The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO ) and PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP ) �need no introduction. Both companies have been around since the late 1800's and have been rewarding their shareholders with dividends and buybacks. But which company offers the safest rewards or the biggest dividend increases to shareholders?
Coke currently has a market capitalization and dividend yield of $185 billion and 2.9%, respectively. Pepsi's market capitalization and dividend yield are $135 billion and 2.9%, respectively. These yields appear quite attractive given the current low yields on US treasury securities. Over the six-year period from 2007-2013, Coke and Pepsi have grown their dividends by compound annual growth rates of 8.67% and 8.07%, respectively. This period encompasses the lead-up to the financial crisis and the most current year-end. Both companies have shown that they can weather the storm of economic uncertainty and still increase their dividends. In fact Coke has increased its dividend for 50 years straight, while Pepsi has done so for 42 years.�
Top Low Price Stocks To Watch For 2015: Hercules Offshore Inc.(HERO)
Hercules Offshore, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides shallow-water drilling and marine services to the oil and natural gas exploration and production industry in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and internationally. Its services comprise oil and gas exploration and development drilling, well services, platform inspection, and maintenance and decommissioning services in various water provinces. As of May 10, 2011, the company owned and operated a fleet of 50 jackup rigs, 17 barge rigs, 65 liftboats, 3 submersible rigs, and 1 platform rig. It serves national oil and gas companies, integrated energy companies, and independent oil and natural gas operators. The company was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lisa Levin]
Hercules Offshore (NASDAQ: HERO) shares reached a new 52-week low of $4.95. Global Hunter downgraded the stock from Buy to Neutral and cut the price target from $12.00 to $6.00.
- [By Jeff Reeves]
Next Page
Best Stocks to Buy for Around $5: Hercules Offshore (HERO)Oil stocks haven�� really been all that kind to investors over the last few years as weak pricing coupled with weaker energy demand in emerging markets has hurt the bottom line.
- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Equities Trading DOWN
Shares of Hercules Offshore (NASDAQ: HERO) were down 10.96 percent to $5.12. Global Hunter downgraded the stock from Buy to Neutral and cut the price target from $12.00 to $6.00. - [By Brian Pacampara]
Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, shallow-water oil and gas driller Hercules Offshore (NASDAQ: HERO ) has earned a respected four-star ranking.
Hot Safest Companies To Buy Right Now: SPDR DB International Government Inflation-Protected Bond ETF (WIP)
SPDR DB International Government Inflation-Protected Bond ETF (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the DB Global Government ex-US Inflation-Linked Bond Capped Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the inflation-linked government bond markets of developed and emerging market countries outside of the United States. Inflation protected public obligations of the inflation-linked government bond markets of developed and emerging market countries, commonly known in the United States as treasury inflation-protected securities (TIPS), are securities issued by such governments that are designed to provide inflation protection to investors. The Fund uses a passive management strategy to track the Index. The Fund�� investment advisor is SSgA Funds Management, Inc. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Richard Stavros]
With respect to inflation protected bonds, though TIPS should be a part of every portfolio. However, we believe the SPDR DB International Government Inflation-Protected Bond (WIP) offers greater protection than TIPS.
Hot Safest Companies To Buy Right Now: Twenty-First Century Fox Inc (FOXA)
News Corporation, incorporated on October 23, 1979, is a diversified global media company. The Company operates in six segments: Cable Network Programming; Filmed Entertainment; Television; Direct Broadcast Satellite Television; Publishing, and Other. Cable Network Programming produces and licenses news, business news, sports, general entertainment and movie programming for distribution through cable television systems and direct broadcast satellite operators in the United States and internationally. Filmed Entertainment engages in the production and acquisition of live-action and animated motion pictures for distribution and licensing in all formats in all entertainment media worldwide, and the production and licensing of television programming worldwide. Television is engaged in the operation of broadcast television stations and the broadcasting of network programming in the United States. It engages in the direct broadcast satellite business through its subsidiary, SKY Italia. It also owns significant equity interests in BSkyB and Sky Deutschland AG (Sky Deutschland), which are engaged in the DBS business. The Company is engaged in the publishing business, primarily through its subsidiaries News International, News Limited, Dow Jones, The New York Post, The Daily, Harper Collins Publishers and News America Marketing Group. Its digital media businesses include IGN Entertainment, Inc. (IGN), and other Internet properties. In November 2012, News Corporation, through a wholly owned subsidiary, completed acquisition of ESPN's partnership interest in ESPN STAR Sports.
During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 (fiscal 2011), it acquired an additional interest in Asianet Communications Limited (Asianet), acquired Wireless Generation. In June 2010, the Company acquired Skiff, LLC. In November 2010, the Company formed a joint venture with China Media Capital (CMC). In December 2010, the Company disposed of the Fox Mobile Group (Fox Mobile), and acquired Making Fun, Inc. (Making Fun). In April 2! 011, the Company acquired Shine Limited (Shine). In July 2011, the Company sold its 79% stake in News Outdoor Russia and News Outdoor Romania. On June 29, 2011, the Company sold Myspace, including its stake in Myspace Music, LLC, to Specific Media, a digital media company, and received a minority equity stake in Specific Media in connection with the sale. In July 2011, the Company sold its majority interest in its outdoor advertising businesses in Russia and Romania. In May 2011, IGN acquired UGO Entertainment, Inc., which owns the ugo.com and 1up.com men�� lifestyle and video gaming sites, from Hearst Corporation in exchange for a minority ownership stake in IGN. Also in May 2011, IGN sold its Direct2Drive digital distribution site to GameFly, Inc. (GameFly).
