HEICO Corporation Makes up for So-So Earnings With Sky-High Guidance

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HEICO Corporation (NYSE: HEI  ) reported its fiscal third quarter on Tuesday. Results were in-line with the average analyst estimate for adjusted EPS of $0.44 but came in a tad light on the revenue side with $291 million versus an expectation of $296 million.

Despite the somewhat disappointing numbers, revenue was still up 8% on a year-over-year basis while adjusted EPS was still up a penny. CEO Laurans A. Mendelson stated:

We are very pleased to report yet another strong quarter highlighted by record consolidated net sales and net income. These results principally reflect record quarterly net sales within the Electronic Technologies Group, continued growth in net sales within the Flight Support Group and a year-over-year increase in our quarterly consolidated operating income.

More importantly, HEICO raised its full year fiscal guidance. Revenue outlook growth for the full year remained the same at between 12% and 14% but net income growth outlook was raised from between 12% and 14% to between 14% and 16%.

What does this translate to?

Based on $1.01 billion in sales last fiscal year, that puts guidance for sales at between $1.13 billion and $1.15 billion this year. In the first nine months, HEICO had net sales of $840 million, so if you back out that figure from the full year guided numbers it comes to fiscal fourth quarter guidance essentially of between $290 million and $310 million. This range is a bit shy of the $314 million average analyst estimate.

On the adjusted earnings side, I'll do the same calculation but spare you the math this time. Fiscal adjusted earnings are forecasted by HEICO to come in at between $1.74 and $1.77 per share which comes out to between $0.52 and $0.55 per share for just the fourth quarter. Analysts were expecting $0.49 per share on average with a range of between $0.44 and $0.52. This puts the adjusted EPS guidance range above all of the estimates.

In a perfect world, revenue guidance would beat analyst estimates too but in the end earnings are most important.

Strengths and weaknesses

HEICO has two main segments of its business under one umbrella. The earnings release was short on specifics beyond numbers, but those numbers do help tell the tale. The Flight Support Group experienced a 6% increase in net sales with 4% of it coming from an acquisition and the other 2% being organic.

The Electronic Technologies Group saw record sales with a growth of 17%. 9% of that was organic and 8% was from an acquisition. Going forward, HEICO actually expects softer demand in this segment's defense products that is only partially offset by other products.

The Specialty Products Group also expects softness in defense products but believes it will be more than offset by "commercial aerospace aftermarket replacement parts and repair and overhaul services product lines." Apparently that is where the growth is anticipated to come from, and the segment has higher profit margins than defense products on average. This favorable product mix is why there is a positive surprise earnings outlook despite a negative surprise on sales.

All forward-looking statements by HEICO are based on its "economic visibility." You know how that goes. HEICO long term is to a large degree subject to the budgets of others outside of its control such as airlines, defense contractors, manufacturers, and military agencies.

Warren Buffett's worst auto-nightmare (Hint: It's not Tesla)

A major technological shift is happening in the automotive industry. Most people are skeptical about its impact. Warren Buffett isn't one of them. He recently called it a "real threat" to one of his favorite businesses. An executive at Ford called the technology "fantastic." The beauty for investors is that there is an easy way to ride this megatrend. Click here to access our exclusive report on this stock.

How Not to Manage a Crisis: Lessons From Lululemon

Flickr / myyoga.

Lululemon, the women's athleticwear company, provides an interesting case study in how not to manage a crisis. As a recent Stanford paper points out, the company was well-aware of the risks it faced and their potential effects on the business -- and yet when those risks actually arose, Lululemon only seemed to make its situation worse.

What can we learn? I present to you three lessons in how to make a crisis truly unmanageable, as brought to you by the story of Lululemon.

Lululemon lesson 1: Don't listen to your customers
As the paper's authors explain, Lululemon's problems first started with a decline in quality. Customers complained about the excessive sheerness of yoga pants on Facebook and other social media platforms, but to no avail.

Eventually, in March 2013, the company was finally forced to pull 17% of its pants from stores because of the issue. Lululemon experienced prompt 3.8% drop in share price to go along with it -- after all, there are a lot of competitors for high-end athleticwear.

Had Lululemon been paying attention to its customers' concerns, it could have probably avoided the recall altogether. Unfortunately, it chose to ignore its fan base, and things only grew worse from there. 

Lululemon lesson 2: Add to the problem as much as possible
Aside from a few hiccups (like blaming the supplier before backtracking and attributing the error to a lack of testing), CEO Christine Day seemed to quickly take matters in hand. Within 90 days shelves were restocked, a new testing procedure implemented, and a new chief product officer appointed.

Problem solved, right? 

Unfortunately not. For unexplained reasons, Day resigned around the same time with no clear successor. The company's stock immediately dropped 17.5%. After all, despite the sheerness crisis, "Day had grown sales by a factor of five and profits by a factor of nine," in her time as CEO.

This threw Lululemon into another round of confusion. One problem was apparently solved, only to be replaced by another. Why was this happening, and why -- in a fit of what can only be described as perfect timing -- did founder and company chairman Chip Wilson sell $50 million worth of shares around the same time? (page 3)

As you can imagine, two lawsuits swiftly followed. What started as a problem with yoga pants became a problem of company management in general, not to mention possible impropriety. 

Lululemon lesson 3: Solve the first problem incompletely, then blame your customer for it
Adding to the tension brought on by management, it turned out that the initial problem still hadn't been resolved. "Despite Lululemon's assurance that 'quality testing has never been better,' complaints about product quality did not go away."

The fabric was still too sheer, and now it was also pilling. As you might imagine, this is not a good sign for yoga pants with a sticker price upwards of $100. 

Instead of sucking it up and taking responsibility, Wilson decided to blame the customer. He asserted that women's seatbelts and purses weren't working with the fabric, or that, "quite frankly some women's bodies just actually don't work for it... it's really about rubbing through the thighs, how much pressure is there over a period of time, how much they use it."

Customers were not impressed. Wilson's eventual apology only served to make matters worse, as he appeared to be apologizing to store employees for the fallout, rather than to the customers attempting to pay them. 

Better luck next time? 
Lululemon has been languishing ever since, and with no shortage of competitors for its high-end customers, it's difficult to see how the company can recover. 

