE sensors, instruments, and turn-key systems, as well as leak monitoring and detection systems; ultrasonic equipment; vibration sensing products; and on-line monitoring services. Mistras Group, Inc. was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Princeton Junction, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Wallace Witkowski]

  Stock in Mistras Group Inc. (MG) !  rose 6.9% to $23.99 on light volume after the company raised its revenue outlook for the year to a range of $590 million to $615 million. Analysts expected $592.1 million.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Mistras Group (NYSE: MG) is expected to post its Q1 earnings at $0.12 per share on revenue of $130.10 million.

  Posted-In: Earnings scheduleEarnings News Pre-Market Outlook Markets

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/5-best-canadian-stocks-to-invest-in-right-now.html

Why is AT&T Inc. Soaring Today?

Sometimes it doesn't take much to move a Dow Jones (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) stock with a $175 billion market cap. Today's second- biggest Dow gainer (as of 2 p.m. EDT) is AT&T (NYSE: T  ) , rising 2.7% on nothing but an analyst note.

Representatives from well-respected analyst house Credit Suisse sat down with AT&T CFO John Stephens this week, and came away impressed. The firm tacked a buy rating and a $37 price target on AT&T shares. That target is about 12% ahead of AT&T's closing price last night.

The telecom's stock has been battered lately, due to strong competition from Sprint (NYSE: S  ) and T-Mobile  (NYSE: TMUS  ) . The two smaller carriers are making waves with new leadership and innovative strategies. T-Mobile is actually stealing customers from AT&T and fellow megacarrier Verizon (NYSE: VZ  ) , while Sprint backer Masayoshi Son sends signals of an upcoming price war.

Image source: AT&T.

But Stephens told the Credit Suisse analyst team to stop worrying about these niggling challengers. "Recent competitive activity is similar to what they've seen in the past, indicating management feels the market remains rational," according to the firm's notes on AT&T. In Stephens' view, network quality matters more than pricing advantages, which means that AT&T and Verizon should be able to fend off smaller rivals and their less impressive radio spectrum portfolios -- without engaging in an all-out price war.

Top 5 Small Cap Companies To Watch In Right Now

Personally, I'm not convinced that Stephens' logic is correct. It's true that network quality matters, and that AT&T and Verizon hold a spectrum-based advantage there. But pricing is important, too, and every AT&T customer has a pain threshold where a less impressive network could gain their business with a large enough discount.

If Sprint is allowed to acquire T-Mobile and create a third carrier with scale similar to AT&T and Verizon, we'll see where that pain threshold sits. If not, AT&T will be able to maintain high prices while bragging about its fast and reliable network. Rarely does one potential merger hold this much power over an entire industry.

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5 Best Medical Stocks To Buy For 2014

5 Best Medical Stocks To Buy For 2014: Koninklijke Philips NV (PHIA)

Koninklijke Philips NV, formerly Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV, is the Netherlands-based parent company of the Philips Group (Philips). The Company operates within three main business sectors, such as Healthcare, Consumer Lifestyle, and Lighting, as well as through the Innovation, Group & Services (IG&S) sector. The Healthcare sector offers both personal care and professional products, such as computer tomography equipment, radiography equipment and refurbished systems. Consumer Lifestyle sector offers a range of sound, vision, personal devices and household products, such as television, headphones, kitchen appliances, shavers and digital cameras, among others. Lighting sector offers lighting products, such as professional lamps, light-emitting diodes (LED), ballasts and luminaires, among others. The IG&S segment provides the operating sectors with support through shared service centers. It also includes projects which are not part of the operating sectors. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Corinne Gretler]

  European stocks rose for a fourth day, extending a seven-week high, as companies from UBS AG to Royal Philips (PHIA) Electronics NV reported increased profit.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/5-best-medical-stocks-to-buy-for-2014.html

Top 5 Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now

Top 5 Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now: Halliburton Company(HAL)

Halliburton Company provides various products and services to the energy industry for the exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas worldwide. It operates in two segments, Completion and Production, and Drilling and Evaluation. The Completion and Production segment offers production enhancement services, completion tools and services, cementing services, and Boots & Coots. Its production enhancement services include stimulation and sand control services; completion tools and services comprise subsurface safety valves and flow control equipment, surface safety systems, packers and specialty completion equipment, intelligent completion systems, expandable liner hanger systems, sand control systems, well servicing tools, and reservoir performance services; cementing services consist of bonding the well and well casing, while isolating fluid zones and maximizing wellbore stability, and casing equipment; and Boots & Coots include well intervention services , pressure control, equipment rental tools and services, and pipeline and process services. The Drilling and Evaluation segment provides field and reservoir modeling, drilling, evaluation, and wellbore placement solutions that enable customers to model, measure, and optimize their well construction activities. Its services comprise fluid services, drilling services, drill bits, wireline and perforating services, testing and subsea services, software and asset solutions, and integrated project management and consulting services. The company serves independent, integrated, and national oil companies. Halliburton Company was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lee Jackson]

  Halliburton Co. (NYSE: HAL) is one of the top names across all the firms we cover on Wall Street. The company stands to benefit! from continued robust levels of domestic drilling activity and a pick-up in international markets. Management believes the company can deliver earnings per share of $6 by 2016, double the level from 2012. Investors receive a 1.1% dividend. The consensus price estimate is posted at $65.17. Halliburton closed Thursday at $55.16.

• [By Dimitra DeFotis]

  Adams’ partial list of potential losers:

  BP (BP) : the highest profile potential loser. It owns 19.75% of Russian energy giant Rosneft, which accounted a third of BP's production in the fourth quarter. Sanctions that inhibit oil and gas flows to Europe, or banking/capital flows, would “hit Rosneft and BP early and hard.” An offset: there could be an uptick in demand for a pipeline 30% owned and operated by BP because it transports Azerbaijan oil through Georgia and Turkey to the Mediterranean — a southern route avoiding Georgia and Ukraine. Chevron (CVX) pipeline investments could be stymied. It also signed a 50-year agreement to explore for and develop oil and gas in western Ukraine, involving up to $10 billion of investment. “A Russian takeover spikes that deal,” Adams says. Oilfield services companies Halliburton (HAL), Baker Hughes (BHI), and Weatherford International (WFT) all do business in Russia that could be prohibited if it is labeled a rogue nation.

