Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Top 5 Mid Cap Companies To Buy Right Now

Biotech in general has been one of the market�� hottest sectors this year thanks to plenty of mostly good news�along with�new IPOs while small cap biotech stocks Delcath Systems (NASDAQ: DCTH), ZIOPHARM Oncology Inc (NASDAQ: ZIOP), Recro Pharma (NASDAQ: REPH), TetraLogic Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: TLOG)�and TNI BioTech (OTCMKTS: TNIB) have also produced their share of news�this week or in recent weeks. Just consider the following:

Biotech Stock Bubble Debate in 14 Charts. Haven�� decided whether there is a bubble in the biotech sector just yet? The Street has a short but to the point article with 14 charts showing how biotech stocks have had an unbelievable�year, but have also underperformed the broader market in the past month with momentum-driven biotech stocks (mostly small caps or mid caps)�having been hit with some serious selling over the past month. There was�also a chart showing how well orphan drug stocks have performed���up until the past month. Charting Biotech Blowups. As noted by Business Insider, ISI analyst Mark Schoenebaum recently issued a note to clients that�included a chart counting the�number of biotech stock "blowups" each year since 1990 with a ��lowup��being defined as a�one day downward stock move of 25% or more. Apparently, Schoenebaum wrote: "If you look at the trend, it doesn't look scary to me . . . . what do you think?"

Best Shipping Stocks To Own Right Now: Demandware Inc (DWRE)

Demandware, Inc. (Demandware), incorporated in February 2004, is a provider of software-as-a-service e-commerce solutions that enable companies to design, implement and manage their own customized e-commerce sites, including Websites, mobile applications and other digital storefronts. The Company sells subscriptions to its on-demand software and related services through both a direct sales force and indirect channels. Its customers consist of retailers and branded consumer product manufacturers that operate principally in the vertical markets, including apparel, general merchandise, health and beauty, home and garden, sporting goods and other vertical categories. The Company derives most of its revenue from subscriptions to its on-demand platform and related services. The Company derives its services revenue from the implementation of its customers��e-commerce sites, which includes the integration of complementary technologies and adaptation to back-end systems and/or business processes and the configuration and deployment of the site. In January 2014, Demandware Inc acquired privately-held Mainstreet Commerce, a provider of cloud-based order management solutions.

The Company physically hosts its on-demand solutions for its customers in 11 secure data center facilities located in North America and Europe. It contracts for use of these data center facilities from Equinix Operating Co. and NaviSite, Inc. The Company engineers and architects the actual computer, storage and network systems upon which its platform operates, which the Company calls its grid computing points of delivery (PODs), and deploy them to the data center facilities, which provide physical security, including manned security round the clock. The Company provides system security, including firewalls and encryption technology, and it conducts regular system tests and vulnerability assessments.

Demandware Commerce Platform

The Company�� platform uses a Web-based interface to provide one centra! l location for its customers to control and manage their e-commerce sites from products to pricing to placement to content. It provides security and built-in disaster recovery through its network of data centers. Using its Demandware Commerce platform, customers can easily deploy e-commerce sites without the need to install or integrate their own hardware and software infrastructure.

The Company offers on-demand e-commerce platform, a network of alliance partners that extends the value of the platform, and a business model designed for customer revenue growth. The Company delivers its solutions on-demand to its customers who can access and can manage it over the Internet using a standard Web browser. The Company has built its solutions using a single code base and a multi-tenant, multi-user architecture that it hosts. Demandware Commerce provides a single platform that its customers can use to manage consumer interactions across all digital touch points worldwide. Its reference applications are based on e-commerce can be customized to individual needs, with access to a sophisticated cross-channel merchandising engine and open development environment. Its applications include Web Storefront Applications, Call Center Application and Mobile Application. With Demandware Commerce, a customer can build a e-commerce site from scratch or leverage its pre-built storefront, called Site Genesis.

The Company�� call center application allows its customers��call center agents to quickly access order, consumer and product information through a single Web-based interface, enabling a more efficient and engaging experience for the consumer. Using this application, agents are able to easily search for products using advanced search techniques and guided navigation. In addition to providing improved customer service, agents can use this software to gain a single view into a consumer�� entire order history and recommend products using rules established by its merchandising tools. The Compan! y�� mob! ile application offers a customizable mobile storefront with the functionality its customers need to create a compelling shopping experience for consumers on their mobile devices. Its Demandware Commerce platform provides a unified development environment between the mobile storefront and its customers��other e-commerce sites for ease of customization and site management. Its mobile application is compatible with browsers and with smart phones, such as the iPhone, Android and BlackBerry.

