Top Railroad Companies To Own For 2015

Many people out there are still skeptical about the science behind global warming. Heck, you may be one of them. How do climate scientists respond to questions such as, "What about the Bible?"

John Vechey of PopCap Games recently joined The Motley Fool for a climate change summit. His first panel guests were Dr. Rachel Cleetus, a climate economist with the�Union of Concerned Scientists,�and Dr. Joe Casola,�program director for science and impacts at the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. They address some denialist comments tweeted during the discussions by invoking Christian values, points of economic agreement, and good old-fashioned common sense.

Dr. Casola reminds participants of three key opportunities in addressing climate change:

Energy efficiency: General Electric (NYSE: GE  ) is one of the pioneers of energy efficiency solutions, with its fingers in nearly all of the new energy pies. The massive conglomerate offers an entire array of products that improve the efficient operation of power plants, airplanes, railroad systems, and wind turbines, just to name a few. Enhanced oil recovery: BP (NYSE: BP  ) is pioneering efforts in enhanced oil recovery, a technology that improves the efficiency of a drilling site by extracting the maximum amount of oil from it. Water efficiency: Intel (NASDAQ: INTC  ) has an insatiable thirst for pure water in its chip manufacturing processes, so much so that the company started managing municipal water systems to secure its supply in the most efficient manner possible.

Check out the video to hear the scientists' response to climate denialists, as well as their take on opportunities in energy.

Top Railroad Companies To Own For 2015: SMURFIT KAPPA GROUP PLC ORD EUR0.001(SKG.L)

Smurfit Kappa Group Plc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, distributes, and sells paper-based packaging products in Europe and Latin America. It offers paper and board products comprising containerboards, solid and packaging boards, and specialty boards; base materials graphic and printing products; and packaging intermediates, including pre-printed liners, corrugated boards, sheet feedings, Fanfold, and single face corrugated products. The company also provides packaging products, including boxes, trays, cases, and wraps for fresh food packaging, and food and groceries packaging, as well as for the transport of fast-moving consumer goods; retail ready packaging products, such as shelf ready and promotional packaging products, displays, and merchandising units; bag-in-box packaging products; and primary packaging products for food, non-food, and domestic appliances. In addition, it offers postage and mail order, media and books packaging products, relocation pa ckaging, home storage products, and archive boxes; and industrial packaging products for electronic goods and components, durable goods, furniture, medical products, hazardous goods, and heavy duty goods packaging. The company serves customers in packaging concepts, development and design, supply chain management, and eBusiness solutions fields. Smurfit Kappa Group Plc was founded in 1934 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

Top Railroad Companies To Own For 2015: New Zealand Oil & Gas Ltd(NZO.AX)

New Zealand Oil & Gas Limited engages in the exploration, production, and sale of oil and gas in New Zealand. The company primarily explores for crude oil, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and condensate or light oil. It principally holds a 12.5% interest in the Tui area oil fields located in the offshore Taranaki basin; and a 15% interest in the Kupe gas and oil field, a gas and light oil/condensate field located in the offshore Taranaki Basin. The company also engages in the exploration and evaluation of hydrocarbons in offshore Taranaki basin, offshore Canterbury basin, and Tunisia. As of December 31, 2010, it had total proven and probable reserves of approximately 12.4 million barrels of oil equivalent. New Zealand Oil & Gas Limited is headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand.

Best Undervalued Companies To Own In Right Now: Innodata Isogen Inc(INOD)

Innodata Isogen, Inc. provides publishing and related information technology (IT), knowledge process outsourcing (KPO), and consulting services that help media, publishing, and information services companies to create, manage, and distribute their products. Its publishing services include digitization, conversion, composition, data modeling, and XML encoding; and editorial services, including authoring original material for publishers. The company offers its publishing services to manufacturers of reading devices in the eBook market, as well as to manufacturers of tablet computers. Its KPO services comprise content creation and enhancement, analytics, taxonomy and controlled vocabulary development, hyperlinking, indexing, abstracting, technical writing and editing, and copy-editing and general editorial services. The company provides its KPO services in the disciplines of medicine, law, engineering, management, finance, science, and the humanities. Its IT services consist of systems integration, custom application development, applications maintenance, tool evaluation, and training that focus on content technologies and related workflow requirements for publishers. The company offers its IT services to build, implement, and support editorial and production systems, portals, Websites, mobile applications, and new product platforms. Its consulting services include content supply chain optimization, technology architecture and strategy, global sourcing, product and market strategy and development, and the deployment of content technologies. The company also serves organizations in other information-intensive industries, such as technology, manufacturing, aerospace, defense, government, and law and intelligence. It markets and sells its services directly through its professional staff, senior management, and direct sales personnel in the United States and internationally. Innodata Isogen, Inc was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Hackensack , New Jersey.