  The crisis in Ukraine and Russia’s tactics make U.S. assets look more secure and more valuable: some U.S. refiners that could export fuel, utility holding companies that could export liquefied natural gas, and related pipeline companies could see even more benefits, longer-term,  from the North American fracking and horizontal drilling boom. But approval of the TransCanada (TRP) Keystone XL pipeline is a necessary piece of that equation, Adams writes.

• [By Aaron Levitt]

  With a variety of oil stocks reporting full-year 2013 earnings, unconventional assets are the gifts that keep on giving for the oil ser! vice trio! of Halliburton (HAL), Baker Hughes (BHI) and Schlumberger (SLB).

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-5-energy-stocks-to-watch-right-now.html

Stocks: Set to close week with a gain

Click on chart to track premarkets

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) This week saw tweaks to Federal Reserve policy, rising tensions between the West and Russia and continued concerns about slowing growth in China.

But for the most part, markets kept pushing higher. As it stands now, the major U.S. indexes look set to close out the week with a healthy gain.

U.S. stock futures were edging up Friday, with investors feeling relatively calm after a Fed freak out in the middle of the week.

Stocks could be volatile Friday as it's also the day when four futures and options contracts expire -- known as quadruple witching.

"That's the main driver of the day," said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Rockwell Global Capital. "There is really no economic news out there other than the fact that there was some good news out there last night on the [Federal Reserve's] stress test: 29 of the 30 big banks passed."

Markets were rattled Wednesday after Fed chair Janet Yellen suggested that the central bank could begin hiking interest rates sooner than expected. But stocks have climbed every other day this week.

The latest reading on the CNNMoney Fear & Greed index shows markets are getting greedy again.

But the mood isn't quite so perky in Russia, where the stock market and ruble are under pressure after the U.S. announced sanctions against more high-ranking Russian individuals and a bank. Western nations are trying to put pressure on Russia after it annexed Crimea, a region in southern Ukraine.

There's little U.S. economic or corporate news on the docket Friday. Before the bell, Tiffany (TIF) reported full-year earnings and sales that fell short of forecasts.

Shares of Nike (NKE, Fortune 500) slid 3% after the company said earnings could be squeezed over the ! next few quarters.

Shares of Symantec (SYMC, Fortune 500) plunged after the company fired its CEO.

European markets were all rising in morning trading.

Asian markets mostly closed with gains. The main stock market indexes in Hong Kong and China pushed higher.

The Nikkei in Japan was closed for the Vernal Equinox.

7 Restaurant and Resort Stocks to Buy Now

Popular Posts: 7 Biotechnology Stocks to Buy Now15 Oil and Gas Stocks to Sell Now13 “Triple A” Stocks to Buy Recent Posts: 10 Worst “Strong Sell” Stocks This Week — ICA RCII YZC and more 5 Energy Services Stocks to Buy Now 7 Restaurant and Resort Stocks to Buy Now View All Posts

This week, seven restaurant and resort stocks are improving their overall rating on Portfolio Grader. Each of these rates an “A” (“strong buy”) or “B” overall (“buy”).

Gaylord Entertainment () is bettering its rating of C (“hold”) from last week to a B (“buy”) this week. Gaylord Entertainment owns and operates branded hotels in multiple states. .

Cedar Fair, L.P. () is making headway this week, with the company’s rating improving to an A (“strong buy”) from a B (“buy”) last week. Cedar Fair owns and operates amusement and water parks in the United States and Canada. The stock has moved up a slight 1.6% over the past week. Shares of the stock have been changing hands at an unusually rapid pace, twice the rate of the week prior. At present, the stock has a dividend yield of 2.8%. .

This week, Peet’s Coffee & Tea’s () ratings are up from a C last week to a B. Peet’s Coffee & Tea markets fresh-roasted whole bean coffee. .

Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation () earns a B this week, jumping up from last week’s grade of C. Marriott Vacations Worldwide engages in the development, marketing, sale, and management of vacation ownership and related products in the United States and internationally. Shares of VAC have increased 10.3% over the past month, better than the 1.7% decrease the S&P 500 has seen over the same period of time. .

This is a strong week for Brinker International, Inc. (). The company’s rating climbs to A from the previous week’s B. Brinker International owns, develops, operates, and franchises full-service casual dining restaurants. Wall Street has pushed the stock higher by 7.2% over the past month. .

The rating of China Lodging Group Ltd. Sponsored ADR () moves up this week, rising from a B to an A. China Lodging Group is an economy hotel chain in China. .

Top 10 Defensive Stocks To Buy Right Now

Lakes Entertainment, Inc. () shows solid improvement this week. The company’s rating rises from a B to an A. Lakes Entertainment has development and management agreements with several Tribes for new casino operations in Michigan, California, and the East Coast. .

Louis Navellier’s proprietary Portfolio Grader stock ranking system assesses roughly 5,000 companies every week based on a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. Stocks are given a letter grade based on their results — with A being “strong buy,” and F being “strong sell.” Explore the tool here.

Top Biotech Companies To Own For 2014

Top Biotech Companies To Own For 2014: Cannabis Science Inc (CBIS)

Cannabis Science, Inc., incorporated on May 4, 2007, is a development-stage company. The Company is engaged in the creation of cannabis-based medicines, both with and without psychoactive properties, to treats disease and the symptoms of disease, as well as for general health maintenance. On February 9, 2012, the Company acquired GGECO University, Inc. (GGECO). On March 21, 2012, the Company acquired Cannabis Consulting Inc. (CCI Group).

The Company is engaged in medical marijuana research and development. The Company works with world authorities on phytocannabinoid science targeting critical illnesses, and adheres to scientific methodologies to develop, produce, and commercialize phytocannabinoid-based pharmaceutical products.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  Much like Nuvilex, Cannabis Science Inc. (OTCMKTS:CBIS) appears to simply be another conventional biotech outfit. And, truth be told, that's what CBIS is. It just happens to be developing two drugs based on cannabinoids... one to reat HIV/AIDS, and the other to treat cancer. Both drugs are in preclinical trials right now, so an actual marketable product is still years down the road for Cannabis Science Inc. But, as a legitimate biotechnology that isn't aiming to simply fuel tokers' needs, it's not going to hit any regulatory or law-enforcement roadblocks.