Demandware Commerce Center is a centralized application for control and management of all consumer e-commerce experiences across multiple sites and channels. In addition, users are able to create customized dashboards to display the commonly used activities. Active Merchandising, which is a metrics-driven online selling engine that controls merchandising interactions across search, personalization, analytics, promotions and catalog according to rules created by each of its customers. Products and Catalogs, which enables merchants to manage seasonal, branded and future product offerings across categories, catalogs and sites. Promotions, which consists of multiple configuration options for creating and controlling product promotions. A/B Testing, which allows merchants to perform comparison tests to determine, which merchandise is selected. Searchandising, which consists of rules that can easily be configured by the merchant to feature products in search results that deliver the inventory turn, conversion rates and average order size. Order Management, which provides users the ability to access, modify and cancel orders. Customer Targeting, which provides the capability to create rules that include and exclude conditions for triggering different merchandising offers, promotions and products.

Merchants and developers, through Demandware LINK, have access to an extensive library of integrations to third-party applications. These applications include campaign management, dynamic product imaging, ! order man! agement, payment management, personalization, social commerce and ratings and reviews. The Company supports its partners in the development of third-party integrations and undertake an approval process before the application is made available for downloading on Demandware LINK. Through Demandware Commerce developers can build, customize, test, debug, deploy, integrate and extend their e-commerce sites, all on-demand. Its development platform includes access to an extensive library of pre-built business processes and contains all the necessary tools to edit them.

The Demandware Commerce Cloud is comprised of its network of data centers, as well as its cloud-based architecture. Its on-demand platform allows the Company to increase the processing capacity of the environment, in which its customers��e-commerce sites operate to meet surges in demand. Through its Commerce Cloud, it also provides high uptime, security and built-in disaster recovery.

E-Commerce Retail Practice

The Company has developed a customer success program as a key component of its operational model, which is designed to enable its customers to achieve customer revenue growth and is delivered within the context of a shared business relationship. In this program, it assigns to customers an e-commerce strategist, who works hand-in-hand with its customers��executives to maximize the value of their investment. These e-commerce strategists are focused on growing its customers��revenue by taking the merchandising features and functionality of Demandware Commerce and an understanding of industry practices in site design, merchandising, analytics, interactive marketing, personalization and multi-channel integration. The Company also provides customer support engineers. Periodic system maintenance and continuous feature additions are also included in product support agreement coverage, which is included in the subscription fee. It offers support in multiple languages and through multiple channels, incl! uding glo! bal support coverage available round the clock.

Client Services

The Company�� customer enablement methodology includes document templates and processes to help project teams focus on the key tactical and strategic areas to maximize returns on its customers��online investments and minimize business risk. Its customer enablement methodology guides its tactical process to build and deploy an e-commerce site utilizing its Demandware Commerce platform. In addition, it offers a range of training classes to educate all individuals-e-commerce managers, Web developers, application developers and information technology (IT) professionals, who are part of its customers��implementation, maintenance and optimization teams.

The Company competes with IBM, Oracle/ATG, eBay/Magento, hybris, Digital River and eBay/GSI Commerce.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Sean Williams]

    Priced for perfection
    Software-as-a-service provider Demandware (NYSE: DWRE  ) certainly commands quite the premium valuation as enterprises transition from individual computer systems to software capable of integrating customers' information in the cloud on one Web-based platform. The beauty of such software designs is that they result in recurring revenue and regular upgrades.

  • [By Monica Wolfe]

    Demandware (DWRE)

    During the second quarter, Columbia Wanger increased their holdings in Demandware by 162.49%. The fund added 948,503 shares to their stake in the company at an average price of $30.30. Since this buy, the price per share has increased 46.2%.

Top 5 Mid Cap Companies To Buy Right Now: SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY)

SPDR Trust, Series 1 (the Trust) is a unit investment trust. The Trust is an exchange-traded fund created to provide investors with the opportunity to purchase a security representing a proportionate undivided interest in a portfolio of securities consisting of substantially all of the common stocks, in substantially the same weighting, which comprise the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Price Index (the S&P Index). Each unit of fractional undivided interest in the Trust is referred to as a Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipt (SPDR).

The Trust utilizes a full replication approach. With this approach, all 500 securities of the Index are owned by the Trust in their approximate market capitalization weight.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Tom Aspray]

    If the S&P 500 were to correct sharply in the last two weeks of the year and drop 5%, the Spyder Trust (SPY) would still be up over 24% for the year. This has given many money mangers fits as at the end of the 3rd quarter, the average hedge fund was only up about 6%. Since many charge a management fee of 2%, facing their clients after this kind of year won’t be pleasant.

  • [By Daniel Putnam]

    Investors surely know about the extent of underperformance in gold mining stocks , but the numbers are astounding nonetheless. On October 11 (just before the current rally began), the Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX) had registered a 12-month return of -55.6%, which compared with 21.4% for the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) ��an implausible gap of 77% points.

Top 5 Mid Cap Companies To Buy Right Now: Icahn Enterprises L.P. (IEP)

Icahn Enterprises L.P., through its subsidiaries, engages in investment, automotive, gaming, railcar, food packaging, metals, real estate, and home fashion businesses in the United States and internationally. Its Investment segment provides investment advisory, and administrative and back office services to the investment funds. The company�s Automotive segment offers powertrain energy, powertrain sealing and bearings, vehicle safety and protection, and aftermarket products for original equipment manufacturers. Icahn Enterprises L.P.�s Gaming segment owns and operates casino gaming properties. It has 9 casino facilities with 7,485 slot machines, 226 table games and 6,048 hotel rooms in Nevada, Mississippi, Indiana, Louisiana, New Jersey, and Aruba. The company�s Railcar segment designs, manufactures, sells, and leases hopper and tank railcars; custom designed railcar parts and other industrial products, primarily aluminum and special alloy steel castings; and provides r epair and maintenance services for railcar fleets. Icahn Enterprises L.P.�s Food Packaging segment produces and sells cellulosic, fibrous, and plastic casings for the processed meat and poultry industry. The company�s Metals segment collects, processes, and sells ferrous and non-ferrous metals, as well as processes and distributes steel pipe and plate products. Icahn Enterprises L.P.�s Real Estate segment engages in the rental of retail, office, and industrial properties; construction and sale of single-family and multi-family homes, lots in subdivisions and planned communities, and raw land for residential development; and golf and resort activities. The company�s Home Fashion segment manufactures, sources, distributes, markets, and sells home fashion consumer products, including bed, bath, basic bedding, and kitchen textile products. Icahn Enterprises G.P. Inc. serves as the general partner of the company. Icahn Enterprises L.P. was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Michael Lewis]

    A couple of weeks ago, up-for-sale PC purveyor Dell (NASDAQ: DELL  ) offered Carl Icahn and Icahn Enterprises (NASDAQ: IEP  ) $25 million to play nice in its bid for the company. The move was an olive branch from Dell's board, wisely trying to avoid a proxy battle involving the company's already frustrated shareholders and other potential suitors, including founder Michael Dell. Though he didn't take the bribe, Icahn and Dell reached an agreement -- a sort of Rules of Engagement for the buyout procedure. The deal should protect investors, while still enabling the board to shop the company to the best bidder. Here's what you need to know.

  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Icahn Enterprises LP (NASDAQ: IEP) shares tumbled 9.13 percent to $134.97 after the company announced the sale of 2 million depositary units.

    Lumber Liquidators (NYSE: LL) was also down, falling 12.25 percent to $91.01 after the company provided weak guidance following the close Monday. A defense from Piper Jaffray did little to buoy shares.

  • [By Adam Levine-Weinberg]

    Last week, Carl Icahn's Icahn Enterprises (NASDAQ: IEP  ) teamed up with Southeastern Asset Management to propose a leveraged recapitalization for Dell (NASDAQ: DELL  ) . Icahn and Southeastern, along with some other top Dell shareholders, have been upset by company founder Michael Dell's recent attempt to take the company private.

Top 5 Mid Cap Companies To Buy Right Now: Bank of South Carolina Corp.(BKSC)

Bank of South Carolina Corporation operates as the holding company for The Bank of South Carolina that provides commercial banking products and services to individuals, and small and medium-sized businesses in South Carolina. The company accepts a range of deposit products, which include checking accounts, negotiable order of withdrawal accounts, savings accounts, individual retirement accounts, and other time deposits, such as daily money market accounts and longer-term certificates of deposit. It also offers various commercial loans, including secured and unsecured loans for working capital, business expansion, and purchasing machinery and equipment; mortgage loans; industrial loans; real estate loans; loans to individuals for household, family, and other personal expenditures; and other loans, including overdrafts. In addition, the company provides Internet banking services, including online bill pay and remote deposit capture; credit cards; check card services; and saf e deposit boxes, letters of credit, travelers checks, direct deposit of payroll, social security and dividend payments, and automatic payment of insurance premiums and mortgage loans. Further, it offers a courier service and ACH origination service as part of its deposit services for commercial customers; and a portfolio of wealth management/trust, investment, and retirement services. The company has four banking house locations in Charleston, Summerville, and Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. It serves customers in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties. The company was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Marc Bastow]

    Financial institutions holding company Bank of South Carolina (BKSC) raised its dividend 8.3% to 13 cents per share, payable on Oct. 31 to shareholders of record as of Oct. 7.
    BKSC Dividend Yield: 3.72%

No comments:

Post a Comment