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<p>At some point in every <a href="https://www.recruiter.com/interview.html" type="external">job interview Opens a New Window.</a>, the interviewer will ask you to list your greatest strengths. It might seem like a simple question, but not everyone is prepared to give an accurate and impressive answer.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Even those who are confident enough to list several strengths often miss the mark. Some come up with great answers, but they don't know how to deliver them. Their responses may sound arrogant and prideful, rather than humble and self-aware. How you choose to describe your strengths is critical.</p>
<p>Even more crucial is understanding that everyone has different strengths. A quality that is a strength for you might be a weakness in someone else.</p>
<p>To help you compose a great answer to the strengths question, we've compiled this list of 10 strengths for you to consider. We hope to get you thinking, and your ultimate goal should be to evaluate each strength in relation to your character to determine whether it's something you might claim in an interview or not.</p>
<p>1. I Know How to Use My Resources to Do the Job Right</p>
<p>Interviewers will accept that you won't know everything; they shouldn't expect you to. It's a good move to recognize your weaknesses and show you know how to find solutions to them.</p>
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<p>If you're good at using your resources to solve a problem, this can be an impressive strength. Don't forget to prove that you really do know how to use your resources, though. For example, let's say&#160;you were once assigned to design and print a brochure for your company, but didn't initially know how. You could then explain how you found an online resource with simple design and printing matrices to get the job done.</p>
<p>2. I Am Positive and Enthusiastic in Any Work Environment</p>
<p>Explain what helps you maintain these qualities. You might talk about being loyal to the company and invested in its success. Even if things look a little shaky at times, you know how to maintain positive energy and keep your eye on finding a solution.</p>
<p>3. Honesty and Integrity Come Naturally to Me</p>
<p>These qualities are&#160;highly valued in most workplaces, and you should be able to prove you have them. Have a specific story ready in which your honesty and integrity were tested. Your response to such a situations will display your strength of character.</p>
<p>4. I'm a Creative Problem Solver</p>
<p>Speak about your ability to see matters from various viewpoints and how you accomplish tasks even in the face of substantial obstacles. Share an experience in which you needed to solve a problem quickly, but none of the conventional methods were viable.</p>
<p>For example, if you were having difficulty providing a particular resource to a client and all the conventional methods of obtaining it were not working, you might explain how you found a unique contact that had the resource, and you were thereby able to meet the client's needs.</p>
<p>5.&#160;I Have a Strong Work Ethic, and When I Commit to a Deadline, I'll Do Whatever It Takes to Meet It</p>
<p>If this is true, your previous employers will back up your story. This strength might manifest itself in the extra hours you spent in the office after closing or in your&#160;leadership performance above other team members. Showing up on time, prepared, and ready for the day will also demonstrate this positive quality.</p>
<p>6. I Am Flexible Enough to Handle Change and Adapt Quickly</p>
<p>If you make this powerful initial statement, go on to support it with an example. You might <a href="http://www.careerfaqs.com.au/careers/interview-questions-and-tips/job-interview-question-and-answer-describe-a-situation-where-you-demonstrated-flexibility" type="external">share a time Opens a New Window.</a> when, as a customer service manager at your last job, you were confronted with steady employee turnover. Explain how you were able to adapt to each new employee as they came aboard. You could also share a specific instance in which you turned a negative situation into a positive one thanks to your quick thinking and problem-solving skills.</p>
<p>7. I've Always Been Particularly Adept at [Insert Company Value]</p>
<p>Many organizations will expect you to be familiar with their company values and/or mission statement. You can earn extra points with this question by explaining how a core company value at the place you would like to be hired is also one of your biggest strengths.</p>
<p>8. I Understand People</p>
<p>Great leadership, quality customer service, being a team player, and almost any other job skill boils down to your ability to understand and work with people. You can capitalize on this ability as a strength for most positions, even if the one you're interviewing for doesn't primarily revolve around people.</p>
<p>For example, let's say you're interviewing for a financial analytics position in a meat packing plant. You could explain how your ability to understand people makes you a great team player. You know how to communicate well and recognize both verbal and nonverbal cues that can help a project succeed. Even though this position doesn't focus on working with people, your ability to perform as a team player is going to be an attractive trait.</p>
<p>9. I Know How to Delegate Respectfully and Responsibly</p>
<p>If you're interviewing for a managerial position of any kind, demonstrating an ability to delegate is typically a home run. If you can delegate, you showcase&#160;your capacity for efficiency, team development, leadership, and empowerment. You're basically showing that the job isn't going to be all about you.&#160;You know how to make others feel valued by building up individual teams and&#160;the firm in general.</p>
<p>10. I Have X Years of Experience in This Field and Have Learned Versatility and Adaptability</p>
<p>Experience is an interviewer favorite, obviously. If you have 20 years of experience in a field without a degree, you're going to be far more valuable to a business than a fresh college graduate. Leverage that experience in the interview.</p>
<p>Explain that, as the years have passed, you've not only continued to master your craft, but you've also learned to adjust with the industry. Conditions are always changing in business, so this skill is highly coveted in the job market.</p>
<p>Anna Johansson is the founder and CEO of Johansson Consulting. Follow her on&#160; <a href="https://twitter.com/number1annajo" type="external">Twitter Opens a New Window.</a>&#160;and&#160; <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pub/anna-johansson/71/222/a74" type="external">LinkedIn Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | point every job interview opens new window interviewer ask list greatest strengths might seem like simple question everyone prepared give accurate impressive answer continue reading even confident enough list several strengths often miss mark come great answers dont know deliver responses may sound arrogant prideful rather humble selfaware choose describe strengths critical even crucial understanding everyone different strengths quality strength might weakness someone else help compose great answer strengths question weve compiled list 10 strengths consider hope get thinking ultimate goal evaluate strength relation character determine whether something might claim interview 1 know use resources job right interviewers accept wont know everything shouldnt expect good move recognize weaknesses show know find solutions advertisement youre good using resources solve problem impressive strength dont forget prove really know use resources though example lets say160you assigned design print brochure company didnt initially know could explain found online resource simple design printing matrices get job done 2 positive enthusiastic work environment explain helps maintain qualities might talk loyal company invested success even things look little shaky times know maintain positive energy keep eye finding solution 3 honesty integrity come naturally qualities are160highly valued workplaces able prove specific story ready honesty integrity tested response situations display strength character 4 im creative problem solver speak ability see matters various viewpoints accomplish tasks even face substantial obstacles share experience needed solve problem quickly none conventional methods viable example difficulty providing particular resource client conventional methods obtaining working might explain found unique contact resource thereby able meet clients needs 5160i strong work ethic commit deadline ill whatever takes meet true previous employers back story strength might manifest extra hours spent office closing your160leadership performance team members showing time prepared ready day also demonstrate positive quality 6 flexible enough handle change adapt quickly make powerful initial statement go support example might share time opens new window customer service manager last job confronted steady employee turnover explain able adapt new employee came aboard could also share specific instance turned negative situation positive one thanks quick thinking problemsolving skills 7 ive always particularly adept insert company value many organizations expect familiar company values andor mission statement earn extra points question explaining core company value place would like hired also one biggest strengths 8 understand people great leadership quality customer service team player almost job skill boils ability understand work people capitalize ability strength positions even one youre interviewing doesnt primarily revolve around people example lets say youre interviewing financial analytics position meat packing plant could explain ability understand people makes great team player know communicate well recognize verbal nonverbal cues help project succeed even though position doesnt focus working people ability perform team player going attractive trait 9 know delegate respectfully responsibly youre interviewing managerial position kind demonstrating ability delegate typically home run delegate showcase160your capacity efficiency team development leadership empowerment youre basically showing job isnt going you160you know make others feel valued building individual teams and160the firm general 10 x years experience field learned versatility adaptability experience interviewer favorite obviously 20 years experience field without degree youre going far valuable business fresh college graduate leverage experience interview explain years passed youve continued master craft youve also learned adjust industry conditions always changing business skill highly coveted job market anna johansson founder ceo johansson consulting follow on160 twitter opens new window160and160 linkedin opens new window | 554 |
<p>Federal prosecutors unsealed charges against an Iranian national Tuesday, accusing him of hacking into HBO's computer network, stealing unreleased scripts of "Game of Thrones" and then threatening to leak them publicly unless HBO paid a multimillion-dollar ransom.</p>
<p>Behzad Mesri, who is at large and hasn't been arrested, was charged by the Manhattan U.S. attorney's office on seven counts, including computer fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>The government said Mr. Mesri is a computer hacker in Iran who has worked on behalf of the Iranian military to target Israeli infrastructure and nuclear software systems. He has allegedly operated under an online hacker pseudonym of "Skote Vahshat."</p>
<p>A lawyer for Mr. Mesri couldn't immediately be identified.</p>
<p>Since at least May, Mr. Mesri began monitoring the online activities of HBO employees, looking for vulnerabilities in the company's network, according to prosecutors.</p>
<p>Over the next couple months, Mr. Mesri compromised user accounts that belonged to HBO employees and used them repeatedly to gain unauthorized access and steal proprietary information from the company, the indictment said.</p>
<p>Mr. Mesri allegedly stole scripts and plot summaries for unaired episodes of HBO's series "Game of Thrones," as well as video files with unaired episodes of such shows as "Ballers" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm."</p>
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<p>He also stole financial documents, credentials for HBO's social media accounts and the emails of at least one HBO employee, the indictment said.</p>
<p>On July 23, an anonymous email was sent to HBO employees that included the following message: "Hi to All losers! Yes it's true! HBO is hacked!" The email allegedly provided evidence that the hacker had successfully stolen proprietary data from HBO, a unit of Time Warner Inc.</p>
<p>Another email later that day included a threat to publicly release the stolen data, including unaired TV episodes and scripts, unless HBO paid a ransom of approximately $5.5 million worth of bitcoin. The email concluded with an image of the Night King, a character from "Game of Thrones," and said: "Good luck to HBO."</p>
<p>In the coming days, emails from the anonymous hacker to HBO personnel raised the ransom to approximately $6 million worth of bitcoin, threatened to destroy data on HBO's servers and provided a deadline of July 29 for HBO to begin making ransom payments if it wanted to prevent the public disclosure of stolen data.</p>
<p>On July 30, Mr. Mesri began leaking some stolen materials over the internet, prosecutors said. To promote the disclosures, Mr. Mesri allegedly contacted members of the media and created a Twitter account to announce the leaks.</p>
<p>A spokesman for HBO said the company has been "working with law enforcement from the early stages of the cyber incident."</p>
<p>In recent years, hackers have increasingly used cyber extortion -- or stealing corporate secrets and threatening to publicize them if the victims don't pay a ransom -- as a way to make money, with Hollywood studios as particularly attractive targets, experts say.</p>
<p>Write to Nicole Hong at [email protected]</p>
<p>Federal prosecutors unsealed charges Tuesday against a hacker linked to Iran's military, accusing him of hacking into HBO's computer network, stealing unreleased scripts of "Game of Thrones" and then threatening to leak them publicly unless HBO paid a multimillion-dollar ransom.</p>
<p>Behzad Mesri, who is believed to be in Iran and hasn't been arrested, was charged by the Manhattan U.S. attorney's office on seven counts, including computer fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.</p>
<p>The government said Mr. Mesri, 29 years old, is a computer hacker in Iran who has worked on behalf of the Iranian military to target Israeli infrastructure and nuclear software systems. He has allegedly operated under an online hacker pseudonym of "Skote Vahshat."</p>
<p>A lawyer for Mr. Mesri couldn't immediately be identified.</p>
<p>Joon Kim, the acting Manhattan U.S. attorney, said at a news conference that Mr. Mesri applied the skills he learned with the Iranian military to extort HBO for personal profit.</p>
<p>"Today's charges make clear that nation-states like Iran routinely employ alleged criminals [and] mercenaries like Mesri to conduct network attacks in America and elsewhere," Mr. Kim said.</p>
<p>Mr. Kim said the government decided this was the right time to publicize charges against Mr. Mesri, after assessing whether there was a realistic chance of luring him outside of Iran to make an arrest.</p>
<p>Since at least May, Mr. Mesri began monitoring the online activities of HBO employees, looking for vulnerabilities in the company's network, according to prosecutors.</p>
<p>Over the next couple months, Mr. Mesri compromised user accounts that belonged to HBO employees and used them repeatedly to gain unauthorized access and steal proprietary information from the company, the indictment said.</p>
<p>Mr. Mesri allegedly stole scripts and plot summaries for unaired episodes of the HBO's series "Game of Thrones," as well as video files with unaired episodes of such shows as "Ballers" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm."</p>
<p>He also stole financial documents, credentials for HBO's social-media accounts and the emails of at least one HBO employee, the indictment said.</p>
<p>On July 23, an anonymous email was sent to HBO employees that included the following message: "Hi to All losers! Yes it's true! HBO is hacked!" The email allegedly provided evidence that the hacker had successfully stolen proprietary data from HBO, a unit of Time Warner Inc.</p>
<p>Another email later that day included a threat to publicly release the stolen data, including unaired TV episodes and scripts, unless HBO paid a ransom of approximately $5.5 million worth of bitcoin. The email concluded with an image of the Night King, a character from "Game of Thrones," and said: "Good luck to HBO."</p>
<p>In the coming days, emails from the anonymous hacker to HBO personnel raised the ransom to approximately $6 million worth of bitcoin, threatened to destroy data on HBO's servers and provided a deadline of July 29 for HBO to begin making ransom payments if it wanted to prevent the public disclosure of stolen data.</p>
<p>On July 30, Mr. Mesri began leaking some stolen materials over the internet, prosecutors said, suggesting that HBO didn't pay the ransom. To promote the disclosures, Mr. Mesri allegedly contacted members of the media and created a Twitter account to announce the leaks.</p>
<p>A spokesman for HBO said Tuesday that the company has been "working with law enforcement from the early stages of the cyber incident."</p>
<p>In recent years, hackers have increasingly used cyber extortion -- or stealing corporate secrets and threatening to publicize them if the victims don't pay a ransom -- as a way to make money, with Hollywood studios as particularly attractive targets, experts say.</p>
<p>For entertainment companies, it isn't credit-card numbers at stake in a data breach but intellectual property and loss of business if spoilers of upcoming movies and TV shows are released early.</p>
<p>There is also the potential for damaging correspondence to become public. The hack at HBO happened almost three years after a high-profile breach at Sony Corp., which unleashed a trove of emails that embarrassed top executives.</p>
<p>During the cyber siege this summer, HBO worked with investigators and law-enforcement agencies and alerted "Game of Thrones" cast members, some of whom had their personal information exposed. The company also took down the website and digital locker used by the hacker to distribute show materials after sending takedown notices to internet-service providers, The Wall Street Journal previously reported.</p>
<p>The hack and its fallout has been a headache as HBO's parent company, Time Warner, tries to complete its sale to AT&amp;T Inc. On Monday, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit to attempt to block the $85 billion deal, a move which the companies have vowed to fight in court.</p>
<p>HBO is a growth engine for Time Warner, generating $4.65 billion in revenue in the first nine months of the year, about 21% of the company's total revenue.</p>
<p>Write to Nicole Hong at [email protected]</p>
<p>(END) Dow Jones Newswires</p>
<p>November 21, 2017 15:27 ET (20:27 GMT)</p> | true | 0 | federal prosecutors unsealed charges iranian national tuesday accusing hacking hbos computer network stealing unreleased scripts game thrones threatening leak publicly unless hbo paid multimilliondollar ransom behzad mesri large hasnt arrested charged manhattan us attorneys office seven counts including computer fraud wire fraud aggravated identity theft continue reading government said mr mesri computer hacker iran worked behalf iranian military target israeli infrastructure nuclear software systems allegedly operated online hacker pseudonym skote vahshat lawyer mr mesri couldnt immediately identified since least may mr mesri began monitoring online activities hbo employees looking vulnerabilities companys network according prosecutors next couple months mr mesri compromised user accounts belonged hbo employees used repeatedly gain unauthorized access steal proprietary information company indictment said mr mesri allegedly stole scripts plot summaries unaired episodes hbos series game thrones well video files unaired episodes shows ballers curb enthusiasm advertisement also stole financial documents credentials hbos social media accounts emails least one hbo employee indictment said july 23 anonymous email sent hbo employees included following message hi losers yes true hbo hacked email allegedly provided evidence hacker successfully stolen proprietary data hbo unit time warner inc another email later day included threat publicly release stolen data including unaired tv episodes scripts unless hbo paid ransom approximately 55 million worth bitcoin email concluded image night king character game thrones said good luck hbo coming days emails anonymous hacker hbo personnel raised ransom approximately 6 million worth bitcoin threatened destroy data hbos servers provided deadline july 29 hbo begin making ransom payments wanted prevent public disclosure stolen data july 30 mr mesri began leaking stolen materials internet prosecutors said promote disclosures mr mesri allegedly contacted members media created twitter account announce leaks spokesman hbo said company working law enforcement early stages cyber incident recent years hackers increasingly used cyber extortion stealing corporate secrets threatening publicize victims dont pay ransom way make money hollywood studios particularly attractive targets experts say write nicole hong nicolehongwsjcom federal prosecutors unsealed charges tuesday hacker linked irans military accusing hacking hbos computer network stealing unreleased scripts game thrones threatening leak publicly unless hbo paid multimilliondollar ransom behzad mesri believed iran hasnt arrested charged manhattan us attorneys office seven counts including computer fraud wire fraud aggravated identity theft government said mr mesri 29 years old computer hacker iran worked behalf iranian military target israeli infrastructure nuclear software systems allegedly operated online hacker pseudonym skote vahshat lawyer mr mesri couldnt immediately identified joon kim acting manhattan us attorney said news conference mr mesri applied skills learned iranian military extort hbo personal profit todays charges make clear nationstates like iran routinely employ alleged criminals mercenaries like mesri conduct network attacks america elsewhere mr kim said mr kim said government decided right time publicize charges mr mesri assessing whether realistic chance luring outside iran make arrest since least may mr mesri began monitoring online activities hbo employees looking vulnerabilities companys network according prosecutors next couple months mr mesri compromised user accounts belonged hbo employees used repeatedly gain unauthorized access steal proprietary information company indictment said mr mesri allegedly stole scripts plot summaries unaired episodes hbos series game thrones well video files unaired episodes shows ballers curb enthusiasm also stole financial documents credentials hbos socialmedia accounts emails least one hbo employee indictment said july 23 anonymous email sent hbo employees included following message hi losers yes true hbo hacked email allegedly provided evidence hacker successfully stolen proprietary data hbo unit time warner inc another email later day included threat publicly release stolen data including unaired tv episodes scripts unless hbo paid ransom approximately 55 million worth bitcoin email concluded image night king character game thrones said good luck hbo coming days emails anonymous hacker hbo personnel raised ransom approximately 6 million worth bitcoin threatened destroy data hbos servers provided deadline july 29 hbo begin making ransom payments wanted prevent public disclosure stolen data july 30 mr mesri began leaking stolen materials internet prosecutors said suggesting hbo didnt pay ransom promote disclosures mr mesri allegedly contacted members media created twitter account announce leaks spokesman hbo said tuesday company working law enforcement early stages cyber incident recent years hackers increasingly used cyber extortion stealing corporate secrets threatening publicize victims dont pay ransom way make money hollywood studios particularly attractive targets experts say entertainment companies isnt creditcard numbers stake data breach intellectual property loss business spoilers upcoming movies tv shows released early also potential damaging correspondence become public hack hbo happened almost three years highprofile breach sony corp unleashed trove emails embarrassed top executives cyber siege summer hbo worked investigators lawenforcement agencies alerted game thrones cast members personal information exposed company also took website digital locker used hacker distribute show materials sending takedown notices internetservice providers wall street journal previously reported hack fallout headache hbos parent company time warner tries complete sale atampt inc monday justice department filed lawsuit attempt block 85 billion deal move companies vowed fight court hbo growth engine time warner generating 465 billion revenue first nine months year 21 companys total revenue write nicole hong nicolehongwsjcom end dow jones newswires november 21 2017 1527 et 2027 gmt | 844 |
<p>Eyebrows were raised on Thursday morning when <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-peter-thiel-supreme-court_us_57d80d57e4b09d7a687f9b03" type="external">The Huffington Post</a> reported that GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump wants to nominate PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel to the Supreme Court. Both Thiel and Trump's camps have denied that Trump wants this to happen, with Thiel's spokesman, Jeremiah Hill, going as far as saying that "Huffington Post’s sources are lying" in a statement to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2016/09/15/peter-thiel-spokesperson-denies-hes-under-consideration-for-a-trump-supreme-court/#772d3544abb2" type="external">Forbes</a>. The Huffington Post, however, is standing by their story.</p>
<p>There is definitely <a href="http://therightscoop.com/rumor-trump-is-considering-nominating-gay-paypal-founder-to-supreme-court/" type="external">plenty of reasons</a> to think that The Huffington Post's reporting on this is inaccurate, but on the off chance their reporting is correct, here are seven things you need to know about Thiel.</p>
<p>1. Thiel is a <a href="https://successstory.com/people/peter-andreas-thiel" type="external">successful venture capitalist</a>. He co-founded PayPal in 1997 with the intention of providing an alternative to the "inconvenient" use of paper money. After selling PayPal, Thiel founded the hedge fund Clarium Capital. Thiel co-founded <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/williamalden/inside-palantir-silicon-valleys-most-secretive-company?utm_term=.kv7R6yngzO#.yydLn3mMpB" type="external">Palantir</a> as well, a company that specializes in "data analysis" that was partly funded by the CIA. He also was Facebook's first outside investor. According to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/peter-thiel/" type="external">Forbes</a>, Thiel is worth an estimated $2.7 billion.</p>
<p>2. Thiel hasn't "practiced law in years." He graduated from Stanford law school in 1992, according to Forbes, and did apply for clerking positions for Justices Antonin Scalia and Anthony Kennedy at one point, but he never got selected for one. His rejection of a clerkship is what eventually led him towards a career of venture capital.</p>
<p>3. Thiel funded wrestler Hulk Hogan's lawsuit against Gawker. Hogan <a href="" type="internal">sued</a> Gawker for publishing a sex tape of him without his consent, with Thiel helping pay for his legal fees. The lawsuit forced Gawker to file for bankruptcy.</p>
<p>Gawker <a href="http://gawker.com/335894/peter-thiel-is-totally-gay-people" type="external">outed</a> Thiel as gay in 2007, and they tried to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michelangelo-signorile/gawker-didnt-out-peter-thiel_b_10141996.html" type="external">worm their way out of it</a> by claiming they didn't, saying that Thiel's sexuality "was known to a wide circle who felt that it was not fit for discussion beyond that circle," which basically fits under the definition of outing someone. With the weight of the lawsuit hanging over them, Gawker attempted to smear Thiel for supposedly wanting to infringe on freedom of the press.</p>
<p>"Gawker, the defendant, built its business on humiliating people for sport," Thiel said back in May. "They routinely relied on an assumption that victims would be too intimidated or disgusted to even attempt redress for clear wrongs. Freedom of the press does not mean freedom to publish sex tapes without consent. I don't think anybody but Gawker would argue otherwise."</p>
<p>4. Thiel spoke at the 2016 Republican National Committee and railed against "fake culture wars." "I don't pretend to agree with every plank in our party's platform," Thiel <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2016/07/21/thiel_fake_culture_wars_only_distract_us_from_our_economic_decline.html" type="external">said</a>. "But fake culture wars only distract us from our economic decline."</p>
<p>Thiel also thought it was a waste of time to argue about transgender bathroom policies.</p>
<p>"When I was a kid, the great debate was about how to defeat the Soviet Union," Thiel <a href="https://heatst.com/politics/peter-thief-bathroom-fake-culture-wars/" type="external">said</a>. "And we won. Now we are told that the great debate is about who gets to use which bathroom. This is a distraction from our real problems. Who cares?"</p>
<p>5. Thiel has an interesting view on monopolies. When the left likes to smear capitalism, one of their common talking points is that capitalism creates monopolies, which people should be opposed to. Thiel, on the other hand, embraces monopolies with open arms.</p>
<p>In his 2014 <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/peter-thiel-competition-is-for-losers-1410535536" type="external">Wall Street Journal piece</a> "Competition Is for Losers," which was adapted from his book Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future, Thiel argued: "In a static world, a monopolist is just a rent collector. If you corner the market for something, you can jack up the price; others will have no choice but to buy from you. Think of the famous board game: Deeds are shuffled around from player to player, but the board never changes. There is no way to win by inventing a better kind of real-estate development. The relative values of the properties are fixed for all time, so all you can do is try to buy them up."</p>
<p>However, Thiel argued that the world is "dynamic," not static, and the monopolies that exist are "creative monopolies":</p>
<p>Even the government knows this: That is why one of its departments works hard to create monopolies (by granting patents to new inventions) even though another part hunts them down (by prosecuting antitrust cases). It is possible to question whether anyone should really be awarded a monopoly simply for having been the first to think of something like a mobile software design. But something like Apple's monopoly profits from designing, producing and marketing the iPhone were clearly the reward for creating greater abundance, not artificial scarcity: Customers were happy to finally have the choice of paying high prices to get a smartphone that actually works. The dynamism of new monopolies itself explains why old monopolies don't strangle innovation. With Apple's iOS at the forefront, the rise of mobile computing has dramatically reduced Microsoft's decadeslong operating system dominance.</p>
<p>Before that, IBM's hardware monopoly of the 1960s and '70s was overtaken by Microsoft's software monopoly. AT&amp;T had a monopoly on telephone service for most of the 20th century, but now anyone can get a cheap cellphone plan from any number of providers. If the tendency of monopoly businesses was to hold back progress, they would be dangerous, and we'd be right to oppose them. But the history of progress is a history of better monopoly businesses replacing incumbents. Monopolies drive progress because the promise of years or even decades of monopoly profits provides a powerful incentive to innovate. Then monopolies can keep innovating because profits enable them to make the long-term plans and finance the ambitious research projects that firms locked in competition can't dream of.</p>
<p>Here was Milton Friedman's view on monopolies:</p>
<p />
<p>6. Thiel has funded Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) in the past. According to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/04/us/politics/ted-cruz-a-public-firebrand-on-social-issues-is-cooler-when-wooing-donors.html" type="external">The New York Times</a>, Thiel donated $250,000 to Cruz's attorney general campaign, and then in 2012 gave $2 million to Club for Growth, which supported Cruz's Senate campaign at the time.</p>
<p>7. Thiel once wrote that he has little faith in democracy. Thiel wrote in his 2009 Cato Institute essay <a href="http://www.cato-unbound.org/2009/04/13/peter-thiel/education-libertarian" type="external">"The Education of a Libertarian"</a>:</p>
<p>To return to finance, the last economic depression in the United States that did not result in massive government intervention was the collapse of 1920–21. It was sharp but short, and entailed the sort of Schumpeterian “creative destruction” that could lead to a real boom. The decade that followed — the roaring 1920s — was so strong that historians have forgotten the depression that started it. The 1920s were the last decade in American history during which one could be genuinely optimistic about politics. Since 1920, the vast increase in welfare beneficiaries and the extension of the franchise to women — two constituencies that are notoriously tough for libertarians — have rendered the notion of “capitalist democracy” into an oxymoron.</p>
<p>Leftists flipped out at this statement, causing Thiel to clarify: "It would be absurd to suggest that women’s votes will be taken away or that this would solve the political problems that vex us. While I don’t think any class of people should be disenfranchised, I have little hope that voting will make things better."</p> | true | 0 | eyebrows raised thursday morning huffington post reported gop presidential nominee donald trump wants nominate paypal cofounder peter thiel supreme court thiel trumps camps denied trump wants happen thiels spokesman jeremiah hill going far saying huffington posts sources lying statement forbes huffington post however standing story definitely plenty reasons think huffington posts reporting inaccurate chance reporting correct seven things need know thiel 1 thiel successful venture capitalist cofounded paypal 1997 intention providing alternative inconvenient use paper money selling paypal thiel founded hedge fund clarium capital thiel cofounded palantir well company specializes data analysis partly funded cia also facebooks first outside investor according forbes thiel worth estimated 27 billion 2 thiel hasnt practiced law years graduated stanford law school 1992 according forbes apply clerking positions justices antonin scalia anthony kennedy one point never got selected one rejection clerkship eventually led towards career venture capital 3 thiel funded wrestler hulk hogans lawsuit gawker hogan sued gawker publishing sex tape without consent thiel helping pay legal fees lawsuit forced gawker file bankruptcy gawker outed thiel gay 2007 tried worm way claiming didnt saying thiels sexuality known wide circle felt fit discussion beyond circle basically fits definition outing someone weight lawsuit hanging gawker attempted smear thiel supposedly wanting infringe freedom press gawker defendant built business humiliating people sport thiel said back may routinely relied assumption victims would intimidated disgusted even attempt redress clear wrongs freedom press mean freedom publish sex tapes without consent dont think anybody gawker would argue otherwise 4 thiel spoke 2016 republican national committee railed fake culture wars dont pretend agree every plank partys platform thiel said fake culture wars distract us economic decline thiel also thought waste time argue transgender bathroom policies kid great debate defeat soviet union thiel said told great debate gets use bathroom distraction real problems cares 5 thiel interesting view monopolies left likes smear capitalism one common talking points capitalism creates monopolies people opposed thiel hand embraces monopolies open arms 2014 wall street journal piece competition losers adapted book zero one notes startups build future thiel argued static world monopolist rent collector corner market something jack price others choice buy think famous board game deeds shuffled around player player board never changes way win inventing better kind realestate development relative values properties fixed time try buy however thiel argued world dynamic static monopolies exist creative monopolies even government knows one departments works hard create monopolies granting patents new inventions even though another part hunts prosecuting antitrust cases possible question whether anyone really awarded monopoly simply first think something like mobile software design something like apples monopoly profits designing producing marketing iphone clearly reward creating greater abundance artificial scarcity customers happy finally choice paying high prices get smartphone actually works dynamism new monopolies explains old monopolies dont strangle innovation apples ios forefront rise mobile computing dramatically reduced microsofts decadeslong operating system dominance ibms hardware monopoly 1960s 70s overtaken microsofts software monopoly atampt monopoly telephone service 20th century anyone get cheap cellphone plan number providers tendency monopoly businesses hold back progress would dangerous wed right oppose history progress history better monopoly businesses replacing incumbents monopolies drive progress promise years even decades monopoly profits provides powerful incentive innovate monopolies keep innovating profits enable make longterm plans finance ambitious research projects firms locked competition cant dream milton friedmans view monopolies 6 thiel funded sen ted cruz rtx past according new york times thiel donated 250000 cruzs attorney general campaign 2012 gave 2 million club growth supported cruzs senate campaign time 7 thiel wrote little faith democracy thiel wrote 2009 cato institute essay education libertarian return finance last economic depression united states result massive government intervention collapse 192021 sharp short entailed sort schumpeterian creative destruction could lead real boom decade followed roaring 1920s strong historians forgotten depression started 1920s last decade american history one could genuinely optimistic politics since 1920 vast increase welfare beneficiaries extension franchise women two constituencies notoriously tough libertarians rendered notion capitalist democracy oxymoron leftists flipped statement causing thiel clarify would absurd suggest womens votes taken away would solve political problems vex us dont think class people disenfranchised little hope voting make things better | 685 |
<p>Pipeline companies typically offer investors enticing dividend yields. Fueling those payouts is the relatively predictable cash flow these companies generate from their predominantly fee-based assets. That said, while investors can collect a high yield on almost any pipeline stock, some are much better than others.</p>
<p>That's certainly the case when comparing the top five pure-play pipeline companies, which as the following table shows, have wildly different financial metrics:</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>When we compare these companies on the merits of their financial situation with the visibility of their growth prospects, one stands above the rest.</p>
<p>A crucial factor for income investors to consider when comparing pipeline stocks is the underlying strength of their financial situation. As the previous table showed, TransCanada had the highest credit rating while Targa Resources has a junk rating. One thing that's surprising about this is that Targa has a much lower leverage ratio. What this shows is that while leverage plays a role the soundness of a company's balance sheet, it's not the only factor. The rating agencies also placed a high value on a company's dividend coverage and cash flow stability. These factors should also be important to dividend investors because they'll increase a company's ability to sustain its dividend through the tough times.</p>
<p>Take Kinder Morgan, for example. While it currently has the best dividend coverage of the group, that wasn't always the case. The company used to pay out nearly all its cash flow to investors, which resulted in razor-thin dividend coverage similar to where Targa Resources is today. That came back to bite the company when credit started to tighten in the industry as a result of the deepening of the downturn in the oil market. Consequently, it&#160; <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/12/09/kinder-morgan-inc-capitulates-slashes-dividend-75.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=c0bbc2a2-a38c-11e7-aa52-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">slashed its dividend Opens a New Window.</a> to free up cash to help finance growth projects.</p>
<p>A future dividend cut isn't a worry at TransCanada and Enbridge because both generate extremely predictable earnings and retain a significant portion of their cash flow to help finance growth projects. Meanwhile, Targa Resources' payout appears to be at <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/09/05/reduced-dividend-payouts-high-yield-stocks.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=c0bbc2a2-a38c-11e7-aa52-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">risk of getting reduced Opens a New Window.</a> due to its microscopic margin for error, since it's currently paying out more than it's bringing in and 30% of its cash flow has direct exposure to volatile commodity prices.</p>
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<p>Given the importance of these factors, here's how I'd rank the dividend safety of these five pipeline stocks:</p>
<p>While many investors choose an income stock based on its current yield, it's even more important to consider a company's ability to increase that payout because it could enable an investor to collect an even greater income stream in the future. Here's how this group compares:</p>
<p>As that table shows, on yield alone, Targa Resources stands out. Even if the company doesn't increase its dividend over the next few years, Targa could still have the highest yield in 2020. That said, given its tight coverage ratio and elevated exposure to commodity prices, there's a high risk that the company might reduce its payout.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the rest of the companies anticipate increasing their payouts by robust rates in the coming years. Backing those projections are massive backlogs of primarily fee-based expansion projects. Enbridge, for example, currently has 31 billion Canadian dollars' ($25 billion) worth of projects under construction. Meanwhile, Kinder Morgan has more than $12 billion of projects under development. Those expansions, when combined with the company's decision to increase its payout ratio from 25% of cash flow up to 50% are what supports its&#160; <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/07/20/kinder-morgan-inc-unveils-its-new-way-forward.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=c0bbc2a2-a38c-11e7-aa52-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">recently announced plans Opens a New Window.</a> for a massive dividend increase next year, followed by significant increases in both 2019 and 2020.</p>
<p>One other company that stands out on this list is ONEOK. It's on pace to have the second highest-yielding payout in 2020. However, one of the drivers is that ONEOK only expects dividend coverage to be 1.2 times, which is much tighter than the 2.0 times coverage forecast of Kinder Morgan, Enbridge, and TransCanada. That makes ONEOK's payout a bit higher risk.</p>
<p>When factoring in the projections and risk factors, here's how I'd rank the income and growth prospects of this group:</p>
<p>This race is a very tight since Kinder Morgan and Enbridge are neck and neck. However, for investors who need a higher level of income in the near term, with a high probability of growth over the next several years, Enbridge rises to the top. The company offers a well-supported high yield today that it should have no problem growing at a rapid rate over the coming years.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than EnbridgeWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-static%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=fe6654a6-4736-4d56-9a5d-be554b50e7dc&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=c0bbc2a2-a38c-11e7-aa52-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and Enbridge wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
<p><a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-static%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=fe6654a6-4736-4d56-9a5d-be554b50e7dc&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=c0bbc2a2-a38c-11e7-aa52-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Click here Opens a New Window.</a> to learn about these picks!</p>
<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of September 5, 2017</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFmd19/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=c0bbc2a2-a38c-11e7-aa52-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Matthew DiLallo Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of Kinder Morgan and has the following options: short January 2018 $30 puts on Kinder Morgan, long January 2018 $30 calls on Kinder Morgan, and short December 2017 $19 puts on Kinder Morgan. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Enbridge, Kinder Morgan, and ONEOK. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=c0bbc2a2-a38c-11e7-aa52-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | pipeline companies typically offer investors enticing dividend yields fueling payouts relatively predictable cash flow companies generate predominantly feebased assets said investors collect high yield almost pipeline stock much better others thats certainly case comparing top five pureplay pipeline companies following table shows wildly different financial metrics continue reading compare companies merits financial situation visibility growth prospects one stands rest crucial factor income investors consider comparing pipeline stocks underlying strength financial situation previous table showed transcanada highest credit rating targa resources junk rating one thing thats surprising targa much lower leverage ratio shows leverage plays role soundness companys balance sheet factor rating agencies also placed high value companys dividend coverage cash flow stability factors also important dividend investors theyll increase companys ability sustain dividend tough times take kinder morgan example currently best dividend coverage group wasnt always case company used pay nearly cash flow investors resulted razorthin dividend coverage similar targa resources today came back bite company credit started tighten industry result deepening downturn oil market consequently it160 slashed dividend opens new window free cash help finance growth projects future dividend cut isnt worry transcanada enbridge generate extremely predictable earnings retain significant portion cash flow help finance growth projects meanwhile targa resources payout appears risk getting reduced opens new window due microscopic margin error since currently paying bringing 30 cash flow direct exposure volatile commodity prices advertisement given importance factors heres id rank dividend safety five pipeline stocks many investors choose income stock based current yield even important consider companys ability increase payout could enable investor collect even greater income stream future heres group compares table shows yield alone targa resources stands even company doesnt increase dividend next years targa could still highest yield 2020 said given tight coverage ratio elevated exposure commodity prices theres high risk company might reduce payout meanwhile rest companies anticipate increasing payouts robust rates coming years backing projections massive backlogs primarily feebased expansion projects enbridge example currently 31 billion canadian dollars 25 billion worth projects construction meanwhile kinder morgan 12 billion projects development expansions combined companys decision increase payout ratio 25 cash flow 50 supports its160 recently announced plans opens new window massive dividend increase next year followed significant increases 2019 2020 one company stands list oneok pace second highestyielding payout 2020 however one drivers oneok expects dividend coverage 12 times much tighter 20 times coverage forecast kinder morgan enbridge transcanada makes oneoks payout bit higher risk factoring projections risk factors heres id rank income growth prospects group race tight since kinder morgan enbridge neck neck however investors need higher level income near term high probability growth next several years enbridge rises top company offers wellsupported high yield today problem growing rapid rate coming years 10 stocks like better enbridgewhen investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right enbridge wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns september 5 2017 matthew dilallo opens new window owns shares kinder morgan following options short january 2018 30 puts kinder morgan long january 2018 30 calls kinder morgan short december 2017 19 puts kinder morgan motley fool owns shares recommends enbridge kinder morgan oneok motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 556 |
<p />
<p>A vacation home should be a paradise —&#160;a safe haven from the bustle and stress of everyday life. For those who rent out their properties for parts of the year, vacation homes also can be an additional source of income. But protecting those assets from natural and manmade disasters takes work and money.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>The smart vacation homeowner makes sure the second home doesn’t generate more stress than it relieves. The right insurance coverage can go a long way toward putting an owner’s mind at ease.</p>
<p>Standard Homeowners Policies Won’t Do it All</p>
<p>You may think the homeowners insurance policy on your primary residence fully protects you and your possessions. Many standard policies do include some coverage for personal property at an additional residence, but protection for a second home typically doesn’t go any further than that unless you’ve purchased a second policy.</p>
<p>If you took out a mortgage on your vacation home, your lender likely required you to buy a separate home insurance policy. However, vacation homes come with unique risks, so standard coverage may not include all the protection you really need.</p>
<p>Some insurance carriers offer coverage options specifically designed for vacation homes. For others, you’ll have to navigate the fine print yourself. Here are a few of the biggest risks and potential coverage gaps for vacation home owners, as well as suggestions on how to overcome them.</p>
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<p>Location, Location Location</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the qualities that make a location perfect for your <a href="http://www.zillow.com/blog/how-to-find-your-dream-home-146710/" type="external">dream home Opens a New Window.</a> are often the same qualities that make it an insurance nightmare. Consider an oceanfront property, for example. In addition to being susceptible to hurricanes —&#160;wind and hail damage account for nearly half of all homeowners insurance claims per year, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III) —&#160;they also frequently experience flooding, which is not covered under most standard policies.</p>
<p>Mountain homes have a problem, too; standard policies typically exclude all forms of earth movement, including landslides.</p>
<p>Vacancies leave you vulnerable</p>
<p>If your vacation home is not your primary residence, it’s probably safe to assume it will sit unoccupied for several weeks or months every year. In terms of risk, consider the possibility of a small electrical fire or a leaky pipe in an empty house. Both could escape notice until they become serious threats. Additionally, burglars and trespassers are more likely to target homes that appear unoccupied.</p>
<p>Considering the average costs per claim for these three hazards combined (fire, water damage and theft) totaled more than $44,929 in 2013 (according to the III), it’s certainly worth it to take a few easy precautions to ensure you won’t face these costs on your own.</p>
<p>First, make sure your policy’s coverage limits line up with your home’s current replacement cost. Then see that your electrical and plumbing systems are up to date and in good shape. It’s not a bad idea to hire a professional for a thorough inspection.</p>
<p>Leasing Liabilities</p>
<p>One way to circumvent the risks of leaving your vacation home vacant is to rent it to tenants while you’re away. But don’t assume you’ll just pocket easy money when you do. Neglecting to take proper precautions as a landlord also could end up costing you in the long run.</p>
<p>Consider this: If one careless tenant leaves the stove on, damages your belongings or is injured while on your property, you could face the entire cost of cleanup, hospital bills and even lawsuit expenses&#160;— a tab that could easily top $30,000[1]&#160;— on your own.</p>
<p>Homeowners insurance might cover you if you only occasionally rent out your home for short periods of time. However, it’s still a good idea to cover all your bases with background checks and lease agreements. You also should consider investing in an umbrella policy to help protect yourself against the extra liabilities of having tenants.</p>
<p>If your vacation property is occupied by tenants for more than 4 weeks out of the year, it’s safe to assume standard coverage isn’t going to cut it. In order to protect yourself, you’ll need landlord’s insurance. Policies range from simple coverage for things such as fire and vandalism to open peril policies, which cover all circumstances except those specifically excluded in your policy.</p>
<p>It’s Not all Bad News</p>
<p>If your dreams of enjoying a vacation home haven’t been crushed yet, there is some good news. Vacation homes typically qualify for the same safety discounts as your primary home, so responsible investments such as deadbolt locks, home security systems and other upgrades are typically met with relatively lower premiums.</p>
<p>And don’t worry. Once you’ve taken care of all the paperwork, the hardest part of owning a vacation home is leaving it at the end of the season.</p>
<p>[1] Combined average cost per claim of water damage, theft and medical payments, according to the III.</p>
<p>Read More from Zillow</p>
<p>Kelly McMurtrie writes for&#160; <a href="http://homeownersinsurance.com/" type="external">HomeownersInsurance.com Opens a New Window.</a>, an online insurance resource for homeowners and drivers across the country. Offering comparative homeowners and automobile insurance rates, consumers rely on HomeownersInsurance.com for the most competitive rates from the top-rated insurance carriers in the country. The&#160; <a href="http://homeownersinsurance.com/blog/" type="external">HomeownersInsurance.com blog Opens a New Window.</a>&#160;provides fresh tips and advice on a range of financial topics to help homeowners and homebuyers make educated decisions about their insurance purchases.</p>
<p>Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow.</p> | true | 0 | vacation home paradise 160a safe bustle stress everyday life rent properties parts year vacation homes also additional source income protecting assets natural manmade disasters takes work money continue reading smart vacation homeowner makes sure second home doesnt generate stress relieves right insurance coverage go long way toward putting owners mind ease standard homeowners policies wont may think homeowners insurance policy primary residence fully protects possessions many standard policies include coverage personal property additional residence protection second home typically doesnt go unless youve purchased second policy took mortgage vacation home lender likely required buy separate home insurance policy however vacation homes come unique risks standard coverage may include protection really need insurance carriers offer coverage options specifically designed vacation homes others youll navigate fine print biggest risks potential coverage gaps vacation home owners well suggestions overcome advertisement location location location unfortunately qualities make location perfect dream home opens new window often qualities make insurance nightmare consider oceanfront property example addition susceptible hurricanes 160wind hail damage account nearly half homeowners insurance claims per year according insurance information institute iii 160they also frequently experience flooding covered standard policies mountain homes problem standard policies typically exclude forms earth movement including landslides vacancies leave vulnerable vacation home primary residence probably safe assume sit unoccupied several weeks months every year terms risk consider possibility small electrical fire leaky pipe empty house could escape notice become serious threats additionally burglars trespassers likely target homes appear unoccupied considering average costs per claim three hazards combined fire water damage theft totaled 44929 2013 according iii certainly worth take easy precautions ensure wont face costs first make sure policys coverage limits line homes current replacement cost see electrical plumbing systems date good shape bad idea hire professional thorough inspection leasing liabilities one way circumvent risks leaving vacation home vacant rent tenants youre away dont assume youll pocket easy money neglecting take proper precautions landlord also could end costing long run consider one careless tenant leaves stove damages belongings injured property could face entire cost cleanup hospital bills even lawsuit expenses160 tab could easily top 300001160 homeowners insurance might cover occasionally rent home short periods time however still good idea cover bases background checks lease agreements also consider investing umbrella policy help protect extra liabilities tenants vacation property occupied tenants 4 weeks year safe assume standard coverage isnt going cut order protect youll need landlords insurance policies range simple coverage things fire vandalism open peril policies cover circumstances except specifically excluded policy bad news dreams enjoying vacation home havent crushed yet good news vacation homes typically qualify safety discounts primary home responsible investments deadbolt locks home security systems upgrades typically met relatively lower premiums dont worry youve taken care paperwork hardest part owning vacation home leaving end season 1 combined average cost per claim water damage theft medical payments according iii read zillow kelly mcmurtrie writes for160 homeownersinsurancecom opens new window online insurance resource homeowners drivers across country offering comparative homeowners automobile insurance rates consumers rely homeownersinsurancecom competitive rates toprated insurance carriers country the160 homeownersinsurancecom blog opens new window160provides fresh tips advice range financial topics help homeowners homebuyers make educated decisions insurance purchases note views opinions expressed article author necessarily reflect opinion position zillow | 533 |
<p>This is going to take a little time, so please try to bear with me…</p>
<p>POINT ONE: WE'VE SEEN NO EVIDENCE</p>
<p>Whether the following story is true or not, I cannot say. But it’s a good one… Once upon a time, Houdini was performing at an outdoor stadium when he walked out on stage with a living, breathing African elephant. He promised the full-capacity crowd that "Before your very eyes!" he would make the elephant disappear.</p>
<p>As we all know, magicians like to put on a show, and that is exactly what Houdini did. While the enraptured audience waited for the impossible, Houdini lit off some spectacular fireworks and then brought out the dancing girls. And when it was all over -- gasp! -- the elephant had disappeared.</p>
<p>Not really.</p>
<p>While everyone was distracted, the stage manager came out and calmly walked the elephant backstage.</p>
<p>Which brings me to the Intelligence Community's (IC) Friday presentation of their oh-so important findings into the Russians "meddling" into our presidential election.</p>
<p>Did you see all those fireworks?</p>
<p>Good heavens, the sky was lit up with hearings, testimony, witnesses, reports, statements, affidavits, appraisals, and a whole bunch of assessments that in any number of ways confirmed, corroborated, verified and validated all the information and documentation attached to the investigations into the substantiations, evaluations, affirmations, citations, examinations, and denunciations.</p>
<p>Then the dancing girls arrived… Only these dancing girls were nothing like Houdini's dancing girls. These were slutty, smutty, easy, indecent, dirty, dancing girls -- or what we call the National Media. And right on cue, out they came, all performing the exact same song and dance in perfect unison. You couldn't tell one from the other, because they are all alike, especially in the Department of Not Thinking.</p>
<p>And when the show was over, the audience was so awed, no one noticed one itsy-bity, teeny-tiny little fact: that we were given absolutely "no information about how the agencies had collected their data or come to their conclusions."</p>
<p>That's not my belief, by the way, that is the conclusion of the left-wing/Trump-hating <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/06/us/politics/russia-hack-report.html?smid=tw-nytimes&amp;smtyp=cur" type="external">New York Times</a>, and you can bet they buried that important nugget under four paragraphs of Defcon 1 freak-out over a…</p>
<p>…damning and surprisingly detailed account of Russia’s efforts to undermine the American electoral system and Mrs. Clinton in particular, went on to assess that Mr. Putin had “aspired to help President-elect Trump’s election chances when possible by discrediting Secretary Clinton and publicly contrasting her unfavorably to him.”</p>
<p>Okay, whatever, but we were given no evidence.</p>
<p>None. Zippo. Nada.</p>
<p>That might not matter to you.</p>
<p>It matters to me.</p>
<p>Regardless, I am now being told that I am supposed to believe the IC, that all good Americans are supposed to believe the same IC that missed Pearl Harbor, the Russian invasion of Afghanistan, the fall of the Berlin Wall, 9/11, Saddam's WMD; the same IC that <a href="http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/07/03/dni-clapper-could-be-investigated-for-perjury" type="external">committed perjury</a> in front of the entire world and secretly leaked information from Friday's report to three news outlets openly hostile to Trump: The New York Times, The Washington Post, and NBC News.</p>
<p>And you can bet the house that across the land the pressure is now on to … believe in the approved way.</p>
<p>On Sunday, CNN's Jake Tapper practically threw a valve when Trump surrogate Kellyanne Conway referred to the Russian hack of emails belonging to the Democrat National Committee and top Clintonista John Podesta, as " <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/jake-tapper-kellyanne-conway-russian-hacking-dnc-2017-1" type="external">alleged</a>" (she later said that was not what she meant).</p>
<p>Hey, just because Jake Tapper publicly and proudly insists on being a Government Stooge, that doesn't mean I am going to let him or anyone bully me into turning off my brain and ability to reason. There is no Club I want to belong to that badly.</p>
<p>But as an olive branch, let me say the following: anytime the incompetent, dishonest and highly politicized IC wants to cough up some actual evidence, me and my open mind are not hard to find.</p>
<p>In the meantime, because I believe in facts and reason, screw you, I'm sticking with ALLEGED.</p>
<p>POINT TWO: THERE WAS NO FREAK-OUT OVER PREVIOUS, MUCH MORE SERIOUS HACKS</p>
<p><a href="http://foreignpolicy.com/2010/01/22/the-top-10-chinese-cyber-attacks-that-we-know-of/" type="external">Since 2008</a>, the Chinese have hacked the 2008 election (hey, I'm just using the recently approved language), the office of Senator Bill Nelson, Lockheed Martin, and through something called Ghostnet, "penetrated more than 1200 systems in 103 countries."</p>
<p>Also, according to <a href="http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2016/06/22/Cyberattacks-Against-US-Government-1300-2006" type="external">the Fiscal Times</a> (earlier this year):</p>
<p>Just last year, Russian hackers attacked the State Department email system in what was called the “worst ever” cyberattack against a federal agency, and the Office of Personnel Management reported that 5.6 million Americans’ fingerprints were stolen as part of another malicious attack. The Department of Veterans affairs thwarted 1 billion cyber threats. And last week, hackers invited by the government found 138 security flaws on five Pentagon websites. …</p>
<p>Eighteen agencies identified as having “high-impact systems” — those that hold information that, if lost, could cause “catastrophic harm” to individuals, the government or the country — said that cyberattacks from other nations (think China and Russia, for example) are the most serious and most common threat they see. Phishing was the most frequent type of attack, and email was the most frequent vehicle. “During fiscal year 2014, 11 of the 18 agencies reported 2,267 incidents affecting their high-impact systems, with almost 500 of the incidents involving the installation of malicious code,” the report says.</p>
<p>Here's <a href="http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2015/11/continued-federal-cyber-breaches-in-2015" type="external">even more</a>, including cyber-attacks on the White House, the FAA, the IRS and the Army.</p>
<p>In summation: since Obama became president, the Defense Department, State Department, White House, FAA, and OPM have been attacked or outright infiltrated by foreign hackers.</p>
<p>QUESTION: Am I going out on a limb stating that the above hacks are objectively more serious, dangerous, and consequential than some emails from the DNC and John Podesta?</p>
<p>Let me phrase it this way…</p>
<p>Given a choice between the Russians hacking the FAA, the White House, the Department of Defense OR emails written by a bunch of political hacks, which would you choose? Which is more alarming? Which keeps you up nights?</p>
<p>Basically, we live in a country where Democrats, their mainstream media, and the IC, save their biggest freak-out (there isn't even a close second place) -- not for attacks on the White House, FAA, State Department, or Department of Defense -- but rather over emails written by Democrats.</p>
<p>POINT THREE: THE HACKED EMAILS TOLD THE TRUTH</p>
<p>Even if the Russians were involved in the DNC/Podesta hacks, what was the "terrible" consequence, what was done with those emails?</p>
<p>Only one thing: Without being manipulated in any way, they were released to the American public through WikiLeaks</p>
<p>In other words, Americans were not just given the truth, but in the run-up to a consequential presidential election, we were told the unfiltered, unedited, un-spun truth about two incredibly powerful institutions desperate to grab the levers of American power.</p>
<p>CONCLUSION</p>
<p>Our government and our media are so desperate to control us, that no one's hair started on fire over legitimately dangerous cyber-attacks, until…</p>
<p>Americans were told the truth about their media and their government.</p>
<p>And look at the language these lying fascists are using: Hacking the election. Hacking democracy. Interfering with our electoral process. Manipulating the vote.</p>
<p>What nonsense.</p>
<p>Whether the Russians hacked us or not, watch the elephant, because here's the bottom line…</p>
<p>Using outright lies, half-truths and hyperbolic disinformation, our media and our government are trying to manipulate us into believing that it is poisonous to our democracy when…</p>
<p>We learn the truth.</p>
<p>Follow John Nolte on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/NolteNC" type="external">@NolteNC</a></p> | true | 0 | going take little time please try bear point one weve seen evidence whether following story true say good one upon time houdini performing outdoor stadium walked stage living breathing african elephant promised fullcapacity crowd eyes would make elephant disappear know magicians like put show exactly houdini enraptured audience waited impossible houdini lit spectacular fireworks brought dancing girls gasp elephant disappeared really everyone distracted stage manager came calmly walked elephant backstage brings intelligence communitys ic friday presentation ohso important findings russians meddling presidential election see fireworks good heavens sky lit hearings testimony witnesses reports statements affidavits appraisals whole bunch assessments number ways confirmed corroborated verified validated information documentation attached investigations substantiations evaluations affirmations citations examinations denunciations dancing girls arrived dancing girls nothing like houdinis dancing girls slutty smutty easy indecent dirty dancing girls call national media right cue came performing exact song dance perfect unison couldnt tell one alike especially department thinking show audience awed one noticed one itsybity teenytiny little fact given absolutely information agencies collected data come conclusions thats belief way conclusion leftwingtrumphating new york times bet buried important nugget four paragraphs defcon 1 freakout damning surprisingly detailed account russias efforts undermine american electoral system mrs clinton particular went assess mr putin aspired help presidentelect trumps election chances possible discrediting secretary clinton publicly contrasting unfavorably okay whatever given evidence none zippo nada might matter matters regardless told supposed believe ic good americans supposed believe ic missed pearl harbor russian invasion afghanistan fall berlin wall 911 saddams wmd ic committed perjury front entire world secretly leaked information fridays report three news outlets openly hostile trump new york times washington post nbc news bet house across land pressure believe approved way sunday cnns jake tapper practically threw valve trump surrogate kellyanne conway referred russian hack emails belonging democrat national committee top clintonista john podesta alleged later said meant hey jake tapper publicly proudly insists government stooge doesnt mean going let anyone bully turning brain ability reason club want belong badly olive branch let say following anytime incompetent dishonest highly politicized ic wants cough actual evidence open mind hard find meantime believe facts reason screw im sticking alleged point two freakout previous much serious hacks since 2008 chinese hacked 2008 election hey im using recently approved language office senator bill nelson lockheed martin something called ghostnet penetrated 1200 systems 103 countries also according fiscal times earlier year last year russian hackers attacked state department email system called worst ever cyberattack federal agency office personnel management reported 56 million americans fingerprints stolen part another malicious attack department veterans affairs thwarted 1 billion cyber threats last week hackers invited government found 138 security flaws five pentagon websites eighteen agencies identified highimpact systems hold information lost could cause catastrophic harm individuals government country said cyberattacks nations think china russia example serious common threat see phishing frequent type attack email frequent vehicle fiscal year 2014 11 18 agencies reported 2267 incidents affecting highimpact systems almost 500 incidents involving installation malicious code report says heres even including cyberattacks white house faa irs army summation since obama became president defense department state department white house faa opm attacked outright infiltrated foreign hackers question going limb stating hacks objectively serious dangerous consequential emails dnc john podesta let phrase way given choice russians hacking faa white house department defense emails written bunch political hacks would choose alarming keeps nights basically live country democrats mainstream media ic save biggest freakout isnt even close second place attacks white house faa state department department defense rather emails written democrats point three hacked emails told truth even russians involved dncpodesta hacks terrible consequence done emails one thing without manipulated way released american public wikileaks words americans given truth runup consequential presidential election told unfiltered unedited unspun truth two incredibly powerful institutions desperate grab levers american power conclusion government media desperate control us ones hair started fire legitimately dangerous cyberattacks americans told truth media government look language lying fascists using hacking election hacking democracy interfering electoral process manipulating vote nonsense whether russians hacked us watch elephant heres bottom line using outright lies halftruths hyperbolic disinformation media government trying manipulate us believing poisonous democracy learn truth follow john nolte twitter noltenc | 695 |
<p>Retirees these days are living longer than ever before. That means there's a need to not only sustain your income with dividends, but also to grow your nest egg by investing in high-quality businesses.&#160;While you can find a number of great companies in the U.S., some of the most attractive businesses, in terms of income and share-price appreciation potential, can be found outside the United States.</p>
<p>With this in mind, we conferred with three of our Foolish investors and asked them what international stock they'd suggest retirees take a closer look at. Topping the list were U.K.-based drug giant GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK), Swiss-based food behemoth&#160;Nestle (NASDAQOTH: NSRGY), and the "King of Beers," Belgium's Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE: BUD).</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFUltraLong/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=256a7450-c34a-11e7-bece-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Sean Williams Opens a New Window.</a> (GlaxoSmithKline): Retirees typically want two things in a stock: capital preservation and income. Interestingly enough, though, domestic markets aren't always the best place to find this combination. Sometimes the healthiest and safest dividends can be found by investing in international stocks. One such company that could be just what the doctor ordered for retirees is U.K.-based drug giant GlaxoSmithKline.</p>
<p>A few years ago, GlaxoSmithKline wasn't on the best footing. Its lead drug, Advair, which used to treat COPD and asthma, had lost patent protection and was facing the prospect of generic competition in short order. It was also struggling with the launch of a handful of next-generation COPD and asthma products designed to take Advair's place. It takes time to gain insurer approval for new products, as well as to educate doctors that there are new options available.</p>
<p>However, following this rough patch, GlaxoSmithKline is looking to be among the quickest-growing Big Pharma stocks. Both Breo Ellipta and Anoro Ellipta are delivering rapid sales growth as a result of clearing their hurdles with insurers and physicians. Through the first six months of the year, Breo and Anoro grew sales by 69% and 67%, respectively, on a constant currency basis.&#160;In fact, its new drug sales (including respiratory) appear to be more than outpacing the loss in revenue from weaker Advair sales, as well as weakness in other mature therapies.</p>
<p>Glaxo is also benefiting from its majority ownership in ViiV Healthcare, which has developed some of the most popular HIV maintenance medicines, Tivicay and Triumeq. The company's HIV business may deliver around $5 billion in sales this year, with a growth rate that could be as high as 20% since there is no HIV cure.</p>
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<p>Lastly, GlaxoSmithKline <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/06/09/get-paid-while-you-wait-3-top-dividend-stocks-in-b.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=256a7450-c34a-11e7-bece-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">completely transformed its business Opens a New Window.</a> in 2015 by swapping assets with Novartis. The three-part deal sent Glaxo's oncology division to Novartis in exchange for Novartis' vaccine division, minus influenza, along with nearly $9 billion in cash. Lastly, the duo formed a joint venture for their consumer health products division.&#160;The result has been significantly lower costs for both parties, along with a healthier cash balance from the deal for GlaxoSmithKline.</p>
<p>With a dividend yield of nearly 5%, this steady drug stock could be just what retirees need in their portfolios.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFValueMagnet/activity.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=256a7450-c34a-11e7-bece-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Jordan Wathen Opens a New Window.</a> (Nestle SA):&#160; <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/08/12/the-packaged-foods-industry-investing-essentials.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=256a7450-c34a-11e7-bece-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Consumer packaged-goods Opens a New Window.</a> company Nestle has weathered a general industry decline thanks to price increases that have helped fuel organic growth, which excludes the impact of currency fluctuations and mergers or acquisitions.</p>
<p>Nestle has a strong foothold in developed and emerging economies alike. Developed markets produced about 57% of sales last quarter, with emerging markets delivering the remainder. Given robust growth overseas, it shouldn't be long until emerging markets drive the majority of its sales.</p>
<p>Growth in Asia, Oceania, and Africa (Nestle calls it "Zone AOA") delivered healthy 4.9% real growth in product volume, helped by a 1.6% increase in pricing. Nestle's water business remains a powerhouse, with revenue growing 2.2%, almost entirely because of a volume increase and a 0.1-percentage-point price increase.</p>
<p>Relative to other packaged-goods businesses, Nestle's results have held up well, and its portfolio of brands in emerging markets should help lead growth for years to come. Nestle has a reputation as a corporate entity with a long-term horizon that often spans not years, but decades. Shareholders would be wise to take the long-term view with its shares, too.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/keithnoonan/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=256a7450-c34a-11e7-bece-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Keith Noonan Opens a New Window.</a>&#160;(AB-InBev):&#160;With American flags frequently found on Budweiser's packaging and promotional materials, it's easy to think of AB-InBev as a domestic company. True enough, the Anheuser-Beusch part of the corporate equation was founded and operates in Missouri, but AB-InBev is headquartered in Belgium, and the company got even more international following its 2016 acquisition of Britain-based SABMiller. That's a global base of operation that reflects the company's hold on the beer market.</p>
<p>The company produces more than 25% of global beer volume and seven of the world's 10 best-selling beers. Of its roughly 500 brands, 18 produce annual sales of more than $1 billion, and it's hard to see how a competitor or market conditions might unseat the reigning king of beers.</p>
<p>Even in periods of economic uncertainty, beer consumption is unlikely to take a huge hit, which makes AB-InBev a business that's a good fit for retirement portfolios. The company's stellar brand portfolio and supply chain advantages also give it a moat that should help stave off competition and continue to capture the lion's share of profits in the global beer market.</p>
<p>The appeal of AB-InBev's stock is rounded out by a healthy returned income component. Shares yield roughly 3.5%, and while its current disbursement represents 102% of trailing earnings and 84% of trailing free cash flow, management has indicated that it will continue to boost its payout going forward. With <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/07/27/anheuser-busch-inbev-delivers.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=256a7450-c34a-11e7-bece-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">price increases Opens a New Window.</a>, cost-saving initiatives, and the SABMiller acquisition opening up opportunities in high-growth markets like Africa, the beer giant has avenues to increasing earnings that should pave the way for long-term dividend growth.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than Anheuser-Busch InBev NVWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-static%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=11a8771d-d06d-4282-9df6-5bb691416fc1&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=256a7450-c34a-11e7-bece-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and Anheuser-Busch InBev NV wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
<p><a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-static%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=11a8771d-d06d-4282-9df6-5bb691416fc1&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=256a7450-c34a-11e7-bece-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Click here Opens a New Window.</a> to learn about these picks!</p>
<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of October 9, 2017</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFValueMagnet/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=256a7450-c34a-11e7-bece-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Jordan Wathen Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. <a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFNoons/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=256a7450-c34a-11e7-bece-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Keith Noonan Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. <a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFUltraLong/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=256a7450-c34a-11e7-bece-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Sean Williams Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Anheuser-Busch InBev NV. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=256a7450-c34a-11e7-bece-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | retirees days living longer ever means theres need sustain income dividends also grow nest egg investing highquality businesses160while find number great companies us attractive businesses terms income shareprice appreciation potential found outside united states mind conferred three foolish investors asked international stock theyd suggest retirees take closer look topping list ukbased drug giant glaxosmithkline nyse gsk swissbased food behemoth160nestle nasdaqoth nsrgy king beers belgiums anheuserbusch inbev nyse bud continue reading sean williams opens new window glaxosmithkline retirees typically want two things stock capital preservation income interestingly enough though domestic markets arent always best place find combination sometimes healthiest safest dividends found investing international stocks one company could doctor ordered retirees ukbased drug giant glaxosmithkline years ago glaxosmithkline wasnt best footing lead drug advair used treat copd asthma lost patent protection facing prospect generic competition short order also struggling launch handful nextgeneration copd asthma products designed take advairs place takes time gain insurer approval new products well educate doctors new options available however following rough patch glaxosmithkline looking among quickestgrowing big pharma stocks breo ellipta anoro ellipta delivering rapid sales growth result clearing hurdles insurers physicians first six months year breo anoro grew sales 69 67 respectively constant currency basis160in fact new drug sales including respiratory appear outpacing loss revenue weaker advair sales well weakness mature therapies glaxo also benefiting majority ownership viiv healthcare developed popular hiv maintenance medicines tivicay triumeq companys hiv business may deliver around 5 billion sales year growth rate could high 20 since hiv cure advertisement lastly glaxosmithkline completely transformed business opens new window 2015 swapping assets novartis threepart deal sent glaxos oncology division novartis exchange novartis vaccine division minus influenza along nearly 9 billion cash lastly duo formed joint venture consumer health products division160the result significantly lower costs parties along healthier cash balance deal glaxosmithkline dividend yield nearly 5 steady drug stock could retirees need portfolios jordan wathen opens new window nestle sa160 consumer packagedgoods opens new window company nestle weathered general industry decline thanks price increases helped fuel organic growth excludes impact currency fluctuations mergers acquisitions nestle strong foothold developed emerging economies alike developed markets produced 57 sales last quarter emerging markets delivering remainder given robust growth overseas shouldnt long emerging markets drive majority sales growth asia oceania africa nestle calls zone aoa delivered healthy 49 real growth product volume helped 16 increase pricing nestles water business remains powerhouse revenue growing 22 almost entirely volume increase 01percentagepoint price increase relative packagedgoods businesses nestles results held well portfolio brands emerging markets help lead growth years come nestle reputation corporate entity longterm horizon often spans years decades shareholders would wise take longterm view shares keith noonan opens new window160abinbev160with american flags frequently found budweisers packaging promotional materials easy think abinbev domestic company true enough anheuserbeusch part corporate equation founded operates missouri abinbev headquartered belgium company got even international following 2016 acquisition britainbased sabmiller thats global base operation reflects companys hold beer market company produces 25 global beer volume seven worlds 10 bestselling beers roughly 500 brands 18 produce annual sales 1 billion hard see competitor market conditions might unseat reigning king beers even periods economic uncertainty beer consumption unlikely take huge hit makes abinbev business thats good fit retirement portfolios companys stellar brand portfolio supply chain advantages also give moat help stave competition continue capture lions share profits global beer market appeal abinbevs stock rounded healthy returned income component shares yield roughly 35 current disbursement represents 102 trailing earnings 84 trailing free cash flow management indicated continue boost payout going forward price increases opens new window costsaving initiatives sabmiller acquisition opening opportunities highgrowth markets like africa beer giant avenues increasing earnings pave way longterm dividend growth 10 stocks like better anheuserbusch inbev nvwhen investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right anheuserbusch inbev nv wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns october 9 2017 jordan wathen opens new window position stocks mentioned keith noonan opens new window position stocks mentioned sean williams opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool owns shares recommends anheuserbusch inbev nv motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 711 |
<p />