• [By John Udovich]

  One almost has to feel sorry for old school small cap marijuana stocks like Medical Marijuana Inc (OTCMKTS: MJNA), Cannabis Science Inc (OTCMKTS: CBIS) and Hemp Inc (OTCMKTS: HEMP) which have been around awhile and increasingly have to contend with the marijuana newswires getting flooded with news from every small cap OTC stock along with your mother's uncle's fifth cousin trying to grab a piece of the marijuana hype. We alone had two ! specific articles (Small Cap Marijuana Stocks Aiming for a High With News: MCIG, FRTD & SKTO and Four Marijuana Small Caps Giving Investors Highs or Lows: ENRT, VMGI, NVLX & RTXBQ) covering about half a dozen different wannabe marijuana stocks with news for just this week along with another article (Putting My Call on Latteno Food in Perspective, Take-Two (LATF, MJNA, ERBB)) about another small cap that's infusing food with weed. 

• [By Dan Burrows]

  MediSwipe (MWIP) has tripled, with MWIP stock up 200%. Cannabis Science (CBIS) is closing in on quadrupling, as CBIS stock gained 273%. And GreenGro Technologies (GRNH)? Brace yourself, because GRNH stock is up over 1,000% … including an 18% so far today.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-biotech-companies-to-own-for-2014.html

10 Best Warren Buffett Stocks To Own Right Now

10 Best Warren Buffett Stocks To Own Right Now: Triangle Petroleum Corporation (TPLM)

Triangle Petroleum Corporation engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of unconventional shale oil and natural gas resources in the Bakken Shale and Three Forks formations in the Williston Basin of North Dakota and Montana. As of January 31, 2013, the company held leasehold interests in approximately 86,000 net acres in McKenzie and Williams Counties of North Dakota, and Roosevelt and Sheridan Counties of Montana. It also holds an 87% working interest in approximately 412,924 net acres of oil and natural gas leases in the Windsor Sub-Basin of the Maritimes Basin located in Nova Scotia, Canada. In addition, the company offers hydraulic pressure pumping and complementary well completion services to oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in the Williston Basin of North Dakota and Montana. The company was formerly known as Peloton Resources Inc. and changed its name to Triangle Petroleum Corporation in May 2005. Triangle Petroleum Corporation was incorporated in 2003 and is headquartered in Denver, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Travis Hoium]

  What: Shares of Triangle Petroleum  (NYSEMKT: TPLM  )  jumped 10% today after the company released earnings.

  So what: Revenue rose 17% in the quarter to $34.3 million, above the $31.5 million estimate. On the bottom line, the company went from a $3 million loss a year ago to a $5.2 million profit, or $0.10 per share, double what Wall Street estimated.  

• [By Bret Jensen]

  Triangle Petroleum (TPLM) came within pennies of doubling since I profiled it at $5.40 a share back in June on Friday. This was twenty months before my prediction that the fast growing concern could achieve those levels. Triangle shows there can quite a bit a value still left among the! smaller Bakken players. I view these small E&P firms almost like biotechs and use the same form of "shotgun investing" I do with that sector. Here are two small Bakken producers which could award aggressive growth investors in the future.

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap Triangle Petroleum Corporation (NYSEMKT: TPLM), just like its peers Emerald Oil Inc (NYSEMKT: EOX) and Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp (NYSE: KOG), is focused on the Williston Basin's Bakken and Three Forks formations and the company is scheduled to release second quarter fiscal year 2014 financial results after the close of trading next Monday. And the last time earnings were reported, shares jumped around 10% plus management gave some rosy commentary for investors. With that in mind, should investors in Triangle Petroleum Corporation be ready for another earnings report that excites the bulls?

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/10-best-warren-buffett-stocks-to-own-right-now.html

Best Small Cap Companies To Buy For 2014

Best Small Cap Companies To Buy For 2014: China Metro-Rural Holdings Limited(CNR)

China Metro-Rural Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in the development and operation of agricultural logistics and trade centers in northeast China. It also involves in purchasing, processing, assembling, merchandising, and distributing pearls and jewelry products. The company markets its pearls and jewelry products to wholesale distributors and mass merchandisers in Europe, the United States, Hong Kong, and other parts of Asia. In addition, it develops, sells, and leases residential and commercial properties in Hong Kong and the People?s Republic of China. The company is based in Tsimshatsui, Hong Kong.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Katie Brennan]

  Canadian National Railway Co. (CNR) added 0.9 percent to C$104.93 and Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. rose 1.7 percent to C$131.73.

  Niko Resources surged 3.4 percent to $8.64 after the company entered an agreement for a $60 million loan that will be funded by a group of institutional investors. Net proceeds from the loan will be used to fund working capital requirements.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-small-cap-companies-to-buy-for-2014.html

Tips for couples on the 'retirement talk'

People know they aren't saving enough for their golden years, but at least they are talking about retirement with their significant other.

Couples say they discuss retirement planning an average of 14 times a year, according to a telephone survey of 1,008 adults sponsored by Capital One ShareBuilder, an online investing site.

The survey shows 72% of employed adults say they're contributing a percentage of their annual income to retirement, tucking away an average of 6.4% of their annual incomes. Overall, folks believe they should be saving about 12.1%.

If you are saving less than 10% for retirement, especially if you're in your 40s and 50s, that's not enough, says Dan Greenshields, president of Capital One ShareBuilder. Ideally, at that age, you should be saving in the mid-teens to 20% of your income, but most Americans can't save that much because they have so many financial demands, he says.

Couples may believe they're talking about retirement planning 14 times a year, but that may mean they've mentioned the word retirement or simply talked about finances, he says. Not enough people are having in-depth retirement discussions.

He says it's especially important that couples discuss the lifestyle they want to have and where they want to live. You can live in some rural communities on half the assets that it takes to live in many big cities, Greenshields says.

He advises couples to try to make retirement planning fun by having the discussions over dinner at a restaurant or on a weekend retreat. Try to figure out what's important to each of you, what expenses you have, what you want to do for your grandchildren and whether either of you plan to have a second career.

St. Louis psychologist Diane Sanford, 57, who often counsels couples struggling with money issues, says, "I'm happy to hear couples are talking about retirement planning 14 times a year — I thought they wouldn't be talking about it at all."

STORY: Many delay retirement: Need more money, enjoy t! heir jobs

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STORY: How retired couples can live happily ever after

"If you compile a budget for six months of all your expenses, which my husband and I did, then you'll see what you need to save to create the lifestyle you hope to have in retirement," she says. "The budget provides a neutral way of starting the conversation about retirement savings."

One of the worst mistakes partners can make is to start blaming each other for spending too much. It's better to work together than "pick each other apart," she says.

