Best Mid Cap Companies To Own For 2015

First comes Bristow Group Inc. (BRS), which provides helicopter services to offshore energy rigs, and is a holding in our traditional mid-cap, small-to-mid cap, and small-cap portfolios. Although energy exploration and production can clearly fluctuate, Bristow offsets those shifts through long-term contracts lasting roughly three to five years. Furthermore, Bristow receives ��onthly standing charges���meaning it gets paid whether its helicopters fly or not��mounting to 70% of its operating income.

From John Rogers' November 2013 commentary.

Also check out: John Rogers Undervalued Stocks John Rogers Top Growth Companies John Rogers High Yield stocks, and Stocks that John Rogers keeps buying

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Best Mid Cap Companies To Own 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.

Best Mid Cap Companies To Own For 2015: General Motors Co (GM)

General Motors Company (GM), incorporated in on September 16, 1908, designs, builds and sells cars, trucks and automobile parts worldwide. The Company also provides automotive financing services through General Motors Financial Company, Inc. (GM Financial). It operates in four automotive segments: GM North America (GMNA), GM Europe (GME), GM International Operations (GMIO) and GM South America (GMSA). GM�� total worldwide vehicle sales were nine million during the year ended December 31, 2011. The Company�� GMNA segment develops, manufactures and/or markets vehicles under the brands, such as Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC for its customers in North America. GM for its customers outside North America develops, manufactures and/or markets vehicles under the brands, such as Buick Chevrolet, GMC, Opel, Cadillac, Daewoo, Holden and Vauxhall. In March 2011, the Company announced the sale of its Class A Membership Interest in Delphi Automotive LLP (Delphi) back to Delphi. In October 2012, the Company bought back most of the 50% interest in its Indian operations that it had sold to Chinese partner SAIC Motor Corp Ltd and raised its interest in the venture to 93%.

Automotive

GMNA, with sales, manufacturing and distribution operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico and sales and distribution operations in Central America and the Caribbean, represented 32.4% of the Company�� vehicle sales volume in 2011. GME has sales, manufacturing and distribution operations across Western and Central Europe. GME's vehicle sales volume, which in addition to Western and Central Europe, includes Eastern Europe (including Russia and the other members of the Commonwealth of Independent States among others) represented 19.2% of its vehicle sales volume GMIO distributes Chevrolet brand vehicles which, when sold in Europe, are included in GME vehicle sales volume and market share data. GMIO has sales, manufacturing and distribution operations in Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe (including Russ! ia and the other members of the Commonwealth of Independent States among others), Africa and the Middle East. GMIO represented 36.6% of the Company�� global vehicle sales volume, including sales through its joint ventures in 2011. GMSA, with sales, manufacturing and distribution operations in Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela, as well as sales and distribution operations in Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay represented 11.8% of its vehicle sales volume in 2011. In 2011 GMSA derived 59.4% of its vehicle sales volume from Brazil.

As of December 31, 2011, the Company had equity ownership stakes directly or indirectly in entities through various regional subsidiaries, including GM Korea Company (GM Korea), Shanghai General Motors Co., Ltd. (SGM), SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile Co., Ltd. (SGMW), FAW-GM Light Duty Commercial Vehicle Co., Ltd. (FAW-GM) and SAIC GM Investment Limited (HKJV). These companies design, manufacture and market vehicles under the brands, including Alpheon, Buick, Chevrolet, Jiefang, Baojun, Cadillac, Daewoo and Wuling. In addition to the products GM sells to its dealers for consumer retail sales, and also sells cars and trucks to fleet customers, including daily rental car companies, commercial fleet customers, leasing companies and Governments. It sells vehicles to fleet customers directly or through its network of dealers. The Company�� retail and fleet customers can obtain a range of after sale vehicle services and products through its dealer network, such as maintenance, light repairs, collision repairs, vehicle accessories and extended service warranties.

