The banking sector usually moves in lockstep with the broader economy, and that is especially true for regional banks that focus on traditional banking operations. As the U.S. economy continues to grow, bank investors are hoping to see the demand for loans pick up as well.
In this video, Motley Fool banking analyst David Hanson discusses three regional banks that were climbing higher today and tells investors why the outlook remains bright for this segment of the banking world.
With big finance firms still trading at deep discounts to their historic norms, investors everywhere are wondering if this is the new normal, or whether finance stocks are a screaming buy today. The answer depends on the company, so to help figure out�whether Regions Financial is a buy�today, I invite you to read our premium research report on the company today.�Click here now�for instant access!
Top Consumer Stocks To Own Right Now: MSCI Inc (MSCI)
MSCI Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides a suite of performance, risk management, and corporate governance products and services worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Performance and Risk, and Governance. The Performance and Risk segment offers investment decision support tools, including equity indices, real estate indices and benchmarks, portfolio risk and performance analytics, and credit analytics, as well as environmental, social, and governance products. Its products are used in various investment processes, including portfolio construction and rebalancing, performance benchmarking and attribution, risk management and analysis, regulatory and client reporting, index-linked investment product creation, asset allocation, social responsibility assessment, environmental stewardship, investment manager selection, and investment research. The Governance segment provides corporate governance products and services, and specialized financial research and analysis services to institutional investors and corporations. It facilitates the voting of proxies by institutional investors and provides in-depth research and analysis to help inform voting decisions and identify issuer-specific risk; and offers global equity security coverage, and integrated products and services, including proxy voting, policy creation, research, vote recommendations, vote execution, post-vote disclosure, and reporting and analytical tools. This segment also provides class action monitoring and claims filing services to aid institutional investors in the recovery of funds from securities class action settlements. The company offers its products and services under the MSCI, MSCI ESG, Barra, RiskMetrics, ISS, FEA, IPD, and CFRA brands. Its clients include asset owners, institutional and retail asset managers, and financial intermediaries. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in New York, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Benjamin Shepherd]
The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index (NYSE: EEM) seems to have halted its slide.� The index bottomed out year-to-date on February 3, when it was down 11.2 percent. Since then, it has gained 1.5 percent, but bargains in the emerging markets still abound.
As I discussed in �� Plan, Not a Panic��two weeks ago, emerging markets are in much better economic shape today than they were even just a few years ago, much less during the currency crisis that peaked in 1998. Foreign exchange reserves are generally much more robust, budget deficits are narrower if they exist at all and, so far at least, the full-blown currency war that many were predicting last year isn�� likely to breakout.
With rationality finally setting in, this is a terrific time to do a little bargain hunting in the emerging markets.
The most obvious play here is the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index itself. Covering China (18.8 percent of assets), South Korea (16 percent), Taiwan (12 percent) and Brazil (10.2 percent) with smaller positions spanning Asia and Europe, the fund is most exposed to any shift in sentiment.
The fund is currently trading at just 10.2 times forward one-year earnings, well below its average of about 18 times over the past two decades. On a price-to-sales basis it is even more attractive valued at just 1.03 times; the last time the index was this cheap on a sales basis was early 2009.
So while there are always dangers in trying to call a bottom to any market move, valuations alone are attractive enough to start pulling bargain hunters back in.
A broadly diversified play on an emerging market turnaround, iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index is a great buy up to 45, which leaves plenty of room to run back to the average.
For those who can tolerate a bit more risk, you can also drill down and make more country-specific bets.
At this point my favorite would be iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund (NYSE: EWY).