Couples who fear they won't have enough to retire may feel especially deprived, and under those circumstances, it's easy to blame the other person when, in reality, no one is at fault, says Joe Burgo, a psychologist in Chapel Hill, N.C., and author of Why Do I Do That? "Coming together as a team, agreeing upon and sharing the sacrifices, will help them weather the disappointment of living on less than they had expected."

Sanford says she often sees couples when one partner is involved in retirement saving and the other isn't. "It's important that both of you are informed and know what your assets are."

Other survey findings:

• Employed men tend to save at a slightly higher percentage of their income (7.2%) than employed women (5.6%).

• 58% of pre-retirees say they plan to retire at age 65, but 57% say they are concerned they won't save enough in time.

• 61% of female pre-retirees are concerned they will never save enough for retirement, compared with 52% of men.

Top Mid Cap Stocks For 2014

Top Mid Cap Stocks For 2014: Hibbett Sports Inc.(HIBB)

Hibbett Sports, Inc. operates sporting goods stores in small to mid-sized markets primarily in the southeast, southwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest regions of the United States. Its stores offer an assortment of merchandise, including athletic footwear, team sports equipment, athletic and fashion apparel, and related accessories. The company also provides its merchandise directly to educational institutions and youth associations. As of January 28, 2012, it operated 832 stores consisting of 812 Hibbett Sports stores, 19 smaller-format Sports Additions athletic shoe stores, and 1 larger-format Sports & Co. superstore in 26 states. The company was formerly known as Hibbett Sporting Goods, Inc. and changed its name to Hibbett Sports, Inc. in January 2007. Hibbett Sports, Inc. was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Calling all cash flows
  When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Hibbett Sports (Nasdaq: HIBB  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Calling all cash flows
  When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Hibbett Sports (Nasdaq: HIBB  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-mid-cap-stoc! ks-for-2014-2.html

Number of U.S. millionaires hits new high

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) It looks like the rich have finally shaken off the recession.

The number of U.S. households with a net worth of $1 million or more, excluding primary residence, rose to 9.63 million in 2013, according to a new report from Spectrem Group, a consulting and research firm.

That's more than a 600,000 leap up from 2012, and the highest number on record.

This is the first year that the number has surpassed the pre-recession high of 9.2 million in 2007. Once the global financial meltdown hit and the bottom fell out of the market, the number tanked to 6.7 million in 2008.

"The last few years, we've seen the number continually increase, but this was the first year that we're finally beyond the economic crisis," said George Walper, Jr., president of Spectrem Group.

  What can you buy with a Wall St. bonus

He said that the market reaching all-time highs last year, coupled with an improving real estate market, drove the rich to get even richer.

The ultra-wealthy weren't lagging behind. Walper said both the number of households with a net worth of $5 million and above and $25 million or more reached the highest numbers since Spectrem started tracking the figure.

"Because of their levels of wealth, they increased their exposure to equities during the downturn and were making investments in real estate when the market was at the bottom," he said. "That's why now they've benefited the most from the return in the economy."

Top Performing Stocks To Buy For 2015

Top Performing Stocks To Buy For 2015: Meru Networks Inc.(MERU)

Meru Networks, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides wireless local area network (LAN) solutions in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It offers a virtualized wireless LAN solution based on its System Director Operating System, which runs on its controllers and access points to enable enterprises to deliver business-critical applications over wireless networks. The company?s System Director Operating System provides centralized coordination and control of various access points on the network; controllers synchronize access points to optimize the user experience and manage traffic on the network; and Wi-Fi certified access points to provide network connectivity for wireless devices. It also offers Meru Networks E(z)RF application suite comprising E(z)RF Network Manager, E(z)RF Service Assurance Manager, E(z)RF Location Manager, E(z)RF OnTheGo, Spectrum Manager, and wired and wireless management solutions, which enable enterprises t o configure, monitor, troubleshoot, secure, and operate virtualized wireless LAN solution. In addition, the company provides Identity Manager that simplifies enterprise network access and identity management; Wireless Intrusion Prevention System to recognize and mitigate threats; Compliance Manager to reduce the risk of security breach by protecting customer and employee personal information by extending security to the wireless network; AirFirewall to intercept and block unwanted communications as they transmit over the air, stopping them before they reach the network; and Security Gateway SG1000 to meet the demands of the Federal Information Processing Standard, 140-2 Level 3 security required by federal government agencies and other security-conscious organizations. It serves the education, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, retail, technology, finance, government, te! lecom, transportation, and utility markets. The company was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in S unnyvale, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Meru Networks (NASDAQ: MERU  ) isn't wasting any time in finding a successor to one of its top executives. The company announced Monday it had appointed Brian McDonald to be its new CFO to replace the resigning Brett White. McDonald took up his position today, although White will remain at the firm through July 1 in order "to effect a smooth transition."

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-performing-stocks-to-buy-for-2015.html

Best Media Companies To Own For 2015

The wealth-building power of compound interest will never cease to amaze me. But a soft dividend can also distract investors from exciting growth opportunities. There are times when a weak payout may be all right, because the company is building a larger and stronger cash machine to fund payouts in the decades ahead.

Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS  ) rarely comes up in discussions of brilliant dividend plays. The media giant's measly 1.1% yield is hardly the stuff of legend, and Disney spends just 26% of its free cash on dividend checks. That's less than half the average Dow Jones (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) cash payout ratio of 57%. With this much headroom to increase payouts, why doesn't the House of Mouse turn up the heat under its dividend policy? Does this company hate shareholders?

The short answer to that rhetorical question is, of course, a resounding "no."

For one thing, Disney is getting over its reluctance to raise dividends lately. Thanks to large increases in 2011 and 2012, Disney's payouts have more than doubled in the last five years. The main reason why this trend didn't unlock a generous yield is simple: The stock is just performing too darn well! It's hard to keep a dividend policy abreast with the rapid rise of Disney share prices.