Cable Network Programming
FOX News owns and operates the FOX News Channel, as well as the FOX Business Network. FOX News also produces a weekend political commentary show, FOX News Sunday, for broadcast on local FOX television stations throughout the United States. FOX News, through its FOX News Edge service, licenses news feeds to FOX Affiliates and other subscribers to use as part of local news broadcasts throughout the United States and abroad. FOX News also produces and runs the Websites, FOXNews.com and FOXBusiness.com, and owns and produces the national FOX News Radio Network, which licenses news updates, long form programs and the FOX News Talk Channel to local radio stations and to satellite radio providers. Fox Sports Net, Inc. (FSN, Inc.) is a regional sports network (RSN) programmer in the United States, focusing on live professional and collegiate home team sports events. FSN, Inc.�� sports programming business consists primarily of ownership interests in 12 RSNs, including numerous sub-regional feeds (the FSN RSNs) and National Sports Programming, which operates FSN (FSN), a national sports programming service. FSN, Inc. also is affiliated with, through FSN, an additional nine RSNs that are not owned by F! SN, Inc. ! (the FSN Affiliated RSNs). FSN provides the FSN RSNs and the FSN Affiliated RSNs with national sports programming, featuring original and licensed sports-related programming, as well as live and replay sporting events.
As of June 30, 2011, reaching more than 78 million households in the United States, SPEED brings viewers season-long coverage of the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) races, events and original programming, including exclusive coverage of the annual NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and NASCAR Hall of Fame ceremonies. In addition, SPEED delivers programming from other top racing series, such as Formula One, Grand American Road Racing, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, World of Outlaws, AMA Pro Racing, AMA Supercross, AMA Motocross, Monster Jam, World Superbike and MotoGP. The Company also produces and distributes SPEED HD, a 24-hour national programming service produced and distributed in high definition. SPEED�� new broadband network includes SPEED2.
FUEL TV is a domestic 24-hour programming service dedicated to action sports and the lifestyle surrounding it. FUEL TV covers both competitive and performance action in the arenas of skateboarding, surfing, BMX, freestyle motocross, snowboarding and wakeboarding. Programming includes the United States and international action sports events and competitions, as well as original series and specials about top action sports athletes and their music, art and culture from a global perspective. Fox College Sports consists of three regionally-aligned networks, FCS Pacific, FCS Central and FCS Atlantic. Fox College Sports provides live and delayed collegiate events from the collegiate conferences, coaches��shows and collegiate highlight and magazine-format programming from the FSN RSNs and certain of the FSN Affiliated RSNs across the country. Fox Movie Channel (FMC) was Hollywood�� studio-based movie network. FMC airs Twentieth Century Fox films, as well as documentaries and original series that explore the movi! emaking p! rocess from script to screen. Fox Soccer Channel is an English-language programming service offering coverage soccer. Properties include the UEFA Champions League, England�� Barclays Premier League, Italian Serie A, FA Cup and 2011 Major League Soccer, along with daily soccer news programs, magazine shows and in depth coverage on the sport. The Company also produces and distributes Fox Soccer Channel HD, a 24-hour national programming service produced and distributed in high definition.
The Company has an approximate 33% equity interest in Fox Pan American Sports LLC (FPAS). FPAS owns and operates Spanish-language sports businesses, including the Fox Sports Latin America network (a Spanish-language sports network distributed to subscribers in certain Caribbean and Central and South American nations outside of Brazil). Through the Company�� interest in FPAS and an additional direct ownership interest, the Company has a 53% interest in Fox Deportes (the first Spanish-language sports programming service to be distributed in the United States). The Company owns an approximate 51% interest in the Big Ten Network, a 24-hour national programming service dedicated to the Big Ten Conference and Big Ten athletics, academics and related programming, and Big Ten Network HD, a 24-hour national programming service produced and distributed in HD. The Company holds an approximate 70% interest in NGC Network US LLC (NGC Network), which produces and distributes the National Geographic Channel and National Geographic Channel HD, Nat Geo Wild and Nat Geo Wild HD in the United States, with NGHT, LLC, a subsidiary of the National Geographic Society (NGHT), holding the remaining interest.
Fox International Channels (FIC) operates, develops and distributes primarily factual and general entertainment channels in various countries in Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia, including the Fox Channel, Fox Life, FX, SPEED, Utilisima, which is also distributed in the United States, Fox Cr! ime, NEXT! , FOX History & Entertainment, the Voyage Channel, FOX Sports, STAR World and STAR Movies. FIC also owns a 52.2% interest in NGC Network International LLC and NGC Network Latin America LLC (collectively NGC International), with NGHT holding a 26.8% interest and a subsidiary of BSkyB holding a 21% interest. NGC International produces and distributes the National Geographic Channel in various international markets. NGC International also produces and distributes the National Geographic Channel HD, the Nat Geo Adventure channel (in both HD and SD), the Nat Geo Wild channel (in both HD and SD) and the Nat Geo Music channel in international markets. FIC owns a 55% equity interest in LAPTV, a partnership that distributes six pay television channels (Movie City, Movie City HD, City Mix, City Family, City Stars and City Vibe and their multiplexes) and two basic television channels (The Film Zone East and West and Cinecanal) in Latin America (excluding Brazil).
FIC also owns a majority equity interest in Elite Sports Limited, a company that owns and distributes BabyTV. FIC also manages Channel [V] Thailand in which the Company owns a 49% interest. Channel [V] Thailand owns a Thai language music channel. FIC licenses its Channel [V] brand to a third party in Australia to operate a music channel. In addition, FIC has a joint venture with CJ Media, a Korean media conglomerate for the distribution of the tvN channel, a 24-hour general entertainment channel featuring Korean content, such as original dramas, variety shows, reality and lifestyle programs. STAR India develops, produces and broadcasts 28 channels in eight languages, which are distributed primarily via satellite to local cable, Internet protocol television (IPTV) and direct-to-home (DTH) operators for distribution throughout Asia, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe and North America to their subscribers. STAR India�� channels include the flagship Hindi general entertainment channel STAR Plus, the Bengali general entertainment channel ST! AR Jalsha! and the Marathi general entertainment channel STAR Pravah.