Sout
Top 10 Regional Bank Companies For 2014: MRC Global Inc (MRC)
MRC Global Inc., formerly known as McJunkin Red Man Holding Corporation, incorporated on November 20, 2006, is a holding company. The Company is the distributor of pipe, valves and fittings (PVF) and related products and services to the energy industry. The Company offers a range of PVF and oilfield supplies encompassing a complete line of products from its global network of suppliers to its more than 12,000 customers. The Company operates in two segments: North American segment and International segment. Its North American segment includes over 180 branch locations, six distribution centers in the United States, one distribution center in Canada, 11 valve automation service centers and over 170 pipe yards located in the oil and natural gas regions in North America. Its International segment includes over 40 branch locations throughout Europe, Asia and Australasia with distribution centers in each of the United Kingdom, Singapore and Australia and 10 automation service centers in Europe and Asia. On June 9, 2011, it acquired Stainless Pipe and Fittings Australia Pty. Ltd. (MRC SPF). On July 22, 2011, it acquired Valve Systems and Controls (VSC). In January 2013, the Company's subsidiary, McJunkin Red Man Corporation,acquired operating assets of Production Specialty Services, Inc. In July 2013, MRC Global Inc announced that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of the operating assets of Dan H. Brown, Inc., D/B/A Flow Control Products (Flow Control). In December 2013, MRC Global Inc acquired Flangefitt Stainless Ltd. Effective January 6, 2014, MRC Global Inc a unit of GS Capital Partners LP subsidiary of Goldman Sachs Group Inc's Goldman Sachs & Co unit, acquired Stream AS.
The Company distributes products globally, including in PVF intensive, oil and natural gas exploration and production (E&P) areas, such as the Bakken, Barnett, Eagle Ford, Fayetteville, Haynesville, Marcellus, Niobrara and Utica shales in North America. Its Canadian subsidiary Midfield Supply ULC and its! subsidiaries (MRC Midfield), provides PVF products to oil and natural gas companies operating primarily in Western Canada, including the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin, Alberta Oil Sands and heavy oil regions. It offers more than 150,000 stock keeping units (SKUs), including a range of PVF, oilfield supply, automation, instrumentation and other general and specialty industry supply products.
The Company is the majority owned subsidiary of PVF Holdings LLC. Its wholly owned subsidiary, McJunkin Red Man Corporation and its subsidiaries (MRC), are global distributors of pipe, valves, fittings and related products and services across each of the upstream (exploration, production and extraction of underground oil and gas), midstream (gathering and transmission of oil and gas, gas utilities, and the storage and distribution of oil and gas) and downstream (crude oil refining, petrochemical processing and general industrials) markets. The Company serves the global oil and natural gas industry, generating approximately 90% of its sales from supplying products and services to customers throughout the energy industry. Of its total sales, 62% of sales are comprised of valves, fittings and flanges and other industrial supply products and 38% are tubular products, mainly line pipe and oil country tubular goods (OCTG) as of September 30, 2011.
North American Operations
The Company distributes PVF products, primarily used in applications in the energy infrastructure sector, from its global network of suppliers. The products it distributes are used in the construction, maintenance, repair and overhaul of equipments. The products include Valves and Specialty Products, Line Pipe, OCTG, Carbon Steel Fittings and Flanges and Stainless Steel and Alloy Pipe and Fittings and others. The products under valves and specialty products include ball, butterfly, gate, globe, check, needle and plug valves, which are manufactured from cast steel, stainless/alloy steel, forged steel, carbon st! eel or ca! st and ductile iron. Specialty products include lined corrosion resistant piping systems, valve automation and top work components used for regulating flow and on/off service, and a range of steam and instrumentation products used in various process applications within its refinery, petrochemical and general industrial sectors.
Carbon line pipe is used in high-yield, high-stress, abrasive applications, such as the gathering and transmission of oil, natural gas and phosphates. Line pipe is part of its tubular product category. OCTG is part of its tubular product category, includes casing (used for production and to line the well bore) and tubing pipe (used to extract oil or natural gas from wells) and is either classified as carbon or alloy depending on the grade of material. Carbon steel fittings and flanges include carbon weld fittings, flanges and piping components used primarily to connect piping and valve systems for the transmission of various liquids and gases. These products are used across all the industries in which it operates. Stainless steel and alloy pipe and fittings include stainless, alloy and corrosion resistant pipe, tubing, fittings and flanges. These are used in the chemical, refining and power generation industries, as well as across all of the sectors in which the Company operates. Alloy products are principally used in high-pressure, high-temperature and high-corrosion applications typically seen in process piping applications.