Top Railroad Companies To Own For 2015: Tecumseh Products Company(TECUA)

Tecumseh Products Company manufactures and sells hermetically sealed compressors. The company offers air conditioning and refrigeration compressors, as well as condensing units, heat pumps, and refrigeration systems. Its products are used in commercial refrigeration applications, including walk-in coolers and freezers, ice makers, dehumidifiers, water coolers, food service equipment and refrigerated display cases, and vending machines; household refrigerators and freezers; and residential and specialty air conditioning and heat pumps comprising window air conditioners, packaged terminal air conditioners, and recreational vehicle and mobile air conditioners. The company also produces variable speed compressors for use in military, medical, telecommunications, aircraft, transportation, and automotive applications; sub-assemblies, such as indoor and outdoor condensing units, and multi-cell units; and refrigeration systems. It markets compressor and condensing unit products un der the Tecumseh, L?Unit�Herm�ique by Tecumseh, Masterflux by Tecumseh, Silensys by Tecumseh, Celseon, and Vector brand names. The company sells its products through its sales staff, as well as through independent sales representatives to original equipment manufacturers and authorized wholesale distributors in North America, South America, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Tecumseh Products Company was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Top Railroad Companies To Own For 2015: Ingram Micro Inc. (IM)

Ingram Micro Inc. distributes information technology (IT) products; and provides supply chain solutions, mobile device lifecycle services, and logistics solutions worldwide. The company�s IT peripherals include printers, scanners, displays, projectors, monitors, panels, mass storage, and tape; large format LCD and plasma displays, enclosures, mounts, media players, content software, and content creation and hosting; mobile phones, digital cameras and video disc players, game consoles, televisions, audio, media management, and home control products; barcode/card printers, AIDC scanners and software, and wireless infrastructure products; IP video surveillance, security and fire alarm systems, and access control smart cards; processors, motherboards, hard drives, and memory products; and ink and toner supplies, paper, carrying cases, and anti-glare screens. It also provides various systems, including rack, tower, and blade servers; desktops; portable personal computers and t ablets; and software products, such as business application, operating system, entertainment, security, storage, and virtualization software products, as well as middleware and developer software tools. The company�s networking products comprise switches, hubs, routers, wireless local area networks, wireless wide area networks, network interface cards, cellular data cards, network-attached storage, and storage area networks; voice over Internet protocol, communications, modems, phone systems, and video/audio conferencing; and firewalls, virtual private networks, intrusion detection, and authentication devices and appliances. In addition, it provides integration, technical support, training, financial and credit, marketing, predictive analytics, eCommerce, reseller community hosting, managed, cloud, managed print, and professional services. The company sells its products to resellers through sales representatives. Ingram Micro Inc. was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Santa Ana, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  The first list of 24/7 Wall St. stocks under book value for the month of August are Apache Corp. (NYSE: APA), Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. (NYSE: FDP), Genworth Financial Inc. (NYSE: GNW), Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM) and JetBlue Airways Corp. (NASDAQ: JBLU). We generally have�focused on net asset values and tangible book values, as well as forward price-to-earnings multiples, share price performance, analyst expectations via the Thomson Reuters consensus price target and more.

Top Railroad Companies To Own For 2015: Paragon Care Ltd (PGC.AX)

Paragon Care Limited engages in the supply of durable medical equipment to the health and aged care markets in Australia and New Zealand. It supplies stainless steel healthcare equipment; patient treatment, examination, and surgical stretchers and couches; medical and medication carts; and children�s and maternity equipment to public and private hospitals, general practitioners, and medical centers. The company also distributes bedding, furniture, and specialized seating products; integrated bed motor systems and modular bedside supply systems for the hospital, aged care, and home markets; and various wire shelving and basket systems, medical refrigeration systems, service carts, and single/multi deck trolleys, as well as storage systems. In addition, it is involved in the manufacture and sale of precision designed stainless steel and other medical related products. The company is based in Nunawading, Australia.