Best Media Companies To Own For 2015: Gannett Co. Inc. (GCI)

Gannett Co., Inc. operates as a media and marketing solutions company in the United States and internationally. Its Publishing segment publishes 83 U.S. daily newspapers with affiliated online sites, including USA TODAY, a national, general-interest daily newspaper; USATODAY.com; USA WEEKEND, a magazine supplement for newspapers; Clipper Magazine, a direct mail advertising magazine; bi-weekly Nursing Spectrum and NurseWeek periodicals; and military and defense newspapers. This segment also includes 17 paid-for daily newspapers; approximately 200 weekly newspapers, magazines, and trade publications; and approximately 600 non-daily publications, as well as involves in commercial printing, newswire, marketing, and data services operations. The company?s Digital segment owns and operates CareerBuilder, an employment Web site, which offers online recruitment and career advancement services for employers, employees, recruiters, and job seekers; ShopLocal, which provides multicha nnel shopping and advertising services; Planet Discover, which offers hosted search and advertising services; PointRoll, which provides digital marketing services and technology; and Schedule Star, which offers scheduling solution for high school athletic departments. Its Broadcasting segment operates 23 television stations and affiliated Web sites, which produce local programming, such as news, sports, and entertainment programming. This segment also includes Captivate Network, a national news and entertainment network that delivers programming and full-motion video advertising on video screens located in elevators of office towers and select hotel lobbies in North America. The company has strategic business relationships with online affiliates, including Classified Ventures, ShopLocal.com, Topix, and Metromix LLC, as well as strategic marketing agreement with Microsoft. Gannett Co., Inc. was founded in 1906 and is headquartered in McLean, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WilliamBriat]

  Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) is the top newspaper publisher in the U.S.; its flagship paper is USA TODAY. The company also owns 23 television stations and more than 200 papers in the U.K. Gannett Co. provides an annual dividend of 3.3%. During the second quarter, it reported solid broadcasting and digital revenue growth and its fourth consecutive quarter of year-over-year circulation revenue growth.

Best Media Companies To Own For 2015: Time Warner Cable Inc(TWC)

Time Warner Cable Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a cable operator in the United States. It offers video, high-speed data, and voice services over its broadband cable systems to residential and commercial customers. The company provides a range of video services, including on-demand, high-definition (HD), and digital video recorder (DVR) services; residential high-speed data services with connection to the Internet; wireless mobile broadband Internet services; and digital phone services to residential customers. It offers video programming tiers and music services; high-speed data, networking, and transport services; and commercial digital phone service to small and medium-sized businesses under the Time Warner Cable Business Class brand. Further, Time Warner Cable Inc. sells advertising to various national, regional, and local customers. As of June 30, 2011, the company served approximately 14.5 million residential and commercial customers in the New Yor k State, the Carolinas, Ohio, southern California, and Texas. Time Warner Cable Inc. is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Although Maffei did not say as much, swallowing Sirius gives Liberty access to the satellite radio provider�� free cash flow of about $625 million to use in pursuit of Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC). Charter Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: CHTR), in which Liberty holds a 27% stake, has been trying to put together the financing to make an offer for much larger Time Warner. For its part, Time Warner, the nation�� second largest cable provider, is trying to put together a deal with the nation�� largest cable provider, Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA), that would shut Liberty out.

• [By Markos Kaminis]

  Perhaps Verizon should have made this issue more public and not agreed to it without a good public fight, and in that way forced all of its peers to also bear this weight today, if they are not involved. Though it was restricted in that way due to the issue's secret status. Since it seems logical and probable that other telecommunications providers are involved, Verizon should make a major PR effort to clear its name or at least bring in the names of its peers into the judgment pool. Verizon is at the center of the spotlight because of the Guardian article that broke the news, and because it is the largest telecommunications company in America. I believe it could mitigate any brand damage I'm speaking of here if it can implicate its most important peers as well, including AT&T (T), Sprint Nextel (S), Comcast (CMCSA), Time Warner Cable (TWC) and the rest, in the same mess.

Hot Insurance Stocks To Buy Right Now: Charter Communications Inc.(CHTR)

Charter Communications, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides entertainment, information, and communications solutions to residential and commercial customers in the United States. The company offers cable video programming services, such as basic and digital video, premium channels, OnDemand, pay-per-view, high definition television, digital video recorder, and online video services; Internet services; Charter.net, which provides multiple e-mail addresses, as well as various entertainment, games, news, and sports content; and telephone services. It also provides broadband communications solutions, such as Internet access, data networking, fiber connectivity to cellular towers and office buildings, video entertainment services, and business telephone services under the Charter Business brand name to business and carrier organizations. As of December 31, 2011, the company served approximately 4.1 million video customers; approximately 3.5 million Internet customers; appr oximately 1.7 million telephone customers; and approximately 476,200 commercial primary service units. Charter Communications, Inc. was founded in 1999 and is based in St. Louis, Missouri.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James E. Brumley]

  The cable-television M&A chatter is making its rounds again, this time with Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR), Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE:TWC), and Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) pegged as the three points of the ever-changing parties of a never-ending love triangle. The buzz is, well, was that CHTR was first in line to nab TWC. Today, however, it's starting to look like CMCSA is more seriously interested in Time Warner Cable than first thought. TWC shares jumped on the doubly-good news that it may well become the prize in a bidding war between Charter Communications and Comcast Corporation. Meanwhile, CMCSA shares have jumped (albeit not quite as firmly) on the prospect of its ownership of TWC. What's interesting - and perhaps telling - is the fact that not only have CHTR shares not soared in the wake of what would normally be viewed as good news, but Charter shares have actually stumbled heading into the possible bidding war. Might this be an omen of what's actually in store for Charter Communications?

• [By CNBC]

  Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images Time Warner Cable's flirtation with potential merger suitors may include Comcast, which is seeking advice on possible regulatory hurdles if it should pursue a bid, sources told CNBC on Friday. Comcast (CMCSA) (CMCSK), the parent company of CNBC, is not in active discussions on deal terms with Time Warner Cable (TWC), these sources say, but is asking for guidance on antitrust and telecommunications-related issues. According to people familiar with the matter, TWC has made it clear that if it should sell itself, Comcast would be its preferred buyer. These people add that Comcast has been quietly mulling a merger with TWC for some time. The cable operator is on the verge of a bid from Charter Communications (CHTR), according to The Wall Street Journal, which said Charter is near an agreement with banks for the funds to make that offer. Analysts, however, say Time Warner's needs may be better suited with Comcast. "The synergies are very real, and Comcast would be a better fit," said Craig Moffett, founder and senior analyst at MoffettNathanson. He said that while the Department of Justice's anti-trust requirements may not pose an insurmountable challenge, the more stringent litmus test might come from the Federal Communications Commission.

• [By Tim Brugger]

  Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC  ) , Comcast, and Charter Communications (NASDAQ: CHTR  ) , have all been on the other side of the Internet subscriber fence. Phone companies such as AT&T�and Verizon began losing customers to these and other cable Internet providers some time ago, largely because of speed and connectivity issues. And now along comes Google Fiber with an alternative that blows the doors off anything Comcast, Time Warner, or Charter can offer, and often for the same or less money. If the cable industry isn't worried, it should be.