<p>What stock is "best" is undeniably subjective, but Exelixis' (NASDAQ: EXEL) 196% return this year certainly makes it worthy of consideration.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Shares in the once-maligned cancer drug developer have enjoyed a resurgence this year following the successful launch of its new kidney cancer drug, and meaningful sales are only now beginning to roll in. Can Exelixis continue to be one of the best-performing biotechs in 2017? Let's take a closer look.</p>
<p>Up until recently, Exelixis' only drug on the market has been Cometriq, a medullary thyroid cancer treatment that targets a small patient population and that generated a meager $37 million in sales in 2015.</p>
<p>Back in 2014,investors had hoped that a study of Cometriq in prostate cancer patients would pan out and send sales soaring much higher than that; however, disappointing phase 3 results shelved Cometriq in that indication and cast doubt on Cometriq's potential use in larger indications. Unsurprisingly, those concerns caused Exelixis shares to sink from a month-end peak of $7.06 in February 2014 to a month-end low of $1.44 in December 2014.</p>
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<p>Exelixis' fortunes, though, have changed since then. Last year, management announced that a subset of kidney cancer patients given a reformulation of Cometriq called Cabometyx lived longer than patients who received the then-current standard of care drug, Affinitor.</p>
<p>Specifically, patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma who had received prior anti-angiogenic therapy received either cabometyx or Afinitor once-daily.Median progression-free survival was 7.4 months for the Cabometyx arm of the study and 3.8 months in the Afinitor arm of the study. Importantly, Cabometyx delivered median overall survival of 21.4 compared to 16.5 months for Afinitor.</p>
<p>That performance kick-started shares and ultimately resulted in Exelixis winning FDA approval for Cabometyx's use in these patients this past April.</p>
<p>So far, Cabometyx is off to a fast start. Coming out of the third quarter, Exelixis' management pegs Cabometyx's market share at 20% in the second-line setting and 35% in the third-line setting. As a result, Cabometyx's sales in its first full quarter on the market totaled $31.2 million in Q3.</p>
<p>Cabometyx's overall survival benefit in trials is leading to doctors increasingly embracing it over Afinitor, a drug that brought in more than $1.6 billion in sales last year.</p>
<p>Exelixis management thinks Cabometyx can compete for up to 45% of the oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor drug market in the second- and third-line settings, and that Cabometyx could win away some of the 38% market share in the second-line setting held by immunotherapies.</p>
<p>If management is right, it could translate into hundreds of millions of dollars in additional Cabometyx sales.</p>
<p>In the U.S. alone, there are 17,000 renal cell carcinoma patients that have failed at least one treatment, and with a$165,000 per year price tag and an average treatment duration of 7.6 months, they represent a peak sales potential of $1.8 billion annually. Exelixis won't capture all of this market, but a doubling of its market share would result in significant sales growth.</p>
<p>An even bigger potential opportunity might come from expanding Cabometyx's label to include its use in the first-line advanced kidney cancer setting.</p>
<p>There are over300,000 cases of renal cell carcinoma diagnosed in the U.S. annually, and about a third of these patients are diagnosed with advanced cancer that could benefit from first-line use of a drug like Cabometyx. Currently, the first-line setting is dominated by Sutent, a Pfizer drug with$260 million in quarterly sales.</p>
<p>Last month, Exelixis rolled out trial data evaluating Cabometyx head to head against Sutent in the first-line setting, and the data was good enough for management to announce plans to file for Cabometyx's approval in that patient population.</p>
<p>Specifically, Cabozantinib improved progression-free survival versus Sutent, decreasing the rate of disease progression or death by 31%. The objective response rate was 46% in theCabometyx arm of the study, which handily outpaced Sutent's 18% objective response rate.</p>
<p>Median progression-free survival for Cabometyx patients was 8.2 months compared to 5.6 months for Sutent, and at a median follow-up of 22.8 months, the median overall survival for Cabometyx patients was 30.3 months versus 21.8 months for Sutent.</p>
<p>Overall, those results are strong enough for me to think that this drug, if approved, could win away a good chunk of Sutent's sales.</p>
<p>With a $4.8 billion market cap and annualized net product sales of around $160 million, Exelixis shares may already be pricing in a lot of Cabometyx opportunity.</p>
<p>However, the company's valuation could be nudged higher if quarterly sales expand quickly -- and if trials evaluating Cabometyx in liver cancer patients succeed. Results from a phase 3 liver cancer study are anticipated next year.</p>
<p>Cabometyx makes Exelixis a stock worth considering, especially if management can leverage sales growth to turn profitable in 2017. Industry watchers think Exelixis will lose $0.47 this year and $0.02 next year, but if Cabometyx sales grow quickly, Exelixis could exit 2017 as one of only a few profitable mid-cap cancer companies.</p>
<p>Forget the 2016 election: 10 stocks we like better than Exelixis Donald Trump was just elected president, and volatility is up. But here's why you should ignore the election:</p>
<p>Investing geniuses Tom and David Gardner have spent a long time beating the market no matter who's in the White House. In fact, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fecap-foolcom-bbn-election%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0000468%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6454%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=dc2a6db9-9a04-4996-9df3-6de13157d301&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">ten best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now...and Exelixis wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
<p><a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fecap-foolcom-bbn-election%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0000468%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6454%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=dc2a6db9-9a04-4996-9df3-6de13157d301&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Click here Opens a New Window.</a> to learn about these picks!</p>
<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of November 7, 2016.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/EBCapitalMarkets/info.aspx" type="external">Todd Campbell Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned.Todd owns E.B. Capital Markets, LLC. E.B. Capital's clients may have positions in the companies mentioned. Like this article? Follow him onTwitter where he goes by the handle <a href="https://twitter.com/ebcapital" type="external">@ebcapital Opens a New Window.</a>to see more articles like this.</p>
<p>The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Exelixis. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/motley.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | stock best undeniably subjective exelixis nasdaq exel 196 return year certainly makes worthy consideration continue reading shares oncemaligned cancer drug developer enjoyed resurgence year following successful launch new kidney cancer drug meaningful sales beginning roll exelixis continue one bestperforming biotechs 2017 lets take closer look recently exelixis drug market cometriq medullary thyroid cancer treatment targets small patient population generated meager 37 million sales 2015 back 2014investors hoped study cometriq prostate cancer patients would pan send sales soaring much higher however disappointing phase 3 results shelved cometriq indication cast doubt cometriqs potential use larger indications unsurprisingly concerns caused exelixis shares sink monthend peak 706 february 2014 monthend low 144 december 2014 advertisement exelixis fortunes though changed since last year management announced subset kidney cancer patients given reformulation cometriq called cabometyx lived longer patients received thencurrent standard care drug affinitor specifically patients advanced renal cell carcinoma received prior antiangiogenic therapy received either cabometyx afinitor oncedailymedian progressionfree survival 74 months cabometyx arm study 38 months afinitor arm study importantly cabometyx delivered median overall survival 214 compared 165 months afinitor performance kickstarted shares ultimately resulted exelixis winning fda approval cabometyxs use patients past april far cabometyx fast start coming third quarter exelixis management pegs cabometyxs market share 20 secondline setting 35 thirdline setting result cabometyxs sales first full quarter market totaled 312 million q3 cabometyxs overall survival benefit trials leading doctors increasingly embracing afinitor drug brought 16 billion sales last year exelixis management thinks cabometyx compete 45 oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor drug market second thirdline settings cabometyx could win away 38 market share secondline setting held immunotherapies management right could translate hundreds millions dollars additional cabometyx sales us alone 17000 renal cell carcinoma patients failed least one treatment a165000 per year price tag average treatment duration 76 months represent peak sales potential 18 billion annually exelixis wont capture market doubling market share would result significant sales growth even bigger potential opportunity might come expanding cabometyxs label include use firstline advanced kidney cancer setting over300000 cases renal cell carcinoma diagnosed us annually third patients diagnosed advanced cancer could benefit firstline use drug like cabometyx currently firstline setting dominated sutent pfizer drug with260 million quarterly sales last month exelixis rolled trial data evaluating cabometyx head head sutent firstline setting data good enough management announce plans file cabometyxs approval patient population specifically cabozantinib improved progressionfree survival versus sutent decreasing rate disease progression death 31 objective response rate 46 thecabometyx arm study handily outpaced sutents 18 objective response rate median progressionfree survival cabometyx patients 82 months compared 56 months sutent median followup 228 months median overall survival cabometyx patients 303 months versus 218 months sutent overall results strong enough think drug approved could win away good chunk sutents sales 48 billion market cap annualized net product sales around 160 million exelixis shares may already pricing lot cabometyx opportunity however companys valuation could nudged higher quarterly sales expand quickly trials evaluating cabometyx liver cancer patients succeed results phase 3 liver cancer study anticipated next year cabometyx makes exelixis stock worth considering especially management leverage sales growth turn profitable 2017 industry watchers think exelixis lose 047 year 002 next year cabometyx sales grow quickly exelixis could exit 2017 one profitable midcap cancer companies forget 2016 election 10 stocks like better exelixis donald trump elected president volatility heres ignore election investing geniuses tom david gardner spent long time beating market matter whos white house fact newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe ten best stocks opens new window investors buy right nowand exelixis wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns november 7 2016 todd campbell opens new window position stocks mentionedtodd owns eb capital markets llc eb capitals clients may positions companies mentioned like article follow ontwitter goes handle ebcapital opens new windowto see articles 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<p>Oil was to have been Brazil's "passport to the future," but the grand dreams tied to state company Petrobras have been brought to a screeching halt not only by falling crude prices, but by a crisis of its own making.</p>
<p>An expanding investigation into a kickback scandal at Brazil's largest company is rippling through the industry, suspending contracts, cutting off credit supplies and forcing layoffs at shipyards and other firms that had been gearing up for the anticipated oil boom.</p>
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<p>Not long ago, President Dilma Rousseff had promised that exploration of rich, offshore fields would create hundreds of thousands of jobs and provide royalty income to finally improve Brazil's schools and health care system. But with no end to the investigation in sight, it's anyone's guess as to when Brazil will reap the rewards of its oil wealth.</p>
<p>"In 2008, everyone thought Brazil was becoming an oil superpower," said Adriano Pires, an energy consultant and former official at the government National Petroleum Agency. "Those big plans of expansion are all being reviewed."</p>
<p>Federal investigators say that over the last decade, construction firms paid about $800 million in bribes and other funds by overvaluing contracts with Petrobras and funneling some of the money to the ruling Workers' Party and its affiliates.</p>
<p>Eighty-seven people have been charged so far, including two former Petrobras directors. And on Friday night, the Supreme Court gave the attorney general permission to expand the investigation to dozens of politicians, including a former president and the heads of both houses of congress.</p>
<p>"It cast suspicion on all of Petrobras' contracts," said Claudio Pinho, a lawyer who specializes in the oil and gas industry. "It's paralyzing the whole operation of the biggest companies, which, in practice, halts all of the projects Petrobras needs to develop now."</p>
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<p>The woes at Petrobras are contributing to a wider crisis hitting Brazil's economy, which observers say likely entered recession in 2014 and is forecast to shrink further this year.</p>
<p>Some analysts also fear Brazil's sovereign debt could lose its coveted investment-grade status, as the investigation spreads across vital industries and ensnares powerful politicians. That already is contributing to gridlock in congress, making it virtually impossible to pass economic reforms and austerity measures needed to stabilize Brazil's accounts.</p>
<p>Credit-rating agency Moody's Investors Service downgraded the company to junk status in February citing an "increasing concern about corruption investigations" and it's feared other rating agencies soon will do the same.</p>
<p>That essentially locks the company out of international credit markets, cutting off the investment money it needs to develop the offshore oil basins.</p>
<p>The problems at Petrobras, which controls 90 percent of an oil industry that employs 400,000 people, are creating a domino effect.</p>
<p>Suppliers under investigation are barred from signing any new deals with Petrobras. The limitation is especially crippling because, by law and depending on the project, the oil industry must use local suppliers for up to 65 percent of the equipment and services needed for its projects.</p>
<p>"None of those guys can go to the market and raise any money," said Evan Sponagle, a Rio de Janeiro-based consultant. "And obviously you need the supply chain in place or else how are you going to drill?"</p>
<p>Sete Brasil, a firm that became a poster child for Brazil's growing industry after it was set up by Petrobras in 2011, has run out of money to build drilling rigs. A deal to secure a lifesaving loan from the National Development Bank fell through after prosecutors released testimony by a former director who said the company accepted bribes in exchange for contracts. Now observers say the firm could go belly up.</p>
<p>The Atlantico Sul shipyard in northeastern Brazil canceled a deal last month to build seven rigs for Sete Brasil over lack of payment. It's expected to soon lay off more than 1,000 workers. The Enseada shipyard in Bahia state already has fired 3,000 employees due to Sete Brasil's problems.</p>
<p>Naval workers' unions fear plans to build 56 platforms will be canceled. The oil company also is telling two Houston-based contractors — Pacific Drilling and Diamond Offshore Drilling — and Britain's Seadrill it won't renew contracts it had for deep-water drilling rigs or ships.</p>
<p>Some say it's only the beginning. Companies caught up in the scheme face more than $1.5 billion in fines and restitution of public money siphoned off from Petrobras.</p>
<p>"Any expectations about new investment are off the table until people understand this situation," said Michelle Michot Foss, a foreign energy analyst at the University of Texas' Bureau of Economic Geology, based in Houston.</p>
<p>The scandal comes on top of the dive in global oil prices which has hampered expansion projects around the world. The double-punch is certain to derail Petrobras' goal to boost production to 5 million barrels a day by 2018 and become one of the world's top five oil companies.</p>
<p>Yet this week, Petrobras announced it would sell $13.7 billion worth of assets as it tries to improve its cash situation and relieve its $135 billion debt.</p>
<p>Experts say two things must happen quickly for Petrobras to recover: Its new leadership, put in place after the mass resignation of its top executives in February, must convince investors it will root out corruption; and the government needs to relax local-contractor quotas, something ordinary Brazilians greatly oppose. At present, neither scenario looks possible, and the best that could happen would be for oil prices to rise, making offshore development attractive for potential partners.</p>
<p>Despite the gloom and doom for Petrobras, there is a silver lining, says Joao Augusto de Castro Neves, Latin America director with U.S.-based Eurasia Group.</p>
<p>"At the end of the day," he said, "Petrobras will leave this crisis with stronger governance and (become) less state-centric in terms of developing these fields."</p>
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<p>Adriana Gomez Licon on Twitter: www.twitter.com/agomezlicon</p> | true | 0 | oil brazils passport future grand dreams tied state company petrobras brought screeching halt falling crude prices crisis making expanding investigation kickback scandal brazils largest company rippling industry suspending contracts cutting credit supplies forcing layoffs shipyards firms gearing anticipated oil boom continue reading long ago president dilma rousseff promised exploration rich offshore fields would create hundreds thousands jobs provide royalty income finally improve brazils schools health care system end investigation sight anyones guess brazil reap rewards oil wealth 2008 everyone thought brazil becoming oil superpower said adriano pires energy consultant former official government national petroleum agency big plans expansion reviewed federal investigators say last decade construction firms paid 800 million bribes funds overvaluing contracts petrobras funneling money ruling workers party affiliates eightyseven people charged far including two former petrobras directors friday night supreme court gave attorney general permission expand investigation dozens politicians including former president heads houses congress cast suspicion petrobras contracts said claudio pinho lawyer specializes oil gas industry paralyzing whole operation biggest companies practice halts projects petrobras needs develop advertisement woes petrobras contributing wider crisis hitting brazils economy observers say likely entered recession 2014 forecast shrink year analysts also fear brazils sovereign debt could lose coveted investmentgrade status investigation spreads across vital industries ensnares powerful politicians already contributing gridlock congress making virtually impossible pass economic reforms austerity measures needed stabilize brazils accounts creditrating agency moodys investors service downgraded company junk status february citing increasing concern corruption investigations feared rating agencies soon essentially locks company international credit markets cutting investment money needs develop offshore oil basins problems petrobras controls 90 percent oil industry employs 400000 people creating domino effect suppliers investigation barred signing new deals petrobras limitation especially crippling law depending project oil industry must use local suppliers 65 percent equipment services needed projects none guys go market raise money said evan sponagle rio de janeirobased consultant obviously need supply chain place else going drill sete brasil firm became poster child brazils growing industry set petrobras 2011 run money build drilling rigs deal secure lifesaving loan national development bank fell prosecutors released testimony former director said company accepted bribes exchange contracts observers say firm could go belly atlantico sul shipyard northeastern brazil canceled deal last month build seven rigs sete brasil lack payment expected soon lay 1000 workers enseada shipyard bahia state already fired 3000 employees due sete brasils problems naval workers unions fear plans build 56 platforms canceled oil company also telling two houstonbased contractors pacific drilling diamond offshore drilling britains seadrill wont renew contracts deepwater drilling rigs ships say beginning companies caught scheme face 15 billion fines restitution public money siphoned petrobras expectations new investment table people understand situation said michelle michot foss foreign energy analyst university texas bureau economic geology based houston scandal comes top dive global oil prices hampered expansion projects around world doublepunch certain derail petrobras goal boost production 5 million barrels day 2018 become one worlds top five oil companies yet week petrobras announced would sell 137 billion worth assets tries improve cash situation relieve 135 billion debt experts say two things must happen quickly petrobras recover new leadership put place mass resignation top executives february must convince investors root corruption government needs relax localcontractor quotas something ordinary brazilians greatly oppose present neither scenario looks possible best could happen would oil prices rise making offshore development attractive potential partners despite gloom doom petrobras silver lining says joao augusto de castro neves latin america director usbased eurasia group end day said petrobras leave crisis stronger governance become less statecentric terms developing fields ___ adriana gomez licon twitter wwwtwittercomagomezlicon | 593 |
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<p>Image <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BJOO_PdDz8w/?taken-by=mcdonalds" type="external">source Opens a New Window.</a>: McDonald's Instagram page.</p>
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<p>When McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD) reports third-quarter 2016 results on Oct. 21, shareholders will seek out clues that the company's turnaround plan, which began last fall, still has legs. The following five themes may prove useful for those who are interested in cutting through the noise of the report to gauge the burger behemoth's progress year to date.</p>
<p>All-day breakfast, the innovation that rallied McDonald's stock off its hospital gurney last year, is showing signs of fatigue. U.S. comparable sales growth dropped to 1.8% last quarter, although for the year, comps are still up 3.5%. While the novelty of all-day breakfast is wearing off, McDonald's can still derive benefits by tweaking aspects of the program. During the organization's second-quarter conference call in July, CEO Steve Easterbrook discussed the importance of being responsive to customer desires. Easterbrook shared that after working out operational challenges, the company is heeding customer requests to offer McGriddles, muffins, and biscuits all day in all U.S. markets this fall.</p>
<p>Frankly, all-day breakfast isn't a permanent solution to the company's continuing relevance as a competitive quick-service dining option. Yet it's an important intermediate piece in the company's strategy to evolve into a contemporary, "progressive" burger chain. Look for a discussion on Friday of the impact of all-day breakfast on third-quarter comparative sales.</p>
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<p>Like all-day breakfast, the company's value offering, McPick 2, plays a key role in the intermediate-term strategy. Menu item pairings under McPick 2 change frequently depending on geographic region, with "McPick 2 for $3" and "McPick 2 for $5" being the most prominent configurations.</p>
<p>McDonald's has benefited from commodity deflation this year, as falling prices for its 10 major grocery commodities in the U.S. are projected to be 3.5%-4.5% cheaper than 2015.This trend, coupled with still robust consumer demand for value items and higher margins versus the discarded dollar menu, illustrates why McDonald's wants to push value items to its adherents for the time being.</p>
<p>In particular, investors should pay attention to management's comments on Q3 McPick 2 success in both the U.S. and in Germany, as these two developed markets are characterized by deal-seeking customers who have so far proved responsive to the McPick2 formula.</p>
<p>As it moves from an organization that's 80% franchised to one that will be almost totally franchised in the coming years, McDonald's is seeking out new partners, particularly in Asia, to take over the beachheads into new markets it's built over the past few decades. News outlets have reported over the past month that McDonald's has received bids on its businesses in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia. It's possible that we'll get one or more concrete deal announcements on Friday. Any such news is likely to be met positively, as franchise margins have proved to be the highest driver of operating income at McDonald's in recent years.</p>
<p>In July, CFO Kevin Ozan announced that McDonald's was nearing the completion of an enormous three-year, $30 billion program to return cash to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks. I haven't been a fan of this initiative, as it increased the company's debt substantially, resulting in a downgrade by the Standard &amp; Poor's credit-rating agency to just three notches above "junk" status.</p>
<p>The program has also cut average cash balances in half, compromising what used to be one of the most pristine balance sheets in the Fortune 500. About $5.6 billion of the promised return to shareholders remains to be executed in the back half of the year. The company's post-release earnings call won't be too soon for management to discuss capital structure, operational cash flow, and debt repayments as they relate to life after the shareholder program.</p>
<p>In November 2015, as McDonald's shared details of its turnaround plan, management floated an ambitious goal to cut $500 million in costs annually from the general and administrative line item on its income statement, by 2018. So far, there hasn't been much visible progress on this front, although executives recently confirmed the target date and promised to share details of restructuring and cost cutting initiatives in the company's third=quarter update.</p>
<p>Thus, on Friday, investors should have a fairly good sense of the road map to achieving the half-billion dollars in yearly savings. The narrative will almost certainly touch on head count, as McDonald's has signaled on numerous occasions that it's aware of the need to be more efficient with its operational structure, especially regarding its numerous layers of middle management.</p>
<p>Improving overhead productivity will demonstrate that McDonald's can operate more efficiently, even as it figures out methods to jump-start top-line sales. If the company can illustrate tangible gains on its G&amp;A plan, as well as progress on the accompanying themes mentioned here, long-term holders of this stock should have reason to feel reassured after earnings come out later this week.</p>
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<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFfinosus/info.aspx" type="external">Asit Sharma Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/motley.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | image source opens new window mcdonalds instagram page continue reading mcdonalds corporation nyse mcd reports thirdquarter 2016 results oct 21 shareholders seek clues companys turnaround plan began last fall still legs following five themes may prove useful interested cutting noise report gauge burger behemoths progress year date allday breakfast innovation rallied mcdonalds stock hospital gurney last year showing signs fatigue us comparable sales growth dropped 18 last quarter although year comps still 35 novelty allday breakfast wearing mcdonalds still derive benefits tweaking aspects program organizations secondquarter conference call july ceo steve easterbrook discussed importance responsive customer desires easterbrook shared working operational challenges company heeding customer requests offer mcgriddles muffins biscuits day us markets fall frankly allday breakfast isnt permanent solution companys continuing relevance competitive quickservice dining option yet important intermediate piece companys strategy evolve contemporary progressive burger chain look discussion friday impact allday breakfast thirdquarter comparative sales advertisement like allday breakfast companys value offering mcpick 2 plays key role intermediateterm strategy menu item pairings mcpick 2 change frequently depending geographic region mcpick 2 3 mcpick 2 5 prominent configurations mcdonalds benefited commodity deflation year falling prices 10 major grocery commodities us projected 3545 cheaper 2015this trend coupled still robust consumer demand value items higher margins versus discarded dollar menu illustrates mcdonalds wants push value items adherents time particular investors pay attention managements comments q3 mcpick 2 success us germany two developed markets characterized dealseeking customers far proved responsive mcpick2 formula moves organization thats 80 franchised one almost totally franchised coming years mcdonalds seeking new partners particularly asia take beachheads new markets built past decades news outlets reported past month mcdonalds received bids businesses china hong kong singapore malaysia possible well get one concrete deal announcements friday news likely met positively franchise margins proved highest driver operating income mcdonalds recent years july cfo kevin ozan announced mcdonalds nearing completion enormous threeyear 30 billion program return cash shareholders dividends share buybacks havent fan initiative increased companys debt substantially resulting downgrade standard amp poors creditrating agency three notches junk status program also cut average cash balances half compromising used one pristine balance sheets fortune 500 56 billion promised return shareholders remains executed back half year companys postrelease earnings call wont soon management discuss capital structure operational cash flow debt repayments relate life shareholder program november 2015 mcdonalds shared details turnaround plan management floated ambitious goal cut 500 million costs annually general administrative line item income statement 2018 far hasnt much visible progress front although executives recently confirmed target date promised share details restructuring cost cutting initiatives companys thirdquarter update thus friday investors fairly good sense road map achieving halfbillion dollars yearly savings narrative almost certainly touch head count mcdonalds signaled numerous occasions aware need efficient operational structure especially regarding numerous layers middle management improving overhead productivity demonstrate mcdonalds operate efficiently even figures methods jumpstart topline sales company illustrate tangible gains gampa plan well progress accompanying themes mentioned longterm holders stock reason feel reassured earnings come later week secret billiondollar stock opportunity worlds biggest tech company forgot show something wall street analysts fool didnt miss beat theres small company thats powering brandnew gadgets coming revolution technology think stock price nearly unlimited room run early intheknow investors one click opens new window asit sharma opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool position stocks mentioned try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 583 |
<p>In an article ostensibly conducting a broad analysis of contemporary anti-Semitism, <a href="http://home.yairrosenberg.com/" type="external">Yair Rosenberg</a> essentially ignores its overlaps with Muslims and Islam.</p>
<p>Published at The Washington Post - a left-wing and Democrat-aligned news outlet that postures as objective and nonpartisan - on Friday, Rosenberg's take is entitled, " <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/five-myths-about-anti-semitism/2017/02/03/a8de59e2-e884-11e6-b82f-687d6e6a3e7c_story.html" type="external">Five myths about anti-Semitism</a>."</p>
<p>Rosenberg describes today's dark situation for European Jewry with respect to anti-Semitism across the continent. His analysis of contemporary anti-Semitism in the Old World, however, almost entirely ignores its relationship with <a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/07/19/5-facts-about-the-muslim-population-in-europe/" type="external">rapid growth</a> of the continent's Muslim population in recent decades via immigration and reproduction:</p>
<p>The picture is considerably darker in Europe, where Jews were the <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/04/is-it-time-for-the-jews-to-leave-europe/386279/" type="external">target</a> of 51 percent of racist attacks in France in 2014, even as they made up less than 1 percent of that country’s population. In recent years, synagogues and Jewish schools and museums have been subject to terrorist attacks in France, Denmark and Belgium. A 2013 E.U. survey <a href="http://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra-2013-discrimination-hate-crime-against-jews-eu-member-states-0_en.pdf" type="external">found</a> that nearly 40 percent of European Jews fear to publicly identify as Jewish, including 60 percent of Swedish Jews. Non-Western examples abound as well. Populations of Jews in Arab lands, which once numbered nearly 1 million, have been <a href="http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jewish-refugees-from-arab-countries" type="external">reduced</a> to only a few thousand, having been persecuted to the point of expulsion or flight in the past century.</p>
<p>Later in the article, Rosenberg acknowledges how French Jews’ report their experiences with anti-Semitism as "largely [coming] from Muslim extremists.” His next sentence, however, warns readers against “[casting] anti-Semitism as the sin of other people [in order to] avoid confronting the problem within one’s own community.” In other words, Rosenberg is uncomfortable with acknowledging anti-Semitism as a pathology more virulent among certain political, religious, cultural, and ethnic groups than others.</p>
<p>Anti-Semitism, according to Rosenberg's implication, is somehow equally distributed across all political, religious, cultural, and ethnic groups.</p>
<p>While touching on anti-Semitism in Europe, Rosenberg ignores its <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilan_Halimi" type="external">worst</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porte_de_Vincennes_siege" type="external">recent</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Museum_of_Belgium_shooting" type="external">manifestations</a>, all of which were functions of Islamic terrorism.</p>
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<p>Israel's chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar speaks during a re-burial ceremony for slain French-Jew Ilan Halimi held at a cemetery in Jerusalem 09 February 2007. The 23-year old Ilan Halimi, was murdered on 13 February 2006 after he was kidnapped and tortured for three weeks by a gang in a Paris suburb. Halimi was re-buried at the Jerusalem cemetery one year after his burial in France according to the Jewish calendar. AFP PHOTO/GALI TIBBON (Photo credit should read GALI TIBBON/AFP/Getty Images)</p>
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<p>Brussels, Belgium. 24/05/15: People lit candles at the memorial of the victims, constantly ceremony at the Jewish Museum in Brussels, a year after four people were killed falling on a shooting at the museum. Jonathan Raa / Nurphoto (Photo by NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images)</p>
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<p>PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 16: The Kosher supermarket targeted after Januarys attacks on the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, left four people died, is reopened on March 16,2015 in Paris. (Photo by Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)</p>
<p>Rosenberg similarly ignores the relationship between modern anti-Semitism on American campuses and the rapid growth of America's Muslim population in recent decades, particularly with respect to student bodies across the country's universities and colleges. He neglects to mention the <a href="http://www.uoftmsa.com/" type="external">Muslim Students' Association</a> - an anti-Zionist, left-wing, and Democrat-aligned organization - as a primary driver of anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist agitation across American campuses:</p>
<p>But anti-Semitic outbursts were taking place on the left at the same time. At liberal Oberlin College, a writing instructor named Joy Karega <a href="http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/203330/how-oberlin-has-repeatedly-failed-to-confront-anti-semitism-on-campus" type="external">shared</a> Facebook memes about Jewish control of the global economy and media, alongside posts asserting Israeli responsibility for the Islamic State and 9/11. Yet when school officials and others criticized her conduct, the student council <a href="http://oberlinreview.org/10948/opinions/student-senate-opinions/student-senate-condemns-ocacf-actions/" type="external">dismissed</a> it as a “witch-hunt.” In New York, despite a local outcry, the hip leftist hub Brooklyn Commons <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/09/10/jew-hater-christopher-bollyn-brings-9-11-false-flag-act-to-the-brooklyn-commons.html" type="external">hosted</a> Christopher Bollyn, a conspiracy theorist who argued that “Zionist Jews” were behind 9/11. During the Democratic primaries, Jewish candidate Bernie Sanders was <a href="http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/199685/bernie-sanders-was-asked-an-anti-semitic-question-heres-how-he-should-have-answered" type="external">confronted</a> by a questioner who declared that “the Zionist Jews . . . run the Federal Reserve, they run Wall Street, they run every campaign.” Surveying this scene, TBS comedian Samantha Bee aired footage of an anti-Semite ranting at a Trump rally, then <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ8swY06eRU&amp;feature=youtu.be&amp;t=2m9s" type="external">cracked</a>, “To find anti-Semitism that rabid, you’d have to go to, well, any left-leaning American college campus.”</p>
<p>Political and media observers will note that anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist agitation across American college campuses is not lacking in participation from Muslims. Uninitiated readers of Rosenberg's analysis, however, will not be made aware of this connection.</p>
<p>Rosenberg again ignores the Islamic dimension of modern anti-Semitism in his reference to the 2010 Gaza flotilla raid (described by its supporters as the “Gaza Freedom Flotilla”) involving the Mavi Marmara. He neglects to mention that the flotilla’s primary organizing groups were Islamic; the " <a href="http://www.freegaza.org/about-us/who-we-are/" type="external">Free Gaza Movement</a>" and the " <a href="https://www.ihh.org.tr/en" type="external">Humanitarian Relief Organization</a>" (IHH):</p>
<p>At the same time, criticism of the Jewish state can mask malice toward Jews. Some cases are obvious, such as when the organizers of a 2010 flotilla that aimed to breach Israel’s maritime blockade of Gaza subsequently denied the Holocaust and <a href="http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/188193/conspiracy-theorists-blame-paris-attack-on-israel" type="external">claimed</a> that Israel was behind the Charlie Hebdo massacre. Similarly, those who accuse Israel of committing “Palestinian genocide,” when the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics <a href="http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=386989" type="external">records</a> a four-fold population increase since Israel’s founding, are engaging in libel, not legitimate argument.</p>
<p>In other, less-blatant cases, Israel is subjected to criticism leveled at no non-Jewish country. Consider the United Nations, whose Human Rights Council has <a href="http://www.unwatch.org/un-israel-key-statistics/" type="external">condemned</a> Israel more often than all other countries combined, including Syria, North Korea, Iran and Russia. As President Barack Obama’s U.N. ambassador, Samantha Power, <a href="http://www.timesofisrael.com/full-text-of-us-envoy-samantha-powers-speech-after-abstention-on-anti-settlement-vote/" type="external">put it</a>, “As long as Israel has been a member of this institution, Israel has been treated differently from other nations at the United Nations.” In October, one U.N. body even <a href="http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/215705/united-nations-body-passes-anti-semitic-resolution-denying-judaisms-link-to-its-holiest-site" type="external">passed</a> a resolution denying the Jewish connection to Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest site.</p>
<p>What these unfortunate approaches all share is that they treat the Jewish state in much the same way anti-Semites have historically treated Jews: singling them out for censure and implicating them in outlandish conspiracies.</p>
<p>Rosenberg also attempts to universalize anti-Semitism's victims, describing the perception that “anti-Semitism mostly threatens Jews” as a “myth." While accurately noting anti-Semitism’s common overlap with broader social and political pathologies (such as paranoid conspiracy-mongering) that are “corrosive to [society]," denying the acute threat posed to Jews by anti-Semitism is absurd. Refusal to acknowledge anti-Semitism as a social force that "mostly threatens Jews" is a refusal to understand the prejudice's impacts.</p>
<p>Rosenberg also pushes the neo-Marxist narrative that America’s “success” was “built atop [prejudice],” implying that American dominance was predicated on enslavement of blacks and others.</p>
<p>Rosenberg <a href="https://twitter.com/search?l=&amp;q=anti-Semitism%20from%3Ayair_rosenberg&amp;src=typd&amp;lang=en" type="external">regularly opines on anti-Semitism</a> in his <a href="https://twitter.com/Yair_Rosenberg" type="external">Twitter feed</a>, while mostly ignoring anti-Semitism’s virulence among Moslems and its origins in Islam and broader Islamic culture. It is impossible to meaningfully examine modern anti-Semitism in the West without addressing the prevalence of "the world's oldest hatred" among Muslims and its origins in Islam and Islamic culture.</p>
<p>Last September, Rosenberg wrote an article entitled, " <a href="http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/212402/why-a-vote-for-trump-is-a-vote-for-mainstreaming-anti-semites" type="external">Why a Vote for Trump Is a Vote for Mainstreaming Anti-Semites</a>." He presents himself as a nonpartisan centrist.</p>
<p>Follow Robert Kraychik on <a href="https://twitter.com/kr3ch3k" type="external">Twitter</a>.</p> | true | 0 | article ostensibly conducting broad analysis contemporary antisemitism yair rosenberg essentially ignores overlaps muslims islam published washington post leftwing democrataligned news outlet postures objective nonpartisan friday rosenbergs take entitled five myths antisemitism rosenberg describes todays dark situation european jewry respect antisemitism across continent analysis contemporary antisemitism old world however almost entirely ignores relationship rapid growth continents muslim population recent decades via immigration reproduction picture considerably darker europe jews target 51 percent racist attacks france 2014 even made less 1 percent countrys population recent years synagogues jewish schools museums subject terrorist attacks france denmark belgium 2013 eu survey found nearly 40 percent european jews fear publicly identify jewish including 60 percent swedish jews nonwestern examples abound well populations jews arab lands numbered nearly 1 million reduced thousand persecuted point expulsion flight past century later article rosenberg acknowledges french jews report experiences antisemitism largely coming muslim extremists next sentence however warns readers casting antisemitism sin people order avoid confronting problem within ones community words rosenberg uncomfortable acknowledging antisemitism pathology virulent among certain political religious cultural ethnic groups others antisemitism according rosenbergs implication somehow equally distributed across political religious cultural ethnic groups touching antisemitism europe rosenberg ignores worst recent manifestations functions islamic terrorism israels chief rabbi shlomo amar speaks reburial ceremony slain frenchjew ilan halimi held cemetery jerusalem 09 february 2007 23year old ilan halimi murdered 13 february 2006 kidnapped tortured three weeks gang paris suburb halimi reburied jerusalem cemetery one year burial france according jewish calendar afp photogali tibbon photo credit read gali tibbonafpgetty images brussels belgium 240515 people lit candles memorial victims constantly ceremony jewish museum brussels year four people killed falling shooting museum jonathan raa nurphoto photo nurphotonurphoto via getty images paris france march 16 kosher supermarket targeted januarys attacks satirical newspaper charlie hebdo left four people died reopened march 162015 paris photo mustafa yalcinanadolu agencygetty images rosenberg similarly ignores relationship modern antisemitism american campuses rapid growth americas muslim population recent decades particularly respect student bodies across countrys universities colleges neglects mention muslim students association antizionist leftwing democrataligned organization primary driver antisemitic antizionist agitation across american campuses antisemitic outbursts taking place left time liberal oberlin college writing instructor named joy karega shared facebook memes jewish control global economy media alongside posts asserting israeli responsibility islamic state 911 yet school officials others criticized conduct student council dismissed witchhunt new york despite local outcry hip leftist hub brooklyn commons hosted christopher bollyn conspiracy theorist argued zionist jews behind 911 democratic primaries jewish candidate bernie sanders confronted questioner declared zionist jews run federal reserve run wall street run every campaign surveying scene tbs comedian samantha bee aired footage antisemite ranting trump rally cracked find antisemitism rabid youd go well leftleaning american college campus political media observers note antisemitic antizionist agitation across american college campuses lacking participation muslims uninitiated readers rosenbergs analysis however made aware connection rosenberg ignores islamic dimension modern antisemitism reference 2010 gaza flotilla raid described supporters gaza freedom flotilla involving mavi marmara neglects mention flotillas primary organizing groups islamic free gaza movement humanitarian relief organization ihh time criticism jewish state mask malice toward jews cases obvious organizers 2010 flotilla aimed breach israels maritime blockade gaza subsequently denied holocaust claimed israel behind charlie hebdo massacre similarly accuse israel committing palestinian genocide palestinian central bureau statistics records fourfold population increase since israels founding engaging libel legitimate argument lessblatant cases israel subjected criticism leveled nonjewish country consider united nations whose human rights council condemned israel often countries combined including syria north korea iran russia president barack obamas un ambassador samantha power put long israel member institution israel treated differently nations united nations october one un body even passed resolution denying jewish connection jerusalems temple mount judaisms holiest site unfortunate approaches share treat jewish state much way antisemites historically treated jews singling censure implicating outlandish conspiracies rosenberg also attempts universalize antisemitisms victims describing perception antisemitism mostly threatens jews myth accurately noting antisemitisms common overlap broader social political pathologies paranoid conspiracymongering corrosive society denying acute threat posed jews antisemitism absurd refusal acknowledge antisemitism social force mostly threatens jews refusal understand prejudices impacts rosenberg also pushes neomarxist narrative americas success built atop prejudice implying american dominance predicated enslavement blacks others rosenberg regularly opines antisemitism twitter feed mostly ignoring antisemitisms virulence among moslems origins islam broader islamic culture impossible meaningfully examine modern antisemitism west without addressing prevalence worlds oldest hatred among muslims origins islam islamic culture last september rosenberg wrote article entitled vote trump vote mainstreaming antisemites presents nonpartisan centrist follow robert kraychik twitter | 745 |
<p>Shares of Weibo (NASDAQ: WB) rallied nearly 140% this year, but the company now faces major headwinds as Chinese regulators tighten their control over the country's top social networking platforms. The latest crackdowns started in June, with regulators ordering Weibo and two other platforms to&#160;halt their live video and audio broadcasts <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/06/27/china-cracks-down-on-weibo-time-to-sell.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=0379b25e-b88f-11e7-8d46-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">until they obtained Opens a New Window.</a>&#160;new government-backed licenses.</p>
<p>It accelerated in September as regulators fined Weibo's parent company SINA (NASDAQ: SINA), Baidu, and Tencent (NASDAQOTH: TCEHY) for allegedly allowing its users to "spread information of violence and&#160;terror, false rumors, pornography, and other information that jeopardizes national security, public safety, and social order."</p>
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<p>That same month, Weibo required all its users within China to&#160;register <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/09/12/will-weibos-user-privacy-dilemma-sink-the-stock.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=0379b25e-b88f-11e7-8d46-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">their real names Opens a New Window.</a>, although it's unclear if those rules were actually enforced. Earlier this month, ahead of the Communist Party's National Congress, Weibo and Tencent blocked their social media users from editing their personal profiles until November. Weibo also suspended all&#160;overseas account registrations until Oct. 30.</p>
<p>Weibo then announced that it had hired 1,000 new Weibo supervisors to filter out "pornographic, illegal, and harmful content." It also introduced "social credit" scores which would be reduced with each violation and limit a user's ability to use the platform. These measures were clearly aimed at appeasing regulators, but many users quickly complained that the rules were too strict, with photos being flagged as "pornographic" if a woman's leg, abdomen, or cleavage was shown.</p>
<p>On the surface, Weibo's growth figures look impressive. Its monthly active users (MAUs) rose 28% annually to&#160;361 million last quarter, with 92% of that total accessing the platform from mobile devices.</p>
<p>Its revenue surged 72% to $253.4 million, fueled by a 72% jump in ad revenues, and its non-GAAP net income soared 144% to $86.7 million. Its GAAP-adjusted earnings rose 184% to $73.5 million. Wall Street expects its revenue and&#160;earnings to respectively rise 66% and 100% this year. But Weibo's stock is&#160;also priced to perfection at 110 times earnings, and the bears are starving for a reason to short this high-flying stock.</p>
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<p>Many investors likely forgot that Weibo used to be bigger, with over&#160;600 million registered accounts a few years ago. But Weibo started losing ground to Tencent's WeChat, which became China's top messaging app with&#160;963 million MAUs worldwide.</p>
<p>In 2014, The Telegraph&#160;reported that overall activity declined on Weibo every&#160;time Chinese regulators cracked down on its users. In 2011, regulators demanded Weibo users register their real names, as the company is doing again now. In 2012, regulators implemented a "five-strike" rule against Weibo users who posted about politically sensitive subjects, which mirrors the fines it levied in September.</p>
<p>In 2013, regulators launched a new crackdown on online "rumors" and arrested several top account holders, including angel investor Charles Xue. Weibo repeatedly pledged to tighten its censorship measures, and hired even more staff to filter offending posts.</p>
<p>Therefore, when SINA spun off Weibo in an IPO in 2014, it seemed like the company was merely trying to divest a struggling business which faced an uncertain future amid tough competition from Tencent and unpredictable regulatory headwinds. Yet Weibo mounted a stunning comeback by&#160;signing partnerships for pre-installed apps with smartphone makers, expanding its reach into rural areas, and streamlining its business to showcase top celebrity accounts.</p>
<p>Weibo has been a great growth stock, but its long-term challenges <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/09/06/3-simple-reasons-why-i-wont-buy-weibo-corporation.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=0379b25e-b88f-11e7-8d46-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">are troubling Opens a New Window.</a>. Most of its users are in China, and the Chinese government seems determined to tighten its control over the country's top social media networks.</p>
<p>Weibo already had a rough time with regulators between 2011 and 2013, and history could repeat itself and send users flocking to other apps. If Weibo's user growth slows down and its platform becomes associated with controversies instead of celebrities, its ad revenues could dip and the bears could torpedo its richly valued stock.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than WeiboWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-static%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=080e55d8-c711-4731-a442-13d7895d6c87&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=0379b25e-b88f-11e7-8d46-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and Weibo wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
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<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of October 9, 2017</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFSunLion/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=0379b25e-b88f-11e7-8d46-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Leo Sun Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of Baidu, Tencent, and Sina. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Baidu. The Motley Fool recommends Sina and Weibo. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=0379b25e-b88f-11e7-8d46-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | shares weibo nasdaq wb rallied nearly 140 year company faces major headwinds chinese regulators tighten control countrys top social networking platforms latest crackdowns started june regulators ordering weibo two platforms to160halt live video audio broadcasts obtained opens new window160new governmentbacked licenses accelerated september regulators fined weibos parent company sina nasdaq sina baidu tencent nasdaqoth tcehy allegedly allowing users spread information violence and160terror false rumors pornography information jeopardizes national security public safety social order continue reading month weibo required users within china to160register real names opens new window although unclear rules actually enforced earlier month ahead communist partys national congress weibo tencent blocked social media users editing personal profiles november weibo also suspended all160overseas account registrations oct 30 weibo announced hired 1000 new weibo supervisors filter pornographic illegal harmful content also introduced social credit scores would reduced violation limit users ability use platform measures clearly aimed appeasing regulators many users quickly complained rules strict photos flagged pornographic womans leg abdomen cleavage shown surface weibos growth figures look impressive monthly active users maus rose 28 annually to160361 million last quarter 92 total accessing platform mobile devices revenue surged 72 2534 million fueled 72 jump ad revenues nongaap net income soared 144 867 million gaapadjusted earnings rose 184 735 million wall street expects revenue and160earnings respectively rise 66 100 year weibos stock is160also priced perfection 110 times earnings bears starving reason short highflying stock advertisement many investors likely forgot weibo used bigger over160600 million registered accounts years ago weibo started losing ground tencents wechat became chinas top messaging app with160963 million maus worldwide 2014 telegraph160reported overall activity declined weibo every160time chinese regulators cracked users 2011 regulators demanded weibo users register real names company 2012 regulators implemented fivestrike rule weibo users posted politically sensitive subjects mirrors fines levied september 2013 regulators launched new crackdown online rumors arrested several top account holders including angel investor charles xue weibo repeatedly pledged tighten censorship measures hired even staff filter offending posts therefore sina spun weibo ipo 2014 seemed like company merely trying divest struggling business faced uncertain future amid tough competition tencent unpredictable regulatory headwinds yet weibo mounted stunning comeback by160signing partnerships preinstalled apps smartphone makers expanding reach rural areas streamlining business showcase top celebrity accounts weibo great growth stock longterm challenges troubling opens new window users china chinese government seems determined tighten control countrys top social media networks weibo already rough time regulators 2011 2013 history could repeat send users flocking apps weibos user growth slows platform becomes associated controversies instead celebrities ad revenues could dip bears could torpedo richly valued stock 10 stocks like better weibowhen investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right weibo wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns october 9 2017 leo sun opens new window owns shares baidu tencent sina motley fool owns shares recommends baidu motley fool recommends sina weibo motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 513 |
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<p>Image source: Getty Images</p>
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<p>For years, Magellan Midstream Partners (NYSE: MMP) has been a rock solid investment that has churned out dividends at an ever growing rate to investors and has run circles around the S&amp;P 500 over the past decade on a total return basis. It has done so with a business model that ensures consistent operational cash flows and a disciplined management team that has balanced growth, financial health, and payouts to investors very well.</p>
<p>As stable as Magellan's business may seem, it isn't immune from risk by any means. Here are three threats that, while not the most immediate threat to the company's stock price today, have the greatest chance of significantly impacting the stocks long term performance.</p>
<p>Anyone that has any investment in a company that deals with oil and gas needs to remember one thing. At any given moment in time, there is a chance of a major accident or spill that has the potential to wreak havoc on the financials on the business long term. Anyone that needs a reminder just needs to look at the financial statements of BP. It's been more than 6 years since the Macondo well spill and the company is still shelling out several billion dollars a year for cleanup and litigation costs.</p>
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<p>The chances of a spill for Magellan may be low, but the company is not immune to the risk. In fact, the company announced this past quarter that there was a minor incident with one of its pipes thanks to flooding. Unfortunately for investors, there are few if any ways of foreseeing such an incident.</p>
<p>One mistake that some investors can make when evaluating master limited partnerships is assuming that all new projects are a good thing for the company's bottom line. Problem is, a project that simply increases cash flow doesn't mean it was a great investment. These companies need to generate decent rates of return to make a project worth while. Magellan has been one of the better companies at investing in higher rate of return projects. Typically, the company looks for investments with a cost that is 8 times the annual EBITDA that project will generate or less.</p>
<p>Continuing to find new projects with high rates of returns can be challenging in and of itself, but consider this: For the past several years, Magellan has benefited from the low interest rate environment that allows for lower rate of return projects to be profitable. If, over the next several years, we were to see an increase in interest rates, it could lead to higher borrowing costs for Magellan and would in turn require that new projects generate even higher rates of return.</p>
<p>Of the threats to Magellan's business, this is the one that's furthest on the horizon, but it has the potential to be the most disruptive. Globally speaking, oil and gas demand is set to rise for many more years to come as more and more people in emerging markets and developing nations improve their standard of living. In more mature, developed markets like the US, though, total gasoline and diesel demand has been flat for more than a decade. As fuel efficiency standards increase over the next decade and electric vehicles start to gain a toe hold on the automotive market, it's expected that total refined product consumption will start to wane.</p>
<p>For Magellan, this would be a rather acute issue because so much of its current cash flow comes from its refined petroleum product pipeline network that operates exclusively in the US. Unlike natural gas and crude oil pipelines that have been able to reverse flows in recent years to accommodate the changes in product flow, refined product pipes won't really have that option.</p>
<p>Source: Magellan Midstream Partners corporate website</p>
<p>Let's put this in perspective, this is a threat that is a long, long ways away from happening. Also, many of the investments the company is making today are geared toward the Gulf Coast region that will be used for the export of crude oil and refined products from the US to those markets that will likely see greater oil demand in the future. But this is something that investors do need to keep in mind if they have decade long investing time horizons.</p>
<p>Taking a snapshot of Magellan's business today, the risks are rather low. It has a robust pipeline network that is hard to replicate and provides a strong geographic competitive advantage. Also, its profits come from fixed fee contracts with minimum commitments from customers to ensure a steady stream of cash on a quarterly business. So evaluating the company's stock today suggests it's a pretty low risk investment.</p>
<p>The longer you look into the future, though, there are some threats to watch out for. The possibility of a pipeline leak or rupture could be a costly accident; new projects not delivering as advertised could reduce rates of return, and the long term threat of declining fossil fuel use will be concerns that investors will want to evaluate over time. If any of these threats start to chip away at Magellan's foundation, then it may be time to reevaluate this stock.</p>
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<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFDirtyBird/info.aspx" type="external">Tyler Crowe Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of Magellan Midstream Partners. You can follow him at Fool.comor on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/TylerCroweFool" type="external">@TylerCroweFool Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>The Motley Fool recommends Magellan Midstream Partners. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | image source getty images continue reading years magellan midstream partners nyse mmp rock solid investment churned dividends ever growing rate investors run circles around sampp 500 past decade total return basis done business model ensures consistent operational cash flows disciplined management team balanced growth financial health payouts investors well stable magellans business may seem isnt immune risk means three threats immediate threat companys stock price today greatest chance significantly impacting stocks long term performance anyone investment company deals oil gas needs remember one thing given moment time chance major accident spill potential wreak havoc financials business long term anyone needs reminder needs look financial statements bp 6 years since macondo well spill company still shelling several billion dollars year cleanup litigation costs advertisement chances spill magellan may low company immune risk fact company announced past quarter minor incident one pipes thanks flooding unfortunately investors ways foreseeing incident one mistake investors make evaluating master limited partnerships assuming new projects good thing companys bottom line problem project simply increases cash flow doesnt mean great investment companies need generate decent rates return make project worth magellan one better companies investing higher rate return projects typically company looks investments cost 8 times annual ebitda project generate less continuing find new projects high rates returns challenging consider past several years magellan benefited low interest rate environment allows lower rate return projects profitable next several years see increase interest rates could lead higher borrowing costs magellan would turn require new projects generate even higher rates return threats magellans business one thats furthest horizon potential disruptive globally speaking oil gas demand set rise many years come people emerging markets developing nations improve standard living mature developed markets like us though total gasoline diesel demand flat decade fuel efficiency standards increase next decade electric vehicles start gain toe hold automotive market expected total refined product consumption start wane magellan would rather acute issue much current cash flow comes refined petroleum product pipeline network operates exclusively us unlike natural gas crude oil pipelines able reverse flows recent years accommodate changes product flow refined product pipes wont really option source magellan midstream partners corporate website lets put perspective threat long long ways away happening also many investments company making today geared toward gulf coast region used export crude oil refined products us markets likely see greater oil demand future something investors need keep mind decade long investing time horizons taking snapshot magellans business today risks rather low robust pipeline network hard replicate provides strong geographic competitive advantage also profits come fixed fee contracts minimum commitments customers ensure steady stream cash quarterly business evaluating companys stock today suggests pretty low risk investment longer look future though threats watch possibility pipeline leak rupture could costly accident new projects delivering advertised could reduce rates return long term threat declining fossil fuel use concerns investors want evaluate time threats start chip away magellans foundation may time reevaluate stock secret billiondollar stock opportunity worlds biggest tech company forgot show something wall street analysts fool didnt miss beat theres small company thats powering brandnew gadgets coming revolution technology think stock price nearly unlimited room run early intheknow investors one click opens new window tyler crowe opens new window owns shares magellan midstream partners follow foolcomor twitter tylercrowefool opens new window motley fool recommends magellan midstream partners try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 583 |
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<p>Article by Megan Nicole O'Neal</p>
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<p>I am writing to you from seat 14A United Airlines, Rochester-bound from San Diego. It's an 11:45 p.m. red-eye.</p>
<p>You see, this year I set out to accomplish one thing: to stay open. It sounds simple enough, but you may not realize how often you innately hang a "Closed for Business" sign until you try to transition to a 24/7 operation. We can be stubborn and closed-minded, unable to <a href="http://www.success.com/article/seeking-advice-the-wisest-way-to-hit-the-next-level-of-success" type="external">listen to others' opinions and perspectives Opens a New Window.</a> without judgment. We can be guarded and closed-hearted, afraid of appearing vulnerable and somehow weak by association. We can become disinterested, uninvolved, and often so paralyzed by our daily lives and stressors that we forget there is an entire world out there.</p>
<p>I didn't want to be one of these closed people because when I sat down and honestly thought about it, the times that I've hurt or been hurt by others have had a lot of (literal and metaphorical) closed doors in common. But openness, I've noticed, is a slow and often complicated process.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.success.com/article/bored-6-ideas-to-embrace-your-curious-side" type="external">I see openness as having curiosity Opens a New Window.</a>&#160;–&#160;and not just about what hair regime Blake Lively is on or the name of the Avengers character with the bow and arrows (Clint Barton). Curiosity about new people, places, cultures, <a href="https://www.recruiter.com/work-experience.html" type="external">experiences Opens a New Window.</a>, food – you name it. Simply put, being open means having a willingness to not immediately say no to something unfamiliar. (To be clear, you don't actually have to say yes; you just need to consider it a viable option beforehand.) This way of being sounds great, and it is! However, the only way to do this, to be truly open (here comes the fun part), is <a href="http://www.success.com/article/52-ways-to-get-out-of-your-comfort-zone" type="external">to live outside of your comfort zone Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Live. Let that sink in for a minute because that word was carefully chosen. Typically, we hear the phrase "step outside of your comfort zone," which I believe is certainly an important move in the right direction. But I'm talking about putting more than just your right foot out. You have to pack up your bags, your shoe collection, and your favorite childhood stuffed animal and move across that line into a house with a very long lease. Being open is a character trait that must be embodied, on more than a handful of occasions, for it to be genuinely earned. Think of it this way: You can't claim to have an open-door policy with nothing more than a doggy door and expect anything great to be able to squeeze through.</p>
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<p>The problem with comfort zones is that we often can't tell when we've been sucked into them. <a href="http://www.success.com/blog/the-tony-robbins-trick-to-push-past-complacency" type="external">From the safety of our comfort zones we get complacent Opens a New Window.</a>. We fall into our work-gym-(Netflix)-sleep routines and forget to live outwardly from our hideaways, ultimately sacrificing the ability to impact our world.</p>
<p>Have you ever wondered why "casual" and "casualty" are such dangerously similar words? Perhaps it's because abiding by a casual life in the comfort zone is the ultimate casualty to the stories of our lives. Someone once said to me that in our adult lives, we have, on average, 22,000 days to live. For some that might sound like plenty; but to the open and the curious, that almost sounds like a challenge. You have 22,000 days to discover the world. Ready? GO! <a href="http://www.success.com/article/john-c-maxwell-5-qualities-of-people-who-use-time-wisely" type="external">Do you really want to waste one of those days Opens a New Window.</a>, weeks, or months doing the exact same thing as yesterday?</p>
<p>Now, I know we need jobs to provide for ourselves and our families, which doesn't leave a lot of wiggle room for adventuring. Trust me, I'm not some barefoot granola-hipster who lives in a treehouse somewhere in the Arizona mountains; I pay my dues at a 9-to-6, too. But there's a way to live, even with daily obligations, that doesn't leave your personal story a casualty.</p>
<p>Remember when I said I'm currently 30,000 feet in the air, en route to Rochester? It's a work trip. (Fun.) Those who've been in a similar situation know how annoying it can be to sacrifice a weekend to work. But why not look for opportunity instead? I volunteered to fly early (3 a.m. early) and spend my Saturday night crossing the country so I could explore Rochester and Niagara Falls with my newfound free hours on Sunday before hopping to client meetings Monday morning. It was a small switch, but the thought to take an earlier (and painfully less ideal) flight might never have crossed my mind had I not been willing to break from the status quo.</p>
<p>I'll warn you: <a href="http://www.success.com/article/9-ways-to-deal-with-change" type="external">At first, it is going to be uncomfortable Opens a New Window.</a>. Being open, especially with other people, can be awkward. And stepping (and staying) out of your comfort zone can at times feel like floating, or walking onto a frozen lake that's beginning to thaw. But it gets easier. It's a rewiring of your brain, and similar to learning a new language, the more you practice, the more naturally it flows. One day, you'll realize you've been thinking and dreaming in this new language without even trying!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.success.com/blog/why-stepping-outside-your-comfort-zone-is-worth-it-even-when-its-uncomfortable" type="external">So get out of your comfort zone Opens a New Window.</a>! Discover new places and new faces – I dare you. Yes, it might be scary, but isn't overcoming the fear worth it? I argue that it's the risks we take – the times when something is hard but we march forward anyway – that add spice to our lives and give our memoirs a little flavor. A good story never started with, "I woke up, ate breakfast, and then binged on Mad Men for the rest of the day."</p>
<p>At least, not the kind of story that gets remembered.</p>
<p>If we, in the present, are a compilation of the experiences from our past, let me leave you with one question: Who do you want to be 10 years from now?</p>
<p>–</p>
<p>A version of this article originally appeared on <a href="http://www.success.com/blog/why-your-comfort-zone-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-live?utm_campaign=link%20exchangeutm_medium=syndicationutm_source=Recruiterutm_term=Recruiter" type="external">SUCCESS.com Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Megan Nicole O'Neal is a UCLA alum and public relations specialist with a passion for storytelling and a firm belief that only the right photo is worth 1,000 words. An avid adventurist, she's traveled to five different continents, all on an endless quest to find the world's greatest cup of coffee. Megan currently works at Olive PR Solutions in sunny San Diego and volunteers for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, freelancing for the PR department.</p> | true | 0 | article megan nicole oneal continue reading writing seat 14a united airlines rochesterbound san diego 1145 pm redeye see year set accomplish one thing stay open sounds simple enough may realize often innately hang closed business sign try transition 247 operation stubborn closedminded unable listen others opinions perspectives opens new window without judgment guarded closedhearted afraid appearing vulnerable somehow weak association become disinterested uninvolved often paralyzed daily lives stressors forget entire world didnt want one closed people sat honestly thought times ive hurt hurt others lot literal metaphorical closed doors common openness ive noticed slow often complicated process see openness curiosity opens new window160160and hair regime blake lively name avengers character bow arrows clint barton curiosity new people places cultures experiences opens new window food name simply put open means willingness immediately say something unfamiliar clear dont actually say yes need consider viable option beforehand way sounds great however way truly open comes fun part live outside comfort zone opens new window live let sink minute word carefully chosen typically hear phrase step outside comfort zone believe certainly important move right direction im talking putting right foot pack bags shoe collection favorite childhood stuffed animal move across line house long lease open character trait must embodied handful occasions genuinely earned think way cant claim opendoor policy nothing doggy door expect anything great able squeeze advertisement problem comfort zones often cant tell weve sucked safety comfort zones get complacent opens new window fall workgymnetflixsleep routines forget live outwardly hideaways ultimately sacrificing ability impact world ever wondered casual casualty dangerously similar words perhaps abiding casual life comfort zone ultimate casualty stories lives someone said adult lives average 22000 days live might sound like plenty open curious almost sounds like challenge 22000 days discover world ready go really want waste one days opens new window weeks months exact thing yesterday know need jobs provide families doesnt leave lot wiggle room adventuring trust im barefoot granolahipster lives treehouse somewhere arizona mountains pay dues 9to6 theres way live even daily obligations doesnt leave personal story casualty remember said im currently 30000 feet air en route rochester work trip fun whove similar situation know annoying sacrifice weekend work look opportunity instead volunteered fly early 3 early spend saturday night crossing country could explore rochester niagara falls newfound free hours sunday hopping client meetings monday morning small switch thought take earlier painfully less ideal flight might never crossed mind willing break status quo ill warn first going uncomfortable opens new window open especially people awkward stepping staying comfort zone times feel like floating walking onto frozen lake thats beginning thaw gets easier rewiring brain similar learning new language practice naturally flows one day youll realize youve thinking dreaming new language without even trying get comfort zone opens new window discover new places new faces dare yes might scary isnt overcoming fear worth argue risks take times something hard march forward anyway add spice lives give memoirs little flavor good story never started woke ate breakfast binged mad men rest day least kind story gets remembered present compilation experiences past let leave one question want 10 years version article originally appeared successcom opens new window megan nicole oneal ucla alum public relations specialist passion storytelling firm belief right photo worth 1000 words avid adventurist shes traveled five different continents endless quest find worlds greatest cup coffee megan currently works olive pr solutions sunny san diego volunteers national multiple sclerosis society freelancing pr department | 574 |
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<p><a href="https://www.recruiter.com/recruiting.html" type="external">Recruiters Opens a New Window.</a> work hard to make lasting matches between job seekers and companies. The process can be complex and requires exceptional clarity with expectation-setting, follow-through, and communication.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>To make sure you are informed and prepared before working with a recruiter, check out these six things they (we) should be discussing with you first:</p>
<p>1. We Help Clients Find Candidates for Their Job Openings (Versus Helping Candidates Find Jobs)</p>
<p>This may sound like the same thing, but they are very different. Companies hire recruiting agencies to find candidates to fill their open positions. In&#160;this arrangement, recruiters are held to a very high standard in terms of the types of candidates we can present.</p>
<p>Our job is to identify and recruit candidates with very specific skill sets to fill job openings for our clients. This means we are required to find a candidate who often possesses all (not just some) of the following:</p>
<p>- experience in a specific industry;</p>
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<p>- current, real-world experience with definitive technical skills and/or products, including current versions of those products;</p>
<p>- a minimum number of years of experience in a given field;</p>
<p>- experience working for companies of a certain size;</p>
<p>- a degree in a specific area of study;</p>
<p>- the ability to commute a distance within a reasonable radius of the company;</p>
<p>- specific certifications;</p>
<p>- and willingness to accept a salary offer within the range the company has budgeted to pay.</p>
<p>Once we have identified candidates based on these requirements, we also have to make sure candidates fit the organizational culture and have good chemistry with the manager and the team. This is very important not only for the client, but also for the candidate. The candidate's career goals also need to align with the company's structure and plans for growth. All of these pieces need to fit in order to make the right placement for a client.</p>
<p>2. When an Agency Tells You They Are Not a Good Resource for Your Job Search, It Does Not Mean You Are 'Unhirable'</p>
<p>This is a very common misconception, and it leads to frustration and negativity toward recruiters. Although we would love to, unfortunately, we just can't help everyone. While a client needs us to find candidates who meet all of the criteria outlined above, that very same company may consider hiring a candidate who fits most of those requirements if it&#160;were to find that candidate through its own recruiting efforts. So, depending on your background, the job, and the company, you may sometimes have better success searching on your own. This is especially true if you are making a career change or are looking to re-enter the workforce after being out for a period of time.</p>
<p>3. Trust Me: We Want to Find a Way to Help You</p>
<p>Recruiters definitely want to find a way to place you – this is a big part of our job! Anything we can do to help you be more marketable to our clients is in your best interest and ours. One of the biggest challenges for a recruiter is when a client company is very strict with its requirements.</p>
<p>If a recruiter doesn't think they can help you, it's not personal. Furthermore, recruiters should be careful not to set the wrong expectation with candidates. We work hard to avoid leading someone to believe we can help them if we cannot. Honesty is always the best policy – even if we have hard news to deliver.</p>
<p>4.&#160;The Importance of the 'F-Word'</p>
<p>Feedback is a hot topic for recruiters. There is no such thing as too much feedback. The more feedback we have, the better we can do our job and the more efficient we can be in making the right placements. Unfortunately, some clients are better than others in providing feedback on issues&#160;like why a resume wasn't selected or why someone didn't move past the first interview.</p>
<p>There are times when we recruiters don't get feedback for two weeks, and sometimes we don't get any at all. While this is not the norm, it does happen, and recruiters do whatever they can to prevent this situation. It's extremely frustrating for both the candidate and the recruiter, and it certainly doesn't make the recruiter look good in the eyes of the candidate.</p>
<p>If we explain you are not moving forward in the process but don't have specifics as to why, we can promise that we did whatever we&#160;could do to get more information for you – not only for your knowledge, but to help us figure out how to find a more suitable fit for you and for the job we're filling.</p>
<p>5. We May Not&#160;Have&#160;Anything for You&#160;at the Moment</p>
<p>While many companies prefer to partner with an agency when it comes to hiring, recruiters don't get access to every open job. We also don't have control over when positions become available and what types of roles open up. Your background may line up well with the kinds of roles we regularly recruit for, but timing is everything. Sometimes, we just don't have any roles that are a match for you at the moment.</p>
<p>This doesn't mean you've fallen off our radar or that we are not interested in helping you. We just don't have anything to show you right now. The good news? Things change quickly in the recruiting world, so it's important we stay in touch.</p>
<p>If&#160;you're wondering how we should communicate and who should initiate it, be sure to discuss that with your recruiter. Some recruiters may want a weekly call or email, while others may want to connect once a quarter. You can rest assured that as soon as something comes in that is a fit, we are going to get in touch with you.</p>
<p>6. Recruiters Are People, Too</p>
<p>Recruiters who are only concerned about making quick placements won't be in this business for long. Time has proven that. Building strong relationships with clients and candidates is the key to longevity. That means being honest, ethical, setting the right expectations, giving sound career advice, being a good listener, acting with integrity, and doing the right thing every single time.</p>
<p>Despite our best efforts, we are never going to make everyone happy all the time. If you are working with a recruiter who isn't meeting your expectations, you should absolutely have a conversation about how they can work to better serve you. Our goal is to get you a great new place to work, to learn, and to grow while meeting the needs of our clients. That's not an easy task, but we are up to the challenge.</p>
