It's been a busy week for Halliburton (NYSE: HAL ) . And at the end, the second largest oil services company seems to have come out trumps. Here is a company whose management knows what it's doing. The strategy to return cash to investors through share buybacks is proving to be a master stroke.
Halliburton's corporate headquarters in Houston. Source: Wikimedia commons.
Not the best of weeks ...
Starting with the reporting of the second-quarter results, this hasn't been the most impressive of weeks for Halliburton. A flat rig count and lower drilling activity ensured that revenue from the North American segment -- the company's largest market -- declined almost 10%, year over year, in the first six months of 2013. To top that, a federal antitrust probe has been initiated targeting the U.S. hydraulic fracturing market, with the top names, including Halliburton, coming under investigation.
Top Mid Cap Companies To Watch For 2015: Fidus Investment Corp (FDUS)
Fidus Investment Corporation, incorporated on February 14, 2011, provides customized mezzanine debt and equity financing solutions to lower middle-market companies. The Company�� investment objective is to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns by generating both current income from its debt investments and capital appreciation from its equity related investments.
The Company seeks to maintain a diversified portfolio of investments in order to help mitigate the potential effects of adverse economic events related to particular companies, regions or industries. The Company�� investment advisor is Fidus Capital, LLC.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By BDC Buzz]
Fidus Investment (FDUS) is one of the newer business development companies ("BDCs") but its stock performance has been strong with a steady climb to higher than average multiples. This is most likely due to its higher than average 'total return' of around 16%. Last quarter FDUS grew its net asset value ("NAV") per share more than any of the other 25 BDCs that I follow and announced a special dividend on top of its regular dividends which is currently yielding around 8%. The company announced that it received approval for a second SBIC license giving it access to cheap long-term growth capital to grow the portfolio and dividends. FDUS also reported realized gains in Q3 from exited investments that could provide for some large upcoming special dividends. I believe that investors should look beyond the current lower than average dividend yield and higher than average pricing multiples, and consider the potential total return for FDUS over the coming quarters. I will also address my key concerns for the company and some things to watch for through the end of the year.
Top Oil Service Stocks To Invest In 2014: VIVUS Inc (VVUS)
VIVUS, Inc., incorporated on May 16, 1996, is a biopharmaceutical company. It commercializes and develops therapies to address unmet needs in obesity, sleep apnea, diabetes and sexual health. The Company's drug, Qsymia (phentermine and topiramate extended-release) was approved by the the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of obesity as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adult patients with an initial body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater (obese), or 27 or greater (overweight) in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbidity, such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus or high cholesterol (dyslipidemia). Qsymia incorporates low doses of active ingredients from two previously approved drugs, phentermine and topiramate. It has completed Phase 2 clinical studies for Qsymia for the treatment of sleeps apnea and Qsymia for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Its drug also includes STENDRA, or avanafil.
Qsymia for the treatment of obesity was approved as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adult patients with an initial BMI of 30 or greater (obese), or 27 or greater (overweight) in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbidity, such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus or high cholesterol (dyslipidemia). Qsymia incorporates low doses of active ingredients from two previously approved drugs, phentermine and topiramate.
The Company initially launched Qsymia for distribution to eligible patients through the home delivery networks of two certified pharmacies, CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens. Since then, it has expanded the distribution of Qsymia to include the home delivery networks of Express Scripts, Wal-Mart Pharmacy and, for its members only, Kaiser Permanente. Clinical studies of topiramate, a component of Qsymia, in type 2 diabetics resulted in a clinically reduction of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The! Company's drug, STENDRA (avanafil), is an oral PDE5 inhibitor the Company has licensed from Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC).
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Maria Armental var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); popups.forEach]
Vivus Inc.(VVUS) said it filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against Actavis (ACT) PLC alleging that the drug maker’s planned generic version of weight-loss drug Qsymia infringes its patents.
- [By John Udovich]
On Tuesday, small cap EnteroMedics Inc (NASDAQ: ETRM) soared 63.5% after reporting new clinical trial data for its Maestro system that is designed to control obesity, meaning it might be time to take a closer look at the stock along with the performance of other small cap obesity drug or treatment players like Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc (NASDAQ: ARNA), Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc (NASDAQ: OREX) and VIVUS, Inc (NASDAQ: VVUS).