What is perhaps the most instructive aspect of this crisis is precisely that stubborn lack of awareness for customers. The opinion and trust of customers really matters: Not only are many other companies vying for high-end shopping dollars, but repeat business is great business. The fact that those customers tried to be part of the solution by expressing complaints (instead of just shopping elsewhere) makes it even worse. Lululemon missed a huge opportunity to make its customers part of the solution and enhance loyalty as a result.  

So, in the end, it comes down to listening. Listen to the people who pay you -- they just might know what it is that they want. 

Leaked: Apple's next smart device (warning, it may shock you)
Apple recently recruited a secret-development "dream team" to guarantee its newest smart device was kept hidden from the public for as long as possible. But the secret is out, and some early viewers are claiming its everyday impact could trump the iPod, iPhone, and the iPad. In fact, ABI Research predicts 485 million of this type of device will be sold per year. But one small company makes Apple's gadget possible. And its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early-in-the-know investors. To be one of them, and see Apple's newest smart gizmo, just click here!

GM's Recall Woes a Boon for Some Car Dealers

Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images FOX LAKE, Ill., -- The news about deadly crashes linked to a faulty ignition switch, followed by wave upon wave of recalls, didn't bode well for General Motors dealers earlier this year. It conjured visions of worried, frustrated drivers pouring onto lots like Raymond Chevrolet, outside of Chicago. But according to Robbie Long, service director for the dealer and nearby Ray Chevrolet, what looked like "great adversity" has turned into an opportunity. The hundreds of customers bringing old cars into the family-owned dealerships leave in clean cars with a bucket of goodies. Some drive home a newly purchased car. And the repairs, paid for by GM (GM), are modestly profitable, dealers say, helping to pay general expenses as well as bringing in customers who might have been lost. "In many cases these are customers we haven't seen in a long time or have never met before," said Long. Although the script isn't what the dealership would have written, GM is delivering sales and service prospects to her door. Certainly, there are dangers if the dealer doesn't give good service or if parts are backed up. Some cars are being called in for more than one problem, and Long says her dealers are careful to schedule only one visit per car. "People just don't want to see us that often," she said. But as of early July, the two dealerships run by brothers Ray and Mark Scarpelli are humming. Ray's sales were up 13 percent on the year and Mark's were up 20 percent. GM as a whole posted a 2.5 percent increase in sales in the first half of the year, just a step behind the industry average of 4.3 percent. Interviews by Reuters with dealers across the nation found similar attitudes, for GM, Chrysler and other brands, several of which have now announced multimillion car recalls. Don Lee, president of Lee Auto Malls in Maine which has 14 new-vehicle stores, mostly Chrysler and various Japanese brands, as well as GMC, said recalls provide "an opportunity to look over the customer's car at no cost to them," which often leads to more repair business. Sales Leads More importantly, he said recalls lead to more sales: he estimates that 15 percent of new car sales at his Chrysler stores come via the service department. GM this week said that it had sold 6,600 cars to customers who traded in vehicles with defective ignition switches. "Aside from the bad publicity, which is never fun, we welcome recalls," Lee said.

Aside from the bad publicity, which is never fun, we welcome recalls.

The General Motors recall offers at least four opportunities for business: fixing the recalled part, a roughly $250 cost for the Chevrolet Cobalt ignition switch fix which led the recall wave; other service and repair work; selling new cars; and, for those dealers with loaner car fleets, providing transportation to some waiting customers, paid for by GM. Several factors have combined to turn what started off as a pure public relations disaster into a strong sales year for some GM dealers. Dealers say GM has responded well to the crisis, with Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra publicly apologizing for failures and distancing the "New GM" which emerged from bankruptcy in 2009 from the "Old GM" which made many of the recalled cars. The automaker has also benefited from a growing economy, and the highest profile recalls, for ignition switches, mostly affect discontinued models. And last but not least, auto recalls have become so common with 29 million cars called in globally by GM and millions more by other brands, that consumers are suffering from "recall fatigue" and aren't paying attention, dealers say. "I think perhaps people worry less about the recalls than the newspapers do," said Herb Chambers, CEO of Herb Chambers Cos., the 14th largest U.S. auto dealership group with dealerships covering several brands in greater Boston. New Hires Rummaging through a box in his office, Mark Scarpelli pulls out packages containing parts for recalls, including a simple-looking gray plastic sheaf with a piece of black foam. It is a fix for a seatbelt in the Chevy Traverse, a large SUV. In a comprehensive safety review that followed the Cobalt recall, GM found the Traverse seat belt connector could fatigue and separate over time, and it recalled the vehicles. The automaker pays the dealership for 45 minutes of labor to install the new part, said Scarpelli. AutoNation (AN), the largest U.S. auto dealership group, had already planned to hire 400 additional auto technicians for its 273 franchised stores in 15 U.S. states. Because of the GM recall, it will hire "hundreds" more, said CEO Mike Jackson. However, while analysts had expected recalls by GM and other car companies to boost AutoNation sales and profits, Jackson said the overall financial impact of the GM recall on his business would be negligible. GM's legal liability from the recalls is unclear, although it took a $400 million charge this week, which could rise, to set up a victims fund. It has taken $2.5 billion in charges for recalls announced this year, which is an average of about $85 per vehicle recalled, although fixes vary in complexity and the labor needed to implement them. Many of the recalls involve adding a piece of plastic to a key. GM declined to discuss recall cost details. The company, which says it typically repairs 85 percent of cars within two years of a recall, also pays for campaigns to contact customers, such as sending a postcard every three months for two years to remind them their car is part of a recall, managing the fix, and rental cars. Analysts say the largest share of the cost is labor. In the case of the Cobalt ignition switch recall, GM pays for 0.6 hour of labor for the ignition switch replacement, and a further 0.9 hour for a related lock cylinder and key replacement, according to Ray Huffines, owner of the Huffines Auto Group in Lewisville, Texas, near Dallas.

Does the dealer lose money on recalls? Generally, no.