Asianet Communications Limited, which is a joint venture with Asianet TV Holdings Private Limited, was formed to provide television services for South Indian audiences. The joint venture consists of the Company�� approximate 81% interest in the Tamil language channel Vijay and the Company�� approximate 75% interest in the Malayalam language channels Asianet and Asianet Plus, the Kannada language channel Suvarna and the Telugu language channel Sitara. The Company also owns an approximate 26% stake in Balaji Telefilms Limited (Balaji), which is a television content production company in India. Balaji produces serials broadcast on general entertainment channels in India. The Company also holds an approximate 30% interest in Tata Sky Limited, which owns and operates a DTH platform in India. The Company has a 50/50 joint venture with Den Networks Limited (Star Den) to operate a television channel distribution business in India, Nepal and Bhutan that exclusively distributes STAR India�� owned and affiliated channels in these territories. The Company has expanded into television home shopping in India through a 50/50 joint venture with CJ O Shopping Co. Ltd., a home shopping company in South Korea and China.
STAR Taiwan develops and broadcasts Chinese language television programming focused at Chinese-speaking audiences in Taiwan and the rest of Asia on a pay television basis. STAR Taiwan�� television services are distributed primarily via satellite to local cable, IPTV and DTH operators in Asia and North America. STAR Taiwan�� channels include STAR Chinese Channel, STAR Chinese Movies, STAR Chinese Movies 2, STAR Chinese Movies HD and Channel [V] Taiwan. The Company has an approximate 15% interest in Rotana Holding FZ-LLC (Rotana), which operates a diversified film, television, audio, advertising and entertainment business across the Middle East and North Africa. The Company also has a 50% interest in Broadcast Mid! dle East ! FZ-LLC (BME). The Company owns a 50% interest in ESPN STAR Sports. ESPN STAR Sports is a sports broadcaster in Asia and operates 22 channels in different languages. The Company owns an approximate 18% interest in Phoenix.
Filmed Entertainment
Fox Filmed Entertainment (FFE) produces, acquires and distributes motion pictures worldwide under a variety of arrangements. The motion pictures of FFE are produced and/or distributed by the units of FFE: Twentieth Century Fox and Fox 2000, which produce and acquire motion pictures for mainstream audiences; Fox Searchlight Pictures, which produces and acquires specialized motion pictures, and Twentieth Century Fox Animation, which produces feature length animated motion pictures. In addition, Fox International Productions, Inc. co-produces, co-finances and acquires local-language motion pictures for distribution outside the United States. Pursuant to an agreement with Monarchy Enterprises Holdings B.V. (MEH), the parent company of New Regency in which the Company has a 20% interest, and certain of MEH�� subsidiaries, FFE distributes certain New Regency films and all films co-financed by FFE and New Regency in all media worldwide, excluding a number of international territories with respect to television rights. Motion picture companies, such as FFE, seek to generate revenues from various distribution channels. FFE derives its worldwide motion picture revenues primarily from four basic sources: distribution of motion pictures for theatrical exhibition in the United States and Canada and markets outside of the United States and Canada (international markets); distribution of motion pictures in various home media formats; distribution of motion pictures for exhibition on pay-per-view, video-on-demand and premium pay television programming services, and distribution of motion pictures for exhibition on free television networks, other broadcast program services, independent television stations and basic cable programming services, including c! ertain se! rvices, which are affiliates of the Company. Through Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LCC, the Company distributes motion pictures and other programming produced by units of FFE, its affiliates and other producers in the United States, Canada and international markets in all home media formats, including the sale and rental of DVDs and Blu-rays.
Units of FFE license motion pictures and other programs in the United States, Canada and international markets to various third party and certain affiliated subscription pay television, subscription video-on-demand, pay-per-view, video-on-demand and electronic sell-through services. Units of FFE also license motion pictures in the United States to direct broadcast satellite (DBS) pay-per-view services operated by EchoStar Communications Corporation, as well as to pay-per-view and video-on-demand services operated by The DIRECTV Group, Inc. and iN Demand L.L.C. In addition, units of FFE license motion pictures and other programs to third parties, including Apple Inc. (Apple) and Amazon.com Inc. (Amazon), for electronic sell-through over the Internet, enabling consumers in the United States to acquire the right to retain permanently such programs.
Twentieth Television licenses both television programming and feature films for domestic syndication to television stations and basic cable services in the United States. Twentieth Television distributes a program portfolio that includes the Company�� library of television and film assets, and first-run programming produced by its production companies for sales to local stations, including stations owned and operated by the Company, as well as to basic cable networks. First-run programs distributed by Twentieth Television include the game shows Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? and Don�� Forget the Lyrics!, and the court shows Divorce Court and Judge Alex. Twentieth Television derives revenue from off-network, theatrical and first-run program sales from both broadcast and cable lice! nsees, an! d from the sales of national advertising units retained by Twentieth Television in its programs. Twentieth Television licenses such shows as Modern Family, Glee, How I Met Your Mother, It�� Always Sunny in Philadelphia, My Name Is Earl, Family Guy, American Dad, M*A*S*H, Bones, and The Simpsons to cable and broadcast networks. Twentieth Television also manages and distributes the long running series, COPS and America�� Most Wanted, and sells national advertising on behalf of other third party syndicators.
Fox Television Studios (FtvS) is a program supplier to the United States and international broadcast and cable networks. FtvS is producing the series Burn Notice and White Collar for USA Network, The Glades for A&E, The Killing for AMC, Kendra and Holly�� World for E! and In the Flow with Affion Crockett for FOX. Shine Limited (Shine) is an international television production and distribution group with 26 production companies across 12 countries creating and exploiting scripted and non-scripted content in the global marketplace. The Company�� motion picture and television library (the Fox Library) consists of varying rights to several thousand previously released motion pictures and many television programs.
Television
Fox Television Stations, Inc. (Fox Television Stations) owns and operates 27 full power stations. Fox Television Stations owns and operates two stations in nine designated market areas (DMAs), including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Of the 27 full power stations, 17 stations are affiliates of FOX (FOX Affiliates). In addition, Fox Television Stations owns and operates 10 stations affiliated with Master Distribution Service, Inc. (MyNetworkTV). FOX has 203 FOX Affiliates, including the 17 stations owned and operated by the Company. FOX�� prime-time programming features such series as House, The Simpsons, Bones, Fringe and Glee; unscripted series, such as American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance; and various specials. As of June 30! , 2011, M! yNetworkTV had 181 affiliates, including 10 stations owned and operated by the Company, reaching approximately 97% of the United States households.