The products under other category include natural gas distribution products, oilfield supplies, and other industrial products, such as mill and safety and electrical supplies. Natural gas distribution products include risers, meters, polyethylene pipe and fittings and various other components and industrial supplies used primarily in the distribution of natural gas to residential and commercial customers. It offers a range of oilfield and industrial supplies and completion equipment, and products offered include high density polyet! hylene pi! pe and fittings, valves, well heads, pumping units and rods. In addition, it supplies a range of specialized production equipment, including meter runs, tanks and separators used in its upstream sector.
The Company provides its customers with a range of services, including multiple deliveries each day, zone store management, valve tagging and system interfaces that directly tie the customer into its information systems. Its information system, which provides for customer and supplier electronic integrations, information sharing and e-commerce applications, provides service to its customers. The Company sources the products it distributes from a global network of suppliers. The remainder of the products it distributes are sourced from manufacturer representatives, trading companies and, in some instances, other distributors.
The Company competes with Wilson Industries, Inc., National Oilwell Varco, Inc. and Ferguson Enterprises.
International Operations
The Company�� International segment represents its valve and stainless and alloy pipe, fitting and flange distribution business to the energy and general industrial sectors, across each of the downstream and upstream sectors, through its distribution operations located throughout Europe, Asia, Australasia and the Middle East. Through its over 40 branch and service facilities throughout Europe, Asia, Australasia and the Middle East, it distributes a complete line of valve and stainless and alloy pipe, fittings and flanges and specialty products. Its Valve products offered include ball, butterfly, gate, globe, check, needle and plug valves, which are manufactured from cast steel, stainless/alloy steel, forged steel, carbon steel or cast and ductile iron. Valves are used in oilfield and industrial applications to control direction, velocity and pressure of fluids and gases within transmission networks. Specialty products include lined corrosion resistant piping systems, valve automation and top work compo! nents use! d for regulating flow and on/off service and a range of steam and instrumentation products used in various process applications within its offshore, refinery, petrochemical and general industrial sectors.
Stainless steel products are used in all sectors in which it operates, including oil and gas, mining and mineral processing, water treatment and desalination, and petrochemical. It provides its customers with a range of services, including multiple daily deliveries, zone stores management, valve tagging and system interfaces that directly tie the customer into its information systems.
The Company competes with Econosto.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Eric Volkman]
MRC Global (NYSE: MRC ) now officially has a new asset in its portfolio. The company announced it has finalized the acquisition of the operating assets of Flow Control Products. It describes the once privately held firm as "a leading provider of pneumatic, electric and electro-hydraulic valve automation packages and related field support to the Permian Basin energy industry, including production facilities, pipelines, and plant operations." According to MRC Global, the company posted $28 million in revenues last year.
- [By Monica Wolfe]
MRC Global (MRC)
Over the duration of the second quarter, Columbia Wanger upped their position in MRC Global by 258.43%. The fund purchased 1,809,000 shares of the company�� stock at an average price of $29.69. Since their increase, the price per share has dropped -18.9%.
Top 10 Regional Bank Companies For 2014: Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd(TNP)
Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides seaborne crude oil and petroleum product transportation services worldwide. The company offers marine transportation services for national and independent oil companies and refiners under long, medium, and short-term charters. As of August 16, 2011, its fleet consisted of 50 vessels comprising 59 tankers, including 2 dynamic positioning 2 (DP2) shuttle tankers under construction, and 1 liquefied natural gas carrier. The company was formerly known as MIF Limited and changed its name to Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited in July 2001. Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited was founded in 1993 and is based in Athens, Greece.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Laura Brodbeck]
Friday
Earnings Expected From: Tsakos Energy Navigation (NYSE: TNP) Economic Releases Expected: Japanese industrial production, French GDP, Italian trade balance, Hong Kong GDP, US building permits, US housing startsPosted-In: Federal Reserve UkraineEarnings News Guidance Previews Pre-Market Outlook Markets Trading Ideas Best of Benzinga
- [By Rick Munarriz]
We can start with Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited (NYSE: TNP ) . Shares of the energy transporter moved 27% higher last week after surprising the market with a quarterly profit. Business isn't great at Tsakos. Revenue dipped slightly during the period, and a profit of $0.02 a share may not turn heads. However, analysts were bracing for a loss of $0.08 a share on a sharper decline in revenue.