Labor rates vary by dealer, but at $100 per hour, that would be $150, with another $89.68 for parts, he said, for a total $240. Dealers make a profit on the parts and technician labor, and the work helps pay for other service staff and overhead, Huffines said by email. A service manager at Raymond Chevrolet put the total cost of a Cobalt recall fix from his lot at $260 for GM. GM said the repair took 90 minutes and declined to comment on the cost. Huffines concluded, "Does the dealer lose money on recalls? Generally, no. Does the dealer make a very nice profit on recalls? Generally, no." The biggest cost to GM, Huffines said, was car rentals offered to ignition switch recall customers, which could be $1,000 to $2,500. GM said 83,000 cars had been loaned to customers. Dealers with their own fleets of service cars love the loaner car option. Mike Bowsher, co-chairman of the GM Dealers Executive Board and president of the Carl Black Automotive Group, based in the Atlanta area, said his four stores sold 10 cars in one week to people who came in for recall repairs. Some bought the loaner cars. Meanwhile, his parts and service business has set records three months running, thanks to the chance to upsell customers who might otherwise bypass the dealership for repair work. "I would have never had a shot at that," he said. Recalls, the 'New Normal' A massive recall by Toyota (TM) in 2009 and 2010 had an immediate effect on the Japanese automaker's U.S. sales, in contrast to GM this year. GM's recalls have come at a time when the economy is healthier, and the company has benefited from the fact that the recalls linked to fatalities are from discontinued models, said Kelley Blue Book senior analyst Karl Brauer. There may be a bigger issue, as well: recalls have become commonplace for almost every automaker, turning into "white noise" for consumer, say analysts and dealers alike. Ray Scarpelli said that with all the other recalls from other automakers, "customers just see this as the new normal." -. MSRP: $26,495 Resale value retained after five years: 50.5 percent Even under Fiat (FIATY) ownership, some elements of Dodge's mouth-breathing, knuckle-dragging, He-Man-Woman-Haters-Club approach to auto sales managed to survive. The built-by-car-guys-for-car-guys Challenger and its rebooted muscle car aesthetic still lingers to lure meatheads who value racing stripes and rims over, oh, just about any other element of their vehicle. Ordinarily, that alone wouldn't make one of these vehicles worth a second look five years from now --  even among the most superficial gearheads. But Fiat helped the Challenger smarten up a little bit by coupling a 305-horsepower V6 engine or 375-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 Hemi with loads of interior space, real-time touchscreen navigation, traffic updates, Bluetooth connectivity,  Sirius (SIRI) XM satellite radio, keyless entry/starter and a whole lot of Harman Kardon audio upgrades.

3 Reasons to Buy the Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX)

Depending on whom you ask, gold is either a must-have investment or a terrible idea. The reality is, there are both good and bad reasons to invest in gold. There are also a number of ways to do it. Frankly, owning gold directly isn't practical for most people, and trading the commodity isn't always simple. One popular way to invest in gold is by using gold miners as a proxy, because their stock prices tend to move in tandem with the price of gold:

GG data by YCharts.

Gold mining is a hard, dirty, and expensive business, and fluctuations in the price of the commodity can swing a company from profits to losses literally overnight, making it difficult to know which miner to invest in. However, the Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF  (NYSEMKT: GDX  ) is one way to get exposure to gold without having to buy the metal itself or figure out which gold miner to invest in.

Let's take a look at three reasons why you'd want to buy the Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF.

1. Commodity exposure as part of your risk mitigation strategy 
The thing about gold that makes it different from many other commodities is how much its demand can be driven by speculation about things outside of the actual demand for gold. Industrial and commercial demand is only one of many factors that affect the price of gold. The price of gold increased almost 600% from 2001 to 2011, largely on speculation of currency collapse -- not increasing demand for gold by industries or consumers:

Gold Price in U.S. Dollars data by YCharts.

Since the peak in August 2011, gold has fallen 31%, while the stock market has rebounded strongly:

Gold Price in U.S. Dollars data by YCharts.

However, like bonds, investing in gold can be a way to mitigate the effects of a sour stock market, which often corresponds to poor economic conditions that send investors looking to gold for safety.

2. Broad exposure to the largest gold-producers 
The Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF holds some 40 different stocks, giving broad exposure to gold miners. Because the fund is weighted by market capitalization, the largest companies make up the majority of the fund. More than 40% of the fund is allocated to four companies: Goldcorp  (NYSE: GG  ) , Barrick Gold  (NYSE: ABX  ) , Newmont Mining  (NYSE: NEM  ) , and Silver Wheaton  (NYSE: SLW  ) .

The benefit for most retail investors is that it simplifies the process gaining exposure to gold. If, for example, one wanted to limit exposure to 5% of their portfolio, it would take a lot of time and effort to determine which two or three companies offer the most upside and the least risk. And if you're managing a small portfolio, brokerage fees and stock prices could make it doubly difficult to diversify into enough gold miners to make it worth the effort.

This ETF takes that difficulty out of the equation, with risk spread across multiple companies and almost all of the upside tied to the performance of gold prices. 

3. The current macroeconomic environment could be a positive for gold investments
For the past few years, the stock market has been on one of the best bull runs in decades, even as the economy has been slow to rebound in terms of job creation and personal income levels. There's evidence that the stock market's strength has been partly driven by historically low interest rates and the Federal Reserve's economic stimulus.

Source: US Treasury

As the Fed begins both reducing its economic stimulus and raising interest rates, some have speculated that this could drive income investors out of stocks and back into bonds as yields return to historical levels during the next several years. This potential softness in the stock market could reignite demand for gold and send its price back up. The Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF is a simple way to gain exposure to this potential trend. 

Final thoughts: Gold is a hedge, not a strategy in and of itself 
I have to confess: I'm not a huge fan of gold investing as a primary means to grow wealth. The reality is that its price is driven too much by speculation of macroeconomic possibilities and not enough by the real value of gold itself. This makes any efforts to model its value, or its potential returns, essentially impossible.

However, using gold as a hedge against currency devaluation or a potential macroeconomic downturn isn't an unreasonable use of a small part of one's portfolio. If you want to make gold part of your investing strategy, the Market Vector Gold Miners ETF could be the best way to do it.

Top dividend stocks for the next decade
The smartest investors know that dividend stocks simply crush their non-dividend-paying counterparts over the long term. That's beyond dispute. They also know that a well-constructed dividend portfolio creates wealth steadily, while still allowing you to sleep like a baby. Knowing how valuable such a portfolio might be, our top analysts put together a report on a group of high-yielding stocks that should be in any income investor's portfolio. To see our free report on these stocks, just click here now.

