NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Berkshire Hathaway's (BRK.A) utility MidAmerican Energy will have spent $15 billion on renewable energy investments by the time a handful of wind and solar projects are completed in the next few years. Warren Buffett, head of Berkshire Hathaway, disclosed the renewable investment figure in his annual letter to shareholders released on Saturday.
"We relish making such commitments as long as they promise reasonable returns. And, on that front, we put a large amount of trust in future regulation," Buffett said
MidAmerican's utilities serve regulated retail customers in 11 states and the company is the industry's leader in renewables.
"From a standing start nine years ago, MidAmerican now accounts for 7% of the country's wind generation capacity, with more on the way," Buffett said. "Our share in solar -- most of which is still in construction -- is even larger."
The costs of many recent MidAmerican deals, especially in solar energy, haven't been disclosed. MidAmerican's $15 billion investment, however, indicates that renewable energy is one of Berkshire Hathaway's biggest investment priorities.
Buffett characterized the renewable investment as in Berkshire's self-interest, and did not mention such issues as climate change as reason for the large investment.
"Our confidence is justified both by our past experience and by the knowledge that society will forever need massive investments in both transportation and energy," Buffett said. "It is in the self-interest of governments to treat capital providers in a manner that will ensure the continued flow of funds to essential projects."
He concluded, "It is meanwhile in our self-interest to conduct our operations in a way that earns the approval of our regulators and the people they represent."
First Solar, SunPower Deals
Wynn Macau, Limited is a holding company. The Company, along with its subsidiaries, is a developer, owner and operator of destination casino gaming and entertainment resort facilities in Macau. Its operating subsidiary, Wynn Resorts (Macau) S.A. (WRM), owns and operates destination casino resort Wynn Macau in Macau. As of December 31, 2011, it had 265,000 square feet of casino space, offering 24-hour gaming with a range of games, and two luxury hotel towers with 1,008 spacious rooms and suites. It also offers eight casual and fine dining restaurants, 54200 square feet of stores and boutiques, such as Bvlgari, Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Hermes, Hugo Boss, Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu, Piaget, Prada, Rolex, Tiffany, Vacheron Constantin, Van Cleef & Arpels, Versace, Vertu and others, two health clubs and spas, a salon, a pool, and lounges and meeting facilities. As of December 31, 2011, its subsidiaries included Wynn Resorts International, Ltd., Wynn Resorts (Macau) Holdings, Ltd. and others.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By MARKETWATCH]
HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Hong Kong stocks sold off early Thursday after the Federal Reserve decided to further taper stimulus, and after a final reading of China's manufacturing PMI contracted. The Hang Seng Index (HK:HSI) sank 1.5% to 21,815.04 in holiday-shortened trading. Tech stocks retreated, as Chinese PC maker Lenovo Group Ltd. (HK:992) (LNVGF) dropped 5.3%, failing to get a lift from news that it plans to acquire the Motorola handset business from Google Inc. (GOOG) for $2.91 billion as Lenovo aims for a bigger presence in the U.S. market. Software developer Kingsoft Corp. (HK:3888) (KSFTF) fell 1.9% and Internet giant Tencent Holdings Ltd. (HK:700) (TCTZF) dropped 1.5%. Casino stocks also declined. Sands China Ltds. (HK:1928) (SCHYF) , the Hong Kong-listed unit of Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVS) , slipped 0.2%, despite financial results that showed Sands China's net income increased 40% year-on-year to $467 million in the fourth quarter. Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. (HK:6883) (MPEL) slumped 3.2%, and both Wynn Macau Ltd. (HK:1128) (WYNMF) and MGM China Holdings Ltd. (HK:2282)
5 Best Heal Care Stocks To Watch For 2015: Citrix Systems Inc.(CTXS)
Citrix Systems, Inc. designs, develops, and markets technology solutions that deliver information technology services on-demand worldwide. It offers desktop solutions, including Citrix XenDesktop, an integrated desktop virtualization system; Citrix XenApp, an application virtualization solution; and Citrix XenClient, a bare-metal hypervisor, which runs directly on the client device hardware. The company also provides online services, comprising GoToMeeting for online meetings, sales demonstrations, and collaborative gatherings; GoToWebinar, which allows users to host, attend, or participate in a Webinar session; GoToTraining, a training tool that allows trainers to deliver content to various trainees; Integrated HiDef Audio, which provides a audio and Web experience; HiDef Audio that offers audio options with reservationless audio conferencing; GoToAssist, a remote technical-support solution; GoToManage solution for IT management; and GoToMyPC, which offers remote access t o PC and Mac from an Internet-connected computer. In addition, it provides datacenter and cloud solutions, such as Citrix NetScaler, a Web application delivery controller; Citrix Access Gateway, a SSL/VPN that delivers applications with policy-based SmartAccess control; Citrix Repeater Solutions that provide application delivery to branch office users; Citrix XenServer, a platform for managing server virtualization in the datacenter; and Citrix Essentials for XenServer and Hyper-V solution for lab automation, high availability, provisioning, workflow orchestration, and integration with storage systems. Further, the company provides consulting, technical support, and product training and certification services. It markets and licenses its products to enterprise customers through systems integrators, value-added resellers, value-added distributors, and original equipment manufacturers, as well as through the Web. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Fort Lau derdale, Florida.