Top 10 Regional Bank Companies For 2014: Humana Inc.(HUM)
Humana Inc. offers various health and supplemental benefit plans in the United States. Its Government segment consists of beneficiaries of government benefit programs; and operates in three lines of businesses, including Medicare, Military, and Medicaid. The Medicare program provides hospital and medical insurance benefits to persons of age 65 and over and some disabled persons under the age of 65. The Military program offers health insurance coverage to the dependents of duty military personnel, and to retired military personnel and their dependents. The Medicaid program is a federal program that is state-operated to facilitate the delivery of health care services primarily to low-income residents. The Commercial segment consists of members enrolled in its medical and specialty products marketed to employer groups and individuals. This segment provides health maintenance organization products that offer prepaid health insurance coverage to its members through a network of independent primary care physicians, specialty physicians, and other health care providers; preferred provider organization products, which are offered primarily to employer groups and individuals; and administrative services only products that are provided to employers who self-insure their employee health plans. It also offers various specialty products, including dental, vision, and other supplemental products, as well as disease management services. As of December 31, 2010, Humana Inc. had approximately 10.2 million members enrolled in medical benefit plans; and approximately 7.1 million members enrolled in specialty products programs. The company markets its products through various channels comprising television, radio, the Internet, telemarketing, and direct mailings. In addition, it has strategic alliances with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.; State Farm; and United Services Automobile Association to market its products. The company was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sara Ashley O'Brien]
The Bluegrass State's largest city has also had a big impact on small business optimism. Louisville is home to the headquarters of Humana (HUM), the U.S. headquarters of Yum! Brands (YUM) and UPS' (UPS) worldwide air hub. But the city is a great place for small businesses too, as evidenced by its rank in the Thumbtack survey: number 5 out of 82.
- [By Sean Williams]
On one hand, and in all fairness to Obamacare, when was the last time we saw any multibillion-dollar overhaul cost less than initially projected? Then again, these 73% have viable concerns, given that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, reversed a recommendation last month to boost Medicare Advantage reimbursements by 3.3% instead of dropping them by 2.3% as it initially recommended in February. The move, the CMS claims, was made after it recalculated how doctors were being paid. However, it also came on the heels of lobbying attempts by the insurance industry and about 160 lawmakers. If the cost of Obamacare goes well over budget, that'll be great news for Humana (NYSE: HUM ) �Humana generates 63% of its revenue from Medicare Advantage plans, which are supplemental health plans purchased by seniors to help offset the costs not covered by Medicare. If the government is unable to lower reimbursements to these companies, then Humana may have little to worry about.�
Top 10 Regional Bank Companies For 2014: Hancock Holding Company(HBHC)
Hancock Holding Company, a financial holding company, provides various banking and financial services in south Mississippi, Louisiana, South Alabama, and Florida. The company accepts various deposit products that include non-interest bearing demand deposits, NOW account deposits, money market deposits, savings deposits, and time deposits. Its loan portfolio comprises provision of commercial, consumer, commercial leasing, and real estate loans to consumers and small and middle market businesses. Hancock also offers various trust services that include operating as an executor, administrator, or guardian in administering estates; provision of investment custodial services for individuals, businesses, and charitable and religious organizations, as well as investment management services on an agency basis; and trustee services for pension plans, profit sharing plans, corporate and municipal bond issues, living trusts, life insurance trusts, and various other types of trusts cre ated for individuals, businesses, and charitable and religious organizations. In addition, it provides consumer financing services; owns, manages, and maintains real property; offers general insurance agency services; holds investment securities; markets credit life insurance; and engages in discount investment brokerage services, as well as owns approximately 3,700 acres of timber land in Hancock County, Mississippi. The company operates 182 banking and financial services offices and 161 automated teller machines. Hancock Holding Company was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dividends4Life]
Fair Value: In calculating fair value, I consider the NPV MMA Differential Fair Value along with these four calculations of fair value, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description:
1. Avg. High Yield Price
2. 20-Year DCF Price
3. Avg. P/E Price
4. Graham Number
CTBI is trading at a premium to all four valuations above. The stock is trading at a 53.5% premium to its calculated fair value of $29.43. CTBI did not earn any Stars in this section.