4 Health Care Provider Stocks to Buy Now

Popular Posts: 7 Biotechnology Stocks to Buy NowHottest Healthcare Stocks Now – INO CNC WCG MNKDHottest Healthcare Stocks Now – INO VRX EXAS AGN Recent Posts: Hottest Healthcare Stocks Now – PRGO HLS NVO HGR Biggest Movers in Basic Materials Stocks Now – AXLL SSD SSL BBL Hottest Technology Stocks Now – UIS ARRS CSOD MDSO View All Posts 4 Health Care Provider Stocks to Buy Now

The grades of four health care provider stocks are on the rise this week on Portfolio Grader. Each of these stocks is rated an “A” (“strong buy”) or “B” overall (“buy”).

Amedisys, Inc. (AMED) is bumping up its rating from a C (“hold”) to a B (“buy”) this week. Amedisys provides home health care and hospice services in the United States. For more information, get Portfolio Grader’s complete analysis of AMED stock.

Concord Medical Services Holding Ltd. ADR (CCM) is progressing from last week’s rating of B (“buy”) as the company improves to an A (“strong buy”) this week. Concord Medical Services operates a network of radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging centers in the People'’s Republic of China. For more information, get Portfolio Grader’s complete analysis of CCM stock.

Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH) boosts its rating from a B to an A this week. Cardinal Health provides products and services related to the safety and productivity of healthcare. For more information, get Portfolio Grader’s complete analysis of CAH stock.

Magellan Health, Inc. (MGLN) is seeing ratings go up from a C last week to a B this week. Magellan Health Services coordinates and manages the delivery of behavioral healthcare treatment services. For more information, get Portfolio Grader’s complete analysis of MGLN stock.

Louis Navellier’s proprietary Portfolio Grader stock ranking system assesses roughly 5,000 companies every week based on a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. Stocks are given a letter grade based on their results — with A being “strong buy,” and F being “strong sell.” Explore the tool here.

How This Great American Dream Is Turning Scam

Here's a question for you: Has higher education become another great American scam?

I'm not talking about the rich getting scammed. They get what they pay for. They can afford to be scammed - they know what's up.

A lot of rich people send their kids to expensive private colleges hoping they'll get a good education that will lead them into their chosen careers. If they haven't chosen a career, rich parents are more than happy to give their kids the "experience" of college, with all its social aspects, country club accommodations, and alumni status.

But then there are kids who want a higher education because they believe a college education is their ticket to gainful employment and well-compensated careers. They pay for it themselves, or their hardworking parents cosign on loans or take out personal loans on behalf of their kids' college dreams.

For them, higher education is increasingly looking like a scam....

These Aid Programs Only Add to the Debt Burden

Some critics complain that this is students' own fault, that they're pursuing the wrong majors. Or they say that colleges themselves are lacking, that they're not teaching what kids need to know in our ever-changing economy.

However, my problem isn't with education or kids' choices. Today I'm telling you where my beefs are - and why they're costing today's kids and their parents billions...

My first beef is with the come-ons that lure kids and their parents who can't afford college into indentured servitude.

Personally, I don't get what costs $10,000 a year (which is dirt cheap these days) or $25,000 a year. And I especially don't get what costs $50,000 and higher a year.

Maybe if kids were guaranteed jobs that allowed them to pay off their loans, those crazy costs might be justifiable.

But there's no guarantee on jobs, and so those costs aren't justified.

Half of all kids who recently graduated colleges and universities are unemployed.

Outstanding U.S. student loan debt now exceeds $1.2 trillion.

Students are saddled with an average of more than $21,000 in debts. This takes into account both those who got out relatively early without a degree and graduates who can owe $100,000 and more - well into their 50s.

And now they're being victimized by secondary scammers.

My second beef is with these "debt help" outfits that promise borrowers help and end up ripping off those least able to afford such scams.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently reported, among many other disturbing facts about student loans, that more than 7 million Americans have defaulted on over $100 billion of student loan obligations. The CFPB is now seeing "tens of thousands more (defaults) every month."

Desperate students and parents who want to clean up their outstanding debts are increasingly turning to debt-help companies that are advertising day and night, just like mortgage-forgiveness outfits did during and after the mortgage crisis.

Way too many of them are scams.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is doing something about it. Too bad she's the only AG I see going after these scammers. She's filing suit today against two outfits that ply their rotten tactics in her state.

One outfit, First American Tax Defense, advertised an Obama Forgiveness Program, supposedly just passed by Congress. Of course, there is no "Obama Forgiveness Program." There's only the president's request for $3.7 billion to house illegal immigrant kids and help educate them... but I digress.

Another outfit, Broadsword Student Advantage, takes up-front money for its "help program" and charges an ongoing $49.99 a month and does virtually nothing.

The Federal Trade Commission received 204,644 complaints about student loan debt forgiveness and debt-help scams in 2013. It's an epidemic.

So, I have to ask: Doesn't this remind you of something?

Doesn't our system of higher education increasingly look like nothing but indebtedness and more pain? And doesn't it increasingly look like another great American scam?

Editor's Note: The public narrative has always boxed in debate on topics considered sacred cows "above" questioning. Higher education, despite its track record of rampant, mismanaged costs and weak institutional oversight, is certainly one. Shah regularly tackles topics that are all the more dangerous for their implied insulation from public scrutiny.

To get all of Shah's latest updates, including those that take on the sacred cows in no uncertain terms, click here
for his free, semi-weekly Wall Street Insights and Indictments.

3 Chemicals Stocks to Buy Now

Popular Posts: 13 “Triple A” Stocks to Buy5 Pharmaceutical Stocks to Buy Now9 Biotechnology Stocks to Buy Now Recent Posts: 3 Durable Goods Stocks to Buy Now 3 Machinery Stocks to Buy Now 3 Chemicals Stocks to Buy Now View All Posts 3 Chemicals Stocks to Buy Now

This week, three chemicals stocks are improving their overall rating on Portfolio Grader. Each of these rates an “A” (“strong buy”) or “B” overall (“buy”).

This week, PolyOne Corporation (POL) is showing good progress as the company’s rating jumps from a B (“buy”) last week to an A (“strong buy”). PolyOne is an international polymer services company with operations in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America. In Portfolio Grader’s specific subcategories of Margin Growth and Sales Growth, POL also gets A’s. For more information, get Portfolio Grader’s complete analysis of POL stock.