<p>Kelly Finn is a principal consultant at <a href="https://www.winterwyman.com/" type="external">WinterWyman's Opens a New Window.</a> Information Technology Search division.</p> | true | 0 | recruiters opens new window work hard make lasting matches job seekers companies process complex requires exceptional clarity expectationsetting followthrough communication continue reading make sure informed prepared working recruiter check six things discussing first 1 help clients find candidates job openings versus helping candidates find jobs may sound like thing different companies hire recruiting agencies find candidates fill open positions in160this arrangement recruiters held high standard terms types candidates present job identify recruit candidates specific skill sets fill job openings clients means required find candidate often possesses following experience specific industry advertisement current realworld experience definitive technical skills andor products including current versions products minimum number years experience given field experience working companies certain size degree specific area study ability commute distance within reasonable radius company specific certifications willingness accept salary offer within range company budgeted pay identified candidates based requirements also make sure candidates fit organizational culture good chemistry manager team important client also candidate candidates career goals also need align companys structure plans growth pieces need fit order make right placement client 2 agency tells good resource job search mean unhirable common misconception leads frustration negativity toward recruiters although would love unfortunately cant help everyone client needs us find candidates meet criteria outlined company may consider hiring candidate fits requirements it160were find candidate recruiting efforts depending background job company may sometimes better success searching especially true making career change looking reenter workforce period time 3 trust want find way help recruiters definitely want find way place big part job anything help marketable clients best interest one biggest challenges recruiter client company strict requirements recruiter doesnt think help personal furthermore recruiters careful set wrong expectation candidates work hard avoid leading someone believe help honesty always best policy even hard news deliver 4160the importance fword feedback hot topic recruiters thing much feedback feedback better job efficient making right placements unfortunately clients better others providing feedback issues160like resume wasnt selected someone didnt move past first interview times recruiters dont get feedback two weeks sometimes dont get norm happen recruiters whatever prevent situation extremely frustrating candidate recruiter certainly doesnt make recruiter look good eyes candidate explain moving forward process dont specifics promise whatever we160could get information knowledge help us figure find suitable fit job filling 5 may not160have160anything you160at moment many companies prefer partner agency comes hiring recruiters dont get access every open job also dont control positions become available types roles open background may line well kinds roles regularly recruit timing everything sometimes dont roles match moment doesnt mean youve fallen radar interested helping dont anything show right good news things change quickly recruiting world important stay touch if160youre wondering communicate initiate sure discuss recruiter recruiters may want weekly call email others may want connect quarter rest assured soon something comes fit going get touch 6 recruiters people recruiters concerned making quick placements wont business long time proven building strong relationships clients candidates key longevity means honest ethical setting right expectations giving sound career advice good listener acting integrity right thing every single time despite best efforts never going make everyone happy time working recruiter isnt meeting expectations absolutely conversation work better serve goal get great new place work learn grow meeting needs clients thats easy task challenge kelly finn principal consultant winterwymans opens new window information technology search division | 548 |
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<p>New York Mets ace Matt Harvey is just one of countless Major League Baseball pitchers who have seen their careers derailed by Tommy John surgery. But a new wearable technology device could be the key to understanding the wave of severe arm injuries that has baffled medical experts tasked with solving the problem.</p>
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<p>This spring, the “Motus Baseball Sleeve,” developed by New York-based biomechanics company <a href="http://www.motusglobal.com/motusbaseball.html" type="external">Motus Global Opens a New Window.</a>, became one of the first wearable tech devices in MLB history to gain approval for in-game use. The sleeve quantifies exactly how much strain pitchers place on their elbows, granting researchers an unprecedented understanding of the factors that cause ligament damage – and how to prevent them.</p>
<p>Motus Global is one of several active companies in the United States’ exploding wearable technology industry. Wearable sales will hit $14 billion in 2016 and are projected to reach $34 billion by the year 2034, according to a study by research firm CCS Insight.</p>
<p>“The goal from the beginning was always to take movement analysis and analytics in terms of both performance enhancement and injury prevention and develop a physics engine and proprietary software in a laboratory setting, but ultimately to find a vehicle to take that to athletes beyond the walls of our lab,” Joe Nolan, Motus Global’s co-founder and CEO, told FOXBusiness.com.</p>
<p>A 2015 survey of more than 5,000 players found that 25% of active MLB pitchers and 15% of minor league pitchers had undergone an ulnar collateral ligament, or UCL reconstruction procedure, commonly known as Tommy John surgery. The problem is so pervasive that MLB officials formed an advisory committee of the nation’s leading orthopedic surgeons to analyze the epidemic.</p>
<p>So far, officials have struggled to explain why today’s baseball players are so much more susceptible to arm injuries than players in past decades. But new technology has made it easier for researchers to understand the crisis.</p>
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<p>“Up to now, the only weapons we had to measure how much someone is stressing out their elbow is how many pitches do they throw and what was the ball speed,” said Dr. Glenn Fleisig, head of research at the American Sports Medicine Institute and a major proponent of the Motus Baseball Sleeve.</p>
<p>Motus Global traces its roots back to the entertainment industry. Nolan, an expert on biomechanics and movement analysis, left the “Motion Analysis Corporation” in 2002 to form “Perspective Studios.”</p>
<p>Along with business partner Keith Robinson, Nolan built “Perspective Studios” into a major biomechanics company that specialized in mapping human movement for 3D animation in movies and video games, such as Rockstar Games’ massive “Grand Theft Auto” series.” The partnership was so successful that Rockstar acquired the company in 2009.</p>
<p>In 2010, Nolan and Robinson approached Dr. Fleisig and his team at ASMI. Famed orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andews, a leading authority on elbow ligament injuries, founded ASMI more than 30 years ago as a nonprofit organization dedicated to the research and prevention of common sports injuries.</p>
<p>The idea was simple – the Motus team would use its expertise in biomechanics to gather data on pitchers at both the major and minor league level. Fleisig would work with his team to analyze the data. That concept blossomed into a “working agreement,” Fleisig said. Baseball teams contract ASMI to perform biomechanical research on their players, and ASMI enlists Motus to gather the relevant data. ASMI and Dr. Andrews are not paid endorsers of Motus Global, but the two outfits work together closely.</p>
<p>“Over 30 years, we’ve had countless people come to us who want to do some kind of deal or partnership. The vast majority, either they fizzled out or they didn’t hold up their end of the deal,” Fleisig told FOXBusiness.com. “It impressed me to no end that Joe and Keith, they were doers. It became the most successful partnership that ASMI has had in biomechanics ever.”</p>
<p>By the end of 2013, Nolan and Robinson were exploring a potential tech platform to power their information-gathering. After a fair amount of trial and error, they came up with a device that eventually developed into the current “Motus Baseball” sensor.</p>
<p>Motus also developed the "Motus Pro" system, which tracks 49 motion metrics on a pitch and 38 metrics on a swing. Crucially, it maps every element of what Nolan calls the “kinetic chain” – the forces and timing of every human movement required to swing a bat or throw a baseball. The compression sleeve can measure exactly how much stress a pitcher puts on his elbow, both on a day-to-day basis and over the course of a full season.</p>
<p>At present, Motus is working with more than 20 MLB teams, as well as countless players at both the major and minor league level. New York Yankees relief pitcher Dellin Betances and Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen are among the company’s endorsers.</p>
<p>MLB officials vetted Motus’ sleeve extensively before approving it for in-game use.</p>
<p>“Clubs and players have requested to use these technologies in games, and the Official Baseball Rules require that any new technology be approved prior to use on the field,” an MLB spokesperson said in a statement to FOXBusiness.com. “We receive suggestions from clubs, players, and vendors and send products through an extensive testing and evaluation process prior to approval.&#160; These technologies are for the use of clubs and players and aim to manage and improve performance.”</p>
<p>Nolan and Fleisig said the sleeve is useful for both injury prevention and post-surgery rehabilitation. Coaches can use the device to track a healthy pitcher’s workload or to carefully manage an injured player’s recovery.</p>
<p>“We’re starting to see some statistical trends and models in terms of what workloads look like before an actual injury event occurs,” Nolan said. “Unfortunately, we do need to see more injuries occur before we really have some definitive answers, but we’re starting to get those insights now.”</p>
<p>Long-term, Nolan wants to bring the compression sleeve and Motus’ other wearable products to the mass audience. The company has begun talks with retailers about placing the gear in physical stores.</p>
<p>For now, Motus is focused on perfecting the sleeve and building out the database they need to more accurately guide pitchers on what constitutes a safe workload.</p>
<p>“We don’t have the formula, the database yet to say, ‘this is a safe amount,’” Fleisig said. “A lot of data needs to be collected with it, but it’s the right technology, I think, to do it.”</p>
<p>*This story was updated to clarify that ASMI and Dr. James Andrews are not paid endorsers of Motus Global.</p> | true | 0 | new york mets ace matt harvey one countless major league baseball pitchers seen careers derailed tommy john surgery new wearable technology device could key understanding wave severe arm injuries baffled medical experts tasked solving problem continue reading spring motus baseball sleeve developed new yorkbased biomechanics company motus global opens new window became one first wearable tech devices mlb history gain approval ingame use sleeve quantifies exactly much strain pitchers place elbows granting researchers unprecedented understanding factors cause ligament damage prevent motus global one several active companies united states exploding wearable technology industry wearable sales hit 14 billion 2016 projected reach 34 billion year 2034 according study research firm ccs insight goal beginning always take movement analysis analytics terms performance enhancement injury prevention develop physics engine proprietary software laboratory setting ultimately find vehicle take athletes beyond walls lab joe nolan motus globals cofounder ceo told foxbusinesscom 2015 survey 5000 players found 25 active mlb pitchers 15 minor league pitchers undergone ulnar collateral ligament ucl reconstruction procedure commonly known tommy john surgery problem pervasive mlb officials formed advisory committee nations leading orthopedic surgeons analyze epidemic far officials struggled explain todays baseball players much susceptible arm injuries players past decades new technology made easier researchers understand crisis advertisement weapons measure much someone stressing elbow many pitches throw ball speed said dr glenn fleisig head research american sports medicine institute major proponent motus baseball sleeve motus global traces roots back entertainment industry nolan expert biomechanics movement analysis left motion analysis corporation 2002 form perspective studios along business partner keith robinson nolan built perspective studios major biomechanics company specialized mapping human movement 3d animation movies video games rockstar games massive grand theft auto series partnership successful rockstar acquired company 2009 2010 nolan robinson approached dr fleisig team asmi famed orthopedic surgeon dr james andews leading authority elbow ligament injuries founded asmi 30 years ago nonprofit organization dedicated research prevention common sports injuries idea simple motus team would use expertise biomechanics gather data pitchers major minor league level fleisig would work team analyze data concept blossomed working agreement fleisig said baseball teams contract asmi perform biomechanical research players asmi enlists motus gather relevant data asmi dr andrews paid endorsers motus global two outfits work together closely 30 years weve countless people come us want kind deal partnership vast majority either fizzled didnt hold end deal fleisig told foxbusinesscom impressed end joe keith doers became successful partnership asmi biomechanics ever end 2013 nolan robinson exploring potential tech platform power informationgathering fair amount trial error came device eventually developed current motus baseball sensor motus also developed motus pro system tracks 49 motion metrics pitch 38 metrics swing crucially maps every element nolan calls kinetic chain forces timing every human movement required swing bat throw baseball compression sleeve measure exactly much stress pitcher puts elbow daytoday basis course full season present motus working 20 mlb teams well countless players major minor league level new york yankees relief pitcher dellin betances pittsburgh pirates outfielder andrew mccutchen among companys endorsers mlb officials vetted motus sleeve extensively approving ingame use clubs players requested use technologies games official baseball rules require new technology approved prior use field mlb spokesperson said statement foxbusinesscom receive suggestions clubs players vendors send products extensive testing evaluation process prior approval160 technologies use clubs players aim manage improve performance nolan fleisig said sleeve useful injury prevention postsurgery rehabilitation coaches use device track healthy pitchers workload carefully manage injured players recovery starting see statistical trends models terms workloads look like actual injury event occurs nolan said unfortunately need see injuries occur really definitive answers starting get insights longterm nolan wants bring compression sleeve motus wearable products mass audience company begun talks retailers placing gear physical stores motus focused perfecting sleeve building database need accurately guide pitchers constitutes safe workload dont formula database yet say safe amount fleisig said lot data needs collected right technology think story updated clarify asmi dr james andrews paid endorsers motus global | 656 |
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<p>Growing up is tough enough without the worries of your financial future, so <a href="" type="internal">Money101 Opens a New Window.</a> &#160;is here for you. <a href="http://mailto:[email protected]" type="external">E-mail us Opens a New Window.</a> your questions and let us take off some of the pressure.</p>
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<p>College students are counting down the days to spring break to escape the stresses of college life. While spring break is a great time for students to unwind, it’s important to keep safety a top priority.</p>
<p>“Having a safe spring break requires planning,” says Ann Quinn-Zobeck, director of education and training for <a href="http://www.bacchusnetwork.org/" type="external">The BACCHUS Network Opens a New Window.</a>. “Students can decrease their chance of being an easy target by establishing a budget before they leave for spring break, communicating expectations with their friends, and planning before you go out where you are going and how you will get home safely.”</p>
<p>You can still have fun and create life-long memories on vacation while being smart about both your money and your well being this spring break.</p>
<p>Keep a Low Profile</p>
<p>Avoid drawing unwanted attention to yourself while on vacation and stay alert of your surroundings.</p>
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<p>“Be sure your room number is given to you discreetly when checking in,” says Larry Kaminer, president of the <a href="http://www.personalsafetygroup.com/" type="external">Personal Safety Group Opens a New Window.</a>. “Criminals do hang out in lobbies looking for easy targets. Jewelry, laptops, cameras and electronics attract attention.”</p>
<p>Don’t tell anyone outside your group your room number, and always make sure hotel doors and windows are locked.</p>
<p>Limit the amount of expensive electronics and flashy luxury items you bring. If you absolutely can’t live without your <a href="" type="internal">iPod</a>, lock it, along with other valuables, in the hotel room safe when not in use.</p>
<p>Be Smart About Cash</p>
<p>If you have to use an ATM while on vacation, the experts suggest using one in the hotel. If that isn’t an option, find one in a well-lit area and go with a group.</p>
<p>“Cup your hand over the keypad as you enter your PIN,” says Kaminer. “Going into a bank to get cash is another option. Carry small amounts of cash and be discreet with money when buying gifts from street vendors.”</p>
<p>Don’t Expose Your Credit Card Information</p>
<p>Most hotels require a credit card to be on file to make a reservation, but experts warn that some hotel staff might see a young face and make bogus charges with the hopes they will be overlooked.</p>
<p>“Parents can avoid their children having to engage in financial transactions at hotels by prepaying with their credit cards,” says Kaminer.</p>
<p>If your parents are not willing to help, be sure to monitor your account to make sure all charges are legitimate.</p>
<p>“The best defense for credit fraud is meticulously checking your statements and setting up fraud alerts with your card,” says Erin Weed, founder of <a href="http://Girls%20Fight%20Back" type="external">Girls Fight Back Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Always Have a Cell Phone</p>
<p>You should always have a cell phone with you for emergencies and for staying in touch with the people in your group.</p>
<p>“Have three emergency contacts programmed into the speed dialer,” suggests Kaminer. “If you travel abroad, [you can] buy a prepaid cell phone upon arrival and share that number with your friends and emergency contacts.”</p>
<p>When going out, make sure your phone is charged and that everyone in the group remembered to bring their phone.</p>
<p>“Group members should have each others’ phone numbers programmed into their phone as well as the phone number of the place they are staying and a local cab company,” says Quinn-Zobeck. “Students should be sure to check in with the members of their group throughout the night, not just at the end of the night.”</p>
<p>Stay in a Group and Don’t Leave Your Drink</p>
<p>Students should always stick together when going out anywhere, day or night. There is more potential for something unfortunate to happen if you split up.</p>
<p>“Go out with your friends, go home with your friends,” says Weed. “It’s so much more fun, and so much more safe.”</p>
<p>Kaminer advises buddying up for bathroom breaks and never leaving your beverage unattended.</p>
<p>“Keep any drinks with you and be wary of anyone who wants to keep pouring you more drinks,” he says. “If you’re ordering a beverage, be sure it is opened in front of you.”</p>
<p>Watch How Much You Drink</p>
<p>Drinking too much alcohol can unintentionally lead students to let their guards down, says Quinn-Zobeck.</p>
<p>“Alcohol is a depressant and even one to two drinks can decrease your ability to perceive a situation as dangerous,” she says. She also suggested appointing one person in your group to stay sober to keep tabs on everyone and drive if necessary.</p>
<p>Before leaving for a night out, have a plan that details how everyone will get back home or to the hotel safely.</p>
<p>Kaminer says that students should never appear to be drunk in public; in addition to possibly breaking the law, you make yourself a target.</p>
<p>“Criminals read body language,” he says. “Focused people walking ‘heads up’ with brisk athletic stride are seen to be harder targets and most often passed over for those that are clearly intoxicated and not aware of their surroundings.”</p>
<p>Alert Banks if Leaving a Country</p>
<p>If you are travelling out of the country be sure to let your bank know to expect foreign charges or it might suspend your account over suspected fraud, leaving you stranded with no money.</p>
<p>You should also let the government know you’re leaving. In case of an emergency, it can be helpful if the U.S. Embassy knows where you are.</p>
<p>“The <a href="" type="internal">State Department</a> also recommends you create a profile through its <a href="https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/" type="external">travel registration page Opens a New Window.</a>, especially if traveling abroad, so they know where you are and how to contact you,” says Kaminer.</p>
<p>“Remember bad things can happen anywhere, even ‘safe neighborhoods’ surrounded by lots of people,” says Weed. “This isn’t to say always be afraid, but just always be ready to handle a situation and have an action plan.”</p>
<p>Tell Money101 about your wackiest budget-stretching strategy that got you through or is currently helping you in college! Write to&#160; <a href="http://mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected] Opens a New Window.</a>&#160;with your budget tip, your name, age, and school.</p> | true | 0 | growing tough enough without worries financial future money101 opens new window 160is email us opens new window questions let us take pressure continue reading college students counting days spring break escape stresses college life spring break great time students unwind important keep safety top priority safe spring break requires planning says ann quinnzobeck director education training bacchus network opens new window students decrease chance easy target establishing budget leave spring break communicating expectations friends planning go going get home safely still fun create lifelong memories vacation smart money well spring break keep low profile avoid drawing unwanted attention vacation stay alert surroundings advertisement sure room number given discreetly checking says larry kaminer president personal safety group opens new window criminals hang lobbies looking easy targets jewelry laptops cameras electronics attract attention dont tell anyone outside group room number always make sure hotel doors windows locked limit amount expensive electronics flashy luxury items bring absolutely cant live without ipod lock along valuables hotel room safe use smart cash use atm vacation experts suggest using one hotel isnt option find one welllit area go group cup hand keypad enter pin says kaminer going bank get cash another option carry small amounts cash discreet money buying gifts street vendors dont expose credit card information hotels require credit card file make reservation experts warn hotel staff might see young face make bogus charges hopes overlooked parents avoid children engage financial transactions hotels prepaying credit cards says kaminer parents willing help sure monitor account make sure charges legitimate best defense credit fraud meticulously checking statements setting fraud alerts card says erin weed founder girls fight back opens new window always cell phone always cell phone emergencies staying touch people group three emergency contacts programmed speed dialer suggests kaminer travel abroad buy prepaid cell phone upon arrival share number friends emergency contacts going make sure phone charged everyone group remembered bring phone group members others phone numbers programmed phone well phone number place staying local cab company says quinnzobeck students sure check members group throughout night end night stay group dont leave drink students always stick together going anywhere day night potential something unfortunate happen split go friends go home friends says weed much fun much safe kaminer advises buddying bathroom breaks never leaving beverage unattended keep drinks wary anyone wants keep pouring drinks says youre ordering beverage sure opened front watch much drink drinking much alcohol unintentionally lead students let guards says quinnzobeck alcohol depressant even one two drinks decrease ability perceive situation dangerous says also suggested appointing one person group stay sober keep tabs everyone drive necessary leaving night plan details everyone get back home hotel safely kaminer says students never appear drunk public addition possibly breaking law make target criminals read body language says focused people walking heads brisk athletic stride seen harder targets often passed clearly intoxicated aware surroundings alert banks leaving country travelling country sure let bank know expect foreign charges might suspend account suspected fraud leaving stranded money also let government know youre leaving case emergency helpful us embassy knows state department also recommends create profile travel registration page opens new window especially traveling abroad know contact says kaminer remember bad things happen anywhere even safe neighborhoods surrounded lots people says weed isnt say always afraid always ready handle situation action plan tell money101 wackiest budgetstretching strategy got currently helping college write to160 foxbusinessmoney101gmailcom opens new window160with budget tip name age school | 572 |
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<p>Last year, Delta Air Lines reached a tentative agreement on a new four-year contract with its pilot union, nearly seven months before its existing contract was scheduled to become amendable. (Airline labor contracts never formally expire.) It seemed like Delta was well-positioned to continue its history of friendly labor relations.</p>
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<p>However, Delta's pilots rejected the tentative agreement by a 65%-35% margin. A key sticking point for many pilots was that while the contract provided raises of more than 21% over three years, it would have reduced their profit-sharing payouts.</p>
<p>Delta is having a hard time agreeing with its pilots on a new contract. Photo: The Motley Fool</p>
<p>Delta's management and its pilot union seem to be as far as ever from reaching a deal. Last week, the two sides both filed for mediation, as was required under the previous contract. Now, federal mediators will have to try to coax both sides into making reasonable compromises.</p>
<p>Pilot pay is going upThe dispute between Delta and its pilots comes in the midst of a growing U.S. pilot shortage. Airlines face a wave of mandatory pilot retirements in the coming years, while federal safety regulations have made it extremely expensive for aspiring pilots to become certified to fly passenger jets. The supply demand imbalance has been driving pilot wages steadily higher.</p>
<p>In early 2015, American Airlines pilots approved a new contract including immediate pay raises averaging 23%, followed by 3% annual raises for five years. American Airlines base pilot wages are now about 8%-15% higher than at Delta.</p>
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<p>Earlier this year, pilots at United Continental agreed to a contract extension that raised their base pay to the top of the industry. For a few aircraft types, base pay is roughly comparable between American and United, while United Airlines pilots are paid up to 5% more for some aircraft types.</p>
<p>Pilots at United now have the best base pay among passenger carriers. Photo: The Motley Fool</p>
<p>Among the three legacy carriers, Delta pilots now have the lowest base pay. However, the American Airlines pilot deal didn't include any profit sharing, although the company recently announced plans to <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/03/28/american-airlines-tries-to-appease-frustrated-empl.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">distribute 5% of its pre-tax profit Opens a New Window.</a> as profit sharing going forward. Meanwhile, United Continental has a fairly generous profit-sharing plan, but due to its lower profitability, it paid out less than half as much as Delta in profit sharing for 2015.</p>
<p>Negotiations get bogged downAfter pilots rejected Delta's contract offer last summer, the union made a counter-proposal in December. While the union describes its proposal as "market-based," it calls for an immediate 22% pay increase, followed by two 7% annual raises.</p>
<p>That would lead to a total base pay increase of 39.7% by 2018. It's not clear that the proposal included any profit-sharing reduction to offset the base wage increase. Not surprisingly, this offer went nowhere with Delta's management.</p>
<p>To justify their proposal, pilot union leaders at Delta have noted that the new contract at United Continental puts United pilots 16% ahead of Delta pilots in terms of base compensation. Even so, their proposal would leapfrog Delta pilots ahead of United pilots by 6% immediately, and put them nearly 15% ahead by 2018.</p>
<p>Both sides need to compromiseDelta Air Lines has reliably been near the top of the airline industry in profitability in recent years. It is reasonable for employees to expect to get paid somewhat more than their peers at less successful airlines.</p>
<p>However, the annual cost of the Delta pilots' contract proposal would be $750 million by 2018, <a href="http://airwaysnews.com/blog/2016/01/04/analysis-delta-pilots-ask-for-40-raise/" type="external">according to Airways News Opens a New Window.</a>. Furthermore, Delta's other employees -- who earn a fraction of what a pilot makes -- would be just as deserving of raises. Handing out 40% raises across the board would likely push the annual cost past $2 billion.</p>
<p>Delta could afford that today, but if oil prices recover in the next few years, it could take a multi-billion dollar bite out of the company's profitability. So while Delta needs to up its original offer, it wouldn't make sense for it to meet the union's demands.</p>
<p>Delta's pilot union may be in for a shock when the federal mediation process gets going. Given that Delta's original proposal was already more or less in-line with the other industry leaders in pay -- whereas the union appears to want a 15% premium relative to United Airlines pilots -- there's a good chance the mediator will tell the union that it is being unrealistic.</p>
<p>Furthermore, under the Railway Labor Act, airline employees aren't allowed to strike unless they are "released" by the mediator." That means the pilots have essentially no bargaining leverage.</p>
<p>The mediator will probably also ask for concessions from Delta so that pilots have something to show for their trouble. But if the pilots want to get their (well-deserved) raises, they will have to drop their asking price significantly.</p>
<p>The article <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/04/04/delta-air-lines-inc-goes-to-mediation-with-pilots.aspx" type="external">Delta Air Lines, Inc. Goes to Mediation With Its Pilots Opens a New Window.</a> originally appeared on Fool.com.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFGemHunter/info.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">Adam Levine-Weinberg Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of United Continental Holdings, and is long January 2017 $40 calls on Delta Air Lines, and long January 2017 $30 calls on American Airlines Group. The Motley Fool is long January 2017 $35 calls on American Airlines Group. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/help/index.htm?display=about02" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | last year delta air lines reached tentative agreement new fouryear contract pilot union nearly seven months existing contract scheduled become amendable airline labor contracts never formally expire seemed like delta wellpositioned continue history friendly labor relations continue reading however deltas pilots rejected tentative agreement 6535 margin key sticking point many pilots contract provided raises 21 three years would reduced profitsharing payouts delta hard time agreeing pilots new contract photo motley fool deltas management pilot union seem far ever reaching deal last week two sides filed mediation required previous contract federal mediators try coax sides making reasonable compromises pilot pay going upthe dispute delta pilots comes midst growing us pilot shortage airlines face wave mandatory pilot retirements coming years federal safety regulations made extremely expensive aspiring pilots become certified fly passenger jets supply demand imbalance driving pilot wages steadily higher early 2015 american airlines pilots approved new contract including immediate pay raises averaging 23 followed 3 annual raises five years american airlines base pilot wages 815 higher delta advertisement earlier year pilots united continental agreed contract extension raised base pay top industry aircraft types base pay roughly comparable american united united airlines pilots paid 5 aircraft types pilots united best base pay among passenger carriers photo motley fool among three legacy carriers delta pilots lowest base pay however american airlines pilot deal didnt include profit sharing although company recently announced plans distribute 5 pretax profit opens new window profit sharing going forward meanwhile united continental fairly generous profitsharing plan due lower profitability paid less half much delta profit sharing 2015 negotiations get bogged downafter pilots rejected deltas contract offer last summer union made counterproposal december union describes proposal marketbased calls immediate 22 pay increase followed two 7 annual raises would lead total base pay increase 397 2018 clear proposal included profitsharing reduction offset base wage increase surprisingly offer went nowhere deltas management justify proposal pilot union leaders delta noted new contract united continental puts united pilots 16 ahead delta pilots terms base compensation even proposal would leapfrog delta pilots ahead united pilots 6 immediately put nearly 15 ahead 2018 sides need compromisedelta air lines reliably near top airline industry profitability recent years reasonable employees expect get paid somewhat peers less successful airlines however annual cost delta pilots contract proposal would 750 million 2018 according airways news opens new window furthermore deltas employees earn fraction pilot makes would deserving raises handing 40 raises across board would likely push annual cost past 2 billion delta could afford today oil prices recover next years could take multibillion dollar bite companys profitability delta needs original offer wouldnt make sense meet unions demands deltas pilot union may shock federal mediation process gets going given deltas original proposal already less inline industry leaders pay whereas union appears want 15 premium relative united airlines pilots theres good chance mediator tell union unrealistic furthermore railway labor act airline employees arent allowed strike unless released mediator means pilots essentially bargaining leverage mediator probably also ask concessions delta pilots something show trouble pilots want get welldeserved raises drop asking price significantly article delta air lines inc goes mediation pilots opens new window originally appeared foolcom adam levineweinberg opens new window owns shares united continental holdings long january 2017 40 calls delta air lines long january 2017 30 calls american airlines group motley fool long january 2017 35 calls american airlines group try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window copyright 1995 2016 motley fool llc rights reserved motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 608 |
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<p>It's been a terrific year for Kimberly Bishop, who launched a new company last June and wrote her first book, coming out in November, during the company's first year.</p>
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<p>Her career management and leadership services company, KimberlyBishop.net, is already profitable. "And I'm really enjoying it," she says.</p>
<p>Her secret to success? Planning ahead.</p>
<p>Bishop spent weeks creating a business plan before she launched her business. "By doing that, I was able to be profitable sooner, because I wasn't planning and executing at the same time. I had put together the plan, and then it was just 100 percent about executing it.</p>
<p>"I'm glad I took the time at the beginning and really worked through that, because I knew exactly where I needed to be revenuewise and expensewise, and then I was just able to execute and manage it."</p>
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<p>Bishop says there's a definite skill to balancing the day-to-day tactical execution of her business and the strategic thinking for long-term success. She sets aside time on a regular basis to review her strategy and her business plan. That way, she makes certain she's still on target and doing the things she laid out as goals. For example, she says, she could have stayed in the office working on projects instead of completing her book.</p>
<p>Instead, she stayed on goal and on track. "It gives me great satisfaction to be here a year later and say 'That was in my plan, and I did it.' "</p>
<p>For Bishop, it's imperative to think continually about the long-term development of her business, and priming the pump to keep business coming in. "It would be very easy to be working on projects or doing the day-to-day work and not thinking ahead about what are the next things I need to be thinking about for future business." And then, she says, the business pipeline could dry up.</p>
<p>Another key to Bishop's success was putting together the resources she needed before launch -- an accountant, an attorney, an insurance plan, a banking relationship, along with an assistant able to handle the entrepreneurial environment. Bishop regards the accounting relationship as particularly important because it ensures that the business is functioning well. "It allows me to go and do the other work I need to do and not have to solve problems."</p>
<p>Equally important is her full-time assistant,&#160;Anna Kinney,&#160;whom she brought with her from the corporate world. Says Bishop, "She moved with me as part of this change." And, Bishop says, both women had to learn to do the detail work that other people handled in the corporate environment. For example, there's no travel department, so Kinney has to make travel arrangements when needed. "It's been a shift for both of us, and we are enjoying it," she says.</p>
<p>Bishop says clients often tell her they don't have time to interview job candidates or write the job description for the position they're seeking. Bishop says she's seen firsthand how important it is to set the time aside and do the hiring right the first time. "If I had brought someone with me as I started this business who was not the right fit for the entrepreneurial environment or didn't have strong skill sets for the kind of work I do, that could have had a negative impact on me being able to sit here a year later and say, 'It's been a great year.' I might be starting over and hiring someone else."</p>
<p>Bishop has run into a few surprises as a business owner handling all the details of running her company. One was learning to ask about the small-business services that many service providers offer -- such as cell phone, internet and telephone providers. "Oftentimes, those companies have programs and services specifically geared to small business that have been very helpful -- and, in a few cases, more cost-effective." Until she learned that lesson, Bishop says, she set her office up corporate-style, "and it wasn't right for us."</p>
<p>Bishop says one thing she left out of her launch was a social media plan. She didn't implement such a plan until the end of 2009. "What I have found is that it's been a very positive experience. If I were going to do something different, I might have done that at the very beginning," she says.</p>
<p>She touts both <a href="" type="internal">LinkedIn</a> and <a href="" type="internal">Facebook</a>. "In recruiting, LinkedIn plays a tremendous role for recruiters, candidates and businesspeople," Bishop says. "That has become critical in the whole process."</p>
<p>She uses <a href="" type="internal">Facebook</a> in two ways: "It's been helpful to me not only in putting my business out there, but staying very much in tune with clients in the industry that I serve." She credits an outside consultant for helping her. "That goes back to getting the right people to help you," she says.</p>
<p>How big does Bishop want to get? That will be driven by market needs, she says. "I would say that my definition of size is not so much around people or even financials. My growth is going to be driven by what kind of services my clients need and how I can deliver them." Her niche includes two levels of service -- one for larger, corporate organizations, and one for small and midsize companies that have been underserved when it comes to retained executive recruiting.</p>
<p>"I think it's about finding a spot where you think you can do really great work, and not trying to be everything," she says. "And that was part of my strategy."</p>
<p>On the corporate side, she tends to get involved when a company needs a particularly complex search for a candidate with very specific background experience. (For example, "Yes, we need a CFO. But we need a CFO who has also done this and in these particular industries.")</p>
<p>With smaller companies, her focus is surmounting what she sees as the two main barriers to retained executive recruiting: ability to finance the search and the time searches can take. Bishop says she's been able to shorten the search period by first examining and understanding the needs of the client organization. "Once we say, 'Let's go,' because now we understand the project very well, then it's 'Let's move quickly and execute and get the candidates in for interviews.'" In some instances, she's been able to contact a candidate, arrange a meeting in a few days, and present the candidate with an offer the following week.</p>
<p>She also has one more differentiator as a recruiter: "I will also talk to job seekers and give them tips," she says.</p>
<p>Entrepreneurship has proved the perfect solution for Bishop. But she cautions people interested in being business owners to "think long and hard about [whether] they're willing to make the kind of commitment to be successful." If so, she says, "the risks can very much be worth the rewards.</p>
<p>"I love having my own company," Bishops says. "I love being able to make decisions day-to-day that serve my clients best. It's the perfect thing for me to be doing right now."</p> | true | 0 | terrific year kimberly bishop launched new company last june wrote first book coming november companys first year continue reading career management leadership services company kimberlybishopnet already profitable im really enjoying says secret success planning ahead bishop spent weeks creating business plan launched business able profitable sooner wasnt planning executing time put together plan 100 percent executing im glad took time beginning really worked knew exactly needed revenuewise expensewise able execute manage advertisement bishop says theres definite skill balancing daytoday tactical execution business strategic thinking longterm success sets aside time regular basis review strategy business plan way makes certain shes still target things laid goals example says could stayed office working projects instead completing book instead stayed goal track gives great satisfaction year later say plan bishop imperative think continually longterm development business priming pump keep business coming would easy working projects daytoday work thinking ahead next things need thinking future business says business pipeline could dry another key bishops success putting together resources needed launch accountant attorney insurance plan banking relationship along assistant able handle entrepreneurial environment bishop regards accounting relationship particularly important ensures business functioning well allows go work need solve problems equally important fulltime assistant160anna kinney160whom brought corporate world says bishop moved part change bishop says women learn detail work people handled corporate environment example theres travel department kinney make travel arrangements needed shift us enjoying says bishop says clients often tell dont time interview job candidates write job description position theyre seeking bishop says shes seen firsthand important set time aside hiring right first time brought someone started business right fit entrepreneurial environment didnt strong skill sets kind work could negative impact able sit year later say great year might starting hiring someone else bishop run surprises business owner handling details running company one learning ask smallbusiness services many service providers offer cell phone internet telephone providers oftentimes companies programs services specifically geared small business helpful cases costeffective learned lesson bishop says set office corporatestyle wasnt right us bishop says one thing left launch social media plan didnt implement plan end 2009 found positive experience going something different might done beginning says touts linkedin facebook recruiting linkedin plays tremendous role recruiters candidates businesspeople bishop says become critical whole process uses facebook two ways helpful putting business staying much tune clients industry serve credits outside consultant helping goes back getting right people help says big bishop want get driven market needs says would say definition size much around people even financials growth going driven kind services clients need deliver niche includes two levels service one larger corporate organizations one small midsize companies underserved comes retained executive recruiting think finding spot think really great work trying everything says part strategy corporate side tends get involved company needs particularly complex search candidate specific background experience example yes need cfo need cfo also done particular industries smaller companies focus surmounting sees two main barriers retained executive recruiting ability finance search time searches take bishop says shes able shorten search period first examining understanding needs client organization say lets go understand project well lets move quickly execute get candidates interviews instances shes able contact candidate arrange meeting days present candidate offer following week also one differentiator recruiter also talk job seekers give tips says entrepreneurship proved perfect solution bishop cautions people interested business owners think long hard whether theyre willing make kind commitment successful says risks much worth rewards love company bishops says love able make decisions daytoday serve clients best perfect thing right | 582 |
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<p>SpaceX's SES-9 mission: Still stuck on the launchpad. Image source: <a href="http://www.spacex.com/webcast" type="external">SpaceX Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
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<p>SpaceX had a bad week last week. Over the course of four dispiriting days, Elon Musk's privately held space exploration company tried three timesto launch a six-ton communications satellite, SES-9, into orbit, only to be forced to scrub the launch each time.</p>
<p>Now, don't worry overmuch. They'll get the satellite launched eventually -- perhaps as soon as this week. But even after overcoming this hurdle, there's a new threat looming on SpaceX's horizon, and it comes from France.</p>
<p>Lafayette, we are here! (With low, low prices)SpaceX is not particularly popular in France. A few years ago, representatives of local space launch provider Arianespace <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/03/28/5-things-i-learned-america-space-program-youtube.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">were having a conversation Opens a New Window.</a> with U.S. Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, at which (she says), they confided to her that they'd really love to "get rid of SpaceX ... Because they were going to drive them out of business!"</p>
<p>SpaceX, you see, can send a satellite into orbit aboard one of its Falcon 9 rockets for about $61 million. That's not only cheaper than <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/03/29/can-spacex-cut-cost-of-space-travel-75-percent.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">the $400 million Opens a New Window.</a> that Boeing and Lockheed Martin are reported to charge for some of their United Launch Alliance (ULA) launches. It's more than the "$200 million equivalent" that Sanchez said Arianespace reported it was charging for its launches.</p>
<p>That's a difficult situation for Arianespace to be in -- but they're planning to do something about it.</p>
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<p>Airbus Safran plans to make two new rockets out of its new Ariane 6. Image source: <a href="http://www.airbusafran-launchers.com/" type="external">Airbus Safran Launchers Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Introducing the Ariane 6Last month, Arianespace's rocket supplier Airbus Safran Launchers (a joint venture betweenAirbus and Safran) announced it has finalized the design of a new Ariane 6 heavy launch vehicle for Arianespace.</p>
<p>Make that two designs. As reported in France's Le Figaronewspaper, the new Ariane 6 will come in two configurations:</p>
<p>Is better good enough? So how does this compare to what SpaceX offers? Well, to be blunt, it's not cheaper than SpaceX -- but it's a closer match than Airbus Safran (and Arianespace) offered previously. According to SpaceX data, an ordinary $61 million Falcon 9 rocket should only be capable of lifting 4.85 metric tons into orbit. (Although we know that the SES-9 mission will lift quite a bit more than that, once it gets off the ground.) The new Falcon 9 Heavy, featuring two big booster rockets of its own, will lift up to 6.4 tons.</p>
<p>Roughly speaking, Ariane 62 appears designed to do a Falcon 9's job for 25% more money. Ariane 64 will cost 40% more than the $90 million SpaceX will charge for a Falcon Heavy launch -- but it should carry a whole lot more cargo.</p>
<p>Crucially, Ariane 64 will cost 28% less than the $175 million that Arianespace currently chargesfor an Ariane 5 launch.</p>
<p>The upshot for investorsAirbus Safran -- and by extension, their customer Arianespace -- coming down from $200 million a launch to just $126 million, or even $77 million, is a pretty big move. For local buyers with a local bias, the smaller version of their new Ariane 6 rocket may now be cheap enough to compete with SpaceX. Meanwhile, the Ariane 64 four-booster heavy-lift rocket, with its greater capabilities, could even beat SpaceX at the low-price, high-performance game.</p>
<p>The Europeans' new rockets are going to create an even greater headache for Boeing and Lockheed over at ULA. If Arianespace wasn't scared of Boeing and Lockheed before, then the cheaper launch cost of its new rockets is going to give them even less reason to worry about competition from America's space launch duopolists.</p>
<p>ULA's one hope? Airbus Safran says it won't have Ariane 6 ready for launch before 2020, whereas Boeing and Lockheed hope to have a new Vulcan rocket <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/09/16/why-is-lockheed-martin-cozying-up-to-jeff-bezos-no.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">featuring new American-made engines Opens a New Window.</a> ready to begin testing by next year, and ready to fly by 2019. (Switching horses to an alternate engine designed by Aerojet Rocketdyne could delay that date to 2020.)</p>
<p>The upshot? Ariane 6 makes Arianespace more competitive with SpaceX -- but it's not a clear winner. As for its effect on Boeing and Lockheed Martin... Well, with any luck, we'll soon know their new rocket's capabilities -- and its price -- and be able to gauge just how big of a threat Ariane 6 poses to America's leading rocket stocks.</p>
<p>Ariane 62: Aiming to beat SpaceX and the Falcon 9, will it fall short? Image source: <a href="http://www.airbusafran-launchers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/A62_ISO_Back.jpg" type="external">Airbus Safran Launchers Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>The article <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/03/01/could-europes-ariane-6-rocket-beat-spacexs.aspx" type="external">Could Europe's Ariane 6 Rocket Beat SpaceX's? Opens a New Window.</a> originally appeared on Fool.com.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFDitty/info.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">Rich Smith Opens a New Window.</a>does not own shares of any company named above. You can find him on <a href="http://caps.fool.com/?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">Motley Fool CAPS Opens a New Window.</a>, publicly pontificating under the handle <a href="http://caps.fool.com/ViewPlayer.aspx?t=01002844399633209838&amp;source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">TMFDitty Opens a New Window.</a>, where he's currently ranked No. 260 out of more than 75,000 rated members.The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
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<p>U.S. banks have quietly launched a doomsday project they hope will prevent a run on the financial system should one of them suffer a debilitating cyberattack.</p>
<p>The effort, which went live earlier this year and is dubbed Sheltered Harbor, currently includes banks and credit unions that have roughly 400 million U.S. accounts. The effort requires member firms to individually back up data so it can be used by other firms to serve customers of a disabled bank.</p>
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<p>While most people worry about their money being stolen in a hack, banks fear something more sinister: an attacker destroying, or even simply locking, data.</p>
<p>Such moves could cripple a bank, leaving it unable to operate for hours, days, or perhaps much longer. If people suddenly can't access their accounts and money at one bank, customers at other banks could panic, thinking they might be vulnerable, too. This could prompt them to withdraw funds as a precaution and, in a worst-case scenario, spark a run on the wider banking system.</p>
<p>"So far, most people think about cyber in terms of having a credit card stolen," said Stuart Madnick, a professor of information technologies at the MIT Sloan School of Management. "What you're talking about now is a nuclear attack: If you can't get to the ATM and get it to work."</p>
<p>While data was stolen rather than destroyed in the Equifax Inc. hack disclosed in September, that breach was a reminder of how vulnerable consumers are. The Equifax hack exposed vital personal information of potentially 145.5 million Americans.</p>
<p>Especially troubling for banks is the possibility that the government could have difficulty tamping down a hack-induced panic.</p>
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<p>Agencies like the Federal Reserve and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. have long had mechanisms meant to restore confidence in the banking and financial system. These include the Fed's discount window, which allows banks to borrow money in times of trouble, and the FDIC's deposit insurance guarantees, which assure many bank customers won't be left in the lurch by a failure.</p>
<p>These mechanisms, however, were designed to counter bank failures typically induced by questions about a firm's solvency or liquidity. They don't address the fear that a bank's ATMs might one day stop working because of a cyberattack.</p>
<p>U.S. officials have long acknowledged they remain fearful of -- and find it hard to prepare for -- the potential confidence effect of an attack on financial data. Jerome Powell, President Donald Trump's pick as the next head of the Federal Reserve, said recently of cyberrisk: "There can never be any sense of comfort that we've got this nailed."</p>
<p>Banks and regulators have been trying to devise responses. One method is to conduct "war games," such as Quantum Dawn in the U.S., or Operation Waking Shark in the U.K.</p>
<p>In a 2015 exercise run by the U.S. Treasury known as the Hamilton Series, bankers learned that data disruptions at even small banks could shatter confidence in the broader system. The informal "buddy bank" system, in which two local branches agree to help each other's customers in a crisis, wasn't sufficient to stem systemic fears.</p>
<p>For big banks, in particular, such experiences reinforced the reality that while some institutions can spend huge amounts on cybersecurity, they can still be vulnerable if there is an overall loss of confidence. And the proliferation of technology companies using small banks to facilitate billions of dollars in mobile payments or digital loans means any institution can become a key cog in the system.</p>
<p>"This level of vulnerability to cyberattack didn't exist in 2008," said Paul Bracken, a professor at the Yale School of Management who has developed war-game scenarios with banks since the 1990s. "The question is how you handle...new ports to enter the system."</p>
<p>One answer was Sheltered Harbor, whose participants range from small, local institutions to giants such as Bank of America Corp., Citigroup Inc., and JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. Its 34-member board is composed of representatives of individual big banks, groups of smaller firms, trade associations, clearinghouses and broker-dealers.</p>
<p>The project was hatched by Phil Venables, chief operational risk officer at Goldman Sachs, and James Rosenthal, Morgan Stanley's former chief operating officer. Both are now co-chairs of Sheltered Harbor.</p>
<p>The idea is to ensure that every U.S. bank has the kind of backups that some of the biggest banks have been using since the 1990s: protected in vaults, whether digital or physical, and unalterable once recorded.</p>
<p>To participate, banks pay fees ranging from $250 to $25,000 a year, depending on their size. Members must follow specific guidelines on formatting data, creating a backup vault and submitting to audits. The goal is to make it feasible for backed-up data to start being used to cover an affected institution's customers within 48 hours.</p>
<p>Steven Silberstein, former chief technology officer of SunGard, a bank-tech provider, who now heads the staff at Sheltered Harbor, likened the effort to seed banks, the Arctic vaults where governments keep basic material for agriculture, to be accessed in case a nuclear attack devastates the planet.</p>
<p>"For all the protection we have in place, what if the worst and unimaginable happened?" he said.</p>
<p>Of course, no defense is foolproof. Mr. Madnick, whose Cybersecurity at MIT Sloan center has studied industry groups that share security information, said such efforts have had mixed success in the past, sometimes because smaller firms find the costs of handling data to be shared prohibitive. There is also a risk that backups are compromised.</p>
<p>"You have to ensure the backup copy is not a copy of already scrambled data," he said.</p>
<p>(END) Dow Jones Newswires</p>
<p>December 03, 2017 07:14 ET (12:14 GMT)</p> | true | 0 | us banks quietly launched doomsday project hope prevent run financial system one suffer debilitating cyberattack effort went live earlier year dubbed sheltered harbor currently includes banks credit unions roughly 400 million us accounts effort requires member firms individually back data used firms serve customers disabled bank continue reading people worry money stolen hack banks fear something sinister attacker destroying even simply locking data moves could cripple bank leaving unable operate hours days perhaps much longer people suddenly cant access accounts money one bank customers banks could panic thinking might vulnerable could prompt withdraw funds precaution worstcase scenario spark run wider banking system far people think cyber terms credit card stolen said stuart madnick professor information technologies mit sloan school management youre talking nuclear attack cant get atm get work data stolen rather destroyed equifax inc hack disclosed september breach reminder vulnerable consumers equifax hack exposed vital personal information potentially 1455 million americans especially troubling banks possibility government could difficulty tamping hackinduced panic advertisement agencies like federal reserve federal deposit insurance corp long mechanisms meant restore confidence banking financial system include feds discount window allows banks borrow money times trouble fdics deposit insurance guarantees assure many bank customers wont left lurch failure mechanisms however designed counter bank failures typically induced questions firms solvency liquidity dont address fear banks atms might one day stop working cyberattack us officials long acknowledged remain fearful find hard prepare potential confidence effect attack financial data jerome powell president donald trumps pick next head federal reserve said recently cyberrisk never sense comfort weve got nailed banks regulators trying devise responses one method conduct war games quantum dawn us operation waking shark uk 2015 exercise run us treasury known hamilton series bankers learned data disruptions even small banks could shatter confidence broader system informal buddy bank system two local branches agree help others customers crisis wasnt sufficient stem systemic fears big banks particular experiences reinforced reality institutions spend huge amounts cybersecurity still vulnerable overall loss confidence proliferation technology companies using small banks facilitate billions dollars mobile payments digital loans means institution become key cog system level vulnerability cyberattack didnt exist 2008 said paul bracken professor yale school management developed wargame scenarios banks since 1990s question handlenew ports enter system one answer sheltered harbor whose participants range small local institutions giants bank america corp citigroup inc jpmorgan chase amp co 34member board composed representatives individual big banks groups smaller firms trade associations clearinghouses brokerdealers project hatched phil venables chief operational risk officer goldman sachs james rosenthal morgan stanleys former chief operating officer cochairs sheltered harbor idea ensure every us bank kind backups biggest banks using since 1990s protected vaults whether digital physical unalterable recorded participate banks pay fees ranging 250 25000 year depending size members must follow specific guidelines formatting data creating backup vault submitting audits goal make feasible backedup data start used cover affected institutions customers within 48 hours steven silberstein former chief technology officer sungard banktech provider heads staff sheltered harbor likened effort seed banks arctic vaults governments keep basic material agriculture accessed case nuclear attack devastates planet protection place worst unimaginable happened said course defense foolproof mr madnick whose cybersecurity mit sloan center studied industry groups share security information said efforts mixed success past sometimes smaller firms find costs handling data shared prohibitive also risk backups compromised ensure backup copy copy already scrambled data said end dow jones newswires december 03 2017 0714 et 1214 gmt | 570 |
<p>Even&#160; <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/10/02/police-shut-down-part-of-las-vegas-strip-due-to-shooting/" type="external">the Washington Post (10/2)</a>&#160;expresses puzzlement: “Among the questions they [investigators] have: “…how he [Stephen Paddock] was able to bring it [a weapon] and many other weapons into a Vegas hotel suite undetected.”</p>
<p>“[Las Vegas Sheriff] Lombardo said hotel staff had been in and out of the two-room suite, which Paddock had stayed in since Sept. 28, and spotted nothing ‘nefarious,’ though he had more than 10 suitcases.”</p>
<p>I see. Ten suitcases. More than 10. How many? Fifteen?</p>
<p>Paddock, a high-stakes gambler the casinos know well, a man they know is a local resident, suddenly shows up with 10 suitcases. Hotel staff are in and out of his suite and no one has questions?</p>
<p>This raises no red flags?</p>
<p>In a city where the hotels and casinos have many layers of security, including metal detectors, Paddock quietly slipped in with more than 10 suitcases holding weapons and ammo?</p>
<p>The city of Las Vegas has shown up in ISIS chatter as a target of interest. Wouldn’t that cause hotels and casinos to step up their already heavy security?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ktnv.com/news/ralston/jon-ralstons-exclusive-interview-with-steve-wynn" type="external">A year ago, KTNV reported</a>, (“Steve Wynn talks about ‘extraordinary’ security measures with Jon Ralston, Part 1”):</p>
<p>“’Terrorism is very much in the forefront of every casino owner’s mind,’ said retired Lt. Randy Sutton, 13 Action News Crime and Safety Expert.”</p>
<p>In the same KTNV piece, hotel magnate Steve Wynn said: “Las Vegas is a target city. We have hardened the target at the Wynn [Hotel]. This is the first time I’ve ever revealed this publicly. But we went [sic], there’s a division in the Marine Corps of special people that are specially trained to guard the embassies. That’s a whole division with separate base, separate training.”</p>
<p>“There are almost 40 of them at every opening [entrance] of my building, plain clothes, armed, on the look-out, changing shift and being relieved every two hours so they don’t get bored.”</p>
<p>“We have another group of a half a dozen seals team six guys and CIA guys who are a counterterrorism unit that … relate on a daily basis to Homeland Security, the FBI, and Metro. My company has metal detectors and devices at every entrance of the building for employees and guests that are non-visible to the public. We have done extraordinary things to make that sure we protect our employees and our guests at the hotel.”</p>
<p>Surely, other hotels in the city have installed major security, too. But again, Stephen Paddock gets more than 10 suitcases filled with metal up to his suite without incident.</p>
<p>And keeps them there for several days.</p>
<p>Here is a revealing nugget:&#160; <a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/10/in-the-las-vegas-attack-is-the-shooters-gambling-relevant.html" type="external">New York Magazine, October 6</a>: “He [Paddock] was also a heavy drinker, known to demand high-end cognac and treat cocktail waitresses and his own girlfriend rudely, according to a source in guest services at a casino he frequented.”</p>
<p>In other words, Paddock was aggressive. Casinos&#160;knew&#160;he was tightly wound. He could go off on people. This was a reason to hold him in suspicion. But those 10 suitcases in his room? Not a cause for concern or question.</p>
<p>If metal detectors are used at the Mandalay Hotel, how did all that steel and weight slip through security? Was this an inside job? Did Paddock have help from hotel security?</p>
<p>At the moment the first window in Paddock’s suite was broken, you would assume alarms would go off and Hotel security would rush to the suite. Why have we heard nothing about this?</p>
<p>Take this one step further. Is it possible Paddock was set up, or was part of an operation whose ultimate objective was unknown to him? Is it possible some group with far more clout than Paddock managed to get those suitcase into his suite?</p>
<p>The Mandalay Hotel, at this moment, is doing everything it can to minimize and deflect blame for its “lax security.” Therefore, how much Hotel video of Paddock can we expect to see in the coming days? What cover stories will emerge? What lies will be told? What falsehoods will be promoted to defeat lawsuits filed against the Hotel?</p>
<p>Las Vegas will certainly try to allay tourist fears. All the hotel and casino business in the city is on the line. Billions of dollars. The people who make the lion’s share of that money will tell whatever lies they need to, in order to keep up the appearance of “tourist safety.”</p>
<p>Final thought for the moment: If security devices in the Mandalay were turned off briefly, to allow someone to bring in those suitcases full of weapons, we are now talking about a sophisticated level of intrusion, beyond the ability of Stephen Paddock. How would the breach go unnoticed by the Hotel’s full security detail? How would the cover-up of that breach have been rigged?</p>
<p>Jon Rappoport</p>
<p>(To read about Jon’s mega-collection,&#160;Power Outside The Matrix,&#160; <a href="http://marketplace.mybigcommerce.com/power-outside-the-matrix/" type="external">click here</a>.)</p>
<p>The author of three explosive collections,&#160; <a href="http://marketplace.mybigcommerce.com/the-matrix-revealed/" type="external">THE MATRIX REVEALED</a>,&#160; <a href="http://marketplace.mybigcommerce.com/exit-from-the-matrix/" type="external">EXIT FROM THE MATRIX</a>, and&#160; <a href="http://marketplace.mybigcommerce.com/power-outside-the-matrix/" type="external">POWER OUTSIDE THE MATRIX</a>, Jon was a candidate for a US Congressional seat in the 29th&#160;District of California. He maintains a consulting practice for private clients, the purpose of which is the expansion of personal creative power. Nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, he has worked as an investigative reporter for 30 years, writing articles on politics, medicine, and health for CBS Healthwatch, LA Weekly, Spin Magazine, Stern, and other newspapers and magazines in the US and Europe. Jon has delivered lectures and seminars on global politics, health, logic, and creative power to audiences around the world. You can sign up for his&#160;free&#160;NoMoreFakeNews emails&#160; <a href="http://j.mp/1HvKCU1" type="external">here</a>&#160;or his&#160;free&#160;OutsideTheRealityMachine emails&#160; <a href="http://j.mp/1SfPuzL" type="external">here</a>.</p>
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<p /> | true | 0 | even160 washington post 102160expresses puzzlement among questions investigators stephen paddock able bring weapon many weapons vegas hotel suite undetected las vegas sheriff lombardo said hotel staff tworoom suite paddock stayed since sept 28 spotted nothing nefarious though 10 suitcases see ten suitcases 10 many fifteen paddock highstakes gambler casinos know well man know local resident suddenly shows 10 suitcases hotel staff suite one questions raises red flags city hotels casinos many layers security including metal detectors paddock quietly slipped 10 suitcases holding weapons ammo city las vegas shown isis chatter target interest wouldnt cause hotels casinos step already heavy security year ago ktnv reported steve wynn talks extraordinary security measures jon ralston part 1 terrorism much forefront every casino owners mind said retired lt randy sutton 13 action news crime safety expert ktnv piece hotel magnate steve wynn said las vegas target city hardened target wynn hotel first time ive ever revealed publicly went sic theres division marine corps special people specially trained guard embassies thats whole division separate base separate training almost 40 every opening entrance building plain clothes armed lookout changing shift relieved every two hours dont get bored another group half dozen seals team six guys cia guys counterterrorism unit relate daily basis homeland security fbi metro company metal detectors devices every entrance building employees guests nonvisible public done extraordinary things make sure protect employees guests hotel surely hotels city installed major security stephen paddock gets 10 suitcases filled metal suite without incident keeps several days revealing nugget160 new york magazine october 6 paddock also heavy drinker known demand highend cognac treat cocktail waitresses girlfriend rudely according source guest services casino frequented words paddock aggressive casinos160knew160he tightly wound could go people reason hold suspicion 10 suitcases room cause concern question metal detectors used mandalay hotel steel weight slip security inside job paddock help hotel security moment first window paddocks suite broken would assume alarms would go hotel security would rush suite heard nothing take one step possible paddock set part operation whose ultimate objective unknown possible group far clout paddock managed get suitcase suite mandalay hotel moment everything minimize deflect blame lax security therefore much hotel video paddock expect see coming days cover stories emerge lies told falsehoods promoted defeat lawsuits filed hotel las vegas certainly try allay tourist fears hotel casino business city line billions dollars people make lions share money tell whatever lies need order keep appearance tourist safety final thought moment security devices mandalay turned briefly allow someone bring suitcases full weapons talking sophisticated level intrusion beyond ability stephen paddock would breach go unnoticed hotels full security detail would coverup breach rigged jon rappoport read jons megacollection160power outside matrix160 click author three explosive collections160 matrix revealed160 exit matrix and160 power outside matrix jon candidate us congressional seat 29th160district california maintains consulting practice private clients purpose expansion personal creative power nominated pulitzer prize worked investigative reporter 30 years writing articles politics medicine health cbs healthwatch la weekly spin magazine stern newspapers magazines us europe jon delivered lectures seminars global politics health logic creative power audiences around world sign his160free160nomorefakenews emails160 here160or his160free160outsidetherealitymachine emails160 | 518 |
<p>Senate Republicans revealed the details of their sweeping tax legislation Thursday, including a one-year delay in plans for a major corporate tax cut despite strident opposition from the White House and others in their own party. Their bill would leave the prized mortgage interest deduction untouched for homeowners in a concession to the powerful real estate lobby but would ignore a House compromise on the hot-button issue of state and local tax deductions.</p>
<p>On the other side of the Capitol, the House Ways and Means Committee approved its own version of the legislation on a party-line 24-16 vote, amid intense political pressure on the GOP to push forward on the first major rewrite of the U.S. tax code in three decades. It's President Donald Trump's top priority and a goal many Republicans believe has grown even more urgent in the wake of election losses on Tuesday that displayed an energized Democratic electorate.</p>
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<p>Yet as the Senate Finance Committee unveiled its bill, a few stark differences emerged with the version approved by the House tax-writing committee, underscoring the challenges ahead in getting both chambers to agree on the complex and far-reaching legislation that would affect nearly every American.</p>
<p>The Senate measure fails to repeal the estate tax, though it doubles the size of estates exempted from the tax. It makes couples earning up to $1 million eligible for a $1,650 per-child tax credit. It creates a new 38.5 percent tax bracket for couples earning more than $1 million and individuals making more than $500,000 per year. And it takes a different approach to cutting taxes for businesses not organized as corporations that is less generous but applies to more businesses.</p>
<p>Democrats are strongly opposed to the GOP rewrite, so the Republicans must find agreement among themselves to have any hope of passage.</p>
<p>The Senate bill would fully repeal the state and local deduction claimed by many taxpayers, an idea that has drawn vigorous opposition from House Republicans in New York and New Jersey and resulted in a compromise in the House version of the bill that would allow property taxes to be deducted up to $10,000.</p>
<p>House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy told The Associated Press that the Senate's total-repeal approach would face tough sledding in his chamber. As for the hard-fought compromise, he said, "I think it'd be difficult not to have it in the final bill."</p>
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<p>On the other hand, the House bill would lower the cap on the mortgage interest deduction, an idea that caused intense blowback from the real estate lobby, but the Senate tax measure would leave it unchanged. That means homebuyers would continue to be able to deduct interest payments on loans of up to $1 million as permitted under current law; the House bill would reduce the limit to $500,000 for new home purchases.</p>
<p>The feverish efforts by Republicans in both chambers are aimed at fulfilling a self-imposed deadline to get legislation out of the House and Senate before Thanksgiving so the period between then and Christmas can be devoted to reconciling the two versions. But the Senate already seems unlikely to meet that deadline because of complex rules governing how it must consider the tax bill.</p>
<p>In one provision sure to cause a major dispute, the Senate measure includes a one-year delay in lowering the corporate tax rate, which is to be cut from 35 percent to 20 percent. Delaying that reduction would lower the cost of the bill to the Treasury, but the delay is opposed by the White House and some Senate Republicans.</p>
<p>"The president would like this to go into effect right away," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday on Fox Business Network.</p>
<p>Other obstacles remain, among them a band of deficit hawks in the Senate who are unhappy about the $1.5 trillion the legislation would add to the national debt over the coming decade.</p>
<p>"I remain concerned over how the current tax reform proposals will grow the already staggering national debt by opting for short-term fixes while ignoring long-term problems," said Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ala. "We must achieve real tax reform crafted in a fiscally responsible manner."</p>
<p>The House and Senate bills are broadly similar in their outlines. Both would drastically reduce the corporate tax rate and also lower rates for individuals, while eliminating deductions claimed by many people.</p>
<p>The House version would collapse the current seven tax brackets into four, while the Senate would retain seven. The House bill would entirely eliminate the estate tax, while the Senate version would retain it while doubling the exemption level. Both versions would retain an adoption tax credit that had initially been eliminated in the House bill, but that adoption advocates fought to restore.</p>
<p>Both would increase a child tax credit, though not to levels sought by Sens. Marco Rubio and others, an indication of how individual provisions will need to be negotiated with one lawmaker after another in the weeks to come. House Republicans appear on track to pass their version of the bill next week, but in the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has a slim 52-48 majority that has proven difficult to corral.</p>
<p>Democrats are angrily opposed to the GOP rewrite, arguing it's a giveaway to the rich and corporate America. Republicans contend that the tax reductions will help the middle class, even though some independent analyses have found that the wealthy and corporations benefit disproportionately.</p>
<p>The tax bill must deepen federal deficits by no more than $1.5 trillion over the coming decade. If Republicans don't meet that, the measure would be vulnerable to a bill-killing Senate filibuster by Democrats that GOP senators lack the votes to block. It also cannot add to red ink beyond the first 10 years without facing the same fate.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Alan Fram and Erica Werner contributed to this report.</p> | true | 0 | senate republicans revealed details sweeping tax legislation thursday including oneyear delay plans major corporate tax cut despite strident opposition white house others party bill would leave prized mortgage interest deduction untouched homeowners concession powerful real estate lobby would ignore house compromise hotbutton issue state local tax deductions side capitol house ways means committee approved version legislation partyline 2416 vote amid intense political pressure gop push forward first major rewrite us tax code three decades president donald trumps top priority goal many republicans believe grown even urgent wake election losses tuesday displayed energized democratic electorate continue reading yet senate finance committee unveiled bill stark differences emerged version approved house taxwriting committee underscoring challenges ahead getting chambers agree complex farreaching legislation would affect nearly every american senate measure fails repeal estate tax though doubles size estates exempted tax makes couples earning 1 million eligible 1650 perchild tax credit creates new 385 percent tax bracket couples earning 1 million individuals making 500000 per year takes different approach cutting taxes businesses organized corporations less generous applies businesses democrats strongly opposed gop rewrite republicans must find agreement among hope passage senate bill would fully repeal state local deduction claimed many taxpayers idea drawn vigorous opposition house republicans new york new jersey resulted compromise house version bill would allow property taxes deducted 10000 house majority leader kevin mccarthy told associated press senates totalrepeal approach would face tough sledding chamber hardfought compromise said think itd difficult final bill advertisement hand house bill would lower cap mortgage interest deduction idea caused intense blowback real estate lobby senate tax measure would leave unchanged means homebuyers would continue able deduct interest payments loans 1 million permitted current law house bill would reduce limit 500000 new home purchases feverish efforts republicans chambers aimed fulfilling selfimposed deadline get legislation house senate thanksgiving period christmas devoted reconciling two versions senate already seems unlikely meet deadline complex rules governing must consider tax bill one provision sure cause major dispute senate measure includes oneyear delay lowering corporate tax rate cut 35 percent 20 percent delaying reduction would lower cost bill treasury delay opposed white house senate republicans president would like go effect right away treasury secretary steven mnuchin said thursday fox business network obstacles remain among band deficit hawks senate unhappy 15 trillion legislation would add national debt coming decade remain concerned current tax reform proposals grow already staggering national debt opting shortterm fixes ignoring longterm problems said sen jeff flake rala must achieve real tax reform crafted fiscally responsible manner house senate bills broadly similar outlines would drastically reduce corporate tax rate also lower rates individuals eliminating deductions claimed many people house version would collapse current seven tax brackets four senate would retain seven house bill would entirely eliminate estate tax senate version would retain doubling exemption level versions would retain adoption tax credit initially eliminated house bill adoption advocates fought restore would increase child tax credit though levels sought sens marco rubio others indication individual provisions need negotiated one lawmaker another weeks come house republicans appear track pass version bill next week senate majority leader mitch mcconnell slim 5248 majority proven difficult corral democrats angrily opposed gop rewrite arguing giveaway rich corporate america republicans contend tax reductions help middle class even though independent analyses found wealthy corporations benefit disproportionately tax bill must deepen federal deficits 15 trillion coming decade republicans dont meet measure would vulnerable billkilling senate filibuster democrats gop senators lack votes block also add red ink beyond first 10 years without facing fate ___ associated press writers alan fram erica werner contributed report | 592 |
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<p>Apple could soon buy Tidal, a music streaming service owned by Jay Z, according toThe Wall Street Journal . Jay Z purchased the service from Swedish company Aspiro for $56 million last March. To attract musicians to the platform, he gave 19 artists small stakes in the company, and backed each artist with millions of dollars in marketing. The service now hosts exclusive songs from Kanye West, Rihanna, Prince, and Jay Z's wife, Beyonce, along with a catalog of 40 million songs.</p>
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<p>Tidal. Image source: iTunes.</p>
<p>It's unclear how much Apple is willing to pay for Tidal, but the company has 4.2 million paid subscribers who pay monthly subscription fees ($10 of standard quality sound and $20 for high-fidelity sound), which could generate between $504 million and $1 billion in annual revenue. By comparison, Beats Electronics generated $1.5 billion inrevenue in 2013, before Apple acquired it for $3 billion thefollowing year. Apple shut down Beats Music last November and integrated its user base into Apple Music. If Apple acquires Tidal, it will likely do the same thing to strengthen its flagship streaming music platform, which currently has a catalog of over30 million songs.</p>
<p>Last month, Apple claimed that Apple Music had 15 million subscribers paying monthly membership fees ($10 for individuals and $15 for families). However, the service is still dwarfed by market leader Spotify, which had 89 million listeners (28 million of which were paid subscribers) at the end of 2015.</p>
<p>Therefore, many analysts have wondered why Apple <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/07/01/get-it-over-with-apple-buy-pandora.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">doesn't simply buy Opens a New Window.</a>Pandora , which finished last quarter with79.4 million active listeners, to catch up to Spotify. Pandora's enterprise value of$2.9 billion is certainly pocket change for Apple, but I don't think the tech giant will ever buy Pandora for a few simple reasons.</p>
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<p>Apple has made Apple Music a subscription-based service, because subscription revenues are much higher and more predictable than ad-based revenue.</p>
<p>Apple Music, Beats Music, Tidal, and Spotify are all subscription-based services, but Pandora is mainly an ad-based platform. Last year, 80% of Pandora's revenue came from advertising, 19% came from subscriptions, the rest came from ticket sales. Spotify, whichgenerates about 90% of its sales from subscriptions, finished last year with nearly <a href="http://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/spotify-revenues-topped-2bn-last-year-as-losses-hit-194m/" type="external">$2.2 billion Opens a New Window.</a> in revenue. In other words, Spotify generated 87% more revenue than Pandora in fiscal 2015 despite having only 12% more active listeners.</p>
<p>Generating more revenue per active listener is critical for streaming music companies, since royalty fees gobble up most of their revenues. That's why neither Spotify nor Pandora is profitable, and their losses are widening every year. Spotify posted a net loss of 173.1 million euros ($191 million) in 2015, while Pandora posted a net loss of $170 million.</p>
<p>Pandora. Image source: iTunes.</p>
<p>It might seem odd for Apple to enter such an unprofitable market, but the key difference between Apple Music and Spotify is its lack of a permanently free tier. Since Apple doesn't broadcast free songs to millions of users and try to cover those royalties with ad revenue, its streaming business mainly consists of balancing royalties and streaming expenses against subscriber fees. Apple also doesn't need Apple Music to be highly profitable -- it just needs it to expand its digital ecosystem, offset waning iTunes digital downloads, and boost the appeal of its higher-margin iOS devices.</p>