GM markets vehicles worldwide primarily through a network of independent authorized retail dealers. These outlets include distributors, dealers and authorized sales, service and parts outlets. The Company enters into a contract with each authorized dealer agreeing to sell to the dealer one or more specified product lines at wholesale prices and granting the dealer the right to ! sell thos! e vehicles to retail customers from an approved location. Authorized dealers offer parts, accessories, service and repairs for GM vehicles in the product lines that they sell using GM parts and accessories. Its dealers are authorized to service GM vehicles under its limited warranty program and those repairs are to be made only with GM parts. The Company also markets FlexFuel vehicles in Australia, Thailand and other markets.

GM produces compressed natural gas capable vehicles in Europe, such as the Opel Zafira, and in the United States, the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size vans are offered to fleet and commercial customers. It offers LPG capable vehicles in select markets in Europe, Asia Pacific, South America and North America. OnStar Corporation (OnStar) is a wholly owned subsidiary of GM serving more than six million subscribers in the United States, Canada and China. OnStar is a provider of connected safety, security and mobility solutions and information technology. OnStar's principal services include automatic crash response, stolen vehicle assistance, remote door unlock, turn-by-turn navigation, vehicle diagnostics and hands-free calling.

Automotive Financing - GM Financial

GM Financial specializes in purchasing retail automobile installment sales contracts originated by GM and non-GM franchised and independent dealers in connection with the sale of used and new automobiles. GM Financial also offers lease products through GM dealerships in connection with the sale of used and new automobiles. GM Financial primarily generates revenue through the purchase, retention, subsequent securitization and servicing of finance receivables. GM Financial earns finance charge income on finance receivables and pays interest expense on borrowings under its credit facilities. GM Financial periodically transfers receivables to securitization trusts that issue asset-backed securities to investors. In April 2011 GM Financial originated leases for the Company�� cust! omers in ! Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Johanna Bennett]

  January crude-oil futures climbed 2.4%, the biggest one-day climb in more than two months, to settle at $96.04 a barrel. That put pressure on automobile makers, including General Motors (GM) and Ford (F).

• [By John Rosevear]

  Lots of people will tell you that Ford builds a good truck. And while its No. 1 sales ranking occasionally benefits from rival General Motors' (NYSE: GM  ) insistence on splitting its full-sized pickup sales between the Chevrolet and GMC brands, there's no doubt that it's an exceptionally popular and successful product.

Best Dow Dividend Stocks To Own For 2015: Vanguard Idx Fund (VTI)

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (the Fund), formerly known as Vanguard Total Stock Market VIPERs, seeks to track the performance of an index that measures the investment return of the overall stock market. The Fund seeks to track the performance of Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) US Broad Market Index (the Index), which includes large, mid and small-cap equity stocks diversified across growth and value styles.

The Fund employs a passive management or indexing investment approach in seeking to track the Index. The Index represents 99.5% or more of the capitalization of the United States common stocks regularly traded on the New York and American Stock Exchanges, and the NASDAQ over-the-counter market. The Fund invests all, or substantially all, of its assets in a representative sample of the stocks that make up the Index.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  3. Exchange-traded funds
  Most ETFs are essentially the same as index mutual funds, except that the mechanism for buying and selling shares is different. ETFs trade like regular stocks, so you need a broker in order to use them. However, many brokers offer ETF trading at no commission, often giving them a cost advantage even compared to similar index mutual funds. Moreover, although broad-based ETFs Vanguard Total Stock Market (NYSEMKT: VTI  ) and SPDR S&P 500 (NYSEMKT: SPY  ) cover entire swaths of the stock market, more narrowly focused ETFs target smaller sectors and subsectors, giving you even greater investing flexibility.

• [By Mark Hulbert]

  Even if you get smarter at selling, though, you can�� overcome a bad buying decision. As Odean points out, there is no evidence the average individual can pick stocks that outperform the market. That is why he recommends investing in a broad-based index fund. One of the very cheapest and most diversified is the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) �, with an expense ratio of 0.05%, or $5 per $10,000 invested.