Top Oil Service Stocks To Invest In 2014: Capital Bank Financial Corp (CBF)
Capital Bank Financial Corp, formerly North American Financial Holdings, Inc., incorporated in 2009, is a bank holding Company. The Company focuses on creating a regional banking franchise in the southeastern region of the United States through organic growth and acquisitions of other banks. As of March 31, 2011, the Bank operated 82 branches in Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina. On July 16, 2010, the Bank acquired approximately $1.2 billion of assets and assumed approximately $960.1 million of deposits of three banks from the federal deposit insurance corporation (FDIC): First National Bank of the South in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Metro Bank of Dade County in Miami, Florida and Turnberry Bank in Aventura, Florida. On September 30, 2010 and January 28, 2011, the Bank consummated controlling investments in TIB Financial and Capital Bank Corp., respectively. The Bank�� products and services included commercial bank business, consumer bank business, Mortgage Banking, and Private Banking, Trust and Investment Management. In October 2012, it acquired Southern Community Financial Corp.
Lending activities
As of March 31, 2011, the Bank�� loans included: Real estate mortgage loans, Commercial and agricultural loans and Home equity loans. Real estate mortgage loans include: Commercial, Residential, and Construction and vacant land. As of March 31, 2011, covered loans were $656.6 million, representing 22.3% of its loan portfolio. As of March 31, 2011, non-covered loans were $2.3 billion, representing 77.6% of its loan portfolio. As of March 31, 2011, loans related to real estate totaled $2.6 billion (or 87% of the Bank�� total loan portfolio). At March 31, 2011, commercial real estate loans in all regions totaled $1.8 billion.
Investment activities
Investment securities represent a major portion of the Bank�� assets. As of March 31, 2011, the Bank�� investment securities included mortgage backed securities, United States government agen! cies, states and political subdivisions, corporate bonds, equity, collateralized debt obligations and foreign government. Of the securities in the portfolio, 94% were rated AAA, and 97% were rated A or higher.
Sources of Funds
As of March 31, 2011, the Bank�� deposits included Non-interest demand deposit accounts, Interest Bearing demand deposit accounts, Savings and Money Market. It also included Customer Time Deposits and Wholesale Time Deposits. At March 31, 2011, total deposits were $3.5 billion of which $3.4 billion (or 97%) were non-brokered deposits and $94.4 million (or 3%) were brokered deposits. At March 31, 2011, the Bank�� core deposits (which are all deposits other than time deposits) consisted of $463.2 million of non-interest checking, $430.7 million of negotiable order of withdrawal accounts, $157.5 million of savings accounts and $456.2 million of money market deposits.
The Bank competes with Bank of America, Wells Fargo, BB&T, First Citizens, Royal Bank of Canada, SunTrust, Regions, FNB United Corp., Toronto-Dominion, Synovus, First Financial, SCBT, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, EverBank, Fifth Third Bancorp, First Horizon, Pinnacle Financial, First South and U.S. Bancorp.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Tim Melvin]
The year ahead should be a great one for the smaller bank stocks. Larger regionals like Huntington Bancorp (HBAN) and Capital Ban Financial (CBF) have made it clear they intend to grow by acquisition in the years ahead. Banks like First Merit (FMER) and First Merchants (FRME) have done deals in the past year and are open to doing more to increase their market share and footprints. This should be the year the floodgates open and we see the first wave of merger activity in small banks.