<p>By buying companies like Beats and Tidal, Apple gains deeper relationships with influential artists like Dr. Dre, Trent Reznor, and Jay Z. Trent Reznor reportedly played a major role in redesigning Beats Music before it was integrated into Apple Music. Jay Z could do the same by integrating Tidal's catalog of exclusive songs and partnerships with top artists into Apple Music. Apple, in turn, could offer artists big in-store and digital promotions for their new albums,as it did with <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/12/27/instant-analysis-apple-inc-inks-an-exclusive-contr.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">Taylor Swift's Opens a New Window.</a> <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/12/27/instant-analysis-apple-inc-inks-an-exclusive-contr.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">1989 Opens a New Window.</a>late last year.</p>
<p>There's no guarantee that Tidal's artists will stay if it's acquired by Apple. However, Tidal reportedly pays singers, songwriters, andproducers the highest royalties of any music streaming service. Unless Apple dramatically reduces that percentage, its doubtful that most artists will pull their songs.</p>
<p>Pandora notably lacks that star power and often tries to lower its own royalty payments. Back in 2014, Pandora signed a deal with the indie label collective Merlin in a push to lower theCopyright Royalty Board's (CRB) benchmark rates for music licensing fees. Earlier this year, Merlin protested that royalty-lowering moveand claimed that the CRB "fundamentally misread the context" of the agreement. If Apple buys Pandora, it would inherit this battle, which could tarnish its reputation among Apple Music artists.</p>
<p>Pandora is <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/04/12/will-pandora-media-inc-break-its-4-billion-promise.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">currently struggling Opens a New Window.</a> with sluggish listener growth, widening losses, and the abrupt departure of its longtime CEO. The stock's 12% decline over the past 12 months indicates that investors aren't confident in its future prospects, and Apple probably doesn't believe that Pandora's ad-heavy business can be properly balanced. Therefore, I believe that Apple would make the right play by buying Tidal and that Pandora won't likely be acquired in the near future.</p>
<p>The article <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/07/11/why-doesnt-apple-inc-buy-pandora-instead-of-tidal.aspx" type="external">Why Doesn't Apple Inc. Buy Pandora Instead of Tidal? Opens a New Window.</a> originally appeared on Fool.com.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFSunLion/info.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">Leo Sun Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Apple and Pandora Media. The Motley Fool has the following options: long January 2018 $90 calls on Apple and short January 2018 $95 calls on Apple. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/help/index.htm?display=about02" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | apple could soon buy tidal music streaming service owned jay z according tothe wall street journal jay z purchased service swedish company aspiro 56 million last march attract musicians platform gave 19 artists small stakes company backed artist millions dollars marketing service hosts exclusive songs kanye west rihanna prince jay zs wife beyonce along catalog 40 million songs continue reading tidal image source itunes unclear much apple willing pay tidal company 42 million paid subscribers pay monthly subscription fees 10 standard quality sound 20 highfidelity sound could generate 504 million 1 billion annual revenue comparison beats electronics generated 15 billion inrevenue 2013 apple acquired 3 billion thefollowing year apple shut beats music last november integrated user base apple music apple acquires tidal likely thing strengthen flagship streaming music platform currently catalog over30 million songs last month apple claimed apple music 15 million subscribers paying monthly membership fees 10 individuals 15 families however service still dwarfed market leader spotify 89 million listeners 28 million paid subscribers end 2015 therefore many analysts wondered apple doesnt simply buy opens new windowpandora finished last quarter with794 million active listeners catch spotify pandoras enterprise value of29 billion certainly pocket change apple dont think tech giant ever buy pandora simple reasons advertisement apple made apple music subscriptionbased service subscription revenues much higher predictable adbased revenue apple music beats music tidal spotify subscriptionbased services pandora mainly adbased platform last year 80 pandoras revenue came advertising 19 came subscriptions rest came ticket sales spotify whichgenerates 90 sales subscriptions finished last year nearly 22 billion opens new window revenue words spotify generated 87 revenue pandora fiscal 2015 despite 12 active listeners generating revenue per active listener critical streaming music companies since royalty fees gobble revenues thats neither spotify pandora profitable losses widening every year spotify posted net loss 1731 million euros 191 million 2015 pandora posted net loss 170 million pandora image source itunes might seem odd apple enter unprofitable market key difference apple music spotify lack permanently free tier since apple doesnt broadcast free songs millions users try cover royalties ad revenue streaming business mainly consists balancing royalties streaming expenses subscriber fees apple also doesnt need apple music highly profitable needs expand digital ecosystem offset waning itunes digital downloads boost appeal highermargin ios devices buying companies like beats tidal apple gains deeper relationships influential artists like dr dre trent reznor jay z trent reznor reportedly played major role redesigning beats music integrated apple music jay z could integrating tidals catalog exclusive songs partnerships top artists apple music apple turn could offer artists big instore digital promotions new albumsas taylor swifts opens new window 1989 opens new windowlate last year theres guarantee tidals artists stay acquired apple however tidal reportedly pays singers songwriters andproducers highest royalties music streaming service unless apple dramatically reduces percentage doubtful artists pull songs pandora notably lacks star power often tries lower royalty payments back 2014 pandora signed deal indie label collective merlin push lower thecopyright royalty boards crb benchmark rates music licensing fees earlier year merlin protested royaltylowering moveand claimed crb fundamentally misread context agreement apple buys pandora would inherit battle could tarnish reputation among apple music artists pandora currently struggling opens new window sluggish listener growth widening losses abrupt departure longtime ceo stocks 12 decline past 12 months indicates investors arent confident future prospects apple probably doesnt believe pandoras adheavy business properly balanced therefore believe apple would make right play buying tidal pandora wont likely acquired near future article doesnt apple inc buy pandora instead tidal opens new window originally appeared foolcom leo sun opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool owns shares recommends apple pandora media motley fool following options long january 2018 90 calls apple short january 2018 95 calls apple try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window copyright 1995 2016 motley fool llc rights reserved motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 669 |
<p>Financials sell off as insurers are hit in wake of hurricanes Harvey, Irma</p>
<p>U.S. stocks switched between small gains and losses in early Thursday trade, as investors tracked the affect of Hurricane Irma and focused on European Central Bank President Mario Draghi's comments about the future of economic stimulus in the eurozone.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>The ECB left key interest rates unchanged, while Draghi indicated that the decision on how to taper the quantitative-easing program will come in October (http://blogs.marketwatch.com/thetell/2017/09/07/ecb-live-blog-is-a-strong-euro-making-mario-draghi-miserable/).</p>
<p>The S&amp;P 500 was last up fractionally at 2,466, with six of the 11 main sectors trading in the green. Financials were leading the losses, down 1.4%, while so-called defensive sectors such as utilities and health-care were higher, up 0.7%.</p>
<p>The Dow Jones Industrial was trading 15 points, or 0.1%, higher at 21,825 The Nasdaq Composite gained 15 points, or 0.2%, to 6,408.</p>
<p>Some analysts suggested that the combination of a number of devastating hurricanes hitting the U.S. and potential escalation of nuclear threat in North Korea is keeping investors somewhat cautious.</p>
<p>"Investors don't want to go into the weekend when North Korea is scheduled to show its military prowess during the Founders day celebration without their hedges in place," said Quincy Krosby, chief market strategist at Prudential Financial.</p>
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<p>The major U.S. benchmarks closed higher on Wednesday (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-stock-futures-kept-in-check-by-worries-over-north-korea-hurricane-irma-2017-09-06) after congressional leaders and President Donald Trump agreed to extend the debt-limit deadline and fund the government through mid-December.</p>
<p>The agreement raised hopes for more bipartisan deals that would allow the Trump administration to move forward with its promised economic reforms. However, it also raised concerns that divisiveness in the Republican party may limit further policy success, because other GOP leaders weren't in favor of a short-term agreement.</p>
<p>First Take:Trump's deal with 'Chuck and Nancy' may improve chances for his legislative agenda (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/debt-ceiling-deal-may-slightly-improve-chances-for-trump-agenda-2017-09-06)</p>
<p>Investors turned their attention to Category 5 Hurricane Irma that wrecked (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/death-toll-rises-to-8-as-hurricane-irma-barrels-through-caribbean-heads-for-florida-2017-09-07) a string of Caribbean Islands as it barreled toward the Florida coast. The weather system--the worst ever recorded in the Atlantic--is expected to hit the Miami area and the Florida Keys on Sunday, sparking a mandatory evacuation of the southern, coastal parts of the state.</p>
<p>Several people have died in Barbuda, St. Martin and Anguilla, according to media reports.</p>
<p>Irma comes just two weeks after Hurricane Harvey hit the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast, where damages are estimated by AccuWeather to be up to $190 billion (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/hurricane-harvey-could-cost-190-billion-be-worst-ever-us-natural-disaster-says-accuweather-2017-08-31).</p>
<p>Read:JetBlue and Delta offer special pricing to people fleeing Hurricane Irma (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/jetblue-and-delta-offer-special-pricing-to-people-fleeing-hurricane-irma-2017-09-06)</p>
<p>ECB in focus: The ECB left key interest rates unchanged and expects them to remain at present levels for "extended period". In the accompanying statement, which was virtually identical to the previous one, the central bank said that asset buying will continue at a EUR60 billion ($71 billion) a month through year-end or beyond and quantitative easing could be ramped up if the outlook deteriorates.</p>
<p>The euro strengthened against rivals after Draghi answered questions during the news conference, hitting $1.20 in early New York trade. That helped push the ICE Dollar Index down 0.8% to 91.566.</p>
<p>Read: Here's how the ECB got 'stuck in the euro trap' on its way to winding down QE (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-how-the-ecb-got-stuck-in-the-euro-trapon-its-way-to-winding-down-qe-2017-09-05)</p>
<p>European stocks (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/european-stocks-hold-steady-in-runup-to-ecb-update-2017-09-07) trimmed earlier gains but were still slightly higher.</p>
<p>Economic news:Initial jobless claims (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/storm-surge-hurricane-harvey-boosts-jobless-claims-by-62000-to-298000-2017-09-07)in the period running from Aug. 27 to Sept. 2 surged by 62,000 to 298,000, reaching the highest level since spring 2015, largely due to Hurricane Harvey that left many in Texas unable to work.</p>
<p>Among Federal Reserve speakers, Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester is scheduled to address the economic outlook and monetary policy at the Economic Club of Pittsburgh, at 12:15 p.m. Eastern.</p>
<p>New York Fed President William Dudley will speak at New York University at 7 p.m. Eastern. Later, Kansas City Fed President Esther George will discuss the U.S. economic outlook at the Omaha Economic Forum in Omaha, Neb., at 8:15 p.m. Eastern.</p>
<p>On Wednesday, Fed Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer said Wednesday that he would resign from the central bank next month.</p>
<p>Read:Fed's departing Fischer remembered as 'stalwart' amidst central bank turmoil (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/teacher-to-bernanke-and-draghi-fischer-remembered-as-giant-in-field-2017-09-06)</p>
<p>Stock movers: Shares of GoPro Inc.(GPRO) rallied 19% after the wearable camera maker said it expects to be profitable on an adjusted basis in the third quarter.</p>
<p>Shares of RH(RH) soared 45% after the upscale retailer formerly known as Restoration Hardware reported earnings that topped Wall Street estimates (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/rh-shares-soar-30-on-earnings-beat-raised-guidance-2017-09-06) late Wednesday.</p>
<p>Amazon.com Inc.(AMZN) shares rose 0.7FB% after the online retailer said it plans to open a second headquarters somewhere in North America (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/amazon-begins-city-search-for-second-n-american-headquarters-plans-to-invest-over-5-billion-2017-09-07) that will house up to 50,000 employees and cost $5 billion to build and operate.</p>
<p>Facebook Inc.(FB) shares dipped 0.9% after the company late Wednesday said it traced ad sales totaling $100,000 from Russian accounts (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/facebook-links-thousands-of-political-ads-to-russian-troll-farm-2017-09-06), some of which are likely linked to a troll farm in St. Petersburg called the Internet Research Agency.</p>
<p>Mastercard Inc.(MA) shares jumped 3.3% to trade at a record (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/mastercards-stock-heads-for-record-open-after-revenue-outlook-raised-2017-09-07)after the company raised its revenue outlook. Rival Visa Inc. (V) shares also rose, up 1.6%.</p>
<p>Barnes &amp; Noble Inc.(BKS) shares sank 14% after the bookseller reported fiscal first-quarter earnings and sales that missed consensus.</p>
<p>Other markets:Asian markets closed mixed (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/south-korea-leads-gains-in-asia-as-markets-rebound-2017-09-06), with South Korean and stocks ending higher, but Chinese and Hong Kong lower.</p>
<p>Crude-oil was slightly lower, while gold prices advanced.</p>
<p>(END) Dow Jones Newswires</p>
<p>September 07, 2017 10:54 ET (14:54 GMT)</p> | true | 0 | financials sell insurers hit wake hurricanes harvey irma us stocks switched small gains losses early thursday trade investors tracked affect hurricane irma focused european central bank president mario draghis comments future economic stimulus eurozone continue reading ecb left key interest rates unchanged draghi indicated decision taper quantitativeeasing program come october httpblogsmarketwatchcomthetell20170907ecbliveblogisastrongeuromakingmariodraghimiserable sampp 500 last fractionally 2466 six 11 main sectors trading green financials leading losses 14 socalled defensive sectors utilities healthcare higher 07 dow jones industrial trading 15 points 01 higher 21825 nasdaq composite gained 15 points 02 6408 analysts suggested combination number devastating hurricanes hitting us potential escalation nuclear threat north korea keeping investors somewhat cautious investors dont want go weekend north korea scheduled show military prowess founders day celebration without hedges place said quincy krosby chief market strategist prudential financial advertisement major us benchmarks closed higher wednesday httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryusstockfutureskeptincheckbyworriesovernorthkoreahurricaneirma20170906 congressional leaders president donald trump agreed extend debtlimit deadline fund government middecember agreement raised hopes bipartisan deals would allow trump administration move forward promised economic reforms however also raised concerns divisiveness republican party may limit policy success gop leaders werent favor shortterm agreement first taketrumps deal chuck nancy may improve chances legislative agenda httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorydebtceilingdealmayslightlyimprovechancesfortrumpagenda20170906 investors turned attention category 5 hurricane irma wrecked httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorydeathtollrisesto8ashurricaneirmabarrelsthroughcaribbeanheadsforflorida20170907 string caribbean islands barreled toward florida coast weather systemthe worst ever recorded atlanticis expected hit miami area florida keys sunday sparking mandatory evacuation southern coastal parts state several people died barbuda st martin anguilla according media reports irma comes two weeks hurricane harvey hit texas louisiana gulf coast damages estimated accuweather 190 billion httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryhurricaneharveycouldcost190billionbeworsteverusnaturaldisastersaysaccuweather20170831 readjetblue delta offer special pricing people fleeing hurricane irma httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryjetblueanddeltaofferspecialpricingtopeoplefleeinghurricaneirma20170906 ecb focus ecb left key interest rates unchanged expects remain present levels extended period accompanying statement virtually identical previous one central bank said asset buying continue eur60 billion 71 billion month yearend beyond quantitative easing could ramped outlook deteriorates euro strengthened rivals draghi answered questions news conference hitting 120 early new york trade helped push ice dollar index 08 91566 read heres ecb got stuck euro trap way winding qe httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryhereshowtheecbgotstuckintheeurotraponitswaytowindingdownqe20170905 european stocks httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryeuropeanstocksholdsteadyinrunuptoecbupdate20170907 trimmed earlier gains still slightly higher economic newsinitial jobless claims httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorystormsurgehurricaneharveyboostsjoblessclaimsby62000to29800020170907in period running aug 27 sept 2 surged 62000 298000 reaching highest level since spring 2015 largely due hurricane harvey left many texas unable work among federal reserve speakers cleveland fed president loretta mester scheduled address economic outlook monetary policy economic club pittsburgh 1215 pm eastern new york fed president william dudley speak new york university 7 pm eastern later kansas city fed president esther george discuss us economic outlook omaha economic forum omaha neb 815 pm eastern wednesday fed vice chairman stanley fischer said wednesday would resign central bank next month readfeds departing fischer remembered stalwart amidst central bank turmoil httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryteachertobernankeanddraghifischerrememberedasgiantinfield20170906 stock movers shares gopro incgpro rallied 19 wearable camera maker said expects profitable adjusted basis third quarter shares rhrh soared 45 upscale retailer formerly known restoration hardware reported earnings topped wall street estimates httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryrhsharessoar30onearningsbeatraisedguidance20170906 late wednesday amazoncom incamzn shares rose 07fb online retailer said plans open second headquarters somewhere north america httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryamazonbeginscitysearchforsecondnamericanheadquartersplanstoinvestover5billion20170907 house 50000 employees cost 5 billion build operate facebook incfb shares dipped 09 company late wednesday said traced ad sales totaling 100000 russian accounts httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryfacebooklinksthousandsofpoliticaladstorussiantrollfarm20170906 likely linked troll farm st petersburg called internet research agency mastercard incma shares jumped 33 trade record httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorymastercardsstockheadsforrecordopenafterrevenueoutlookraised20170907after company raised revenue outlook rival visa inc v shares also rose 16 barnes amp noble incbks shares sank 14 bookseller reported fiscal firstquarter earnings sales missed consensus marketsasian markets closed mixed httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorysouthkorealeadsgainsinasiaasmarketsrebound20170906 south korean stocks ending higher chinese hong kong lower crudeoil slightly lower gold prices advanced end dow jones newswires september 07 2017 1054 et 1454 gmt | 606 |
<p>It's the ultimate 21st century new media dream job: A self-published blog that creates a steady income and allows you to quit your day job.</p>
<p>But how do you turn your blogging hobby into cash? Despite the obvious appeal, it's not an easy path and requires a disciplined approach.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>An estimated 70 million blogs exist today, and the vast majority don't make squat. In fact, 95% of blogs are abandoned, according to the blog search engine Technorati's state of the blogosphere 2008.</p>
<p>Granted, there are success stories, such as Julie Powell's blog that became a book that became the movie "Julie and Julia," but the more common tale is of folks with day jobs earning some extra cash. Bloggers who do make money -- even if it's just a little -- seem to write on a consistent basis, have a passion for the blogging topic and in some cases, a willingness to embrace "sponsored" blogging.</p>
<p>Even so, if you want to blog for cash, keep in mind the following words of advice from experts and bloggers.</p>
<p>As with any moneymaking venture, there are the confounding cases of success -- the Amway millionaires of blogging.</p>
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<p>Case in point: Elise Bauer of Carmichael, Calif., started a blog called <a href="http://www.simplyrecipes.com/" type="external">Simply Recipes Opens a New Window.</a> in 2003. As a <a href="" type="internal">Silicon Valley</a> consultant, she had little time to cook, "let alone learn how to cook beyond what I had learned growing up," she says in her blog.</p>
<p>Three years later, Bauer's blog was ranked by Time magazine as one of the 50 "coolest" Web sites and won "best food blog overall" by the Well Fed Network, a Web compilation of food and wine blogs at <a href="http://www.wellfed.net/" type="external">Wellfed.net Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>"She just wanted to show people you don't have to be a gourmet cook to make great meals, and now she's one of the biggest food bloggers in the world. She was an early ad network member with BlogHer, and she's ... able to focus on it full-time," says BlogHer co-founder Elisa Camahort Page of Palo Alto, Calif.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.blogher.com/" type="external">BlogHer Opens a New Window.</a> is a blogging community for women that boasts 2,500 bloggers, including Bauer. It reaches 15 million unique visitors per month, and its bloggers were eagerly courted by top marketers at BlogHer's recent annual conference in Chicago. Bloggers who attended wrote about the abundant corporate freebies in their postings.</p>
<p>Camahort Page wouldn't disclose specific revenue figures for top earners, but says, "The average income is about $300 a month, but there are the outliers earning a living in each of our topic verticals. It's that whole 80-20 rule. In each vertical, there's a top 10 (percent) or 20% who are the biggest earners."</p>
<p>By choosing to team up with blogging networks like BlogHer, bloggers outsource the time-consuming work of <a href="/finance/money-guides/5-social-media-tips-for-small-business-1.aspx" type="external">promoting their blogs</a> to advertisers. On BlogHer, they agree to a 10%, fixed-cost monthly fee and the ad revenue generated is split between the blogger and BlogHer, Camahort Page says.</p>
<p>Blogs can be created quickly and for free using online templates, such as <a href="http://www.wordpress.org/" type="external">WordPress Opens a New Window.</a> or <a href="https://www.blogger.com/start" type="external">Blogger Opens a New Window.</a>, and can host their blogs on affiliated sites, also for free.</p>
<p>The no-brainer source of income for many blogs is <a href="https://www.google.com/adsense/login/en_US/" type="external">Google's AdSense program Opens a New Window.</a>, which pays bloggers each time a reader clicks on an ad from their blog.</p>
<p>If you're a blogger consumed by a day job, AdSense makes sense. With just a few minutes to sign up, you can access a vast network of advertisers through <a href="" type="internal">Google</a>. Google automatically matches ads that suit your audience's interests.</p>
<p>"If you can specialize in one sector, like pizza, and can become a celebrity of the pizza-eating world, that's when Google will pick you up," says Craig Agranoff, a Florida-based Web producer who writes three blogs including <a href="http://www.worstpizza.com/" type="external">WorstPizza Opens a New Window.</a>, where he reviews pizza joints.</p>
<p>Bloggers can also make money directly by tapping into the money-generating power of affiliate advertising, such as <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/" type="external">Amazon's affiliate advertising program Opens a New Window.</a>, which pays bloggers if a reader buys a book reviewed on a blog.</p>
<p>While driving reader traffic remains the lifeblood of any blog, not all bloggers make money directly from blogs. Instead, they make money because of blogging, either through consulting gigs, business connections or book contracts.</p>
<p>Still, it's tough to make money. "My three blogs make money off of Google Ads and '125 ads,'" Agranoff says, referring to small Web ads that are 125 pixels by 125 pixels in size.</p>
<p>"At the end of the month, the money is very nice. You could definitely make money off of blogs," he says. "What they don't tell you at these tech conferences, where guys who are making $100,000 off blogs (are speakers), is that you couldn't do it without an (income) cushion."</p>
<p>Alabama-based Melissa King started her blog in 2005 to post copies from her writing as a journalist. But soon after starting <a href="http://writechic.wordpress.com/" type="external">her "writechic" blog Opens a New Window.</a>, she realized she could pull in a little income and "ramped up and regulated my writing for informative and entertainment purposes," covering politics and taking an irreverent tone.</p>
<p>"I discovered I could make money writing on a blog while scrounging through want ads for freelance writing gigs," King says.</p>
<p>But income is erratic and it has yet to replace her regular writing work. "I can pull in $50 and $650 a month depending on how much I want to work," she says. "Regardless of how much or how little is written, the actual writing has to be good, error-free, interesting. That's the most important thing."</p>
<p>And passionate, if you're Jan Norris. A former food-page editor for a newspaper in West Palm Beach, Fla., she launched <a href="http://www.jannorris.com/" type="external">her blog Opens a New Window.</a> about "food, restaurants, recipes and pre-Disney Florida" in August 2008. She had left the paper but wasn't ready to give up her love of food writing.</p>
<p>Norris spends 20 hours a week on the blog, producing content, managing comments and answering e-mails, but continues to supplement her income as a freelance writer for magazines and newspapers.</p>
<p>"I would really like to get to the point where (the blog) is all I do," she added. To drive traffic to her blog, she's joined <a href="" type="internal">Twitter</a>, the micro-blogging service, and she boasts 500 followers.</p>
<p>She has relied on name recognition in her local market to sell ads to businesses there, such as the Florida Culinary Institute in West Palm Beach, which runs banner ads on her blog.</p>
<p>It's a strategy that is gaining traction on the Internet, Agranoff says. "Hyperlocal blogs have become very popular, like one blogger who writes about things that are only happening in Coconut Grove (Fla.)," he says. "Local advertisers want to be there."</p>
<p>Another route for money-minded bloggers is to team up with sites that pay bloggers directly, mostly to do product reviews. For example, sites like <a href="http://www.bloggerwave.com/" type="external">Bloggerwave Opens a New Window.</a> and <a href="http://payperpost.com/" type="external">PayPerPost Opens a New Window.</a> team bloggers up with companies seeking online consumers.</p>
<p>At PayPerPost, lists of "jobs" from companies looking to generate buzz online are available to bloggers. As part of its arrangement, PayPerPost requires bloggers to disclose sponsored posts.</p>
<p>Most of these sites have a simple sign-up process, including basic contact information, a short profile and links to your blog.</p>
<p>This form of blogging is controversial and can bring boos from the bloggerati, which sometimes refer to it as "commercial blogging." Additionally, it's questionable how long this practice will remain the norm, with the <a href="" type="internal">Federal Trade Commission</a> considering whether to require disclosure of these practices, according to recent news reports.</p>
<p>Andrew Bennett of North Attleboro, Mass., started his blog <a href="http://www.benspark.com/" type="external">Benspark.com Opens a New Window.</a> in December 2003. He uploads a photo each day and often blogs about camera equipment, in addition to personal musings. Now he counts 1,767 Twitter followers and 1,000 Web page views a day.</p>
<p>Bennett began making money from his blog in 2006, when he started with PayPerPost, writing reviews of camera equipment. Since then, he has averaged $5,500 in extra income annually. Bennett also relies on cost-per-click programs with advertisers, running ads at the bottom of his blog that put 11 cents to 18 cents into his pocket when the link is clicked.</p>
<p>But turning posts into cash can be spotty. Bennett made $3.90 from SocialSpark, another site that connects bloggers with companies, for taking the "job" to review the XShot, a camera extender. Then, he made an additional $23 from ads on his blog from Santa Barbara, Calif.-based XShot LLC when six of his readers clicked through those ads and bought the product.</p>
<p>"When I first started, it was like, 'Wow, free money,'" Bennett says. "For me, blogging is a hobby that I'd like to turn into full time eventually."</p>
<p>Copyright 2009, Bankrate Inc.</p> | true | 0 | ultimate 21st century new media dream job selfpublished blog creates steady income allows quit day job turn blogging hobby cash despite obvious appeal easy path requires disciplined approach continue reading estimated 70 million blogs exist today vast majority dont make squat fact 95 blogs abandoned according blog search engine technoratis state blogosphere 2008 granted success stories julie powells blog became book became movie julie julia common tale folks day jobs earning extra cash bloggers make money even little seem write consistent basis passion blogging topic cases willingness embrace sponsored blogging even want blog cash keep mind following words advice experts bloggers moneymaking venture confounding cases success amway millionaires blogging advertisement case point elise bauer carmichael calif started blog called simply recipes opens new window 2003 silicon valley consultant little time cook let alone learn cook beyond learned growing says blog three years later bauers blog ranked time magazine one 50 coolest web sites best food blog overall well fed network web compilation food wine blogs wellfednet opens new window wanted show people dont gourmet cook make great meals shes one biggest food bloggers world early ad network member blogher shes able focus fulltime says blogher cofounder elisa camahort page palo alto calif blogher opens new window blogging community women boasts 2500 bloggers including bauer reaches 15 million unique visitors per month bloggers eagerly courted top marketers bloghers recent annual conference chicago bloggers attended wrote abundant corporate freebies postings camahort page wouldnt disclose specific revenue figures top earners says average income 300 month outliers earning living topic verticals whole 8020 rule vertical theres top 10 percent 20 biggest earners choosing team blogging networks like blogher bloggers outsource timeconsuming work promoting blogs advertisers blogher agree 10 fixedcost monthly fee ad revenue generated split blogger blogher camahort page says blogs created quickly free using online templates wordpress opens new window blogger opens new window host blogs affiliated sites also free nobrainer source income many blogs googles adsense program opens new window pays bloggers time reader clicks ad blog youre blogger consumed day job adsense makes sense minutes sign access vast network advertisers google google automatically matches ads suit audiences interests specialize one sector like pizza become celebrity pizzaeating world thats google pick says craig agranoff floridabased web producer writes three blogs including worstpizza opens new window reviews pizza joints bloggers also make money directly tapping moneygenerating power affiliate advertising amazons affiliate advertising program opens new window pays bloggers reader buys book reviewed blog driving reader traffic remains lifeblood blog bloggers make money directly blogs instead make money blogging either consulting gigs business connections book contracts still tough make money three blogs make money google ads 125 ads agranoff says referring small web ads 125 pixels 125 pixels size end month money nice could definitely make money blogs says dont tell tech conferences guys making 100000 blogs speakers couldnt without income cushion alabamabased melissa king started blog 2005 post copies writing journalist soon starting writechic blog opens new window realized could pull little income ramped regulated writing informative entertainment purposes covering politics taking irreverent tone discovered could make money writing blog scrounging want ads freelance writing gigs king says income erratic yet replace regular writing work pull 50 650 month depending much want work says regardless much little written actual writing good errorfree interesting thats important thing passionate youre jan norris former foodpage editor newspaper west palm beach fla launched blog opens new window food restaurants recipes predisney florida august 2008 left paper wasnt ready give love food writing norris spends 20 hours week blog producing content managing comments answering emails continues supplement income freelance writer magazines newspapers would really like get point blog added drive traffic blog shes joined twitter microblogging service boasts 500 followers relied name recognition local market sell ads businesses florida culinary institute west palm beach runs banner ads blog strategy gaining traction internet agranoff says hyperlocal blogs become popular like one blogger writes things happening coconut grove fla says local advertisers want another route moneyminded bloggers team sites pay bloggers directly mostly product reviews example sites like bloggerwave opens new window payperpost opens new window team bloggers companies seeking online consumers payperpost lists jobs companies looking generate buzz online available bloggers part arrangement payperpost requires bloggers disclose sponsored posts sites simple signup process including basic contact information short profile links blog form blogging controversial bring boos bloggerati sometimes refer commercial blogging additionally questionable long practice remain norm federal trade commission considering whether require disclosure practices according recent news reports andrew bennett north attleboro mass started blog bensparkcom opens new window december 2003 uploads photo day often blogs camera equipment addition personal musings counts 1767 twitter followers 1000 web page views day bennett began making money blog 2006 started payperpost writing reviews camera equipment since averaged 5500 extra income annually bennett also relies costperclick programs advertisers running ads bottom blog put 11 cents 18 cents pocket link clicked turning posts cash spotty bennett made 390 socialspark another site connects bloggers companies taking job review xshot camera extender made additional 23 ads blog santa barbara califbased xshot llc six readers clicked ads bought product first started like wow free money bennett says blogging hobby id like turn full time eventually copyright 2009 bankrate inc | 873 |
<p />
<p>Many marijuana stocks have <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/12/03/the-best-marijuana-stocks-in-2016.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">soared in 2016 Opens a New Window.</a>, with one enjoying especially impressive gains of well over 2,000%. However, this speculative industry is <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/11/26/read-this-before-you-buy-any-marijuana-stocks.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">fraught with risk Opens a New Window.</a>. If you're considering investing in marijuana stocks in the new year, here are five numbers you should know before taking the plunge.</p>
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<p>Image source: Getty Images</p>
<p>Ackrell Capital projects that the market for cannabinoid-based pharmaceuticals will top $50 billion annually. Before you get too excited, though, read the fine print. The investment firm notes that the market won't develop until after the end of "prohibition" -- i.e. the lifting of federal laws against use of marijuana.</p>
<p>Assuming federal laws do indeed change, is this estimate realistic? Possibly. Cannabinoids have been found to have potential as treatments in over 40 medical indications, including cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy, and glaucoma.</p>
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<p>One experimental drug for just one of those indications could reach peak annual sales of $3 billion if the most optimistic projections become reality.Elemer Piros with Roth Capital Partners thinks thatGW Pharmaceuticals' (NASDAQ: GWPH) Epidiolex, which is in late-stage clinical studies targeting treatment of two rare forms of epilepsy, could ultimately generate annual sales in that vicinity if approved.</p>
<p>Support for use of medical marijuana is growing quickly. After the U.S. elections in November, 28 states plus the District of Columbia now allow legal use of medical marijuana. A few also allow recreational use of the drug.</p>
<p>Image source: <a href="https://www.statista.com/chart/6681/the-states-where-its-legal-to-smoke-marijuana/" type="external">Statista Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>This increased acceptance should diminish the barriers for companies operating in the marijuana industry. And that presents opportunities for investors.</p>
<p>While the opportunities exist, the current realities are stark. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a grand total of three cannabinoid drugs.</p>
<p>Marinol, which is now marketed by AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), was approved way back in 1985 for treating nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy. The drug's active ingredient is dronabinol, a man-made form of THC, which is considered the psychoactive component of marijuana.</p>
<p>The FDA also approved another cannabinoid, Cesamet, in 1985. However, that drug was removed from the U.S. market in 1989 for "commercial reasons." Valeant Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: VRX) later bought Cesamet and brought the drug back to market in 2006.</p>
<p>It took quite a while for another cannabinoid to join Marinol and Cesamet. In July of this year, the FDA gave a thumbs-up for Insys Therapeutics' (NASDAQ: INSY) Syndros. As with Marinol, the active ingredient of Syndros is dronabinol. While Marinol is available as a capsule, Syndros is a liquid formulation.</p>
<p>A very important number for investors considering investing in marijuana is how many attorney generals the U.S. federal government has: exactly one. And the person who appears to be getting the nomination to fill that role in 2017, Alabama Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions, is an adamant opponent of legalized marijuana.</p>
<p>Sen. Jeff Sessions. Image source: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jeff_Sessions_by_Gage_Skidmore_3.jpg" type="external">Gage Skidmore on Wikimedia Commons Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Sessions publicly chastised the Obama administration for failing to enforce federal marijuana restrictions. He has also stated that marijuana reform was "a tragic mistake." Should Sessions win confirmation, he could choose to clamp down on the growing marijuana industry with the stroke of a pen.</p>
<p>Will he do so? No one knows. President-elect Trump has expressed support for the use of medical marijuana, and stated that the issue should be decided at the state level.</p>
<p>It has been said that the best way to get rich during a gold rush is to sell shovels. With that in mind, perhaps the best figure for investors looking to make money from the "marijuana rush" is the number zero. Companies that have zero marijuana-related products, but that have the potential to benefit by serving those that do might be the smartest marijuana investing play of all.</p>
<p>One possibility is Scotts Miracle-Gro (NYSE: SMG). The company has acquired several leaders in hydroponics and has positioned itself as the premier supplier for indoor marijuana growers. Scotts generated revenue of over $2.8 billion last year, although less than 10% of that total stemmed from its hydroponics business.</p>
<p>Let's suppose that Sessions becomes attorney general, but doesn't disrupt what the states are doing with regards to legalization of marijuana. Let's say the FDA approves more cannabinoid drugs. Let's assume thatmedical marijuana becomes a $50 billion industry as some project. AbbVie and Valeant won't be the biggest winners, for sure. What about GW Pharmaceuticals or Insys? Probably not, either.</p>
<p>If all that happens, a lot more marijuana will need to be grown. And plenty of hydroponics products will be needed. Scotts just might be the best marijuana investment around, even though the company doesn't have any marijuana products at all. Zero is a great number to know if you're looking to invest in marijuana in 2017.</p>
<p>A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, <a href="http://www.fool.com/mms/mark/ecap-foolcom-apple-wearable?aid=6965&amp;source=irbeditxt0000138&amp;ftm_cam=rb-wearable&amp;ftm_pit=6450&amp;ftm_veh=article_pitch&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">just click here Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFFishBiz/info.aspx" type="external">Keith Speights Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Valeant Pharmaceuticals. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/motley.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | many marijuana stocks soared 2016 opens new window one enjoying especially impressive gains well 2000 however speculative industry fraught risk opens new window youre considering investing marijuana stocks new year five numbers know taking plunge continue reading image source getty images ackrell capital projects market cannabinoidbased pharmaceuticals top 50 billion annually get excited though read fine print investment firm notes market wont develop end prohibition ie lifting federal laws use marijuana assuming federal laws indeed change estimate realistic possibly cannabinoids found potential treatments 40 medical indications including cancer chronic pain epilepsy glaucoma advertisement one experimental drug one indications could reach peak annual sales 3 billion optimistic projections become realityelemer piros roth capital partners thinks thatgw pharmaceuticals nasdaq gwph epidiolex latestage clinical studies targeting treatment two rare forms epilepsy could ultimately generate annual sales vicinity approved support use medical marijuana growing quickly us elections november 28 states plus district columbia allow legal use medical marijuana also allow recreational use drug image source statista opens new window increased acceptance diminish barriers companies operating marijuana industry presents opportunities investors opportunities exist current realities stark us food drug administration approved grand total three cannabinoid drugs marinol marketed abbvie nyse abbv approved way back 1985 treating nausea vomiting associated cancer chemotherapy drugs active ingredient dronabinol manmade form thc considered psychoactive component marijuana fda also approved another cannabinoid cesamet 1985 however drug removed us market 1989 commercial reasons valeant pharmaceuticals nyse vrx later bought cesamet brought drug back market 2006 took quite another cannabinoid join marinol cesamet july year fda gave thumbsup insys therapeutics nasdaq insy syndros marinol active ingredient syndros dronabinol marinol available capsule syndros liquid formulation important number investors considering investing marijuana many attorney generals us federal government exactly one person appears getting nomination fill role 2017 alabama republican sen jeff sessions adamant opponent legalized marijuana sen jeff sessions image source gage skidmore wikimedia commons opens new window sessions publicly chastised obama administration failing enforce federal marijuana restrictions also stated marijuana reform tragic mistake sessions win confirmation could choose clamp growing marijuana industry stroke pen one knows presidentelect trump expressed support use medical marijuana stated issue decided state level said best way get rich gold rush sell shovels mind perhaps best figure investors looking make money marijuana rush number zero companies zero marijuanarelated products potential benefit serving might smartest marijuana investing play one possibility scotts miraclegro nyse smg company acquired several leaders hydroponics positioned premier supplier indoor marijuana growers scotts generated revenue 28 billion last year although less 10 total stemmed hydroponics business lets suppose sessions becomes attorney general doesnt disrupt states regards legalization marijuana lets say fda approves cannabinoid drugs lets assume thatmedical marijuana becomes 50 billion industry project abbvie valeant wont biggest winners sure gw pharmaceuticals insys probably either happens lot marijuana need grown plenty hydroponics products needed scotts might best marijuana investment around even though company doesnt marijuana products zero great number know youre looking invest marijuana 2017 secret billiondollar stock opportunity worlds biggest tech company forgot show something wall street analysts fool didnt miss beat theres small company thats powering brandnew gadgets coming revolution technology think stock price nearly unlimited room run early intheknow investors one click opens new window keith speights opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool owns shares recommends valeant pharmaceuticals try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 578 |
<p>The developers of a disputed natural gas pipeline on the U.S. East Coast are considering a major expansion of the project into South Carolina, according to remarks made by an energy company executive and interviews with others in the industry.</p>
<p>Opponents of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline said that raises questions about whether Dominion Energy, the project's lead developer, has withheld important information from the public and whether the pipeline is even needed as initially proposed. But business leaders say the pipeline would help lower energy costs and boost economic development in South Carolina.</p>
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<p>Dan Weekley, Dominion Energy's vice president and general manager of Southern pipeline operations, told attendees at a recent energy conference "everybody knows" the Atlantic Coast Pipeline — currently slated to pass through Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina — is not going to stop there, despite what the current plans say.</p>
<p>"We could bring in almost a billion cubic feet (28 million cubic meters) a day into South Carolina," Weekley said, according to an audio recording The Associated Press obtained from a conference attendee. The attendee requested anonymity out of concern for not wanting to harm business or personal relationships.</p>
<p>The remarks appear to be the Richmond, Virginia-based company's most direct public signal to date that it intends to expand the pipeline, though industry analysts said the potential has been discussed for years.</p>
<p>"It just fits into the whole idea that we've never really believed that Dominion is telling us the whole truth about the project and the gas and where the gas might go," said David Sligh, conservation director of Wild Virginia, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving Virginia's national forests.</p>
<p>Dominion has told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which oversees interstate natural gas pipelines, the gas is mostly for power plants in Virginia and North Carolina, said Greg Buppert, an attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center.</p>
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<p>"Is the real intent to move most of the gas into South Carolina?" Buppert asked.</p>
<p>Tamara Young-Allen, a spokeswoman for the commission, said if the developers want to expand the pipeline into another state, they will have to go through the full application process again.</p>
<p>Dominion spokeswoman Jen Kostyniuk said "absolutely no decision has been made about a potential expansion" of the pipeline.</p>
<p>Weekley's remarks during the South Carolina Clean Energy Summit in Columbia indicated otherwise.</p>
<p>"Even though it dead-ends at Lumberton (North Carolina) — of course, 12 miles (19 kilometers) to the border — everybody knows it's not going to end in Lumberton," he said.</p>
<p>Weekley said the pipeline could go toward the coast or into the mid-state region of South Carolina, depending on power needs. "You tell me, we'll turn one way or the other," said Weekley, who wasn't available for an interview, according to pipeline spokesman Aaron Ruby.</p>
<p>As initially proposed, the approximately $5 billion pipeline is a huge infrastructure project that's been enthusiastically endorsed by business and political leaders but sparked strong opposition from environmental groups and many landowners in its path. With sections up to 42 inches (107 cm) in diameter, it would start in West Virginia, cross through the heart of Virginia — including national forest, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail — then bend through eastern North Carolina. Most of the 1.5 billion cubic feet (42.5 million cubic meters) of natural gas it could transport each day would be used to generate electricity in Virginia and North Carolina.</p>
<p>Analyst Shar Pourreza, managing director and head of North American power for Guggenheim Securities, said he expects that the pipeline will eventually be expanded as far into the southeast as Georgia or Florida, in part because the closures of coal-fired power plants are increasing the demand for natural gas.</p>
<p>Natural gas, which is cleaner than coal, has been embraced by politicians from both parties and touted as a bridge fuel toward greater use of renewable energy. Pipelines are also lucrative projects — developers can frequently recoup around a 14 percent rate of return.</p>
<p>Leaders of business groups including the South Carolina Energy Users Committee, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance told the AP they had discussed the pipeline with Dominion.</p>
<p>"If we want more industrial development, we're going to need the kind of infrastructure that Dominion can bring to the state," said Lewis F. Gossett, President and CEO of the manufacturing alliance. "The pipeline is essential."</p>
<p>But environmentalists and others are increasingly questioning the need for more natural gas infrastructure.</p>
<p>"It depends on whose economics you believe, I guess," said Lew Freeman, Executive Director of the Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance, a coalition of groups that oppose the pipeline.</p>
<p>The Atlantic Coast Pipeline is being developed by Dominion and three other major U.S. energy companies: Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas and Southern Company Gas.</p>
<p>The federal regulatory commission issued an environmental review over the summer that was largely favorable for developers, and is widely expected to grant a certificate needed for the project to proceed this fall.</p>
<p>____</p>
<p>Associated Press Writer Alan Suderman contributed to this report.</p> | true | 0 | developers disputed natural gas pipeline us east coast considering major expansion project south carolina according remarks made energy company executive interviews others industry opponents atlantic coast pipeline said raises questions whether dominion energy projects lead developer withheld important information public whether pipeline even needed initially proposed business leaders say pipeline would help lower energy costs boost economic development south carolina continue reading dan weekley dominion energys vice president general manager southern pipeline operations told attendees recent energy conference everybody knows atlantic coast pipeline currently slated pass virginia west virginia north carolina going stop despite current plans say could bring almost billion cubic feet 28 million cubic meters day south carolina weekley said according audio recording associated press obtained conference attendee attendee requested anonymity concern wanting harm business personal relationships remarks appear richmond virginiabased companys direct public signal date intends expand pipeline though industry analysts said potential discussed years fits whole idea weve never really believed dominion telling us whole truth project gas gas might go said david sligh conservation director wild virginia nonprofit dedicated preserving virginias national forests dominion told federal energy regulatory commission oversees interstate natural gas pipelines gas mostly power plants virginia north carolina said greg buppert attorney southern environmental law center advertisement real intent move gas south carolina buppert asked tamara youngallen spokeswoman commission said developers want expand pipeline another state go full application process dominion spokeswoman jen kostyniuk said absolutely decision made potential expansion pipeline weekleys remarks south carolina clean energy summit columbia indicated otherwise even though deadends lumberton north carolina course 12 miles 19 kilometers border everybody knows going end lumberton said weekley said pipeline could go toward coast midstate region south carolina depending power needs tell well turn one way said weekley wasnt available interview according pipeline spokesman aaron ruby initially proposed approximately 5 billion pipeline huge infrastructure project thats enthusiastically endorsed business political leaders sparked strong opposition environmental groups many landowners path sections 42 inches 107 cm diameter would start west virginia cross heart virginia including national forest blue ridge parkway appalachian trail bend eastern north carolina 15 billion cubic feet 425 million cubic meters natural gas could transport day would used generate electricity virginia north carolina analyst shar pourreza managing director head north american power guggenheim securities said expects pipeline eventually expanded far southeast georgia florida part closures coalfired power plants increasing demand natural gas natural gas cleaner coal embraced politicians parties touted bridge fuel toward greater use renewable energy pipelines also lucrative projects developers frequently recoup around 14 percent rate return leaders business groups including south carolina energy users committee south carolina chamber commerce south carolina manufacturers alliance told ap discussed pipeline dominion want industrial development going need kind infrastructure dominion bring state said lewis f gossett president ceo manufacturing alliance pipeline essential environmentalists others increasingly questioning need natural gas infrastructure depends whose economics believe guess said lew freeman executive director alleghenyblue ridge alliance coalition groups oppose pipeline atlantic coast pipeline developed dominion three major us energy companies duke energy piedmont natural gas southern company gas federal regulatory commission issued environmental review summer largely favorable developers widely expected grant certificate needed project proceed fall ____ associated press writer alan suderman contributed report | 531 |
<p>Even after the most vigorous three-month hiring spree in 17 years, U.S. employers are showing few signs of letting up.</p>
<p>Job growth for February, to be reported Friday, might not match the furious pace of November through January, when 1 million positions were added. Harsh winter weather likely discouraged some hiring.</p>
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<p>Yet economists foresee a solid job gain of 240,000 and a drop in unemployment to a near-normal 5.6 percent — evidence of a job market that continues to outshine others around the world.</p>
<p>"People are pretty optimistic about the U.S. economy, and they're hiring," said Frank Friedman, interim CEO of Deloitte, the consulting firm that counts 80 percent of the Fortune 500 as clients.</p>
<p>A bright outlook among employers has translated into a robust average of 268,000 jobs added monthly over the past 12 months. That means there are 3.2 million more Americans earning paychecks now than at the start of 2014. That additional income, along with sharply lower gas prices, has left more Americans able to spend.</p>
<p>It also helps explain why the unemployment rate has sunk so far below the 10 percent peak it reached in 2009 even though the economy isn't growing as fast as it often has during expansions: Increased customer demand is compelling employers to fill jobs.</p>
<p>In addition, many Americans who lost jobs in the recession have retired or given up looking for work and are no longer counted as unemployed.</p>
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<p>The steady hiring may also finally be forcing wages up. Average hourly earnings rose 0.5 percent in January, the most in six years. Economists did caution against reading too much into one month's figure. Most expect a more modest average wage gain in February.</p>
<p>On Thursday, the government said the number of people who sought unemployment benefits rose last week to the highest level since May. Still, the four-week average of unemployment applications, which is less volatile, remains near a historically low level that typically signals healthy job growth.</p>
<p>Friday's jobs report will come less than two weeks before the next policy meeting of the Federal Reserve, which is considering when to raise interest rates from record lows. Tim Hopper, chief economist at TIAA-CREF, suggested that the strengthening job market and tentative signs of pay increases give the Fed room to move toward raising short-term rates.</p>
<p>Most analysts expect the Fed to pave the way for higher rates by adjusting the statement it issues after its March meeting, to be followed by the first hike in June or September.</p>
<p>It may turn out that some temporary factors held back job growth in February. Snow and ice storms in the Midwest and parts of the Southeast closed some businesses and possibly delayed hiring. Boston and other parts of the Northeast have been hit by enormous snowfalls.</p>
<p>Investment bank UBS estimates that such factors lowered February's job gain by 25,000. Construction companies, auto dealers, and retailers are the sectors most likely to have been affected by winter storms and unseasonably cold weather.</p>
<p>Several industries may also be hiring less than in recent months or even cutting back. Oil and gas drilling companies have cut jobs in response to the 60 percent drop in oil prices since summer. Applications for unemployment aid have risen in such oil-heavy states as Texas, Oklahoma and North Dakota.</p>
<p>In January, retailers reported a sizable job gain, which most economists don't think is sustainable.</p>
<p>Manufacturers may also have pulled back in the face of weaker growth overseas. A survey of manufacturing firms shows that export orders have shrunk for two months. The U.S. dollar has also soared in value compared with the euro and Japan's yen, thereby squeezing profits for American multinationals that operate overseas.</p>
<p>Yet the U.S. job market and economy, for all their obstacles, are still outdoing those of other major nations. Though Europe and Japan are showing signs of growing more than last year, their economies remain feeble. The euro currency union's unemployment rate has started to fall, but at 11.2 percent it remains nearly twice the U.S. level.</p>
<p>On Thursday, China lowered its economic growth target for 2015 to 7 percent from 7.5 percent last year as it tries to make its slowing economy more productive.</p>
<p>The U.S. economy expanded at a breakneck annual pace of 4.8 percent in last year's spring and summer, only to slow to a tepid 2.2 percent rate in the final three months of 2014. Many economists estimate that growth is picking up slightly in the current quarter to an annual rate of 2.5 percent to nearly 3 percent.</p>
<p>Still, economists remain bullish about hiring despite the slowdown in growth. The fourth quarter's slowdown occurred largely because companies reduced their stockpiles of goods, which translated into lower factory output.</p>
<p>But companies focus more on consumer demand in making hiring decisions, and demand was strong in the October-December quarter. Americans stepped up their spending by the most in four years.</p>
<p>And though consumers are saving much of the cash they have from cheaper gas, spending in January still rose at a decent pace after adjusting for lower prices.</p>
<p>Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, expects the economy to grow 3 percent this year, which would be first time it's reached that level in a decade.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Chris Rugaber on Twitter at http://www.Twitter/ChrisRugaber</p> | true | 0 | even vigorous threemonth hiring spree 17 years us employers showing signs letting job growth february reported friday might match furious pace november january 1 million positions added harsh winter weather likely discouraged hiring continue reading yet economists foresee solid job gain 240000 drop unemployment nearnormal 56 percent evidence job market continues outshine others around world people pretty optimistic us economy theyre hiring said frank friedman interim ceo deloitte consulting firm counts 80 percent fortune 500 clients bright outlook among employers translated robust average 268000 jobs added monthly past 12 months means 32 million americans earning paychecks start 2014 additional income along sharply lower gas prices left americans able spend also helps explain unemployment rate sunk far 10 percent peak reached 2009 even though economy isnt growing fast often expansions increased customer demand compelling employers fill jobs addition many americans lost jobs recession retired given looking work longer counted unemployed advertisement steady hiring may also finally forcing wages average hourly earnings rose 05 percent january six years economists caution reading much one months figure expect modest average wage gain february thursday government said number people sought unemployment benefits rose last week highest level since may still fourweek average unemployment applications less volatile remains near historically low level typically signals healthy job growth fridays jobs report come less two weeks next policy meeting federal reserve considering raise interest rates record lows tim hopper chief economist tiaacref suggested strengthening job market tentative signs pay increases give fed room move toward raising shortterm rates analysts expect fed pave way higher rates adjusting statement issues march meeting followed first hike june september may turn temporary factors held back job growth february snow ice storms midwest parts southeast closed businesses possibly delayed hiring boston parts northeast hit enormous snowfalls investment bank ubs estimates factors lowered februarys job gain 25000 construction companies auto dealers retailers sectors likely affected winter storms unseasonably cold weather several industries may also hiring less recent months even cutting back oil gas drilling companies cut jobs response 60 percent drop oil prices since summer applications unemployment aid risen oilheavy states texas oklahoma north dakota january retailers reported sizable job gain economists dont think sustainable manufacturers may also pulled back face weaker growth overseas survey manufacturing firms shows export orders shrunk two months us dollar also soared value compared euro japans yen thereby squeezing profits american multinationals operate overseas yet us job market economy obstacles still outdoing major nations though europe japan showing signs growing last year economies remain feeble euro currency unions unemployment rate started fall 112 percent remains nearly twice us level thursday china lowered economic growth target 2015 7 percent 75 percent last year tries make slowing economy productive us economy expanded breakneck annual pace 48 percent last years spring summer slow tepid 22 percent rate final three months 2014 many economists estimate growth picking slightly current quarter annual rate 25 percent nearly 3 percent still economists remain bullish hiring despite slowdown growth fourth quarters slowdown occurred largely companies reduced stockpiles goods translated lower factory output companies focus consumer demand making hiring decisions demand strong octoberdecember quarter americans stepped spending four years though consumers saving much cash cheaper gas spending january still rose decent pace adjusting lower prices mark zandi chief economist moodys analytics expects economy grow 3 percent year would first time reached level decade ___ follow chris rugaber twitter httpwwwtwitterchrisrugaber | 561 |
<p>When Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) reports earnings, it's always a big event. Headlines flare, column inches grow into column miles, and share prices either plunge or soar on the news. Everybody has an opinion, pro or con.</p>
<p>The recent third-quarter report was no exception. Netflix crushed every estimate of revenues and subscriber additions, <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/10/16/netflix-inc-earnings-another-rock-solid-quarter.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=da13f752-bdc6-11e7-bf61-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">the international segment finally turned a profit</a>, and the stock reached fresh record prices the next day. Fellow Fool Danny Vena echoed the core message of many market watchers when he proclaimed that <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/10/17/netflix-earnings-its-all-about-the-subscribers.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=da13f752-bdc6-11e7-bf61-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">it's all about the subscribers for Netflix</a>.</p>
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<p>Danny isn't wrong, but a couple of important details in this report deserve a closer look. Here's what you haven't heard about Netflix's third-quarter results.</p>
<p>Two years ago, the average Netflix subscriber spent $7.83 per month on the company's video-streaming fees. That's on a global level. Domestic customers sent in $8.14 per month while international members scrounged up $7.17 per month.</p>
<p>Today, those figures have increased by roughly 20%. By the end of 2017, Netflix's management expects to collect monthly fees of $10.35 per domestic subscriber and $9.08 per overseas member, or $9.68 per customer overall.</p>
<p>The company is going about these increases in a slow and methodical way. Once bitten is twice shy, and the Qwikster episode counts as a pretty nasty bite -- Netflix isn't likely to make dramatic price changes again.</p>
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<p>But the monthly membership fees do tend to crawl upward over time, partly because of soft-touch price increases and partly because customers are signing up for higher-quality streaming plans. Management is not providing any detail on the balance between these growth drivers, but it's clear that both are in play here. And don't forget that <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/10/09/these-are-the-biggest-winners-when-netflix-inc-rai.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=da13f752-bdc6-11e7-bf61-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">customers are signing up by the millions</a>, proving that the target audience isn't overly worried about an additional buck here and there. <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/07/08/cord-cutting-is-just-getting-started.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=da13f752-bdc6-11e7-bf61-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Netflix is still way cheaper than a traditional cable TV package</a>, assuming that you were going to buy a broadband internet plan anyhow.</p>
<p>Yes, the red DVD envelopes are old hat these days. That segment accounted for just $110 million of revenue in the recently reported third quarter, or 3.7% of Netflix's total sales. Additions to the DVD library added up to a $10 million investment in the same period, far below the $2.3 billion investment in streaming content assets. DVD sales fell 17% year over year and are expected to continue sliding in the next quarter.</p>
<p>But there's still life in the old warhorse, and DVD sales are making a significant contribution to Netflix's business model even now.</p>
<p>The segment provided contribution profits of $60 million in the third quarter. This operating profit is declining slower than the division's revenue line, which means that contribution profit margin is on its way up. That margin moved up from 49% in early 2015 to 50% a year later, and stands at 57% today. DVD shipments pulled in 10% of the company's total operating profits, punching way above its shrinking weight.</p>
<p>The service is valuable thanks to a kink in American copyright law known as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-sale_doctrine" type="external">the first-sale doctrine</a>. Anything published on a disc, a tape, or a holographic data cube can be resold, rented out, and distributed again. That's not true for downloaded or streamed content, so the DVD library will always hold many more titles than the all-digital service. So for customers with eclectic tastes, DVD mailers can fill that need for hard-to-find movies in a pinch. Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) meets the same need by attempting to sell DVDs and Blu-rays wherever your Prime Video search comes up empty.</p>
<p>I don't think DVD services will be around forever. The service will eventually diminish to the point where it doesn't make economic sense to run the shipment centers anymore. At that point, Netflix will spin the DVD service off as a separate business, either as a tiny company traded on the public market or as an asset sale to private-equity investors. Chief DVD rival Redbox already took the private-equity exit, giving <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2016/06/25/is-netflix-about-to-copy-amazon.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=da13f752-bdc6-11e7-bf61-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Netflix's DVD.com</a> a set of footsteps to follow.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, we Netflix investors can't forget about the DVD business quite yet. It's still making waves.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than AmazonWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-static%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=ef0c486b-555d-46d8-921d-50e25ea77b51&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=da13f752-bdc6-11e7-bf61-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks</a> for investors to buy right now... and Amazon wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
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<p>John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. <a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFZahrim/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=da13f752-bdc6-11e7-bf61-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Anders Bylund</a> owns shares of Amazon and Netflix. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Amazon and Netflix. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=da13f752-bdc6-11e7-bf61-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy</a>.</p> | true | 0 | netflix nasdaq nflx reports earnings always big event headlines flare column inches grow column miles share prices either plunge soar news everybody opinion pro con recent thirdquarter report exception netflix crushed every estimate revenues subscriber additions international segment finally turned profit stock reached fresh record prices next day fellow fool danny vena echoed core message many market watchers proclaimed subscribers netflix continue reading danny isnt wrong couple important details report deserve closer look heres havent heard netflixs thirdquarter results two years ago average netflix subscriber spent 783 per month companys videostreaming fees thats global level domestic customers sent 814 per month international members scrounged 717 per month today figures increased roughly 20 end 2017 netflixs management expects collect monthly fees 1035 per domestic subscriber 908 per overseas member 968 per customer overall company going increases slow methodical way bitten twice shy qwikster episode counts pretty nasty bite netflix isnt likely make dramatic price changes advertisement monthly membership fees tend crawl upward time partly softtouch price increases partly customers signing higherquality streaming plans management providing detail balance growth drivers clear play dont forget customers signing millions proving target audience isnt overly worried additional buck netflix still way cheaper traditional cable tv package assuming going buy broadband internet plan anyhow yes red dvd envelopes old hat days segment accounted 110 million revenue recently reported third quarter 37 netflixs total sales additions dvd library added 10 million investment period far 23 billion investment streaming content assets dvd sales fell 17 year year expected continue sliding next quarter theres still life old warhorse dvd sales making significant contribution netflixs business model even segment provided contribution profits 60 million third quarter operating profit declining slower divisions revenue line means contribution profit margin way margin moved 49 early 2015 50 year later stands 57 today dvd shipments pulled 10 companys total operating profits punching way shrinking weight service valuable thanks kink american copyright law known firstsale doctrine anything published disc tape holographic data cube resold rented distributed thats true downloaded streamed content dvd library always hold many titles alldigital service customers eclectic tastes dvd mailers fill need hardtofind movies pinch amazoncom nasdaq amzn meets need attempting sell dvds blurays wherever prime video search comes empty dont think dvd services around forever service eventually diminish point doesnt make economic sense run shipment centers anymore point netflix spin dvd service separate business either tiny company traded public market asset sale privateequity investors chief dvd rival redbox already took privateequity exit giving netflixs dvdcom set footsteps follow meanwhile netflix investors cant forget dvd business quite yet still making waves 10 stocks like better amazonwhen investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks investors buy right amazon wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click learn picks stock advisor returns october 9 2017 john mackey ceo whole foods market amazon subsidiary member motley fools board directors anders bylund owns shares amazon netflix motley fool owns shares recommends amazon netflix motley fool disclosure policy | 513 |
<p>What's the best-performing marijuana stock so far in 2017?</p>
<p>You might be surprised to learn that it's not one of the <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/10/04/this-canadian-marijuana-stock-has-the-strongest-mo.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=92a2a39e-bfe4-11e7-bd3b-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">red-hot Canadian medical marijuana growers Opens a New Window.</a> awaiting legalization of recreational cannabis use next year. Instead, the top marijuana stock with less than two months remaining in the year is actually 22nd Century Group (NYSEMKT: XXII). Shares of the plant biotechnology company are up more than 90% year to date.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>However, 22nd Century Group isn't flying nearly as high as it was. By early October, the stock had more than tripled in value since the beginning of the year. Then the bottom fell out. Here's how 22nd Century Group climbed to the top spot among marijuana stocks -- and why its reign could be in jeopardy.</p>
<p>You might have noticed that the picture above shows tobacco, not marijuana. 22nd Century Group has genetically engineered cannabis plants to contain no THC (the main mind-altering ingredient in cannabis), which qualifies it to be lumped into the general category of marijuana stocks. However, the company's primary focus is on tobacco.</p>
<p>Interest in 22nd Century Group's tobacco technology has fueled the tremendous run-up in its stock price this year. The company's primary claim to fame is that it has genetically engineered tobacco plants to have much lower levels of nicotine than ordinary tobacco plants.</p>
<p>Two events <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/10/19/3-things-you-really-need-to-know-about-22nd-centur.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=92a2a39e-bfe4-11e7-bd3b-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">served as key catalysts Opens a New Window.</a> for the stock. First, the U.S.&#160;Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced sweeping plans to reduce tobacco-related disease and death in July. A key component of this plan is to require tobacco companies to lower nicotine levels in cigarettes to non-addictive levels.</p>
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<p>This announcement was music to the ears for 22nd Century Group's shareholders. The company says that it alone has the capability of growing tobacco at nonaddictive levels. A license agreement between 22nd Century Group and British American Tobacco was terminated, allowing the small biotech to explore opportunities with other companies. 22nd Century Group has indicated that multiple companies in the tobacco and pharmaceutical industries have "expressed strong interest" in teaming up with it.</p>
<p>The second catalyst for 22nd Century Group was the announcement in early October of preliminary results from a late-stage clinical study evaluating approaches to lowering the addiction potential of cigarettes. These preliminary results found that an immediate reduction to very low nicotine levels in cigarettes was the best pathway to reduce harmful effects from smoking tobacco cigarettes. 22nd Century Group's very-low-nicotine cigarettes were used in the study.</p>
<p>With such great news for 22nd Century Group, why did the stock plunge in recent weeks? The company needed to raise cash, so it announced a stock offering of nearly 20.6 million shares. This move caused 22nd Century Group's share price to fall for a couple of reasons.</p>
<p>One is that the stock offering was priced at&#160;$2.625 per share. 22nd Century Group's shares were trading well above that level when the stock offering was announced. You'd expect the stock to drop with a large block of shares selling much lower than the current market price.</p>
<p>The second reason relates to the size of the stock offering. 22nd Century Group's outstanding shares totaled a little under 103 million shares prior to the stock offering. That 20.6 million newly issued shares represented a big chunk of that total. The stock offering instantly diluted the value of all of the existing shares.</p>
<p>There's a twist, though. 22nd Century Group stock's price has fallen more than the lower offering price or the dilution would have caused on their own. It's possible that some investors have also decided to take some profits off the table after the massive gains from earlier in the year.</p>
<p>The good news from the stock offering is that 22nd Century Group now has plenty of cash. The company says that it can fund operations for at least five years. Investors shouldn't have to worry about dilution for a long time to come.</p>
<p>But can 22nd Century Group stock bounce back? Probably, but the timing could depend heavily on how quickly the FDA moves forward with its plans. Federal agencies aren't known for their speed in making things happen.&#160;Even if the FDA drags its heels, however, one or more high-dollar deals with the companies that 22nd Century Group said have expressed interest could light a fire under the stock once again.</p>
<p>As for the marijuana efforts of this marijuana stock, it's too early to know how much potential there could be. Industrial hemp farmers could benefit from plants genetically engineered to have low THC levels. Medical marijuana growers could drive demand for cannabis plants with high cannabidiol (CBD) levels. For now, though, 22nd Century Group's primary appeal for investors will continue to be with its tobacco technology.</p>
<p>Don't be surprised if 22nd Century Group doesn't end up as the top marijuana stock of 2017, despite its current No. 1 position. There's still plenty of time left before Dec. 31 -- and those Canadian marijuana stocks enjoy strong momentum headed into 2018.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than 22nd Century GroupWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-static%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=3ddb130b-82cd-48ac-98a6-e622e5f0bb5f&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=92a2a39e-bfe4-11e7-bd3b-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and 22nd Century Group wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
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<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of October 9, 2017</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFFishBiz/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=92a2a39e-bfe4-11e7-bd3b-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Keith Speights Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=92a2a39e-bfe4-11e7-bd3b-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | whats bestperforming marijuana stock far 2017 might surprised learn one redhot canadian medical marijuana growers opens new window awaiting legalization recreational cannabis use next year instead top marijuana stock less two months remaining year actually 22nd century group nysemkt xxii shares plant biotechnology company 90 year date continue reading however 22nd century group isnt flying nearly high early october stock tripled value since beginning year bottom fell heres 22nd century group climbed top spot among marijuana stocks reign could jeopardy might noticed picture shows tobacco marijuana 22nd century group genetically engineered cannabis plants contain thc main mindaltering ingredient cannabis qualifies lumped general category marijuana stocks however companys primary focus tobacco interest 22nd century groups tobacco technology fueled tremendous runup stock price year companys primary claim fame genetically engineered tobacco plants much lower levels nicotine ordinary tobacco plants two events served key catalysts opens new window stock first us160food drug administration fda announced sweeping plans reduce tobaccorelated disease death july key component plan require tobacco companies lower nicotine levels cigarettes nonaddictive levels advertisement announcement music ears 22nd century groups shareholders company says alone capability growing tobacco nonaddictive levels license agreement 22nd century group british american tobacco terminated allowing small biotech explore opportunities companies 22nd century group indicated multiple companies tobacco pharmaceutical industries expressed strong interest teaming second catalyst 22nd century group announcement early october preliminary results latestage clinical study evaluating approaches lowering addiction potential cigarettes preliminary results found immediate reduction low nicotine levels cigarettes best pathway reduce harmful effects smoking tobacco cigarettes 22nd century groups verylownicotine cigarettes used study great news 22nd century group stock plunge recent weeks company needed raise cash announced stock offering nearly 206 million shares move caused 22nd century groups share price fall couple reasons one stock offering priced at1602625 per share 22nd century groups shares trading well level stock offering announced youd expect stock drop large block shares selling much lower current market price second reason relates size stock offering 22nd century groups outstanding shares totaled little 103 million shares prior stock offering 206 million newly issued shares represented big chunk total stock offering instantly diluted value existing shares theres twist though 22nd century group stocks price fallen lower offering price dilution would caused possible investors also decided take profits table massive gains earlier year good news stock offering 22nd century group plenty cash company says fund operations least five years investors shouldnt worry dilution long time come 22nd century group stock bounce back probably timing could depend heavily quickly fda moves forward plans federal agencies arent known speed making things happen160even fda drags heels however one highdollar deals companies 22nd century group said expressed interest could light fire stock marijuana efforts marijuana stock early know much potential could industrial hemp farmers could benefit plants genetically engineered low thc levels medical marijuana growers could drive demand cannabis plants high cannabidiol cbd levels though 22nd century groups primary appeal investors continue tobacco technology dont surprised 22nd century group doesnt end top marijuana stock 2017 despite current 1 position theres still plenty time left dec 31 canadian marijuana stocks enjoy strong momentum headed 2018 10 stocks like better 22nd century groupwhen investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right 22nd century group wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns october 9 2017 keith speights opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool position stocks mentioned motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 599 |
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<p>China's central bank surprised financial markets on Friday by raising short-term interest rates on the first day back from a long holiday, in a further sign of a tightening policy bias as the economy shows signs of steadying.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>While the rate increases were modest, they reinforced views that Chinese authorities are intent on both containing capital outflows and reining in risks to the financial system created by years of debt-fueled stimulus.</p>
<p>Higher interest rates could prod debt-laden firms into deleveraging, though at the risk of stunting growth.</p>
<p>"It appears to be an intent to control a real estate bubble. It could also be aimed at arresting the yuan's depreciation, although it is on the reverse repo they touched upon and the impact remains to be seen," said Naoto Saito, chief economic researcher at the Daiwa Institute of Research In Tokyo.</p>