Best Mid Cap Companies To Own For 2015: Rogers Communication Inc.(RCI)

Rogers Communications, Inc. operates as a communications and media company in Canada. The company?s Wireless segment provides wireless voice and data communications services. It operates a global system for mobile communications and general packet radio service network. This segment markets its products and services under Rogers Wireless, Fido, and chatr brands. Its Cable segment offers cable television, high-speed Internet access, and cable telephony services. As of December 31, 2010, this segment provided digital cable services to approximately 1.7 million households; Internet service to approximately 1.7 million residential subscribers; and residential circuit-switched telephony services to approximately a million subscribers. This segment also offers local and long-distance telephone, enhanced voice and data services, and IP access. In addition, this segment operates a retail distribution chain consisting of approximately 400 stores that provide cable services and digi tal and Internet equipment, as well as offers digital video disc and video game sales and rentals. The company?s Media segment publishes magazines, trade and professional publications, and directories, as well as operates 55 radio stations in Canada; multicultural OMNI broadcast television stations; the 5 station Citytv television network; specialty sports television services, including Rogers Sportsnet, Sportnet ONE, and Setanta Sports Canada; specialty services, which comprise Outdoor Life Network, The Biography Channel Canada, and G4 Canada; and televised shopping service, The Shopping Channel. It also holds an ownership in a mobile sports and events production and distribution joint venture; delivers content and conducts ecommerce through the Internet; and owns Blue Jays, a League Baseball club, as well as Rogers Centre sports and entertainment venue. The company was founded in 1920 and is based in Toronto, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Victor Selva]

  The company has a current ratio of 13.45% which is higher than the one registered by Liberty Interactive Corp (LINTA). But for investors looking for a higher ROE, Time Warner Cable, DISH Network Corp (DISH), Rogers Communications, Inc. (RCI), Shaw Communications, Inc. (SJR) and Tivo, Inc. (TIVO) could be better options.

• [By Tom Taulli]

  Big competitors for BCE include Rogers Communications (RCI) and Telus (TU), though it also faces niche players such as Public Mobile, Wind Mobile and Mobilicity. Until recently, there was buzz that Verizon (VZ) might enter the market by buying up the latter two, though VZ apparently scrapped plans for Canadian expansion until 2014.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  The big news for Madison Square Garden has been the success of its key sports franchises. The New York Knicks basketball team made the playoffs and earned the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Even more importantly, the long-delayed National Hockey League season finally got going in January, helping resurrect what many had feared would be a lost season, sending shares of MSG, as well as Canadian venue/team-owners Rogers Communications (NYSE: RCI  ) and BCE (NYSE: BCE  ) , higher. As it turned out, MSG's New York Rangers made the playoffs and will go up against the Washington Capitals in the first round. Playoffs are an especially lucrative time for sports viewership, and usually translate into extra profits for the company's broadcast businesses.

Best Mid Cap Companies To Own For 2015: Cellcom Israel Ltd.(CEL)

Cellcom Israel Ltd. provides cellular communications services in Israel. It offers basic and advanced cellular telephone services, text and multimedia messaging services, and advanced cellular content and data services. The company?s basic cellular telephony services include voice mail, cellular fax, call waiting, call forwarding, caller identification, collect call, conference calling, ?Talk 2?, additional number services, and collect call services; and outbound and inbound roaming services. It also provides value-added services comprising Cellcom volume that includes downloadable content, such as music, games, on-net-reality programs, drama series, and video games; SMS and MMS services to send and receive text, photos, multimedia, and animation messages; access to third party application providers for notification of roadway speed detectors, mange vehicle fleets, and enable subscribers to manage and operate time clocks and various controllers for industrial, agricultural , and commercial purposes; video calls to communicate with each other through video applications; zone services for calls initiated from a specific location; location-based services; voice-based information services; text-based information services and interactive information services, including news headlines, sports results, and traffic and weather reports; and data services to access handsets, cellular modems, laptops, tablets, and cellular routers, as well as Internet based payment services. In addition, the company sells handsets, modems, routers, tablets, and laptops, as well as provides repair and replacement services; and offers landline telephony, transmission, and data services through its approximately 1,500 kilometers of inland fiber-optic infrastructure and complementary microwave links to selected business customers. As of March 31, 2011, it provided its services to approximately 3.395 million subscribers. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Netanya, Israel.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  Cellcom Israel (NYSE: CEL  ) is getting a new CFO.

