Thursday, July 3, 2014

Top Mid Cap Companies To Watch In Right Now

While overseas demand has increased, the chip industry has yet to fully regain the ground U.S. markets lost during the recent recession. Many of the nation�� chip producers rely on businesses to drive sales, and as technology companies come out of survival mode prospects for producers have improved considerably.�Below, we outline two semiconductor ETFs that have been battling for investor attention during the last few trying years: PHLX SOX Semiconductor Sector Index Fund and Market Vectors Semiconductor ETF .



Meet the CompetitorsHolding between $220.3 million and $240.6 million in total assets under management each, these funds are often in competition for the largest spot in the semiconductor ETF market.�SOXX seeks to replicate an index comprised of about 30 different semiconductor manufacturers and the fund consists of some well-known names, such as Intel and Texas Instruments, as well as some smaller companies that probably aren�� on the radar screens of most investors; small and mid cap stocks make up about half the portfolio. SMH also has some large names in its�top 10 holdings, and invests in 18 larger market cap semiconductor firms. Originally held by Merrill Lynch, this HOLDERS fund is now managed by Van Eck, and it took a serious expense cut to stay in competition with SOXX�

Best Warren Buffett Companies To Own For 2015: CNOOC Limited(CEO)

CNOOC Limited, through its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, development, production, and sale of crude oil, natural gas, and other petroleum products. The company?s oil and natural gas properties are located in offshore China, which include Bohai Bay, western south China Sea, eastern south China Sea, and east China Sea, as well as in Indonesia, Iraq, and other regions in Asia; and Oceania, Africa, North America, and South America. As of December 31, 2010, the company had net proved reserves of approximately 2.99 billion barrels-of-oil equivalent, including approximately 1.92 billion barrels of crude oil and 6,458.3 billion cubic feet of natural gas. It also provides bond issuance services; and has a joint venture with Bridas Energy Holdings. CNOOC Limited was founded in 1982. The company is headquartered in Central, Hong Kong, and is considered a Red Chip company due to its listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. CNOOC Limited is a subsidiary of China National Of fshore Oil Corporation.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jeff Reeves]

    If you want a direct play on China, one of the few individual equities I feel comfortable owning is oil giant CNOOC (CEO). It�� a state-run oil company that is a decent play on the region�� growth, and also a decent bargain right now.

  • [By Paul Ausick]

    No corporate merger valued at more than $5 billion occurred in 2013, while there were several deals valued at more than $10 billion in 2012. Two of 2012�� biggest deals were Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc.�� (NYSE: FCX) acquisition of McMoRan Exploration and Plains Exploration & Production for a total of about $20 billion. Another big acquisition in 2012 was Cnooc Ltd.�� (NYSE: CEO) $15 billion deal for Nexen Energy.

  • [By Stephan Dube]

    Athabasca's most notable producers:

    Suncor Energy (SU) (Part 1), see article here.Suncor Energy (Part 2), see article here.Athabasca Oil (ATHOF.PK), see article here.Canadian Natural Resources, see article here.Imperial Oil, see article here.Cenovus Energy (CVE), see article here.MEG Energy (MEGEF.PK), see article here.Devon Energy, see article here.Royal Dutch Shell, see article here.Ivanhoe Energy (IVAN), see article here.Nexen (CNOOC) (CEO), see article here.

    An analysis of the current operations of the company will be examined with the objective to provide the most complete information available to potential investors before deciding to seize the opportunity that the 54,132 square miles of the Carbonate Triangle has to offer. Let's start by introducing Athabasca, a famous and most prolific region in the Canadian oil sands as well as one of the largest reserve in the world.

  • [By Paul Ausick]

    Endeavor owns assets onshore in the U.S. and in the U.K. region of the North Sea. The company expects to begin production ��mminently��at the Rochelle field which will be operated by Nexen, the former Canadian firm that was acquired by China�� Cnooc Ltd. (NYSE: CEO) earlier this year.