Trecora Resources (TREC) is bettering its rating of C (“hold”) from last week to a B (“buy”) this week. For more information, get Portfolio Grader’s complete analysis of TREC stock.

The rating of Sensient Technologies Corporation (SXT) moves up this week, rising from a C to a B. Sensient Technologies is a global manufacturer and marketer of colors, flavors and fragrances for products in the food and beverage, cosmetic and pharmaceutical, inkjet and other speciality markets. For more information, get Portfolio Grader’s complete analysis of SXT stock.

Louis Navellier’s proprietary Portfolio Grader stock ranking system assesses roughly 5,000 companies every week based on a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. Stocks are given a letter grade based on their results — with A being “strong buy,” and F being “strong sell.” Explore the tool here.

Plug Power’s ‘Continued Momentum’ Boosts Shares

Cowen’s Jeffrey Osborne and Thomas Boyes are impressed with Plug Power’s (PLUG) financial results, which are helping to boost Ballard Power Systems (BLDP) and FuelCell Energy (FCEL), as well:

Plug Power reported revenue of $17.3mn versus our estimate of $16.4mn. GAAP EPS was $0.02; however, excluding the revaluation of the warrants the loss was $0.04, better than our ($0.05) estimate…Plug Power shipped 687 GenDrive fuel cells in the second quarter, ahead of our modeled 650 units. This marks a strong q/q increase vs. last quarter’s 165. Importantly, the company installed the first GenKey site for Wal-Mart’s (WMT) distribution center, located in Pottsville, PA. We are pleased to see continued momentum with this marquee customer. We expect management to highlight continued sequential growth through the year. Of note, we were pleased to see the company turn gross margin positive during the quarter and we anticipate continued leverage in the model and further cost reductions to be highlighted by management.

Shares of Plug Power have gained 2.1% to $5.98 at 12:02 p.m., while Ballard Power Systems has gained 1.8% to $4.07 and FuelCell Energy has jumped 5.9% to $2.51.

Healthcare Equipment and Supplies: Investing Essentials

Source: Adrian Clark, Flickr

Think of medical care as a supply chain that flows from a starting point of insurers and information technology companies behind the scenes to the point-of-service provider, your physician. In between, there are a number of important facilitators, one of which is the healthcare equipment and supplies industry.

Given the fact that healthcare is among the fastest growing industries, the vital role healthcare equipment and supply companies could play in the coming years might make them attractive investment opportunities.

But this only holds true if you understand the basics of the sector with regard to how it works, its history and evolution, and what advantages and headwinds you might face as an investor. Let's have a closer look.

What are healthcare equipment and supplies?

Healthcare equipment and supplies are used by physicians and other medical personnel to help aid in patient diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment.

Examples of diagnostic equipment would be MRIs and CT scans, which afford physicians the possibility of formulating diagnoses and plans of treatment for diseases and disorders without the need for exploratory surgery.

Equipment which constantly measures blood pressure, oxygen level, and other vital signs are good examples of healthcare monitoring equipment. Physicians need to be able to understand how a patient is responding to treatment, thus monitoring equipment plays a vital role in this respect.

Lastly, examples of treatment-based supplies include surgical masks, IV lines, needles, and a range of products used to stave off the spread of disease and to facilitate treatment of a patient.

What is the history of healthcare equipment and supplies?

While you may find rudimentary medical tools strewn throughout past civilizations, the birth of modern medical equipment and supplies can trace their roots back to the early 1800s when doctors and scientists used thermometers and microscopes in order to form a patient diagnosis. The invention of the stethoscope -- which is an iconic medical symbol today -- in 1816 was another key step to improving diagnostic care.

Source: University of Michigan Medical School Information Services, Flickr

The X-ray, which was used both for diagnosis and to irradiate cancer, was invented in 1895. Until the development of MRIs and CT scans in the back half of the 20th century, X-rays would remain the primary imaging device for physicians. The middle of the last century also witnessed the development of pacemakers and ventilators meant to assist the human body.

Nowadays, advances in computerized technology allow physicians to form diagnoses, monitor patients, and even deliver medicine intravenously with ease. This is no way means that healthcare equipment is perfect and can replace human intuition when it comes to diagnostics, but it has heightened the ability to personalize patient care and improve quality of life.

How many healthcare equipment and supplies companies are there?

According to SelectUSA, there are more than 6,500 medical device companies alone in the U.S., though most are quite small and relatively few are publicly traded. Keep in mind medical devices encompass a number of the technological discoveries we noted above, but fail to include supplies such as gloves and surgical masks, for instance. The implication here is that there are thousands upon thousands of healthcare equipment and supply companies around the globe clamoring for a piece of a huge market.

Why invest in the healthcare equipment and supplies industry?

Now that we have a better understanding of what the healthcare equipment and supply industry is, how it evolved, and how large it is, let's take a closer look at why investing in this sector could be a smart move.

Source: Isafmedia, Flickr

The primary allure of this industry is that it's a numbers game that is working in businesses' favor. The global population is increasing, global life expectancy is heading higher, access to medical care is improving in most countries, and in the U.S. the number of uninsured patients has declined due to sweeping healthcare reform, a la the Affordable Care Act. All of this would portend that the need for medical care, and the equipment and supplies which make administering care possible, will only increase over the coming decades as more people visit clinics and hospitals.

Investors should also consider that healthcare equipment and supply companies' products are often essentially basic-needs goods, which are mostly resistant to economic downturns. Although some patients will hold off on elective procedures and doctor visits when the U.S. economy is contracting, the vast majority of people who receive medical care can't wait to receive it. This consistent demand can help lead to fairly predictable cash flow and growth potential.

Yet, headwinds exist that investors in this sector need to also be aware of. Competition among healthcare equipment and supply companies is fierce, and quite a bit of healthcare equipment and supplies are mass-produced and commoditized, which can put pressure on equipment pricing and ultimately company margins.

The reality of this industry is one in which investors can usually sleep at night since share price volatility is below average. But it's also an industry where growth potential is usually subdued . 