Dividend Analytical Data: In this section there are three possible Stars and three key metrics, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description:
1. Free Cash Flow Payout
2. Debt To Total Capital
3. Key Metrics
4. Dividend Growth Rate
5. Years of Div. Growth
6. Rolling 4-yr Div. > 15%
CTBI earned one Star in this section for 1.) above. A Star was earned since the Free Cash Flow payout ratio was less than 60% and there were no negative Free Cash Flows over the last 10 years. The company has paid a cash dividend to shareholders every year since 1988 and has increased its dividend payments for 33 consecutive years.
Dividend Income vs. MMA: Why would you assume the equity risk and invest in a dividend stock if you could earn a better return in a much less risky money market account (MMA) or Treasury bond? This section compares the earning ability of this stock with a high yield MMA. Two items are considered in this section, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description:
1. NPV MMA Diff.
2. Years to > MMA
The negative NPV MMA Diff. means that on a NPV basis the dividend earnings from an investment in CTBI would be less than a similar amount invested in MMA earning a 20-year average rate of 3.41%. If CTBI grows its dividend at 1.5% per year, it will never equal a MMA yielding an estimated 20-year average rate of 3.41%.
Memberships and Peers: CTBI is, a member of the Broad Dividend Achieve
Top 10 Regional Bank Companies For 2014: New Century Bancorp Inc.(NC)
New Century Bancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for New Century Bank that provides commercial and retail banking services to individuals and small to medium-sized businesses in southeastern North Carolina. Its deposit product line comprises checking, savings, NOW, and money market accounts, as well as certificates of deposit, and non-interest-bearing demand and time deposits. The company?s loan portfolio includes one-to-four family and multi-family residential loans; construction loans; home equity lines of credit; commercial real estate loans; commercial and industrial loans; and loans to individuals. It operates main office in Dunn; and branch offices in Clinton, Goldsboro, Lillington, Greenville, Fayetteville, Lumberton, Pembroke, and Raeford. The company is headquartered in Dunn, North Carolina.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Duprey]
Industrial conglomerate�NACCO Industries� (NYSE: NC ) �announced yesterday�its second-quarter dividend of $0.25 per share, the same rate it paid in February, which reflected the spinoff of Hyster-Yale Materials Handling�last September.
Top 10 Regional Bank Companies For 2014: Dynamic Materials Corporation(BOOM)
Dynamic Materials Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides explosion-welded clad metal plates, oil field perforating equipment and explosives, and welding services worldwide. It operates in three segments: Explosive Metalworking, Oilfield Products, and AMK Welding. The Explosive Metalworking segment primarily manufactures explosion-welded clad metal plates that are used in the construction of heavy and corrosion resistant pressure vessels, and heat exchangers for oil and gas, alternative energy, chemical and petrochemical, hydrometallurgy, aluminum production, shipbuilding, power generation, and industrial refrigeration industries. This segment sells its products through senior management, direct sales personnel, program managers, and independent sales representatives. The Oilfield Products segment engages in the manufacture, marketing, and sale of perforating explosives and associated hardware, as well as seismic explosives for the oil and gas industry. Its p roducts include shaped charges, detonators, detonating cords, bidirectional boosters, and perforating guns for the perforation of oil and gas wells. This segment offers its products through direct selling, licensed distributors, independent sales representatives, and international distribution centers. The AMK Welding segment provides welding, heat treatment, and inspection services primarily to power turbine manufacturers, and commercial and military aircraft engine manufacturers. The company was formerly known as Explosive Fabricators, Inc. and changed its name to Dynamic Materials Corporation in 1994. Dynamic Materials Corporation was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Chris Hill]
In this installment of Motley Fool Money, our analysts talk about why they're watching Dynamic Materials (NASDAQ: BOOM ) , Gentex (NASDAQ: GNTX ) , and Western Union (NYSE: WU ) .