  Following the company's successful merger with Netvision, current Chief Financial Officer Yaacov Heen is declaring his mission accomplished, and says he intends to resign his post on Sept. 17 after 16 years with the company. At that time, Cellcom says it will bring on Shlomi Fruhling, the former VP for strategy and finance at Netvision, to become the merged company's new CFO on Sept. 18.

Best Mid Cap Companies To Own For 2015: Canadian National Railway Company(CNI)

Canadian National Railway Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the rail and related transportation business in North America. It provides transportation for various goods, including petroleum and chemicals, grain and fertilizers, coal, metals and minerals, forest products, and intermodal and automotive products. The company operates a network of approximately 20,600 route miles of track that spans Canada and mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico. It serves the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert (British Columbia), Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile (Alabama), as well as metropolitan areas of Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth (Minnesota)/Superior (Wisconsin), Green Bay (Wisconsin), Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, and Jackson (Mississippi), with connections to various points in North America. The company was founded in 1922 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chad Fraser]

  It’s a similar story at Canadian National Railway (NYSE: CNI), the largest operator north of the border, where intermodal revenue totaled C$1.99 billion in 2012, up 11% from 2011 and accounting for 22% of the total.

• [By Sean Williams]

  Notable railroads that could be hit by a slowdown in oil transports because of a declining spread include Canadian National Railway (NYSE: CNI  ) , Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP  ) , and Berkshire Hathaway�subsidiary BNSF.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Railroad operator�Canadian National Railway (NYSE: CNI  ) announced yesterday its third-quarter dividend of $0.43 Canadian per share, the same rate it's paid for the past two quarters after raising the payout 15% from $0.375 Canadian per share.

Best Mid Cap Companies To Own For 2015: Lazard LTD. (LAZ)

Lazard Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a financial advisory and asset management firm. The company�s Financial Advisory segment offers various advisory services on mergers and acquisitions, and other strategic matters, as well as on restructurings, capital structure, capital raising, and other financial matters. Its Asset Management segment provides investment solutions and investment management services in equity and fixed income strategies; and alternative investments and private equity funds. The company serves corporations, governments, institutions, partnerships, and individual clients. It operates from 42 cities across 27 countries in Europe, North America, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and Central and South Americas. Lazard Ltd. was founded in 1848 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By MONEYMORNING]

  Through his Trian Partners fund, Nelson Peltz also owns large stakes in Pepsico Inc. (NYSE: PEP), Family Dollar Stores Inc. (NYSE: FDO), Du Pont E I De Nemours & Co. (NYSE: DD), and Lazard Ltd. (NYSE: LAZ).

• [By EXPstocktrader]

  1) Lazard (LAZ): Management meetings highlight under-appreciated earnings drivers; raising PT to $85; BUY

  2) Bank of America/Merrill Lynch (BAC): Questcor Pharmaceuticals is upgraded from "neutral" to "buy." The target price has been raised from $58 to $80.

Best Mid Cap Companies To Own For 2015: GUESS? Inc (GES)

Guess?, Inc. (GUESS?) designs, markets, distributes and licenses apparel and accessories for men, women and children. The Company operates in five: Europe, North American Retail, Asia, North American Wholesale and Licensing. The Company�� products are sold through retail, wholesale, e-commerce and licensing distribution channels. The lines include full collections of clothing, including jeans, pants, skirts, dresses, shorts, blouses, shirts, jackets, knitwear and intimate apparel. It also grant licenses to manufactures and distributes a range of products, including eyewear, watches, handbags, footwear, kids' and infants' apparel, leather apparel, swimwear, fragrance, jewelry and other fashion accessories. In fiscal 2012, the Company, along with its distributors and licensees, opened 224 stores in all concepts combined outside of the United Sates and Canada, which consisted of 120 stores in Europe and the Middle East, 89 stores in Asia and 15 stores in the combined area of Central and South America.