<p>"All in all, it comes across as a move to tweak interest rate levels to accompany a broader monetary policy shift."</p>
<p>The People's Bank of China (PBOC) raised the interest rate on open market operation reverse repurchase agreements (repos) by 10 basis points, effective on Feb. 3.</p>
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<p>Two banking sources told Reuters it also raised the lending rates on its standing lending facility (SLF) short-term loans.</p>
<p>Analysts said the tightening of primarily money market rates suggested the PBOC wanted to retain policy flexibility as it balances the need to keep the economy from slowing again.</p>
<p>In late January, the PBOC raised rates on its medium-term loan facility (MLF) for the first time since it debuted the liquidity tool in 2014. It was the first time it has raised one of its policy interest rates since July 2011.</p>
<p>Analysts expect any further steps to be gradual as policymakers weigh their impact on economic growth, and believe the PBOC will be in no hurry to raise the policy lending rate for now. The one-year policy lending rate was last cut in October 2015 to 4.35 percent.</p>
<p>"China's economic recovery is still shaky, while the global economic situation is unstable, so raising open market rates is more appropriate than raising benchmark rates," said Li Huiyong, chief economist at Shenwan Hongyuan Securities.</p>
<p>"It's a flexible tool, which can be easily reversed if China's economy shows signs weakness again."</p>
<p>The world's second-largest economy grew 6.7 percent last year - roughly in the middle of the government's target range.</p>
<p>But heavy policy stimulus - evident in record lending from mostly state-owned banks and increased government spending - has fuelled worries among top leaders about the risks of high debt levels and an overheating housing market that could threaten financial stability if not addressed.</p>
<p>China's debt to GDP ratio rose to 277 percent at the end of 2016 from 254 percent the previous year, with an increasing share of new credit being used to pay debt servicing costs, UBS analysts said in a note.</p>
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<p>Asian stock markets extended modest early losses after the rate rise, while China bond futures fell as much as 1.5 percent at one point.</p>
<p>The PBOC raised the seven-day open market operations rate to 2.35 percent from 2.25 percent. (For more details on other rates, see )</p>
<p>Banking sources said the overnight rate for the SLF loan was raised to 3.1 percent from 2.75 percent, with rates on other SLF loans increased more modestly. The SLF rate acts as a de facto ceiling for interbank lending, analysts said.</p>
<p>Even as it raised borrowing costs, China's central bank moved to reassure markets about liquidity by injecting funds through the 7-day, 14-day and 28-day repos on Friday.</p>
<p>The PBOC drained a net 250 billion yuan last week, before Chinese markets closed for the long Lunar New Year break.</p>
<p>"It's not a good kick off of the Lunar New Year. It is a clear sign that the central bank has switched to tighten its monetary policy," said a trader at a Chinese bank in Shanghai.</p>
<p>China's economy has seen a broad-based pickup in recent months, with fourth-quarter GDP beating expectations due largely to a strong housing market and higher government spending on infrastructure projects.</p>
<p>At the same time, however, capital flight from the tightly managed economy has been strong, fueled by expectations that the yuan currency will depreciate further after sliding to more than eight-year lows against the dollar.</p>
<p>The yuan fell nearly 7 percent last year, its biggest annual loss against the dollar since 1994, on worries about shaky growth early in the year and amid a surge in the greenback.</p>
<p>Bearish views on the yuan have persisted despite a series of tightening measures in recent months aimed at making it more difficult for Chinese individuals and corporations to send money abroad.</p>
<p>China's currency reserves fell by a tenth last year and, at $3.011 trillion, are close to falling below psychologically significant levels.</p>
<p>"The signal is very clear," said Zhou Hao, senior Asian emerging market economist at Commerzbank in Singapore, referring to the latest rate move.</p>
<p>Hao said this time the tightening was more targeted compared with China's previous tightening cycle that ended in 2013.</p>
<p>"Inflation at that time was rising very rapidly and at this time inflation is not really an issue. Secondly the yuan was under pressure to appreciate at that time."</p>
<p>"Right now it's totally different. If you have capital outflows, that's already tightening. And then you tighten further, which is a double-whammy."</p>
<p>(Reporting by Shanghai and Beijing newsrooms; Writing by Vidya Ranganathan; Editing by Kim Coghill)</p> | true | 0 | chinas central bank surprised financial markets friday raising shortterm interest rates first day back long holiday sign tightening policy bias economy shows signs steadying continue reading rate increases modest reinforced views chinese authorities intent containing capital outflows reining risks financial system created years debtfueled stimulus higher interest rates could prod debtladen firms deleveraging though risk stunting growth appears intent control real estate bubble could also aimed arresting yuans depreciation although reverse repo touched upon impact remains seen said naoto saito chief economic researcher daiwa institute research tokyo comes across move tweak interest rate levels accompany broader monetary policy shift peoples bank china pboc raised interest rate open market operation reverse repurchase agreements repos 10 basis points effective feb 3 advertisement two banking sources told reuters also raised lending rates standing lending facility slf shortterm loans analysts said tightening primarily money market rates suggested pboc wanted retain policy flexibility balances need keep economy slowing late january pboc raised rates mediumterm loan facility mlf first time since debuted liquidity tool 2014 first time raised one policy interest rates since july 2011 analysts expect steps gradual policymakers weigh impact economic growth believe pboc hurry raise policy lending rate oneyear policy lending rate last cut october 2015 435 percent chinas economic recovery still shaky global economic situation unstable raising open market rates appropriate raising benchmark rates said li huiyong chief economist shenwan hongyuan securities flexible tool easily reversed chinas economy shows signs weakness worlds secondlargest economy grew 67 percent last year roughly middle governments target range heavy policy stimulus evident record lending mostly stateowned banks increased government spending fuelled worries among top leaders risks high debt levels overheating housing market could threaten financial stability addressed chinas debt gdp ratio rose 277 percent end 2016 254 percent previous year increasing share new credit used pay debt servicing costs ubs analysts said note sufficient liquidity asian stock markets extended modest early losses rate rise china bond futures fell much 15 percent one point pboc raised sevenday open market operations rate 235 percent 225 percent details rates see banking sources said overnight rate slf loan raised 31 percent 275 percent rates slf loans increased modestly slf rate acts de facto ceiling interbank lending analysts said even raised borrowing costs chinas central bank moved reassure markets liquidity injecting funds 7day 14day 28day repos friday pboc drained net 250 billion yuan last week chinese markets closed long lunar new year break good kick lunar new year clear sign central bank switched tighten monetary policy said trader chinese bank shanghai chinas economy seen broadbased pickup recent months fourthquarter gdp beating expectations due largely strong housing market higher government spending infrastructure projects time however capital flight tightly managed economy strong fueled expectations yuan currency depreciate sliding eightyear lows dollar yuan fell nearly 7 percent last year biggest annual loss dollar since 1994 worries shaky growth early year amid surge greenback bearish views yuan persisted despite series tightening measures recent months aimed making difficult chinese individuals corporations send money abroad chinas currency reserves fell tenth last year 3011 trillion close falling psychologically significant levels signal clear said zhou hao senior asian emerging market economist commerzbank singapore referring latest rate move hao said time tightening targeted compared chinas previous tightening cycle ended 2013 inflation time rising rapidly time inflation really issue secondly yuan pressure appreciate time right totally different capital outflows thats already tightening tighten doublewhammy reporting shanghai beijing newsrooms writing vidya ranganathan editing kim coghill | 573 |
<p>Gilead Sciences Inc. has agreed to pay about $11 billion for Kite Pharma Inc. and its promising new technology for harnessing the body's immune system to fight cancer, according to people familiar with the matter.</p>
<p>Gilead will pay $180 a share, the people said, representing a 29% premium over Kite's closing price Friday. The all-cash deal, to be announced Monday, would give Gilead a foothold in a new type of personalized treatment that doctors say could save patients with the most dire cases of cancer and analysts estimate would ring up billions of dollars in sales.</p>
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<p>Gilead, of Foster City, Calif., had been looking for an acquisition to diversify its portfolio beyond its leading position in infectious-disease treatments and provide a new revenue stream as sales of the company's hepatitis C drugs decline.</p>
<p>The deal for Kite would be one of Gilead's biggest, rivaling the company's $11 billion purchase of liver-disease drugmaker Pharmasset in 2012. Through that acquisition, Gilead gained hepatitis C therapies that are among the world's top-selling drugs.</p>
<p>Now Gilead is betting that Kite can provide a similar payoff. Kite, of Santa Monica, Calif., is a leader among several companies that aim to use genetic engineering to weaponize a patient's own immune T cells and then deploy them to attack lymphoma and other blood cancers.</p>
<p>Kite's main drug, known as axi-cel, is up for approval in the U.S. and Europe. Analysts predict it would have world-wide sales of $1.7 billion in 2022, according to EvaluatePharma, which ranks the drug among the industry's top 10 compounds in terms of sales potential. Such expectations have already pushed the company's shares sharply higher this year.</p>
<p>Axi-cel is likely to face swift, steep competition. Novartis AG, one of the leading cancer-drug makers, beat Kite to be the first company to ask the Food and Drug Administration to approve a bioengineered T-cell drug. Several other companies are developing the drugs too.</p>
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<p>Gilead made its name selling treatments for HIV/AIDS. The biotech company surged in value after launching the hepatitis C treatments developed at Pharmasset. The drugs, Sovaldi and Harvoni, helped Gilead double its sales in 2014. It now has a market value of roughly $100 billion.</p>
<p>Last year Gilead had $30 billion in sales, including $9.1 billion from Harvoni and $4 billion from Sovaldi.</p>
<p>Yet the anti-viral drugs' commercial success has also proved to be an albatross. Gilead faced public criticism and a Senate investigation for listing Sovaldi at $1,000 a day, even though the therapy cured most patients at a cost of less than a liver transplant.</p>
<p>The hepatitis C drugs' sales were squeezed in recent years when Merck &amp; Co. launched a rival treatment, forcing Gilead to offer steep discounts to health plans. And partly because of the drugs' success curing the disease, fewer patients needed treatment.</p>
<p>The company's second-quarter hepatitis C drug sales fell to $2.9 billion world-wide, down from $4 billion during the period a year earlier.</p>
<p>Gilead has faced pressure from investors and analysts to find new revenue sources. Management responded by touting its next generation of HIV/AIDS treatments as well as drugs in development to treat a liver disease known as NASH, for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.</p>
<p>But Wall Street said Gilead needed to do another deal. Gilead fanned speculation by hiring Alessandro Riva from Novartis to run its hematology and oncology division, as well as its former adviser, investment banker Andrew Dickinson, from Lazard.</p>
<p>After years of surging volume, pharmaceutical deal making has been slow this year, with very few megamergers aside from Johnson &amp; Johnson's r oughly $30 billion deal to buy Actelion Ltd. Drug companies have been digesting earlier acquisitions and have also been hampered by uncertainty surrounding tax reform because many of them have large amounts of cash overseas.</p>
<p>The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter, around the same time as the deadline for U.S. approval of Kite's main drug, according to the people familiar with the matter.</p>
<p>--Dana Mattioli contributed to this article.</p>
<p>Write to Jonathan D. Rockoff at [email protected]</p>
<p>Gilead Sciences Inc. has agreed to pay about $11 billion for Kite Pharma Inc. and its promising new technology for harnessing the body's immune system to fight cancer.</p>
<p>Gilead will pay $180 a share, representing a 29% premium over Kite's closing price Friday. The all-cash deal would give Gilead a foothold in a new type of personalized treatment that doctors say could save patients with the most dire cases of cancer and analysts estimate would ring up billions of dollars in sales.</p>
<p>Shares in Kite rose nearly 29% to $179 in premarket trading. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier Monday about Gilead's deal to buy Kite.</p>
<p>Gilead, of Foster City, Calif., had been looking for an acquisition to diversify its portfolio beyond its leading position in infectious-disease treatments and provide a new revenue stream as sales of the company's hepatitis C drugs decline.</p>
<p>The deal for Kite would be one of Gilead's biggest, rivaling the company's $11 billion purchase of liver-disease drugmaker Pharmasset in 2012. Through that acquisition, Gilead gained hepatitis C therapies that are among the world's top-selling drugs.</p>
<p>Now Gilead is betting that Kite can provide a similar payoff. Kite, of Santa Monica, Calif., is a leader among several companies that aim to use genetic engineering to weaponize a patient's own immune T cells and then deploy them to attack lymphoma and other blood cancers.</p>
<p>Kite's main drug, known as axi-cel, is up for approval in the U.S. and Europe. Analysts predict it would have world-wide sales of $1.7 billion in 2022, according to EvaluatePharma, which ranks the drug among the industry's top 10 compounds in terms of sales potential. Such expectations have already pushed the company's shares sharply higher this year.</p>
<p>"This technology is really going to be transformative to the field," Gilead CEO John Milligan said in an interview.</p>
<p>Axi-cel is likely to face swift, steep competition. Novartis AG, one of the leading cancer-drug makers, beat Kite to be the first company to ask the Food and Drug Administration to approve a bioengineered T-cell drug. Several other companies are developing the drugs too.</p>
<p>Dr. Milligan said Gilead is accustomed to operating in competitive drug markets. He said Kite's technology could be used beyond its initial focus on an advanced form of lymphoma to other blood cancers including multiple myeloma and perhaps in combination with other immunotherapies.</p>
<p>Some of the drugs various companies were working on have produced serious, even deadly, side effects during development. Dr. Milligan said doctors have learned how cut the risk of side effects, and Gilead and Kite would work on developing improved treatments.</p>
<p>Gilead made its name selling treatments for HIV/AIDS. The biotech company surged in value after launching the hepatitis C treatments developed at Pharmasset. The drugs, Sovaldi and Harvoni, helped Gilead double its sales in 2014. It now has a market value of roughly $100 billion.</p>
<p>Last year Gilead had $30 billion in sales, including $9.1 billion from Harvoni and $4 billion from Sovaldi.</p>
<p>Yet the anti-viral drugs' commercial success has also proved to be an albatross. Gilead faced public criticism and a Senate investigation for listing Sovaldi at $1,000 a day, even though the therapy cured most patients at a cost of less than a liver transplant.</p>
<p>The hepatitis C drugs' sales were squeezed in recent years when Merck &amp; Co. launched a rival treatment, forcing Gilead to offer steep discounts to health plans. And partly because of the drugs' success curing the disease, fewer patients needed treatment.</p>
<p>The company's second-quarter hepatitis C drug sales fell to $2.9 billion world-wide, down from $4 billion during the period a year earlier.</p>
<p>Gilead has faced pressure from investors and analysts to find new revenue sources. Management responded by touting its next generation of HIV/AIDS treatments as well as drugs in development to treat a liver disease known as NASH, for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.</p>
<p>But Wall Street said Gilead needed to do another deal. Gilead fanned speculation by hiring Alessandro Riva from Novartis to run its hematology and oncology division, as well as its former adviser, investment banker Andrew Dickinson, from Lazard.</p>
<p>After years of surging volume, pharmaceutical deal making has been slow this year, with very few megamergers aside from Johnson &amp; Johnson's r oughly $30 billion deal to buy Actelion Ltd. Drug companies have been digesting earlier acquisitions and have also been hampered by uncertainty surrounding tax reform because many of them have large amounts of cash overseas.</p>
<p>Dr. Milligan said Gilead had been eyeing Kite for months and decided to make a move after Kite asked the FDA to approve axi-cel and Gilead watched the performance of drugs from Novartis and others.</p>
<p>Deal talks began in earnest during a dinner in June at the home of Kite CEO Arie Belldegrun overlooking the University of California, Los Angeles, campus where he also teaches and practices medicine.</p>
<p>Dr. Milligan said Gilead realized the deal comprised not only axi-cel but the technology for developing other cell-therapy cancer drugs. "We see it as a nice, sustainable oncology platform for decades to come," he said.</p>
<p>The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter, around the same time as the deadline for U.S. approval of Kite's main drug.</p>
<p>Dr. Milligan said Dr. Belldegrun would help with the transition to new ownership and that Gilead would retain "nearly all" Kite's employees.</p>
<p>--Dana Mattioli contributed to this article.</p>
<p>Write to Jonathan D. Rockoff at [email protected]</p>
<p>Gilead Sciences Inc. on Monday agreed to pay about $11 billion for Kite Pharma Inc., an ambitious bet on a new type of cancer therapy that is on the brink of becoming commercially available in the U.S.</p>
<p>Doctors say Kite's main treatment, which is up for regulatory approval in the U.S. and Europe, could drastically improve treatment of patients with some of the most advanced cases of cancer. EvaluatePharma expects Kite's therapy to generate sales of $1.7 billion world-wide in 2022.</p>
<p>"This technology is really going to be transformative to the field," Gilead CEO John Milligan said in an interview.</p>
<p>The new breed of treatments, known as CAR-T -- or chimeric antigen receptor T-cell -- therapy, work by extracting a cancer patient's T-cells, a type of immune cell. The T-cells are then genetically modified outside the body to make them more effective at hunting down and killing tumors, and then re-injected into the patient.</p>
<p>Several other companies also are developing CAR-T treatments -- including Switzerland's Novartis AG, which already won a key regulatory nod in the U.S. earlier this year, and is expected very soon to get the first official green light to start offering the treatment.</p>
<p>Gilead, of Foster City, Calif., had been looking for an acquisition to diversify its portfolio beyond its leading position in infectious-disease treatments and provide a new revenue stream as sales of the company's hepatitis C drugs decline.</p>
<p>The deal for Kite, of Santa Monica, Calif., would be one of Gilead's biggest, on a par with the company's $11 billion purchase of liver-disease drugmaker Pharmasset in 2012. Through that acquisition, Gilead gained hepatitis C therapies that are among the world's top-selling drugs.</p>
<p>Now Gilead is betting that Kite can provide a similar payoff. Dr. Milligan said Kite's technology could be used beyond its initial focus on an advanced form of lymphoma to other blood cancers including multiple myeloma and perhaps in combination with other immunotherapies.</p>
<p>While promising, CAR-T treatments won't be like other drugs that win FDA approval, and then quickly wind up on pharmacy shelves and hospitals. The rollout of this new breed will be complicated by unresolved questions.</p>
<p>Manufacturing and delivery are more complex than for a typical drug. In the U.S., only a few dozen specialized hospitals are currently qualified to provide CAR-T treatments, which require retrieving, processing and then returning immune cells to the patient, as well as monitoring side effects. Novartis expects between 30 and 35 centers to be certified to offer the treatment by the end of the year.</p>
<p>Some of the therapies that various companies were working on have produced serious, even deadly, side effects during development. Dr. Milligan said doctors have learned how to cut the risk of side effects, and Gilead and Kite would work on developing improved treatments.</p>
<p>Expense could also present a hurdle: A study by England's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, an official body that analyzes the cost-effectiveness of medical treatment, said CAR-T procedures could command a price of up to GBP528,600 (about $681,000).</p>
<p>The cost is similar to the total costs of some other cancer therapies taken over the course of several years, according to Stephan Grupp, who was part of the team that first developed Novartis's treatment at the University of Pennsylvania. But CAR-T therapy is conducted only once, creating a comparatively steep one-time payment.</p>
<p>Novartis hasn't yet disclosed the price it plans to charge for its treatment, called CTL019, which has been shown to dramatically raise the chances of survival for children and young people with leukemia who don't respond to standard treatment, or who suffer a relapse.</p>
<p>So far, CAR-T therapies have been tested only on certain types of blood cancer. Kite Pharma's leading CAR-T treatment, known as axi-cel, is aimed at patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma, for whom standard therapy has failed.</p>
<p>Kite and Novartis are both investigating several more CAR-T therapies for various forms of blood cancer. Novartis is also conducting early-stage CAR-T trials for certain types of brain and lung tumors.</p>
<p>Dr. Milligan, Gilead's CEO, said the company had been eyeing Kite for months and decided to make a move after Kite asked the FDA to approve axi-cel and Gilead watched the performance of drugs from Novartis and others.</p>
<p>Deal talks began in earnest during a dinner in June at the home of Kite CEO Arie Belldegrun overlooking the University of California, Los Angeles, campus where he teaches and practices medicine, Dr. Milligan said.</p>
<p>"We are excited that Gilead, one of the most innovative companies in the industry, recognized this value and shares our passion for developing cutting-edge and potentially curative therapies for patients," Mr. Belldegrun said in a statement.</p>
<p>Gilead made its name selling treatments for HIV/AIDS. The biotech company surged in value after launching the hepatitis C treatments developed at Pharmasset. The drugs, Sovaldi and Harvoni, helped Gilead double its sales in 2014. It now has a market value of roughly $100 billion.</p>
<p>Last year Gilead had $30 billion in sales, including $9.1 billion from Harvoni and $4 billion from Sovaldi.</p>
<p>Yet the anti-viral drugs' commercial success has also come with some problems. Gilead faced public criticism and a Senate investigation for listing Sovaldi at $1,000 a day -- or $84,000 for a 12-week treatment -- even though the therapy cured most patients at a cost of less than a liver transplant.</p>
<p>The hepatitis C drugs' sales were squeezed in recent years when Merck &amp; Co. launched a rival treatment, forcing Gilead to offer steep discounts to health plans. And partly because of the drugs' success curing the disease, fewer patients needed treatment.</p>
<p>The company's second-quarter hepatitis C drug sales fell to $2.9 billion world-wide, down from $4 billion during the period a year earlier.</p>
<p>Gilead has faced pressure from investors and analysts to find new revenue sources. Management responded by touting its next generation of HIV/AIDS treatments as well as drugs in development to treat a liver disease known as NASH, for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.</p>
<p>But Wall Street said Gilead needed to do another deal. Gilead fanned speculation by hiring Alessandro Riva from Novartis to run its hematology and oncology division, as well as its former adviser, investment banker Andrew Dickinson, from Lazard Ltd.</p>
<p>Gilead's all-cash deal for Kite is expected to close in the fourth quarter, around the same time as the deadline for U.S. approval of Kite's main therapy.</p>
<p>Dr. Milligan said Dr. Belldegrun would help with the transition to new ownership and that Gilead would retain "nearly all" Kite's employees.</p>
<p>--Dana Mattioli contributed to this article.</p>
<p>Write to Jonathan D. Rockoff at [email protected] and Denise Roland at [email protected]</p>
<p>(END) Dow Jones Newswires</p>
<p>August 28, 2017 19:41 ET (23:41 GMT)</p> | true | 0 | gilead sciences inc agreed pay 11 billion kite pharma inc promising new technology harnessing bodys immune system fight cancer according people familiar matter gilead pay 180 share people said representing 29 premium kites closing price friday allcash deal announced monday would give gilead foothold new type personalized treatment doctors say could save patients dire cases cancer analysts estimate would ring billions dollars sales continue reading gilead foster city calif looking acquisition diversify portfolio beyond leading position infectiousdisease treatments provide new revenue stream sales companys hepatitis c drugs decline deal kite would one gileads biggest rivaling companys 11 billion purchase liverdisease drugmaker pharmasset 2012 acquisition gilead gained hepatitis c therapies among worlds topselling drugs gilead betting kite provide similar payoff kite santa monica calif leader among several companies aim use genetic engineering weaponize patients immune cells deploy attack lymphoma blood cancers kites main drug known axicel approval us europe analysts predict would worldwide sales 17 billion 2022 according evaluatepharma ranks drug among industrys top 10 compounds terms sales potential expectations already pushed companys shares sharply higher year axicel likely face swift steep competition novartis ag one leading cancerdrug makers beat kite first company ask food drug administration approve bioengineered tcell drug several companies developing drugs advertisement gilead made name selling treatments hivaids biotech company surged value launching hepatitis c treatments developed pharmasset drugs sovaldi harvoni helped gilead double sales 2014 market value roughly 100 billion last year gilead 30 billion sales including 91 billion harvoni 4 billion sovaldi yet antiviral drugs commercial success also proved albatross gilead faced public criticism senate investigation listing sovaldi 1000 day even though therapy cured patients cost less liver transplant hepatitis c drugs sales squeezed recent years merck amp co launched rival treatment forcing gilead offer steep discounts health plans partly drugs success curing disease fewer patients needed treatment companys secondquarter hepatitis c drug sales fell 29 billion worldwide 4 billion period year earlier gilead faced pressure investors analysts find new revenue sources management responded touting next generation hivaids treatments well drugs development treat liver disease known nash nonalcoholic steatohepatitis wall street said gilead needed another deal gilead fanned speculation hiring alessandro riva novartis run hematology oncology division well former adviser investment banker andrew dickinson lazard years surging volume pharmaceutical deal making slow year megamergers aside johnson amp johnsons r oughly 30 billion deal buy actelion ltd drug companies digesting earlier acquisitions also hampered uncertainty surrounding tax reform many large amounts cash overseas deal expected close fourth quarter around time deadline us approval kites main drug according people familiar matter dana mattioli contributed article write jonathan rockoff jonathanrockoffwsjcom gilead sciences inc agreed pay 11 billion kite pharma inc promising new technology harnessing bodys immune system fight cancer gilead pay 180 share representing 29 premium kites closing price friday allcash deal would give gilead foothold new type personalized treatment doctors say could save patients dire cases cancer analysts estimate would ring billions dollars sales shares kite rose nearly 29 179 premarket trading wall street journal reported earlier monday gileads deal buy kite gilead foster city calif looking acquisition diversify portfolio beyond leading position infectiousdisease treatments provide new revenue stream sales companys hepatitis c drugs decline deal kite would one gileads biggest rivaling companys 11 billion purchase liverdisease drugmaker pharmasset 2012 acquisition gilead gained hepatitis c therapies among worlds topselling drugs gilead betting kite provide similar payoff kite santa monica calif leader among several companies aim use genetic engineering weaponize patients immune cells deploy attack lymphoma blood cancers kites main drug known axicel approval us europe analysts predict would worldwide sales 17 billion 2022 according evaluatepharma ranks drug among industrys top 10 compounds terms sales potential expectations already pushed companys shares sharply higher year technology really going transformative field gilead ceo john milligan said interview axicel likely face swift steep competition novartis ag one leading cancerdrug makers beat kite first company ask food drug administration approve bioengineered tcell drug several companies developing drugs dr milligan said gilead accustomed operating competitive drug markets said kites technology could used beyond initial focus advanced form lymphoma blood cancers including multiple myeloma perhaps combination immunotherapies drugs various companies working produced serious even deadly side effects development dr milligan said doctors learned cut risk side effects gilead kite would work developing improved treatments gilead made name selling treatments hivaids biotech company surged value launching hepatitis c treatments developed pharmasset drugs sovaldi harvoni helped gilead double sales 2014 market value roughly 100 billion last year gilead 30 billion sales including 91 billion harvoni 4 billion sovaldi yet antiviral drugs commercial success also proved albatross gilead faced public criticism senate investigation listing sovaldi 1000 day even though therapy cured patients cost less liver transplant hepatitis c drugs sales squeezed recent years merck amp co launched rival treatment forcing gilead offer steep discounts health plans partly drugs success curing disease fewer patients needed treatment companys secondquarter hepatitis c drug sales fell 29 billion worldwide 4 billion period year earlier gilead faced pressure investors analysts find new revenue sources management responded touting next generation hivaids treatments well drugs development treat liver disease known nash nonalcoholic steatohepatitis wall street said gilead needed another deal gilead fanned speculation hiring alessandro riva novartis run hematology oncology division well former adviser investment banker andrew dickinson lazard years surging volume pharmaceutical deal making slow year megamergers aside johnson amp johnsons r oughly 30 billion deal buy actelion ltd drug companies digesting earlier acquisitions also hampered uncertainty surrounding tax reform many large amounts cash overseas dr milligan said gilead eyeing kite months decided make move kite asked fda approve axicel gilead watched performance drugs novartis others deal talks began earnest dinner june home kite ceo arie belldegrun overlooking university california los angeles campus also teaches practices medicine dr milligan said gilead realized deal comprised axicel technology developing celltherapy cancer drugs see nice sustainable oncology platform decades come said deal expected close fourth quarter around time deadline us approval kites main drug dr milligan said dr belldegrun would help transition new ownership gilead would retain nearly kites employees dana mattioli contributed article write jonathan rockoff jonathanrockoffwsjcom gilead sciences inc monday agreed pay 11 billion kite pharma inc ambitious bet new type cancer therapy brink becoming commercially available us doctors say kites main treatment regulatory approval us europe could drastically improve treatment patients advanced cases cancer evaluatepharma expects kites therapy generate sales 17 billion worldwide 2022 technology really going transformative field gilead ceo john milligan said interview new breed treatments known cart chimeric antigen receptor tcell therapy work extracting cancer patients tcells type immune cell tcells genetically modified outside body make effective hunting killing tumors reinjected patient several companies also developing cart treatments including switzerlands novartis ag already key regulatory nod us earlier year expected soon get first official green light start offering treatment gilead foster city calif looking acquisition diversify portfolio beyond leading position infectiousdisease treatments provide new revenue stream sales companys hepatitis c drugs decline deal kite santa monica calif would one gileads biggest par companys 11 billion purchase liverdisease drugmaker pharmasset 2012 acquisition gilead gained hepatitis c therapies among worlds topselling drugs gilead betting kite provide similar payoff dr milligan said kites technology could used beyond initial focus advanced form lymphoma blood cancers including multiple myeloma perhaps combination immunotherapies promising cart treatments wont like drugs win fda approval quickly wind pharmacy shelves hospitals rollout new breed complicated unresolved questions manufacturing delivery complex typical drug us dozen specialized hospitals currently qualified provide cart treatments require retrieving processing returning immune cells patient well monitoring side effects novartis expects 30 35 centers certified offer treatment end year therapies various companies working produced serious even deadly side effects development dr milligan said doctors learned cut risk side effects gilead kite would work developing improved treatments expense could also present hurdle study englands national institute health care excellence official body analyzes costeffectiveness medical treatment said cart procedures could command price gbp528600 681000 cost similar total costs cancer therapies taken course several years according stephan grupp part team first developed novartiss treatment university pennsylvania cart therapy conducted creating comparatively steep onetime payment novartis hasnt yet disclosed price plans charge treatment called ctl019 shown dramatically raise chances survival children young people leukemia dont respond standard treatment suffer relapse far cart therapies tested certain types blood cancer kite pharmas leading cart treatment known axicel aimed patients aggressive nonhodgkin lymphoma standard therapy failed kite novartis investigating several cart therapies various forms blood cancer novartis also conducting earlystage cart trials certain types brain lung tumors dr milligan gileads ceo said company eyeing kite months decided make move kite asked fda approve axicel gilead watched performance drugs novartis others deal talks began earnest dinner june home kite ceo arie belldegrun overlooking university california los angeles campus teaches practices medicine dr milligan said excited gilead one innovative companies industry recognized value shares passion developing cuttingedge potentially curative therapies patients mr belldegrun said statement gilead made name selling treatments hivaids biotech company surged value launching hepatitis c treatments developed pharmasset drugs sovaldi harvoni helped gilead double sales 2014 market value roughly 100 billion last year gilead 30 billion sales including 91 billion harvoni 4 billion sovaldi yet antiviral drugs commercial success also come problems gilead faced public criticism senate investigation listing sovaldi 1000 day 84000 12week treatment even though therapy cured patients cost less liver transplant hepatitis c drugs sales squeezed recent years merck amp co launched rival treatment forcing gilead offer steep discounts health plans partly drugs success curing disease fewer patients needed treatment companys secondquarter hepatitis c drug sales fell 29 billion worldwide 4 billion period year earlier gilead faced pressure investors analysts find new revenue sources management responded touting next generation hivaids treatments well drugs development treat liver disease known nash nonalcoholic steatohepatitis wall street said gilead needed another deal gilead fanned speculation hiring alessandro riva novartis run hematology oncology division well former adviser investment banker andrew dickinson lazard ltd gileads allcash deal kite expected close fourth quarter around time deadline us approval kites main therapy dr milligan said dr belldegrun would help transition new ownership gilead would retain nearly kites employees dana mattioli contributed article write jonathan rockoff jonathanrockoffwsjcom denise roland deniserolandwsjcom end dow jones newswires august 28 2017 1941 et 2341 gmt | 1,702 |
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<p>You've fallen in love with a cute dog or cat -- or rabbit, bird or snake -- and you're ready to bring the new addition home. Should you pull out your credit card to pay for your new pet?</p>
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<p>Yes, if you can. Whether you're adopting or buying a pet, experts say it's a good idea to use plastic to pay the adoption fee or purchase price.</p>
<p>In addition to the convenience factor, credit cards offer some consumer protections you don't get with other methods of payment. They also create a paper trail and can help prove ownership of the pet, says Anna Morrison-Ricordati, a Chicago lawyer who specializes in animal law.</p>
<p>"I highly recommend credit cards," she says.</p>
<p>Paws on plastic: The pluses of a card</p>
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<p>While your credit card can't protect you in every scenario that could go wrong with a new furry, feathered or scaly friend, charging a pet does offer three major benefits, experts say:</p>
<p>1. If you discover a problem with the pet, you can dispute the purchase. If you have an issue with your new pet, you can attempt to do a charge-back. Card issuers have policies under which they will consider voiding a charge if something goes wrong with the purchase, by charging it back to the merchant. There are also legal protections under federal law, but they are highly limited. See " <a href="http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/dispute-credit-card-product-merchant-1282.php?aid=52aae854" type="external">How to dispute a credit card bill with a merchant</a>" for details.</p>
<p>2. Credit card records can help make your case in a doggie dispute. If fur flies and you do end up in a standoff with a seller, credit card records can give you a leg up, says Morrison-Ricordati. Credit card records will show exactly when the purchase was made, who made it and other important details, she says: "Most people will lose paper receipts, but still have access to credit card records online." A credit card record with a signature also proves you were the purchaser, so you can testify about how the pet looked and acted at the time of purchase.</p>
<p>3. A credit card purchase can help prove the pet belongs to you. Pet ownership is a common dispute, especially when couples split up, Morrison-Ricordati says. Maybe you and your significant other adopt a cat and you both fall in love with Snuggles but out of love with each other. Or, you and your roommate buy a ferret, with the understanding that Wiley will go with you when you move. But then your lease ends and you have a spat about who gets to keep him. A credit card purchase in your name will bolster your case. It's also a good idea to use your credit card to pay for vet visits and pet product purchases too, Morrison-Ricordati recommends: "A credit card is a very good tool for proving ownership."</p>
<p>That said, if you use a credit card with <a href="http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/credit-card-purchase-protection-plans-1267.php?aid=52aae854" type="external">purchase protection</a> -- a type of insurance offered as a benefit on most cards -- don't count on it to reimburse you for the cost of your new pet if something goes wrong. Purchase protection will replace, repair or refund your money for a card purchase that gets damaged or stolen within a certain time after it was bought. But what if you find your new fish floating belly up or your new puppy gets snatched from your yard by a thief? Too bad -- live animals are excluded for just about every card that offers purchase protection.</p>
<p>"It's designed to cover items as opposed to living things," says American Express Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications Desiree Fish.</p>
<p>Adopting a pet with plastic</p>
<p>Adopting can be a great way to add a pet to your family. You typically pay a fraction of what you would at a pet store or breeder, and the pet often comes fully vetted and possibly temperament tested, Morrison-Ricordati says.</p>
<p>Pet adoption fees can range from less than $40 to $400 or more and often include spaying or neutering, vaccinations, heartworm test, flea and tick preventative and, in some cases, a microchip to help a lost pet get home. But can you pay an adoption fee with plastic?</p>
<p>Most private adoption centers, many municipal shelters and even some volunteer-run rescue groups, which save animals from shelters and put them up for adoption, take credit cards. But some do not.</p>
<p>In general, you can expect most large private adoption centers in urban areas to take cards. The San Francisco SPCA Adoption Center, for example, takes cash, check, debit cards and Visa, MasterCard, <a href="http://www.creditcards.com/American-Express.php?aid=52aae854" type="external">American Express</a> and <a href="http://www.creditcards.com/Discover.php?aid=52aae854" type="external">Discover</a> credit cards. "We accept pretty much every form of payment," says Suzanne Hollis, San Francisco SPCA client care manager.</p>
<p>But even many municipal shelters accept plastic. For example, DeKalb County Animal Services &amp; Enforcement in Atlanta accepts <a href="http://www.creditcards.com/Visa.php?aid=52aae854" type="external">Visa</a> or <a href="http://www.creditcards.com/Mastercard.php?aid=52aae854" type="external">MasterCard</a>. The Cullman County Animal Shelter in Cullman, Ala., allows adopters to use a credit or debit card to pay in person or by phone. The City of Long Beach Animal Care Services in California also takes cash or credit cards.</p>
<p>If you can pay an adoption fee by credit card, there might be an added <a href="http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/credit-card-convenience-fees-cost-surcharges-1280.php?aid=52aae854" type="external">convenience fee</a> to offset card processing fees. At the Sterling Animal Shelter in Sterling, Mass., an adoption fee of $425 for an adult dog jumps to $437.25 if paid with a credit or debit card.</p>
<p>Smaller shelters often cash-only</p>
<p>Some shelters and rescue groups say no to plastic altogether. In general, a government-run shelter in a smaller city or rural area, or a volunteer-run rescue group might be more likely to take only checks, money orders or cash.</p>
<p>The animal control shelter for the city of Clovis, N.M., takes only cash or check. The municipal shelter in Toms River Township, N.J., does not take credit cards. And Austin Pets Alive!, a&#160; nonprofit organization in Austin, Texas, that saves pets from the city's animal control facility and puts them up for adoption, accepts only checks or money orders.</p>
<p>But experts say you should not adopt a pet on credit if you don't have the money to pay the credit card bill in full. Not only will you get hit with interest if you carry a balance, but experts say it's just a bad idea to adopt a pet if you're short on funds. A new pet means you have to be able to pay for accessories, food, toys, training sessions and sometimes surprise vet bills, according to Hollis. She says an emergency vet bill can easily reach $1,500 or more with X-rays and an overnight stay.</p>
<p>"You need to think about the cost of care," Hollis says.</p>
<p>When claws come out: disputes over a new pet</p>
<p>So, what happens if you adopt or buy a new pet and something goes seriously wrong, such as your cat has feline leukemia, your puppy is deaf or that cute little guinea pig is ridden with parasites and dies?</p>
<p>Two things will come into play, experts say: the contract between you and the shelter or seller and, if you bought the animal from a merchant, state law.</p>
<p>The contract can include a written document you sign at the time of adoption or purchase, as well as the policies of the shelter or store where you got your pet, says David Favre, a professor of animal law at the Michigan State University College of Law.</p>
<p>But policies rarely do a good job covering issues like pet deaths, serious illness or genetic deformity, Favre says. And, he says, bringing a lawsuit can cost much more than the value of the pet. "The seller has all the advantages," he says. "And if you really want to make it legally crazy, try a Web-based sale in from a different state. A wronged buyer has almost no hope."</p>
<p>Return, yes, refund, maybe</p>
<p>If you adopt your pet, many adoption centers, shelters and rescue groups have policies that will give you a full or partial refund of your adoption fee if you return the pet within a certain time frame -- often about two weeks. But some do not offer refunds. If the pet is sick or not a good fit, many shelters will offer to make an exchange for another pet.</p>
<p>"But most of us who have pets would not be OK with that -- the emotional bond forms pretty quickly," Morrison-Ricordati says.</p>
<p>That was the case with Melanie Bruski, who adopted her golden retriever mix, Georgia Peach, from a shelter in Riverside, Calif. Right after adoption, the 4-month-old pup's severe case of kennel cough turned to pneumonia and her incision from spay surgery, done by the shelter vet, burst open. "It was a shoddy spay," Bruski says. Three vet visits and $700 in vet bills later, Bruski called the shelter to let them know about the problems. The option offered by the shelter: Return the dog.</p>
<p>"Frankly, I was pissed that the shelter said we could relinquish her," Bruski says. "She was family from the moment we decided to adopt her. We love her."</p>
<p>States' add legal rights</p>
<p>Customers who buy a pet from a merchant -- rather than adopting one from a shelter or rescue -- have added protections under state law. These laws typically apply to the sale of an animal from a retail pet store, a breeder or even an individual who regularly sells animals. However, they wouldn't apply to, say, the purchase of a puppy from a Craigslist ad.</p>
<p>First, pet sales by merchants are covered under each state's uniform commercial code (UCC), which states that there is an implied warranty that "goods" being sold are fit for the types of purposes for which they would ordinarily be used. In addition, according to the Animal Legal &amp; Historical Center at the Michigan State University College of Law, about <a href="http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ovuspetprotectionstatutes.htm" type="external">20 states have laws Opens a New Window.</a> on the sale of dogs and cats -- so-called "puppy lemon laws." These laws outline remedies for buyers of a sick or "defective" pet. They vary from state to state, but the buyer might have the option to return the pet for a refund, exchange the pet or keep the pet and get some money for veterinary costs, according to the Animal Legal &amp; Historical Center.</p>
<p>When it comes to animal shelters, though, there are no state laws that specifically govern the adoption of pets, Favre says. That means that everything depends on the contract between you and the adoption center.</p>
<p>No matter where you got your pet, if you paid with a credit card, you have the option to <a href="http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/win-credit-card-charge-back-disputes-1294.php?aid=52aae854" type="external">dispute the charge</a>. But you should try to resolve the problem with the shelter or seller first, says Monica Eaton-Cardone, co-founder and chief operating officer of Chargebacks911, a service that helps merchants avoid charge-back disputes with customers. "Nine times out of 10, you could probably talk to the merchant and resolve the problem."</p>
<p>There will always be some cases that can't be resolved by a refund of the purchase price, though -- for example, a very sick pet that racks up huge vet bills. In that case, some consumers might want to talk to an attorney with experience in animal law, Morrison-Ricordati says.</p>
<p>The most common issues Morrison-Ricordati sees are health issues, and she has seen vet bills for a very sick pet reach $10,000-plus. "That would definitely be worth getting an attorney and going to court," she says.</p>
<p>See related: <a href="http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/pet-debt-how-animals-cost-you-1264.php?aid=52aae854" type="external">Pet debt: How animals cost you</a>, <a href="http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/13-tips-reduce-cut-pet-veterinary-vet-bills-1280.php?aid=52aae854" type="external">13 tips to cut your pet's veterinary bills</a></p> | true | 0 | youve fallen love cute dog cat rabbit bird snake youre ready bring new addition home pull credit card pay new pet continue reading yes whether youre adopting buying pet experts say good idea use plastic pay adoption fee purchase price addition convenience factor credit cards offer consumer protections dont get methods payment also create paper trail help prove ownership pet says anna morrisonricordati chicago lawyer specializes animal law highly recommend credit cards says paws plastic pluses card advertisement credit card cant protect every scenario could go wrong new furry feathered scaly friend charging pet offer three major benefits experts say 1 discover problem pet dispute purchase issue new pet attempt chargeback card issuers policies consider voiding charge something goes wrong purchase charging back merchant also legal protections federal law highly limited see dispute credit card bill merchant details 2 credit card records help make case doggie dispute fur flies end standoff seller credit card records give leg says morrisonricordati credit card records show exactly purchase made made important details says people lose paper receipts still access credit card records online credit card record signature also proves purchaser testify pet looked acted time purchase 3 credit card purchase help prove pet belongs pet ownership common dispute especially couples split morrisonricordati says maybe significant adopt cat fall love snuggles love roommate buy ferret understanding wiley go move lease ends spat gets keep credit card purchase name bolster case also good idea use credit card pay vet visits pet product purchases morrisonricordati recommends credit card good tool proving ownership said use credit card purchase protection type insurance offered benefit cards dont count reimburse cost new pet something goes wrong purchase protection replace repair refund money card purchase gets damaged stolen within certain time bought find new fish floating belly new puppy gets snatched yard thief bad live animals excluded every card offers purchase protection designed cover items opposed living things says american express vice president public affairs communications desiree fish adopting pet plastic adopting great way add pet family typically pay fraction would pet store breeder pet often comes fully vetted possibly temperament tested morrisonricordati says pet adoption fees range less 40 400 often include spaying neutering vaccinations heartworm test flea tick preventative cases microchip help lost pet get home pay adoption fee plastic private adoption centers many municipal shelters even volunteerrun rescue groups save animals shelters put adoption take credit cards general expect large private adoption centers urban areas take cards san francisco spca adoption center example takes cash check debit cards visa mastercard american express discover credit cards accept pretty much every form payment says suzanne hollis san francisco spca client care manager even many municipal shelters accept plastic example dekalb county animal services amp enforcement atlanta accepts visa mastercard cullman county animal shelter cullman ala allows adopters use credit debit card pay person phone city long beach animal care services california also takes cash credit cards pay adoption fee credit card might added convenience fee offset card processing fees sterling animal shelter sterling mass adoption fee 425 adult dog jumps 43725 paid credit debit card smaller shelters often cashonly shelters rescue groups say plastic altogether general governmentrun shelter smaller city rural area volunteerrun rescue group might likely take checks money orders cash animal control shelter city clovis nm takes cash check municipal shelter toms river township nj take credit cards austin pets alive a160 nonprofit organization austin texas saves pets citys animal control facility puts adoption accepts checks money orders experts say adopt pet credit dont money pay credit card bill full get hit interest carry balance experts say bad idea adopt pet youre short funds new pet means able pay accessories food toys training sessions sometimes surprise vet bills according hollis says emergency vet bill easily reach 1500 xrays overnight stay need think cost care hollis says claws come disputes new pet happens adopt buy new pet something goes seriously wrong cat feline leukemia puppy deaf cute little guinea pig ridden parasites dies two things come play experts say contract shelter seller bought animal merchant state law contract include written document sign time adoption purchase well policies shelter store got pet says david favre professor animal law michigan state university college law policies rarely good job covering issues like pet deaths serious illness genetic deformity favre says says bringing lawsuit cost much value pet seller advantages says really want make legally crazy try webbased sale different state wronged buyer almost hope return yes refund maybe adopt pet many adoption centers shelters rescue groups policies give full partial refund adoption fee return pet within certain time frame often two weeks offer refunds pet sick good fit many shelters offer make exchange another pet us pets would ok emotional bond forms pretty quickly morrisonricordati says case melanie bruski adopted golden retriever mix georgia peach shelter riverside calif right adoption 4monthold pups severe case kennel cough turned pneumonia incision spay surgery done shelter vet burst open shoddy spay bruski says three vet visits 700 vet bills later bruski called shelter let know problems option offered shelter return dog frankly pissed shelter said could relinquish bruski says family moment decided adopt love states add legal rights customers buy pet merchant rather adopting one shelter rescue added protections state law laws typically apply sale animal retail pet store breeder even individual regularly sells animals however wouldnt apply say purchase puppy craigslist ad first pet sales merchants covered states uniform commercial code ucc states implied warranty goods sold fit types purposes would ordinarily used addition according animal legal amp historical center michigan state university college law 20 states laws opens new window sale dogs cats socalled puppy lemon laws laws outline remedies buyers sick defective pet vary state state buyer might option return pet refund exchange pet keep pet get money veterinary costs according animal legal amp historical center comes animal shelters though state laws specifically govern adoption pets favre says means everything depends contract adoption center matter got pet paid credit card option dispute charge try resolve problem shelter seller first says monica eatoncardone cofounder chief operating officer chargebacks911 service helps merchants avoid chargeback disputes customers nine times 10 could probably talk merchant resolve problem always cases cant resolved refund purchase price though example sick pet racks huge vet bills case consumers might want talk attorney experience animal law morrisonricordati says common issues morrisonricordati sees health issues seen vet bills sick pet reach 10000plus would definitely worth getting attorney going court says see related pet debt animals cost 13 tips cut pets veterinary bills | 1,090 |
<p>It can be tempting to bet on an underdog. A stock that has already tumbled, dragged down by unrelenting pessimism, may reach a point where it doesn't seem it can possibly go any lower. But investors need to be careful. A bad company doesn't transform into a good company very often.</p>
<p>Avoiding big mistakes is a critical component of successful long-term investing. If you want to save yourself a lot of money, I'd suggest steering clear of Blue Apron (NYSE: APRN), Snap Inc. (NYSE: SNAP), and J.C. Penney (NYSE: JCP).</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Shares of meal-kit delivery service Blue Apron have lost two-thirds of their value since the company went public earlier this year. Blue Apron is hemorrhaging customers despite spending more than 16% of revenue on marketing in the latest quarter. <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/10/19/blue-apron-was-never-a-growth-story-the-layoffs-pr.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=72ad0d76-c4cc-11e7-ac58-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Layoffs announced last month Opens a New Window.</a> threw cold water on the growth story. And the CEO's recent comments disclosing trouble at the new fulfillment center in Linden, N.J., led to a new all-time low for the stock.</p>
<p>To any bargain-hunting investors who may be eyeing Blue Apron after its epic collapse -- stop. The company's business model, mailing overpriced groceries to its customers, doesn't make any sense. Blue Apron's prices, around $9 or $10 per serving depending on the plan, are almost <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/07/18/this-is-blue-aprons-biggest-problem.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=72ad0d76-c4cc-11e7-ac58-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">comically expensive Opens a New Window.</a> compared to buying ingredients for a comparable meal at a grocery store. For a family of four, a single Blue Apron meal would cost $36, and you'd still have to do most of the prep work yourself. There's simply no value proposition at all.</p>
<p>Blue Apron could potentially be an acquisition target. I could see a grocery store chain using the brand to jump-start its own meal-kit ambitions. But that's not enough of a reason to bet on the stock. If there is no acquisition, you're left with a poorly run company with a business model that doesn't work, burning cash at an unsustainable rate. Good luck with that!</p>
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<p>Speaking of poorly run companies. Snap Inc., the social-media company behind the Snapchat app, recently reported its <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/11/08/snaps-third-quarter-was-a-train-wreck.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=72ad0d76-c4cc-11e7-ac58-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">third-quarter results Opens a New Window.</a>. Daily active users grew by just 3% over the previous quarter, and an inventory write-off related to its absurd Spectacles pushed the gross margin into negative territory.</p>
<p>Snap produced $208 million of revenue and a net loss of $443 million. Operating spending soared, with research and development expense up more than 300% year over year. The company admitted that the Snapchat app was too hard to use and announced that it would be redesigning it in an effort to appeal to a broader base of customers. This move will be disruptive, potentially making Snap's results in the near term even worse.</p>
<p>The biggest problem with Snap stock is the price. Even after a post-earnings tumble, Snap is still valued at around $15 billion. Revenue will be a bit less than $900 million this year, according to analyst estimates. With growth grinding to a halt, and with no indication that profitability is even a pipe dream for this company, a price-to-sales ratio of more than 16 is plain nuts.</p>
<p>Shares of Snap have already tumbled more than 50% since the IPO, but they could fall much further if the company's results continue to look like a train wreck.</p>
<p>In early 2012, shares of J.C. Penney briefly traded for over $40. Today, they're hovering around $2.50. Long story short, an effort to transform the retailer in 2012 <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/04/09/ron-johnson-ousted-can-anyone-save-jc-penney.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=72ad0d76-c4cc-11e7-ac58-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">failed miserably Opens a New Window.</a>, leading to the sacking of the CEO after just 17 months and a brutal drop in sales. J.C. Penney has made some progress since then, but sales are still far below their peak.</p>
<p>J.C. Penney is trying to lower its dependence on apparel, which is probably the right move. The company <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/11/08/sears-downhill-jc-penney-opportunity-appliances.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=72ad0d76-c4cc-11e7-ac58-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">began selling appliances last year Opens a New Window.</a>, hoping to benefit from the slow-motion death of Sears Holdings. And it recently took the painful step of clearing out slow-moving merchandise in the women's department, knocking down the bottom line in an effort to better align its inventory with consumer demand.</p>
<p>J.C. Penney is not currently profitable, at least <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/10/31/jc-penneys-slashed-guidance-is-even-worse-than-it.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=72ad0d76-c4cc-11e7-ac58-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">on a basis that's meaningful Opens a New Window.</a>. It expects to produce an adjusted profit between $0.02 and $0.08 per share this year, but that includes a net gain on the sale of a distribution center. The actual retail business is in the red, and the only way to change that is by growing sales.</p>
<p>Is there any reason to believe J.C. Penney can succeed in doing that? The retail industry is in upheaval, roiled by overbuilding and e-commerce. Mall traffic seems to be endlessly slumping. And the department store, as a retail format, may not be long for this world. Betting on one of the worst performing companies in one of the worst parts of retail just doesn't seem like a good idea to me.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than J.C. PenneyWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-static%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=661547ea-16ad-4b2e-9a64-e2a27cab5c8c&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=72ad0d76-c4cc-11e7-ac58-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and J.C. Penney wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
<p><a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-static%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=661547ea-16ad-4b2e-9a64-e2a27cab5c8c&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=72ad0d76-c4cc-11e7-ac58-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Click here Opens a New Window.</a> to learn about these picks!</p>
<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of November 6, 2017</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFBargainBin/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=72ad0d76-c4cc-11e7-ac58-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Timothy Green Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=72ad0d76-c4cc-11e7-ac58-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | tempting bet underdog stock already tumbled dragged unrelenting pessimism may reach point doesnt seem possibly go lower investors need careful bad company doesnt transform good company often avoiding big mistakes critical component successful longterm investing want save lot money id suggest steering clear blue apron nyse aprn snap inc nyse snap jc penney nyse jcp continue reading shares mealkit delivery service blue apron lost twothirds value since company went public earlier year blue apron hemorrhaging customers despite spending 16 revenue marketing latest quarter layoffs announced last month opens new window threw cold water growth story ceos recent comments disclosing trouble new fulfillment center linden nj led new alltime low stock bargainhunting investors may eyeing blue apron epic collapse stop companys business model mailing overpriced groceries customers doesnt make sense blue aprons prices around 9 10 per serving depending plan almost comically expensive opens new window compared buying ingredients comparable meal grocery store family four single blue apron meal would cost 36 youd still prep work theres simply value proposition blue apron could potentially acquisition target could see grocery store chain using brand jumpstart mealkit ambitions thats enough reason bet stock acquisition youre left poorly run company business model doesnt work burning cash unsustainable rate good luck advertisement speaking poorly run companies snap inc socialmedia company behind snapchat app recently reported thirdquarter results opens new window daily active users grew 3 previous quarter inventory writeoff related absurd spectacles pushed gross margin negative territory snap produced 208 million revenue net loss 443 million operating spending soared research development expense 300 year year company admitted snapchat app hard use announced would redesigning effort appeal broader base customers move disruptive potentially making snaps results near term even worse biggest problem snap stock price even postearnings tumble snap still valued around 15 billion revenue bit less 900 million year according analyst estimates growth grinding halt indication profitability even pipe dream company pricetosales ratio 16 plain nuts shares snap already tumbled 50 since ipo could fall much companys results continue look like train wreck early 2012 shares jc penney briefly traded 40 today theyre hovering around 250 long story short effort transform retailer 2012 failed miserably opens new window leading sacking ceo 17 months brutal drop sales jc penney made progress since sales still far peak jc penney trying lower dependence apparel probably right move company began selling appliances last year opens new window hoping benefit slowmotion death sears holdings recently took painful step clearing slowmoving merchandise womens department knocking bottom line effort better align inventory consumer demand jc penney currently profitable least basis thats meaningful opens new window expects produce adjusted profit 002 008 per share year includes net gain sale distribution center actual retail business red way change growing sales reason believe jc penney succeed retail industry upheaval roiled overbuilding ecommerce mall traffic seems endlessly slumping department store retail format may long world betting one worst performing companies one worst parts retail doesnt seem like good idea 10 stocks like better jc penneywhen investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right jc penney wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns november 6 2017 timothy green opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool position stocks mentioned motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 574 |
<p />
<p>Ford is selling a lot of well-optioned vehicles like this loaded F-150 Limited. The result was an exceptionally strong profit margin in the first quarter. Image source: Ford Motor Company</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) reported its first-quarter 2016 earnings before the bell on Thursday, April 28. Here's what investors need to know.</p>
<p>The key numbers</p>
<p>Data source: Ford.</p>
<p>Ford's calculation of "pre-tax income" differs from GAAP operating income in that Ford excludes special items from its calculation. Special items totaled $186 million in the first quarter of 2016, versus zero in the year-ago period. See below for details.</p>
<p>How Ford's business performed during the quarterFord's pre-tax income of $3.8 billion was the Blue Oval's best-ever quarterly result, "an all-time record quarter for the company," according to CEO Mark Fields.Better yet for shareholders, there were no exceptional items propelling that number. In North America, traditionally the engine of Ford's earnings, the company generated $3.1 billion in pre-tax income with an outstanding operating margin of 12.9%. That compares favorably with the 8.7% and 7.6% margins generated by the North American units atGeneral Motors andFiatChrysler Automobiles, respectively.</p>
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<p>That's nearly double the <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/04/28/fords-earnings-drop-as-it-gears-up-for-a-big-secon.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">pre-tax income it generated a year ago Opens a New Window.</a>, and the difference is largely due to trucks. A year ago, Ford was still ramping up production of its then-new F-150 pickup, and supplies were extremely tight. Now, the pipelines are full -- and demand, particularly for highly profitable well-optioned variants, has been very strong.</p>
<p>Europe has also turned into a good story for Ford. The company lost billions in Europe between 2011 and 2014, but after restructuring its operations and expanding its regional product portfolio, Ford has found itself in an enviable position, gaining market share in a recovering market. The upshot: Pre-tax income of $434 million, and an operating margin of 6.3%.</p>
<p>Better yet, CFO Bob Shanks said this is the "new normal" for Ford Europe: While results will be up and down because of the seasonal cadence of Europe's auto business (generally speaking, the first half of the year is stronger than the second), the company is now targeting margins of 6% to 8% on an ongoing basis.</p>
<p>Ford's Asia-Pacific region also performed well, more than doubling its pre-tax profit to $220 million, with an operating margin of 8.2%. Ford's China joint ventures delivered $443 million in income, up $83 million from a year go.</p>
<p>While pricing pressures in China's slowing market have been a factor for Ford (as they have for most global rivals), the Blue Oval has managed to more than offset those pressure with favorable mix: In other words, just as we've seen in the U.S. and Europe, Chinese customers are favoring (more profitable) SUVs over (less profitable) sedans.</p>
<p>On the other hand, South America continues to be a challenge for Ford. While the company has been able to reduce costs, a severe downturn in new-car sales in Brazil has hammered results. Ford lost $256 million in South America in the first quarter, and its full-year guidance is unchanged: 2016's full-year results will be worse than last year's $832 million loss.</p>
<p>Last but not least: Ford Credit, the company's in-house financing arm, earned $514 million, up $31 million from the year-ago period. Credit quality continues to be high and default rates low.</p>
<p>Ford ended the quarter with $24.3 billion in cash, up about $700 million from year-end. Adding in available credit lines, the Blue Oval had $35.2 billion in total available liquidity as of quarter-end, versus $13 billion in well-structured long-term debt. As noted above, Ford took $186 million in special items in the first quarter, including charges related to its new U.S. union contract and costs related to its decision to withdraw from theJapanese and Indonesian markets.</p>
<p>What Ford said about the quarter"The first quarter was outstanding, and we are confident in our ability to drive strong results globally," Shanks said in a statement. "We expect 2016 to be a great year, and we plan to continue rewarding our shareholders through both supplemental and regular dividends as a part of our distribution strategy."</p>
<p>Looking ahead: Ford's guidance for 2016 Ford maintained its earlier guidance. For the full year, Ford expects an operating margin in North America of 9.5% or better (versus 10.2% in 2015), a greater loss in South America as noted above, a better profit in Europe than last year's $259 million, a better profit in Asia Pacific than last year's $765 million, and a better profit for Ford Credit than last year's $2.09 billion result.</p>
<p>The article <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/04/28/f-earnings.aspx" type="external">Ford Motor Company: Profit Doubles as Restructuring Pays Off Opens a New Window.</a> originally appeared on Fool.com.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFMarlowe/info.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">John Rosevear Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of Ford and General Motors. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Ford. The Motley Fool recommends General Motors. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/help/index.htm?display=about02" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | ford selling lot welloptioned vehicles like loaded f150 limited result exceptionally strong profit margin first quarter image source ford motor company continue reading ford motor company nyse f reported firstquarter 2016 earnings bell thursday april 28 heres investors need know key numbers data source ford fords calculation pretax income differs gaap operating income ford excludes special items calculation special items totaled 186 million first quarter 2016 versus zero yearago period see details fords business performed quarterfords pretax income 38 billion blue ovals bestever quarterly result alltime record quarter company according ceo mark fieldsbetter yet shareholders exceptional items propelling number north america traditionally engine fords earnings company generated 31 billion pretax income outstanding operating margin 129 compares favorably 87 76 margins generated north american units atgeneral motors andfiatchrysler automobiles respectively advertisement thats nearly double pretax income generated year ago opens new window difference largely due trucks year ago ford still ramping production thennew f150 pickup supplies extremely tight pipelines full demand particularly highly profitable welloptioned variants strong europe also turned good story ford company lost billions europe 2011 2014 restructuring operations expanding regional product portfolio ford found enviable position gaining market share recovering market upshot pretax income 434 million operating margin 63 better yet cfo bob shanks said new normal ford europe results seasonal cadence europes auto business generally speaking first half year stronger second company targeting margins 6 8 ongoing basis fords asiapacific region also performed well doubling pretax profit 220 million operating margin 82 fords china joint ventures delivered 443 million income 83 million year go pricing pressures chinas slowing market factor ford global rivals blue oval managed offset pressure favorable mix words weve seen us europe chinese customers favoring profitable suvs less profitable sedans hand south america continues challenge ford company able reduce costs severe downturn newcar sales brazil hammered results ford lost 256 million south america first quarter fullyear guidance unchanged 2016s fullyear results worse last years 832 million loss last least ford credit companys inhouse financing arm earned 514 million 31 million yearago period credit quality continues high default rates low ford ended quarter 243 billion cash 700 million yearend adding available credit lines blue oval 352 billion total available liquidity quarterend versus 13 billion wellstructured longterm debt noted ford took 186 million special items first quarter including charges related new us union contract costs related decision withdraw thejapanese indonesian markets ford said quarterthe first quarter outstanding confident ability drive strong results globally shanks said statement expect 2016 great year plan continue rewarding shareholders supplemental regular dividends part distribution strategy looking ahead fords guidance 2016 ford maintained earlier guidance full year ford expects operating margin north america 95 better versus 102 2015 greater loss south america noted better profit europe last years 259 million better profit asia pacific last years 765 million better profit ford credit last years 209 billion result article ford motor company profit doubles restructuring pays opens new window originally appeared foolcom john rosevear opens new window owns shares ford general motors motley fool owns shares recommends ford motley fool recommends general motors try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window copyright 1995 2016 motley fool llc rights reserved motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 558 |
<p />
<p>While most high school seniors are working hard to complete college applications, not every student is planning to head to campus next fall.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Taking a gap year after high school, common in many European countries, and the trend has become more popular with students in the U.S. as the cost of college continues to rise along with outstanding student loan debt.</p>
<p>“Students can use the year to refresh skills, gain experience, and learn of career opportunities that may ultimately direct their academic path,” says Rita Toliver-Roberts, vice president of Academic Advancement at&#160; <a href="http://www.peirce.edu/" type="external">Peirce College Opens a New Window.</a>. “Students can also utilize this time to search for additional financial support, such as scholarships or grants.”</p>
<p>Rather than jumping into college after high school, some experts argue that taking time off allows students to explore interests, gain valuable experience and in turn, perform stronger academically when they enter college.</p>
<p>Research conducted by <a href="http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/27/clagett-gap-year/?smid=pl-share" type="external">Robert Clagett Opens a New Window.</a>, former dean of admissions at Middlebury College, shows students who take a gap year tend to outperform those who don’t. Undergraduates at Middlebury College and the University of North Carolina who had taken a gap year before enrolling in college on average had a GPA 0.1 to 0.4 higher than predicted based on high school academic credentials.</p>
<p>“When students take this kind of time, they don’t forget how to learn--they’re much better students,” says Holly Bull, president of the <a href="http://www.interimprograms.com/" type="external">Center for Interim Programs, LLC Opens a New Window.</a>. “I’ve had parents tell me their child would probably have dropped out after first semester or year because they were so turned off by their classes in the academic experience, but a gap year helped them get excited and gave them a focus.”</p>
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<p>Creating a Plan with Purpose</p>
<p>Students should ensure they are taking a gap year for the right reasons, such as feeling underprepared for the academic rigors of college, needing more time to find the right-fit school &#160;or wanting to seek out experiential opportunities and work/career experience, according to Toliver-Roberts.</p>
<p>“One of the bad reasons to take a gap year can be to just take a break--in our competitive society, taking a break, for the sake of simply ‘resting’ should not be an option,” she says.</p>
<p>Bull also warns students against taking time off only for the sake of reapplying to schools in the hopes of being admitted to a “better” college.</p>
<p>“It’s not a guarantee and it really defeats some of the core value of the gap year which is… really allowing somebody to say, who am I? What am I interested in? Let me go and follow up on these things and see where that goes and lead from that,” she says.</p>
<p>It’s vital for students to create a plan and identify specific goals for their gap year to avoid wasting time and money, says Robin Pendoley, founder and CEO of <a href="http://thinkingbeyondborders.org/" type="external">Thinking Beyond Borders Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>“A gap year should be well structured to fill that specific need of finding that sense of direction and purpose for college,” he says. “It’s an important investment for them to be making of time, money and energy so that when they go on to college, they’re going to be well-prepared to do that and to dive in passionately and effectively for those four years.”</p>
<p>Finding the Right Gap Year Options</p>
<p>Depending on their goals and financial abilities, students have a plethora of options available to fill their gap year, from organized gap year programs, volunteer and service opportunities, internships, part-time jobs and specialized certifications.</p>
<p>“You have a whole pile of programs where there’s more structured support and they’re hooked in with peers and they’re doing service work, adventure travel sightseeing, language immersion,” says Bull.</p>
<p>Exploring different fields of interest can help students decide what major to pursue in college and gain valuable skills at the same time to later quantify to a future employer, says Liz&#160;Kuenstner, a former gap year student through Thinking Beyond Borders and a graduate of Columbia University.</p>
<p>“It can give you concrete experience towards what you think that you’re looking for but it also might reveal that what you think you’re really interested in, you don’t actually want to do for the next four years of your life,” she says. “If you’re doing something pre-professional, it’s really valuable just to get inside the office and see what day to day life is like and how people adjust.”</p>
<p>Gaining gap year work experience not only helps students become more acquainted with the ins and outs of a professional atmosphere, Pendoley explains it can also lead to additional resume-building opportunities.</p>
<p>“After having four different internships over two semesters, going to college and applying for internships, fellowships, jobs during their college experience, [students are] being offered almost everything they apply for specifically because they have four different experiences and employers really value that,” he says.</p>
<p>Because students can customize gap year plans to fit their financial, social and professional needs, finding a sense of direction for college rather than floundering from major to major is an invaluable investment, says Kuenstner.</p>
<p>“Having very small group cohesion in travelling with 15 other students for a year provided me something that Columbia certainly never did—it was a more intimate, personalized experience,” she says. “I wouldn’t say that I came out at the end knowing exactly what I wanted to do, but it gave me the tools to think about how I wanted to do college.”</p> | true | 0 | high school seniors working hard complete college applications every student planning head campus next fall continue reading taking gap year high school common many european countries trend become popular students us cost college continues rise along outstanding student loan debt students use year refresh skills gain experience learn career opportunities may ultimately direct academic path says rita toliverroberts vice president academic advancement at160 peirce college opens new window students also utilize time search additional financial support scholarships grants rather jumping college high school experts argue taking time allows students explore interests gain valuable experience turn perform stronger academically enter college research conducted robert clagett opens new window former dean admissions middlebury college shows students take gap year tend outperform dont undergraduates middlebury college university north carolina taken gap year enrolling college average gpa 01 04 higher predicted based high school academic credentials students take kind time dont forget learntheyre much better students says holly bull president center interim programs llc opens new window ive parents tell child would probably dropped first semester year turned classes academic experience gap year helped get excited gave focus advertisement creating plan purpose students ensure taking gap year right reasons feeling underprepared academic rigors college needing time find rightfit school 160or wanting seek experiential opportunities workcareer experience according toliverroberts one bad reasons take gap year take breakin competitive society taking break sake simply resting option says bull also warns students taking time sake reapplying schools hopes admitted better college guarantee really defeats core value gap year really allowing somebody say interested let go follow things see goes lead says vital students create plan identify specific goals gap year avoid wasting time money says robin pendoley founder ceo thinking beyond borders opens new window gap year well structured fill specific need finding sense direction purpose college says important investment making time money energy go college theyre going wellprepared dive passionately effectively four years finding right gap year options depending goals financial abilities students plethora options available fill gap year organized gap year programs volunteer service opportunities internships parttime jobs specialized certifications whole pile programs theres structured support theyre hooked peers theyre service work adventure travel sightseeing language immersion says bull exploring different fields interest help students decide major pursue college gain valuable skills time later quantify future employer says liz160kuenstner former gap year student thinking beyond borders graduate columbia university give concrete experience towards think youre looking also might reveal think youre really interested dont actually want next four years life says youre something preprofessional really valuable get inside office see day day life like people adjust gaining gap year work experience helps students become acquainted ins outs professional atmosphere pendoley explains also lead additional resumebuilding opportunities four different internships two semesters going college applying internships fellowships jobs college experience students offered almost everything apply specifically four different experiences employers really value says students customize gap year plans fit financial social professional needs finding sense direction college rather floundering major major invaluable investment says kuenstner small group cohesion travelling 15 students year provided something columbia certainly never didit intimate personalized experience says wouldnt say came end knowing exactly wanted gave tools think wanted college | 528 |
<p>When it comes to filling jobs dealing with complex science, environment and health issues, the Trump administration is nominating people with fewer science academic credentials than their Obama predecessors. And it's moving slower as well.</p>