• [By Jonathan Berr]

  Rumors that Malone will make a bid for Time Warner Cable by the end of the year caused shares of the New York-based company to jump about 3% in trading last Friday. It also rose briefly Monday after Deutsche Bank analyst Brian Russo raised his rating on the stock to a “buy,” saying a merger with Charter Communications (CHTR) is “more likely than not.” Time Warner has so far rebuffed Malone’s overtures, according to media reports.

Best Media Companies To Own For 2015: CBS Corporation(CBS)

CBS Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a mass media company in the United States and internationally. The company?s Entertainment segment distributes a schedule of news and public affairs broadcasts, sports, and entertainment programming; produces, acquires, and distributes programming, including series, specials, news, and public affairs; produces and distributes theatrical motion pictures across various genres; and operates online content networks for information and entertainment. Its Cable Networks segment owns and operates multiplexed channels that offers subscription program services, including recently released theatrical feature films, original series, documentaries, boxing, mixed martial arts and other sports-related programming, and special events; and CBS College Sports Network, a 24-hour cable program service related to college sports. This segment also owns and manages Smithsonian Networks, which operates Smithsonian Channel, a basic cab le service in the United States. The company?s Publishing segment publishes and distributes adult and children?s consumer books in printed, audio, and digital formats. Its Local Broadcasting segment owns 29 broadcast television stations; owns and operates 130 radio stations in 28 U.S. markets and related online properties; and owns local Websites that combine television and radio local media brands online to provide the latest news, traffic, weather, and sports information, as well as local discounts, directories, and reviews. The company?s Outdoor segment sells advertising space on various media, including billboards, transit shelters and other street furniture, buses, rail systems, mall kiosks, stadium signage, and in retail stores. CBS Corporation was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Michael Lewis]

  Time Warner (NYSE: TWX  ) owns HBO. While it is smaller than Starz by subscriber count, the network has a near-flawless record in its recent original productions. Titles such as Game of Thrones, Girls, and True Blood have been tremendous successes in attracting and retaining subscribers. Time Warner trades at 14.12 times forward earnings, but includes many other factors -- from film studio Warner Brothers to theme parks. Showtime parent CBS (NYSE: CBS  ) trades at just over 15 times earnings. All three networks have attractive economics as they have pushed original content that, though costly up front, creates better margins over time and saves the company from some difficult negotiations with other content providers. Recently, the company ended its contract with both Netflix and Disney, startling some investors and analysts but ultimately proving a wise decision as it freed up cash to put toward in-house production.

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]

  Healthy EPS growth is likely for CBS. Revenue has been inconsistent on an annual basis, but it has been impressive over the past�two quarters. Margins and cash flow are strong, and CBS is always looking to make strategic acquisitions to help fuel growth. Another positive is that analysts love the stock: 22 Buy, 7 Hold, 0 Sell. The biggest potential threat is a steep market correction (CBS isn�� very resilient). For those looking for something safer, Disney is a much better option. For those looking to ride the momentum wave, CBS is an OUTPERFORM.

• [By Jonathan Berr]

  DirecTV added 139,000 new subscribers in the quarter — the most since 2011, thanks to refugees from Time Warner Cable (TWC) and CBS (CBS) fee dispute. Time Warner, the second-largest cable company, was the clear loser in the two-week blackout. It lost 304,000 video customers in the quarter, almost double what analysts expected.

Best Media Companies To Own For 2015: Liberty Global Inc.(LBTYA)

Liberty Global, Inc. provides video, broadband Internet, and telephony services primarily in Europe and Chile. The company offers broadband services over cable distribution systems, including video, broadband Internet, and telephony; and video services through direct-to-home satellite, or through multichannel multipoint distribution systems. Its analog video services comprise basic and expanded basic programming; and digital cable services include basic and premium programming, digital video recorders, and high definition programming, as well as pay-per-view programming, such as video-on-demand and near video-on-demand. In addition, the company offers voice-over-Internet-protocol and circuit-switched telephony services, as well as mobile telephony services using third-party networks. Further, it owns programming networks that provide video programming channels to multi-channel distribution systems owned by the company and the third parties. As of December 31, 2011, the com pany owned and operated networks that passed 33,262,100 homes; and served 18,405,500 video subscribers, 8,159,300 broadband Internet subscribers, and 6,225,300 telephony subscribers. Liberty Global, Inc. was founded in 2004 and is based in Englewood, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tim Brugger]

  Upon Liberty Global's (NASDAQ: LBTYA  ) successfully closing its acquisition of Virgin Media (NASDAQ: VMED  ) , Tom Mockridge will assume CEO responsibilities of the U.K. communications firm, Liberty Global announced today.

• [By Amy Thomson]

  Vodafone has already expanded beyond wireless service, and in June beat John Malone�� Liberty Global (LBTYA) Plc to take over Germany�� Kabel Deutschland Holding AG. (KD8) Vodafone and Verizon accelerated talks on the stake sale after the Kabel Deutschland offer, which put additional pressure on the British company�� finances, a person familiar with the matter said.

• [By Sam Robson]

  LONDON -- In the latest edition of this long-running story, it has been suggested that�Vodafone� (LSE: VOD  ) (NASDAQ: VOD  ) could use a substantial amount of the money it would receive from selling its stake in Verizon Wireless to fund a takeover of�Liberty Global� (NASDAQ: LBTYA  ) .

• [By Leo Fasciocco]

  The company, Liberty Global PLC (LBTYA), owns interests in broadband distribution and content companies in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, although the company is based in California.