As of January 28, 2012, the Company directly operated a total of 504 stores in the United Sates and Canada and 251 stores outside of the United Sates and Canada, and in addition, 230 smaller-sized concessions in Asia and Europe. As of January 28, 2012, its international licensees and distributors operated 804 stores located outside the United Sates and Canada, and 119 smaller-sized licensee operated concessions located in Asia. As of January 28, 2012, it operated retail Websites in the United Sates, Canada, Europe and South Korea. As of January 28, 2012, it had e-commerce available to 26 countries, and in 6 languages around the world. The Company and its network of licensee partners sell its products around the world primarily through six different store concepts, namely its flagship GUESS? retail stores, its GUESS? factory outlet stores, its GUESS by MARCIANO stores, its G by GUESS stores, its GUESS? Accessories stores and its GUESS? Kids stores. The Company also has a small number of footwe! ar, Gc watch and underwear concept stores.

Europe Segment

In the Company�� Europe segment, GUESS? sells its products in 63 countries throughout Europe and the Middle East through wholesale, retail and e-commerce channels. In fiscal 2012, its Europe segment accounted for approximately 37.6% of its revenues. The Company�� European wholesale business generally relies on a large number of smaller regional distributors and agents to distribute its products primarily to smaller independent multi-brand boutiques. The Company�� products are also sold directly to department stores like Galeries Lafayette, Printemps and El Corte Ingles. As of January 28, 2012, GUESS? had showrooms in Barcelona, Dusseldorf, Munich, London, Paris, Florence and Lugano. It sells both its apparel and certain accessories products under the Company�� GUESS? and GUESS by MARCIANO brand concepts through its wholesale channel, operating primarily through two seasons, Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter.

The Company�� European retail network consists of a mix of directly operated and licensee operated GUESS? and GUESS by MARCIANO retail and outlet stores, GUESS? Accessories stores, GUESS? Footwear stores and GUESS? Kids stores. As of January 28, 2012, it had 179 directly operated stores and 382 licensee stores, excluding 17 smaller-sized concessions in Europe. During fiscal 2012, the Company opened 45 new directly operated stores, 75 licensee stores and 5 concessions. The Company�� GUESS? Accessories stores average approximately 800 square feet, GUESS by MARCIANO stores average approximately 1,300 square feet and full-price GUESS? stores generally average 2,300 square feet.

North American Retail Segment

In the Company�� North American Retail segment, it sells its products through a network of directly operated retail and factory outlet stores in North America and through its on-line stores. In fiscal 2012, the Company�� North American Retail segment accounted for ap! proximate! ly 41.6% of its revenue. As of January 28, 2012, it also directly operated 25 GUESS? branded stores in Mexico through a majority-owned joint venture. The Company�� the United Sates and Canada GUESS? retail stores carry an assortment of men's and women's GUESS? merchandise, including most of its licensed product categories. As of January 28, 2012, these stores occupied approximately 1,025,000 square feet and ranged in size from approximately 2,500 to 13,500 square feet, with most stores between 4,000 and 6,000 square feet. In fiscal 2012, it opened nine new retail stores and GUESS? closed four stores.

The Company�� the United Sates and Canada factory outlet stores are located primarily in outlet malls generally operating outside the shopping radius of its wholesale customers and its retail stores. These stores sell selected styles of men's and women's GUESS? apparel and licensed products. As of January 28, 2012, its the United Sates and Canada factory outlet stores occupied approximately 717,000 square feet and ranged in size from approximately 2,000 to 11,000 square feet, with most stores between 4,500 and 6,500 square feet. In fiscal 2012, it opened 10 new factory stores. The Company�� G by GUESS store carries apparel for both men and women and a line of accessories and footwear. As of January 28, 2012, its G by GUESS stores occupied approximately 317,000 square feet and ranged in size from approximately 4,000 to 10,000 square feet, with most stores between 4,000 and 5,500 square feet. In fiscal 2012, the Company opened 12 new G by GUESS stores and it closed three stores.Its GUESS? Accessories store concept sells GUESS? and GUESS by MARCIANO labeled accessory products.