Top Railroad Companies To Own For 2015: Riverbed Technology Inc.(RVBD)

Riverbed Technology, Inc. provides solutions to the fundamental problems associated with information technology performance across wide area networks (WANs) in the United States and internationally. It primarily offers Steelhead products, which enable its customers to improve the performance of their applications and access to their data across WANs, as well as supports the riverbed services platform. The company's Steelhead product family includes the Steelhead Mobile client software application that provides mobile workers with LAN-like access to corporate files and applications; Virtual Steelhead appliance to extend the reach of WAN optimization; Cloud Steelhead, a solution that is purpose-built for public cloud computing environments; Central Management Console that provides centralized configuration, monitoring, and control for simplifying the process of deploying and managing Steelhead products distributed across a WAN; and Interceptor appliance, which allows organiz ations to scale their WAN optimization solutions. It sells Steelhead appliances to customers ranging from small office deployments to large headquarters and data center locations. The company also offers Cascade product line, which help organizations manage, secure, and optimize the availability and performance of global applications; Stingray product line, which provides virtual application delivery control; and Whitewater gateways, designed to accelerate, de-duplicate, secure, and store backup data sets in the public cloud. It serves customers in manufacturing, finance, technology, government, architecture, engineering and construction, professional services, utilities, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, media, and retail industries. The company sells its products directly through value-added resellers and distributors, service providers, and systems integrators, as well as through its sales force. Riverbed Technology, Inc. was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in San Fran cisco, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By gurujx]

  Riverbed Technology, Inc. (RVBD) Reached the 3-year Low of $13.89

  The prices of Riverbed Technology, Inc. (RVBD) shares have declined to close to the 3-year low of $13.89, which is 70.2% off the 3-year high of $44.70.

• [By George Acs]

  Finally, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR) is a repeat of last week's earnings related selection. I did not sell puts in anticipation of the August 7, 2013 earnings report as I thought that I might, instead selecting Coach and Riverbed Technology (RVBD) as earnings related trades. Inexplicably, Green Mountain shares rose even higher during the past week, which would have been ideal in the event of a put sale.

Top Railroad Companies To Own For 2015: Columbia Banking System Inc.(COLB)

Columbia Banking System, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Columbia State Bank, which provides a range of banking products and services to small and medium-sized businesses, professionals, and individuals in the states of Washington and Oregon. Its products and services include checking and saving accounts, online banking, electronic bill pay, consumer and residential lending, remote deposit capture, cash management, VISA card services, commercial and industrial lending, investment services through CB financial services, real estate and real estate construction lending, private banking, equipment finance, trust services, small business services, international banking, merchant card services, and professional banking. As of December 31, 2010, Columbia Banking System had 84 branch offices. The company was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Tacoma, Washington.

Top Railroad Companies To Own For 2015: Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings(LH)

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings operates as an independent clinical laboratory company in the United States. The company offers a range of testing services used by the medical profession in routine testing, patient diagnosis, and in the monitoring and treatment of disease, as well as specialty testing services. Its routine tests include blood chemistry analyses, urinalyses, blood cell counts, thyroid tests, Pap tests, HIV tests, microbiology cultures and procedures, and alcohol and other substance-abuse tests. The company?s specialty tests and related services comprise viral load measurements, genotyping and phenotyping, and host genetic factors for managing and treating HIV infections; cytogenetic, molecular cytogenetic, biochemical, and molecular genetic tests for diagnostic genetics; oncology tests for diagnosing and monitoring certain cancers and treatments; clinical trials testing for pharmaceutical companies, which conducts clinical research trials on diag nostic assays; forensic identity testing used in criminal proceedings and parentage evaluation services, as well as testing services in reconstruction cases; allergy testing; and occupational testing for the detection of drug and alcohol abuse. Its customers include independent physicians and physician groups, hospitals, managed care organizations, governmental agencies, employers, pharmaceutical companies, and other independent clinical laboratories. The company operates a network of 51 primary laboratories and approximately 1,700 patient service centers. In addition, it delivers a co-branded electronic health records Lite solution for physician practices. The company works with university, hospital, and academic institutions, such as Duke University, The Johns Hopkins University, the University of Minnesota, and Yale University to license and commercialize new diagnostic tests. Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Burlingto n, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Wolfe]

  Over the past week Chris Davis (Trades, Portfolio) of Davis Selected Advisers added to his holdings in Laboratory Corporation of America (LH).� The guru upped his stake 21.11% by purchasing 1,666,957 shares of the company�� stock.� He bought these shares at an average price of $91.37 per share, and since then the price per share is up about 1% to $92.57 per share.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Any time a stock falls more than 10% in a single day, you know something has gone wrong. Such is the case with medical-testing provider Laboratory Corporation of America (LH), or LabCorp.

• [By Daniel Lauchheimer]

  EXAS began their pivotal DeeP-C trial earlier this year, with 10,000 patients enrolled around the USA. Success in this trial formed a pivotal fulcrum for EXAS -- success would mean commercialization, and revenue, but failure means, well failure. In April, EXAS submitted the final module of this trial, and it reported significantly worse results than expected causing the company to sink 40%. Additionally, as reported in a detailed five part series, Seeking Alpha Contributor Alpha Exposure reported on the inflated numbers both in terms of scientific research data and market projections -- yet another reason to give investors pause before they decide to invest in EXAS. Additionally, EXAS has not formed a meaningful partnership with other molecular diagnostic companies. True, it formed a partnership with LabCorp (LH), but this partnership doesn't focus on the heart of EXAS product (and thus provide it with a measure of validation), but on a commercialization post approval.