Direct Broadcast Satellite Television
SKY Italia distributes more than 175 channels of basic, premium and pay-per-view programming services through satellite and broadband directly to subscribers in Italy. This programming includes exclusive rights to sporting events, newly-released movies and SKY Italia�� original programming, such as SKY TG 24, a 24-hour news channel.
Publishing
News International publishes The Times, The Sunday Times and The Sun. On July 7, 2011, News International announced that July 10, 2011 would be the last issue of News of the World. News International also publishes The Times Literary Supplement. News Limited is a newspaper publisher in Australia, owning approximately 146 daily, Sunday, weekly, bi-weekly and tri-weekly newspapers, of which three are free commuter titles and 102 are suburban publications (including 16 of which News Limited has a 50% interest). News Limited publishes a nationally distributed newspaper in Australia, a metropolitan newspaper in each of the Australian cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart and Darwin and a suburban newspaper in the suburbs of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. News Limited�� principal daily newspapers in Australia are: The Australian; The Daily Telegraph, published in Sydney; the Herald Sun, published in Melbourne; The Courier-Mail, published in Brisbane; The Advertiser, published in Adelaide; The Mercury, published in Hobart, and the Northern Territory News, published in Darwin. News Limited�� principal Sunday newspapers in Australia are: The Sunday Telegraph, published in Sydney; the Sunday Herald Sun, published in Melbourne; The Sunday Mail, published in Brisbane; the Sunday Mail, published in Adelaide; The Sunday Times, published in Perth; the Sunday Tasmanian, published in Hobart, and the! Sunday T! erritorian, published in Darwin.
Dow Jones is a global provider of news and business information, with newspaper, newswire, Website, newsletter, magazine, database, conference, radio and video businesses. Dow Jones offers products targeting both individual consumer and business and institutional customers, including The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones Newswires, Factiva, Barron��, MarketWatch, SmartMoney and other products. Products targeting business and institutional customers, including Dow Jones Newswires and Factiva, combine news and information with technology and tools designed to inform decisions and to aid awareness, research and understanding. The Dow Jones Local Media business publishes community newspapers, Websites and other products in seven United States states. The Wall Street Journal is available in print, online at WSJ.com, and on mobile devices, such as smart phones, e-readers and tablets. The Wall Street Journal also publishes a regional edition for the New York City area called Greater New York. Barron�� is available in print, online at Barrons.com, and on mobile devices. Barron�� caters to financial professionals, individual investors and others interested in financial markets. Its print edition is published weekly. SmartMoney publishes news and information focusing on personal finance, and is available in print, online at SmartMoney.com, and on mobile devices. The print edition of SmartMoney is published monthly. The Wall Street Journal Digital Network (WSJDN) consists of business and financial news Websites and mobile applications. In addition to WSJ.com, Barrons.com and SmartMoney.com, WSJDN includes MarketWatch, AllThingsD.com and related sites.
The Wall Street Journal Europe print edition is headquartered in London and printed in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom. The Wall Street Journal Asia print edition is headquartered in Hong Kong and printed in Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philip! pines, Si! ngapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. Regional coverage from The Wall Street Journal Europe and The Wall Street Journal Asia is also available online at WSJ.com. Dow Jones also publishes The Wall Street Journal Special Editions. Factiva provides news and business information with search and discovery technology and tools to assist business and institutional customers with research, awareness and decision-making. Dow Jones Newswires is a provider of business news and information to financial professionals and online investors worldwide via terminals, portals and intranet sites with hundreds of thousands of financial professionals and millions of online investors relying on this information each trading day.
The Dow Jones Local Media business publishes local media print publications, including eight general interest dailies in California, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon and Pennsylvania, and related local Websites. The Dow Jones Local Media business also publishes 13 weekly newspapers, performs commercial printing at its five printing locations and offers other products and services. Dow Jones VentureSource is a database for venture capital and private equity markets tracking key developments. Dow Jones Watchlist helps compliance professionals identify high-risk clients and business associates. The eFinancialNews business, based in London, serves the European financial services industry with print, online, training and events businesses. The Wall Street Journal Professional Edition provides business and professional readers with specialized and targeted news and information. Dow Jones also distributes news and information to individual consumers through other channels of content distribution, including television, radio/audio, online video, consumer electronic licensing, The Wall Street Journal classroom, campus and Sunday editions, and WSJ.Magazine. Dow Jones also owns an interest in Vedomosti, which publishes a Russian language business daily.
The New! York Pos! t (the Post) is a mass circulation, metropolitan morning newspaper published seven days a week and primarily distributed in the New York metropolitan area, the Northeast, Florida and California. The Company prints the Post in a printing facility in the Bronx, New York and uses third party printers in its other markets in the United States. The Company�� Community Newspaper Group also owns several local newspapers and other publications distributed in the New York metropolitan area. The Daily is a daily national news publication built as an application for tablet computing. HarperCollins Publishers (HarperCollins) is engaged in English language book publishing on a worldwide basis and is an English language book publisher. HarperCollins��principal businesses are HarperCollins Publishers LLC (HarperCollins U.S.), HarperCollins Publishers Limited and The Zondervan Corporation LLC. HarperCollins primarily publishes fiction and non-fiction, including religious books, for the general consumer. In the United Kingdom, HarperCollins publishes some titles for the educational market as well.