As of January 28, 2012, the Company�� GUESS? Accessories concept stores occupied approximately 122,000 square feet and ranged in size from approximately 1,000 to 4,000 square feet, with most stores between 1,500 and 2,500 square feet. In fiscal 2012, GUESS? opened four new GUESS? Accessories stores and i! t closed ! three stores. The Company�� GUESS by MARCIANO stores in the United Sates and Canada offer a women's collection designed for the stylish, trend-setting woman. As of January 28, 2012, its GUESS by MARCIANO stores occupied approximately 156,000 square feet and ranged in size from approximately 2,000 to 6,500 square feet, with most stores between 2,000 and 3,000 square feet. In fiscal 2012, it opened two new GUESS by MARCIANO stores and the Company closed four stores. The Company�� North American Retail segment also includes its the United Sates and Canada retail Websites, including www.guess.com, www.gbyguess.com, www.guessbymarciano.com, www.guesskids.com, www.guess.ca and www.guessbymarciano.ca. These Websites operates as virtual storefronts that both sell its products and promotes its brands.

Asia Segment

In the Company�� Asia segment, GUESS? sells its products through wholesale, retail and e-commerce channels throughout Asia. In fiscal 2012, its Asia segment accounted for approximately 9.3% of its revenue. Its Asia retail business includes both licensee and the Company operated stores, including GUESS?, G by GUESS, GUESS by MARCIANO, Gc, GUESS? Accessories and GUESS? Underwear stores. During fiscal 2012, it and its partners opened 89 new stores in Asia, as of January 28, 2012, it had 423 stores, 47 of which it operated directly and 376 of which were operated by licensees or distributors. The Company and its partners opened flagship stores in cities, such as Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Macau, Taipei and Beijing and have partnered with licensees to develop its business in the second tier cities in this region.

North American Wholesale Segment

In the Company�� North American Wholesale segment, it sells its products through wholesale channels in North America and to third party distributors based in Central and South America. In fiscal 2012, its North American Wholesale segment accounted for approximately 7.0% of its revenue. As of January 28, 20! 12, its p! roducts were sold to consumers through 1,005 major doors in the United Sates and Canada. These locations include 345 shop-in-shops, a selling area within a department store that offers an array of its products and incorporates GUESS? signage and fixture designs. The Company has sales representatives in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. During fiscal 2012, Macy's, Inc. was its largest domestic wholesale customer, accounting for approximately 2.7% of its consolidated net revenue.

Licensing Segment

The Company�� licensing segment includes the worldwide licensing operations of the Company. In fiscal 2012, its licensing segment royalties accounted for approximately 4.5% of its revenue. As of January 28, 2012, GUESS? had 19 domestic and international licenses that included eyewear, watches, handbags, footwear, kids' and infants' apparel, leather outerwear, fragrance, jewelry and other fashion accessories; and included licenses for the manufacture of GUESS? branded products in markets, which include Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, Central America, North America and South America.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Kell and Tess Stynes var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); p]

  Among the companies expected to actively trade in Thursday’s session are Burlington Stores Inc.(BURL), ConAgra Foods Inc.(CAG) and Guess Inc.(GES)

• [By Chris Hill]

  Krispy Kreme's (NYSE: KKD  ) 1st-quarter profits rise 33%, and shares hit a nine-year high. Guess? (NYSE: GES  ) moves higher on stronger-than-expected first-quarter profits. AIG (NYSE: AIG  ) stumbles after missing a payment deadline. And Lions Gate Entertainment (NYSE: LGF  ) reports strong fourth-quarter results, fueled by strong home-video sales of the Twilight�series. In this installment of Investor Beat, Motley Fool analysts Ron Gross and Charly Travers discuss four stocks making big moves.

