One of the most difficult investing tasks this year is finding income-producing securities that aren’t trading at elevated levels.
The unfortunate unintended consequence of fiscal stimulus programs is that income investors can no longer rely on bonds or bank-related products to meet their needs. They have been forced into the stock market in search of yield, and this has helped pushed many dividend stocks to high levels. I have increasingly advised investors in need of income to look at alternatives to traditional investments, provided by the private equity industry.
Hot Up And Coming Stocks To Watch For 2015: LifePoint Hospitals Inc.(LPNT)
LifePoint Hospitals Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates general acute care hospitals in non-urban communities in the United States. The company?s hospitals provide a range of medical and surgical services comprising general surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics, emergency room care, radiology, oncology, diagnostic care, coronary care, rehabilitation services, and pediatric services, as well as specialized services, such as open-heart surgery, skilled nursing, psychiatric care, and neuro-surgery. Its hospitals also offer outpatient services, including one-day surgery, laboratory, x-ray, respiratory therapy, imaging, sports medicine, and lithotripsy. As of December 31, 2009, LifePoint Hospitals owned or leased 47 hospitals with a total of 5,552 licensed beds in 17 states. The company was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee. Lifepoint Hospitals Inc. (NasdaqNM:LPNT) operates independently of HCA Inc. as of May 11, 1999.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Keith Speights]
The fun wasn't just limited to the big three hospital operators. Lifepoint Hospitals (NASDAQ: LPNT ) stock jumped 5% on the CMS news, reflecting a $109 million market cap expansion. Likewise, Vanguard Health Systems (NYSE: VHS ) shares climbed 5%, bumping its market cap up by�$55 million.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Yesterday afternoon, Pennsylvania announced that it would use federal dollars to pay private insurers to cover eligible Pennsylvanians. UBS analysts A.J. Rice and Jailendra Singh think Community Health Systems (CYH), Tenet Healthcare (THC) and LifePoint Hospitals (LPNT) stand to benefit the most from the deal:
5 Best Cheap Stocks To Own Right Now: Popular Inc.(BPOP)
Popular, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides a range of retail and commercial banking products and services primarily to corporate clients, small and middle size businesses, and retail clients in Puerto Rico and Mainland United States. It offers deposit products; commercial, consumer, and mortgage loans, as well as lease finance; and finance and advisory services. The company also offers trust and asset management, brokerage and investment banking, and insurance and reinsurance services. As of December 31, 2010, it owned and occupied approximately 94 branch premises and other facilities in Puerto Rico; and 119 offices, including 20 owned and 99 leased in New York, Illinois, New Jersey, California, Florida, and Texas. Popular, Inc. was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Maria Armental var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); popups.forEach]
Popular Inc.(BPOP), Puerto Rico’s largest bank, said Wednesday that regulators approved its plan to repay the $935 million rescue package it received during the financial crisis. Popular was the U.S. government’s largest remaining crisis-era bailout after auto-lender Ally Financial Inc.(ALLY), which has paid back more than the $17.2 billion bailout it received during the financial crisis as a result of going public in April.
- [By Paul Ausick]
Among multinationals, Sterne Agee recommends three banks. The first is Puerto Rico�� Popular Inc. (NASDAQ: BPOP). The mid-cap bank�� stock closed at $28.21 on Friday in a 52-week range of $20.31 to $34.34. Based on Sterne Agee�� 2014 price target of $40.00, Popular has an upside potential of nearly 42% and a 2014 EPS estimate of $2.90. The investment firm�� forward multiple is just 9.6, below the Thomson Reuters consensus multiple of 10.3. Popular received TARP funds in 2009 and could repay the loan in the first quarter of next year, which will give the stock a shot in the arm as well.
- [By John Udovich]
For investors looking for exposure to the US commonwealth of Puerto Rico, banking stocks Doral Financial Corp (NYSE: DRL), First Bancorp (NYSE: FBP), OFG Bancorp (NYSE: OFG) and Popular Inc (NASDAQ: BPOP) offer the best bet as these Puerto Rico stocks trade on major US exchanges rather than the OTC. However, it should be mentioned that there has been a slowdown in Puerto Rico�� economy which has also shrunk in five of the past seven fiscal years. Then last�February, Puerto Rico�� debt was cut to speculative grade by the three largest credit-rating companies while�Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla has proposed a series of budget cuts to help tackle the island�� mounting debt load -including the freezing public workers��salaries and the closing about 100 schools.