<p>Of 43 Trump administration nominees in science-related positions — including two for Health and Human Services secretary — almost 60 percent did not have a master's degree or a doctorate in a science or health field, according to an Associated Press analysis. For their immediate predecessors in the Obama administration, it was almost the opposite: more than 60 percent had advanced science degrees.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>The AP analyzed 65 Senate-confirmable positions that deal with science and environment, many of which haven't been filled yet after 10 months. The analysis focused on earned degrees, not life experience.</p>
<p>"This is just reflective of the disdain that the administration has shown for science," said Christie Todd Whitman, a former Republican New Jersey governor and Environmental Protection Agency chief.</p>
<p>"When you're talking about science, issues about protecting human health...it's very, very complicated and sophisticated work," said Whitman, who was appointed by George W. Bush and does not have an advanced degree herself but surrounded herself with people who did. "You need the background and experience to handle these things."</p>
<p>Including now-resigned Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, a medical doctor, the number of political appointees with a doctorate in science or a medical degree dropped 21 percent from Obama's 19 to Trump's 15 in those equivalent positions. And when it comes to master's degrees, the number decreased one-third from 27 in Obama to 18 in Trump.</p>
<p>Public health researcher Dr. Caroline Weinberg, who helped organize last spring's protest March for Science, said in an email, "I knew the dire straits we were in but seeing it laid out with percentages really amplifies the horror."</p>
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<p>Trump administration officials did not respond to repeated requests for comment.</p>
<p>It is especially noticeable in the Energy Department, which oversees the nation's nuclear stockpile.</p>
<p>None of the seven Trump energy science-oriented nominees — including the undersecretary for science, who did research while in the U.S. Navy — has even a master's degree in a science field, although some are lawyers and have MBAs. Five of their Obama predecessor's had master's degrees in science field and four had science doctorates — not including the Obama deputy Energy secretary, who had a doctorate in international relations. The two Obama Energy secretaries both had doctorates in physics, and Steven Chu was a Nobel prize winner in physics. Trump Energy Secretary Rick Perry has a bachelor's degree in animal science and was a former governor.</p>
<p>"This is just hollowing out of expertise in these posts," said Max Boykoff, director of Center for Science and Technology Policy Research at the University of Colorado. "It's a really worrisome trend."</p>
<p>This isn't about making jobs for science, but providing the best advice for government leaders who have to make tough decisions, said Rush Holt, CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the world's largest general scientific society.</p>
<p>"It's the policy-makers themselves who need it. If they want to develop policies that are most likely to succeed, they should make those policies with the understanding available of how things are," said Holt, a former physicist and Democratic congressman from New Jersey. "We do this with the age-old, time-tested procedure of determining how things are. We call that science."</p>
<p>The now-withdrawn undersecretary for research in the Agriculture Department told the Senate in a confirmation questionnaire that while he had an economics degree, he took no science classes in graduate school, according to his letter obtained by The Washington Post.</p>
<p>Many of the Trump nominees who do have advanced science degrees, especially those in the EPA, come from working in or with the industries that they are now supposed to regulate, with even some Republicans raising questions among the independence of their scientific advice. EPA chief Scott Pruitt also has raised eyebrows by purging academic scientists from the agency's science advisory board because they received EPA grants and replacing them with industry-connected experts.</p>
<p>"The pattern of a repeated tilt toward industry scientists, and ones known for disparaging the record of the agencies they are appointed to, is worrisome," said William K. Reilly, who was EPA administrator under George H.W. Bush.</p>
<p>Reilly, along with several of the more than a dozen outside experts interviewed, said people with scientific expertise are important, but there have been good top government officials in the past who were lawyers. Current EPA chief Pruitt is a lawyer.</p>
<p>"Some of the best regulators I have known have had law or business backgrounds (both parties)," John Graham, dean at Indiana University's School of Public &amp; Environmental Affairs, said in an email.</p>
<p>Graham, who headed regulatory affairs in the George W. Bush administration, said he was most concerned that "many important nominations have not yet been made" highlighting no appointments for the top White House science adviser and head of research and development at the EPA.</p>
<p>In 35 percent of the 65 senate-confirmable positions that deal with science and environment, the Trump administration hasn't nominated someone yet, including all four top positions at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Of the 23 positions that President Donald Trump hasn't nominated anyone yet to fill after 10 months, Barack Obama had picked nominees in 18 of those posts by the same time in 2009.</p>
<p>"I don't know if the problem is on the side of them identifying people or the people they want being willing to go through the process" of confirmation, which can be unpleasant, said George Gray, who was the EPA research chief for President George W. Bush and now is a professor of environmental health at George Washington University.</p>
<p>Initial Obama appointments included two winners of the Nobel Prize for physics — Energy Secretary Chu and Carl Wieman, who was associate director for science of the White House Office of Science and Technology — and a winner of a MacArthur "genius" grant, White House science adviser John Holdren. Obama tried to appoint another Nobel winner, Peter Diamond who won the Nobel prize for economics, to the Federal Reserve Board. That was held up by Republicans in the Senate who said he didn't have enough experience and his nomination was withdrawn.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press reporters Michael Biesecker, Catherine Lucey, Maureen Linke and Kevin Vineys contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter at @borenbears. His work can be found here.</p> | true | 0 | comes filling jobs dealing complex science environment health issues trump administration nominating people fewer science academic credentials obama predecessors moving slower well 43 trump administration nominees sciencerelated positions including two health human services secretary almost 60 percent masters degree doctorate science health field according associated press analysis immediate predecessors obama administration almost opposite 60 percent advanced science degrees continue reading ap analyzed 65 senateconfirmable positions deal science environment many havent filled yet 10 months analysis focused earned degrees life experience reflective disdain administration shown science said christie todd whitman former republican new jersey governor environmental protection agency chief youre talking science issues protecting human healthits complicated sophisticated work said whitman appointed george w bush advanced degree surrounded people need background experience handle things including nowresigned health human services secretary tom price medical doctor number political appointees doctorate science medical degree dropped 21 percent obamas 19 trumps 15 equivalent positions comes masters degrees number decreased onethird 27 obama 18 trump public health researcher dr caroline weinberg helped organize last springs protest march science said email knew dire straits seeing laid percentages really amplifies horror advertisement trump administration officials respond repeated requests comment especially noticeable energy department oversees nations nuclear stockpile none seven trump energy scienceoriented nominees including undersecretary science research us navy even masters degree science field although lawyers mbas five obama predecessors masters degrees science field four science doctorates including obama deputy energy secretary doctorate international relations two obama energy secretaries doctorates physics steven chu nobel prize winner physics trump energy secretary rick perry bachelors degree animal science former governor hollowing expertise posts said max boykoff director center science technology policy research university colorado really worrisome trend isnt making jobs science providing best advice government leaders make tough decisions said rush holt ceo american association advancement science worlds largest general scientific society policymakers need want develop policies likely succeed make policies understanding available things said holt former physicist democratic congressman new jersey ageold timetested procedure determining things call science nowwithdrawn undersecretary research agriculture department told senate confirmation questionnaire economics degree took science classes graduate school according letter obtained washington post many trump nominees advanced science degrees especially epa come working industries supposed regulate even republicans raising questions among independence scientific advice epa chief scott pruitt also raised eyebrows purging academic scientists agencys science advisory board received epa grants replacing industryconnected experts pattern repeated tilt toward industry scientists ones known disparaging record agencies appointed worrisome said william k reilly epa administrator george hw bush reilly along several dozen outside experts interviewed said people scientific expertise important good top government officials past lawyers current epa chief pruitt lawyer best regulators known law business backgrounds parties john graham dean indiana universitys school public amp environmental affairs said email graham headed regulatory affairs george w bush administration said concerned many important nominations yet made highlighting appointments top white house science adviser head research development epa 35 percent 65 senateconfirmable positions deal science environment trump administration hasnt nominated someone yet including four top positions white house office science technology policy 23 positions president donald trump hasnt nominated anyone yet fill 10 months barack obama picked nominees 18 posts time 2009 dont know problem side identifying people people want willing go process confirmation unpleasant said george gray epa research chief president george w bush professor environmental health george washington university initial obama appointments included two winners nobel prize physics energy secretary chu carl wieman associate director science white house office science technology winner macarthur genius grant white house science adviser john holdren obama tried appoint another nobel winner peter diamond nobel prize economics federal reserve board held republicans senate said didnt enough experience nomination withdrawn ___ associated press reporters michael biesecker catherine lucey maureen linke kevin vineys contributed report ___ follow seth borenstein twitter borenbears work found | 631 |
<p>A 33-year-old YouTuber and Redditor who was obsessed with conspiracies, from vaccines to 9/11 inside jobs to pedophilia rings, stabbed his own 73-year-old father to death after his father allegedly called him a Nazi.</p>
<p>On July 14, on Samish Island, near the coast of Washington State, Lane Davis, who lived with his parents, had “read and <a href="https://twitter.com/realS4T" type="external">retweeted</a> posts celebrating the Second Amendment, bemoaning diversity, and spreading conspiracy theories that alleged Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman John Podesta was involved in a child sex ring, and <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-told-fox-news-to-publish-seth-rich-murder-hoax-lawsuit-claims" type="external">DNC staffer Seth Rich</a> had been murdered,” according to <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/youtube-trumpkin-and-former-milo-intern-kills-his-own-dad-for-calling-him-a-nazi" type="external">The Daily Beast</a>.</p>
<p>Davis, known online as Seattle4Truth, worked as an unpaid editor for The Ralph Retort. His parents, Catherine and Charles Davis, had grown so accustomed to Lane’s tirades that Charles had started recording them on his phone.</p>
<p>But on July 14, weary of his outbursts, they told him to leave. Lane responded by chasing his parents around their home, spitting in his father’s face while screaming he wanted to kill “pedophiles who were taking over the country.”</p>
<p>That prompted Catherine Davis to call 911; The Daily Beast obtained the tape of her call. Catherine informed the 911 dispatcher, “He’s not physically threatening us or anything. He just gets out of control and he’s ranting about stuff from the internet.”</p>
<p>When queried as to whether her son was drunk, on drugs, or had reports of mental illness, Catherine responded, “No, not reported, but he’s not working and he gets on these rampages and he’s just needs to move on.”</p>
<p>The dispatcher suggested Catherine and Charles keep their distance from their son until the police could arrive, but Catherine replied, “We’re trying to but he’s chasing us around the house. He’s mad about something on the internet about leftist pedophiles and he thinks we’re leftist and he’s calling us pedophiles. And I don’t know what all.”</p>
<p>Unaware of the gravity of the situation, Catherine laughed, continuing, “He just lives on the internet and he gets really worked up about everything that’s going on. He needs an intervention of some kind here.” After she was informed police were en route, she hung up.</p>
<p>But Charles' phone kept recording. The <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4114545-Davis4.html" type="external">12-minute audio file</a> later recovered by Skagit County Detective Kevin Sigman, revealed Lane, who heard the 911 call, threatened, "Ok well, so here's the deal. If l am going to go to prison for threatening to kill somebody, I mean ..."</p>
<p>Charles pleaded, "Leave the knife alone,” while Catherine tried to calm her son down, saying no one wanted him in prison, just to get some help.</p>
<p>Lane either didn’t hear Catherine or was oblivious, saying, “So, you are going to send me to prison? My life is over.”</p>
<p>Only minutes later, Catherine called 911 again. The sound of the call was not clear because Catherine was running, screaming, “He stabbed him” before the connection was lost. Charles had been stabbed in the chest and the back; , Lane walked outside, waiting for the police, while Catherine called 911, moaning, “He’s dead, he’s dead, he’s dead.”</p>
<p>Lane Davis told detectives that the fight had started over “whether toddlers could consent to sex or not,” claiming his father had called him a Nazi and a racist.</p>
<p>The Daily Beast illuminated Lane Davis’ activities:</p>
<p>On his Youtube channel—which still after seven years has just around 11,000 subscribers—Lane peddled the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyLrEj9Mjq8&amp;t=4s" type="external">conspiracy theorist's</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpaQzL9FUOE" type="external">greatest hits</a> (vaccines and 9-11 inside jobs among them), posted original <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O7AfHZgaR8" type="external">pro-Trump raps</a> alongside <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ8lLh4j1vw" type="external">cooking tutorials</a>, and most notably, released a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18gU4HSkW9Y" type="external">3-hour long documentary</a> on GamerGate. Curiously, Lane suggested the campaign of online harassment (doxing, and rape and death threats were favored practices) targeting female video game developers in 2014 was linked to the education standards known as Common Core.</p>
<p>Lane Davis eventually <a href="https://archive.is/Ki2gR" type="external">defected</a> to an anti-GamerGate group in 2015, but still contacted the employers of women game developers and their allies to try to get them fired. London musician Joshua Idehen said Davis Lane sent an email to his manager, his agent, and to a charity he worked with, and <a href="https://archive.is/Ki2gR" type="external">alleged</a> he was involved with pedophilia.</p>
<p>The Daily Beast reports of Davis’ connection to Milo Yiannopoulos:</p>
<p>Lane signed on as researcher and ghostwriter, <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/josephbernstein/top-conservative-writer-is-a-group-effort-sources-say?utm_term=.tblRjAXv7#.ago2owv0y" type="external">one of 44</a> in Yiannopoulos’s mostly unpaid employ. (Lane <a href="http://yesmargaret.com/2017/10/new-documents-leaked-to-buzzfeed/" type="external">later leaked</a> the details of Yiannopoulos’s intern horde to Buzzfeed.) A 2016 article titled “MacArthur’s Thought Police,” arguing the MacArthur charity promotes censorship on social media, was <a href="https://archive.fo/9RkoW" type="external">originally credited</a> to both Lane and Yiannopoulos, but is currently posted on Capital Research Center’s website under Yiannopoulos’s sole byline.</p>
<p>A spokesperson for Yiannopoulos responded to The Daily Beast that Yiannopoulos had distanced himself from Davis before the murder, adding that Yiannopoulos said that after the relationship was “discontinued,” “I then experienced his anger firsthand as he threatened me and later went to Buzzfeed making false and inaccurate accusations."</p>
<p>Davis segued to writing daily for the <a href="http://theralphretort.com/" type="external">TheRalphRetort.com</a>, run by GamerGate leader, Ethan Ralph, who is <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4116806-Ralph.html" type="external">currently serving</a> an 8-month sentence in a Loudon County, Virginia jail for assaulting a police officer.</p>
<p>Ralph issued a <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRalphRetort/status/919620210256220162" type="external">statement</a> made from jail, saying, “The rush to score points against me, while completely expected, is also completely ridiculous. I'm only responsible for my own actions. ... I also lack the ability to predict future murders. This isn't Minority Report.”</p>
<p>Ralph’s wife erased Davis’ posts last week, writing, “As for Seattle4Truth, we’ll be working to erase him from this website in the coming days. I don’t care how big his contribution was. A guy that would murder his own father in cold blood doesn’t deserve to be read. No matter how accurate he was in the past, he ended his usefulness to this world when he ended his dad’s life.”</p> | true | 0 | 33yearold youtuber redditor obsessed conspiracies vaccines 911 inside jobs pedophilia rings stabbed 73yearold father death father allegedly called nazi july 14 samish island near coast washington state lane davis lived parents read retweeted posts celebrating second amendment bemoaning diversity spreading conspiracy theories alleged hillary clintons campaign chairman john podesta involved child sex ring dnc staffer seth rich murdered according daily beast davis known online seattle4truth worked unpaid editor ralph retort parents catherine charles davis grown accustomed lanes tirades charles started recording phone july 14 weary outbursts told leave lane responded chasing parents around home spitting fathers face screaming wanted kill pedophiles taking country prompted catherine davis call 911 daily beast obtained tape call catherine informed 911 dispatcher hes physically threatening us anything gets control hes ranting stuff internet queried whether son drunk drugs reports mental illness catherine responded reported hes working gets rampages hes needs move dispatcher suggested catherine charles keep distance son police could arrive catherine replied trying hes chasing us around house hes mad something internet leftist pedophiles thinks leftist hes calling us pedophiles dont know unaware gravity situation catherine laughed continuing lives internet gets really worked everything thats going needs intervention kind informed police en route hung charles phone kept recording 12minute audio file later recovered skagit county detective kevin sigman revealed lane heard 911 call threatened ok well heres deal l going go prison threatening kill somebody mean charles pleaded leave knife alone catherine tried calm son saying one wanted prison get help lane either didnt hear catherine oblivious saying going send prison life minutes later catherine called 911 sound call clear catherine running screaming stabbed connection lost charles stabbed chest back lane walked outside waiting police catherine called 911 moaning hes dead hes dead hes dead lane davis told detectives fight started whether toddlers could consent sex claiming father called nazi racist daily beast illuminated lane davis activities youtube channelwhich still seven years around 11000 subscriberslane peddled conspiracy theorists greatest hits vaccines 911 inside jobs among posted original protrump raps alongside cooking tutorials notably released 3hour long documentary gamergate curiously lane suggested campaign online harassment doxing rape death threats favored practices targeting female video game developers 2014 linked education standards known common core lane davis eventually defected antigamergate group 2015 still contacted employers women game developers allies try get fired london musician joshua idehen said davis lane sent email manager agent charity worked alleged involved pedophilia daily beast reports davis connection milo yiannopoulos lane signed researcher ghostwriter one 44 yiannopouloss mostly unpaid employ lane later leaked details yiannopouloss intern horde buzzfeed 2016 article titled macarthurs thought police arguing macarthur charity promotes censorship social media originally credited lane yiannopoulos currently posted capital research centers website yiannopouloss sole byline spokesperson yiannopoulos responded daily beast yiannopoulos distanced davis murder adding yiannopoulos said relationship discontinued experienced anger firsthand threatened later went buzzfeed making false inaccurate accusations davis segued writing daily theralphretortcom run gamergate leader ethan ralph currently serving 8month sentence loudon county virginia jail assaulting police officer ralph issued statement made jail saying rush score points completely expected also completely ridiculous im responsible actions also lack ability predict future murders isnt minority report ralphs wife erased davis posts last week writing seattle4truth well working erase website coming days dont care big contribution guy would murder father cold blood doesnt deserve read matter accurate past ended usefulness world ended dads life | 561 |
<p>ExxonMobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM) and General Mills, Inc. (NYSE: GIS) have been incredible investments over the long haul. One thousand dollars invested in either of these dividend stalwarts 40 years ago would be worth an amazing $70,000 in total returns today, with the vast majority coming from dividends. But more recently, neither has made for a very compelling investment. Both have underperformed the S&amp;P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average over the past one-, three-, and five-year periods, and there's little evidence to expect that to change in the near term.</p>
<p>So what's a dividend investor to do? A great place to start is finding companies with big long-term trends ahead of them that can drive years of profit (and dividend) growth. One of my favorite dividend stocks is CareTrust REIT Inc (NASDAQ: CTRE), which has big prospects from a huge trend and is approaching value territory.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Keep reading to learn why General Mills and ExxonMobil could struggle, and why Caretrust is likely to be a big winner for dividend investors.</p>
<p>For years, ExxonMobil was the oil company all of its integrated major peers wanted to be. The company's management has historically done an excellent job managing capital allocation, and that paid off with better returns than other oil majors. However, as oil prices trended down over the past several years, even ExxonMobil's high rates of return fell:</p>
<p>The company is still getting better returns than many of its peers, but it isn't getting anything like the rates of return it has in the past. Management says it <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/02/05/is-exxonmobil-really-falling-behind-its-big-oil-pe.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=db0d7a9e-ef16-449d-9c67-de7a924218d1&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">has a plan Opens a New Window.</a> to improve its profitability and bring its returns back up, but I'm not convinced that it's going to happen quickly enough to make the company worth investing in -- at least not now.</p>
<p>I know there's an argument that the company's stock price is too cheap to ignore. And there's some truth to that, since it is approaching value territory, and the 14% it has fallen from its recent peak has pushed its dividend yield up to 4%. But until ExxonMobil's management shows it can deliver higher rates of return and start growing profits again, the stock belongs on your watchlist, not in your portfolio.</p>
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<p>General Mills is the name behind some of the best-known packaged food brands in the world, including Betty Crocker, Green Giant, and Pillsbury, not to mention dozens of popular breakfast cereals many of us grew up eating. These brands have fed millions of us for decades and made investors billions along the way, but the stark reality is that many of them have lost and continue to lose relevance -- and market share -- as consumer tastes shift to brands with more favorable health and environmental reputations.</p>
<p>This is a key reason (though not the only one) why General Mills' sales and profits have fallen:</p>
<p>The company has taken steps to counter the trend of losing customers, with mixed results. It has acquired some of the natural and organic packaged food brands that have been eating its lunch, as well as changed the ingredients in some of its own products to make them more appealing to consumers ( <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/10/01/general-mills-takes-another-hit-and-its-not-just-c.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=db0d7a9e-ef16-449d-9c67-de7a924218d1&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">some with more success than others Opens a New Window.</a>.)</p>
<p>The worst could be in General Mills' past. In the second quarter, <a href="https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2017/12/21/general-mills-gis-q2-2018-earnings-conference-call.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=db0d7a9e-ef16-449d-9c67-de7a924218d1&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">management said Opens a New Window.</a> that organic sales -- sales of brands the company owned for more than one year, not organic products -- increased in all four of its operating segments. Yet even within this result, it's important to note that sales were still only up 2% in the period, and profits continue to decline. The company reported an 8% decline in constant currency operating profits, an 8% decline in earnings per share (EPS), and a 5% decline in adjusted EPS. So even with some stabilization of sales, General Mills isn't delivering earnings growth right now.</p>
<p>Its 3.5% dividend yield is above average, but its weak earnings growth and basically flat sales make it hard to justify paying 21 times last year's earnings. It remains a solid business with strong cash flows and fundamentals, but investors can do a lot better than paying a premium price for what is likely to be a mediocre investment.</p>
<p>CareTrust REIT doesn't have the track records of ExxonMobil or General Mills, having only gone public in 2013. But just as those two companies have spent decades taking full advantage of big trends -- namely increasing oil and gas and packaged foods consumption, respectively -- CareTrust should spend the next two decades profiting from the doubling of America's elderly population.</p>
<p>Around 3 million baby boomers will reach retirement age every passing year between 2010 and 2029. When the last boomer retires in 2029, America's 65-plus population will have doubled to 80 million individuals. The 80-plus population is expected to more than double as well. This steady growth in older Americans will require significant investment in healthcare and housing. As a small <a href="https://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/reit.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=db0d7a9e-ef16-449d-9c67-de7a924218d1&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">real estate investment trust Opens a New Window.</a> focused on this segment, CareTrust has grown at a much faster rate than the rest of the industry.</p>
<p>Since going public, CareTrust has more than doubled its facility count, increased the number of beds/units in its portfolio by 125%, and grown its annualized initial rents by 71%. A somewhat aggressive expansion has caused its earnings and <a href="https://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/ffo.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=db0d7a9e-ef16-449d-9c67-de7a924218d1&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">funds from operations Opens a New Window.</a> -- a key metric for measuring REITs -- to swing up and down a bit in recent quarters, but management is doing an excellent job acquiring good properties and partnering with excellent healthcare operators to run them. Its earnings may be lumpy over time, but they should also continue to trend higher:</p>
<p>Furthermore, CareTrust is a solid value, with shares selling for 12 times guidance for 2018 FFO, and its dividend yield is almost 4.9%. Considering its reasonable price, high yield, and very strong long-term prospects, CareTrust is a far better dividend stock to buy than ExxonMobil or General Mills today.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than CareTrust REITWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-static%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=9f5e250e-fb4b-423f-a586-56965c623da0&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=db0d7a9e-ef16-449d-9c67-de7a924218d1&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and CareTrust REIT wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
<p><a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-static%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=9f5e250e-fb4b-423f-a586-56965c623da0&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=db0d7a9e-ef16-449d-9c67-de7a924218d1&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Click here Opens a New Window.</a> to learn about these picks!</p>
<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of February 5, 2018</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFVelvetHammer/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=db0d7a9e-ef16-449d-9c67-de7a924218d1&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Jason Hall Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of CareTrust REIT. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=db0d7a9e-ef16-449d-9c67-de7a924218d1&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | exxonmobil corporation nyse xom general mills inc nyse gis incredible investments long haul one thousand dollars invested either dividend stalwarts 40 years ago would worth amazing 70000 total returns today vast majority coming dividends recently neither made compelling investment underperformed sampp 500 dow jones industrial average past one three fiveyear periods theres little evidence expect change near term whats dividend investor great place start finding companies big longterm trends ahead drive years profit dividend growth one favorite dividend stocks caretrust reit inc nasdaq ctre big prospects huge trend approaching value territory continue reading keep reading learn general mills exxonmobil could struggle caretrust likely big winner dividend investors years exxonmobil oil company integrated major peers wanted companys management historically done excellent job managing capital allocation paid better returns oil majors however oil prices trended past several years even exxonmobils high rates return fell company still getting better returns many peers isnt getting anything like rates return past management says plan opens new window improve profitability bring returns back im convinced going happen quickly enough make company worth investing least know theres argument companys stock price cheap ignore theres truth since approaching value territory 14 fallen recent peak pushed dividend yield 4 exxonmobils management shows deliver higher rates return start growing profits stock belongs watchlist portfolio advertisement general mills name behind bestknown packaged food brands world including betty crocker green giant pillsbury mention dozens popular breakfast cereals many us grew eating brands fed millions us decades made investors billions along way stark reality many lost continue lose relevance market share consumer tastes shift brands favorable health environmental reputations key reason though one general mills sales profits fallen company taken steps counter trend losing customers mixed results acquired natural organic packaged food brands eating lunch well changed ingredients products make appealing consumers success others opens new window worst could general mills past second quarter management said opens new window organic sales sales brands company owned one year organic products increased four operating segments yet even within result important note sales still 2 period profits continue decline company reported 8 decline constant currency operating profits 8 decline earnings per share eps 5 decline adjusted eps even stabilization sales general mills isnt delivering earnings growth right 35 dividend yield average weak earnings growth basically flat sales make hard justify paying 21 times last years earnings remains solid business strong cash flows fundamentals investors lot better paying premium price likely mediocre investment caretrust reit doesnt track records exxonmobil general mills gone public 2013 two companies spent decades taking full advantage big trends namely increasing oil gas packaged foods consumption respectively caretrust spend next two decades profiting doubling americas elderly population around 3 million baby boomers reach retirement age every passing year 2010 2029 last boomer retires 2029 americas 65plus population doubled 80 million individuals 80plus population expected double well steady growth older americans require significant investment healthcare housing small real estate investment trust opens new window focused segment caretrust grown much faster rate rest industry since going public caretrust doubled facility count increased number bedsunits portfolio 125 grown annualized initial rents 71 somewhat aggressive expansion caused earnings funds operations opens new window key metric measuring reits swing bit recent quarters management excellent job acquiring good properties partnering excellent healthcare operators run earnings may lumpy time also continue trend higher furthermore caretrust solid value shares selling 12 times guidance 2018 ffo dividend yield almost 49 considering reasonable price high yield strong longterm prospects caretrust far better dividend stock buy exxonmobil general mills today 10 stocks like better caretrust reitwhen investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right caretrust reit wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns february 5 2018 jason hall opens new window owns shares caretrust reit motley fool position stocks mentioned motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 668 |
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<p>Image source: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/" type="external">The White House Opens a New Window.</a> via <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/5062817085" type="external">Flickr Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>All eyes in the U.S. are probably on the upcoming presidential election in just over one week's time, but open-enrollment season for the Affordable Care Act, which you probably know better as Obamacare, can be just as important for millions of Americans. Open enrollment is slated to kick off tomorrow, Nov. 1, 2016, and run for three months.</p>
<p>The latest update from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as of the end of March 2016, showed that 11.1 million consumers who'd enrolled via the marketplace exchanges were still paying customers. However, attrition is to be expected from this figure as consumers change jobs that offer insurance, or simply disenroll by not paying their premiums. The Congressional Budget Office has stuck by its projection that approximately 10 million people will be enrolled by the end of the year.</p>
<p>But a lot of changes are coming to the program in 2017 that you should be aware of (as well as a number of things that have remained the same, yet are worth a reminder). Let's take a look at seven things you should know as Obamacare opens for business in 2017.</p>
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<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>There's no hiding the biggest change in the upcoming open-enrollment period compared to last year: premium price inflation.</p>
<p>A large study conducted by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, comparing Obamacare enrollees to employer-sponsored members, found that Obamacare enrollees tended to be 22% more costly. Because the vast majority of insurers have struggled to turn a profit from their individual Obamacare plans, premium price increases are a logical next step to keeping the plans sustainable.</p>
<p>What sort of premium price inflation should you be prepared for in 2017? That ultimately depends on where you live. Based on data from ACASignups.net published by USA Today, the average price increase across the country is about 25%! Residents of Tennessee, Oklahoma, Arizona, and Minnesota are on track to pay monthly health-insurance premiums 50% or more higher than what they paid in 2016.</p>
<p>Of course, consumers should be aware that premium inflation isn't the only area where they could see higher costs in 2017. Some insurers are also increasing the deductibles attached to Obamacare plans, which serves the same purpose of getting the consumer to spend more money out of pocket.</p>
<p>In addition to one of the highest levels of premium inflation we've witnessed in many years, consumers are also likely to have fewer health insurers to choose from next year. Two factors in particular are to blame for the decline in competition.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>First, ongoing losses for some of the nation's largest health-insurance companies forced three of the five national players to significantly reduce their coverage. UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is cutting its coverage back to just three states next year, after offering individual Obamacare plans in 34 states this year. Likewise, Humana (NYSE: HUM) and Aetna (NYSE: AET) are scaling back the number of counties they plan to offer coverage in by nearly 90% and 70%, respectively. These insurers have primarily been hurt by what was described in the BCBSA study: sicker-than-expected enrollees. Remember, before Obamacare, insurers were allowed to pick and choose who they insured, which meant they could reject potentially costly members with preexisting conditions. They can't do that anymore, so these members are increasing medical-expense ratios for most insurers.</p>
<p>Second, the risk corridor turned out to be a disappointment. The risk corridor was a type of risk-pooling fund that was designed to take money from overly profitable insurers and hand it over to money-losing insurers that had priced their premiums too low. Unfortunately, of the $2.87 billion in funds requested, just $362 million wound up being doled out. This left many of Obamacare's 23 healthcare cooperatives with hefty losses and unable to sustain their businesses. Roughly three-quarters are now out of business, leading to fewer low-cost options for Americans looking to enroll.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>The Shared Responsibility Payment (SRP) is the actionable component of the individual mandate that essentially says you have to pay a penalty come tax time if you didn't purchase health insurance. Since Obamacare's full implementation in 2014, the SRP has been rocketing higher:</p>
<p>In 2017, the penalty for not purchasing health insurance could still sting, but the penalty itself will probably not be all too different from what consumers will pay in 2016 for going uninsured. Beginning in 2017 and every year thereafter, the SRP will increase in step with the national rate of inflation. If you plan to be uninsured in 2017, this is something you'll want to keep in mind.</p>
<p>One of the easiest things to do during Obamacare's open-enrollment period is nothing at all. If you were enrolled in an Obamacare plan last year and you'd like to stick with the same plan, assuming it's still offered, you'll be automatically reenrolled in December. However, allowing yourself to be reenrolled isn't necessarily the smartest thing to do.</p>
<p>Based on research by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2015, Obamacare enrollees who failed to shop around left around $2 billion on the table. In other words, instead of shopping around for an inexpensive plan within a metal tier (platinum, gold, silver, or bronze), a number of reenrollees were automatically placed into a plan that wasn't the cheapest. You may not like the fact that insurers can alter their coverage and premium options from year to year, but it does mean you should be actively comparing plans each and every year to get the best value possible.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>One of the most stunning Obamacare enrollment statistics is that roughly 85% of all enrollees via the marketplace exchanges qualify for the Advance Premium Tax Credit (APTC). The APTC is the "subsidy" you've probably heard about that helps lower monthly premium costs to make them more affordable for low-income and middle-class families. Consumers can earn up to 400% of the federal poverty level in 2017, or $47,520, and still qualify for the APTC.</p>
<p>However, a lesser-known subsidy offered to Americans making less than 250% of the federal poverty level is cost-sharing reductions (CSRs). The job of the APTC is to make buying health insurance more affordable, whereas the CSRs work to make your doctor visits more affordable. If you earn less than 250% of the federal poverty level ($29,700), these CSRs can reduce or eliminate what you'll owe for co-pays, coinsurance, and/or deductibles.</p>
<p>There is a catch, though. In order to qualify for a CSR you absolutely must buy a silver-level plan. Bronze plans are cheaper on a monthly premium basis, but CSRs are not offered by bronze-tier plans. If you earn less than 250% of the federal poverty level, I'd strongly encourage you to take advantage of this financial assistance by focusing on silver-level plans.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>Every year it's good to be reminded of what actually affects your individual Obamacare premium. As you've probably surmised, factors such as age, geographic location, and plan category can affect what you'll pay in monthly premiums. For instance, older Americans are more prone to costly illnesses than younger adults, so they tend to have higher monthly premium costs. Similarly, people living in Wyoming or Alaska, two of the least populous states, may have a harder time getting to specialty-care facilities compared to people living in a large city such as Los Angeles where there are multiple specialty hospitals. This is why premiums in Wyoming and Alaska are among the highest in the country.</p>
<p>One oft-overlooked factor is that can affect your premium is whether or not you use tobacco. Smokers can be charged up to 50% more per month for their health-insurance premiums than non-smokers, due to tobacco's well-documented adverse health effects on the body. If you currently smoke, consider quitting as an easy way to save some serious money in 2017.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>Finally, while searching for their next healthcare plans, Obamacare enrollees should understand that the cheapest plans may not offer the best value. While the HHS report shows that Obamacare enrollees are leaving around $2 billion in cash on the table, a cheap plan may not be helpful if it doesn't offer the network coverage you need.</p>
<p>For example, if you have a preexisting condition and are likely to visit the doctor often to manage your health, then buying a bronze-tier plan that costs the lowest on a monthly basis, but requires you to pay the most out of pocket via deductibles, probably is a poor choice. Instead, purchasing a higher-cost gold or platinum plan could be worthwhile, since it would significantly reduce your out-of-pocket costs as a trade-off for higher monthly premiums.</p>
<p>When looking at plans, think about which one offers you the best value.</p>
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<p>The Motley Fool recommends UnitedHealth Group. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/motley.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | image source white house opens new window via flickr opens new window continue reading eyes us probably upcoming presidential election one weeks time openenrollment season affordable care act probably know better obamacare important millions americans open enrollment slated kick tomorrow nov 1 2016 run three months latest update centers medicare medicaid services end march 2016 showed 111 million consumers whod enrolled via marketplace exchanges still paying customers however attrition expected figure consumers change jobs offer insurance simply disenroll paying premiums congressional budget office stuck projection approximately 10 million people enrolled end year lot changes coming program 2017 aware well number things remained yet worth reminder lets take look seven things know obamacare opens business 2017 advertisement image source getty images theres hiding biggest change upcoming openenrollment period compared last year premium price inflation large study conducted blue cross blue shield association comparing obamacare enrollees employersponsored members found obamacare enrollees tended 22 costly vast majority insurers struggled turn profit individual obamacare plans premium price increases logical next step keeping plans sustainable sort premium price inflation prepared 2017 ultimately depends live based data acasignupsnet published usa today average price increase across country 25 residents tennessee oklahoma arizona minnesota track pay monthly healthinsurance premiums 50 higher paid 2016 course consumers aware premium inflation isnt area could see higher costs 2017 insurers also increasing deductibles attached obamacare plans serves purpose getting consumer spend money pocket addition one highest levels premium inflation weve witnessed many years consumers also likely fewer health insurers choose next year two factors particular blame decline competition image source getty images first ongoing losses nations largest healthinsurance companies forced three five national players significantly reduce coverage unitedhealth group nyse unh cutting coverage back three states next year offering individual obamacare plans 34 states year likewise humana nyse hum aetna nyse aet scaling back number counties plan offer coverage nearly 90 70 respectively insurers primarily hurt described bcbsa study sickerthanexpected enrollees remember obamacare insurers allowed pick choose insured meant could reject potentially costly members preexisting conditions cant anymore members increasing medicalexpense ratios insurers second risk corridor turned disappointment risk corridor type riskpooling fund designed take money overly profitable insurers hand moneylosing insurers priced premiums low unfortunately 287 billion funds requested 362 million wound doled left many obamacares 23 healthcare cooperatives hefty losses unable sustain businesses roughly threequarters business leading fewer lowcost options americans looking enroll image source getty images shared responsibility payment srp actionable component individual mandate essentially says pay penalty come tax time didnt purchase health insurance since obamacares full implementation 2014 srp rocketing higher 2017 penalty purchasing health insurance could still sting penalty probably different consumers pay 2016 going uninsured beginning 2017 every year thereafter srp increase step national rate inflation plan uninsured 2017 something youll want keep mind one easiest things obamacares openenrollment period nothing enrolled obamacare plan last year youd like stick plan assuming still offered youll automatically reenrolled december however allowing reenrolled isnt necessarily smartest thing based research us department health human services 2015 obamacare enrollees failed shop around left around 2 billion table words instead shopping around inexpensive plan within metal tier platinum gold silver bronze number reenrollees automatically placed plan wasnt cheapest may like fact insurers alter coverage premium options year year mean actively comparing plans every year get best value possible image source getty images one stunning obamacare enrollment statistics roughly 85 enrollees via marketplace exchanges qualify advance premium tax credit aptc aptc subsidy youve probably heard helps lower monthly premium costs make affordable lowincome middleclass families consumers earn 400 federal poverty level 2017 47520 still qualify aptc however lesserknown subsidy offered americans making less 250 federal poverty level costsharing reductions csrs job aptc make buying health insurance affordable whereas csrs work make doctor visits affordable earn less 250 federal poverty level 29700 csrs reduce eliminate youll owe copays coinsurance andor deductibles catch though order qualify csr absolutely must buy silverlevel plan bronze plans cheaper monthly premium basis csrs offered bronzetier plans earn less 250 federal poverty level id strongly encourage take advantage financial assistance focusing silverlevel plans image source getty images every year good reminded actually affects individual obamacare premium youve probably surmised factors age geographic location plan category affect youll pay monthly premiums instance older americans prone costly illnesses younger adults tend higher monthly premium costs similarly people living wyoming alaska two least populous states may harder time getting specialtycare facilities compared people living large city los angeles multiple specialty hospitals premiums wyoming alaska among highest country one oftoverlooked factor affect premium whether use tobacco smokers charged 50 per month healthinsurance premiums nonsmokers due tobaccos welldocumented adverse health effects body currently smoke consider quitting easy way save serious money 2017 image source getty images finally searching next healthcare plans obamacare enrollees understand cheapest plans may offer best value hhs report shows obamacare enrollees leaving around 2 billion cash table cheap plan may helpful doesnt offer network coverage need example preexisting condition likely visit doctor often manage health buying bronzetier plan costs lowest monthly basis requires pay pocket via deductibles probably poor choice instead purchasing highercost gold platinum plan could worthwhile since would significantly reduce outofpocket costs tradeoff higher monthly premiums looking plans think one offers best value secret billiondollar stock opportunity worlds biggest tech company forgot show something wall street analysts fool didnt miss beat theres small company thats powering brandnew gadgets coming revolution technology think stock price nearly unlimited room run early intheknow investors one click opens new window sean williams opens new windowhas material interest companies mentioned article follow caps screen name tmfultralong opens new window check twitter goes handle tmfultralong opens new window motley fool recommends unitedhealth group try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 972 |
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<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
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<p>Virtually every investor has the same basic goal: to achieve the maximum amount of investment growth at a tolerable level of risk.</p>
<p>Achieving that balance means knowing yourself as an investor. What level of <a href="http://www.finra.org/investors/reality-investment-risk" type="external">risk Opens a New Window.</a> are you comfortable taking? Are you a conservative investor who does not want to risk losing any or most of your principal? Are you a moderate investor who wants to protect your assets while increasing the value of your portfolio? Or are you an aggressive investor who is willing to take calculated risks with the expectation of achieving greater-than-average returns?</p>
<p>Which brings us to two important investment concepts: return and rate of return. Let's take a closer look at both.</p>
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<p>Investment return is the money you make or lose on an investment. Ideally, your return will be positive -- that is, your initial investment or principal will remain intact, and you'll end up with more money than you invested.</p>
<p>But all investments carry some level of risk of loss -- especially securities that are subject to market fluctuations, such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds that invest in stocks, bonds or both. The changes can be positive, but they can also be negative, meaning you can wind up with less money than you initially invested.</p>
<p>For example, let's say you buy a stock for $30 a share and sell it for $35 a share. Your return is $5 a share minus any commission or other fees you paid when you bought and sold the stock. If the stock had paid a dividend of $1 per share while you owned it, then your total return would be a gain of $6 a share before expenses. However, if you bought at $35 and sold at $30, you would have lost $5 on your investment, not counting expenses. If you earned a dividend of $1 per share, your actual loss would be reduced to $4 a share. This brings us to the concept of "total return."</p>
<p>Total return is a measure of your profit or capital appreciation beforetaxes and commissions or fees. When you evaluate your return on an investment, you should separately assess the impact of these other important costs, as they impact your bottom line. In the example above, if the commissions you paid to buy and sell the stock -- plus any taxes you must pay on net capital gains -- totaled more than $5, then you would have lost money. If you invest in mutual funds, you'll find both total annual returns and after-tax annual returns in the fee table in the prospectus.</p>
<p>After determining the return on an investment, you may want to compare that return to returns on other investments. But the dollar amount by itself doesn't tell you the whole story. To see why, compare a return of $5 per share on a $30 investment with a return of $5 per share on a $60 investment. In both cases, your dollar return is the same. But your rate of return, which you figure by dividing the gain by the amount you invest, is different.</p>
<p>In this comparison, the rate of return on the $30 investment is 16.67% ($5 / $30 = 0.1666), while the rate of return on the $60 investment is 8.33% ($5 / $60 = 0.0833) -- just half.</p>
<p>You can evaluate the rate of return on savings accounts, bonds, mutual funds, and the entire range of investment alternatives in much the same way. The more you invest to get the same dollar return, the smaller your rate of return will actually be.</p>
<p>The other factor you have to take into account in evaluating your return is the number of years you own the investment. There's a big difference in realizing a return of 16.67% on an investment you own for just one year and realizing the same return on an investment you own for five years. Your annualized return over a five-year period would only be 3.13%.</p>
<p>Return can be a useful tool in evaluating whether the investments you own are performing the way you expect, especially when you compare their return to that of similar investments or an appropriate benchmark, such as a market index that tracks the return of a group of similar investments. Specifically, you might compare the annual return on a large company stock or the return on a large-company stock fund to the annual return of the Standard &amp; Poor's 500 Index (S&amp;P 500).</p>
<p>You can also use historical returns to compare the average annual return over time of different categories of investments, known as asset classes. The most common asset classes include stocks (equities), bonds (fixed-income securities), and cash or cash equivalents. The research firms that track historical returns have found that, both over the past century and during shorter 10-year cycles, stock has had the strongest return among the major asset classes, bonds the next-strongest, and cash equivalents the most stable but the lowest.</p>
<p>While the annual return for any asset class, or mutual fund investing in that asset class, may surpass its historical average in a given year or series of years, the return may underperform the average as well. Past performance rarely predicts future results. Don't assume your return on an investment will be substantially higher than the average return on that investment over time. In fact, there's no guarantee that it won't be lower.</p>
<p>To receive the latest Investor Alerts and other important investor information sign up for <a href="http://apps.finra.org/contact_us/1/subscribe.aspx?lists=ind" type="external">Investor News Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
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<p>*StockAdvisor returns as of December 12, 2016The author(s) may have a position in any stocks mentioned.</p>
<p>The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | image source getty images continue reading virtually every investor basic goal achieve maximum amount investment growth tolerable level risk achieving balance means knowing investor level risk opens new window comfortable taking conservative investor want risk losing principal moderate investor wants protect assets increasing value portfolio aggressive investor willing take calculated risks expectation achieving greaterthanaverage returns brings us two important investment concepts return rate return lets take closer look advertisement investment return money make lose investment ideally return positive initial investment principal remain intact youll end money invested investments carry level risk loss especially securities subject market fluctuations stocks bonds mutual funds invest stocks bonds changes positive also negative meaning wind less money initially invested example lets say buy stock 30 share sell 35 share return 5 share minus commission fees paid bought sold stock stock paid dividend 1 per share owned total return would gain 6 share expenses however bought 35 sold 30 would lost 5 investment counting expenses earned dividend 1 per share actual loss would reduced 4 share brings us concept total return total return measure profit capital appreciation beforetaxes commissions fees evaluate return investment separately assess impact important costs impact bottom line example commissions paid buy sell stock plus taxes must pay net capital gains totaled 5 would lost money invest mutual funds youll find total annual returns aftertax annual returns fee table prospectus determining return investment may want compare return returns investments dollar amount doesnt tell whole story see compare return 5 per share 30 investment return 5 per share 60 investment cases dollar return rate return figure dividing gain amount invest different comparison rate return 30 investment 1667 5 30 01666 rate return 60 investment 833 5 60 00833 half evaluate rate return savings accounts bonds mutual funds entire range investment alternatives much way invest get dollar return smaller rate return actually factor take account evaluating return number years investment theres big difference realizing return 1667 investment one year realizing return investment five years annualized return fiveyear period would 313 return useful tool evaluating whether investments performing way expect especially compare return similar investments appropriate benchmark market index tracks return group similar investments specifically might compare annual return large company stock return largecompany stock fund annual return standard amp poors 500 index sampp 500 also use historical returns compare average annual return time different categories investments known asset classes common asset classes include stocks equities bonds fixedincome securities cash cash equivalents research firms track historical returns found past century shorter 10year cycles stock strongest return among major asset classes bonds nextstrongest cash equivalents stable lowest annual return asset class mutual fund investing asset class may surpass historical average given year series years return may underperform average well past performance rarely predicts future results dont assume return investment substantially higher average return investment time fact theres guarantee wont lower receive latest investor alerts important investor information sign investor news opens new window 10 stocks like better thanwalmartwhen investing geniuses david tomgardner stock tip pay listen newsletter theyhave run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tomjust revealed believe ten best stocks opens new windowfor investors buy right walmart wasnt one thats right theythink 10 stocks even better buys click opens new windowto learn picks stockadvisor returns december 12 2016the authors may position stocks mentioned motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 556 |
<p>AP</p>
<p>BY: <a href="" type="internal">Alana Goodman</a> April 29, 2013 10:00 am</p>
<p>Marijuana dispensaries and activists in Washington, D.C., are waiting to see how the Obama administration will react when the capital's&#160;first medical marijuana clinics open this spring.</p>
<p>While the D.C. government has approved medical marijuana, it is still illegal under federal law. District-based distributors are hoping to avoid clashes with federal authorities even as some prepare to open shop blocks from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Department of Justice.</p>
<p>Capital City Care, a marijuana dispensary with a prime view of the Capitol dome, became the first clinic to obtain its license on April 22. Two others—Metropolitan Wellness Center, located within walking distance of federal buildings in Eastern Market, and Takoma Wellness Center in Takoma Park—are expected to be licensed in the coming days.</p>
<p>(View the full-size dispensary map&#160; <a href="" type="internal">here</a>.)</p>
<p>The federal government still considers marijuana a Schedule I substance, and the Obama administration has cracked down on dispensaries in other states.</p>
<p>However, enforcement has been selective, and D.C. distributors to avoid the federal eye by keeping a low profile and staying within district regulations.</p>
<p>"A large portion of the planning that went into this [D.C. medical marijuana program] was with the idea that Congress or the DEA could shut this program down at any time given the fact that it is in the DEA’s backyard and Congress has budgetary oversight and could interfere with the program that way," said Morgan Fox of the Marijuana Policy Project. "So the program was really designed to avoid drawing the ire of any of these people."</p>
<p>Licensed marijuana cultivators are required to stay below the 99-plant-threshold, the level at which federal mandatory minimum prison sentences kick in. The dispensaries have avoided opening up near schools, another federal prohibition.</p>
<p>The program, supporters say, is restrictive. Patients must be diagnosed with HIV, AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, or multiple sclerosis in order to qualify.</p>
<p>"Nationally what we’ve seen is that the places that actually see a lot of interference are places where dispensaries exist in sort of a legal grey area like California and Montana," Fox said. "But places where there are really strict state regulations—and I think D.C. can count as one of those—we really haven’t seen too much interference."</p>
<p>Medical marijuana advocates say they hope this will hold true for D.C. dispensaries.</p>
<p>"Of course we’re concerned. But we try and look at dispensaries they crack down on [in other states] and dispensaries they don’t crack down on," said Rabbi Jeffrey Kahn, who runs the Takoma Wellness Center. "We believe that people who follow the law, our local laws, and act appropriately, and aren't criminals, and aren’t engaged in criminal activity are not being gone after. And we plan to be in that category."</p>
<p>Kahn’s dispensary is a 30-minute metro ride from Capitol Hill and located in a discreet building adorned with a Hamsa, a Kabbalist symbol of protection.</p>
<p>Kahn said the D.C. public is particularly sensitive to outside meddling in local matters because of the unusual relationship between the federal government and the city. Congress still has approval authority over the D.C. budget.</p>
<p>"If there was any federal intervention at this point, it would be wholly disrespectful and unfair to the citizens of the District of Columbia," he said. "We the taxpayers, have spent quite a sum on our health department and our council putting this into effect. So now wouldn’t be the time for the federal government to intervene."</p>
<p>The Obama administration has yet to clarify its selective enforcement policies. Candidate Obama said during his 2008 campaign that&#160;he would avoid interfering with medical marijuana programs in jurisdictions protected by local law.</p>
<p>However, legalization advocates say his record in office has been mixed. Federal authorities have raided more than 100 dispensaries, including in states such as California and Arizona that have medical marijuana programs.</p>
<p>"What I specifically said was that we were not going to prioritize prosecutions of persons who are using medical marijuana," Obama <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/other/223693-obama-defends-action-on-medical-marijuana-dispensaries" type="external">told</a> Rolling Stone last April. "I never made a commitment that somehow we were going to give carte blanche to large-scale producers and operators of marijuana—and the reason is, because it's against federal law."</p>
<p>The White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy declined to comment for this story, directing questions to the Department of Justice. The Department of Justice did not comment.</p>
<p>Kahn said DEA and Department of Justice employees have unofficially attended public forums about the D.C. program, but he has not personally reached out to the administration for guidance on the law.</p>
<p>"They’re in an awkward position," Kahn said. "They are the drug enforcement agency and they have to enforce the law. They can’t change the law. And the attorney general is going to instruct them at some point about what they’re going to do, and they’re gonna do what they’re gonna do."</p>
<p>Some say the administration may have a political reason to stay silent. Polls have shown a majority of the American public supports medical marijuana.</p>
<p>"I can understand how it might seem that it’s almost like a slap in the face to [the administration] having it be so close and on Capitol Hill, but I think that location is actually protecting [the dispensaries], because [a federal raid] would draw national media attention," Fox said. "They’re not going to win any popularity points by cracking down on dispensaries in a very, very visible manner in the nation’s capital."</p>
<p>The White House's silence also irks progressive drug-legalization activists who want to see changes in federal policy.</p>
<p>"It’s just cowardly, the position of the government right now," said Adam Eidinger, a long-time D.C. marijuana activist and spokesman for Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps. "Nobody wants to talk about it. They’re gonna have to be forced to talk about it. And the way they’re gonna be forced to talk about it is from a political social movement that is right at their doorstep and extremely disruptive."</p>
<p>The city of D.C. is also being cautious. It required prospective dispensaries to sign a form acknowledging they would be violating federal law and absolving the city of legal responsibility.</p>
<p>The cautious approach from the city and the dispensaries has caused a schism in the D.C. marijuana advocacy movement.</p>
<p>Eidinger abandoned his own plans to obtain a distribution license because his organization did not want to sign the city’s waiver.</p>
<p>He said the local government has weakened the program in order to satisfy Obama administration and law enforcement and has allowed politically connected dispensaries to corner the market.</p>
<p>"The government is getting in the way of this program," Eidinger said. "If you really care about letting an industry blossom, you don’t write all these regulations. [That would] just shut the industry down before it even started."</p>
<p>"We are looking at just a total for-profit, monopolistic, screw-over-the-patients, make them pay top dollar, enrich the city coffers, tax-it-to-death [program]," he said. "Who are they taxing? You’re taxing sick people with cancer and AIDS. These bastards who wrote this law are trying to get rich off people with cancer and AIDS."</p> | true | 0 | ap alana goodman april 29 2013 1000 marijuana dispensaries activists washington dc waiting see obama administration react capitals160first medical marijuana clinics open spring dc government approved medical marijuana still illegal federal law districtbased distributors hoping avoid clashes federal authorities even prepare open shop blocks drug enforcement administration dea department justice capital city care marijuana dispensary prime view capitol dome became first clinic obtain license april 22 two othersmetropolitan wellness center located within walking distance federal buildings eastern market takoma wellness center takoma parkare expected licensed coming days view fullsize dispensary map160 federal government still considers marijuana schedule substance obama administration cracked dispensaries states however enforcement selective dc distributors avoid federal eye keeping low profile staying within district regulations large portion planning went dc medical marijuana program idea congress dea could shut program time given fact deas backyard congress budgetary oversight could interfere program way said morgan fox marijuana policy project program really designed avoid drawing ire people licensed marijuana cultivators required stay 99plantthreshold level federal mandatory minimum prison sentences kick dispensaries avoided opening near schools another federal prohibition program supporters say restrictive patients must diagnosed hiv aids cancer glaucoma multiple sclerosis order qualify nationally weve seen places actually see lot interference places dispensaries exist sort legal grey area like california montana fox said places really strict state regulationsand think dc count one thosewe really havent seen much interference medical marijuana advocates say hope hold true dc dispensaries course concerned try look dispensaries crack states dispensaries dont crack said rabbi jeffrey kahn runs takoma wellness center believe people follow law local laws act appropriately arent criminals arent engaged criminal activity gone plan category kahns dispensary 30minute metro ride capitol hill located discreet building adorned hamsa kabbalist symbol protection kahn said dc public particularly sensitive outside meddling local matters unusual relationship federal government city congress still approval authority dc budget federal intervention point would wholly disrespectful unfair citizens district columbia said taxpayers spent quite sum health department council putting effect wouldnt time federal government intervene obama administration yet clarify selective enforcement policies candidate obama said 2008 campaign that160he would avoid interfering medical marijuana programs jurisdictions protected local law however legalization advocates say record office mixed federal authorities raided 100 dispensaries including states california arizona medical marijuana programs specifically said going prioritize prosecutions persons using medical marijuana obama told rolling stone last april never made commitment somehow going give carte blanche largescale producers operators marijuanaand reason federal law white houses office national drug control policy declined comment story directing questions department justice department justice comment kahn said dea department justice employees unofficially attended public forums dc program personally reached administration guidance law theyre awkward position kahn said drug enforcement agency enforce law cant change law attorney general going instruct point theyre going theyre gon na theyre gon na say administration may political reason stay silent polls shown majority american public supports medical marijuana understand might seem almost like slap face administration close capitol hill think location actually protecting dispensaries federal raid would draw national media attention fox said theyre going win popularity points cracking dispensaries visible manner nations capital white houses silence also irks progressive druglegalization activists want see changes federal policy cowardly position government right said adam eidinger longtime dc marijuana activist spokesman dr bronners magic soaps nobody wants talk theyre gon na forced talk way theyre gon na forced talk political social movement right doorstep extremely disruptive city dc also cautious required prospective dispensaries sign form acknowledging would violating federal law absolving city legal responsibility cautious approach city dispensaries caused schism dc marijuana advocacy movement eidinger abandoned plans obtain distribution license organization want sign citys waiver said local government weakened program order satisfy obama administration law enforcement allowed politically connected dispensaries corner market government getting way program eidinger said really care letting industry blossom dont write regulations would shut industry even started looking total forprofit monopolistic screwoverthepatients make pay top dollar enrich city coffers taxittodeath program said taxing youre taxing sick people cancer aids bastards wrote law trying get rich people cancer aids | 672 |
<p>Trader Glencore has raised its offer for miner Xstrata in a dramatic 11th-hour effort to rescue one of the sector's largest ever deals from collapse after opposition from rival shareholder Qatar.</p>
<p>Glencore's Chief Executive Ivan Glasenberg, helped by a late intervention from former British prime minister Tony Blair, lived up to his reputation as an unpredictable dealmaker, with overnight talks with Qatar and dawn telephone calls on Friday that put the now $36 billion deal back on the table, sources familiar with the deal said.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Glencore, which has a 34 percent stake in Xstrata already, is proposing an offer of 3.05 new shares for every Xstrata share it does not already own, up from 2.8, a statement issued by Xstrata said. Qatar demanded a ratio of 3.25 in June, but in recent days sources involved in the deal had said the Gulf state's sovereign wealth fund could settle for a compromise.</p>
<p>The new proposal, however, would place Glasenberg as chief executive of the combined group instead of Xstrata boss Mick Davis, who would have taken the role under the original deal.</p>
<p>Davis's role, if any, in the future company is unclear, and the change could signal an end to the South African-born manager's career at Xstrata after a transformational decade at the helm. Looking tense and tired at Xstrata's shareholder meeting, Davis declined to comment on his plans.</p>
<p>A statement issued by Xstrata also said Glencore could consider changing the offer's structure, from a complex arrangement that requires 75 percent approval without Glencore, to a straightforward takeover requiring a simple majority.</p>
<p>"We've always thought that there was a reasonably good chance that Glencore would bump the offer modestly, and we believe that Qatar will probably accept this 3.05," said Brewin Dolphin analyst Nik Stanojevic.</p>
<p>A source familiar with the deal said there were "constructive talks" ongoing, and Qatar was supportive of the offer. Qatar, which had not held talks with Glencore for two months before Thursday night, has not yet commented on the deal.</p>
<p>The revised offer pleased top-10 shareholder Standard Life and found wary support among other of Xstrata's institutional shareholders.</p>
<p>"We are supportive of the improved terms and the changes to the executive governance arrangements," said David Cumming, head of equities at Standard Life Investments.</p>
<p>"The deal will, we believe, enhance the growth prospects of the combined group and consequently, as shareholders both of Xstrata and Glencore, we are pleased with the proposed outcome."</p>
<p>BACK FROM BRINK</p>
<p>Glencore's bid had been heading for the rocks after Xstrata's second-largest shareholder, Qatar, with 12 percent, said it would vote down the deal unless it was improved.</p>
<p>Industry sources and those involved in the bid had not ruled out a last-minute handbrake turn from Glencore, but Glencore's Chairman Simon Murray shocked shareholders gathered in Zug, Switzerland, for a vote on the deal, by hurriedly cancelling the general meeting, citing "overnight developments".</p>
<p>Murray, alone, then rushed out of a back door.</p>
<p>Less than two hours later, Xstrata postponed its own meeting and announced the revised terms.</p>
<p>Xstrata shares were up 8 percent at 1,057.5 pence at 1215 GMT. Glencore's were down 3.8 percent at 377.3p, which would value each Xstrata share at almost 1,150.8p under the new ratio, virtually midway between Glencore's offer and Qatar's demands.</p>
<p>CLIMBDOWN?</p>
<p>Under the deal's original structure, holders of just 16.5 percent of Xstrata shares would have needed to vote against the tie-up for the deal to collapse, and Qatar said last week it would vote against, making it very unlikely the bid could have gone through without an improvement.</p>
<p>Glencore on Friday, however, left the door open for a change to that structure to a straightforward takeover.</p>
<p>It is unclear Xstrata's board would accept that change, which would allow Glencore to buy shares offered in to a tender, as its non-executives had fought to ensure Glencore would either get full control of the miner or remain at 34 percent.</p>
<p>"The potential change of structure from scheme of arrangement to a takeover is significant," said one of Xstrata's largest 40 investors. "It makes forcing the deal through more likely."</p>
<p>Qatar and Glencore had not met since the Gulf state's sovereign wealth fund demanded an improvement in June to the trader's offer, and both sides had said they would stick to their positions.</p>
<p>"I'm very satisfied with the new terms. I think we would be disappointed if we were Glencore shareholders, but we are happy because we are Xstrata," said Thomas Mitsoulis, asset manager for an Xstrata shareholder.</p>
<p>Glencore, with a 34-percent stake, has long coveted a full tie-up with Xstrata to create a mining and trading powerhouse. It made its move in February, less than a year after listing its own shares, which in turn had been largely motivated by the desire to do more ambitious deals.</p>
<p>Glencore is being advised by Citigroup, Morgan Stanley , Credit Suisse and BNP Paribas. Xstrata is being advised by Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan , Goldman Sachs and Nomura, with a role also for Barclays Capital.</p>
<p>Both sides were advised by an independent consultant, former Citi banker Michael Klein, who shuttled between executives to broker the deal. Qatar Holding is being advised by Lazard.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p> | true | 0 | trader glencore raised offer miner xstrata dramatic 11thhour effort rescue one sectors largest ever deals collapse opposition rival shareholder qatar glencores chief executive ivan glasenberg helped late intervention former british prime minister tony blair lived reputation unpredictable dealmaker overnight talks qatar dawn telephone calls friday put 36 billion deal back table sources familiar deal said continue reading glencore 34 percent stake xstrata already proposing offer 305 new shares every xstrata share already 28 statement issued xstrata said qatar demanded ratio 325 june recent days sources involved deal said gulf states sovereign wealth fund could settle compromise new proposal however would place glasenberg chief executive combined group instead xstrata boss mick davis would taken role original deal daviss role future company unclear change could signal end south africanborn managers career xstrata transformational decade helm looking tense tired xstratas shareholder meeting davis declined comment plans statement issued xstrata also said glencore could consider changing offers structure complex arrangement requires 75 percent approval without glencore straightforward takeover requiring simple majority weve always thought reasonably good chance glencore would bump offer modestly believe qatar probably accept 305 said brewin dolphin analyst nik stanojevic source familiar deal said constructive talks ongoing qatar supportive offer qatar held talks glencore two months thursday night yet commented deal revised offer pleased top10 shareholder standard life found wary support among xstratas institutional shareholders supportive improved terms changes executive governance arrangements said david cumming head equities standard life investments deal believe enhance growth prospects combined group consequently shareholders xstrata glencore pleased proposed outcome back brink glencores bid heading rocks xstratas secondlargest shareholder qatar 12 percent said would vote deal unless improved industry sources involved bid ruled lastminute handbrake turn glencore glencores chairman simon murray shocked shareholders gathered zug switzerland vote deal hurriedly cancelling general meeting citing overnight developments murray alone rushed back door less two hours later xstrata postponed meeting announced revised terms xstrata shares 8 percent 10575 pence 1215 gmt glencores 38 percent 3773p would value xstrata share almost 11508p new ratio virtually midway glencores offer qatars demands climbdown deals original structure holders 165 percent xstrata shares would needed vote tieup deal collapse qatar said last week would vote making unlikely bid could gone without improvement glencore friday however left door open change structure straightforward takeover unclear xstratas board would accept change would allow glencore buy shares offered tender nonexecutives fought ensure glencore would either get full control miner remain 34 percent potential change structure scheme arrangement takeover significant said one xstratas largest 40 investors makes forcing deal likely qatar glencore met since gulf states sovereign wealth fund demanded improvement june traders offer sides said would stick positions im satisfied new terms think would disappointed glencore shareholders happy xstrata said thomas mitsoulis asset manager xstrata shareholder glencore 34percent stake long coveted full tieup xstrata create mining trading powerhouse made move february less year listing shares turn largely motivated desire ambitious deals glencore advised citigroup morgan stanley credit suisse bnp paribas xstrata advised deutsche bank jp morgan goldman sachs nomura role also barclays capital sides advised independent consultant former citi banker michael klein shuttled executives broker deal qatar holding advised lazard advertisement | 522 |
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<p>Following quarter after quarter of falling unit revenue, airline executives are starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel. The improving outlook caused shares of most airlines to rally after their Q3 earnings reports last month.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Hawaiian Holdings (NASDAQ: HA) and Allegiant Travel (NASDAQ: ALGT) both reported stronger than expected earnings last quarter. Yet they didn't join in the airline sector rally. In fact, both stocks have declined significantly since reporting their Q3 results.</p>
<p>Hawaiian Holdings and Allegiant Travel Stock Performance data by <a href="http://ycharts.com" type="external">YCharts Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Investor concerns about rising unit costs probably played a big role in driving shares of Hawaiian Holdings and Allegiant Travel lower in recent weeks. However, both companies have solid plans for long-term profit growth, which should help the stocks rebound soon enough.</p>
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<p>Last quarter, Hawaiian Airlines was the only U.S. airline to grow its unit revenue year over year. Initially, Hawaiian stock jumped after the company raised its Q3 unit revenue guidance in early October. It has given back all of those gains in the past few weeks, though.</p>
<p>Hawaiian's revenue outlook can't be blamed. The company expects revenue per available seat mile (RASM) to rise 0.5% to 3.5% year over year in Q4. At the midpoint, that would improve upon the 1.3% increase Hawaiian Airlines recorded in Q3.</p>
<p>Instead, investors were dismayed by management's forecast that non-fuel unit costs will increase 2.5% to 5.5% year over year this quarter. There's no single cause of this cost pressure. It's a combination of increases in wages and benefits, higher aircraft rent as Hawaiian expands its fleet, rising airport fees in Hawaii and Los Angeles, and various other smaller headwinds.</p>
<p>The expansion of Hawaiian's interisland fleet is contributing to rising unit costs. Image source: The Motley Fool.</p>
<p>Costs will continue to rise at an elevated pace in 2017. First, Hawaiian Airlines is deep in negotiations with its pilot union on a new contract that is likely to include <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/10/10/the-2-best-airline-stocks-of-2016-could-run-out-of.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">hefty raises Opens a New Window.</a>. Second, it plans to move into a brand new (but more expensive) maintenance and cargo facility in mid-2017. Third, the company will incur costs related to putting its new fleet of A321neo aircraft into service next year. Finally, Hawaiian is reconfiguring its A330 fleet with fewer seats, which will naturally push unit costs higher.</p>
<p>Allegiant investors got an even bigger shock last month, as the company projected that non-fuel unit costs will <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/10/31/cost-inflation-hits-ultralow-cost-carriers-can-the.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">surge 10% to 12% year over year Opens a New Window.</a> in Q4. Most of the increase is being driven by the substantial raises that Allegiant recently gave its pilots, as well as accelerated depreciation on the company's aging fleet of MD-80 aircraft.</p>
<p>To make matters worse, Allegiant isn't generating industry-leading unit revenue performance like Hawaiian Airlines. RASM fell 7.4% year over year in Q3 -- which was still better than the company's original guidance -- and Allegiant expects RASM to decline 5.5% to 7.5% in Q4.</p>
<p>Allegiant Air's unit revenue is still declining. Image source: Aldo Bidini via <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:McDonnell_Douglas_MD-83,_Allegiant_Air_JP7488464.jpg" type="external">Wikimedia Commons Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Allegiant Air is likely to continue facing higher-than-normal unit cost inflation in 2017, at least until it laps the impact of its new pilot contract next August. On the bright side, Allegiant's fleet renewal program is steadily boosting the carrier's fuel efficiency. That will mitigate the impact of any fuel price increases.</p>
<p>Costs matter in the ultra-competitive airline industry. Nevertheless, investors are probably overreacting to the unit cost increases at Hawaiian Airlines and Allegiant Air.</p>
<p>Hawaiian's rollout of lie-flat seats on long-haul routes will boost its unit revenue growth. Image source: Hawaiian Airlines.</p>
<p>Hawaiian Airlines is well positioned to offset any unit cost increases over the next few years with unit revenue growth. For example, the carrier recently began selling its new lie-flat premium seats on four long-haul routes for flights beginning in December. In 2017 and beyond, the continued rollout of lie-flat seats should allow Hawaiian to more than offset the increase in unit costs from removing seats on those planes.</p>
<p>Similarly, various other unit cost increases will enable future unit revenue growth. Adding two planes to the interisland fleet will allow Hawaiian to add capacity at peak times. The new cargo and maintenance facility will support its growing air cargo business. And the new A321neo fleet will help Hawaiian Airlines better match capacity with demand on West Coast routes, driving long-term unit revenue growth.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Allegiant should be able to start reducing its unit costs again as soon as the second half of 2017. Most notably, as the company moves toward standardizing on A320-family aircraft over the next three years, maintenance costs will decline and accelerated depreciation of the existing MD-80 and 757 fleets will end. Allegiant's unit revenue is also starting to recover, and is expected to turn positive by the second half of 2017.</p>
<p>Hawaiian Holdings and Allegiant Travel could see profitability slip in the near term. But both carriers have attractive long-term growth opportunities and should be able to maintain double-digit profit margins for the foreseeable future. The recent sell-offs in both stocks have created good entry points for patient investors.</p>
<p>A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, <a href="http://www.fool.com/mms/mark/ecap-foolcom-apple-wearable?aid=6965&amp;source=irbeditxt0000017&amp;ftm_cam=rb-wearable-d&amp;ftm_pit=2691&amp;ftm_veh=article_pitch&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">just click here Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFGemHunter/info.aspx" type="external">Adam Levine-Weinberg Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of Hawaiian Holdings. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/motley.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | following quarter quarter falling unit revenue airline executives starting see light end tunnel improving outlook caused shares airlines rally q3 earnings reports last month continue reading hawaiian holdings nasdaq ha allegiant travel nasdaq algt reported stronger expected earnings last quarter yet didnt join airline sector rally fact stocks declined significantly since reporting q3 results hawaiian holdings allegiant travel stock performance data ycharts opens new window investor concerns rising unit costs probably played big role driving shares hawaiian holdings allegiant travel lower recent weeks however companies solid plans longterm profit growth help stocks rebound soon enough advertisement last quarter hawaiian airlines us airline grow unit revenue year year initially hawaiian stock jumped company raised q3 unit revenue guidance early october given back gains past weeks though hawaiians revenue outlook cant blamed company expects revenue per available seat mile rasm rise 05 35 year year q4 midpoint would improve upon 13 increase hawaiian airlines recorded q3 instead investors dismayed managements forecast nonfuel unit costs increase 25 55 year year quarter theres single cause cost pressure combination increases wages benefits higher aircraft rent hawaiian expands fleet rising airport fees hawaii los angeles various smaller headwinds expansion hawaiians interisland fleet contributing rising unit costs image source motley fool costs continue rise elevated pace 2017 first hawaiian airlines deep negotiations pilot union new contract likely include hefty raises opens new window second plans move brand new expensive maintenance cargo facility mid2017 third company incur costs related putting new fleet a321neo aircraft service next year finally hawaiian reconfiguring a330 fleet fewer seats naturally push unit costs higher allegiant investors got even bigger shock last month company projected nonfuel unit costs surge 10 12 year year opens new window q4 increase driven substantial raises allegiant recently gave pilots well accelerated depreciation companys aging fleet md80 aircraft make matters worse allegiant isnt generating industryleading unit revenue performance like hawaiian airlines rasm fell 74 year year q3 still better companys original guidance allegiant expects rasm decline 55 75 q4 allegiant airs unit revenue still declining image source aldo bidini via wikimedia commons opens new window allegiant air likely continue facing higherthannormal unit cost inflation 2017 least laps impact new pilot contract next august bright side allegiants fleet renewal program steadily boosting carriers fuel efficiency mitigate impact fuel price increases costs matter ultracompetitive airline industry nevertheless investors probably overreacting unit cost increases hawaiian airlines allegiant air hawaiians rollout lieflat seats longhaul routes boost unit revenue growth image source hawaiian airlines hawaiian airlines well positioned offset unit cost increases next years unit revenue growth example carrier recently began selling new lieflat premium seats four longhaul routes flights beginning december 2017 beyond continued rollout lieflat seats allow hawaiian offset increase unit costs removing seats planes similarly various unit cost increases enable future unit revenue growth adding two planes interisland fleet allow hawaiian add capacity peak times new cargo maintenance facility support growing air cargo business new a321neo fleet help hawaiian airlines better match capacity demand west coast routes driving longterm unit revenue growth meanwhile allegiant able start reducing unit costs soon second half 2017 notably company moves toward standardizing a320family aircraft next three years maintenance costs decline accelerated depreciation existing md80 757 fleets end allegiants unit revenue also starting recover expected turn positive second half 2017 hawaiian holdings allegiant travel could see profitability slip near term carriers attractive longterm growth opportunities able maintain doubledigit profit margins foreseeable future recent selloffs stocks created good entry points patient investors secret billiondollar stock opportunity worlds biggest tech company forgot show something wall street analysts fool didnt miss beat theres small company thats powering brandnew gadgets coming revolution technology think stock price nearly unlimited room run early intheknow investors one click opens new window adam levineweinberg opens new window owns shares hawaiian holdings motley fool position stocks mentioned try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 665 |
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<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
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<p>Physical gold has had a phenomenal year. After a multiyear downtrend, the lustrous yellow metal is up by more than $260 an ounce year to date, and spot gold logged its best performance during the first quarter since 1986. Without question, some of the biggest benefactors of this march higher in gold prices have been the mining companies themselves.</p>
<p>One of those beneficiaries is large-cap miner Barrick Gold (NYSE: ABX), which is up a brisk 148% year to date. Gains of this magnitude are bound to turn investors' heads. But the big question is whether Barrick Gold has the momentum to continue heading higher or whether this move has been fool's gold all along.</p>
<p>To answer this, we've enlisted the help of two of our Fool contributors. Not surprisingly, they each have a markedly different view on where Barrick Gold could be headed next. Here's what they had to say.</p>
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<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFUltraLong/info.aspx" type="external">Sean Williams Opens a New Window.</a>: Gold stocks haven't had an easy go of things since 2011, but theoutlook for the industry and Barrick have made a 180-degree turn. Now, even after a substantial rally from its lows in 2016, I'd suggest Barrick Gold could make for a solid long-term buy.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>There are fundamental and psychological factors fueling spot gold's ascent that I anticipate will continue. For example, there is the traditional uncertainty present that sparks buying interest in gold. Britain's exit from the European Union, who will be the 45th president of the United States, and China's slowing GDP growth are all unknowns that send anxiety-driveninvestors flocking to gold. Physical demand for gold is also on the rise, with central banks and investors gobbling up the precious metal.</p>
<p>However, the biggest underlying catalyst for gold is low global yields. Everything revolves around opportunity cost, which is the idea of giving up guaranteed gains in one asset for possible larger gains in another. Right now, global yields in the U.S., Japan, U.K., and Britain are all at or near record lows. This means that while nominal gains from bonds are possible, investors in fixed-income assets like government bonds are probably going to lose real money to inflation. This makes buying gold in a low-interest rate environment the logical choice. The higher gold prices go, the more miners like Barrick Gold will benefit.</p>
<p>Beyond just rising gold prices, Barrick Gold has fundamental factors that make it attractive. Leading the pack is its sector-leading low all-in sustaining costs (AISC). When I <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/05/22/can-you-guess-which-gold-miner-has-the-lowest-all.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">examined the largest gold miners Opens a New Window.</a> in May, not one was projected to deliver a lower AISC in fiscal year 2016 than Barrick. This is a result of Barrick throwing its capital at only its top-tier projects. Based on Barrick's second-quarter report, full-year capital expenditures are only expected to total $1.25 billion to $1.4 billion, which is actually down from the first quarter by $100 million on the low end of the range and $150 million on the high end. The midpoint of its 2016 capex is just half of what it had been on track to spend only four years prior. Looking ahead, Barrick Gold's AISC in 2016 is down to just $770 an ounce at the midpoint, which would yield well over $500 an ounce in margin based on gold's current spot price.</p>
<p>Image source: Barrick Gold.</p>
<p>Barrick Gold has also made incredible progress in getting the biggest monkey off its back: debt. At the end of 2014, Barrick had more than $13 billion in debt, which constrained its ability to maneuver and invest in new projects. After reducing its debt by more than $3.1 billion in 2015, following the sale of non-core assets, the company is on track to pay off another $2 billion this year. Through two quarters, Barrick has reduced debt by $968 million in 2016. The company remains firmly on track to hit its intermediate goal of $5 billion or less in debt by 2018 or 2019, which with lower net interest payments could help push its AISC under $700 an ounce.</p>
<p>What we have with Barrick is a company with falling AISC, reduced and now manageable debt levels, and a product that it mines seemingly poised to increase in value in a low-yield environment. That, to me, is a recipe to buy.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/Nehams/info.aspx" type="external">Neha Chamaria Opens a New Window.</a>: There's no denying that Barrick Gold is one of the strongest gold miners today, thanks to its aggressive efforts to reduce AISC and deleverage its balance sheet, as Sean pointed out. That said, investing in Barrick has its fair share of risks, and you may be better off avoiding it for several reasons.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>First things first: No one can predict where gold prices are headed, and even the slightest fluctuation can cause gut-wrenching movements in Barrick's stock. Barrick lost a whopping 17% in just one week as of this writing, as gold cooled off in anticipation of a Fed rate hike in near months. Meanwhile, surging gold prices sent demand from the world's top two gold-consuming nations, India and China, lower by 14% and 18%, respectively, during the second quarter.</p>
<p>The point I'm trying to drive home is that there are too many unpredictable variables that drive gold prices, and the yellow metal could reverse its gains just as quickly if the unknowns don't play out as anticipated. While that could send Barrick shares tumbling, it's also worth knowing how sensitive Barrick's earnings are to gold prices: For every $100 per-ounce increase or decrease in gold prices, Barrick's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) could increase or decrease by roughly $536 million. That's a huge risk to pay for when you realize that Barrick incurred EBITDA losses worth $710 millionin 2015. Not to mention that Barrick hasn't turned a profit since 2011.</p>
<p>Image source: Barrick Gold.</p>
<p>I'm also a tad concerned about Barrick's declining gold production rates, as it's guiding for 4.6 million to 5.1 million ounces of gold for 2018. That's an 18% to 26% decline from its 2014 production levels. Lower volumes -- a price Barrick is paying for its moves to alleviate debt through the sale of non-core assets -- could prove a setback if demand for gold continues to rise.</p>
<p>Barrick is weighing options to develop Pascua-Lama -- a high-potential Chilean project it mothballed after running into legal hassles that led to cost overruns of billions of dollars. However, it's an uphill task, as the risky project could require significant capital expenditures to get started, which would put tremendous pressure on Barrick's cash flows. Meanwhile, the gold miner continues to burn a hole in its pocket by spending millions of dollars annually on maintaining Pascua-Lama.</p>
<p>I could delve deeper into the several other risks associated with Barrick, but I'll stop here and give my verdict: You can find better options than investing in a stock that has more than tripled in one year despite the company making losses and lacking clarity as to when it'll turn profitable given the highly unpredictable nature of its business.</p>
<p>What's your take on Barrick Gold: Is it time to buy or keep your distance?</p>
<p>A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, <a href="http://www.fool.com/mms/mark/ecap-foolcom-apple-wearable?aid=6965&amp;source=irbeditxt0000017&amp;ftm_cam=rb-wearable-d&amp;ftm_pit=2692&amp;ftm_veh=article_pitch&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">just click here Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/Nehams/info.aspx" type="external">Neha Chamaria</a>and <a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFUltraLong/info.aspx" type="external">Sean Williams</a> have no position in any stocks mentioned.The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/motley.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | image source getty images continue reading physical gold phenomenal year multiyear downtrend lustrous yellow metal 260 ounce year date spot gold logged best performance first quarter since 1986 without question biggest benefactors march higher gold prices mining companies one beneficiaries largecap miner barrick gold nyse abx brisk 148 year date gains magnitude bound turn investors heads big question whether barrick gold momentum continue heading higher whether move fools gold along answer weve enlisted help two fool contributors surprisingly markedly different view barrick gold could headed next heres say advertisement sean williams opens new window gold stocks havent easy go things since 2011 theoutlook industry barrick made 180degree turn even substantial rally lows 2016 id suggest barrick gold could make solid longterm buy image source getty images fundamental psychological factors fueling spot golds ascent anticipate continue example traditional uncertainty present sparks buying interest gold britains exit european union 45th president united states chinas slowing gdp growth unknowns send anxietydriveninvestors flocking gold physical demand gold also rise central banks investors gobbling precious metal however biggest underlying catalyst gold low global yields everything revolves around opportunity cost idea giving guaranteed gains one asset possible larger gains another right global yields us japan uk britain near record lows means nominal gains bonds possible investors fixedincome assets like government bonds probably going lose real money inflation makes buying gold lowinterest rate environment logical choice higher gold prices go miners like barrick gold benefit beyond rising gold prices barrick gold fundamental factors make attractive leading pack sectorleading low allin sustaining costs aisc examined largest gold miners opens new window may one projected deliver lower aisc fiscal year 2016 barrick result barrick throwing capital toptier projects based barricks secondquarter report fullyear capital expenditures expected total 125 billion 14 billion actually first quarter 100 million low end range 150 million high end midpoint 2016 capex half track spend four years prior looking ahead barrick golds aisc 2016 770 ounce midpoint would yield well 500 ounce margin based golds current spot price image source barrick gold barrick gold also made incredible progress getting biggest monkey back debt end 2014 barrick 13 billion debt constrained ability maneuver invest new projects reducing debt 31 billion 2015 following sale noncore assets company track pay another 2 billion year two quarters barrick reduced debt 968 million 2016 company remains firmly track hit intermediate goal 5 billion less debt 2018 2019 lower net interest payments could help push aisc 700 ounce barrick company falling aisc reduced manageable debt levels product mines seemingly poised increase value lowyield environment recipe buy neha chamaria opens new window theres denying barrick gold one strongest gold miners today thanks aggressive efforts reduce aisc deleverage balance sheet sean pointed said investing barrick fair share risks may better avoiding several reasons image source getty images first things first one predict gold prices headed even slightest fluctuation cause gutwrenching movements barricks stock barrick lost whopping 17 one week writing gold cooled anticipation fed rate hike near months meanwhile surging gold prices sent demand worlds top two goldconsuming nations india china lower 14 18 respectively second quarter point im trying drive home many unpredictable variables drive gold prices yellow metal could reverse gains quickly unknowns dont play anticipated could send barrick shares tumbling also worth knowing sensitive barricks earnings gold prices every 100 perounce increase decrease gold prices barricks earnings interest taxes depreciation amortization ebitda could increase decrease roughly 536 million thats huge risk pay realize barrick incurred ebitda losses worth 710 millionin 2015 mention barrick hasnt turned profit since 2011 image source barrick gold im also tad concerned barricks declining gold production rates guiding 46 million 51 million ounces gold 2018 thats 18 26 decline 2014 production levels lower volumes price barrick paying moves alleviate debt sale noncore assets could prove setback demand gold continues rise barrick weighing options develop pascualama highpotential chilean project mothballed running legal hassles led cost overruns billions dollars however uphill task risky project could require significant capital expenditures get started would put tremendous pressure barricks cash flows meanwhile gold miner continues burn hole pocket spending millions dollars annually maintaining pascualama could delve deeper several risks associated barrick ill stop give verdict find better options investing stock tripled one year despite company making losses lacking clarity itll turn profitable given highly unpredictable nature business whats take barrick gold time buy keep distance secret billiondollar stock opportunity worlds biggest tech company forgot show something wall street analysts fool didnt miss beat theres small company thats powering brandnew gadgets coming revolution technology think stock price nearly unlimited room run early intheknow investors one click opens new window neha chamariaand sean williams position stocks mentionedthe motley fool position stocks mentioned try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 812 |
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<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
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<p>Dividend stocks are often the driving force of a well-rounded retirement portfolio.</p>
<p>Theyoffer three key advantages that can be quite attractive to long-term investors.First, they are a sign of a company's proven long-term track record. A business wouldn't consider sharing its profits if the management team didn't believe those profits were sustainable.Second, dividend stocks can help to hedge against inevitable downturns in the stock market. Since 1950, theS&amp;P 500has had 35 separate stock market corrections of at least 10% when rounding to the nearest integer. While a dividend is unlikely to erase the paper losses created by a stock market downturn, it can help reduce investors' anxiety and mitigate some of their losses.</p>
<p>Last, dividend payments can be reinvested into more shares of stock. This is referred to as a dividend reinvestment plan, or Drip. Using a Drip can accelerate your capital gains by creating a virtuous cycle in which your holding in the company slowly grows, pushing your dividend higher and thus growing your reinvestment in the stock and so on. It's like kicking compound interest into a higher gear.</p>
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<p>Despite the S&amp;P 500's 9.5% yearly gain in 2016, quite a few top-notch dividend-paying stocks ended the year lower. In fact, a quick screen of stocks yielding at least 3% with a minimum market cap of $2 billion and a loss in value in 2016 of 5% or higher produced just over five dozen companies. Among them are three that stand out as top dividend stocks selling at discounts this winter.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>One of the more attractive top dividend stocks this winter, and the only one of the three that's currently a holding in my personal portfolio, is branded and generic drug developer Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (NYSE: TEVA).</p>
<p>There's no way to sugarcoat it: Teva had a rough year. A lengthier-than-expected acquisition of Actavis from Allergan, a late-year earnings warning, and fears that lead branded drug Copaxone would be ravaged by generic competition sent Teva's stock down by 43% in 2016. While it wasn't a banner performance, there are a number of positives for Teva as we enter 2017.</p>
<p>To begin with, the Actavis acquisition is a transformation for Teva in that it now makes it the clear leader in generic drug development. Aside from the expectation that the synergies from the deal will lead to $1.4 billion in cost savings annually by 2019, having such a broad generic portfolio should give Teva better pricing power on its generic products. According to management, Teva anticipates to launch about 1,500 generic products worldwide in 2017.</p>
<p>Copaxone's patent loss has also largely been a non-event. Teva was able to use the legal process to keep generic competitors off the market long enough to reformulate its once-daily injectable multiple sclerosis drug to be taken three times weekly. As a more convenient formulation but maintaining the Copaxone brand name, Teva should be able to hang on to its core physicians and customers, losing little revenue in the process.</p>
<p>Looking ahead to 2017, Teva is valued at less than seven times its forecasted profits and is paying out a 3.2% yield. It's an attractive top dividend stock in the healthcare space.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>Another top dividend stock that should have the attention of income and value investors is old-school technology giant Xerox (NYSE: XRX).</p>
<p>Xerox's multiple attempts at a turnaround haven't been nearly as successful as management would have liked, and more recently a steady downturn in its largest revenue generator, its document and printing services, has further hampered its top and bottom lines. However, Xerox has one change on its near-term docket that could finally get the company steered in the right direction.</p>
<p>As announced in late Jan. 2016, Xerox is splitting into two separate companies. One, which will retain the Xerox name, will be comprised of its document services, such as printing and document digitization. The other, which will be known as Conduent, will cover its outsourcing businesses, such as human resources and accounting.</p>
<p>The document business may be struggling with declining revenues, but the separation of the two companies is expected to save a combined $2.4 billion over the next three years. This should help ebb some of the revenue decline in the legacy Xerox business. What's more, just as Wall Street witnessed with the HPsplit, the legacy business for Xerox is liable to offer a healthy 3% or so yield in order to attract long-term income-seeking investors. On the flip side, the outsourcing business offers a source of considerably faster-growth prospects, which should allow its software services to shine.</p>
<p>The combined Xerox is valued at less than eight times its forward profits and is yielding 3.6%. That's a pretty enticing value if you ask me.</p>
<p>2017 Ford F-150 Raptor. Image source: Ford Motor.</p>
<p>One of Detroit's finest, Ford (NYSE: F), could also be worth a look. An earnings warning and expectations of an auto sales peak in 2017 or 2018 have some pundits bearish on Ford. Yet, the 8% decline in 2016 could mark the perfect time for investors to take a position.</p>
<p>Arguably the most attractive aspect of Ford is its growth potential in China. China is the world's largest auto market, yet it's still in its infancy, with a burgeoning middle class eager for the luxury of owning a car. In early December, Ford announced that its China sales, in combination with its joint venture, had surpassed 1 million vehicles in 2016 as of November. The company also noted that its November sales rose 17% to a monthly record of 124,113 vehicles, all while sales of its Ford Explorer rose 73%. China is still a prime opportunity for Ford to showcase its innovation in the years to come.</p>
<p>At the same time, Ford has and could continue to benefit from historically low lending rates and lower fuel prices. Even with the Federal Reserve hiking rates in December, it marks just two 25-basis-point increases over the past decade. Low lending rates make it easier for consumers to open up their wallet and buy new cars. Furthermore, low prices at the pump have made it more appealing to buy trucks and SUVs as opposed to sedans. These traditional gas hogs also bear higher margins for Ford.</p>
<p>With pundits probably taking too pessimistic a stance on Ford, I believe its forward P/E of seven and its nearly 5% dividend yield make it a top dividend stock to consider buying this winter.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than Ford When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=544ac2fa-7ead-4f7c-abe7-4204bceef7eb&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and Ford wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
<p><a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=544ac2fa-7ead-4f7c-abe7-4204bceef7eb&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Click here Opens a New Window.</a> to learn about these picks!</p>
<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of Nov. 7, 2016</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFUltraLong/info.aspx" type="external">Sean Williams Opens a New Window.</a>owns shares of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, but has no material interest in any other companies mentioned in this article. You can follow him on CAPS under the screen name <a href="http://caps.fool.com/player/tmfultralong.aspx" type="external">TMFUltraLong Opens a New Window.</a>, and check him out on Twitter, where he goes by the handle <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/TMFUltraLong" type="external">@TMFUltraLong Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Ford. The Motley Fool recommends Teva Pharmaceutical Industries. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | image source getty images continue reading dividend stocks often driving force wellrounded retirement portfolio theyoffer three key advantages quite attractive longterm investorsfirst sign companys proven longterm track record business wouldnt consider sharing profits management team didnt believe profits sustainablesecond dividend stocks help hedge inevitable downturns stock market since 1950 thesampp 500has 35 separate stock market corrections least 10 rounding nearest integer dividend unlikely erase paper losses created stock market downturn help reduce investors anxiety mitigate losses last dividend payments reinvested shares stock referred dividend reinvestment plan drip using drip accelerate capital gains creating virtuous cycle holding company slowly grows pushing dividend higher thus growing reinvestment stock like kicking compound interest higher gear advertisement despite sampp 500s 95 yearly gain 2016 quite topnotch dividendpaying stocks ended year lower fact quick screen stocks yielding least 3 minimum market cap 2 billion loss value 2016 5 higher produced five dozen companies among three stand top dividend stocks selling discounts winter image source getty images one attractive top dividend stocks winter one three thats currently holding personal portfolio branded generic drug developer teva pharmaceutical industries nyse teva theres way sugarcoat teva rough year lengthierthanexpected acquisition actavis allergan lateyear earnings warning fears lead branded drug copaxone would ravaged generic competition sent tevas stock 43 2016 wasnt banner performance number positives teva enter 2017 begin actavis acquisition transformation teva makes clear leader generic drug development aside expectation synergies deal lead 14 billion cost savings annually 2019 broad generic portfolio give teva better pricing power generic products according management teva anticipates launch 1500 generic products worldwide 2017 copaxones patent loss also largely nonevent teva able use legal process keep generic competitors market long enough reformulate oncedaily injectable multiple sclerosis drug taken three times weekly convenient formulation maintaining copaxone brand name teva able hang core physicians customers losing little revenue process looking ahead 2017 teva valued less seven times forecasted profits paying 32 yield attractive top dividend stock healthcare space image source getty images another top dividend stock attention income value investors oldschool technology giant xerox nyse xrx xeroxs multiple attempts turnaround havent nearly successful management would liked recently steady downturn largest revenue generator document printing services hampered top bottom lines however xerox one change nearterm docket could finally get company steered right direction announced late jan 2016 xerox splitting two separate companies one retain xerox name comprised document services printing document digitization known conduent cover outsourcing businesses human resources accounting document business may struggling declining revenues separation two companies expected save combined 24 billion next three years help ebb revenue decline legacy xerox business whats wall street witnessed hpsplit legacy business xerox liable offer healthy 3 yield order attract longterm incomeseeking investors flip side outsourcing business offers source considerably fastergrowth prospects allow software services shine combined xerox valued less eight times forward profits yielding 36 thats pretty enticing value ask 2017 ford f150 raptor image source ford motor one detroits finest ford nyse f could also worth look earnings warning expectations auto sales peak 2017 2018 pundits bearish ford yet 8 decline 2016 could mark perfect time investors take position arguably attractive aspect ford growth potential china china worlds largest auto market yet still infancy burgeoning middle class eager luxury owning car early december ford announced china sales combination joint venture surpassed 1 million vehicles 2016 november company also noted november sales rose 17 monthly record 124113 vehicles sales ford explorer rose 73 china still prime opportunity ford showcase innovation years come time ford could continue benefit historically low lending rates lower fuel prices even federal reserve hiking rates december marks two 25basispoint increases past decade low lending rates make easier consumers open wallet buy new cars furthermore low prices pump made appealing buy trucks suvs opposed sedans traditional gas hogs also bear higher margins ford pundits probably taking pessimistic stance ford believe forward pe seven nearly 5 dividend yield make top dividend stock consider buying winter 10 stocks like better ford investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right ford wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns nov 7 2016 sean williams opens new windowowns shares teva pharmaceutical industries material interest companies mentioned article follow caps screen name tmfultralong opens new window check twitter goes handle tmfultralong opens new window motley fool owns shares recommends ford motley fool recommends teva pharmaceutical industries motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 758 |
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<p>Image source: Apple.</p>
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<p>Warren Buffett's investing prowess reflects in Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE: BRK-A)(NYSE: BRK-B)stupendous performance: The stock's gains are more than double that of S&amp;P 500 returns this year, as they generally have been over the past five decades. After all, it isn't a fluke that Buffett has earned the label of being one of the greatest investors of all times.</p>
<p>However, as much as Buffett is known for his knack for buying great businesses and holding them for the long term, even his stock picks can fall short of expectations sometimes. When we asked three of our contributors to each name one stock they believe Buffett is dead wrong about, they came up with General Motors (NYSE: GM),Deere &amp; Company (NYSE: DE), and Apple(NASDAQ: AAPL).</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFEBCapital/info.aspx" type="external">Todd Campbell Opens a New Window.</a> (General Motors): Let's face it. Buffett's better than anyone else at picking stocks, including you, me, and the Fed. But based on Fed research, a policy of interest rate hikes could make Buffett's 50-million share General Motors bet a losing one.</p>
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<p>According to a NY Federal Reserve white paper last year, autos are one of the most economically sensitive businesses to interest rate increases. Specifically, their research "predicts that in the short-run a 100-basis-point increase in interest rates will cause light vehicle production to fall at an annual rate of 12 percent and sales to fall at an annual rate of 3.25 percent."</p>
<p>If that's so, then the Fed's recent policy decision to bump up rates, and potentially hike rates more in 2017, could mark the end of the party for General Motors, which has seen sales skyrocket since the recession due in part to easy money policies that have made automobile interest rates incredibly attractive.</p>
<p>Granted, the Fed's path right now appears to be one that will spread out the increases over time, which should make their impact more manageable for the industry. However, investors might not want to ignore the risk that higher-rate loans may pose on demand, particularly since General Motors' shares are trading much closer to their post-recession highs than they are to their lows.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/Nehams/info.aspx" type="external">Neha Chamaria Opens a New Window.</a>(Deere &amp; Company): As an iconic American brand that dominates the global farm-equipment industry, it isn't surprising to see Deere in Buffett's portfolio. However, farm equipment is among the most volatile businesses there are as its fortunes are subject to the vagaries of crop prices and farm income -- two highly unpredictable and uncontrollable factors. That also makes Deere's earnings highly unstable.</p>
<p>Strangely, the recent run up in Deere's stock -- 25% in the past quarter -- doesn't quite match up with farming's fundamentals. The demand for farm equipment, especially the costlier, high-horsepower machines that generate higher margins for Deere, depends largely on farm income. Deere shares and the farm price for key crops corn and soybean are moving in opposite directions right now, which defies logic.</p>
<p><a href="http://ycharts.com/companies/DE" type="external">DE</a> data by <a href="http://ycharts.com" type="external">YCharts Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>The market is clearly ignoring the signs and betting on Deere's cost-cutting efforts to boost margins, but there's only so much the company can do. In fact, Deere is guiding for lower sales volumes and an 8% decline in its net profits for financial year 2017. In other words, there's still time before we can call it a bottom. In fact, farm cycles last several years, so when things will turn around is anyone's guess. My biggest concern? Deere's stock hit all-time highs some days ago, despite decelerating profits and persistent headwinds.</p>
<p>Deere makes up a small portion of Berkshire's portfolio, and it might have even been picked by one of Buffett's investing managers, Todd Combs or Ted Weschler, but Buffett's company remains Deere's largest institutional investor, and the stock is among Berkshire's 15 largest holdings. That could backfire, and investors might be better off avoiding this agriculture stock altogether.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFBargainBin/info.aspx" type="external">Tim Green Opens a New Window.</a> (Apple): <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/05/18/apple-is-not-a-warren-buffett-stock.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Berkshire Hathaway invested $1 billion in Apple Opens a New Window.</a> earlier this year, a move that didn't seem Buffett-esque at all. That's because it wasn't -- the investment was made by one of two investment managers who handle a portion of Berkshire's vast stock portfolio. Buffett himself had nothing to do with the investment; he gives his managers free reign to pick stocks without consulting him.</p>
<p>I don't think investing in Apple is a great idea, despite its beaten-down valuation. The company is heavily dependent on the iPhone, deriving the majority of its revenue from that single product. Mid-range phones have become better over the years, and Apple is doing pretty awful in certain markets, namely China, where lower-priced competition is proving difficult to handle. Apple's revenue from China tumbled 30% year over year during the fourth quarter, reflecting these challenges.</p>
<p>The odds of Apple coming up with another hit on the scale of the iPhone is unlikely. The company is focused on growing its services business, looking to better monetize its massive install base, but Apple makes nearly all of its money selling hardware. iPhone unit sales dropped 13% in the fourth quarter compared to the prior-year period, and while there's hope that an amazing iPhone 8 launch next year will reinvigorate sales, Apple may genuinely be out of ideas.</p>
<p>Apple looks like a value stock, but I'm not convinced the company can maintain its earnings, let alone grow them, going forward. That's why I think Berkshire is dead wrong on Apple.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than Deere &amp; Company When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=68f8f240-248a-4d3e-a388-33f743b1245d&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now...and Deere &amp; Company wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
<p><a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=68f8f240-248a-4d3e-a388-33f743b1245d&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Click here Opens a New Window.</a> to learn about these picks!</p>
<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of Nov. 7, 2016.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/Nehams/info.aspx" type="external">Neha Chamaria</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. <a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFBargainBin/info.aspx" type="external">Timothy Green</a> owns shares of Berkshire Hathaway (B shares) and General Motors. <a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/EBCapitalMarkets/info.aspx" type="external">Todd Campbell Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of Apple. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Apple and Berkshire Hathaway (B shares). The Motley Fool is short Deere &amp; Company and has the following options: long January 2018 $90 calls on Apple and short January 2018 $95 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool recommends General Motors. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/motley.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | image source apple continue reading warren buffetts investing prowess reflects berkshire hathaways nyse brkanyse brkbstupendous performance stocks gains double sampp 500 returns year generally past five decades isnt fluke buffett earned label one greatest investors times however much buffett known knack buying great businesses holding long term even stock picks fall short expectations sometimes asked three contributors name one stock believe buffett dead wrong came general motors nyse gmdeere amp company nyse de applenasdaq aapl todd campbell opens new window general motors lets face buffetts better anyone else picking stocks including fed based fed research policy interest rate hikes could make buffetts 50million share general motors bet losing one advertisement according ny federal reserve white paper last year autos one economically sensitive businesses interest rate increases specifically research predicts shortrun 100basispoint increase interest rates cause light vehicle production fall annual rate 12 percent sales fall annual rate 325 percent thats feds recent policy decision bump rates potentially hike rates 2017 could mark end party general motors seen sales skyrocket since recession due part easy money policies made automobile interest rates incredibly attractive granted feds path right appears one spread increases time make impact manageable industry however investors might want ignore risk higherrate loans may pose demand particularly since general motors shares trading much closer postrecession highs lows neha chamaria opens new windowdeere amp company iconic american brand dominates global farmequipment industry isnt surprising see deere buffetts portfolio however farm equipment among volatile businesses fortunes subject vagaries crop prices farm income two highly unpredictable uncontrollable factors also makes deeres earnings highly unstable strangely recent run deeres stock 25 past quarter doesnt quite match farmings fundamentals demand farm equipment especially costlier highhorsepower machines generate higher margins deere depends largely farm income deere shares farm price key crops corn soybean moving opposite directions right defies logic de data ycharts opens new window market clearly ignoring signs betting deeres costcutting efforts boost margins theres much company fact deere guiding lower sales volumes 8 decline net profits financial year 2017 words theres still time call bottom fact farm cycles last several years things turn around anyones guess biggest concern deeres stock hit alltime highs days ago despite decelerating profits persistent headwinds deere makes small portion berkshires portfolio might even picked one buffetts investing managers todd combs ted weschler buffetts company remains deeres largest institutional investor stock among berkshires 15 largest holdings could backfire investors might better avoiding agriculture stock altogether tim green opens new window apple berkshire hathaway invested 1 billion apple opens new window earlier year move didnt seem buffettesque thats wasnt investment made one two investment managers handle portion berkshires vast stock portfolio buffett nothing investment gives managers free reign pick stocks without consulting dont think investing apple great idea despite beatendown valuation company heavily dependent iphone deriving majority revenue single product midrange phones become better years apple pretty awful certain markets namely china lowerpriced competition proving difficult handle apples revenue china tumbled 30 year year fourth quarter reflecting challenges odds apple coming another hit scale iphone unlikely company focused growing services business looking better monetize massive install base apple makes nearly money selling hardware iphone unit sales dropped 13 fourth quarter compared prioryear period theres hope amazing iphone 8 launch next year reinvigorate sales apple may genuinely ideas apple looks like value stock im convinced company maintain earnings let alone grow going forward thats think berkshire dead wrong apple 10 stocks like better deere amp company investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right nowand deere amp company wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns nov 7 2016 neha chamaria position stocks mentioned timothy green owns shares berkshire hathaway b shares general motors todd campbell opens new window owns shares apple motley fool owns shares recommends apple berkshire hathaway b shares motley fool short deere amp company following options long january 2018 90 calls apple short january 2018 95 calls apple motley fool recommends general motors try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 722 |
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<p>Gold prices have been very volatile lately, but at around $1,250 per ounce, the yellow metal is trading near the same level it was exactly a year ago. That, however, hasn't deterred Royal Gold, Inc. (NASDAQ: RGLD) bulls who have pushed shares of the precious metals streaming company up almost 37% in one year as of this writing. This stunning rally is making investors skeptical, especially given that Royal Gold is already way ahead of rival precious metal streaming companies Franco-Nevada Corp (NYSE: FNV) and Silver Wheaton Corp (NYSE: SLW).</p>
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<p>It's fair to be cautious, but long-term investors have three solid reasons to not worry about Royal Gold.</p>
<p>You'd be right to feel jittery if Royal Gold's operational performance wasn't up to mark. Fortunately for investors, the company is growing at a strong pace.</p>
<p>Royal Gold generated record operating cash flow last quarter backed by 9% growth on its top line. Its profits jumped to $58 million for the six months ended Dec. 31, 2016 versus a loss of $30 million in the year-ago period. While a huge tax expense dented its year-ago profits, Royal Gold's operating income still came in almost 55% higher during the six-month period. Going by these numbers, fiscal year 2017 (ending June 30) could be a record year in terms of revenue and operating cash flows. From that standpoint, the market isn't wrong to be bidding the stock up.</p>
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<p>While no stock is risk-free, Royal Gold looks safe for now. Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>Royal Gold is currently reaping the fruits of investments made during the weak business cycle of 2014-2015 when gold prices were languishing. Not one to miss the opportunity, Royal Gold struck several agreements, paying cash-strapped miners upfront and securing valuable metal streams in return. Royal Gold is a streaming and royalty company that buys gold and silver from miners in exchange for upfront financing. To give you an example, Royal Gold paid $610 million to Barrick Gold (NYSE: ABX) in 2015 and can purchase a percentage of the gold and silver produced from Barrick's 60% interest in Pueblo Viejo -- also one of the world's largest gold mines -- for life.</p>
<p>Naturally, Royal Gold stands to gain when miners expand production. The best part is that it doesn't have to bear any costs and risks associated with mining and can also buy precious metals at discounted prices per its streaming agreements. What matters for investors is that Royal Gold <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/03/29/x-large-reasons-to-buy-royal-gold-inc-and-never-se.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">has already invested in the future Opens a New Window.</a>: It has interests in 22 developing mines across the globe, including North America, Australia, Chile, and Argentina. That, combined with the expansion potential of its existing mines, should secure revenues for the company for years to come.</p>
<p>Royal Gold grew its revenue and operating cash flow at annual compounded rates of 29% and 25%, respectively, during the decade through June 30, 2016. Those are incredible numbers, and shareholders have been rewarded richly along the way -- Royal Gold has not only paid but increased its dividend every year since 2000. Royal Gold's dividend has grown at a stupendous compounded annual clip of 20% since.</p>
<p>Forget about growth, even stable dividends are rare in a commoditized industry, which is why Royal Gold stands out. None of its streaming peers or even mining giants like Barrick boasts a dividend record even close. Just check the blue line in the dividend per share chart below to see what I mean:</p>
<p><a href="http://ycharts.com/companies/RGLD/dividend" type="external">RGLD Dividend</a> data by <a href="http://ycharts.com" type="external">YCharts Opens a New Window.</a></p>
<p>Maintaining a "growing and sustainable dividend" is among management's key priorities, which means investors in Royal Gold can bank on dividends while putting up with any volatility in the stock price.</p>
<p>Another area where Royal Gold's strong cash flows have worked in shareholders' favor is that management has been able to avoid frequent stock issues to raise funds -- an approach common in the streaming business. Not having to watch your capital getting diluted while enjoying stable dividends is something every investor seeks.</p>
<p>The biggest concern for investors right now is whether Royal Gold stock is overvalued after its recent run up. The answer is, "No" when it's compared with Silver Wheaton and Franco-Nevada.</p>
<p><a href="http://ycharts.com/companies/RGLD/price_to_cfo_ttm" type="external">RGLD Price to CFO Per Share (TTM)</a> data by <a href="http://ycharts.com" type="external">YCharts</a></p>
<p>Maybe not really a steal, but Royal Gold isn't pricey either. Most importantly, the stock is still trading below its five-year average price-to-sales and price-to-cash-flow despite its revenues and cash flows hitting record highs. In other words, there appears to be greater upside potential in Royal Gold than downside, and the stock looks poised to be a winner in the long run even at current prices.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than Royal GoldWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=6496643f-1136-4329-91b4-3b38923e907c&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and Royal Gold wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
<p><a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=6496643f-1136-4329-91b4-3b38923e907c&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Click here Opens a New Window.</a> to learn about these picks!</p>
<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of April 3, 2017</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/Nehams/info.aspx" type="external">Neha Chamaria Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of Silver Wheaton. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | gold prices volatile lately around 1250 per ounce yellow metal trading near level exactly year ago however hasnt deterred royal gold inc nasdaq rgld bulls pushed shares precious metals streaming company almost 37 one year writing stunning rally making investors skeptical especially given royal gold already way ahead rival precious metal streaming companies franconevada corp nyse fnv silver wheaton corp nyse slw continue reading fair cautious longterm investors three solid reasons worry royal gold youd right feel jittery royal golds operational performance wasnt mark fortunately investors company growing strong pace royal gold generated record operating cash flow last quarter backed 9 growth top line profits jumped 58 million six months ended dec 31 2016 versus loss 30 million yearago period huge tax expense dented yearago profits royal golds operating income still came almost 55 higher sixmonth period going numbers fiscal year 2017 ending june 30 could record year terms revenue operating cash flows standpoint market isnt wrong bidding stock advertisement stock riskfree royal gold looks safe image source getty images royal gold currently reaping fruits investments made weak business cycle 20142015 gold prices languishing one miss opportunity royal gold struck several agreements paying cashstrapped miners upfront securing valuable metal streams return royal gold streaming royalty company buys gold silver miners exchange upfront financing give example royal gold paid 610 million barrick gold nyse abx 2015 purchase percentage gold silver produced barricks 60 interest pueblo viejo also one worlds largest gold mines life naturally royal gold stands gain miners expand production best part doesnt bear costs risks associated mining also buy precious metals discounted prices per streaming agreements matters investors royal gold already invested future opens new window interests 22 developing mines across globe including north america australia chile argentina combined expansion potential existing mines secure revenues company years come royal gold grew revenue operating cash flow annual compounded rates 29 25 respectively decade june 30 2016 incredible numbers shareholders rewarded richly along way royal gold paid increased dividend every year since 2000 royal golds dividend grown stupendous compounded annual clip 20 since forget growth even stable dividends rare commoditized industry royal gold stands none streaming peers even mining giants like barrick boasts dividend record even close check blue line dividend per share chart see mean rgld dividend data ycharts opens new window maintaining growing sustainable dividend among managements key priorities means investors royal gold bank dividends putting volatility stock price another area royal golds strong cash flows worked shareholders favor management able avoid frequent stock issues raise funds approach common streaming business watch capital getting diluted enjoying stable dividends something every investor seeks biggest concern investors right whether royal gold stock overvalued recent run answer compared silver wheaton franconevada rgld price cfo per share ttm data ycharts maybe really steal royal gold isnt pricey either importantly stock still trading fiveyear average pricetosales pricetocashflow despite revenues cash flows hitting record highs words appears greater upside potential royal gold downside stock looks poised winner long run even current prices 10 stocks like better royal goldwhen investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right royal gold wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns april 3 2017 neha chamaria opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool owns shares silver wheaton motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 579 |
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<p>Oil prices going up will be great for these three companies. Image source: ExxonMobil.</p>
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<p>It takes courage to be an energy investor these days. It seems that every oil rally fails when report after report screams "oversupply". Investors buy, thinking that prices can't go any lower, and the market promptly proves them wrong by heading south. Given the recent history of failed sustained recoveries, many investors must wonder if the current rally that has sent oil prices from the mid-$20s to $40 per barrel is sustainable.</p>
<p>Although no one knows what will happen to crude prices in the near term, there are three potential upside catalysts that can sustain the rally, and shares of three companies,ExxonMobil,Chevron,Schlumberger will each benefit if any of the events occur.</p>
<p>Summer is coming</p>
<p>Source:U.S. Energy Information Administration</p>
<p>Summer driving season is a positive catalyst for crude, as consumers drive more in summer. For example, crude inventories fell to 460.8 million barrels in September 2015 from 479.4 million barrels in May 2015, despite the oil glut. With gasoline prices so low, many consumers could drive more in 2016 than they did in 2015, and inventories could draw down faster than expected. With the market so focused on the inventory number, faster than expected inventory drawdowns would send crude prices higher. Falling inventories will also reduce the probability of the worst-case inventory-overflow scenario.</p>
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<p>Russia's "uncle" pointRussia, the second largest crude exporter in the world, may be in worse shape than Saudi Arabia. In part because crude prices are so low, Russia's economy is in shambles, and its leaders are nervous. Russia needs higher crude prices to sustain its budget and to finance its energy investments for the future. Because of its situation, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on January 28 that his country is ready to discuss a potential crude output cut with OPEC after many months of refusing to come the table.</p>
<p>Although the odds are still against a coordinated OPEC-Russia cut, the fact that Russia is willing to talk about potential cuts increases the probability of a solution. Russia and some major OPEC nations are next scheduled to meet on March 20 to discuss a potential production cap tostabilize crude prices.</p>
<p>Syria is a flash pointWith crude prices below $38 per barrel,the geopolitical premium for crude is pretty much nonexistent. Geopolitical premium could make a comeback, however, if the tentative ceasefire in Syria falters and things get out of hand. Currently Iran and Russia are indirectly fighting for the Assad regime, and Saudi Arabia is indirectly supporting the Assad rebels. If there is a confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Russia, the number one and number two largest crude exporters in the world, the resulting newspaper headlines could cause crude to spike.</p>
<p>Three stocks thatwouldbenefitAs I mentioned in another <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/02/03/exxon-chevron-and-schlumberger-3-energy-companies.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">article Opens a New Window.</a>, ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Schlumberger each have excellent balance sheets, attractive dividends, and will survive a prolonged downturn. All three stocks will also benefit if any of the above scenarios occur and crude prices rebound.</p>
<p>Although ExxonMobil and Chevron have substantial downstream businesses that won't benefit as much if crude prices rise, their upstream businesses will benefit enormously if crude prices recover. ExxonMobil's upstream business made $857 million in profits when Brent averaged $43.42 in the fourth quarter of 2015, versus the $5.4 billion it earned in the fourth quarter of 2014 when Brent averaged $76 per barrel. Chevron'supstream unit lost $1.36 billion in Q4 of 2015, versus the $2.67 billion in profit the unit made in Q4 of 2014 when crude prices were $32 higher.</p>
<p>Similarly, Schlumberger's profits should be higher if crude prices rise. Because oil producers will spend more on capital expenditures and oil field services if crude prices rebound, Schlumberger's fortunes should improve if crude prices head to $60 per barrel or higher. Schlumberger reported pre-tax operating income of $1.29 billion in Q4 2015, down from the $2.78 billion it earned in Q4 2014 at much higher oil prices.</p>
<p>Investor takeawayGiven that summer driving season is rapidly approaching and Russia is actively looking to stabilize the crude market, the recent rally might have some legs. If OPEC holds steady production, non-OPEC production falls faster than expectations, or if tensions in Syria get worse, crude prices could rally substantially. ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Schlumberger will each survive even if oil prices stay down longer, but will make substantially more profits when crude prices rise again.</p>
<p>The article <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/03/09/heres-how-crude-can-keep-rebounding-and-these-thre.aspx" type="external">Here's How Crude Can Keep Rebounding, and These Three Stocks Can Surge Opens a New Window.</a> originally appeared on Fool.com.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFJay22/info.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">TMFJay22 Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of ExxonMobil. The Motley Fool recommends Chevron. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/help/index.htm?display=about02" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | oil prices going great three companies image source exxonmobil continue reading takes courage energy investor days seems every oil rally fails report report screams oversupply investors buy thinking prices cant go lower market promptly proves wrong heading south given recent history failed sustained recoveries many investors must wonder current rally sent oil prices mid20s 40 per barrel sustainable although one knows happen crude prices near term three potential upside catalysts sustain rally shares three companiesexxonmobilchevronschlumberger benefit events occur summer coming sourceus energy information administration summer driving season positive catalyst crude consumers drive summer example crude inventories fell 4608 million barrels september 2015 4794 million barrels may 2015 despite oil glut gasoline prices low many consumers could drive 2016 2015 inventories could draw faster expected market focused inventory number faster expected inventory drawdowns would send crude prices higher falling inventories also reduce probability worstcase inventoryoverflow scenario advertisement russias uncle pointrussia second largest crude exporter world may worse shape saudi arabia part crude prices low russias economy shambles leaders nervous russia needs higher crude prices sustain budget finance energy investments future situation russian energy minister alexander novak said january 28 country ready discuss potential crude output cut opec many months refusing come table although odds still coordinated opecrussia cut fact russia willing talk potential cuts increases probability solution russia major opec nations next scheduled meet march 20 discuss potential production cap tostabilize crude prices syria flash pointwith crude prices 38 per barrelthe geopolitical premium crude pretty much nonexistent geopolitical premium could make comeback however tentative ceasefire syria falters things get hand currently iran russia indirectly fighting assad regime saudi arabia indirectly supporting assad rebels confrontation saudi arabia russia number one number two largest crude exporters world resulting newspaper headlines could cause crude spike three stocks thatwouldbenefitas mentioned another article opens new window exxonmobil chevron schlumberger excellent balance sheets attractive dividends survive prolonged downturn three stocks also benefit scenarios occur crude prices rebound although exxonmobil chevron substantial downstream businesses wont benefit much crude prices rise upstream businesses benefit enormously crude prices recover exxonmobils upstream business made 857 million profits brent averaged 4342 fourth quarter 2015 versus 54 billion earned fourth quarter 2014 brent averaged 76 per barrel chevronsupstream unit lost 136 billion q4 2015 versus 267 billion profit unit made q4 2014 crude prices 32 higher similarly schlumbergers profits higher crude prices rise oil producers spend capital expenditures oil field services crude prices rebound schlumbergers fortunes improve crude prices head 60 per barrel higher schlumberger reported pretax operating income 129 billion q4 2015 278 billion earned q4 2014 much higher oil prices investor takeawaygiven summer driving season rapidly approaching russia actively looking stabilize crude market recent rally might legs opec holds steady production nonopec production falls faster expectations tensions syria get worse crude prices could rally substantially exxonmobil chevron schlumberger survive even oil prices stay longer make substantially profits crude prices rise article heres crude keep rebounding three stocks surge opens new window originally appeared foolcom tmfjay22 opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool owns shares exxonmobil motley fool recommends chevron try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window copyright 1995 2016 motley fool llc rights reserved motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 557 |
<p />
<p>Tobacco giant Philip Morris International is delivering smokers the best of both worlds with an electronic cigarette that produces vapor but also provides real tobacco taste. Image source: Philip Morris International.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Even Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM) realizes that if it and the rest of the tobacco industry have any hope of future growth, it's going to come from cigarette alternatives, not cigarettes themselves. The global tobacco giant is betting that products like its new iQOS electronic cigarette will be what fuel the <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/04/11/can-philip-morris-international-inc-reignite-e-cig.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">next phase of expansion Opens a New Window.</a>, and it is investing $100 million this year on them in the belief it will add as much as $1.2 billion to its earnings by 2020.</p>
<p>According to Reynolds-American (NYSE: RAI), adjusted inventory volumes fell 1.7% in the second quarter ended June 30 and are down almost 1% year-to-date. Adjusted volumes were down 0.6% last year and more than 3% in 2014. Philip Morris says it's falling at a 2% to 2.5% rate annually, continuing a decades-long decline. The CDC indicates that where more than 42% of the American public smoked cigarettes in 1965, it has fallen to less than 17% today.</p>
<p>Over the last five years, however, e-cigs have witnessed tremendous growth, rising at triple-digit rates, some 114% compounded annually. Yet that's changing, and not for the better. Users complain about taste and flavor, and sales growth is expected to halve this year to just 57%, with the market researchers at BIS Research forecasting it will decline even further going forward, dropping to a compound annual growth rate of 22% through 2025.Where it was once thought the industry could achieve some $10 billion in sales annually by 2018, such <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/08/19/3-reasons-lorillard-incs-stock-could-fall.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">lofty targets Opens a New Window.</a> are no longer mentioned.</p>
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<p>That's why a product like Philip Morris's iQOS could be a huge hit. Unlike regular electronic cigarettes that use liquid nicotine that is heated to produce a vapor, the iQOS uses real tobacco. But rather than burning it like a combustible cigarette, it's heated, which gives the user the taste and flavor of tobacco that's been missing. That makes them different from the iFuse being produced by British American Tobacco, which heats liquid nicotine and then <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/12/19/are-hybrids-the-future-for-electronic-cigarettes.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">draws it through tobacco Opens a New Window.</a> for flavor, as well as Japan Tobacco'sPloom Tech that it is developing to offset the inroads Philip Morris has made.</p>
<p>Since its introduction in Japan in April, the iQOS has already captured 3% of the market there, and it plans to expand sales of so-called "reduced-risk products" to 35 countries next year. It's also planning on spending $1.5 billion on such products next year.</p>
<p>Foreign markets are going to be key for e-cig sales, because the Food &amp; Drug Administration recently enacted its so-called <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/05/20/the-fdas-electronic-cigarette-rules-are-here-and-t.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">deeming regulations Opens a New Window.</a> for the U.S. that promise to all but wipe out the nascent industry. Treating them like cigarettes, despite their purported benefits that make them a healthier option than combustibles, the FDA has imposed onerous and costly regulations that all but ensure only the biggest companies will be able to comply and pay.</p>
<p>By the FDA's own admission,it could take as many as 5,000 hours to complete the necessary paperwork and will cost several hundred thousand dollars per product. Third-party estimates place the costssignificantly higher, anywhere from$3 million and $20 million per product.</p>
<p>The iQOS won't have a problem. In partnership with Altria, Philip Morris is commercializing the device as Marlboro HeatSticks. It plans to nearly quintuple production next year, producing 35 billion HeatSticks compared to seven billion this year, with as many as 50 billion produced in 2018.</p>
<p>Altria also rolled out its own e-cig MarkTen brand this past summer, and Reynoldswent national as well with its Vuse brand, which quickly became the industry leader with a 29% market share.One-time market leader blu eCig, which was sold to Imperial Brands when Reynold's acquired Lorillard, has seen its market share shrink to just 19%. MarkTen has a 16% share.</p>
<p>The heat-not-burn technology will allow Philip Morris to maintain its tobacco cash cow while investing in tomorrow's growth product and meeting the biggest objections smokers have had with electronic cigarettes. It just may be that U.S. smokers won't be able to benefit, too.</p>
<p>A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early, in-the-know investors! To be one of them, <a href="http://www.fool.com/mms/mark/ecap-foolcom-apple-wearable?aid=6965&amp;source=irbeditxt0000017&amp;ftm_cam=rb-wearable-d&amp;ftm_pit=2667&amp;ftm_veh=article_pitch&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">just click here Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFCop/info.aspx" type="external">Rich Duprey Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/motley.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | tobacco giant philip morris international delivering smokers best worlds electronic cigarette produces vapor also provides real tobacco taste image source philip morris international continue reading even philip morris international nyse pm realizes rest tobacco industry hope future growth going come cigarette alternatives cigarettes global tobacco giant betting products like new iqos electronic cigarette fuel next phase expansion opens new window investing 100 million year belief add much 12 billion earnings 2020 according reynoldsamerican nyse rai adjusted inventory volumes fell 17 second quarter ended june 30 almost 1 yeartodate adjusted volumes 06 last year 3 2014 philip morris says falling 2 25 rate annually continuing decadeslong decline cdc indicates 42 american public smoked cigarettes 1965 fallen less 17 today last five years however ecigs witnessed tremendous growth rising tripledigit rates 114 compounded annually yet thats changing better users complain taste flavor sales growth expected halve year 57 market researchers bis research forecasting decline even going forward dropping compound annual growth rate 22 2025where thought industry could achieve 10 billion sales annually 2018 lofty targets opens new window longer mentioned advertisement thats product like philip morriss iqos could huge hit unlike regular electronic cigarettes use liquid nicotine heated produce vapor iqos uses real tobacco rather burning like combustible cigarette heated gives user taste flavor tobacco thats missing makes different ifuse produced british american tobacco heats liquid nicotine draws tobacco opens new window flavor well japan tobaccosploom tech developing offset inroads philip morris made since introduction japan april iqos already captured 3 market plans expand sales socalled reducedrisk products 35 countries next year also planning spending 15 billion products next year foreign markets going key ecig sales food amp drug administration recently enacted socalled deeming regulations opens new window us promise wipe nascent industry treating like cigarettes despite purported benefits make healthier option combustibles fda imposed onerous costly regulations ensure biggest companies able comply pay fdas admissionit could take many 5000 hours complete necessary paperwork cost several hundred thousand dollars per product thirdparty estimates place costssignificantly higher anywhere from3 million 20 million per product iqos wont problem partnership altria philip morris commercializing device marlboro heatsticks plans nearly quintuple production next year producing 35 billion heatsticks compared seven billion year many 50 billion produced 2018 altria also rolled ecig markten brand past summer reynoldswent national well vuse brand quickly became industry leader 29 market shareonetime market leader blu ecig sold imperial brands reynolds acquired lorillard seen market share shrink 19 markten 16 share heatnotburn technology allow philip morris maintain tobacco cash cow investing tomorrows growth product meeting biggest objections smokers electronic cigarettes may us smokers wont able benefit secret billiondollar stock opportunity worlds biggest tech company forgot show something wall street analysts fool didnt miss beat theres small company thats powering brandnew gadgets coming revolution technology think stock price nearly unlimited room run early intheknow investors one click opens new window rich duprey opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool position stocks mentioned try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 523 |
<p>For the week ended Sep 17, in percent. * denotes revision.</p>
<p>NOTE: Averages for are based on the number of planted acres, not</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>the number of states.</p>
<p>CONDITION:</p>
<p>very poor poor fair good excellent</p>
<p>09/17 09/10 09/17 09/10 09/17 09/10 09/17 09/10 09/17 09/10</p>
<p>Colo 1 1 10 13 24 28 51 48 14 10</p>
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<p>Ill 4 4 9 8 35 32 44 46 8 10</p>
<p>Ind 5 5 13 12 30 31 41 41 11 11</p>
<p>Iowa 3 3 10 10 28 27 49 51 10 9</p>
<p>Kans 5 5 12 13 28 28 43 43 12 11</p>
<p>Ky 1 1 3 3 13 15 62 61 21 20</p>
<p>Mich 3 3 14 16 32 32 40 40 11 9</p>
<p>Minn 1 1 3 2 15 15 65 65 16 17</p>
<p>Mo 3 2 7 7 27 29 52 50 11 12</p>
<p>Nebr 5 4 9 8 24 24 44 47 18 17</p>
<p>NC 1 1 3 3 19 19 46 46 31 31</p>
<p>ND 5 7 11 13 33 31 45 44 6 5</p>
<p>Ohio 2 2 7 7 29 30 47 46 15 15</p>
<p>Pa 0 0 1 1 8 12 47 44 44 43</p>
<p>SD 12 10 16 16 32 31 36 39 4 4</p>
<p>Tenn 1 1 2 2 10 11 42 47 45 39</p>
<p>Texas 0 0 3 3 18 18 57 57 22 22</p>
<p>Wisc 3 3 7 7 20 20 49 49 21 21</p>
<p>18-state</p>
<p>avg 4 4 9 9 26 26 48 48 13 13</p>
<p>yr-ago 2 2 5 5 19 19 54 54 20 20</p>
<p>PROGRESS:</p>
<p>--Dented-- --Mature--</p>
<p>09/17 09/10 2016 Avg 09/17 09/10 2016 Avg</p>
<p>Colo 71 54 86 88 19 9 21 30</p>
<p>Ill 89 82 94 94 39 26 60 59</p>
<p>Ind 86 76 94 89 39 26 53 46</p>
<p>Iowa 88 76 94 91 30 15 49 45</p>
<p>Kans 91 84 95 94 61 45 62 61</p>
<p>Ky 93 88 93 93 76 68 82 77</p>
<p>Mich 73 63 77 76 17 4 25 26</p>
<p>Minn 86 71 95 91 13 2 41 35</p>
<p>Mo 96 93 99 97 61 42 79 70</p>
<p>Nebr 94 86 94 93 37 18 43 43</p>
<p>NC 100 98 100 99 93 88 97 96</p>
<p>ND 77 56 86 83 17 4 38 32</p>
<p>Ohio 82 69 87 88 27 16 37 31</p>
<p>Pa 74 57 83 81 34 16 37 40</p>
<p>SD 77 60 88 89 14 4 38 38</p>
<p>Tenn 97 95 99 98 88 79 92 83</p>
<p>Tex 92 88 92 92 74 67 74 77</p>
<p>Wis 67 48 89 77 10 4 46 28</p>
<p>18-state</p>
<p>avg 86 75 92 90 34 21 50 47</p>
<p>--Harvested--</p>
<p>09/17 09/10 2016 Avg</p>
<p>Colo 2 0 0 2</p>
<p>Ill 5 2 8 13</p>
<p>Ind 5 1 6 7</p>
<p>Iowa 1 0 2 6</p>
<p>Kans 19 10 16 24</p>
<p>Ky 29 22 39 34</p>
<p>Mich 3 0 1 2</p>
<p>Minn 0 0 0 3</p>
<p>Mo 21 12 24 28</p>
<p>Nebr 2 2 2 7</p>
<p>NC 68 56 80 65</p>
<p>ND 0 0 2 3</p>
<p>Ohio 1 0 3 2</p>
<p>Pa 4 1 7 7</p>
<p>SD 0 0 3 5</p>
<p>Tenn 46 26 58 45</p>
<p>Tex 67 60 62 62</p>
<p>Wis 0 0 1 1</p>
<p>18-state</p>
<p>avg 7 5 8 11</p>
<p>(END) Dow Jones Newswires</p>
<p>September 18, 2017 16:18 ET (20:18 GMT)</p> | true | 0 | week ended sep 17 percent denotes revision note averages based number planted acres continue reading number states condition poor poor fair good excellent 0917 0910 0917 0910 0917 0910 0917 0910 0917 0910 colo 1 1 10 13 24 28 51 48 14 10 advertisement ill 4 4 9 8 35 32 44 46 8 10 ind 5 5 13 12 30 31 41 41 11 11 iowa 3 3 10 10 28 27 49 51 10 9 kans 5 5 12 13 28 28 43 43 12 11 ky 1 1 3 3 13 15 62 61 21 20 mich 3 3 14 16 32 32 40 40 11 9 minn 1 1 3 2 15 15 65 65 16 17 mo 3 2 7 7 27 29 52 50 11 12 nebr 5 4 9 8 24 24 44 47 18 17 nc 1 1 3 3 19 19 46 46 31 31 nd 5 7 11 13 33 31 45 44 6 5 ohio 2 2 7 7 29 30 47 46 15 15 pa 0 0 1 1 8 12 47 44 44 43 sd 12 10 16 16 32 31 36 39 4 4 tenn 1 1 2 2 10 11 42 47 45 39 texas 0 0 3 3 18 18 57 57 22 22 wisc 3 3 7 7 20 20 49 49 21 21 18state avg 4 4 9 9 26 26 48 48 13 13 yrago 2 2 5 5 19 19 54 54 20 20 progress dented mature 0917 0910 2016 avg 0917 0910 2016 avg colo 71 54 86 88 19 9 21 30 ill 89 82 94 94 39 26 60 59 ind 86 76 94 89 39 26 53 46 iowa 88 76 94 91 30 15 49 45 kans 91 84 95 94 61 45 62 61 ky 93 88 93 93 76 68 82 77 mich 73 63 77 76 17 4 25 26 minn 86 71 95 91 13 2 41 35 mo 96 93 99 97 61 42 79 70 nebr 94 86 94 93 37 18 43 43 nc 100 98 100 99 93 88 97 96 nd 77 56 86 83 17 4 38 32 ohio 82 69 87 88 27 16 37 31 pa 74 57 83 81 34 16 37 40 sd 77 60 88 89 14 4 38 38 tenn 97 95 99 98 88 79 92 83 tex 92 88 92 92 74 67 74 77 wis 67 48 89 77 10 4 46 28 18state avg 86 75 92 90 34 21 50 47 harvested 0917 0910 2016 avg colo 2 0 0 2 ill 5 2 8 13 ind 5 1 6 7 iowa 1 0 2 6 kans 19 10 16 24 ky 29 22 39 34 mich 3 0 1 2 minn 0 0 0 3 mo 21 12 24 28 nebr 2 2 2 7 nc 68 56 80 65 nd 0 0 2 3 ohio 1 0 3 2 pa 4 1 7 7 sd 0 0 3 5 tenn 46 26 58 45 tex 67 60 62 62 wis 0 0 1 1 18state avg 7 5 8 11 end dow jones newswires september 18 2017 1618 et 2018 gmt | 550 |
<p><a href="//videos/37/60662" type="external" /></p>
<p>RUSH: Okay, on C-SPAN today, I, ladies and gentlemen, was essentially blamed for the partisan divide, the anger, the lack of people being nice, whatever. It’s all my fault. C-SPAN lit up this morning when a caller suggested the way to fix America is to get rid of Rush Limbaugh. I don’t know what they intended on C-SPAN, but whatever, they had to broom it because for the next hour that’s all anybody called about. Washington Journal was the show. The host, Pedro Echevarria. Viewer calls on “Ideas for fixing Congress,” was the topic. Have you ever noticed that we don’t do topics here? We never do topics. One of my early problems in the early days of broadcasting were formulas.</p>
<p>The program director said, “Well, what are your topics gonna be?”</p>
<p>“I don’t know. I don’t do topics.”</p>
<p>“What do you mean, you don’t do topics?”</p>
<p>“I comment on the news. You know, real life, real time.”</p>
<p>“No, no, no, no. You’ve got to do topics.”</p>
<p>“Why? I don’t want to do topics. I don’t want pigeonholed on Tuesday to carrot cake recipes when something may be breaking out there.”</p>
<p>“There have gotta be topics, and you’ve gotta have guests.”</p>
<p>Right, and then when I told ’em no guests, it became a challenge. So, anyway, Washington Journal does topics, and their topic today was, “Fixing Congress.” Can you imagine, folks, if I, at the end of the program today, said, “Be with us tomorrow, folks, ’cause our topic tomorrow will be ideas for fixing Congress!” How many of you would be here? Very few. You can see the C-SPAN topic didn’t last one call. All it took was this call and the whole topic was blown to smithereens.</p>
<p>C-SPAN CALLER: Congress is in a mess right now. Uhhh, but I think Republicans take most of them marching orders — and this isn’t, uh, a slam. I think they take most of their marching orders from Limbaugh. And so you get talk radio off the air, get him off the air so they can’t run everything by him, and we’ll be a lot better… Even America will be a lot better off. I don’t think Republicans can do one thing without running it by him or getting his input — and, of course, he hates Obama. They don’t do what he wants done as a whole, then he spends three hours on radio, whatever it is, criticizing, bashing.</p>
<p>RUSH: Okay, so there it was.</p>
<p>It was put out there first call the day on C-SPAN.</p>
<p>The Republicans don’t do diddly-squat ’til they run everything by me. So you gotta get me off the air and then the Republicans start being the nice people they really are. (summarized) “Republicans can’t do one thing without running it by Limbaugh or getting Limbaugh’s input. Of course he hates Obama, so if they don’t do what he wants done as a whole and he spends three hours on the radio criticizing ’em and they can’t get anything done.”</p>
<p>Where do you think this guy heard that?</p>
<p>Where do you think this guy heard it?</p>
<p>He obviously believes it. Where do you think this guy picked up this idea that I run the Republican Party in Washington and that they run everything by me, that nothing happens there unless I okay it? Where do you think this guy picked that up? Because he doesn’t think of it on his own. There’s no way he thought of it on his own. Here’s the next call. Pedro Echevarria: Viewer Calls on Ideas for Fixing Congress.</p>
<p>So after Lee from Indiana called, we had Phil from South Carolina.</p>
<p>C-SPAN CALLER: …I’m gonna slam ’em before Rush gets chance to, who think we should limit talk radio. People need to get the vote educated, and education can come from a lot of different areas. Talk radio? Is Rush Limbaugh always right? Far from it. But the idea that to have an opinion and to think about it and pay a little attention to what’s going on around you is bad? Certainly Limbaugh has helped to quash some bad ideas that have come down the pike in Congress by getting up on his soapbox and letting people know what’s going on.</p>
<p>RUSH: So it didn’t take long the Dittoheads came out in force. I mean, Lee from the Indiana was a sole survivor in a sense. He was the only guy. He had a couple of calls that just basically echoed and parroted him, but the Dittoheads came out in force to defend this silly notion that I run the Republican Party and that everything is run through me. “Is Limbaugh always right? Far from it.” This guy’s wrong about one thing, ’cause <a href="" type="internal">he knows my accuracy rating is 99.7%</a>. I’m “almost always right 99.7% of the time.” So I’m not always right and he understands this.</p>
<p>Next is Randy from Wisconsin.</p>
<p>C-SPAN CALLER: The guy calls in about Rush Limbaugh. Rush Limbaugh’s got a huge audience. Rush Limbaugh tells the truth. There’s a lot of stations that tell the truth, and this is a free country. If you don’t want to listen to Rush Limbaugh, don’t listen to him. But I do, because he’s got it right.</p>
<p>ECHEVARRIA: (haltingly) The — the caller who talked about Mr. Limbaugh to begin with talked about the sway that he thought that he had over Congress. Do you think he has not that much power over decision-making processes in Congress?</p>
<p>C-SPAN CALLER: He has no power over Congress. He has an opinion. It’s just his opinion of what he sees and what he reports. It’s just a radio talk show. You know, if you don’t like him, don’t listen.</p>
<p>RUSH: That is Randy from Wisconsin. See, these people are smart. You people in this audience are smart. You’re critical and independent thinkers. You’re not mind-numbed robots. The mind-numbed robot of this exercise is this poor guy from Indiana named Lee who’s simply repeating the drivel and insanity that he sees on left-wing websites out there. Stop and think: How ridiculous is it? All you have to do is listen here one day and you find out how often the House Republicans do not agree with me. (sigh) It’s absurd.</p>
<p>One more, Victor from Indiana.</p>
<p>C-SPAN CALLER: I think we need to fix Congress. We need more radio stations such as Russ Limbo. (sic) But not, you know, all Republicans. Make it Democrat, make it independent, and whatever so that they can tell on Congresses what Congress is doing.</p>
<p>RUSH: “We need more Russ Limbos! We need all kinds of Russ Limbos. We need Democrat Russ Limbos and independent Russ Limbos!” I’m all for that, but there’s only one. It can’t be. Sorry.</p>
<p>BREAK TRANSCRIPT</p>
<p>RUSH: You know, it actually would be pretty cool if the Republicans ran everything by me before they did anything. Can you imagine? Every morning when we arrive there’s a packet from the Republicans in Washington, and it contains whatever agenda items, and they want my sign-off or approval on.</p>
<p>That would be pretty cool if that were the case.</p>
<p>There’d be a lot of progress up there.</p>
<p>I can only dream.</p> | true | 0 | rush okay cspan today ladies gentlemen essentially blamed partisan divide anger lack people nice whatever fault cspan lit morning caller suggested way fix america get rid rush limbaugh dont know intended cspan whatever broom next hour thats anybody called washington journal show host pedro echevarria viewer calls ideas fixing congress topic ever noticed dont topics never topics one early problems early days broadcasting formulas program director said well topics gon na dont know dont topics mean dont topics comment news know real life real time youve got topics dont want topics dont want pigeonholed tuesday carrot cake recipes something may breaking got ta topics youve got ta guests right told em guests became challenge anyway washington journal topics topic today fixing congress imagine folks end program today said us tomorrow folks cause topic tomorrow ideas fixing congress many would see cspan topic didnt last one call took call whole topic blown smithereens cspan caller congress mess right uhhh think republicans take marching orders isnt uh slam think take marching orders limbaugh get talk radio air get air cant run everything well lot better even america lot better dont think republicans one thing without running getting input course hates obama dont wants done whole spends three hours radio whatever criticizing bashing rush okay put first call day cspan republicans dont diddlysquat til run everything got ta get air republicans start nice people really summarized republicans cant one thing without running limbaugh getting limbaughs input course hates obama dont wants done whole spends three hours radio criticizing em cant get anything done think guy heard think guy heard obviously believes think guy picked idea run republican party washington run everything nothing happens unless okay think guy picked doesnt think theres way thought heres next call pedro echevarria viewer calls ideas fixing congress lee indiana called phil south carolina cspan caller im gon na slam em rush gets chance think limit talk radio people need get vote educated education come lot different areas talk radio rush limbaugh always right far idea opinion think pay little attention whats going around bad certainly limbaugh helped quash bad ideas come pike congress getting soapbox letting people know whats going rush didnt take long dittoheads came force mean lee indiana sole survivor sense guy couple calls basically echoed parroted dittoheads came force defend silly notion run republican party everything run limbaugh always right far guys wrong one thing cause knows accuracy rating 997 im almost always right 997 time im always right understands next randy wisconsin cspan caller guy calls rush limbaugh rush limbaughs got huge audience rush limbaugh tells truth theres lot stations tell truth free country dont want listen rush limbaugh dont listen hes got right echevarria haltingly caller talked mr limbaugh begin talked sway thought congress think much power decisionmaking processes congress cspan caller power congress opinion opinion sees reports radio talk show know dont like dont listen rush randy wisconsin see people smart people audience smart youre critical independent thinkers youre mindnumbed robots mindnumbed robot exercise poor guy indiana named lee whos simply repeating drivel insanity sees leftwing websites stop think ridiculous listen one day find often house republicans agree sigh absurd one victor indiana cspan caller think need fix congress need radio stations russ limbo sic know republicans make democrat make independent whatever tell congresses congress rush need russ limbos need kinds russ limbos need democrat russ limbos independent russ limbos im theres one cant sorry break transcript rush know actually would pretty cool republicans ran everything anything imagine every morning arrive theres packet republicans washington contains whatever agenda items want signoff approval would pretty cool case thered lot progress dream | 609 |