• [By Damian Illia] eing a domestic apparel maker to become a global brand. The company designs, markets, distributes and licenses casual and trendy apparel and accessories for the American and European fashion sensibilities. Its target buyer is a style- conscious consumer between the ages of 18 and 32. In fiscal 2013, the company broadened its market by the acquisition of Marciano, an American designer label aimed to costumers between the ages of 25 to 40.

  Guess markets its products through a wide brand portfolio and, through six store concepts, the company operates as much as 512 locations in the US and 1,178 internationally, 858 of which are licensees. Its U.S. wholesale customers are large department stores like Macy�� Inc. (M), and Bloomingdale��.

  Achieving Upturns in Times of Economic Troubles

  Over the years GES has developed strong brand recognition and strong adaptability to the changing fashion trends. Consequently, the firm has posted double-digit increases in revenues and profits for the past ten years. A balanced combination of sales enhancement and expansion plans with cuts in operating expenses, has allowed the firm to double its sales and generate returns on invested capital of 24% on average during the last five years.

  Nevertheless, GES麓 strong performance has been facing several challenges resulting from a tough macroeconomic environment. The company麓s international operations account for 50% of its sales, 35% of which are generated in Europe. Hence, economic austerity measures and bad weather conditions in Southern European countries have hurt revenues generated in the region. Reported slowdowns in sales in the US in all four quarters 2013 are also a concern. Moreover, the company麓s high exposure to negative foreign currency fluctuations has impacted significantly on its top line growth.

  Countering Headwinds

  Guess�� expansion in Asia, however, rendered impressive results posting double-digit revenues growth over the

• [By Rich Smith]

  Guess who just got a new Chief Financial Officer!? That's right. GUESS? (NYSE: GES  ) did.

  With interim CFO Nigel Kershaw due to leave the company on July 31, on Thursday, the Los Angeles-based clothing company announced it has tapped GUESS Europe CFO Sandeep Reddy to become the new CFO for the whole company.

Best Mid Cap Companies To Own For 2015: Montalvo Spirits Inc (TQLA)

Montalvo Spirits Inc., incorporated on November 18, 2010, is a development-stage company. The Company develops, markets and distributes alcoholic beverages with initial offering being the Montalvo Tequila, primarily in the United States. The Company sells its products through a network of spirits distributors, who are licensed to distribute alcoholic beverages throughout the United States. The Company intends to focus on growing the market share of its initial products, the ultra-premium Montalvo line of tequilas, whose expressions include Plata, Reposado, Anejo and Extra-Anejo. The Company owns the Montalvo brand trademark and have exclusive worldwide master distribution rights to the brands.

The Company�� portfolio of alcoholic beverage brands includes additional spirits categories, as well as beer and wine, through additional importation and distribution contracts of existing brands. In addition, the Company may choose to develop new brands or acquire existing companies with their own brand portfolios. The Company�� subsidiary, Casa Montalvo, has an exclusive worldwide distribution agreement with Destilidora Huerta Real, S.A. de C.V., the producers of Montalvo Tequila. Montalvo, an ultra-premium tequila brand, is a handcrafted, formulated tequila produced from blue agave plants from the Lowlands of Jalisco, Mexico. Montalvo is available in four expressions: Plata, Reposado, Anejo and Extra-Anejo.

The Company competes with Diageo PLC, Pernod Ricard S.A., Bacardi Limited, Brown-Forman Corporation, Beam Inc., Remy Cointreau S.A. and Constellation Brands, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  Today, TQLA surged (+10.80%) up +0.042 at $.431 with 1,344,844 shares in play thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 1:09PM EDT� September 24, 2013).

  Montalvo Spirits, Inc. previously reported they have entered into a sales and marketing agreement with Prestige International Exports, LLC (“Prestige”). Prestige will represent the Montalvo Spirits portfolio brands in certain international markets, as well as provide sales and marketing support for Montalvo Tequila and Broken Heart Gin throughout the state of California, and will assist the Company in attempting to secure distribution in additional markets in the U.S.