If you think healthcare equipment and supply companies offer impressive growth potential, then this revolutionary new technology might have your jaw hitting the floor! 
The best health-care investors consistently reap gigantic profits by recognizing true potential earlier and more accurately than anyone else. Let me cut right to the chase. There is a product in development that will revolutionize not just how we treat a common chronic illness, but potentially the entire health industry. Analysts are already licking their chops at the sales potential. In order to outsmart Wall Street and realize multi-bagger returns you will need The Motley Fool's new free report on the dream-team responsible for this game-changing blockbuster. CLICK HERE NOW.

Boeing Did Comparatively Well In Its Second Quarter

The Chicago based aircraft manufacturer Boeing (BA) reported the second quarter results and missed analysts' estimates in terms of its total revenue. However, it did beat the analysts' predictions on its earning per share.

Let's look into the major highlights of the second quarter earnings announced on July 23.

A quick recap of numbers

The revenue for this quarter stood at $22.05 billion, up by 1% from the last year's similar quarter. The numbers, however, missed analysts' estimates of $22.23 billion. The commercial airplanes segment registered a 5% growth whereas revenue from the defense, aerospace and security division fell 5%.

The total backlog of $440 billion as on June 30 remained unchanged from the beginning of the quarter. Boeing's delivery forecast shows that the plane maker is on track to deliver 715-725 jetliners by the end of the year, having already delivered around 342 airplanes in the first half of the year.

Early in July, the company said that it had dispatched 181 commercial aircraft in the second quarter – this translates to a good 7% hike from 169 deliveries in the previous year's comparable period. The biggest achievement in deliveries of this quarter remains the dispatch of around 30 Boeing 787 in the quarter after the production rate was increased to 10 per month; a few months ago.

The quarterly profit increased by a whopping 52% helped by higher commercial airplane deliveries and the one-time tax gain of $524 million experienced in this quarter. The company's net income rose from $1.09 billion or $1.41 per share a year ago to $1.65 billion or $2.24 per share in this quarter.

Analysts were however a bit taken aback by the pretax charge of $425 million for fixing wiring problems on the KC-46A tankers Boeing has been developing for the U.S. Air Force. Boeing CEO Jim McNerney thought that the tanker charge that had a bearing on the company's quarterly results was pretty "disappointing." However, the aircraft maker's overall quarterly results were good as Boeing has been keeping its operational costs under tight control.

The current outlook remains sound

As the operational performance of Boeing remains strong, the management has raised its earnings per share guidance from $7.15-$7.35 to $7.90-$8.10 per share. However, there is no change in the revenue guidance which remains in the range of $87.5 billion and $90.5 billion.

Though Defense cutbacks could take a toll on the revenue and earnings, the commercial aircraft division is the bright spot in Boeing report card. McNerney is highly positive on the company prospects for this fiscal year and the encouraging market outlook and its increase in production rate should be able to aid in achieving the increased earnings target.

Acquisitions to improve tech division

The company wants to improve its capabilities with time and thus has invested in two major acquisitions this quarter. The first one was done in May when Boeing acquired AerData Group B.V. which offers software solutions for managing leases, planning engine fleet and managing records. The second one in June was of Ventura Solutions Inc., an enterprise offering hardware and software engineering solutions.

These acquisitions could help Boeing to improve its information and security arrangements in the nearby future.

Final word

Boeing's commercial aircraft business is really doing very well. Also the two acquisitions during the period have reinforced Boeing's capabilities. As the market conditions improve, the industry witnesses a sharp increase in demand for commercial aircraft and the leading manufacturer thus stands at a clear advantage. The company is slated to post better profits in the upcoming quarters and the management holds a positive image on Boeing's earnings for the remaining year.