Top Mid Cap Companies To Watch In Right Now: Intelsat SA (I)

Intelsat S.A., incorporated on July 18, 2011, is a satellite services business, providing a layer in the global communications infrastructure. The Company operates satellite capacity, holds orbital location rights, contract backlog, serve commercial customers and deliver services. It provides diversified communications services to the world�� media companies, fixed and wireless telecommunications operators, data networking service providers for enterprise and mobile applications, multinational corporations and Internet service providers (ISPs). It is also the provider of commercial satellite capacity to the United States government and other select military organizations and their contractors.

The Company has a satellite fleet comprised of more than 50 satellites, covering 99% of the Earth�� populated regions. Its fleet, combined with the IntelsatOne terrestrial fiber network and a collection of teleports, form a singular unmatched global infrastructure to meet any communications requirement. As the provider of satellite services, the Company provides mission critical communication services.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Todd Sullivan]

    HHC has increased all our ownership percentage through the repurchasing of outstanding warrants.

    From the 13D/A
    On December 31, 2013, certain of the Reporting Persons entered into swaps for the benefit of certain Pershing Square Funds. Under the terms of the swaps, (i) the relevant Pershing Square Funds will be obligated to pay to the bank counterparty any negative price performance of the 5,399,839 notional number of Common Shares subject to the swaps as of the expiration date of such swaps, plus interest rates set forth in the applicable contracts, and (ii) the bank counterparty will be obligated to pay the relevant Pershing Square Funds any positive price performance of the 5,399,839 notional number Common Shares subject to the swaps as of the expiration date of the swaps. During the term of the swaps, cash will be paid by the bank counterparty to the relevant Pershing Square Fund in an amount equal to the amount of notional distributions or dividends paid by the Issuer in respect of such notional number of Common Shares. All balances will be settled in cash. The Pershing Square Funds��counterparties for the swaps include entities related to Citibank, Nomura, Soci茅t茅 G茅n茅rale and UBS. The swaps do not give the Reporting Persons direct or indirect voting, investment or dispositive control over any securities of the Issuer and do not require the counterparty thereto to acquire, hold, vote or dispose of any securities of the Issuer. Accordingly, the Reporting Persons disclaim any beneficial ownership of any Common Shares that may be referenced in the swap contracts or Common Shares or other securities or financial instruments that may be held from time to time by any counterparty to the contracts.

  • [By Rich Duprey]

    Satellite services provider Intelsat (NYSE: I  ) announced yesterday its third-quarter dividend of $0.71875 per share on its 5.75% Series A mandatory convertible junior non-voting preferred stock, which trades on the NYSE under the symbol I.PRA.

  • [By Rich Duprey]

    Satellite services provider�Intelsat (NYSE: I  ) announced yesterday its second-quarter dividend of $0.799 per share on its 5.75% Series A mandatory convertible junior non-voting preferred stock, which trades on the NYSE under the symbol I.PRA.

  • [By The Specialist]

    Subject to ongoing evaluation and analysis, the Reporting Person may consider certain plans or proposals to increase shareholders' value that may relate to or may result in (I) a change in the present board of directors or management of the Issuer, including any plans or proposals to change the number or term of directors or to fill any existing vacancies on the board; and/or (ii) a material change in the present dividend policy of the Issuer

Top Mid Cap Companies To Watch In Right Now: OSI Systems Inc.(OSIS)