Best Media Companies To Own For 2015: Thomson Reuters Corp(TRI)

Thomson Reuters Corporation provides intelligent information for businesses and professionals worldwide. The company allows market participants to connect, access content, and trade in a secure environment through Thomson Reuters Eikon desktop, Thomson Reuters Elektron network, content integration and management technology, content feeds and databases, and transactions infrastructure solutions that support buy- and sell-side customers to trade in foreign exchange, fixed income and derivatives, equities, exchange-traded instruments, and commodities and energy markets. It also offers information, analytics, workflow, and technology solutions to buy-side and off-trading floor customers; access to liquidity in over-the-counter markets, trade execution, and connections for market participants and financial professionals? communities; and a suite of solutions offering informed outcomes to regulated industries and law firms. In addition, the company provides critical information , decision support tools, and software and services to legal, investigation, business, and government professionals; integrated tax compliance and accounting software and services for accounting and law firms, corporations, and government professionals; intellectual property and scientific resources that enable its customers to discover, develop, and deliver innovations; and data analytics, and performance benchmarking solutions and services to healthcare sector. Further, it offers coverage of global, regional, and national news in 20 languages covering politics, business, finance, entertainment, lifestyle, technology, health, science, and sports; and engages in advertising-supported direct-to-consumer publishing activities of Reuters.com and its network of Websites, mobile applications, and electronic out-of-home displays. The company was formerly known as The Thomson Corporation and changed its name to Thomson Reuters Corporation in April 2008. The company is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bill Smith]

  FDS operates in a highly competitive industry, some with more resources. Their competitors include:
  Thomson Reuters Corp. (TRI)BloombergInteractive (IDC)MSCI Inc. (MXB)Morningstar Inc. (MORN)Track Data Corp. (TRAC)Edgar Online (EDGR)McGraw-Hill (MHP )

Best Media Companies To Own For 2015: Discovery Communications Inc(DISCA)

Discovery Communications, Inc. operates as a non fiction media and entertainment company worldwide. The company provides original and purchased programming across various distribution platforms. Its content covers science, exploration, survival, natural history, sustainability of the environment, technology, docu-series, anthropology, paleontology, history, space, archaeology, health and wellness, engineering, adventure, lifestyles, forensics, civilization, and current events. The company owns and operates nine national television networks in the United States, including Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Investigation Discovery, Military Channel, Planet Green, Discovery Fit & Health, and Velocity. Discovery Communications also has interests in Oprah Winfrey Network, a pay-television network and Web site; The Hub that features original programming, game shows, and live-action series and specials; and 3net, a three-dimensional network. In addition, it o ffers network branded Web sites, and mobile and video-on-demand services; and distributes various national and pan-regional television networks. Further, the company develops and sells curriculum-based products and services to public and private K-12 schools, such as access to an online VOD service that includes curriculum-based tools, professional development services, and student assessment and publication of hardcopy curriculum-based content; and postproduction audio services to motion picture studios, independent producers, broadcast networks, cable channels, advertising agencies, and interactive producers. As of December 31, 2011, it operated approximately 150 distribution feeds in 40 languages. The company is headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]

  Discover Communications operates as a non-fiction media company worldwide.�The company recently released earning that left investors happy.�The stock has been trending higher over the last couple of years and is currently trading at highs for the year.Earnings and revenue figures have been steadily growing so investors have been very satisfied. Relative to its peers and sector, Discover Communications has been an under-performer leader, year-to-date. Look for Discover Communications to continue to OUTPERFORM.

Best Media Companies To Own For 2015: News Corporation(NWSA)

News Corporation operates as a diversified media company worldwide. Its Cable Network Programming segment produces and licenses news, business news, sports, general entertainment, and movie programming for distribution through cable television systems and direct broadcast satellite operators primarily in the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. The company?s Filmed Entertainment segment produces and acquires live-action and animated motion pictures for distribution and licensing in entertainment media, as well as produces and licenses television programming worldwide. Its Television segment operates 27 broadcast television stations in the United States. The company?s Direct Broadcast Satellite Television segment distributes programming services via satellite and broadband directly to subscribers in Italy. Its Publishing segment provides newspapers and information services, such as publishing national newspapers in the United Kingdom, approximately 146 newspapers in Australia, and a metropolitan and a national newspaper in the United States; book publishing services, including the publishing of English language books worldwide; and integrated marketing services comprising the publishing of free-standing inserts, which are marketing booklets containing coupons, rebates, and other consumer offers, as well as provides in-store marketing products and services, primarily to consumer packaged goods manufacturers in the United States and Canada. The company also sells advertising, sponsorships, and subscription services on the company?s various digital media properties and outdoor advertising space on various media primarily in Russia and eastern Europe; and provides data systems and professional services that enable teachers to use data to assess student progress and deliver individualized instructions. News Corporation was founded in 1922 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]

  News Corp. is a multimedia giant that is able to reach and affect audiences all over the world. The stock has been a big winner over the last several years and is currently digesting gains for a strong run. Over the last four quarters, investors in the company have been upbeat as earnings and revenue figures have been rising. Relative to its strong peers and sector, News Corp. has been a year-to-date performance leader. Look for News Corp. to continue to OUTPERFORM.

• [By Seth Jayson]

  News Corp. (Nasdaq: NWSA  ) reported earnings on May 8. Here are the numbers you need to know.

  The 10-second takeaway
  For the quarter ended March 31 (Q3), News Corp. beat expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

Best Media Companies To Own For 2015: Cablevision Systems Corporation (CVC)

Cablevision Systems Corporation provides telecommunications and media services. It operates in two segments, Telecommunications Services and Other. The Telecommunications Services segment is involved in television business, including video, high-speed data, and VoIP operations, as well as the provision of commercial data and voice services. The Other segment offers Newsday, a daily newspaper; amNewYork, a free daily newspaper; and Star Community Publishing, a group of weekly shopper publications; and newsday.com and exploreLI.com. This segment also engages in motion picture theatre business, Clearview Cinemas; provision of the News 12 Networks, a regional news programming services; and the MSG Varsity network, a network covering high school sports and activities, and other local programs, as well as cable television advertising. Cablevision Systems Corporation was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Bethpage, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Both Bow Tie and Cablevision (NYSE: CVC  ) , which owned the Clearview chain, announced yesterday they had completed the transfer of ownership of the theaters, which was first announced in April, though financial terms for the transaction were not disclosed. As the oldest cinema company in the U.S.,�Bow Tie says it now has the largest number of theater locations in the New York metropolitan area,�and operates 63 movie theaters with 388 screens in seven states.