News America Marketing Group (NAMG) publishes free-standing insert publications and provides in-store marketing products and services. NAMG is a publisher of free-standing inserts in the United States. Free-standing inserts are multiple-page marketing booklets containing coupons, rebates and other consumer offers, which are distributed to consumers through insertion primarily into local Sunday newspapers. Advertisers, primarily packaged goods companies, pay NAMG to produce free-standing inserts, and NAMG contracts with and pays newspapers to include the free-standing inserts primarily into the newspapers��Sunday editions. SmartSource is the brand name that is linked with NAMG�� assortment of marketing products, including, among others, free-standing inserts, NAMG�� instant coupon machines and various shelf advertising products. The SmartSource iGroup manages NAMG�� portfolio of database and electronic ! marketing! solutions. The database marketing business, branded SmartSource Direct, provides direct mail solutions via its national network of retailer frequent shopper card databases. The SmartSource Savings Network, which includes SmartSource.com, encompasses all of NAMG�� electronic couponing and sampling solutions accessed through the Web, mobile and tablet-based programming.
Other
These businesses develop and promote content and experiences for Internet audiences and generate revenue through Internet advertising, sponsorships, subscriptions and e-commerce. IGN�� network of video game, lifestyle and entertainment-related Internet properties represent many of the Web properties in their respective categories across the Internet. IGN�� Games sites (IGN.com, 1UP, GameSpy, FilePlanet, TeamXbox and others) is a gaming information network on the Internet. IGN�� GameSpy Technology group provides technology for online game play in video games. IGN also owns and operates a men�� lifestyle Websites, AskMen.com. Making Fun is a social games developer and publisher acquired. Making Fun makes games for various platforms, including Facebook, Android, and iOS, and has launched its first games with additional ones in development. The Company has interests in FOX TV in Turkey and Channel 10 in Israel, which are free-to-air, general entertainment television stations.
News Digital Media is the Company�� Australian online division. In addition to maintaining the Company�� Australian websites, News Digital Media is responsible for online advertising and transactions in Australia. News Digital Media sites include carsguide.com.au, news.com.au, MOSHTIX.com.au, GetPrice.com.au and truelocal.com.au. News Digital Media also has a 50% stake in CareerOne.com.au. The Company holds an approximate 39% interest in BSkyB. BSkyB operates a pay television broadcast service in the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as broadband and telephony services. BSkyB acquires and commissions programmin! g to broa! dcast on its own channels and supplies certain of those channels to cable operators for retransmission by the cable operators to their subscribers in the United Kingdom and Ireland. BSkyB also retails channels (both its own and those of third parties) to DTH subscribers and to certain of its own channels to a limited number of DSL subscribers. It holds an approximate 49% interest in NDS. NDS creates technologies and applications that enable pay television operators to deliver digital content to televisions, set-top boxes, DVRs, personal computers, portable media players, removable media and other mobile devices securely.
The Company, Telstra Corporation Limited, an Australian telecommunications company, and Consolidated Media Holdings, an Australian media and entertainment company, own and operate FOXTEL, a cable and satellite television service in Australia with 25%, 50% and 25% interests, respectively. As of June 30, 2011, FOXTEL had approximately 1.65 million managed subscribers (including subscribers to Optus, an Australian telecommunications company). As of June 30, 2011, 100% of the FOXTEL managed subscriber base was connected to FOXTEL�� digital service, which delivers over 180 channels on cable and satellite. The Company owns an approximate 44% interest in Sky Network Television Limited, a land-linked UHF network and digital DBS service in New Zealand. The Company has an approximate 32% equity interest in Hulu, LLC (Hulu).
The Company owns a 49.9% equity interest in Sky Deutschland, a pay television operator in Germany and Austria. The core business of Sky Deutschland is subscription pay-tv and it offers a range of programming in Germany and Austria and can be received via Teleclub in Switzerland. Sky Deutschland�� program offering includes current feature films, new series, children�� channels, documentaries and live sports, such as the German Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League.
The Company competes with ABC, NBC, CBS, The CW Television Network, CN! N, MSNBC,! CNN Headline News, Bloomberg Television, ESPN, ESPN2, Versus, USA, TNT, Spike TV, Home Box Office, Inc. (HBO), Showtime Networks Inc. (Showtime), Discovery Channel, History Channel, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Science Channel, History International, Military Channel, Biography, Tru TV, FT.com, New York Times Digital, TheStreet.com, Bloomberg, Forbes.com, CNET, CNN Money, MSNMoney/CNBC, Thomson Reuters, Bloomberg L.P., LexisNexis, Hoover��, OneSource, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo!, Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Random House, Penguin Group, Simon & Schuster and Hachette Livre.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Brian Stelter]
21st Century Fox (FOXA), the home to Murdoch's movie studio and cable and TV programming networks, is the one that made a bid for Time Warner (TWX).
- [By Garrett Cook]
Twenty-First Century Fox (NASDAQ: FOXA) shares were also up, gaining 4.95 percent to $32.85 after the company announced Tuesday that it is withdrawing its bid for Time Warner (NYSE: TWX). Instead, the company’s board authorized a $6 billion share repurchase program.
Hot Safest Companies To Buy Right Now: GUESS? Inc (GES)
Guess?, Inc. (GUESS?) designs, markets, distributes and licenses apparel and accessories for men, women and children. The Company operates in five: Europe, North American Retail, Asia, North American Wholesale and Licensing. The Company�� products are sold through retail, wholesale, e-commerce and licensing distribution channels. The lines include full collections of clothing, including jeans, pants, skirts, dresses, shorts, blouses, shirts, jackets, knitwear and intimate apparel. It also grant licenses to manufactures and distributes a range of products, including eyewear, watches, handbags, footwear, kids' and infants' apparel, leather apparel, swimwear, fragrance, jewelry and other fashion accessories. In fiscal 2012, the Company, along with its distributors and licensees, opened 224 stores in all concepts combined outside of the United Sates and Canada, which consisted of 120 stores in Europe and the Middle East, 89 stores in Asia and 15 stores in the combined area of Central and South America.