Advisors' Opinion: 5 Best Heal Care Stocks To Watch For 2015: New Residential Investment Corp (NRZ)
New Residential Investment Corp., incorporated on September 26, 2013, is a real estate investment trust. The Company focuses on investing in, and actively managing, investments related to residential real estate. On May 15, 2013, Newcastle Investment Corp. announced that the spin-off of New Residential Investment Corp.
The Company is managed by an affiliate of Fortress Investment Group LLC, a global investment management. The Company primarily target investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, residential mortgage backed securities, residential mortgage loans and other related investments.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By Lauren Pollock]
New Residential Investment Corp.(NRZ) and other investors agreed to buy about $3.2 billion of servicing advances from Nationstar Mortgage Holdings Inc.(NSM), part of Nationstar’s plan to reconfigure its acquisition structure. The advances relate to nonagency residential mortgage loans with an unpaid principal balance of about $58 billion. Nationstar shares rose 4.1% to $42.50 in light premarket trading.
5 Best Heal Care Stocks To Watch For 2015: Uomo Media Inc (UOMO)
UOMO Media Inc., incorporated on June 10, 2004, is in the business of producing, managing, and monetizing music-based intellectual property. The Company provides music publishing, digital music and video, recorded music and production, and talent management services. The Company operates in four divisions: music publishing, recorded music, digital distribution and talent management. The Company has two subsidiaries in Canada, UOMO Productions Inc. and UOMO Music Publishing Inc. In addition, The NE Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of UOMO Productions Inc. and UOMO Songs Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of UOMO Music Publishing Inc. As of April 30, 2009, the Company had 22 production customers. The Company�� customers include VideoFact and Universal Music. As of April 30, 2009, the Company was in the development stage.
In the music publishing segment, UOMO Music Publishing Inc. is tasked with creating a catalogue of assets in the form of copyrights. Services include Fund advances, which includes providing advances to individual composers; Administration, which includes registration, tracking, and collection of copyright royalties; Creative, which includes creating copyrights by writing songs, and Licensing, which includes finding opportunities to monetize copyrights by placing songs on recording artists, films, television, video games, commercials.
In the recorded music segment, the Company earns revenue from the ownership of master recordings. UOMO Recorded Music has three functions: catalogue acquisition, talent acquisition for/and production activities and distribution arrangements for projects. UOMO Recorded Music is the record label division of UOMO. Production services also fall under this division.
In the digital distribution segment, the Company has been developing digital music and video Web 2.0 software. In the talent management segment, the Company earns a percentage of gross revenues for all projects it manages. As of April 30, 2009, the Company ! was in the process of developing programming architecture for the new digital music and video portal.
The Company competes with Warner Music Group, EMI, Sony BMG, and Universal Music Group.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By Peter Graham]
Small cap media stocks UOMO Media Inc (OTCMKTS: UOMO), International Display Advertising (OTCMKTS: IDAD) and Media Analytics Corp (OTCBB: MEDA) have been getting some extra media attention lately thanks in part to paid promotions. It should be said that there is nothing wrong with properly disclosed paid promotional or investor relation campaigns for stocks, but they can backfire on unwary investors and traders alike. With that in mind, here is a closer look at along with a reality check for these three small cap media stocks:
