| Institute for Supply Management PMI Best High Tech Stocks To Watch Right Now: Lantrovision(s) Lantrovision (S) Ltd engages in the design, installation, supply, and provision of consultancy services on network integration and structured cabling. It is involved in the design and installation of computer cabling, as well as the trade of related accessories and peripherals; provision of cabling infrastructure services; sale of cabling accessories; and provision of system integration and network infrastructure services, as well as offers installation, maintenance, and support services for structured cabling systems and components. The company also engages in the structure, design, installation, and consultation of network system with computer communication technology. In addition, it manufactures and sells structuralized cable laying system and multimedia technology; trades in computer peripherals, electronic components, and products for various applications, planners, consultants, advisors, and managers in relation to computer services; and supplies data backup and ret rieval systems. Further, the company provides solutions for testing, monitoring, and analyzing enterprise and telecommunication networks; and contracting services for voice, data, and telecommunication. It primarily operates in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, and Korea, as well as in Thailand and the Philippines. The company was founded in 1990 and is based in Singapore. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Sean Williams]
There's also the competitive advantage that T-Mobile still doesn't possess. Even with Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S ) selling a majority stake to SoftBank and T-Mobile buying MetroPCS, it leaves both the No. 3 and No. 4 wireless providers eating the dust of AT&T�and Verizon. The good news for Sprint is that it has the capital needed to build out its 4G LTE network, and T-Mobile now has an audience that's 9 million larger to pitch its small but growing 4G LTE network to. Ultimately, though, Verizon's current 4G LTE network is offered in more cities than every other U.S. wireless service provider combined. Regardless of the near-term buildout for Sprint or T-Mobile, their efforts are akin to trying soak up the water in a swimming pool with a paper towel.
Best High Tech Stocks To Watch Right Now: RUUKKI GROUP OYJ NPV(RKKI.L) Ruukki Group Plc operates as a natural resources company with mining and minerals business in southern Europe and southern Africa. It engages in the production and sale of ferrochrome and other metal alloys that are used as raw material in the steel industry. The company also involves in mining, beneficiation, smelting, and processing chrome ore and concentrate, silico manganese, and chromium-iron-nickel alloys in Turkey, Malta, Germany, and South Africa. Ruukki Group Plc was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland. Seaway Energy Services Inc., an oil field service company, provides construction and environmental consulting services to the petroleum and natural gas industry. Its services include site scouting, surveying assistance, and other pre-construction activities; completion of pre-construction site assessments and environmental field reports; well site and access road construction; well site and access road cleanup; reclamation and remediation services; detailed site assessments; and reclamation certificates preparation and submission. Seaway Energy Services Inc., formerly known as Dolce Financial Corp., was incorporated in 1998 and is based in Calgary, Canada. Best High Tech Stocks To Watch Right Now: Hancock Holding Company(HBHC) Hancock Holding Company, a financial holding company, provides various banking and financial services in south Mississippi, Louisiana, South Alabama, and Florida. The company accepts various deposit products that include non-interest bearing demand deposits, NOW account deposits, money market deposits, savings deposits, and time deposits. Its loan portfolio comprises provision of commercial, consumer, commercial leasing, and real estate loans to consumers and small and middle market businesses. Hancock also offers various trust services that include operating as an executor, administrator, or guardian in administering estates; provision of investment custodial services for individuals, businesses, and charitable and religious organizations, as well as investment management services on an agency basis; and trustee services for pension plans, profit sharing plans, corporate and municipal bond issues, living trusts, life insurance trusts, and various other types of trusts cre ated for individuals, businesses, and charitable and religious organizations. In addition, it provides consumer financing services; owns, manages, and maintains real property; offers general insurance agency services; holds investment securities; markets credit life insurance; and engages in discount investment brokerage services, as well as owns approximately 3,700 acres of timber land in Hancock County, Mississippi. The company operates 182 banking and financial services offices and 161 automated teller machines. Hancock Holding Company was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Eric Volkman]
Hancock Holding (NASDAQ: HBHC ) is resolutely sticking to its longtime dividend policy. Matching the same common stock payout it's distributed since September 2006, the financial services concern has declared a distribution of $0.24 per share. This is to be paid on September 16 to shareholders of record as of September 5.
Best High Tech Stocks To Watch Right Now: SWS Group Inc.(SWS) SWS Group, Inc., a diversified financial services holding company, provides a range of investment and commercial banking, and related financial services to individual, corporate, and institutional investors, as well as broker/dealers, governmental entities, and financial intermediaries in the United States. It operates in four segments: Clearing, Retail, Institutional, and Banking. The Clearing segment provides clearing and execution services for general securities broker/dealers, bank affiliated firms, and firms specializing in high volume trading. The Retail segment offers retail securities products and services, such as equities, mutual funds, and fixed income products; insurance products; and managed accounts. The Institutional segment provides securities lending, investment banking and public finance, fixed income sales and trading, proprietary trading, and agency execution services to institutional customers. The Banking segment offers various banking products and se rvices, including certificates of deposit, money market accounts, interest-bearing demand accounts, savings accounts, federal home loan bank advances, federal funds purchased, and non interest-bearing demand accounts, as well as one to four family residential loans and construction loans, lot and land development loans, commercial real estate loans, multi family loans, commercial loans, and consumer loans. SWS Group, Inc. was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Best High Tech Stocks To Watch Right Now: The Connecticut Bank and Trust Company(CTBC) The Connecticut Bank and Trust Company provides commercial banking products and services in Connecticut. It accepts various interest bearing and noninterest bearing accounts with a range of maturity date options, including commercial and retail checking accounts, money market accounts, individual retirement accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and sweep accounts. The company?s loan portfolio comprises commercial, commercial real estate, construction, consumer and installment, and residential real estate loans. It also provides cash management services; courier service; sweep and client escrow accounts; direct deposit of payroll and social security checks; online banking; CBT Surepay; wire transfers, automated clearinghouse, and electronic data interchange services; debit cards; merchant credit card processing; and automated teller machine services. In addition, the company offers third party products and services consisting of fiduciary services, investmen t management, and stock brokerage services, as well as insurance products, including commercial and personal lines, and payroll processing. It serves privately-owned businesses and individuals, including attorneys, accountants and physicians, manufacturing companies, service companies, and commercial real estate developers. The company offers its products and services through seven offices located in Hartford, Glastonbury, Vernon, Newington, Windsor, and Rocky Hill. The Connecticut Bank and Trust Company was founded in 2004 and is based in Hartford, Connecticut. Best High Tech Stocks To Watch Right Now: Petroglobe Inc.(PGB.V) PetroGlobe Inc. engages in the exploration, development, and production of petroleum and natural gas in Canada. It owns interests in the Pembina Cardium light oil, Pembina Edmonton Sands natural gas, and Red Earth Slave Point light oil properties located in Alberta, as well as in the Sawtooth oil property in the Grand Forks/Taber area of southern Alberta. The company is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Best High Tech Stocks To Watch Right Now: 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.
Futures (SPA) on the Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell and the yen climbed against the dollar as U.S. lawmakers continued to scrap over raising the debt limit and the government shutdown. Crude oil declined while gold rallied. S&P 500 Index futures sank 0.5 percent by 10:01 a.m. in Tokyo after the gauge rose 0.7 percent Oct. 4, snapping a two-day drop. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index dropped 0.1 percent as indexes from Japan to Australia swung between gains and losses. Japan's currency strengthened 0.3 percent, extending last week's 0.8 percent advance. Malaysia's ringgit climbed a fifth day and Treasuries rose. West Texas Intermediate oil fell for the second time in three days and gold added 0.3 percent. With the U.S. set to exhaust measures to avoid breaching its debt ceiling Oct. 17, House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner said in an interview that lawmakers won't raise the limit without packaging it with other provisions, a nonstarter for President Barack Obama. Government data from payrolls to retail sales will be delayed as long as the partial shutdown continues. In Asia, the Bank of Japan publishes its October report today and Taiwan releases inflation and trade figures. "Markets continue to assume an 11th hour solution to the current U.S. fiscal impasse will be found, as no one wants to wear the blame for a debt default," Sharon Zollner, a senior economist at ANZ Bank New Zealand Ltd. in Wellington, wrote in a note to clients today. "But as the days tick by and the U.S. government's cash gradually starts to run out the stakes will rise considerably." Japan's Topix Index (TPX) fell 0.1 percent after sliding 4.4 percent last week. South Korea's Kospi Index rose 0.1 percent following last week's 0.7 percent retreat. Pension Fund The Japanese state-run Government Pension Investment Fund, which manages 121 trillion yen ($1.24 trillion), plans to increase holdings of growth stocks and may eventually invest several trillion yen in such equities, the Nikkei newspaper reported Oct. 5 without citing anyone. The yen strengthened to 97.23 per dollar and gained against most of its major peers. Japan also releases its composite index of business cycle indicators today. In Australia, where many businesses are closed for Labor Day, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (AS51) fell less than 0.1 percent in trading volumes 70 percent below the 30-day average for this time of day. Australia's dollar rose 0.1 percent to 94.45 U.S. cents after climbing 1.3 percent in the five days to Oct. 4, the fourth advance in five weeks. The Bloomberg U.S. Dollar Index, which tracks the greenback against 10 major peers, lost 0.1 percent today after snapping a five-day slump Oct. 4, rallying 0.2 percent. Ringgit Strength The ringgit strengthened 0.3 percent to 3.1724 per dollar, headed for the strongest close since Sept. 20. Growth in Malaysian exports accelerated to an 18-month high in August, government data Oct. 4 showed. "The better trade numbers also helped to alleviate concern of current account weakness," Saktiandi Supaat, head of foreign-exchange research at Malayan Banking Bhd. in Singapore, said by phone. "Dollar weakness" also fueled ringgit gains, he said. The Swiss franc gained 0.2 percent to 90.54 centimes per dollar. Global stocks have slipped 0.3 percent since Oct. 1, when U.S. lawmakers' failure to pass a spending bill caused a partial shutdown of the government. In an interview on the ABC network's "This Week" program yesterday, Speaker Boehner said there were not enough votes in the House to "pass a clean debt limit" and that the country would default should President Obama not negotiate on the issue. Defense Workers Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew, who made appearances on four of the major Sunday TV talk shows, said the administration would only be willing to negotiate after the partial shutdown comes to an end and the debt ceiling is increased. He also warned of the dangers of default, as well as the possibility that Congress may actually fail to pass an increase. The Defense Department is calling back most of its civilian employees furloughed under the shutdown, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in an Oct. 5 statement. Meanwhile, three House lawmakers with ties to the Tea Party movement said they'd back a U.S. spending bill that doesn't center on the health-care legislation known as Obamacare. Bill Gross, co-chief investment officer for Pacific Investment Management Co. and Larry Fink, chairman and chief executive officer of BlackRock Inc., said last week that the deadlock will be resolved soon, limiting damage to the economy. Fed Outlook Partially closing the U.S. government for one week would probably shave 0.1 percentage point from economic growth, according to the median of 40 estimates in a Bloomberg survey of economists conducted last week. The shutdown delayed the release of the U.S. Labor Department's monthly payrolls report, which was due Oct. 4. Retail sales figures are scheduled for Oct. 11. The lack of data may make it harder for the Federal Open Market Committee to assess the economy's strength as policy makers mull the timing of reductions in their bond buying program after unexpectedly maintained stimulus last month. Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart said last week that the shortage of economic news "would tend to make me somewhat more cautious" about reducing the pace of asset purchases. Minutes of the FOMC's Sept. 17-18 meeting will be published Oct. 9 in the U.S. 'Off Table' "The taper is off the table for October, that is a silver lining for the market," Phil Orlando, New York-based chief equity strategist at Federated Investors, said by phone Oct. 4. His firm manages about $380 billion in assets. "Given the fact that there is no jobs data and given the fact that we have triggered the potential breach of the debt ceiling, in my opinion there is zero chance that the Fed is going to commence the taper at the Oct. 29-30 FOMC meeting." The yield on 10-year U.S. Treasuries dropped one basis point, or 0.01 percentage point, to 2.63 percent. The U.S. will auction $64 billion of notes and bonds this week. Similar maturity Australian bonds fell a second day, pushing yields up five basis points to 4.09 percent. Futures on Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 0.4 percent in their most recent trading session, as contracts on the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index climbed 0.6 percent. The Bloomberg China-US Equity Index of the most-traded Chinese stocks in New York jumped 1.1 percent Oct. 4, capping a weekly advance of 2.6 percent, led by Internet stocks. Renren Inc. (RENN) surged 20 percent last week. The Hang Seng gauge fell 0.3 percent last week. Mainland Chinese markets, which have been closed since Oct. 1 for the National Day holidays, resume trading tomorrow. Commodity Moves WTI dropped 0.4 percent to $103.41 a barrel as production in the Gulf of Mexico resumed after the passing of Tropical Storm Karen. BP Plc, Enbridge Inc. and other companies said that they returned workers to platforms yesterday as the storm weakened. Gasoline and Brent crude futures also fell, losing 0.2 percent. Gold rose to $1,315.06 an ounce, following last week's 1.9 percent decline. Silver and palladium gained at least 0.4 percent. Nickel for three-month delivery on the London Metal Exchange dropped 0.7 percent after surging 3.9 percent Oct. 4, while zinc rose 0.2 percent.
BALTIMORE (Stockpickr) -- Put down the 10-K filings and the stock screeners. It's time to take a break from the traditional methods of generating investment ideas. Instead, let the crowd do it for you.
>>5 Stocks Under $10 Set to Soar
From hedge funds to individual investors, scores of market participants are turning to social media to figure out which stocks are worth watching. It's a concept that's known as "crowdsourcing," and it uses the masses to identify emerging trends in the market.
Crowdsourcing has long been a popular tool for the advertising industry, but it also makes a lot of sense as an investment tool. After all, the market is completely driven by the supply and demand, so it can be valuable to see what names are trending among the crowd.
>>5 Big Trades to Take Now
While some fund managers are already trying to leverage social media resources like Twitter to find algorithmic trading opportunities, for most investors, crowdsourcing works best as a starting point for investors who want a starting point in their analysis. Today, we'll leverage the power of the crowd to take a look at some of the most active stocks on the market today.
These "most active" names are the most heavily-traded names on the market -- and often, uber-active names have some sort of a technical or fundamental catalyst driving investors' attention on shares. That's especially true now that earnings season is officially underway. And when there's a big catalyst, there's often a trading opportunity.
>>5 Short-Squeeze Stocks Ready to Pop
Without further ado, here's a look at today's stocks. J.C. Penney
Nearest Resistance: $9
Nearest Support: N/A
Catalyst: Fitch Downgrade
>>5 Short-Squeeze Stocks Ready to Pop
Things aren't looking so hot at department store chain J.C. Penney (JCP). Shares of the mall staple have gotten hammered 57% lower since the calendar flipped over to January, and they're still in free-fall now. Today's 2% decline comes on the heels of a downgrade from credit ratings firm Fitch that knocked JCP's debt to junk status.
JCP's chart is the definition of a "falling knife" right now. Investors who try to call the bottom on this stock are likely to get a pricey lesson for their trouble.
Rite Aid
Nearest Resistance: N/A
Nearest Support: $5
Catalyst: Same Store Sales Boost
>>5 Stocks Set to Soar on Bullish Earnings
Pharmacy chain Rite Aid (RAD) is up 3.2% in this afternoon's session after posting same store sales for September that impressed Wall Street. Compared with last year, RAD's stores network-wide saw sales ramp up 1.9% in September to $1.935 billion. That's enough to extend RAD's rally to new highs this afternoon.
Making new highs is significant from an investor psychology standpoint because it means that everyone who has bought shares in the last year is sitting on gains. As a result, the "back to even" mentality is less of a concern than it would be for a name with a higher proportion of shareholders sitting on losses. Traders who aren't risk-averse may want to consider jumping in here; just keep a tight stop in place. Tesla Motors
Nearest Resistance: $194.50
Nearest Support: $170
Catalyst: Downgrade, Fire
>>5 Hated Earnings Stocks You Should Love
Tesla Motors (TSLA) has been one of the momentum stories of the year, rallying more than 400% since the start of 2013. But shares are correcting hard this afternoon for a second straight day after the one-two punch of a viral video and a downgrade from Baird. Yesterday, a video of a flaming, crashed Tesla Model S had investors hitting the "sell" button on speculation over the source of the flames (Tesla later confirmed that they were caused by a collision, but the damage to shares had been done.)
At this point, TSLA is sitting right above a meaningful support level at $170. That's likely to act as a near-term floor unless headline risk creeps into this stock's price. There's no question that this stock is pricey right now, but it could be due for a bounce. Angie's List
Nearest Resistance: $20
Nearest Support: $18
Catalyst: Price Cuts
>>5 Dividend Stocks That Want to Pay You More
Last up is Angie's List (ANGI), the small-cap service review community. Angie's List is getting shellacked in this afternoon's session after news hit that the firm was slashing prices as much as 75% is some key markets to spur member growth. Investors are treating the move as a desperate one, and ANGI is off by almost 15% today as a result.
From a technical standpoint, ANGI is in make-or-break mode. Shares are extremely close to $18 support, and where they end up closing today will have a big impact on whether more downside looks likely. From there, $16 is the next-lowest cushion for shareholders. Zooming out to the longer-term, this stock looks "toppy" -- I'd stay away from shares.
To see these stocks in action, check out the at Most-Active Stocks portfolio on Stockpickr.
-- Written by Jonas Elmerraji in Baltimore.
RELATED LINKS:
>>4 Stocks Spiking on Unusual Volume
>>4 Stocks Under $10 to Watch for Breakouts
>>5 Trades to Take for October Gains
Follow Stockpickr on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.
At the time of publication, a portfolio managed by the author was long TSLA.
Jonas Elmerraji, CMT, is a senior market analyst at Agora Financial in Baltimore and a contributor to TheStreet. Before that, he managed a portfolio of stocks for an investment advisory returned 15% in 2008. He has been featured in Forbes , Investor's Business Daily, and on CNBC.com. Jonas holds a degree in financial economics from UMBC and the Chartered Market Technician designation. Follow Jonas on Twitter @JonasElmerraji
Susquehanna reported on Wednesday that it has maintained a “Positive” rating on UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH   ). The firm has reiterated a “Positive” rating on UNH, and has increased the company’s price target from $81 to $84. This new price target suggests a 15% upside from the stock’s current price of $71.63. In the report the firm noted, "We expect the managed care group will post solid third quarter results beginning when UNH kicks of earnings on October 17. The earnings period will matter for the group as Humana will offer specific EPS guidance for 2014 and others, particularly UNH, are likely to offer at least some preliminary expectations for next year." UnitedHealth shares were mostly flat during Wednesday morning trading. The stock is up 32% YTD.
Yesterday, I wrote up an analyst report about Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) touting the company’s da Vinci surgical system–a report that appeared to have helped pushed the stock up 4.7%. One of my readers left a comment that I’ll cite here in full: Davinci surgeons do not scrub up for the console, so the picture choice is curious. They watched presentations and then made investment pronouncements. Yikes. The presentations likely emphasize safety to try to counter all the recent publicity. This gave these casual analysts the impression that davinci is safe. lol. Well, wouldn’t you know it–Bloomberg ran a story this morning with the headline, “Robot Surgery Damaging Patients Rises With Marketing.” The nearly three-thousand word article describes in detail what my reader was hinting at: Robotic surgery hasn’t been all that safe. From the Bloomberg article: Porter Adventist Hospital in Denver announced last year that Warren Kortz, a general surgeon on the medical staff, was the first in the Rocky Mountain region to use a technique known as robotic surgery to remove gall bladders through one incision in the belly button… What the hospital and Kortz didn't reveal was the risk. Even as Kortz promoted robotic surgery, 10 patients he treated suffered injuries or complications between 2008 and 2011, according to an April complaint by the Colorado Medical Board. Five had arteries punctured or torn. Objects were temporarily left inside two, and others had nerve damage. One died and another needed cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The complaint charges Kortz with 14 counts of unprofessional conduct, including sometimes not advising patients on alternatives to the robot. Robotic surgeries are on the rise, fueled by aggressive marketing by doctors, hospitals and Intuitive Surgical Inc., which manufactures the $1.5 million robot. Advertising on hospital and doctor websites, YouTube videos, billboards, and on radio and television has hyped the advantages of robotic surgeries, often claimed fewer complications without proof, and ignored contradictory studies finding no advantage in some cases. It’s well worth reading the rest of the article to get a full sense of that marketing push. Intuitive Surgical has gained 4.3% to $397.20 today, easily trumping the gains in other healthcare-equipment companies. Covidien (COV) has ticked down 0.3% to $60.08, Medtronic (MDT) has gained 0.5% to $52.97, Abbott Laboratories (ABT) has fallen 0.8% to $33.24, and C.R. Bard (BCR) is little changed at $114.52.
Jim Fink, editor of Roadrunner Stocks, highlights a trio of small cap favorites; he also explains a conservative income strategy using put spreads. Steve Halpern: We are here today with Jim Fink, Editor of Roadrunner Stocks. How are you doing, Jim? Jim Fink: I'm great. Thanks for having me. Steve Halpern: First, let's start with your stock market outlook. You recently pointed out that the current bull market is now the sixth longest of the past 113 years. Do you expect this trend to continue, or is it time for a correction? Jim Fink: Well, sixth longest means there are five longer, and so, it definitely can go longer. I think it will go longer in the intermediate term, but in the short-term, I think a correction is becoming more likely. It just seems that with the troubles in Washington, with the government shutdown, the October 17 deadline for a debt ceiling extension, there's a lot of potential conflict coming down the line over the next two to four weeks. So, I'd be very careful over the next month or so, but after that, I think we're going to start moving higher again, just because the market has recently hit a new all-time high just earlier, in the month of September. So, short-term, dicey, longer term, bullish. Steve Halpern: Now, you're particularly optimistic on the long-term outlook for small-cap stocks. Why do you expect small-caps to outperform looking out over the longer term? Jim Fink: Well, just look at history. I mean over the 80 year period that we've just gone through; small-caps have outperformed large-caps significantly. We've got small-cap value that has increased at a 14.1% annualized rate, whereas large-caps have lagged behind by at least three percentage points, so just history tells you that small-caps will do well. In the shorter term, small-caps also should do well simply because we're just recently starting to see an economic revival. We've got Europe improving, we've got the US definitely having some mixed signals, but overall, with the Federal Reserve thinking of tapering-they're thinking of tapering, because the economy is gradually strengthening. We've got a very strong housing market, a very strong auto market that I think is going to expand into other sectors, and small-cap stocks are especially sensitive to economic growth, so if economic growth is going to increase, small-caps will take the lead. We also have the fact that, historically, small-caps have performed much better when interest rates are rising. That's certainly happening now, because that's another indication of economic strengthening, and the fact that a Democrat is a president in the White House. Politics does play a role. Small-caps have outperformed when Democrats control the White House and that's going to be the case for at least the next three years. Steve Halpern: Now what industry sectors do you find particularly attractive right now, and would you be kind enough to highlight some stock ideas within those sectors? Jim Fink: Sure, given my theme that the economy is strengthening, I want to be in the economic sectors that are more economically sensitive, so that would translate into consumer discretionary type stocks. That would also include technology stocks and industrial stocks; all three of those economic sectors do better when the economy is strengthening, so one such name, I really like housing right now. It's been strong for the past, you know, month or-it's been strong for over a year now, but I think there's more to go with that. One small-cap name in the housing sector is TRI Pointe Homes. That's a New York Stock Exchange stock, ticker symbol (TPH). It's controlled by Barry Sternlicht, who's a very wildly successful real estate entrepreneur. Right in the heart of the housing crisis in 2010, Sternlicht Starwood Capital made $150 million investment in TRI Pointe to help it buy land in California for home building. Sternlicht is now the TRI Pointe's chairman and I think California's real estate is going to continue to improve. A second stock I like right now is Blackhawk Network Holdings. It helps Americans with gift cards, which is a growing trend instead of having to think of what gift to get people, you can just give them a gift card and the recipient has the control over what to actually buy. Grocery store chain Safeway established Blackhawk back in 2001 and the business has grown in leaps and bounds in tandem with the gift card craze and they just spun off their Blackhawk Network holdings over the past few months to the NASDAQ stock, ticker symbol (HAWK). And lastly I'll go into healthcare, which is kind of a growth cyclical type name. It's partially defensive, partially growth. I think the more growth-oriented section of healthcare would be biotech, and right now, a very promising biotech stock is Enanta Pharmaceuticals. That's a NASDAQ stock; ticker symbol (ENTA). Biotech stocks typically burn through cash and suffer losses as they develop their products, but Enanta is one of the few biotech stocks that actually is earning money in cash flow positive right now. It specializes in treatments for hepatitis C, a virus that kills thousands of people each year and I think it has tremendous potential. Steve Halpern: Now in addition to Roadrunner Stocks, you're also the Editor of a service called Jim Fink's Options for Income. Could you briefly tell us about the service, and perhaps highlight an option strategy, so the listeners can understand what you try to address in this newsletter? Jim Fink: Sure, Options for Income is a conservative options service. There are a lot of very aggressive ones out there, but I like to focus on conservative strategies that bring in monthly income. The primary strategy in my Options for Income service are selling put spreads. Put spreads are where you sell one put option, slightly below a stock price, and buy another put option even further below the stock price as insurance. It is a very limited risk strategy; the risk is limited to the difference between the put strikes, and yet, it offers a very high rate of return. Typically, these put spreads that I recommend have returns of at least 20%, sometimes 30% to 40% and if you do enough of these put spreads, you're well-diversified, and yet, you have very low risk, and yet, very high return potential. Another reason they're conservative is because I pick put strikes that are below the current stock price, so the stock can actually decline a moderate amount and these put spreads will still expire worthless for maximum profit, so you don't have to wait for the stock to actually go up to make money. One trade, as an example, that I like right now is Procter & Gamble (PG). It's a very stable stock. It's not going to go up much, but it's not going to go down much either, which is perfect for put spreads, and a good trade right now would be selling the December 75 put, buying the December 70 put for a net credit of $1.45. The rate of return of that spread is over 25% and with Procter & Gamble currently trading around 76, the stock can actually decline by a dollar and this put spread will still expire worthless for maximum profit. Steve Halpern: Well, we appreciate you sharing your insights today and thanks for joining us. Jim Fink: It's been my pleasure. Thank you. Subscribe to Roadrunner Stocks here...  The expert featured in this column, James Fink, may or may not own positions in any investment vehicle mentioned here. The views and opinions expressed are his or her own.
At 6 a.m. Wednesday morning, the three casinos in the state of Delaware launched free online sites for slot machines, poker, blackjack, and roulette. While today�� launch includes only for-fun gaming, the state is scheduled to launch real-money gambling by the end of October. The online casino games are being offered by International Game Technology�� (NYSE: IGT) DoubleDown Interactive to anyone who logs-in with a Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ: FB) account. The three casinos offering the games are Dover Downs Hotel & Resort, Harrington Raceway & Casino, and Delaware Park. Once the games are open for real-money betting only players inside the state of Delaware. Nevada and New Jersey have also legalized real-money gambling for state residents and real-money poker games are already available. Mobile apps for the games are expected to be available next year, and Delaware aims to sign a compact with Nevada that would allow online poker players in both states to sit down at the same tables. Top Casino Stocks For 2014: Penn National Gaming Inc.(PENN) Penn National Gaming, Inc. and its subsidiaries own and manage gaming and pari-mutuel properties in the United States. It operates approximately 27,000 gaming machines; 500 table games; and 2,000 hotel rooms in 23 facilities in 16 jurisdictions, including Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ontario. The company was formerly known as PNRC Corp. and changed its name to Penn National Gaming, Inc. in 1994. Penn National Gaming, Inc. was founded in 1982 and is based in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. Top Casino Stocks For 2014: Boyd Gaming Corporation(BYD) Boyd Gaming Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a multi-jurisdictional gaming company in the United States. As of December 31, 2011, the company owned and operated 1,042,787 square feet of casino space, containing approximately 25,973 slot machines, 655 table games, and 11,418 hotel rooms. It also owned and operated 16 gaming entertainment properties located in Nevada, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, and New Jersey. In addition, the company owns and operates a pari-mutuel jai-alai facility located in Dania Beach, Florida, as well as a travel agency in Hawaii. Further, it holds a 50% controlling interest in the limited liability company that operates Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Boyd Gaming Corporation was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Roberto Pedone]
One gaming player that's rapidly moving within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Boyd Gaming (BYD), which owns and operates gaming entertainment facilities located in Nevada, Mississippi, Illinois, Louisiana and Indiana. This stock has been blazing a trail to the upside so far in 2013, with shares up sharply by 115%. If you look at the chart for Boyd Gaming, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending strong over the last month and change, with shares moving sharply higher from its low of $11.27 to its intraday high of $14.38 a share. During that move, shares of BYD have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of BYD into breakout territory above resistance at $13.79 a share, and it's quickly pushing the stock within range of another big breakout trade. Traders should now look for long-biased trades in BYD if it manages to break out above its 52-week high at $14.50 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above that level with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 2.34 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then BYD will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that move are $18 to $20 a share. Traders can look to buy BYD off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some near-term support at $13 a share. One can also buy BYD off strength once it takes out $14.50 a share with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.
Wynn Resorts, Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the development, ownership, and operation of destination casino resorts. The company owns and operates Wynn Las Vegas casino resort in Las Vegas, which includes approximately 22 food and beverage outlets comprising 5 dining restaurants; 2 nightclubs; 1 spa and salon; 1 Ferrari and Maserati automobile dealership; wedding chapels; an 18-hole golf course; meeting space; and foot retail promenade featuring boutiques. Wynn Las Vegas casino resort also features approximately 147 table games, 1 baccarat salon, private VIP gaming rooms, 1 poker room, 1,842 slot machines, and 1 race and sports book. It also owns and operates an Encore at Wynn Las Vegas resort, a destination casino resort located adjacent to Wynn Las Vegas that features a 2,034 all-suite hotel, as well as a casino with 95 table games, 1 sky casino, 1 baccarat salon, private VIP gaming rooms, and 778 slot machines. In addition, the company operates Wyn n Macau casino resort located in the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People?s Republic of China. Wynn Macau casino resort features approximately 595 hotel rooms and suites, 410 table games, 935 slot machines, 1 poker room, 1 sky casino, 6 restaurants, 1 spa and salon, lounges, meeting facilities, and retail space featuring boutiques. Further, it operates Encore at Wynn Macau resort located adjacent to Wynn Macau. Encore at Wynn Macau resort features approximately 410 luxury suites and 4 villas, as well as casino gaming space, including a sky casino consisting of 60 table games and 80 slot machines, 2 restaurants, 1 luxury spa, and retail space. The company was founded in 2002 and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Ben Levisohn]
He also likes Wynn Resorts (WYNN), despite its 34% gain.�Santarelli writes: As for WYNN, we believe near-term estimates continue to take a back seat to capital returns and the discounting of Cotai, though we do find near term numbers to be beatable in Macau given QTD trends, most notably on the VIP side. Net-net, we find WYNN to be the most compelling longer-term story in our coverage universe and given the scope of the Cotai development and its impact on valuation, we anticipate value attribution for the project will come well in advance of the historical rule of thumb for new openings in the space, which has generally been about one year. - [By Chris Hill]
Hertz (NYSE: HTZ ) dips on good-not-great earnings. Candian retailer Hudson's Bay buys Saks (NYSE: SKS ) for $2.4 billion. Wynn Resorts' (NASDAQ: WYNN ) second-quarter profit gets hit with one-time charges. Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC ) merges with Publicis Group to form the world's largest advertising and marketing firm. In this segment from Investor Beat, Motley Fool analysts Bill Barker and Andy Cross discuss four stocks making moves on Tuesday. - [By Holly LaFon]
His largest new buys in the first quarter are: Penn Virginia Group Holdings LP (PVG), Wynn Resorts Ltd. (WYNN), Methanex Corp. (MEOH), Solutia Inc. (SOA) and Georgia Gulf (GGC). Of his top eight stocks, five are from the chemicals industry.
Top Casino Stocks For 2014: (XTRN) Las Vegas Railway Express Inc. focuses to re-establish a conventional passenger train service between the Las Vegas and Los Angeles metropolitan areas. It plans to establish a ?Vegas-style? passenger train service. The company is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Top Casino Stocks For 2014: Pinnacle Entertainment Inc.(PNK) Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. owns, develops, and operates casinos, and related hospitality and entertainment facilities in the United States. It operates casinos, such as L'Auberge du Lac in Lake Charles, Louisiana; River City Casino and Lumiere Place in St. Louis, Missouri; Boomtown New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana; Belterra Casino Resort in Vevay, Indiana; Boomtown Bossier City in Bossier City, Louisiana; and Boomtown Reno in Reno, Nevada. The company also operates River Downs racetrack in southeast Cincinnati, Ohio. As of May 26, 2011, it operated seven casinos and one racetrack. The company was formerly known as Hollywood Park, Inc. and changed its name to Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. in February 2000. Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. was founded in 1935 and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Ben Levisohn]
Pinnacle Entertainment (PNK) has gained 56% this year; Las Vegas Sands (LVS) has climbed 38%. And Deutsche Bank has nice things to say about both today. Bloomberg First Pinnacle. Deutsche Bank’s Carlo Santarelli ponders the stock’s big move and comes away still seeing value in its shares. He writes: When we upgraded PNK in April, our thesis centered on the FCF strength of the combined entities [Pinnacle completed its acquisition of Ameristar Casinos on Aug. 14], a handful of favorable catalysts, easing regional gaming comps, & an inexpensive relative valuation. Given the shares’ sizeable move since then, we believe it is worth revisiting the investment case. Post the announcement of several asset sales and the closing of the transaction, we are adjusting our estimates, raising our PT to $30 from $24, and maintaining our bullish view at current levels given what we still believe to be an attractive free cash flow valuation, meaningful potential synergy realization beyond the $40 mm of announced benefits, and a free option on a lagging regional recovery. Santarelli also revisited Las Vegas Sands and there too, he likes what he sees. He writes: With…LVS at [a share price level] that have been challenging to break from over the last year plus, we believe this time is different and hence we see continued upward momentum…In the case of LVS, we see; 1) meaningful mass market strength continuing through year end, setting the stage for upward company and market estimate revisions for 2014, 2) continued cash flow appreciation and capital returns serving as downside protection and positive catalysts, and 3) continued shared gains, largely driven by table optimization and mass market strength, driving both estimates and sentiment. He also likes Wynn Resorts (WYNN), despite its 34% gain.�Santarelli writes: As for WYNN, we believe near-term estimates continue to take a back seat to capital return
Top Casino Stocks For 2014: MGM Resorts International(MGM) MGM Resorts International, through its subsidiaries, primarily owns and operates casino resorts in the United States. The company?s resorts offer gaming, hotel, dining, entertainment, retail, and other resort amenities. It also owns and operates golf courses and a golf club. As of December 31, 2010, the company owned and operated 15 properties located in Nevada, Mississippi, and Michigan; and has 50% investments in 4 other casino resorts in Nevada, Illinois, and Macau. In addition, MGM Resorts International has an agreement with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, which owns and operates a casino resort in Connecticut, to carry the ?MGM Grand? brand name. The company was formerly known as MGM MIRAGE and changed its name to MGM Resorts International in June 2010. MGM Resorts International was founded in 1986 and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Advisors' Opinion: - [By Travis Hoium]
MGM Resorts (NYSE: MGM ) doesn't have the flashy management that's made gaming companies famous, and CEO James Murren has taken a quieter role in the industry. But he has guided the company through the financial crisis and now has a huge growth opportunity on Cotai. But he isn't the only person investors need to watch.� - [By Travis Hoium]
The next step
The top end of the market has been doing well over the past two years, and Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS ) and Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ: WYNN ) have been the beneficiaries. Las Vegas Sands's Las Vegas�revenue was up 7% in the first quarter, while Wynn's�was up 6.6%. But MGM Resorts (NYSE: MGM ) and Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ: CZR ) haven't seen the same success in the lower end of the market. - [By Paul Ausick]
U.S.-based casino operators Las Vegas Sands Inc. (NYSE: LVS), Wynn Resorts Ltd. (NASDAQ: WYNN), and MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) already operate resorts and casinos in Macau and these companies would be much smaller without them. - [By Travis Hoium]
The recovery in Las Vegas is gaining steam, and after 6.4% growth in May and 4.3% growth over the past year, the gaming companies there have some room to breathe. MGM Resorts (NYSE: MGM ) and Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ: CZR ) have the most to gain, but Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ: WYNN ) and Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS ) will benefit as well. In the following video, gaming analyst Travis Hoium covers who will benefit the most from Las Vegas' growth and one stock to stay away from.�
Passion and compassion are the two engines that drive "venture philanthropist" Paul Tudor Jones II, founder, chairman and CEO of The Tudor Group. Passion fuels his vocation as a hedge fund trader extraordinaire. As of this month, Jones has amassed a personal fortune of around $3.7 billion, according to Forbes. Compassion clearly energizes his avocation, helping homeless children and the poor. Paul Tudor Jones is the founder of Robin Hood, a charitable organization formed in 1988 to target poverty in New York City. Its board of directors is peopled with a number of Guru billionaire investors. In his 2011 speech at the Robin Hood Heroes Breakfast, Jones outlined the various kinds of poverty, the worst being a poverty of opportunity Americans are facing. Last year, Robin Hood invested $132 million in 210 poverty-fighting programs. The Tudor Group portfolio currently lists 779 stocks, 289 of them new, with a total value of $1.33 billion and a quarter-over-quarter turnover of 58%. The portfolio top three sector weights healthcare at 23.9%, ETF, options, preferred at 22.2% and industrials at 11.2%. Paul Tudor Jones's 12-month average return is 35.13%; he's averaged 6% since inception. Here's a look at the top four high-impact reductions and sells in The Tudor Group portfolio as of the second quarter of 2013. Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF): Reduced Impact to Portfolio: - 4.26% Up 29% over 12 months, Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF has a market cap of $9.78 billion; its shares were traded at around $20.14. The dividend is 1.60%. The Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF is an exchange traded fund. Historical share pricing:  [ Enlarge Image ]
Guru Action: As of June 30, 2013, Paul Tudor Jones reduced his position by 52.56%, selling 3,077,000 shares at an average price of $19.08, for a loss of 5.6%. The current share price is $20.14, with a change from average up 6%. His cur! rent shares remaining are 2,777,000. In a five-year trading history, Paul Tudor Jones has averaged a gain of 24% on 5,854,000 shares bought at an average price of $16.24 per share. On shares sold, he has averaged a gain of 6% on 3,077,000 shares sold at an average price of $19.08 per share. Pfizer Inc. (PFE): Reduced Impact to Portfolio: - 3.57% Up 16% over 12 months, Pfizer Inc. has a market cap of $190.67 billion; its shares were traded at around $28.88. The P/B ratio is 2.40. The dividend yield is 3.26%. Founded in 1849, Pfizer Inc. is a global pharmaceutical firm which develops and produces medicines and vaccines used in the fields of immunology, inflammation, oncology, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, neuroscience and pain. Historical share pricing, revenue and net income:  [ Enlarge Image ]
Guru Action: As of June 30, 2013, Paul Tudor Jones reduced his position by 89.18%, selling 1,629,350 shares at an average price of $29.12, for a loss of 1.1%. The current share price is $28.80, with a change from average down 1%. His current shares remaining are 197,700. Paul Tudor Jones has averaged a gained of 5% on 1,827,050 shares bought at an average price of $27.34 per share. On shares sold, he has averaged a loss of 1% on 1,629,350 shares sold at an average price of $29.12 per share. Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW): Sold Out Impact to Portfolio: - 3.2% Up 28% over 12 months, Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a market cap of $34.14 billion; its shares were traded at around $78.29. The P/B ratio is 3.30. The dividend yield is 2.00%. Incorporated in 1915, Illinois Tool Works Inc. is a multinational manufacturer of a range of industrial products and equipment with operations in 58 countries. These businesses are internally reported as 40 operating segments to senior management. Historical share pricing, revenue and net income:  [ Enlarge Image ]
Guru Action: As of June 30, 2013, Paul Tudor Jones sold out his position, selling 7,500 shares at an average price of $66.88, for a 14% gain. The current share price is $76.23, with a change from average up 14%. In 10 quarters of holding, Paul Tudor Jones had double-digit gains all the way. His gains topped out at 73.1% in the third quarter of 2010. Covidien PLC (COV): Sold Out Impact to Portfolio: - 2% Up 16% over 12 months, Covidien PLC has a market cap of $28.8 billion; its shares were traded at around $62.27. The P/B ratio is 3.00. The dividend yield is 1.66%. Covidien PLC is engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of healthcare products for use in clinical and home settings. Its products are found in almost every hospital in the United States. Historical share pricing, revenue and net income:  [ Enlarge Image ]
Guru Action: As of June 30, 2013, Paul Tudor Jones sold out his position selling 380,400 shares at an average price of $59.39, for a gain of 5.4%. The current share price is $62.61, with a change from average up 5%. This is another remarkable five-year trading history with gains all the way.  [ Enlarge Image ]
Here is the complete portfolio of Paul Tudor Jones. Be sure to read: 1. Paul Tudor Jones's Undervalued Stocks
2. Paul Tudor Jones's Top Growth Companies
3. Paul Tudor Jones's High Yield stocks
4. Stocks that Paul Tudor Jones keeps buying If you are not yet a Premium Member, try a 7-day Free Trial. GuruFocus Real Time Picks reports the stock purchases and sales that Gurus have made within the prior 2 weeks. The report time lag can be as short as 2 days after the date of the transaction. This feature is for Premium Members only. Check out the GuruFo! cus speci! al feature 52-week low screener to find the stocks hitting new lows but are still held by top investor Gurus and Insiders.
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Alamy Choosing an executor for your will may not feel quite as personal as picking a guardian for your kids, but you should think carefully about who to put in charge of your money after you're gone. "A common adage in the industry is to name your enemy as your executor as a means of revenge," says John O. McManus, an estate attorney and founding principal of McManus & Associates in New York City. "It's a thankless job. If you appoint someone you love as executor, get your house in order. Otherwise, appoint someone you do not." If you know someone with a law degree or an accounting background, they may be a good choice to serve in the role. However, many people choose their closest relatives. According to the book, "The 101 Biggest Estate Planning Mistakes" by Herbert Nass, one of the worst things you can do is to ignore your spouse when choosing an executor for your will. Since your surviving spouse will be affected financially more than anyone else by your death, it makes sense for your spouse to be in control. But you should also have a backup executor in case your spouse doesn't feel up to the task or if you should both pass away at the same time. (And if your spouse passes away first, or if you divorce, be sure to update your will and your choice of executor.) If you ignore this important task and don't appoint an executor, the court will pick one for you. That person may or may not be a member of your family -- and even if it is a relative, it may not be the ideal choice. Before you decide, think hard about what you're asking this person to do. We talked to McManus about what it means to be an executor and how to go about choosing one. Q: What are the responsibilities of an executor? A: The executor is commissioned with the following tasks: Collect assets and information on beneficiaries. Determine debts and other claims against the estate and pay legitimate claims. Manage the estate assets. Determine and pay all taxes. Distribute the estate to beneficiaries pursuant to the will or intestate statute. Q: Do you need to have a financial or legal background? A: While it's not necessary to have a financial or legal background in order to be the executor of an estate, it certainly can be helpful. A law firm can perform most of the tasks associated with the estate administration, but the executor must make all final legal and financial decisions with the information provided by legal and financial professionals. It's recommended to have legal counsel and financial advice, as courts look more kindly on fiduciaries who seek outside professional help when making important decisions about estate assets. Q: How much time does it take to be an executor? As: Being the executor of an estate can eat up a few hours a week during the beginning and end of the administration, with less time required during the longer middle period. If the decedent had his or her affairs in order, the job of the executor can be greatly minimized. The executor can also retain legal counsel to perform a majority of the tasks associated with the estate, at the expense of the estate. There's a cycle to an estate administration, with a flurry of activity at the start with probate of the will in the surrogate's court, the initial gathering of assets and payment of initial expenses. Thereafter, the less glamorous work starts: to marshal all asset information by sending letters to financial institutions and to prepare the required estate tax returns. The estate administration may last from one to two years, on average, with a litigious matter dragging on for many more years after that. Q: Should you have more than one executor or is it best to have only one? A: Traditionally, having only one executor is thought to be easier; the paperwork and time spent on court proceedings and official business is reduced with just one. However, there are situations when more than one executor is helpful, especially if the elderly surviving spouse is assisted by an adult child of the deceased or two adult children remain involved in the estate of their deceased parent. Q: Is it best to ask someone before you name them in your will as executor? A: Consider ensuring that the executor you appoint truly loves you enough to agree to the nomination -- seriously. Additionally, it's best to name a few successor executors. The worst situation may be to have the court make the decision about who will serve as executor of your estate. Q: Can someone turn down the job of executor? A: The nominated executor can renounce the appointment and not serve as executor. In that case, the successor executor may be appointed. The renunciation is typically a simple procedure in the court with paperwork to be completed by the renouncing executor and signed in front of a notary public. Q: Can you get compensated for the time you put in as an executor? A: The executor fee is calculated in many states as a percentage of probate assets, not time spent. Probate assets mean the decedent's assets that pass through the estate and not by beneficiary designation or by operation of law to a named beneficiary. The executor's commission is determined by state statute and is taxable income to the executor in the year received. The executor may still take a commission even if he or she is also a beneficiary of the estate, but many executors waive their right to the statutory fee for one reason or another. Q: Can you be sued as an executor? A: Irrespective of whether the executor is paid for his or her work, the executor is held to high standards in many courts, and charges may be brought by beneficiaries if the executor spent estate assets unnecessarily, oversaw a diminution of estate assets due to lack of diversification in investments, or otherwise betrayed the trust of the beneficiaries. Q: Is there anything an executor can do to reduce family fights over personal property? A: Executors are often caught off guard by personal property issues. They're careful with a large annuity or an investment account, but actually things like photo albums are the most difficult to marshal. Warring beneficiaries could hire separate counsel over that. Have Mom and Dad clearly identify items and to whom they should pass -- use masking tape and marker for initials on the bottom of items or make a detailed list. The will directs what should happen to personal property, but in situations where there's a question of who should receive something, the executor has the final say. Our wills use the language that personal property should be divided in substantially equal parts, but the executor has a lot of leeway there. To keep estate bills down, it's best to involve fewer attorneys. If you can avoid litigation, the assets of the estate can be more easily preserved. Some of our clients direct that everything be sold so that only liquid assets will be passed to heirs.