As of January 28, 2012, the Company directly operated a total of 504 stores in the United Sates and Canada and 251 stores outside of the United Sates and Canada, and in addition, 230 smaller-sized concessions in Asia and Europe. As of January 28, 2012, its international licensees and distributors operated 804 stores located outside the United Sates and Canada, and 119 smaller-sized licensee operated concessions located in Asia. As of January 28, 2012, it operated retail Websites in the United Sates, Canada, Europe and South Korea. As of January 28, 2012, it had e-commerce available to 26 countries, and in 6 languages around the world. The Company and its network of licensee partners sell its products around the world primarily through six different store concepts, namely its flagship GUESS? retail stores, its GUESS? factory outlet stores, its GUESS by MARCIANO stores, its G by GUESS stores, its GUESS? Accessories stores and its GUESS? Kids stores. The Company also has a small number of footwe! ar, Gc watch and underwear concept stores.
Europe Segment
In the Company�� Europe segment, GUESS? sells its products in 63 countries throughout Europe and the Middle East through wholesale, retail and e-commerce channels. In fiscal 2012, its Europe segment accounted for approximately 37.6% of its revenues. The Company�� European wholesale business generally relies on a large number of smaller regional distributors and agents to distribute its products primarily to smaller independent multi-brand boutiques. The Company�� products are also sold directly to department stores like Galeries Lafayette, Printemps and El Corte Ingles. As of January 28, 2012, GUESS? had showrooms in Barcelona, Dusseldorf, Munich, London, Paris, Florence and Lugano. It sells both its apparel and certain accessories products under the Company�� GUESS? and GUESS by MARCIANO brand concepts through its wholesale channel, operating primarily through two seasons, Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter.
The Company�� European retail network consists of a mix of directly operated and licensee operated GUESS? and GUESS by MARCIANO retail and outlet stores, GUESS? Accessories stores, GUESS? Footwear stores and GUESS? Kids stores. As of January 28, 2012, it had 179 directly operated stores and 382 licensee stores, excluding 17 smaller-sized concessions in Europe. During fiscal 2012, the Company opened 45 new directly operated stores, 75 licensee stores and 5 concessions. The Company�� GUESS? Accessories stores average approximately 800 square feet, GUESS by MARCIANO stores average approximately 1,300 square feet and full-price GUESS? stores generally average 2,300 square feet.
North American Retail Segment
In the Company�� North American Retail segment, it sells its products through a network of directly operated retail and factory outlet stores in North America and through its on-line stores. In fiscal 2012, the Company�� North American Retail segment accounted for ap! proximate! ly 41.6% of its revenue. As of January 28, 2012, it also directly operated 25 GUESS? branded stores in Mexico through a majority-owned joint venture. The Company�� the United Sates and Canada GUESS? retail stores carry an assortment of men's and women's GUESS? merchandise, including most of its licensed product categories. As of January 28, 2012, these stores occupied approximately 1,025,000 square feet and ranged in size from approximately 2,500 to 13,500 square feet, with most stores between 4,000 and 6,000 square feet. In fiscal 2012, it opened nine new retail stores and GUESS? closed four stores.
The Company�� the United Sates and Canada factory outlet stores are located primarily in outlet malls generally operating outside the shopping radius of its wholesale customers and its retail stores. These stores sell selected styles of men's and women's GUESS? apparel and licensed products. As of January 28, 2012, its the United Sates and Canada factory outlet stores occupied approximately 717,000 square feet and ranged in size from approximately 2,000 to 11,000 square feet, with most stores between 4,500 and 6,500 square feet. In fiscal 2012, it opened 10 new factory stores. The Company�� G by GUESS store carries apparel for both men and women and a line of accessories and footwear. As of January 28, 2012, its G by GUESS stores occupied approximately 317,000 square feet and ranged in size from approximately 4,000 to 10,000 square feet, with most stores between 4,000 and 5,500 square feet. In fiscal 2012, the Company opened 12 new G by GUESS stores and it closed three stores.Its GUESS? Accessories store concept sells GUESS? and GUESS by MARCIANO labeled accessory products.
As of January 28, 2012, the Company�� GUESS? Accessories concept stores occupied approximately 122,000 square feet and ranged in size from approximately 1,000 to 4,000 square feet, with most stores between 1,500 and 2,500 square feet. In fiscal 2012, GUESS? opened four new GUESS? Accessories stores and i! t closed ! three stores. The Company�� GUESS by MARCIANO stores in the United Sates and Canada offer a women's collection designed for the stylish, trend-setting woman. As of January 28, 2012, its GUESS by MARCIANO stores occupied approximately 156,000 square feet and ranged in size from approximately 2,000 to 6,500 square feet, with most stores between 2,000 and 3,000 square feet. In fiscal 2012, it opened two new GUESS by MARCIANO stores and the Company closed four stores. The Company�� North American Retail segment also includes its the United Sates and Canada retail Websites, including www.guess.com, www.gbyguess.com, www.guessbymarciano.com, www.guesskids.com, www.guess.ca and www.guessbymarciano.ca. These Websites operates as virtual storefronts that both sell its products and promotes its brands.
Asia Segment
In the Company�� Asia segment, GUESS? sells its products through wholesale, retail and e-commerce channels throughout Asia. In fiscal 2012, its Asia segment accounted for approximately 9.3% of its revenue. Its Asia retail business includes both licensee and the Company operated stores, including GUESS?, G by GUESS, GUESS by MARCIANO, Gc, GUESS? Accessories and GUESS? Underwear stores. During fiscal 2012, it and its partners opened 89 new stores in Asia, as of January 28, 2012, it had 423 stores, 47 of which it operated directly and 376 of which were operated by licensees or distributors. The Company and its partners opened flagship stores in cities, such as Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Macau, Taipei and Beijing and have partnered with licensees to develop its business in the second tier cities in this region.
North American Wholesale Segment
In the Company�� North American Wholesale segment, it sells its products through wholesale channels in North America and to third party distributors based in Central and South America. In fiscal 2012, its North American Wholesale segment accounted for approximately 7.0% of its revenue. As of January 28, 20! 12, its p! roducts were sold to consumers through 1,005 major doors in the United Sates and Canada. These locations include 345 shop-in-shops, a selling area within a department store that offers an array of its products and incorporates GUESS? signage and fixture designs. The Company has sales representatives in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. During fiscal 2012, Macy's, Inc. was its largest domestic wholesale customer, accounting for approximately 2.7% of its consolidated net revenue.
Licensing Segment
The Company�� licensing segment includes the worldwide licensing operations of the Company. In fiscal 2012, its licensing segment royalties accounted for approximately 4.5% of its revenue. As of January 28, 2012, GUESS? had 19 domestic and international licenses that included eyewear, watches, handbags, footwear, kids' and infants' apparel, leather outerwear, fragrance, jewelry and other fashion accessories; and included licenses for the manufacture of GUESS? branded products in markets, which include Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, Central America, North America and South America.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Corinne Gretler]
Verizon Communications Inc. added 2.7 percent as Vodafone Group Plc said the companies are in talks over their Verizon Wireless venture. Guess? Inc. (GES) rallied 13 percent after the apparel maker reported second-quarter profit that exceeded analysts��estimates. Exxon Mobil Corp. lost 1.8 percent as oil futures fell from a two-year high.
- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Guess? (NYSE: GES) shares tumbled 5.86 percent to $27.08 after the company issued downbeat outlook. The retailer projected to post a Q1 loss of $0.05 to $0.09 per share.
- [By Richard Cox]
Reasons for weakness in SPY have come from both internal and external forces. Most recently, positives have been seen in collaborative discussions between Verizon (VZ) and Vodafone (VOD), helping support market sentiment and in Guess? Inc (GES), which posted strong rallies on improved quarterly profits. On balance, however, the negatives have carried more weight. Market uncertainty has seen significant increases based on potential military conflicts in Syria. This is being viewed alongside the increased possibility that the Federal Reserve is prepared to start removing monetary stimulus -- a driving factor that has helped SPY rally nearly 155% from the lows seen in the beginning of 2009.
- [By Wallace Witkowski]
Shares of Guess (GES) declined 5.8% to $27.10 on moderate volume after the apparel and accessories company forecast a loss of 9 cents to 5 cents a share for the first quarter, on revenue of $520 million to $535 million. For the full year, they see earnings of $1.40 to $1.60 a share, on revenue of $2.53 billion to $2.58 billion.
Hot Safest Companies To Buy Right Now: Palo Alto Networks Inc (PANW)
Palo Alto Networks, Inc., incorporated in March 2005, offers a network security platform that allows enterprises, service providers, and government entities to secure their networks. The core of its platform is the Company�� firewall that delivers natively integrated application, user, and content visibility and control through its operating system, hardware, and software architecture. The Company primarily sells its products and services to end-customers through distributors, resellers, and partners, and directly to end-customers (collectively partners), who are supported by its sales and marketing organization, in the Americas, in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), and in Asia Pacific and Japan (APAC). Its products and services can address a range of its end-customers��network security requirements, from the data center to the network perimeter, as well as the distributed enterprise, which includes branch offices and a number of mobile devices. It introduced PA-5000 Series and GlobalProtect subscription service in March 2011 and the PA-200 and WildFire subscription service in November 2011.
The Company�� platform is delivered in an appliance form factor and includes a suite of subscription services, as well as support and maintenance. Its subscription services can be activated on any of its appliances. All of the Company�� appliances incorporate its PAN-OS operating system and are based on its identification technologies, App-ID, User-ID, and Content-ID, which allow security policies to be defined within the context of applications, users, and content. It delivers these capabilities through a single-pass parallel processing architecture that simultaneously performs multiple identification, security and networking functions. The Company serves the enterprise network security market, which consists of Firewall/ Virtual Private Network (VPN), Unified Threat Management (UTM), Web Gateway, Intrusion Detection and Prevention (IDP/IPS), and VPN technologies. The Company deriv! ed 62% of its total revenue from the Americas, 27% from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), and 11% from Asia Pacific and Japan (APAC) as of January 31, 2012.
The Company derives revenue from sales of its products and services, which together comprise its platform. Product revenue is primarily generated from sales of its Firewall. The Company�� Threat Prevention, universal resource locator (URL) Filtering, and GlobalProtect subscriptions provide its end-customers with real-time access to the antivirus, intrusion prevention, Web filtering, and malware protection capabilities across fixed and mobile devices. The Company�� application classification engine, called App-ID, uses multiple identification techniques to determine the exact identity of applications traversing the network. App-ID is the foundational classification engine that provides the core traffic classification to all other functions in its platform. The App-ID classification is used to invoke other security functions.
App-ID uses a series of classification techniques to identify an application. App-ID classifies all network traffic, including business applications, consumer applications, and network protocols, across all ports. User-ID integrates its platform with a range of enterprise user directories and technologies, including Active Directory, eDirectory, Open LDAP, Citrix Terminal Server, Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Terminal Server, and ZENworks. Content-ID is a collection of technologies that enables its subscription services. Content-ID combines a real-time threat prevention engine, cloud-based analysis service, and a URL categorization database to limit unauthorized data and file transfers, detect and block a range of threats, and control non-work related Web surfing. Its WildFire, cloud-based analysis service provides a real-time analysis engine for detecting previously unseen malware. Its URL filtering database consists of millions of URLs across many categories and is designed to monitor a! nd contro! l employee Web surfing activities. Single-Pass Parallel Processing Architecture (SP3) has two elements: single-pass software and parallel processing hardware.
The PAN-OS Operating System operating system provides the foundation for its network security platform and contains App-ID, User-ID, and Content-ID. PAN-OS performs the core functions of its platform, while also providing the networking, security, and management functions needed for implementation. The PAN-OS networking functions include dynamic routing, switching, high availability, and VPN support, which enables deployment into a range of networking environments. PAN-OS also includes attack protection capabilities, such as blocking invalid or malformed packets, IP defragmentation, TCP reassembly, and network traffic normalization. The Company also offers, such as application traffic management, solution design and planning, configuration, and firewall migration. Its education services provide classroom-style training and are primarily delivered through its partners.