5 Best Cheap Stocks To Own Right Now: Bank of America Corporation(BAC)
Bank of America Corporation, a financial holding company, provides banking and nonbanking financial services and products to individuals, small- and middle-market businesses, large corporations, and governments in the United States and internationally. The company?s Deposits segment generates savings accounts, money market savings accounts, certificate of deposits, and checking accounts; and Global Card Services segment provides the U.S. consumer and business card, consumer lending, international card and debit card services. Its Home Loans & Insurance segment offers consumer real estate products and services, including mortgage loans, reverse mortgages, home equity lines of credit, and home equity loans. It also provides property, disability, and credit insurance. The company?s Global Commercial Banking segment offers lending products, including commercial loans and commitment facilities, real estate lending, leasing, trade finance, short-term credit, asset-based lending, and indirect consumer loans; and capital management and treasury solutions, such as treasury management, foreign exchange, and short-term investing options. Its Global Banking & Markets segment provides financial products, advisory services, settlement, and custody services; debt and equity underwriting and distribution, merger-related advisory services, and risk management products; and integrated working capital management and treasury solutions. The company?s Global Wealth & Investment Management segment offers investment and brokerage services, estate management, financial planning services, fiduciary management, credit and banking expertise, and asset management products. Bank of America Corporation serves customers through a network of approximately 5,900 banking centers and 18,000 automated teller machines. It was formerly known as NationsBank Corporation and changed its name on October 1, 1998. Bank of America Corporation was founded in 1874 and is based in Charlott e, North Carolina.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Gillian Tan]
Laboratory equipment supplier VWR Funding Inc., backed by private-equity firm Madison Dearborn Partners LLC, has hired Bank of America(BAC) Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs Group Inc.(GS) and J.P.Morgan Chase(JPM) & Co. to lead a potential initial public offering, according to people familiar with the matter.
- [By Shauna O'Brien]
Evercore Partners reported on Friday that it has adjusted its estimates on Bank of America Corp (BAC).
Analyst Andrew Marquardt has lowered his estimates on BAC, while reiterating a “Buy” rating and $16 price target.
Marquardt noted: “We expect BAC to report core 3Q13 EPS of $0.23 which is $0.03 above consensus EPS est of $0.20 and below 2Q13 core EPS est of $0.25.”
“On a reported basis we expect 3Q13 EPS of $0.15 including $0.04/shr gain from CCB share sale, $0.10 drag from UK tax rate adjustment, $0.01 drag from est’d DVA loss and $0.01 drag from non-core litigation expenses. Overall 3Q13 results exp’d weaker vs last qtr on slowing mrtg and capital markets activity while lower expenses help partially offset, AQ remains strong and modest capital build likely, though AOCI a drag on capital as rates move higher.”
Looking ahead, the firm has lowered its third quarter estimate from 25 cents to 23 cents per share. FY2013 estimates have been cut form 96 cents to 91 cents per share, FY2014 estimates have been dropped from $1.31 to $1.30 per share and FY2013 estimates have been left unchanged at $1.52 per share.
Bank of America shares were mostly flat during pre-market trading Friday. The stock is up 21% YTD.
- [By Chris Hill]
In this segment, Matt discusses why he'll have his eye on Bank of America (NYSE: BAC ) , and Jason tells us why he'll be watching Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO ) this week.
5 Best Cheap Stocks To Own Right Now: UnitedHealth Group Incorporated(UNH)
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated provides healthcare services in the United States. Its Health Benefits segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services to national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; and non-employer based insurance options for purchase by individuals. It also provides health and well-being services for individuals aged 50 and older; and for services dealing with chronic disease and other specialized issues for older individuals, as well as health plans for the beneficiaries of acute and long-term care Medicaid plans. This segment offers its services through a network of 730,000 physicians and other health care professionals, and 5,300 hospitals. Its OptumHealth segment provides health, financial, and ancillary services and products that assist consumers through personalized health management solutions; benefit administration, and clinical and network management; health-based financi al services; behavioral solutions; and specialty benefits, such as dental, vision, life, critical illness, short-term disability, and stop-loss product offerings. The company?s Ingenix segment offers database and data management services, software products, publications, consulting and actuarial services, business process outsourcing services, and pharmaceutical data consulting and research services. Its Prescription Solutions segment provides integrated pharmacy benefit management services comprising retail network pharmacy contracting and management, claims processing, mail order pharmacy services, specialty pharmacy, benefit design consultation, rebate contracting and management, drug utilization review, formulary management programs, disease therapy management, and adherence programs to employer groups, union trusts, managed care organizations, Medicare-contracted plans, Medicaid plans, and third party administrators. The company was founded in 1974 and is based in Minne tonka, Minnesota.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dan Caplinger]
On Thursday, the Dow Jones Industrials (DJINDICES: ^DJI ) rose 32 points, falling just short of setting another new high. Still, the Dow managed to do much better than the rest of the stock market, as both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq lost ground on the day. A large set of earnings reports last night and this morning added volatility on several fronts, as a mixed earnings season begins to draw to a close. Within the Dow, though, Merck (NYSE: MRK ) and UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH ) were the biggest decliners on the day.
- [By Monica Gerson]
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $1.53 per share on revenue of $30.78 billion.
PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG) is expected to report its Q3 earnings at $2.34 per share on revenue of $3.96 billion.
- [By Paul Ausick]
Today�� big loser among the Dow stocks was UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH). The healthcare sector traded lower today, down about 0.3% shortly before closing. The sector is up about 30% over the past 12 months and 4% year-to-date. UnitedHealth�� shares traded down 1.56% at $75.80 in a 52-week range of $54.23 to $78.57 just ahead of the closing bell. Volume is on track to be 20% below the daily average of some 4.7 million shares traded.
- [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]
UnitedHealth Group is a health and well-being company that provides essential healthcare services during a critical time in the United States. The stock has witnessed a promising move higher that has taken it to all-time high prices, where it may consolidate before coasting higher. Over the last four quarters, earnings and revenue numbers have been on the rise, but investors have not been too pleased with the company’s reports. Relative to its peers and sector, UnitedHealth Group has been a year-to-date performance leader. Look for UnitedHealth Group to OUTPERFORM.
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