OSI Systems, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs and manufactures electronic systems and components for homeland security, healthcare, defense, and aerospace markets worldwide. The company operates in three divisions: Security, Healthcare, and Optoelectronics and Manufacturing. The Security division provides security and inspection systems under the Rapiscan Systems name. Its products include baggage and parcel inspection, cargo and vehicle inspection, hold baggage screening, and people screening products to search for weapons, explosives, drugs, and other contraband, as well as for the verification of cargo manifests for monitoring the export and import of controlled materials. This division also offers various turn-key security screening solutions under the S2 trade name. The Healthcare division provides patient monitoring, diagnostic cardiology, and anesthesia delivery and ventilation systems under the Spacelabs name that are used in critical care, emergency, and perioperative areas within hospitals, as well as physician?s offices, medical clinics, and ambulatory surgery centers. The Optoelectronics and Manufacturing division offers optoelectronic devices for the aerospace and defense, avionics, medical imaging and diagnostic, renewable energy, biochemistry analysis, pharmaceutical, nanotechnology, telecommunications, construction, and homeland security markets under the OSI Optoelectronics name; and electronics manufacturing services to original equipment manufacturers under the OSI Electronics name. This division also provides laser-based remote sensing devices to detect and classify vehicles in toll and traffic management systems under the OSI Laserscan name; blood pressure cuffs and unifusors under the Statcorp Medical name; and solid-state laser products for aerospace, defense, telecommunication, and medical applications under the OSI LaserDiode trade name. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Hawthorne, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Bryan Murphy]

    It's tragic that it takes an event like the one earlier this week at a Nevada middle school to put building security stocks in the spotlight. But, reality is reality. The death of one teacher as well as the student/shooter himself has once again underscored the need for names like View Systems Inc. (OTCBB:VSYM), OSI Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSIS), and American Science & Engineering, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASEI). These three companies make equipment that may have prevented the shooting at the school. As is so often the case, interest in defense-oriented equipment - and a stronger likelihood of buying them - is eventually going to impact stocks like ASEI, OSIS, and VSYM for the better.

  • [By Stephen Quickel]

    We are also adding two previously successful technology picks: Skyworks Solutions (SWKS), a supplier of analog and mixed signal semiconductors, and OSI Systems (OSIS), a specialist in mission-critical electronic systems and components.

  • [By James E. Brumley]

    On the surface, the press release in and of itself may seem benign ... almost innocuous. When you start to proverbially put two and two together, however, this morning's news from View Systems Inc. (OTCBB:VSYM) could actually be early notice that things are about to change for the young, small company. By digging deeper into the details, it becomes clear that VSYM could become in Brazil what TASER International, Inc. (NASDAQ:TASR) and OSI Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSIS) have become in the United States - security icons. View Systems shareholders could be on the same bullish receiving end of things that OSIS and TASR shareholders were on when each of those companies were experiencing a growth spurt a few years back.

Top Mid Cap Companies To Watch In Right Now: S&W Seed Company(SANW)

S&W Seed Company engages in contracting the production of alfalfa seed varieties, processing the seeds, and marketing the certified seed to agribusiness firms and farmers worldwide. It also involves in the production of stevia leaf. The company primarily offers high fall dormancy (FD) alfalfa seed varieties, as well as markets and sells other varieties, including FD 7, 6, and 4 varieties. It sells the seed primarily to dealers and distributors who, in turn, sell primarily to hay and dairy farmers who grow hay for dairy cattle and other livestock; and through brokers. The company was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Five Points, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Glenwoods]

    �PureCircle does not grow its own product, but is more of a holding company as it contracts farms scattered around the globe to grow stevia to certain specifications.� One such farm is the S&W SEED Co. (NASDAQ:SANW).� Toward the end of 2011, PureCircle, with a goal of developing stevia in the U.S. for the U.S market, entered into a five-year agreementwith the California-based grower of high-yield alfalfa seeds, to grow stevia to the company�� specifications.� Unfortunately the results have not matched expectationsas reported by S&W Seed:

Top Mid Cap Companies To Watch In Right Now: Oasis Petroleum Inc.(OAS)

Oasis Petroleum Inc., an independent exploration and production company, engages in the acquisition and development of oil and natural gas resources in the Montana and North Dakota regions of the Williston Basin. The company?s primary project areas include West Williston, East Nesson, and Sanish. As of December 31, 2011, it had approximately 78.7 million barrels of oil equivalent of estimated net proved reserves. Oasis Petroleum Inc. was founded in 2007 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Bret Jensen]

    Regular readers of these columns know that I am a big bull on a good number of E&P concerns on the back of the huge domestic oil & gas production surge within the United States over the last 6-8 years. I own and have written extensively about a variety of smaller plays among these producers over the last two years. Bakken producer Oasis Petroleum (OAS) is a stock I have owned and written about since April of last year.

  • [By Aaron Levitt]

    Like the Eagle Ford, the shale oil production from the Bakken continues grow by leaps and bounds, powering those firms that do business there. One of the best could be Oasis Petroleum (OAS).

  • [By James E. Brumley]

    In a perfect world, Oasis Petroleum Inc. (NYSE:OAS) and Shanda Games Limited (NASDAQ:GAME) would always reflect the true underlying value of their respective companies. In reality, GAME and OAS are both well-watched, and frequently-traded, stocks that can take on a life of their own, reflecting ever-changing opinions of the companies rather than the companies' actual value. There's an upside to that disconnect, however - knowing each chart may or may not reflect the actual value of Shanda Games Limited and Oasis Petroleum means you can take the clues given to us by their chart. After all, since charts are just a reflection of public opinion, and since public opinion is actually rather predictable, the way things appear to be - visually - may actually be the way things are. And in this case, the way things are with OAS happens to be a polar opposite with the way things are with GAME.

  • [By Jon C. Ogg]

    Oasis Petroleum Inc. (NYSE: OAS) was raised to Buy from Hold with a $55 price target at Deutsche Bank and was raised to Buy from Neutral with a $53 price target at SunTrust.

Top Mid Cap Companies To Watch In Right Now: Medbox Inc (MDBX.PK)

Medbox Inc. (Medbox) offers a machine that dispenses medication to individuals based on biometric identification (fingerprint sample). The machine allows pharmacies, hospitals, doctors' offices, and alternative medicine clinics to manage employee possession of sensitive drugs. The system also allows these clinics to demonstrate that the user visiting the machine is a registered patient and that the patient has a valid and unexpired authorization from a physician to possess and use the medicine dispensed. The Company has national and international presence with offices in Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, London and Tokyo.

Medbox, through its subsidiaries, offers consulting services to the alternative medicine industry, as well as to the mini self-storage market. The Company provides consulting services primarily to individuals and groups seeking to establish new clinics and facilities, often in jurisdictions that have recently passed legislation concerning th e availability of alternative medicines, as well as existing jurisdictions, nationwide.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Alan Brochstein]

    Taking into account all of the data I have shared, I want to introduce my take on the most important names to follow. My initial list takes into account not only the market cap, but also business model and interest level. These are the stocks that I think merit the most attention (in alphabetical order):

    CannaVest (CANV.OB)GW Pharma (GWPH)MedBox (MDBX.PK)Medical Marijuana, Inc. (MJNA.PK)

    CANV doesn't really trade, as it is held closely by insiders (99.7%, including MJNA). I have a few concerns, including the valuation and some near-term financial challenges typical of a start-up with just one client looking to expand its customer base, but I like the focus and the fact that it is an SEC filer with a relatively clean history (i.e. none of the baggage of some of these other companies). I have spoken to its outsourced CFO and am impressed by his background (has been CFO or held key financial roles at publicly-traded healthcare companies). CANV is the partner to MJNA that is responsible for manufacturing the CBD (Cannibidiol, the cannabinoid in marijuana that is increasingly viewed as offering substantial medical benefits). I am very concerned about the near-term financials, but this is a pure-play with probably a two-year lead over other companies. I don't see a moat in terms of intellectual property or brands, but they have a good lead in terms of sourcing of supply and penetration into potential customers. Quite simply, they don't appear to have competition at present. The company, then, is a call option on CBD demand taking off. It appears that it could be a supplier to even Big Pharma should medical marijuana research move into the mainstream.

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