Best Media Companies To Own For 2015: Comcast Corporation(CMCSA)

Comcast Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides entertainment, information, and communications products and services in the United States and internationally. Its Cable Communications segment provides video, high-speed Internet, and phone services to residential and business customers. As of June 30, 2011, its cable systems served approximately 22.5 million video customers, 17.5 million high-speed Internet customers, and 9.1 million phone customers. The company?s Cable Networks segment operates cable entertainment networks, such as USA Network, Syfy, E!, Bravo, Oxygen, Style, G4, Chiller, Sleuth, and Universal HD; news and information networks, including CNBC, MSNBC, and CNBC World; cable sports networks comprising Golf Channel and VERSUS; regional sports and news networks; international entertainment, and news and information networks, such as CNBC Europe, CNBC Asia, and Universal Networks International portfolio of networks; cable television production oper ations; and digital media properties consisting primarily of brand-aligned Websites and other Websites, such as DailyCandy, Fandango, and iVillage. Its Broadcast Television segment operates the U.S. broadcast networks, NBC and Telemundo; 10 NBC and 15 Telemundo owned local television stations; broadcast television productions; and related digital media properties. The company?s Filmed Entertainment segment operates Universal Pictures, which produces, acquires, markets, and distributes filmed entertainment and stage plays worldwide in various media formats for theatrical, home entertainment, television, and other distribution platforms. Its Theme Parks segment operates Universal Studios Hollywood park and Wet ?n Wild water park, as well as licenses intellectual properties and provides services to third parties that own and operate Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Singapore. Comcast Corporation was founded in 1963 and is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  SNL Kagan noted that cable outfits like Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA), Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) and Cablevision Corp. (NYSE: CVC) saw subscriber losses double to 607,000. Cable�� share of the pay TV market has now fallen to 55.3%.

• [By Chris Hill]

  Universal Pictures'�Fast and Furious 6 racked up an estimated $120 million at the box office in the U.S. over Memorial Day weekend. It was the biggest opening weekend in Universal Pictures history. Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA  ) is the parent company of Universal Pictures. DreamWorks Animation's (NASDAQ: DWA  ) Epic also did brisk business at the box office. The animated film brought in $42 million in its opening weekend. In this installment of MarketFoolery, our analysts take stock in Fast and Furious and explain the genius behind DreamWorks' epic move.

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Big Earnings Movers: LinkedIn Corp. (NYSE: LNKD) is down 9.4% at $223.90 after beating estimates but offering cautious guidance. General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) is up 3.3% at $37.24 after beating estimates. Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA) is down 1.3% at $47.09 probably due to a loss of cable subscribers. Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) is up 1.7% at $65.22 after disappointing earnings. The Western Union Co. (NYSE: WU) is down 12.5% at $16.84 on a poor profit outlook for next year.

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]

  Comcast provides communications and entertainment products and services to consumers and companies. Netflix is reportedly in talks with Comcast, among other pay-TV providers, to bring its services to the cable TV giant. The stock has been surging higher in recent years and is currently trading near all time high prices. Over the last four quarters, earnings and revenues have been increasing which has left investors pleased about recent earnings announcements. Relative to its peers and sector, Comcast has been a year-to-date performance leader. Look for Comcast to OUTPERFORM.

Best Media Companies To Own For 2015: Time Warner Inc.(TWX)

Time Warner Inc. operates as a media and entertainment company in the United States and internationally. It operates in three segments: Networks, Filmed Entertainment, and Publishing. The Networks segment provides domestic and international networks, premium pay and basic tier television programming services, and digital media properties, which primarily consist of brand-aligned Websites. Its premium pay television services consist of the multi-channel HBO and Cinemax premium pay television services. This segment provides programming to cable system operators, satellite service distributors, telephone companies, and other distributors; sells advertising; and licenses original programming to domestic and international television networks. The Filmed Entertainment segment produces and distributes feature films, television and other programming, and videogames; distributes home video products; and licenses rights to its feature films, television programming, and characters. T he Publishing segment publishes magazines and books; and operates various Websites, as well as engages in marketing services and direct-marketing businesses. This segment publishes magazines on style and entertainment, lifestyle, news, and sports. The company?s brands include TNT, TBS, CNN, HBO, Cinemax, Warner Bros., New Line Cinema, People, Sports Illustrated, and Time. Time Warner Inc. was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Helix Investment Research]

  We note that Keating Capital's co-investors in many of its portfolio companies are not simply other venture capital or existing investors, but strategic investors as well. Examples include Agilyx, where Waste Management (WM) is a co-investor, BrightSource, where Chevron (CVX) and BP (BP) are co-investors, Kabam, where Google (GOOG) and Intel (INTC) are co-investors, or Tremor Video (TRMR), where Time Warner (TWX) is a co-investor. As of the end of Q2 2013, 9 (excluding Jumptap) of Keating Capital's portfolio companies had unrealized gains, with an average gain of 25.6% (again excluding Jumptap, which had unrealized gains of 8% as of the end of Q2 2013). The remaining 6 companies had an average loss of 44.46%. However, on an overall basis, Keating Capital's portfolio currently has an average unrealized gain of 2.15%. While this is not a large gain, we note that the bulk of Keating Capital's profits are realized upon exiting an investment in conjunction with the portfolio company's IPO or sale. Furthermore, portions of Keating Capital's portfolio are defended by structurally protected appreciation clauses that the company has struck with its portfolio companies, clauses that are not reflected on its balance sheet. These clauses, which are negotiated between Keating Capital and its portfolio companies, allow the company to receive shares in the portfolio company's IPO at a discount, or grant it warrants to purchase additional shares in an IPO for a nominal price. Since inception, Keating Capital has negotiated structurally protected appreciation clauses in 11 of the 20 companies it has invested in. As of the end of Q2 2013, 6 of Keating Capital's 15 portfolio companies were protected by structurally protected appreciation clauses, representing $22 million in total capital (almost 43% of the company's invested capital), thereby entitling Keating Capital to a weighted-average aggregate value of 1.9x its investment at the time of an IPO.

• [By Steve Symington]

  Iron Man 3

  Disney (NYSE: DIS  ) / Buena Vista �$1,211.7 �$407.1 �$200 2 Fast & Furious 6 Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA  ) / Universal Studios �$712.7 �$237.3 �$160 3 Man of Steel Time Warner (NYSE: TWX  ) / Warner Brothers �$635.8 �$285.8 �$225 4 Despicable Me 2 Comcast / Universal Studios �$595.6 �$287.2 �$76 5 The Croods DreamWorks (NASDAQ: DWA  ) / 20th Century Fox �$582.4 �$186.2 �$135 6 Monsters University Disney / Buena Vista �$535.7 �$251.8 �$200* 7 Oz the Great and Powerful Disney / Buena Vista �$491.9 �$234.9 �$215 8 World War Z Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB  ) / Paramount� �$458.7 �$189.2 �$190 9 Star Trek Into Darkness Viacom / Paramount �$448.8 �$225.3 �$190 10 G.I. Joe: Retaliation Viacom / Paramount �$371.9 �$122.5 �$130

  Source: boxofficemojo.com, numbers as of July 25, 2013.
  *Estimated (Disney has not disclosed the budget for Monsters University).