The Company competes with Cisco, Juniper, Intel, IBM, HP, Check Point Software, Fortinet and Sourcefire.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Wallace Witkowski]
Shares of Palo Alto Networks (PANW) �rose 2.5% to $59.30 on moderate volume after the network-security firm announced it had acquired Morta Security for an undisclosed sum.
- [By The Value Investor]
Shareholders of Palo Alto Networks (PANW) have seen solid returns into, and immediately after, the release of the company's fourth-quarter earnings report.
- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Palo Alto Networks (NYSE: PANW) was also up, gaining 6.89 percent to $49.26 after the company reported better-than-expected fiscal first-quarter results.
- [By Reuters]
Peter Parks, AFP/Getty ImagesThe 12-story building in Shanghai's northern suburb of Gaoqiao where a Chinese military-led hacking group allegedly conducted a series of attacks on U.S. companies networks. BOSTON -- Cybersecurity company FireEye has acquired Mandiant, the computer forensics specialist best known for unveiling a secretive Chinese military unit believed to be behind a series of hacking attacks on U.S. companies. FirEye (FEYE) shares jumped more than 20 percent after Thursday's announcement of the $1.05 billion cash-and-stock deal, which FireEye said closed Monday. It unites two companies with relatively new technologies for thwarting cyber attacks, and brings together two of the most-respected executives in the security industry: FireEye CEO Dave DeWalt and Mandiant founder Kevin Mandia. While sales of older anti-virus products have been on the decline, security experts expect strong growth in both FireEye's cloud-based systems for detecting malicious software and Mandiant's software that analyzes cyber attacks. About a year ago the two companies entered into a technology development agreement that made it easier to deploy their products together. With the merger, FireEye will gain Mandiant's team of forensics investigators. "They have these very strong Navy 'cyber' Seals who respond to breaches and are very good at what they do," DeWalt said about Mandiant. He had previously served as chairman of Mandiant's board. "My aim is to create the strongest security company in the world," DeWalt said in an interview. FireEye, which has yet to post a profit, said the acquisition will be immediately accretive to earnings and expects the combined company's revenue to grow about 50 percent this year. In comparison, Symantec (SYMC), the biggest maker of anti-virus software, has said it expects fiscal 2014 revenue to drop 3 percent to 4 percent. Mandiant is best known for its forensics services. The company rose to prominence in February 2013 when it pu
Hot Safest Companies To Buy Right Now: LogMein Inc.(LOGM)
LogMeIn, Inc. provides on-demand, remote-connectivity, collaboration, and support solutions to small and medium-sized businesses, information technology (IT) service providers, mobile carriers, and consumers in the United States and internationally. Its services include remote user access services, which allow users to access computers and other Internet-enabled devices to continue working while away from the office or to access personal systems while away from home; remote support and management services to deliver support and management of IT resources remotely; and remote collaboration to conduct online meetings and share documents, images, and their desktop with other users. The company?s remote user access services comprise LogMeIn Free, a free remote access service, which provides secure access to a remote computer or other Internet-enabled device; LogMeIn Pro, a remote access service; LogMeIn Hamachi, a hosted virtual private network service; and LogMeIn Ignition, a service that delivers access to remote computers that subscribe to LogMeIn Free or LogMeIn Pro. Its remote support and management services consist of LogMeIn Rescue, a Web-based remote support service to support remote computers and applications, and assist computer users via the Internet; LogMeIn Rescue+Mobile, an add-on of LogMeIn Rescue?s Web-based remote support service to remotely access and support smartphones and tablet computers; LogMeIn Central, a Web-based management console; and LogMeIn Backup, a service that subscribers install on two or more computers to create a backup network. The company?s remote collaboration services include join.me and join.me pro, which are browser-based online meetings and screen sharing services. LogMeIn, Inc. has a strategic agreement with Intel Corporation. The company was formerly known as 3am Labs, Inc. and changed its name to LogMeIn, Inc. in March 2006. LogMeIn, Inc. was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Woburn, Massachu setts.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Smith]
This series, brought to you by Yahoo! Finance, looks at which upgrades and downgrades make sense and which ones investors should act on. Today, our headlines feature upgrades for mini-industrialist Stratasys (NASDAQ: SSYS ) �and for remote computer access specialist LogMeIn (NASDAQ: LOGM ) but a downgrade for publicly traded soccer club Manchester United (NYSE: MANU ) . Let's take them one at a time, beginning with...
- [By Rich Smith]
This series, brought to you by Yahoo! Finance, looks at which upgrades and downgrades make sense, and which ones investors should act on. Today, we're focusing on tech stocks, as analysts pull back on Facebook (NASDAQ: FB ) and Dolby Labs (NYSE: DLB ) , but become more bullish on LogMeIn (NASDAQ: LOGM ) . Let's start with that last one.
Hot Safest Companies To Buy Right Now: MGP Ingredients Inc.(MGPI)
MGP Ingredients, Inc. produces ingredients and distillery products in the United States. It processes wheat flour and corn into various products through an integrated production process. The company operates in three business segments: Ingredient Solutions, Distillery Products, and Other. The Ingredient Solutions segment products consist of specialty proteins, specialty starches, vital wheat gluten, commodity wheat starch, and mill by-products. The Distillery Products segment offers food grade alcohol; fuel grade alcohol, commonly known as ethanol; and distiller?s feed and carbon dioxide, which are co-products of the company?s distillery operations. The Other segment products comprise resins, and plant-based polymers and composites. MGP Ingredients, Inc. sells its products directly or through distributors to the manufacturers and processors of finished goods. The company was founded in 1941 and is headquartered in Atchison, Kansas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
Small cap ingredients stock Balchem Corporation (NASDAQ: BCPC) jumped 22.76% yesterday on news about an acquisition, meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock along with potential peers like small cap MGP Ingredients Inc (NASDAQ: MGPI) and the PowerShares Dynamic Food & Beverage ETF (NYSEARCA: PBJ).
No comments:
Post a Comment