• [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 include upgrades for both AMC Networks (NASDAQ: AMCX  ) and Bankrate (NYSE: RATE  ) , but a downgrade for LabCorp Holdings (NYSE: LH  ) . Let's dive right in.

Top Railroad Companies To Own For 2015: Valhi Inc.(VHI)

Valhi, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates in the chemicals, component products, and waste management businesses. Its Chemicals segment produces and markets titanium dioxide pigment, a white inorganic pigment used to impart whiteness, brightness, and opacity for applications, such as coatings, plastics and paper, inks, food, and cosmetics. It also mines ilmenite in Norway. The company?s Component Products segment manufactures mechanical and electrical cabinet locks and other locking mechanisms, including disc tumbler locks, pin tumbler locking mechanisms, and electronic locks for the postal, transportation, furniture, banking, vending, general cabinetry, and other industries. Its security products are used in various applications, including ignition systems, mailboxes, file cabinets, desk drawers, tool storage cabinets, vending and gaming machines, high security medical cabinetry, electrical circuit panels, storage compartments, gas station security, bank bags, and p arking meters. It also provides furniture components comprising precision ball bearing slides and ergonomic computer support systems for use in applications, such as file cabinets, desk drawers, computer related equipment, home appliances, tool storage cabinets, imaging equipment, and automated teller machines. In addition, this segment manufactures and distributes stainless steel exhaust components, gauges, throttle controls, hardware, and accessories primarily for performance boats. Valhi?s Waste Management segment engages in processing, treating, storing, and disposing hazardous, toxic, and low-level radioactive wastes. This segment serves chemical, aerospace, and electronics businesses, as well as governmental agencies. Valhi also offers insurance brokerage and risk management services; holds marketable securities; provides utility services; and owns and develops properties. The company was founded in 1932 and is based in Dallas, Texas. Valhi, Inc. is a subsidiary of Co ntran Corporation.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Typically, when the chairman of a company dies, its shares drop. That hasn’t been the case for Valhi (VHI), Kronos Worldwide (KRO) and NL Industries (NL), which have all advanced today after Harold Simmons passed away.

• [By John Udovich]

  Dallas billionaire Harold Simmons died over the weekend with investors sending shares of some of his publically traded companies like Valhi, Inc (NYSE: VHI), Kronos Worldwide, Inc (NYSE: KRO), NL Industries, Inc (NYSE: NL) and�CompX International Inc (NYSEMKT: CIX)to higher levels as they anticipate changes���such as asset sales or spin offs. Harold Simmons was the embodiment of the American dream because he was born during the depths of the Great Depression in Golden, Texas to schoolteacher parents and he spent�his early years living without indoor plumbing or electricity. However and by recognizing�underpriced assets and through the use of massive amounts of leverage (e.g. junk bonds),�he built an empire and�ranked #40 on the 2013 Forbes 400 with a fortune estimated to be worth some $10 billion.

Top Railroad Companies To Own For 2015: Megastar Development Corp. (MDV.V)

Megastar Development Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Canada. It owns gold and base metal properties in Quebec and British Columbia. The company holds interests in the SIMKAR property consisting of 557 acres located east of Val d'Or, Quebec; and RALLEAU property consisting of located east of Qu茅villon, Quebec. It also holds an option agreement to acquire 100% interest in a total of 46 mineral claim units located in the Omineca Mining Division, British Columbia. The company is based in Vancouver, Canada.

Top Railroad Companies To Own For 2015: Legal & General Gp(LGEN.L)

Legal & General Group Plc provides risk, savings, and investment management products in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, the Netherlands, and internationally. The company?s Risk segment offers individual and group protection, individual and bulk purchase annuities, and general insurance products. This segment also involves in estate agency and the housing related business conducted through its regulated mortgage network. The company?s Savings segment provides non profit investment bonds; non profit pensions, including SIPPs; individual savings accounts; investment bonds; pensions; retail unit trusts; structured products; and various with-profit products. Legal & General Group?s Investment Management segment involves in the institutional fund management business comprising index funds, fixed income funds, risk management solutions, and property related products, as well as private equity. The company also offers term assurance, wealth management, and unit-l inked savings products. Legal & General Group Plc was founded in 1836 and is based in London, the United Kingdom.