Top Oil Service Stocks To Invest In 2014: First Trust Ise Global Engineering And Construction Index Fund (FLM)
First Trust ISE Global Engineering and Construction Index Fund (the Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of an equity index called the ISE Global Engineering and Construction Index (the Index). The Fund is a series of the First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund II, an investment company and an exchange-traded index fund. The Index is developed and owned by the International Securities Exchange, LLC (ISE or Index Provider), in consultation with Standard & Poor's, a Division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., which calculates and maintains the Index. The Index specifically targets companies that are engaged in civil and capital projects, such as infrastructure, utilities, transportation, telecommunications, commercial, residential and commerce facilities, and whose roles are within the engineering, designing, planning, consulting, project managing and/or constructing of these projects. First Trust Advisors L.P. is the investment adviser for the Fund. Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
Mid cap infrastructure construction stock Chicago Bridge & Iron Company N.V. (NYSE: CBI) fell 7.23% after being trashed in an article by an apparent�short seller posted on Seeking Alpha, meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock along with the performance of potential benchmarks like Jacobs Engineering Group Inc (NYSE: JEC), KBR, Inc (NYSE: KBR) and First Trust ISE Global Engineering and Construction Index Fund ETF (NYSEARCA: FLM).
- [By John Udovich]
Small cap building materials stock NCI Building Systems Inc (NYSE: NCS) fell yesterday after announcing a share offering plus its investors have (so-far) missed out on any ��ecovery��in construction���meaning it might be time to take a closer look at the stock along with potential performance benchmarks like the PowerShares Dynamic Building & Construction ETF (NYSEARCA: PKB) and the First Trust ISE Global Engineering and Construction Index Fund ETF (NYSEARCA: FLM)���both of which have had decent returns in recent years.
Top Oil Service Stocks To Invest In 2014: Energizer Holdings Inc (ENR)
Energizer Holdings, Inc. (Energizer), incorporated on September 23, 1999, is the manufacturer and marketer of primary batteries, portable lighting and personal care products in the wet shave, skin care, feminine care and infant care categories. The Company manufactures and sells products in five product categories: wet shave, skin care, feminine care, infant care, battery and portable lighting products. On October 23, 2013, it completed the acquisition of the Stayfree pad, Carefree liner and o.b. tampon feminine hygiene brands in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean from McNeil PPC, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson, Inc., members of the Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies.
Personal Care
The Personal Care division includes wet shave products sold under the Schick, Wilkinson Sword, Edge, Skintimate and Personna brand names, skin care products sold under the Banana Boat, Hawaiian Tropic, Wet Ones and Playtex brand names, and feminine care and infant care products sold under the Playtex and Diaper Genie brand names globally. The Company manufactures and distributes Schick and Wilkinson Sword razor systems, composed of razor handles and refillable blades, and disposable shave products for men and women. The Company markets its wet shave products globally. The Company also manufactures, distributes and sells a complete line of private label and value-priced wet shaving disposable razors, shaving systems and replacement blades. These wet shave products are sold primarily under a retailer's store name or under value brand names such as Personna and GEM.
Household Products
Energizer's Household Products division manufactures and markets product portfolios in household batteries, specialty batteries and lighting products. In household batteries, the Company offers batteries using carbon zinc, alkaline, rechargeable and lithium technologies. The Company distributes its portfolio of household and specialty batteries and portable lighting products th! rough a global distribution network, which also provides a platform for the distribution of its personal care products.
The Company competes with Duracell International, Inc., Panasonic Corporation, Procter & Gamble Company, Bic Group, Kimberly-Clark Corp., Merck & Co., Inc. and Johnson & Johnson.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Brian Pacampara]
Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, battery specialist Energizer Holdings (NYSE: ENR ) has earned a coveted five-star ranking.
- [By John Udovich]
Small cap wireless charging stock Energous Corp (NASDAQ: WATT) had a spectacular IPO debut last Friday plus it rose another 39.41% today, meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock along with the performance of a few other players in the wireless charger or charging niche like Qualcomm, Inc (NASDAQ: QCOM) and Energizer Holdings, Inc (NYSE: ENR). After all, wireless charging would eliminate the clutter of wires and charging devices surrounding everyone�� desk, workspace or home. Moreover, a 2011 article�in the Independent.co.uk quoted an analyst at�IHS as saying the wireless charging market would rise from $123.9 million in 2010 to reach $885.8 million in 2011 and then�grow exponentially in 2012 when revenue�was expected to increase by 276%. By 2015, market growth was expected to ease to 48% as revenue from wireless charging devices hits the $23.7 billion level.� ���
- [By Anna Prior]
Energizer Holdings Inc.(ENR) will close its feminine-care products facility in Montreal by early 2017, consolidating operations in Delaware. The move is part of ongoing restructuring.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Visa (V) gained 2.8% this week and Walt Disney (DIS) rose 2.7% to $80.31, to lead the Dow higher. Visa managed to gain despite sanctions being imposed on two Russian banks. Pepco Holdings (POM) surged 24% after it agreed to be purchased by Exelon (EXC) for $27.25 a share in an all-cash deal. Exelon dropped 1.2% this week. Energizer (ENR) jumped 17% after it said it would split itself into two companies.
Top Oil Service Stocks To Invest In 2014: Auxilium Pharmaceuticals Inc.(AUXL)
Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. operates as a specialty biopharmaceutical company primarily in the United States. It focuses on developing and marketing products to urologists, endocrinologists, primary care physicians, hand surgeons, and rheumatologists, as well as to orthopedic, general, and plastic surgeons. The company markets XIAFLEX (collagenase clostridium histolyticum), an injectable collagenase enzyme for the treatment of adult Dupuytren?s contracture; and Testim, a topical 1% testosterone gel for the treatment of hypogonadism. The company?s clinical development products include XIAFLEX that is in Phase III clinical trials for the treatment of Peyronie?s disease, as well as in Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of Adhesive Capsulitis. In addition, it has rights to develop other products for the treatment of pain, urologic disease, and hormone replacement using its transmucosal film delivery system. The company has a strategic alliance with Asahi Kasei Ph arma Corporation for the development, commercialization, and supply of XIAFLEX, a biologic for the treatment of Dupuytren?s contracture and Peyronie?s disease. Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Auxilium Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AUXL) was also up, gaining 12.11 percent to $21.67 following FDA approval of its Peyronie's disease treatment, Xiaflex.
- [By Sean Williams]
Also, the testosterone market is also glutted with competition and Aveed, even will likely have a hard time making any meaningful impact for Endo. AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV ) recently reformulated its AndroGel testosterone treatment into a more potent form at 1.62% and in 2011 received FDA approval after 82% of hypogonadal men achieved normal testosterone levels after 112 days. Also operating in the gel space is Auxilium Pharmaceuticals' (NASDAQ: AUXL ) drug Testim, which achieved $45.5 million in sales in the first quarter. That figure actually represents a 23% year-over-year decline because of difficulties in gaining insurance coverage for the gel, but it's yet another hurdle for Aveed to jump over if it were to reach market.
- [By Roberto Pedone]
One potential earnings short-squeeze candidate is biotechnology player Auxilium Pharmaceuticals (AUXL), which is set to release numbers on Thursday before the market open. Wall Street analysts, on average, expect Auxilium Pharmaceuticals to report revenue of $91.43 million on a loss of 3 cents per share.
During the last quarter, this company reported revenue of $66.2 million and GAAP reported sales were 10% lower than the prior-year quarter's $73.6 million. Also during the last quarter, this company reported non-GAAP EPS of -12 cents per share and GAAP EPS of -17 cents per share.
The current short interest as a percentage of the float for Auxilium Pharmaceuticals is pretty high at 11.1%. That means that out of the 39.84 million shares in the tradable float, 5.14 million shares are sold short by the bears. This is a decent short interest on a stock with a relatively low tradable float. If the bulls get the earnings news they're looking for, then shares of AUXL could easily rip higher post-earnings as the bears rush to cover some of their short bets.
From a technical perspective, AUXL is currently trending above both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, which is bullish. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last three months, with shares soaring higher from its low of $13.87 to its intraday high of $18.42 a share. During that uptrend, shares of AUXL have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of AUXL within range of triggering a major breakout trade post-earnings.
If you're bullish on AUXL, then I would wait until after its report and look for long-biased trades if this stock manages to break out above some key overhead resistance levels at $18.50 to $19.60 a share with high volume. Look for volume on that move that registers near or above its three-month average action of 834,059 shares. If that breakout hits, then AUXL will set up
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