Currently 0.00/51 Thursday, August 7, 2014 Investor Optimism Falls on Retirees’ Worries Retired investors’ optimism plummeted in the second quarter on concerns about the economy, and most Americans say the financial market is not a good place for ordinary investors to grow wealth, Wells Fargo reported Wednesday. The Wells Fargo/Gallup Investor and Retirement Optimism Index fell by eight points to +29 in June from +37 in February, largely because of a 17-point drop in optimism among retired investors. Non-retirees’ optimism fell only four points — +31 versus +35 in February — the quarterly poll of 1,036 American investors 18 and older found. The survey was conducted between June 27 and July 9. Notwithstanding their ambivalence about the economy and investing, 84% of the investors surveyed said the American Dream was achievable. For 93%, the dream included the ability to afford a home. Ninety-two percent cited living comfortably in retirement, and another 92% said it included having meaningful employment. The least cited version of the dream, mentioned by 76% of respondents, was having a standard of living surpassing that of their parents. Nearly nine out of 10 non-retired investors said they were optimistic they would achieve the American Dream versus 77% of retired investors. “The American Dream remains a pretty simple concept among investors: a home, a good job and money to live on later in life,” Joe Nadreau, head of innovation and strategy at Wells Fargo Advisors, said in a statement. “While retirement gives some investors pause, most still view the American Dream optimistically and are taking steps to realize it.” Although most respondents saw a secure retirement as fundamental to realizing the American Dream, 47% of the non-retired investors were either “extremely” or “somewhat” worried that they had not saved enough to retire. Twenty-nine percent were a “little worried,” while 24% were “not worried at all.” Similarly, 46% of both retired and non-retired investors were worried that they would not have enough money to last throughout their retirement. This included 19% who were “extremely worried.” By contrast, 20% were “a little worried,” and 29% were “not worried.” What Would You Do with $10,000? Asked what they would do with an extra $10,000, 41% of investors said they would invest money in the markets, while 56% said they would keep it as cash or saved in a CD. Researchers found that the conservative response tracked with 59% of all investors who said the financial market was a “fair” to “poor” place for average Americans to grow wealth, despite 2013’s historic stock market gains. This view was held by 69% of investors with less than $100,000 in investable assets. Two-thirds of respondents said they were “highly knowledgeable” or “somewhat knowledgeable” about investing, about the same percentage that correctly answered that the stock market had risen in 2013, when asked about the market’s activity last year. However, just 7% of investors said they knew the markets had an average return of 30% in 2013, based on S&P 500 returns. Of the 37% who knew the market had risen in 2013, the majority thought it had increased only 10%, while another 17% thought it had risen 20%. “There’s a perception gap with investors,” Nadreau said. “They said they’re pretty knowledgeable about investing, but they don’t seem to be aware of the market’s record growth over the last year and a half.” He said investors who put $10,000 in an investment based on the S&P 500 at the beginning of this year would have gained $710, compared with much smaller returns in non-equity/fixed income investments. “Knowledge truly is power, and in this case, security when building the American Dream.” Advice Matters The survey found that most investors who owned stocks were open to professional guidance. Of the eight in 10 investors who said they owned individual stocks or mutual funds, 71% preferred consulting with someone who could give them expert or professional advice, compared with 27% who felt confident about investing in the market on their own. Overall, 32% of investors had sought more financial advice in the last two to three years, and some 40% said they would increase the advice they sought in the next two to three years. According to the survey, investors overwhelmingly seek advice during major changes in their life: retirement (71%), divorce (64%) and death of a close family member (52%). Only 35% of investors said they would seek financial advice upon getting married, followed by 34% for changing jobs and 32% when everything was going well in their lives. Investors were twice as likely to have a dedicated personal financial advisor as they were to use an online website. This was particularly true with retired investors surveyed. Fifty-three percent said they relied more heavily on a dedicated personal financial advisor than on technology. By contrast, 40% of non-retired investors had a personal advisor, and 24% used an online planning or investing website. Separately, the poll found that investors with $100,000 or more of assets were likelier to rely on both advisors and technology, although 53% still relied much more heavily on a dedicated personal financial advisor compared with 23% who preferred technology. Meanwhile, just 32% of investors with less than $100,000 in investable assets had a dedicated personal advisor, and 18% used a financial planning or investing website. Nevertheless, 57% of U.S. investors described themselves as “very” or “somewhat comfortable” using online and mobile technology for their investing or financial advice needs. Further, 31% of non-retirees said they expected to use more mobile and online technology for investment services in the next few years. Wells Fargo said this topic was worth watching for future indications, as 66% of non-retirees (vs. just 34% of retirees) said they were “very” or “somewhat” comfortable using technology in conjunction with their investing or finances. “Technology is dramatically transforming the way investors—and their advisors—approach financial planning,” said Nadreau. “That the fastest-growing group of investors—non-retirees—is showing more signs of openness to technology is a strong indicator for the future of our industry.” --- Check out Half of Households Risk Inadequate Retirement Income on ThinkAdvisor. Wednesday, August 6, 2014 Walgreens to remain an American company Walgreens vowed to keep its headquarters in the U.S. after buying European company Alliance Boots. NEW YORK (CNNMoney) The Stars and Stripes will continue to fly over the headquarters of Walgreens, the iconic American drug store operator. Walgreens (WAG) says it will base its corporate offices in the Chicago area when it completes its acquisition of European drug store operator Alliance Boots. The move dispels expectations that the combined company would be located in Europe to reduce its tax bill. The company said it considered the move, but decided that it would not be approved by the Internal Revenue Service. Walgreens also said it was mindful of the public reaction to moving overseas, as well as the fact that a major portion of its revenue is derived from government-funded reimbursement programs. But initial reaction from investors was not pretty -- shares fell nearly 10% in premarket trading. A record number of companies have gone overseas this year in search of tax advantages. Nearly 50 moved in the first half of 2014, up from only 29 in the previous two decades, according to Congressional Research Service analysis. A report from the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxes estimates that the U.S. will lose billions in tax revenue to inversions in the next 10 years. The chance to save on taxes can be significant, considering that the top U.S. corporate rate is 35%. The medical device firm Medtronic (MDT) of Minneapolis recently announced plans to buy rival Covidien (COV), which is based in Ireland where the tax rate is 12.5%. Chicago drugmaker AbbVie (ABBV) announced an arrangement with the British company Shire that will slash its effective tax rate in half to 13%. There has been a political outcry over the 'tax inversion' deals. Lawmakers in both parties agree that the system is broken, but disagree on what to do about it. President Obama recently called the practice unpatriotic. Walgreens is buying the remaining 55% stake in Alliance Boots for $5.3 billion in cash. The company said it expects to complete the merger in the first quarter of 2015. The newly combined company will be known as Walgreens Boots Alliance and will have more than 11,000 stores in 10 countries. Walgreens said its U.S. operations will remain based in Deerfield, Ill., outside Chicago. Alliance Boots is based in Nottingham, England. Monday, August 4, 2014 iPhone 6 and Other New Products Apple Could Unveil in Its "Very Busy Fall" Another week of hyped Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) rumors has passed, and we're left with a handful of new reports to sift through. Among the most interesting was another claim about the launch time frame for Apple's upcoming iPhone 6. While nothing is certain yet, here is what we can glean from the rumor mill about Apple's product plans for the rest of the year. Alleged leaked 4.7-inch iPhone 6 rear casing. The part was first shared by Feld & Volk. iPhone 6 launch date? The new rumor on the launch time frame of the iPhone 6 came from MacRumors, citing a "store leader" that unveiled several dates during an internal Apple Retail Store meeting. Like previous speculation, the source said the iPhone 6 would be introduced during a media event in September. But, with a twist, the source's claim differed from previous rumors in saying that the iPhone 6 may not hit the shelves until October -- not September, as previously expected. Unfortunately, the source's claim of an October 14 launch date seems to take away from the credibility of the rumor, because it falls on a Tuesday. Typically, new iPhones launch on a Friday, MacRumors notes. And The Motley Fool's senior technology specialist, Evan Niu, who has followed closely for years, lists a number of other problems with the rumor. A busy October? Probably. But the MacRumors' source's other claim, that October would be "very busy for stores and the company itself," seems right on track. Apple CEO Tim Cook said so himself during the company's third-quarter earnings call in July that it's going to be a "very busy fall" for Apple. Further, Apple's soaring research and development costs, and commitments to third-party suppliers on the balance sheet found in the company's third-quarter 10Q filing, also support this storyline. What products and services are expected from Apple this fall and early winter? A bifurcated iPhone 6 lineup that includes both a 4.7-inch, and phablet-like 5.5-inch model (for comparison, the iPhone 5s display measures at 4 inches), an iWatch, new iPads, new Macs, and maybe some sort of payment service have all been speculated. iTunes Pass. Image source: Apple. Motley Fool senior technology specialist Evan Niu suggests that iTunes pass, although only offering minor incremental convenience today, may offer clues about Apple's longer-term payment strategy. Other potential products, though more speculative in nature, are an Apple TV refresh, and some sort of hardware purposed to work with Apple's recently announced HomeKit. Other key rumors from the week There was more evidence during the week that Apple is planning to launch the iPhone 6 lineup in two different sizes. The evidence came from a part leak published by Nowhereelse.fr, showing high-resolution photos of home button flex cables claimed to be from the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhone 6, each with Touch ID functionality built in. Image source: Nowhereelse.fr. Though it's possible that at least one of these parts could belong to the next-generation iPad, MacRumors' Kelly Hodgkins says this isn't likely. "While Apple's iPads are also rumored to be gaining Touch ID functionality this year, the parts shown in the photos are compact enough that they are much more likely to be for the iPhone." The other notable rumor during the week from The Information reports that Apple is putting off the refresh of its Apple TV until 2015. Citing "a person familiar with the plans," cable companies that are "dragging their heels" have made execution difficult. A pending Comcast-Time Warner Cable merger doesn't help either, the report says. Apple TV or not, a likely launch of a bifurcated iPhone lineup, new iPads, new Macs, an iWatch, and a payment service sounds like Apple has its hands full. The biggest takeaway, at this point, is exactly what Apple CEO Tim Cook has already been trying to drive home: The company's pipeline is full of goodies. As Apple's typical product launch season approaches, it's worth wondering whether or not Apple's conservative valuation really takes into consideration the full potential of what could be Apple's best product pipeline in 25 years. More from The Motley Fool: Warren Buffett Tells You How to Turn $40 into $10 Million. Why Chrysler's Ram Could Lose to GM's Chevy Silverado Sales of Chrysler's Ram pickup line are up 19% so far this year. But a change in strategy could trim Chrysler's gains soon. Source: Fiat Chrysler. Could a decline in Fiat Chrysler's (NASDAQOTH: FIATY  ) earnings because of problems in Latin America spell trouble for Ram pickup sales in America? Let's start with the big picture. Fiat Chrysler reported a sharp decline in second-quarter earnings on Wednesday as economic weakness in Latin America offset improved performance in Europe and Asia. FCA reported a net profit of 197 million euros ($264 million) for the quarter, a sharp drop from the 435 million euro profit it reported in the year-ago quarter. It also fell far short of the Wall Street consensus estimate of 282 million euros, as reported by Reuters. So, what do FCA's Latin America troubles have to do with Ram pickups? Read on. FCA needs to make more money in North America, now Although Fiat shareholders officially voted to approve the merger on Friday, and there's still some paperwork to be done before it's really official, Fiat and Chrysler have effectively been run as one company for a while.  That means CEO Sergio Marchionne takes a global view of his entire organization. And while he has to like the sales growth he has seen from the company's operations in North America -- sales were up 7% in the second quarter -- the profits it has been making aren't as solid as he would like. Just as we've seen at rival Ford (NYSE: F  ) , where strong North America profits have carried the Blue Oval while it restructures in Europe and expands aggressively in Asia, profits at Fiat Chrysler's North American division -- essentially, the Chrysler Group -- have helped it withstand the severe challenges faced by the Fiat side of the business in Europe and Latin America. But even though sales in North America were up, FCA's profits in the region were down 18% in the quarter. Why? Because Chrysler has been winning big sales gains with discounts. But FCA needs profits more than sales because of its problems elsewhere in the world. So now, the boss wants to cut those discounts way back. Sales are up while profits are down? Here's why. Ram pickups are Chrysler's best-selling product in the U.S., and Ram sales have been great: up 20% in the first half of 2014, versus a 1.1% gain for General Motors' (NYSE: GM  ) Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra twins, and a 0.5% decline for Ford's F-Series line. But profits haven't been great, because Chrysler has been winning those sales (and others) with big incentives. According to data from TrueCar, Chrysler's average incentive payout has risen past those of its Detroit rivals over the last few months. (The three Detroit automakers tend to pay higher average incentives than other manufacturers because of their big sales of full-size pickups. Big payouts are typical in that market segment, where the average payment often exceeds $4,000 -- but despite the payouts, pickups are among Detroit's most profitable products.) Data provided by TrueCar shows each manufacturer's average incentive payment per vehicle in the U.S. for the specified month. July numbers are TrueCar estimates.  In a conference call for analysts following Wednesday's earnings report, Marchionne and CFO Richard Palmer were both clear: Profit margins in North America have to improve in the second half of the year, and to get that improvement, incentives and discounted leases in North America could well be rolled back. That could bring Ram sales back to earth in a hurry.  Why GM could be the big winner here Ford isn't in a position to pick up (so to speak) a lot of truck sales right now. The Blue Oval is winding down production of its current F-150 before the launch of its all-new 2015 model late this year, and supplies of its mainstay pickup are expected to be tight as the year goes on.  But General Motors, with ample supplies of its new-for-2014 pickups on hand, could be in a position to steal back the market share it has lost to the Ram over the last year. GM has tried to be conservative with its pickup incentives in an effort to boost its own profit margins in North America. That effort has paid off for GM so far -- but a cutback by Chrysler could spur the General to try to make a big move. Stay tuned. More from The Motley Fool: Warren Buffett Tells You How to Turn $40 into $10 Million Subscribe to: Comments (Atom) Blog Archive ►  2019 (37) ►  March (19) ►  February (18) ►  2018 (19) ►  August (2) ►  July (9) ►  June (1) ►  May (7) ►  2015 (90) ►  July (1) ►  June (9) ►  May (12) ►  April (6) ►  March (12) ►  February (18) ►  January (32) ▼  2014 (237) ►  December (13) ►  November (3) ►  October (9) ►  September (8) ▼  August (14) HEICO Corporation Makes up for So-So Earnings With... How Not to Manage a Crisis: Lessons From Lululemon GM's Recall Woes a Boon for Some Car Dealers 3 Reasons to Buy the Market Vectors Gold Miners ET... 4 Health Care Provider Stocks to Buy Now How This Great American Dream Is Turning Scam 3 Chemicals Stocks to Buy Now Plug Power’s ‘Continued Momentum’ Boosts Shares Healthcare Equipment and Supplies: Investing Essen... 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