<p />
<p>Sedan sales have slumped, but GM's ChevroletMalibu has bucked the trend. Sales were up strongly again in November. Image source: General Motors.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>General Motors (NYSE: GM) said its U.S. sales rose 10.2% last month on a jump in fleet sales and strong retail demand for all four of its U.S. brands.</p>
<p>GM's gain outpaced gains at its five closest U.S.-market competitors, likely helping GM to an increase in its U.S. market share. But the gains may have come at a cost: GM's incentives are rising.</p>
<p>Data source: General Motors. Table shows U.S. sales for the month of November, 2016. YOY = year over year.</p>
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<p>All four of GM's U.S. brands posted strong year-over-year gains at retail last month.</p>
<p>Cadillac's gain was driven by strong results for its SUVs and for the big XTS sedan. Sales of the big Escalade SUV rose 25%, while the new midsize XT5 crossover managed a 5.5% gain over strong year-ago results for its predecessor, the now-discontinued SRX. Sales of the XTS jumped 34% to 2,653 units sold last month.</p>
<p>Buick continues to see very strong demand for its small Encore crossover SUV. Encore sales rose almost 40% last month to 7,162, and the new midsize Envision crossover added another 1,785 sales to the month's total. Sales of Buick's Regal sedan were also up strongly (49%), but the big Enclave crossover and LaCrosse sedan both slipped from a year ago.</p>
<p>GMC saw strong sales gains for nearly all of its models. Sales of its best-seller, the full-size Sierra pickup line, jumped 14.4%, while the smaller Canyon pickup posted a 52.5% increase. All of the brand's SUV models posted double-digit sales gains, with the sole exception of the Terrain.</p>
<p>Chevrolet also saw good sales for its trucks and SUVs, but two of its car models did well in what has been a weak market for sedans. These weren't all fleet sales, either: Retail sales of the midsize Malibu and compact Volt hybrid were up 24% and 25%, respectively. Overall Malibu sales were up 71% from a year ago, reflecting strong rental-fleet interest. Sales of the Silverado pickup line (the brand's best seller) rose 0.6%, while the midsize Colorado pickup gained 39% from a year ago.</p>
<p>The flip side to the good sales numbers is that GM's incentives are up. TrueCar estimates that GM spent an average of $4,305 per vehicle on incentives in November, ahead of both Ford (NYSE: F) and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (NYSE: FCAU) -- and up almost 13% from a year ago.</p>
<p>GM acknowledged that its incentive spending as a percentage of its average transaction prices (ATPs) was higher, at 13.7%, than the industry's 12.4% average in November. But its ATP, which reflects retail transaction prices after incentives, was a healthy $35,767. That's more than $4,000 above the industry average.</p>
<p>GM said its fleet sales were up 19% in November and accounted for 22% of its total U.S. sales. Commercial fleet sales were up 11%, government fleet sales rose 9%, and rental-fleet sales were up 27%. (GM noted that its rental-fleet sales are still down 25% year to date through November.)</p>
<p>At month-end, GM had 874,162 vehicles in its U.S. inventory. That's an 87-day supply, up three days' worth from the end of October -- and probably a higher number than GM would like, which likely explains the increased incentives.</p>
<p>The market for new cars is cyclical, and it's likely the U.S. new-car market is a bit past its cyclical peak. That has historically made for up-and-down monthly results, as automakers try different tactics (including increasing incentives) to generate growth in a market that isn't giving much.</p>
<p>GM's year-over-year sales gain in November was ahead of those of its five biggest mass-market rivals. It did come at a cost -- those incentives -- but the overall result was probably a solid profit boost for the General.</p>
<p>For investors, it's helpful to keep in mind that the monthly ups and downs are no big deal. But the incentives -- which will cut into profit margins if boosted too far -- are something to watch closely as the choppy market continues.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than General Motors When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
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<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFMarlowe/info.aspx" type="external">John Rosevear Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of Ford and General Motors. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Ford. The Motley Fool recommends General Motors. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/motley.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | sedan sales slumped gms chevroletmalibu bucked trend sales strongly november image source general motors continue reading general motors nyse gm said us sales rose 102 last month jump fleet sales strong retail demand four us brands gms gain outpaced gains five closest usmarket competitors likely helping gm increase us market share gains may come cost gms incentives rising data source general motors table shows us sales month november 2016 yoy year year advertisement four gms us brands posted strong yearoveryear gains retail last month cadillacs gain driven strong results suvs big xts sedan sales big escalade suv rose 25 new midsize xt5 crossover managed 55 gain strong yearago results predecessor nowdiscontinued srx sales xts jumped 34 2653 units sold last month buick continues see strong demand small encore crossover suv encore sales rose almost 40 last month 7162 new midsize envision crossover added another 1785 sales months total sales buicks regal sedan also strongly 49 big enclave crossover lacrosse sedan slipped year ago gmc saw strong sales gains nearly models sales bestseller fullsize sierra pickup line jumped 144 smaller canyon pickup posted 525 increase brands suv models posted doubledigit sales gains sole exception terrain chevrolet also saw good sales trucks suvs two car models well weak market sedans werent fleet sales either retail sales midsize malibu compact volt hybrid 24 25 respectively overall malibu sales 71 year ago reflecting strong rentalfleet interest sales silverado pickup line brands best seller rose 06 midsize colorado pickup gained 39 year ago flip side good sales numbers gms incentives truecar estimates gm spent average 4305 per vehicle incentives november ahead ford nyse f fiat chrysler automobiles nyse fcau almost 13 year ago gm acknowledged incentive spending percentage average transaction prices atps higher 137 industrys 124 average november atp reflects retail transaction prices incentives healthy 35767 thats 4000 industry average gm said fleet sales 19 november accounted 22 total us sales commercial fleet sales 11 government fleet sales rose 9 rentalfleet sales 27 gm noted rentalfleet sales still 25 year date november monthend gm 874162 vehicles us inventory thats 87day supply three days worth end october probably higher number gm would like likely explains increased incentives market new cars cyclical likely us newcar market bit past cyclical peak historically made upanddown monthly results automakers try different tactics including increasing incentives generate growth market isnt giving much gms yearoveryear sales gain november ahead five biggest massmarket rivals come cost incentives overall result probably solid profit boost general investors helpful keep mind monthly ups downs big deal incentives cut profit margins boosted far something watch closely choppy market continues 10 stocks like better general motors investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right nowand general motors wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns november 7 2016 john rosevear opens new window owns shares ford general motors motley fool owns shares recommends ford motley fool recommends general motors try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 548 |
<p>How far as Yale University gone off the cliff in their worshipful attitude toward students who use their race to bully others into submission?</p>
<p>This far, as James Kirchick <a href="http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/235844/yale-cements-its-line-in-the-academic-sand-by-awarding-the-student-truthtellers-who-bullied-faculty" type="external">delineates admirably</a> in Tablet Magazine: The university is bestowing its Nakanishi Prize, traditionally given to “two graduating seniors who, while maintaining high academic achievement, have provided exemplary leadership in enhancing race and/or ethnic relations at Yale College,” to two students who threatened professor Nicholas Christakis, a world-renowned sociologist and scientist, in fall 2015 after his wife took issue with a directive from a Yale College dean warning students not to wear Halloween costumes that “threaten our sense of community.”</p>
<p>Here’s the back-story to this capitulation to hatred by the formerly august university:</p>
<p>October 27, 2015: Yale College dean of “student engagement,” Burgwell Howard, as part of The Intercultural Affairs Committee, joins in sending an <a href="https://www.thefire.org/email-from-intercultural-affairs/" type="external">email</a> that stated:</p>
<p>Halloween is also unfortunately a time when the normal thoughtfulness and sensitivity of most Yale students can sometimes be forgotten and some poor decisions can be made including wearing feathered headdresses, turbans, wearing ‘war paint’ or modifying skin tone or wearing <a href="http://black-face.com/" type="external">blackface</a> or <a href="http://red-face.us/" type="external">redface</a>. These same issues and examples of cultural appropriation and/or misrepresentation are increasingly surfacing with representations of <a href="http://yellow-face.com/" type="external">Asians</a> and <a href="http://brown-face.com/" type="external">Latinos</a>. Yale is a community that values free expression as well as inclusivity. And while students, undergraduate and graduate, definitely have a right to express themselves, we would hope that people would actively avoid those circumstances that threaten our sense of community or disrespects, alienates or ridicules segments of our population based on race, nationality, religious belief or gender expression.</p>
<p>That prompted Erika Christakis, the wife of professor Nicholas Christakis, and a childhood educator who also taught at Yale, to respond in an <a href="https://www.thefire.org/email-from-erika-christakis-dressing-yourselves-email-to-silliman-college-yale-students-on-halloween-costumes/" type="external">email</a> in which she wrote:</p>
<p>I don’t wish to trivialize genuine concerns about cultural and personal representation, and other challenges to our lived experience in a plural community. I know that many decent people have proposed guidelines on Halloween costumes from a spirit of avoiding hurt and offense. I laud those goals, in theory, as most of us do. But in practice, I wonder if we should reflect more transparently, as a community, on the consequences of an institutional (which is to say: bureaucratic and administrative) exercise of implied control over college students.</p>
<p>It seems to me that we can have this discussion of costumes on many levels: we can talk about complex issues of identify, free speech, cultural appropriation, and virtue “signalling.”… I don’t, actually, trust myself to foist my Halloweenish standards and motives on others. I can’t defend them anymore than you could defend yours.</p>
<p>That, in turn, prompted hundreds of Yale students, faculty, alumni, and countless off-campus agitators to malign her as an incorrigible bigot and “white supremacist” who should lose her job.</p>
<p>The first week of November 2015, Nicholas Christakis appeared in the courtyard of Silliman, the residential college of which he had been Master, to answer complaints about his wife’s email.</p>
<p>Kirchick writes:</p>
<p>Of the 100 or so students who confronted Christakis that day, a young woman who called him “disgusting” and shouted “who the fuck hired you?” before storming off in tears became the most infamous, thanks to an 81-second YouTube clip that went viral. (The video also — thanks to its promotion by various right-wing websites — brought this student a torrent of anonymous harassment). The videos that Tablet exclusively posted last year, which showed a further 25 minutes of what was ultimately an hours-long confrontation, depicted a procession of students berating Christakis. In one <a href="https://youtu.be/u-q3Y8pRoj8?t=2m" type="external">clip</a>, a male student strides up to Christakis and, standing mere inches from his face, orders the professor to “look at me.” Assuming this position of physical intimidation, the student then proceeds to declare that Christakis is incapable of understanding what he and his classmates are feeling because Christakis is white, and, ipso facto, cannot be a victim of racism. In another <a href="https://youtu.be/es1W9cREZAs?t=2m" type="external">clip</a>, a female student accuses Christakis of “strip[ping] people of their humanity” and “creat[ing] a space for violence to happen,” a line later <a href="" type="internal">mocked</a> in an episode of The Simpsons. In the videos, Howard, the dean who wrote the costume provisions, can be seen lurking along the periphery of the mob.</p>
<p>So guess which two students Yale is honoring?</p>
<p>Correct: the two students who bullied Christakis. Worse, when they were honored in front of graduating seniors and their families on Class Day, one of them was praised by Yale as “a fierce truth-teller.”</p>
<p>Guess who was the chair of the selection committee? Burgwell Howard.</p>
<p>Kirchick adds:</p>
<p>The Orwellian veneration of racial agitators as racial conciliators is the logical conclusion of Yale’s craven capitulation to the hard left forces of identitarian groupthink. From the very beginning of this ordeal, the Yale administration refused to state some simple but necessary truths: that the missive Erika Christakis wrote was entirely appropriate; that the “demands” issued by protesting students (such as an “ethnic studies distributional requirement”) were ridiculous; and, most important of all, that the rude and insubordinate treatment to which Nicholas Christakis was subjected rose to the level of a disciplinary offense. (It was not so long ago that mobbing a professor, physically threatening him, and screaming in his face, for hours, would result in expulsion).</p>
<p>But Yale’s spineless leaders were never willing to say these things. The reason is not just due to the fact that they have themselves imbibed so many of the shibboleths about “intersectionality” and “structural racism” spouted like dogma by their students. It’s also because the relationship between the university and its charges is no longer that of a Master-student one (and not only because the title of “Master” has been eliminated on the spurious grounds that it is offensive to African Americans). Instead, as revealed in a devastating <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK4MBzp5YwM" type="external">documentary</a> about the Christakis imbroglio produced by Rob Montz, the relationship is better defined as employee-client, with the main function of a place like Yale no longer being the provision of a liberal education but rather a comfortable, indeed, luxurious four-year “experience” that prepares paying customers for admission into the professional upper-middle-class managerial elite.</p>
<p>Here's a video showing how rude the students were to Christakis:</p>
<p>Christakis ultimately resigned as Master of Silliman College and his wife quit teaching at Yale.</p>
<p>Yale’s motto is “Lux et Veritas,” “Light and Truth.”</p>
<p>Neither applies any more.</p> | true | 0 | far yale university gone cliff worshipful attitude toward students use race bully others submission far james kirchick delineates admirably tablet magazine university bestowing nakanishi prize traditionally given two graduating seniors maintaining high academic achievement provided exemplary leadership enhancing race andor ethnic relations yale college two students threatened professor nicholas christakis worldrenowned sociologist scientist fall 2015 wife took issue directive yale college dean warning students wear halloween costumes threaten sense community heres backstory capitulation hatred formerly august university october 27 2015 yale college dean student engagement burgwell howard part intercultural affairs committee joins sending email stated halloween also unfortunately time normal thoughtfulness sensitivity yale students sometimes forgotten poor decisions made including wearing feathered headdresses turbans wearing war paint modifying skin tone wearing blackface redface issues examples cultural appropriation andor misrepresentation increasingly surfacing representations asians latinos yale community values free expression well inclusivity students undergraduate graduate definitely right express would hope people would actively avoid circumstances threaten sense community disrespects alienates ridicules segments population based race nationality religious belief gender expression prompted erika christakis wife professor nicholas christakis childhood educator also taught yale respond email wrote dont wish trivialize genuine concerns cultural personal representation challenges lived experience plural community know many decent people proposed guidelines halloween costumes spirit avoiding hurt offense laud goals theory us practice wonder reflect transparently community consequences institutional say bureaucratic administrative exercise implied control college students seems discussion costumes many levels talk complex issues identify free speech cultural appropriation virtue signalling dont actually trust foist halloweenish standards motives others cant defend anymore could defend turn prompted hundreds yale students faculty alumni countless offcampus agitators malign incorrigible bigot white supremacist lose job first week november 2015 nicholas christakis appeared courtyard silliman residential college master answer complaints wifes email kirchick writes 100 students confronted christakis day young woman called disgusting shouted fuck hired storming tears became infamous thanks 81second youtube clip went viral video also thanks promotion various rightwing websites brought student torrent anonymous harassment videos tablet exclusively posted last year showed 25 minutes ultimately hourslong confrontation depicted procession students berating christakis one clip male student strides christakis standing mere inches face orders professor look assuming position physical intimidation student proceeds declare christakis incapable understanding classmates feeling christakis white ipso facto victim racism another clip female student accuses christakis stripping people humanity creating space violence happen line later mocked episode simpsons videos howard dean wrote costume provisions seen lurking along periphery mob guess two students yale honoring correct two students bullied christakis worse honored front graduating seniors families class day one praised yale fierce truthteller guess chair selection committee burgwell howard kirchick adds orwellian veneration racial agitators racial conciliators logical conclusion yales craven capitulation hard left forces identitarian groupthink beginning ordeal yale administration refused state simple necessary truths missive erika christakis wrote entirely appropriate demands issued protesting students ethnic studies distributional requirement ridiculous important rude insubordinate treatment nicholas christakis subjected rose level disciplinary offense long ago mobbing professor physically threatening screaming face hours would result expulsion yales spineless leaders never willing say things reason due fact imbibed many shibboleths intersectionality structural racism spouted like dogma students also relationship university charges longer masterstudent one title master eliminated spurious grounds offensive african americans instead revealed devastating documentary christakis imbroglio produced rob montz relationship better defined employeeclient main function place like yale longer provision liberal education rather comfortable indeed luxurious fouryear experience prepares paying customers admission professional uppermiddleclass managerial elite heres video showing rude students christakis christakis ultimately resigned master silliman college wife quit teaching yale yales motto lux et veritas light truth neither applies | 592 |
<p>Donald Trump supporters come in many stripes. There are the Republican voters who simply long for victory, who think that he who cuts deepest has the best shot at winning, no matter his negatives. There are the single-issue voters who think Trump will close the borders and preserve the current demographics of the country, thereby preserving the possibility of a more conservative president in the future. There are dispossessed blue collar voters who long for high tariffs, and the angry white Americans who see Trump as the necessary politically incorrect pushback to the anti-white racism of the Obama administration.</p>
<p>Then there are the Trump Children.</p>
<p>The Trump Children comprise a far smaller subset within all of these groups. They’re looking for a father figure, someone to protect them from threat, provide for them, threaten violence against their enemies. They defend Trump’s foibles with the passionate but misguided loyalty of the offspring of deadbeat fathers. Trump can do no wrong.</p>
<p>The Trump Children themselves see the Allfather in a variety of ways.</p>
<p>Trump, The Patriarch. In an interview with the Jewish Chronicle Online, Michael Cohen, Trump’s Special Counsel and Executive Vice President, Cohen stated, “Over the years I have been offered very lucrative employment opportunities, which I summarily dismissed. To those of us who are close to Mr. Trump, he is more than our boss. He is our patriarch.” This is a constant refrain for a certain subset of father-seeking loyalists; there’s a reason that Trump's most ardent fan, Milo Yiannopoulos, labels Trump “Daddy.” Trump fills a gap. He’s a powerful figure in a time when men have become shriveled shadows of themselves. He offers the gift of wealth, luxury, and strength. Trump is the font of power from which all true success springs. Loyalty to Daddy means a shot at both his love and the inheritance.</p>
<p>Trump, The King. “You can always tell when the king is here,” Trump’s longtime butler, Anthony Senecal, recently told <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/16/us/politics/donald-trump-butler-mar-a-lago.html" type="external">The New York Times</a>. Here’s Senecal:</p>
<p>[Y]ears ago he received an urgent warning from Mr. Trump’s soon-to-land plane that the mogul was in a sour mood. Mr. Senecal quickly hired a bugler to play “Hail to the Chief” as Mr. Trump stepped out of his limousine to enter Mar-a-Lago… Mr. Trump would emerge hours later, in khakis, a white golf shirt and baseball cap. If the cap was white, the staff noticed, the boss was in a good mood. If it was red, it was best to stay away. On Sundays, Mr. Trump would drive himself to his nearby golf course, alternating each year between his black Bentley and his white Bentley.</p>
<p>The King is entitled to his mythology, too. As Senecal explained:</p>
<p>In the early years, Mr. Trump’s daughter Ivanka slept in the same children’s suite that Dina Merrill, an actress and a daughter of Mrs. Post, occupied in the 1930s. Mr. Trump liked to tell guests that the nursery rhyme-themed tiles in the room were made by a young Walt Disney. “You don’t like that, do you?” Mr. Trump would say when he caught Mr. Senecal rolling his eyes. The house historian would protest that it was not true. “Who cares?” Mr. Trump would respond with a laugh.</p>
<p>There are many Trump followers who love these sorts of stories. They reinforce the notion of Trump as king of his realm – a king who promises all good things if they bow the knee. Talk of the Trump Train is no different than talk of the Pharoah’s Chariot. The King must have total power to bestow pearls upon his subjects.</p>
<p>Trump, The Godfather. There’s no question that Trump plays the part of Don Corleone well. Many of his worshipful supporters love this about him:</p>
<p>Reader email: “I view Mr. Trump as a young Vito Corleone… He has earned my vote."</p>
<p>He channels Joe Pesci in The Goodfellas, breaking balls and busting heads. He speaks the language of the tough guy – and best of all, he can dispense with the pussycat in favor of his own magnificent coif. Trump’s relations with the mob enhance his reputation with a certain group of people. That’s because Trump offers protection, so long as you offer him loyalty. He threatens those who refuse him with a horse’s head in the bed – or, more specifically, the implicit possibility of violence in the streets if he loses the nomination.</p>
<p>There’s something of the Bonasera in the current Republican establishment which has gone along with Trump. They may protest that they love America, but they don’t trust America – and so they’ll turn to the strongest hand. All Trump asks in return is that they call him Godfather, too.</p>
<p>In truth, of course, Trump is none of these things. He’s nobody’s father. He’s no patriarch – the real patriarch of the Trump fortune is the man who handed him that fortune. He’s no king; he’s a second-rate Charles Foster Kane knockoff, whiling away his hours at his personal Xanadu while longing after some long-forgotten Rosebud that has driven him into constant motion. He’s no godfather, either – at least the Corleones offered protection, where Trump offers empty promises.</p>
<p>He’s closest to a drunken deadbeat father, because like most drunken deadbeat fathers, he cares more about himself than the people who rely on him. The saddest group of Trump Children are those who see Trump for what he is, but lie to themselves that he’s something different. These are the voters who know that Trump lies routinely, that he has a history of betraying promises, that he will likely go off on another policy bender and abandon them for the next political skirt that catches his eye. But like abused children, they long for his loving touch, and they insist with fiery rage that he will come back home eventually. While Trump may not have done anything for them so far, they know deep in their hearts, where they cherish their most secret dreams, that he will hold them to him eventually.</p>
<p>He won’t, of course.</p>
<p>America has become a country of people longing for a father. Long ago, we neglected God as our father figure, and replaced Him with bureaucratic government; bureaucratic government has failed us, and so now we replace bureaucracy with authoritarianism. But there is no political Allfather, as Trump’s supporters are about to discover. There are just liars who play the part, and Children who follow them.</p> | true | 0 | donald trump supporters come many stripes republican voters simply long victory think cuts deepest best shot winning matter negatives singleissue voters think trump close borders preserve current demographics country thereby preserving possibility conservative president future dispossessed blue collar voters long high tariffs angry white americans see trump necessary politically incorrect pushback antiwhite racism obama administration trump children trump children comprise far smaller subset within groups theyre looking father figure someone protect threat provide threaten violence enemies defend trumps foibles passionate misguided loyalty offspring deadbeat fathers trump wrong trump children see allfather variety ways trump patriarch interview jewish chronicle online michael cohen trumps special counsel executive vice president cohen stated years offered lucrative employment opportunities summarily dismissed us close mr trump boss patriarch constant refrain certain subset fatherseeking loyalists theres reason trumps ardent fan milo yiannopoulos labels trump daddy trump fills gap hes powerful figure time men become shriveled shadows offers gift wealth luxury strength trump font power true success springs loyalty daddy means shot love inheritance trump king always tell king trumps longtime butler anthony senecal recently told new york times heres senecal years ago received urgent warning mr trumps soontoland plane mogul sour mood mr senecal quickly hired bugler play hail chief mr trump stepped limousine enter maralago mr trump would emerge hours later khakis white golf shirt baseball cap cap white staff noticed boss good mood red best stay away sundays mr trump would drive nearby golf course alternating year black bentley white bentley king entitled mythology senecal explained early years mr trumps daughter ivanka slept childrens suite dina merrill actress daughter mrs post occupied 1930s mr trump liked tell guests nursery rhymethemed tiles room made young walt disney dont like mr trump would say caught mr senecal rolling eyes house historian would protest true cares mr trump would respond laugh many trump followers love sorts stories reinforce notion trump king realm king promises good things bow knee talk trump train different talk pharoahs chariot king must total power bestow pearls upon subjects trump godfather theres question trump plays part corleone well many worshipful supporters love reader email view mr trump young vito corleone earned vote channels joe pesci goodfellas breaking balls busting heads speaks language tough guy best dispense pussycat favor magnificent coif trumps relations mob enhance reputation certain group people thats trump offers protection long offer loyalty threatens refuse horses head bed specifically implicit possibility violence streets loses nomination theres something bonasera current republican establishment gone along trump may protest love america dont trust america theyll turn strongest hand trump asks return call godfather truth course trump none things hes nobodys father hes patriarch real patriarch trump fortune man handed fortune hes king hes secondrate charles foster kane knockoff whiling away hours personal xanadu longing longforgotten rosebud driven constant motion hes godfather either least corleones offered protection trump offers empty promises hes closest drunken deadbeat father like drunken deadbeat fathers cares people rely saddest group trump children see trump lie hes something different voters know trump lies routinely history betraying promises likely go another policy bender abandon next political skirt catches eye like abused children long loving touch insist fiery rage come back home eventually trump may done anything far know deep hearts cherish secret dreams hold eventually wont course america become country people longing father long ago neglected god father figure replaced bureaucratic government bureaucratic government failed us replace bureaucracy authoritarianism political allfather trumps supporters discover liars play part children follow | 576 |
<p>Congress ran full-tilt into election-year gridlock over immigration Thursday and headed toward a five-week summer break with no agreement in sight on legislation to cope with the influx of young immigrants flocking illegally to the United States.</p>
<p>Prospects were considerably brighter for bipartisan measures to improve veterans' health care, prevent a cutoff in highway construction aid and send Israel additional money for its missile defense system. Officials in both parties said all three bills appeared likely to clear Congress by day's end and go to the White House for President Barack Obama's signature.</p>
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<p>But three months before midterm elections, the unbreakable dispute over immigration exposed longstanding differences inside Republican ranks as well as between the two political parties. And a new outburst of harsh partisan rhetoric served as yet another reminder that after 18 months of office, the current Congress has little to show for its efforts apart from abysmally low public approval ratings.</p>
<p>House Speaker John Boehner accused Democrats of pursuing a "nutso scheme" of trying to seize on the border crisis to try and grant a path to citizenship to millions of immigrants living in the country illegally.</p>
<p>Despite the attack on Democrats, it was Republican unity that cracked first.</p>
<p>A few hours after Boehner spoke, Republicans abruptly canceled a vote on their own border security legislation, a $659 million measure that also would make it easier to deport the children from Central America now flooding into the United States. They did so after a revolt by tea party-aligned GOP lawmakers, some of whom had conferred with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz the night before.</p>
<p>They argued that the leadership's offer of a vote on a companion bill still fell short of reversing a 2012 administration policy under which 500,000 immigrants living in the country illegally have been permitted to obtain work permits.</p>
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<p>So chaotic was the day that after initially announcing the House had taken its last vote, Republicans reversed course and said others might be held. Democrats said some lawmakers had already left for the airport to head home to their districts and would have to be called back.</p>
<p>With that, Republicans convened a closed-door meeting to plan their next move.</p>
<p>The outlook was better for a $16.3 billion bill responding to a Department of Veterans Affairs scandal in which patients were shown to be subjected to extremely long delays in care while agency officials covered up the facts.</p>
<p>The House approved the measure on a vote of 420-5 on Wednesday, and support appeared strong in the Senate.</p>
<p>Most of the money will be used to let veterans seek care from outside physicians if they live more than 40 miles from a VA facility or face a long wait to see a doctor at one. The legislation also would allow the hiring of additional physicians for the VA and permit the firing of senior executives guilty of poor performance.</p>
<p>The bill marked a traditional compromise between the parties and the houses of the sort that lawmakers have struck for generations. Democrats gave up their insistence on more funding, and Republicans agreed to let deficits rise by $10 billion as part of the agreement rather than seek offsetting cuts elsewhere.</p>
<p>More urgent was the bill to prevent a reduction in federal highway construction funding at the height of the summer construction season.</p>
<p>The Transportation Department set Friday as the date the Highway Trust Fund will no longer be able to provide all the aid promised, and estimated that states could expect an average reduction of 28 percent unless Congress acted by then.</p>
<p>The two houses have played legislative ping pong with the issue in recent days. But with time running out, the Senate was expected to pass a House-approved measure making $10.8 billion available, enough to last until next May.</p>
<p>Legislation providing money for Iron Dome, the Israeli missile defense system, had yet to be made public late in the day. Instead, the funding was tucked inside a border security bill that was drafted by Senate Democrats and opposed by Republicans.</p>
<p>Officials said they expected that the Israeli money eventually would be broken out, the Senate would approve it and the House would agree.</p>
<p>But first, there was bickering aplenty over immigration, an issue that has divided Congress for years.</p>
<p>Like Boehner, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky criticized Obama.</p>
<p>"It boggles the mind that the president of the United States would rather fundraise in Hollywood than ... to do something to prevent more young people from making the perilous and potentially life-threatening journey across the desert," he said.</p>
<p>But Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the House Democratic leader, was no more charitable about House Republicans. Referring to their leadership's maneuvers to pass their own border legislation, she said their approach would "intensify the harm for children."</p>
<p>The White House added its own criticism, assailing House Republicans for their inaction on comprehensive immigration legislation and accusing them of targeting a program that "has benefited more than 500,000 young people who are Americans in every way except on paper."</p>
<p>Administration officials have signaled that Obama intends to use an executive order to expand the program, which the president unveiled in the heat of his presidential re-election campaign in 2012.</p>
<p>One day after the House voted to sue the president over his enforcement of the health care law, Boehner warned him not to try freelancing on immigration.</p>
<p>If he does, "he'll be sealing the deal on his legacy of lawlessness," Boehner added.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Erica Werner, Joan Lowy, Donna Cassata, Andrew Taylor and Alan Fram contributed to this report.</p> | true | 0 | congress ran fulltilt electionyear gridlock immigration thursday headed toward fiveweek summer break agreement sight legislation cope influx young immigrants flocking illegally united states prospects considerably brighter bipartisan measures improve veterans health care prevent cutoff highway construction aid send israel additional money missile defense system officials parties said three bills appeared likely clear congress days end go white house president barack obamas signature continue reading three months midterm elections unbreakable dispute immigration exposed longstanding differences inside republican ranks well two political parties new outburst harsh partisan rhetoric served yet another reminder 18 months office current congress little show efforts apart abysmally low public approval ratings house speaker john boehner accused democrats pursuing nutso scheme trying seize border crisis try grant path citizenship millions immigrants living country illegally despite attack democrats republican unity cracked first hours boehner spoke republicans abruptly canceled vote border security legislation 659 million measure also would make easier deport children central america flooding united states revolt tea partyaligned gop lawmakers conferred texas sen ted cruz night argued leaderships offer vote companion bill still fell short reversing 2012 administration policy 500000 immigrants living country illegally permitted obtain work permits advertisement chaotic day initially announcing house taken last vote republicans reversed course said others might held democrats said lawmakers already left airport head home districts would called back republicans convened closeddoor meeting plan next move outlook better 163 billion bill responding department veterans affairs scandal patients shown subjected extremely long delays care agency officials covered facts house approved measure vote 4205 wednesday support appeared strong senate money used let veterans seek care outside physicians live 40 miles va facility face long wait see doctor one legislation also would allow hiring additional physicians va permit firing senior executives guilty poor performance bill marked traditional compromise parties houses sort lawmakers struck generations democrats gave insistence funding republicans agreed let deficits rise 10 billion part agreement rather seek offsetting cuts elsewhere urgent bill prevent reduction federal highway construction funding height summer construction season transportation department set friday date highway trust fund longer able provide aid promised estimated states could expect average reduction 28 percent unless congress acted two houses played legislative ping pong issue recent days time running senate expected pass houseapproved measure making 108 billion available enough last next may legislation providing money iron dome israeli missile defense system yet made public late day instead funding tucked inside border security bill drafted senate democrats opposed republicans officials said expected israeli money eventually would broken senate would approve house would agree first bickering aplenty immigration issue divided congress years like boehner senate republican leader mitch mcconnell kentucky criticized obama boggles mind president united states would rather fundraise hollywood something prevent young people making perilous potentially lifethreatening journey across desert said rep nancy pelosi house democratic leader charitable house republicans referring leaderships maneuvers pass border legislation said approach would intensify harm children white house added criticism assailing house republicans inaction comprehensive immigration legislation accusing targeting program benefited 500000 young people americans every way except paper administration officials signaled obama intends use executive order expand program president unveiled heat presidential reelection campaign 2012 one day house voted sue president enforcement health care law boehner warned try freelancing immigration hell sealing deal legacy lawlessness boehner added ___ associated press writers erica werner joan lowy donna cassata andrew taylor alan fram contributed report | 556 |
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<p>RUSH: There’s a great column in the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2017/02/08/protests-didnt-hurt-reagan-and-theyre-not-going-to-stop-trump/?utm_term=.76f54b7f4f9e" type="external">Washington Post today by Julian Zelizer</a>. He’s a political historian at Princeton. He’s a fellow at the New America Foundation, and he’s the author of The Fierce Urgency of Now: Lyndon Johnson, Congress, and the Battle for the Great Society. But he’s a fellow somewhere. You know when you’re a fellow somewhere, that’s big. When you’re a fellow, it means — well, reputedly smart. It means you have a chair at a think tank. So you sit there and you think and then you write what you think and then the think tank publishes it. Nobody buys it, nobody reads it, but you are heralded as great thinker.</p>
<p>But, anyway, this guy’s right, he said protests didn’t hurt Reagan, and they’re not gonna stop Trump. This kind of thing happened during Reagan’s first term. Reagan was despised as much as Bush was and is despised as much as Trump. In fact, some of the comparisons of Trump are identical to those made about Reagan. He’s disengaged, stupid, doesn’t know politics, doesn’t know the Constitution, he’s an idiot, he’s lazy, and all these things, and the guy documents how all of this didn’t matter a whit. It didn’t affect anything. Reagan got his agenda.</p>
<p>And I think where we are with all of this, like <a href="http://www.mediaite.com/tv/cbs-scott-pelley-it-has-been-a-busy-day-for-presidential-statements-divorced-from-reality/" type="external">Scott Pelley opened the CBS Evening News</a> last night by calling Trump divorced from reality. He said, “It’s been a busy day for presidential statements divorced from reality.” So the media is caught up on trying to prove every Trump lie. The one thing they got all hot and bothered about yesterday was when Trump said the murder rate was an all-time high or 47-year high.</p>
<p>The media went into gear and they fact checked it, “Trump’s lying! Trump’s wrong! The murder rate’s actually been coming down. Trump doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” And then Trump attacks the media and so the media decides to defend itself. And I think what I’ve said about this campaign and this presidency, going back to the first days of this campaign, is that they still do not know what they’re dealing with here in Trump. But the most important thing that the media does not know: They do not know, even today, who elected Donald Trump.</p>
<p>They haven’t the foggiest idea. They haven’t gone out and talked to them. They have a caricatured image of the Trump voter, and let me describe who they think Trump voters are. They’re missing one or both front teeth. They chew tobacco or smoke cigarettes and they spit constantly while sitting on the front porch reading the latest from the National Rifle Association. They have pickup trucks and they go to church. They didn’t get much beyond high school, if even that. They are poor. They are middle to lower middle class. They are 100 percent white. They are 80% male, 20% female. There are no gays and lesbians or transgenders or cisgenders or oddball genders or any other genders that voted for Trump.</p>
<p>That’s what they think of the Trump voter. They also do not know that the average Trump voters tune them out. They don’t know that the average Trump voter is not paying ’em any attention. They’re going about trying to destroy Trump in the tried and tested ways that they’ve been able to destroy any Republican they’ve wanted to in the past. And they’re missing the mark. And they’re missing the mark because they still don’t know who elected Trump.</p>
<p>They have this negative caricature of people who are idiots, uninformed, ignoramus racists and bigots, and they think that they can take Trump out by talking about how Trump lied about the murder rate and Trump doesn’t know what he’s talking, he wants a religious ban on people. They think they can lie about what Trump’s doing or even report the truth about what Trump’s doing in a sneering way and think they can do damage to Trump. And by do damage, I mean destroy his presidency, and it isn’t going to work.</p>
<p>I think the media is effectively right now in a circular firing squad and doesn’t know it. I think the Democrat Party’s in the middle of that circular firing squad. Can I give you an example? We’ll get to the Fauxcahontas details here in just a second. We’ll get to the oral arguments before the Ninth Circus yesterday, because, folks, I have to tell you, two of those — there are three judges in the Ninth Circus. It’s a three-judge panel, and two of those judges didn’t even ask about the law.</p>
<p>They asked about Trump’s opinion. They asked about Trump’s attitudes. They asked about Trump’s psychology. Even the lawyer representing the opposition to Trump told the judges that they should take into account what Trump had said on the campaign trail in determining whether or not his executive order is constitutional.</p>
<p>That has nothing to do with it! There is a statute, there is a law that applies here, and it’s cut-and-dried. And it clearly gives the president total control over who gets into the country after he declares certain danger zones, certain problems that exist. It clearly states the president is in total control. Where this case hinges legally is on the constitutional rights of some who are not citizens, because even though as a noncitizen, you don’t have constitutional rights. An illegal alien does not have constitutional rights, so whether the president’s constitutional or unconstitutional shouldn’t and does not apply.</p>
<p>However, there are some individuals who are not citizens who by virtue of other aspects of law are treated as citizens, and that’s where there is some gray area in this statute. But that’s not even it. That wasn’t even explored. And I have to tell you, the Trump DOJ lawyer was horrible. Did you listen to any of this, Mr. Snerdley? It was… (interruption) Folks, it was… This guy… I mean, he even said to the judges, “You know, I got the feeling I’m not persuading you.” He said, “Well, please, if we lose here, don’t make it too bad.”</p>
<p>I’m listening to this. “Is this the best that they’ve got over there to send over to the Ninth Circus?” Maybe they figure they’re gonna lose there anyway. Here is the two things. <a href="http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-02-08/trump-rips-political-judges-deciding-fate-travel-ban" type="external">Trump has tweeted</a>— and he made the speech to the sheriffs today — National Association of Sheriffs — and he criticized these judges, and he said, “I’m not saying they’re biased; I’m saying it’s political. I can’t believe how political this was. I listened to it. I can’t believe how political it is.” People are saying, “Don’t start attacking the judges before they rule!</p>
<p>“There’s no way they can rule for you now because now it would look like you successfully intimidated ’em. These people are in the judiciary, and they’ve got lifetime appointments.” They’re gonna stay there long after Trump’s gone. “They’re not gonna be intimidated by you and they’re not gonna act like they are.” So a lot of people think Trump buried his own case here by going out there and ripping him. But his supporters love it. That’s the difference: The Trump voters like it.</p>
<p>The Trump voters like Trump telling these corrupt and politicized judicial people the truth. He likes telling them off, and they like him telling them off, because everybody knows our judiciary has been corrupted by politics. Everybody knows that the left has populated the judiciary not with judges, but with liberal activists and hacks. And there were two of ’em on that three-judge panel yesterday. Now, here’s the second thing, and this is an even better example. Are you aware that the famous upper-tier and high-class department store chain Nordstrom decided to get rid of all Ivanka Trump products? Purses, lipstick, whatever Ivanka makes fashion related. Whatever it is, they publicly announced that they’re getting rid of Ivanka stuff, and it was last week. Well, Trump today tweeted how bad he thinks that is. He tweeted it, and he slammed Nordstrom for getting rid of his daughter’s fashion line. He said, “Her fashions are great, her products are great, and Nordstrom is also being political and making a dumb, stupid move here.” Well, I watched this on CNN, and they had a panel assembled to discuss this.</p>
<p>The consensus on the panel was, “You don’t do this! Presidents don’t do this! This is something a father would do. A father would defend his daughter. But you don’t go out there and pick winners and losers. The president, with his microphone and with his bully pulpit, shouldn’t be going out there and criticizing individual businesses that are making business decisions!” See, that’s not what’s going on. Nordstrom didn’t make a business decision; they made a political decision, I think.</p>
<p>I have some experience with this kind of rot, and I think this is a pure political decision that Nordstrom made. This is not business. They’ll hide under the umbrella that it’s business. And to a certain extent, it is. But, I mean, it’s politics driving it. And that’s what Trump was talking about in his review of the oral arguments of the Ninth Circus. He was simply saying he can’t believe how political this is. This is the law! We’re talking about the law here! What has politics got to do with it?</p>
<p>So he goes out, he defends his daughter — and I’m gonna tell you again: Trump supporters who hear about this — the people that voted for Trump — stand up and cheer when he does this. The fact that it’s not something presidents do doesn’t matter to them. Because these people have seen people on their side be savagely, personally assaulted and attacked with lies and distortions, and they’re fed up with nobody pushing back against it. People that vote for Donald Trump, I don’t know whether they buy Ivanka Trump stuff or not; that’s not the point.</p>
<p>Ivanka Trump may as well be Donald Trump in this instance. So Nordstrom effectively, as far as Trump supporters are concerned, told Donald Trump to take a hike by telling his daughter to take a hike, and Trump supporters are also saying, “Why punish the daughter because you don’t like the man, the president? It’s not fair; it’s not right.” This is the kind of thing the left has gotten away with for years, being able to… I mean, the left, it’s okay for them to boycott. It’s okay for them to politicize business.</p>
<p>It’s okay for them to threaten and bully businesses into bands or not selling certain products, or advertising certain places. Oh, that’s perfectly fine for the left to do that! Nobody says anything. That’s perfectly fine. That’s capitalism at work, supposedly. But when a president’s daughter is affected and he sends out a tweet ripping Nordstrom for doing this? No, no, no! We’re not supposed to do that. That’s not presidential. That’s something a father would do, but this is very, very bad.</p>
<p>Now, I will concede that the vast majority of political establishment types will agree in unison that Trump’s tweet slamming Nordstrom. “Bad move! Wrong move! Not presidential.” But Trump’s voters say, “Right on,” whether they buy Ivanka’s stuff or not, because Trump voters are sick and tired, fed up with the one-sided rules that exist on the American political playing field today where Republicans and conservatives can be banned, can be fired, dismissed with no pushback whatsoever. Whatever the left wants!</p>
<p>If a pizza shop won’t sell to gay people, then the pizza shop should be put out of business. If the photography studio or if the baker won’t cater a gay wedding, put ’em out of business. Nobody pushes back against it. Nobody says this is wrong. Nobody attempts to reverse it. Nobody comes to the defense of the businesses under attack. Well, Donald Trump has come to the defense of his daughter, a business under attack — and I’m here to tell you that the people that voted for Trump and support Trump have not one problem with that.</p>
<p>In fact, they’re probably cheering it.</p> | true | 0 | rush theres great column washington post today julian zelizer hes political historian princeton hes fellow new america foundation hes author fierce urgency lyndon johnson congress battle great society hes fellow somewhere know youre fellow somewhere thats big youre fellow means well reputedly smart means chair think tank sit think write think think tank publishes nobody buys nobody reads heralded great thinker anyway guys right said protests didnt hurt reagan theyre gon na stop trump kind thing happened reagans first term reagan despised much bush despised much trump fact comparisons trump identical made reagan hes disengaged stupid doesnt know politics doesnt know constitution hes idiot hes lazy things guy documents didnt matter whit didnt affect anything reagan got agenda think like scott pelley opened cbs evening news last night calling trump divorced reality said busy day presidential statements divorced reality media caught trying prove every trump lie one thing got hot bothered yesterday trump said murder rate alltime high 47year high media went gear fact checked trumps lying trumps wrong murder rates actually coming trump doesnt know hes talking trump attacks media media decides defend think ive said campaign presidency going back first days campaign still know theyre dealing trump important thing media know know even today elected donald trump havent foggiest idea havent gone talked caricatured image trump voter let describe think trump voters theyre missing one front teeth chew tobacco smoke cigarettes spit constantly sitting front porch reading latest national rifle association pickup trucks go church didnt get much beyond high school even poor middle lower middle class 100 percent white 80 male 20 female gays lesbians transgenders cisgenders oddball genders genders voted trump thats think trump voter also know average trump voters tune dont know average trump voter paying em attention theyre going trying destroy trump tried tested ways theyve able destroy republican theyve wanted past theyre missing mark theyre missing mark still dont know elected trump negative caricature people idiots uninformed ignoramus racists bigots think take trump talking trump lied murder rate trump doesnt know hes talking wants religious ban people think lie trumps even report truth trumps sneering way think damage trump damage mean destroy presidency isnt going work think media effectively right circular firing squad doesnt know think democrat partys middle circular firing squad give example well get fauxcahontas details second well get oral arguments ninth circus yesterday folks tell two three judges ninth circus threejudge panel two judges didnt even ask law asked trumps opinion asked trumps attitudes asked trumps psychology even lawyer representing opposition trump told judges take account trump said campaign trail determining whether executive order constitutional nothing statute law applies cutanddried clearly gives president total control gets country declares certain danger zones certain problems exist clearly states president total control case hinges legally constitutional rights citizens even though noncitizen dont constitutional rights illegal alien constitutional rights whether presidents constitutional unconstitutional shouldnt apply however individuals citizens virtue aspects law treated citizens thats gray area statute thats even wasnt even explored tell trump doj lawyer horrible listen mr snerdley interruption folks guy mean even said judges know got feeling im persuading said well please lose dont make bad im listening best theyve got send ninth circus maybe figure theyre gon na lose anyway two things trump tweeted made speech sheriffs today national association sheriffs criticized judges said im saying theyre biased im saying political cant believe political listened cant believe political people saying dont start attacking judges rule theres way rule would look like successfully intimidated em people judiciary theyve got lifetime appointments theyre gon na stay long trumps gone theyre gon na intimidated theyre gon na act like lot people think trump buried case going ripping supporters love thats difference trump voters like trump voters like trump telling corrupt politicized judicial people truth likes telling like telling everybody knows judiciary corrupted politics everybody knows left populated judiciary judges liberal activists hacks two em threejudge panel yesterday heres second thing even better example aware famous uppertier highclass department store chain nordstrom decided get rid ivanka trump products purses lipstick whatever ivanka makes fashion related whatever publicly announced theyre getting rid ivanka stuff last week well trump today tweeted bad thinks tweeted slammed nordstrom getting rid daughters fashion line said fashions great products great nordstrom also political making dumb stupid move well watched cnn panel assembled discuss consensus panel dont presidents dont something father would father would defend daughter dont go pick winners losers president microphone bully pulpit shouldnt going criticizing individual businesses making business decisions see thats whats going nordstrom didnt make business decision made political decision think experience kind rot think pure political decision nordstrom made business theyll hide umbrella business certain extent mean politics driving thats trump talking review oral arguments ninth circus simply saying cant believe political law talking law politics got goes defends daughter im gon na tell trump supporters hear people voted trump stand cheer fact something presidents doesnt matter people seen people side savagely personally assaulted attacked lies distortions theyre fed nobody pushing back people vote donald trump dont know whether buy ivanka trump stuff thats point ivanka trump may well donald trump instance nordstrom effectively far trump supporters concerned told donald trump take hike telling daughter take hike trump supporters also saying punish daughter dont like man president fair right kind thing left gotten away years able mean left okay boycott okay politicize business okay threaten bully businesses bands selling certain products advertising certain places oh thats perfectly fine left nobody says anything thats perfectly fine thats capitalism work supposedly presidents daughter affected sends tweet ripping nordstrom supposed thats presidential thats something father would bad concede vast majority political establishment types agree unison trumps tweet slamming nordstrom bad move wrong move presidential trumps voters say right whether buy ivankas stuff trump voters sick tired fed onesided rules exist american political playing field today republicans conservatives banned fired dismissed pushback whatsoever whatever left wants pizza shop wont sell gay people pizza shop put business photography studio baker wont cater gay wedding put em business nobody pushes back nobody says wrong nobody attempts reverse nobody comes defense businesses attack well donald trump come defense daughter business attack im tell people voted trump support trump one problem fact theyre probably cheering | 1,042 |
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<p>Image source: Caterpillar.</p>
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<p>I'm a huge fan of dividends, and I assumeif you're reading this you are, too. The problem today is that with interest rates so low, investors have bid up the stocks of dividend-paying companiesin a desparate search for yield and, as you might expect, it's now hard to find a stock with a decent yield.But that doesn't mean you can't. You just need to be willing to look at sectors that are -- let's be polite -- out of favor. Here are five stocks yielding more than 3% that are worth a deeper dive right now, even though they may operate in unloved sectors.</p>
<p>If you're going to look at out-of-favor companies, why not start with mining -- perhaps one of the most hated industries today. There have been so many dividend cuts in that sector, you'd be right to be a little fearful -- and that's why Caterpillar Inc. is a better call. This heavy-equipment giant sells its massive trucks and equipment to the mining industry, among others, and has seen orders fall right along with commodity prices. Investors have taken notice and sent the shares lower.</p>
<p>However, Caterpillar's 4.3% yield is backed by over 20 years of annual dividend increases. And the company is expecting earnings to be around $3 a share this year. If you pull out one-time charges, that figure jumps to $3.70 or so. Since the one-time items are restructuring costs, they really should be, you know, one-time costs, and, more important, they'll set the company up to better handle the current downturn. There's risk here, to be sure, but Caterpillar is still deeply in the black despite the tough market environment, and that says a lot about the company's strength and its future when the mining markets finally start to pick up again.</p>
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<p>Another interesting area to look for income right now is in the out-of-favor oil patch. One of the best-run oil majors is ExxonMobil . The company's yield is kind of low for the sector, at about 3.3%, but that's because investors have been willing to pay up for quality. Exxon has long been atop the industry when it comes to return on invested capital, meaning it does a better job of putting shareholders' money to work. Then there's the not-so-subtle accomplishment of more than 30 years of annual dividend increases. In other words, Exxon has increased its dividend in good years and bad, including through the current downcycle. And while many competitors are bleeding red ink today, Exxon is still in the black.</p>
<p><a href="http://ycharts.com/companies/XOM/croic" type="external">XOM Cash Return on Capital Invested (CROCI) (TTM)</a> data by <a href="http://ycharts.com" type="external">YCharts Opens a New Window.</a></p>
<p>Another option is Chevron . Although it's not quite as good a choice, it's still a well-run company. The yield is a bit higher at 4.2%. The problem here is that Chevron recently bled a little red on the bottom line (it's lost money in each of the past two quarters) and hasn't increased its dividend in eight quarters. That means its 28-year annual increase streak could be nearing an end. But that's a far cry from a cut, and you might be willing to suffer through a period of no dividend growth for the higher yield. In case you're still worried about a dividend cut -- and there's reason to be -- management has been vocal about preserving the dividend during this downturn.</p>
<p>With both Exxon and Chevron you have to be willing to handle the inherent volatility involved with commodity prices. That might be too much to bear for some investors, in which case you're better off putting your money elsewhere.</p>
<p>But if you're willing to look at Exxon and Chevron, you might also want to examine refiners Phillips 66 and Valero Energy Corp . These companies take oil and natural gas and turn them into other products, such as gasoline and chemicals, among many others. They yield around 3.2% and 4.3%, respectively. These are both well-run refiners, and they've each benefited from the fact that their input costs are historically low because of the fall in oil and natural gas prices.</p>
<p>However, the wide margins refiners have enjoyed in recent years appear to be shrinking. For example, despite a recent 12.5% dividend increase, Phillips 66 CEO Greg Garland noted in his company's quarterly earnings release, "Weaker margins impacted our financial results in the first quarter." Valero CEO Joe Gorder basically said the same thing, noting, "Our team's relentless pursuit of safe, reliable, low-cost operations delivered solid operating performance this quarter despite lower product margins."</p>
<p>Image source: Valero.</p>
<p>The upshot is that both companies saw relatively weak results in the first quarter, but both remained well in the black. Valero earned $0.60 a share and Phillips 66 earned $0.72 a share. That compares to quarterly dividends of $0.60 and $0.63 per share, respectively. So they appear to be doing fine, and still covering their distributions, despite a tougher operating environment. Although those numbers may look tight, remember that dividends come out of cash flow -- not earnings.</p>
<p>In the end, despite the headwinds, both companies are still worth looking at. However, don't feel you have to jump right away. Margin pain might lead to lower prices. Valero, for example, is down about 20% or so this year. You might find that a good buying opportunity is starting to present itself.</p>
<p>There's always a trade-off between risk and reward when it comes to investing in stocks. In the low-interest rate environment we live in today, you may find yourself drawn to riskier and riskier companies in your search for a decent yield. However, Caterpillar, Exxon, Chevron, Phillips 66, and Valero all show that you can still get a decent yield from industry-leading companies. Sticking with quality names in out-of-favor sectors is a better bet than reaching for yield with weaker names. Maybe all these stocks aren't buys for you, but these five stocks with yields over 3% are all worth a deeper dive if you're looking for dividend income today.</p>
<p>The article <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/06/05/looking-for-stocks-yielding-more-than-3-here-are-5.aspx" type="external">Looking for Stocks Yielding More Than 3%? Here Are 5 Dividend Payers to Buy. Opens a New Window.</a> originally appeared on Fool.com.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/ReubenGBrewer/info.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">Reuben Brewer Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of ExxonMobil. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Chevron. The Motley Fool owns shares of ExxonMobil. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/help/index.htm?display=about02" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | image source caterpillar continue reading im huge fan dividends assumeif youre reading problem today interest rates low investors bid stocks dividendpaying companiesin desparate search yield might expect hard find stock decent yieldbut doesnt mean cant need willing look sectors lets polite favor five stocks yielding 3 worth deeper dive right even though may operate unloved sectors youre going look outoffavor companies start mining perhaps one hated industries today many dividend cuts sector youd right little fearful thats caterpillar inc better call heavyequipment giant sells massive trucks equipment mining industry among others seen orders fall right along commodity prices investors taken notice sent shares lower however caterpillars 43 yield backed 20 years annual dividend increases company expecting earnings around 3 share year pull onetime charges figure jumps 370 since onetime items restructuring costs really know onetime costs important theyll set company better handle current downturn theres risk sure caterpillar still deeply black despite tough market environment says lot companys strength future mining markets finally start pick advertisement another interesting area look income right outoffavor oil patch one bestrun oil majors exxonmobil companys yield kind low sector 33 thats investors willing pay quality exxon long atop industry comes return invested capital meaning better job putting shareholders money work theres notsosubtle accomplishment 30 years annual dividend increases words exxon increased dividend good years bad including current downcycle many competitors bleeding red ink today exxon still black xom cash return capital invested croci ttm data ycharts opens new window another option chevron although quite good choice still wellrun company yield bit higher 42 problem chevron recently bled little red bottom line lost money past two quarters hasnt increased dividend eight quarters means 28year annual increase streak could nearing end thats far cry cut might willing suffer period dividend growth higher yield case youre still worried dividend cut theres reason management vocal preserving dividend downturn exxon chevron willing handle inherent volatility involved commodity prices might much bear investors case youre better putting money elsewhere youre willing look exxon chevron might also want examine refiners phillips 66 valero energy corp companies take oil natural gas turn products gasoline chemicals among many others yield around 32 43 respectively wellrun refiners theyve benefited fact input costs historically low fall oil natural gas prices however wide margins refiners enjoyed recent years appear shrinking example despite recent 125 dividend increase phillips 66 ceo greg garland noted companys quarterly earnings release weaker margins impacted financial results first quarter valero ceo joe gorder basically said thing noting teams relentless pursuit safe reliable lowcost operations delivered solid operating performance quarter despite lower product margins image source valero upshot companies saw relatively weak results first quarter remained well black valero earned 060 share phillips 66 earned 072 share compares quarterly dividends 060 063 per share respectively appear fine still covering distributions despite tougher operating environment although numbers may look tight remember dividends come cash flow earnings end despite headwinds companies still worth looking however dont feel jump right away margin pain might lead lower prices valero example 20 year might find good buying opportunity starting present theres always tradeoff risk reward comes investing stocks lowinterest rate environment live today may find drawn riskier riskier companies search decent yield however caterpillar exxon chevron phillips 66 valero show still get decent yield industryleading companies sticking quality names outoffavor sectors better bet reaching yield weaker names maybe stocks arent buys five stocks yields 3 worth deeper dive youre looking dividend income today article looking stocks yielding 3 5 dividend payers buy opens new window originally appeared foolcom reuben brewer opens new window owns shares exxonmobil motley fool owns shares recommends chevron motley fool owns shares exxonmobil try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window copyright 1995 2016 motley fool llc rights reserved motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 657 |
<p><a href="//videos/37/63449" type="external" /></p>
<p>RUSH: The opining over whether or not the Republicans ought to, quote, unquote, shut down the government again is heating up, this time in the Washington Post. Now, the Washington Post has the Republican Party’s best interests in mind, right? The Washington Post and the Drive-By Media, when they tell the Republican Party what to do, they really want the Republican Party to do well, right?</p>
<p>When the Democrat Party, such as <a href="" type="internal">Chuck-U Schumer</a>, or the Washington Post in this case, or <a href="" type="internal">Luis Gutierrez</a>, when any of them tell the Republican Party, “You guys had better come out for amnesty. You had better support us on this. You had better support comprehensive immigration reform or you’re never gonna win another election.” They have the Republicans’ best interests at heart, don’t they? Of course they do.</p>
<p>Did the Republicans just win an election? It’s getting harder and harder to tell. As you observe things happening in Washington, it’s harder and harder to tell who won that election. The Republicans are acting like losers. They’re acting like they’re gonna continue to lose unless they continue to do what the Democrats want. It’s stunning. It’s amazing to watch this.</p>
<p>So here’s the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/12/02/heres-why-republicans-really-shouldnt-want-a-government-shutdown-in-1-chart/" type="external">Washington Post</a>. Here’s why Republicans really shouldn’t want a government shutdown in one chart. And the chart is not the election returns. No, no, no. The chart is the latest polling data. Yes, you see, we shouldn’t shut down the government because there’s polling data that says the American people will really hate the Republicans, the guys they just elected in a landslide victory, independents and moderate voters as well as Republican voters, mandated the Republican victory.</p>
<p>The mandate is to stop Obama, is to stop this. There can be no other conclusion. And yet we’ve got a poll here from the Washington Post saying these same people don’t want the Republicans to do anything to actually stop Obama, including a government shutdown. And the Washington Post, we’d have to conclude, has the best interests of the Republican Party in mind, right? Now, the Republican Party didn’t follow the Democrats’ advice leading up to the 2014 midterms, and they won a huge landslide.</p>
<p>“Congressional Republicans are brainstorming ways to punish President Obama for unilaterally deferring deportation for millions of illegal immigrants.” That’s not what this is about, punishing President Obama. Those of us who do not want amnesty for millions has nothing to do with punishing Obama. It’s all about the country. But, you see, even Republicans inside the Beltway are going to read this story and they’re going to be obviously influenced why it, which is why it’s written the way it is.</p>
<p>By the way, the writer here is a guy named Scott Clement, and he begins the story, “Congressional Republicans are brainstorming ways to punish President Obama for unilaterally deferring deportation for millions of illegal immigrants. But GOP leaders seem to have ruled out a partial government shutdown a la 2013, according to The Post’s Robert Costa and Ed O’Keefe: The House GOP was still considering several possible funding bills as discussions continued, the leadership’s favored Hill response to Obama’s immigration moves, according to senior GOP aides familiar with the process — a strategy that would demonstrate the party’s defiance while avoiding the shutdown theatrics and public disapproval that plagued it last year.”</p>
<p>Yeah, that shutdown last year, does anybody remember that shutdown? Do you remember when the government shut down last December, folks? I mean, we were all alive, and we were all paying attention. No, I’m serious. Do you remember when… (interruption) No, no. Do you remember when Congress closed? Do you remember when the DMV was? Do you remember when you couldn’t get your welfare check? Do you remember when Social Security checks didn’t show up? Do you remember when Medicare and Medicaid weren’t working? Do you remember you couldn’t get on the sleigh ride concession out at Yellowstone Park? That’s my memory, all of that happened.</p>
<p>There wasn’t any government shutdown. And they’re calling it a partial shutdown now; they’re calling it a partial shutdown then. Seventeen percent of government operations were shut down. This whole notion of a government shutdown is language that is being used once again to negatively impact the Republican Party and its fortunes. I ask anyone, do you remember when the government was shut down last December? Do you remember when whatever you need from government wasn’t available? Do you remember a government office closed?</p>
<p>No, what you remember is the incompetence of Obamacare in that rollout. What you remember is the usual incompetence of government bureaucracies, but you don’t remember them being shut down, because they weren’t. The government was shut down in 1995. Wow, man, that really hurt us. You can still feel the impact today, can’t you? Right.</p>
<p>That was a real shutdown in 1995. That one lasted a couple of months and Clinton worked with the government employees union to stack the deck on that one. They ended up getting their Thanksgiving turkeys. They got their back pay. Nobody lost a dime on that government shutdown. Even the Yellowstone Park sleigh bell concession, whatever, got reimbursed for whatever it was he lost.</p>
<p>But I’m just asking you. I seriously want you to think back and ask yourself, do you remember, has your life been so impacted, so affected by a government shutdown that you remember every moment of it, and it was so bad that you do not ever want to experience it again? I would maintain that not a single one of you, outside of the occasional government employee, can even remember the government shutdown from last December and you can’t remember being affected by it.</p>
<p>If you had to face an open question today about what part of the government was shut down and what happened as a result, you are clueless. I would wager nobody can answer this question. The only thing that you can remember about it is that the Republicans shut down the government, and the next thing you remember about it is the Republicans shut down the government because they hate government and they hate everybody depending on government. That’s probably what you remember, if even you remember that. And the only reason you remember that is because that was the media template, that was the narrative.</p>
<p>But in terms of real life, how many of you remember the government shutdown last year? My contention to you is that nobody does. If the government shutdown last year were as dramatic and negative and punitive and destructive and all those other descriptions you can come up with, if they were all of that and more, somebody explain to me how the Republicans, who got blamed for it, won a huge landslide last month. How did this happen? The polling data a year ago is identical to what the polling data is today.</p>
<p>The polls say don’t you dare do it. The polls say no way. The independents are gonna hate you. The Democrats are gonna hate you. I mean, the media is gonna hate you, gonna get ripped to shreds for shutting it down, better not do it. You Republicans, every time you do it, it never, ever works. You never accomplish what you want to accomplish. You always end up getting blamed for it. It’s a hell to recover from. Right. Can anybody remember any of that from a year ago?</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" />You may have some wonks in Washington, “Oh, yeah, man, I remember. I remember I tried to get to the congressional committee hearing on the offshore dingbat drill system that was set up for the anti-fracking forces, I remember that hearing got shut down.” But seriously. It’s just mind-boggling to me. We’re not even talking real shutdown. But before you even get there, do elections have meaning? Do elections have consequences? They used to and what just happened last month was an utter shellacking.</p>
<p>The Democrat Party got beat up. The Democrat Party had the floor wiped with them. The president’s approval numbers are hovering in the thirties now. The only logical interpretation of the meaning of the election is that people are not happy with the status quo, and they certainly don’t want more of it.</p>
<p>The only logical interpretation of the election results is that people who voted in mass landslide numbers for Republicans want all of this stopped. And, therefore, in the middle of this massive landslide election victory for the Republicans — let’s characterize it differently. In the midst of this massive landslide election loss for President Obama and the Democrats, we have a poll published by the Washington Post which says that the absolute worst thing the Republicans could do would be to shut down the government just like they did last year.</p>
<p>Something doesn’t work here in the logical progression. If the Republicans got so much blame for such a drastic maneuver as shutting down the government last year, how in the hell did they win anything this year? I mean, why wasn’t there hell to pay? Why wasn’t there a price to pay? By the way, along the same lines, the Republicans did not come out and support amnesty before the election, how the hell they win the election? ‘Cause the Democrats and the media were telling them and everybody else that they never had a prayer.</p>
<p>Remember Chuck Schumer, you guys don’t have a prayer with the Hispanic community. You’re never gonna win beans, especially not gonna win the White House again if you don’t get on board amnesty right now. Comprehensive immigration reform, if you don’t do that, you don’t have a prayer. Here come the elections, it’s a landslide loss for the guys telling us what we gotta do to win.</p>
<p>So now here we are, and what’s really happening is the Democrat Party, a branch office of which is the Drive-By Media, is doing everything they can to intimidate the Republicans from acting on their victory. That’s what this is. And they’re using years and years of fear of the media, fear of media polls, and fear generally. You better not act like you won. You better not do anything that’s based on your victory ’cause you’re going to be hated for it by the people that elected you. That makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it?</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" />You better not do anything with this with this victory. You better not stop president Obama. You better give him what he wants. You better sign on to all of this, otherwise you’re gonna pay the price and there’s gonna be hell to pay. Really? This after winning? I can understand all this if the Republicans got shellacked themselves, but that didn’t happen. So the Washington Post come out openly in this story and they say it’s not about who won the election. This is all about the polling data. It’s about the poll here, the poll there, the poll over there. And they remind the Republican Party their disapproval climbed to 74% after the government shutdown last year.</p>
<p>Let’s put that in perspective. It wasn’t a government shutdown. Once again, you have a poll stacked, questions structured to get the desired result. So the media runs around and asks people who don’t even know the government’s been shut down, they’re not even affected by it, and they ask them a loaded question about the government shutdown, and of course what does that mean to people? It means hell, Washington’s closed, it means nothing’s happening.</p>
<p>Of course that’s not what it means, but you go ask people this, particular the low-information crowd, “Oh, yeah, Republicans, did they do it? I strongly oppose.” And so the blame is set up, the poll comes out to affirm the blame, the Republicans look at the poll, “Oh, my God, we shut down the government. Oh, look, we’re getting beat. Oh, my God.” And then they think it took them a year to recover. When in fact it’s bogus from the get-go. What government shutdown? I defy anybody to tell me how it affected you, how it affected the country. We’re still here, aren’t we?</p>
<p>What has done more damage to the US economy, shutting down the government or Barack Obama and his policies? What has done more damage to your job prospects, shutting down the government or whatever they’re calling it, or Barack Obama’s economic policies? What has done more damage to your future job prospects, shutting down the government or Obama’s amnesty, opening the doors and the floodgates to illegal immigrants from all over Central America to come in here and take your job for much less? Who is doing more damage to you and your kids and your future, a misnamed, hard-to-find government shutdown or Barack Obama? The people that voted in November answered that.</p>
<p>BREAK TRANSCRIPT</p>
<p>RUSH: I remember two things about last year’s government shutdown, and I think both of them ended up in outrage at President Obama and the Democrats. The first thing I remember was, World War II vets finally had a memorial in Washington, and a number of them had planned a trip from all over the country to visit the memorial to them. Given their age, most likely it was going to be the only time they would ever be able to visit it.</p>
<p>Barack Obama shut it down.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" />It was his decision. It was his discretionary move to shut down the area where the World War II Memorial was, and therefore those veterans were not allowed to go. But that’s only half the story. You know who was allowed to use that area? A bunch of protesters demanding amnesty. Immigration reform groups were allowed, during the government shutdown, to access areas close to the area that World War II vets were denied.</p>
<p>Now, I’m here to tell you that if there was any lasting memory that held political consequence after those two events, it would have been the American people angry at Barack Obama and the Democrats for the government shutdown and the tricks they employed politically during that period of time.</p>
<p>Yet everybody wants to run around and assume, because of mainstream media polling data, that the Republicans always pay the price, and they never recover from it, and it’s just silly to engage in this kind of activity. It’s stupid. Nobody wants a government shutdown, and Republicans always get blamed.</p>
<p>They just won a landslide election! The shutdown last year, if anybody got mad, it was people being mad at Obama and the Democrats — and it was probably lasting anger as well. After the 1995 government shutdown, we only lost nine congressional seats after that shutdown. All of this is a big myth, folks.</p>
<p>BREAK TRANSCRIPT</p>
<p>RUSH: After the government shutdown in 1995, which was a big one, I mean, that really was, the Republicans lost nine seats in the House, but picked up two seats in the Senate. Net loss of seven in the Congress. Now, that’s nothing you want to advocate for, but that’s not huge. That’s nowhere near what happened to the Democrats this time. The Democrats lost control of the Senate. They lost 12 more seats in the Senate to go with the ones they’d lost previously.</p>
<p>By the way, let me stress something here because Snerdley asked me during the break, “Why are you agitating for a government shutdown?” I’m not. It’s not about a government shutdown. That’s another thing. It’s a diversionary move, this whole label to describe legitimate constitutional legislative action that the executive branch can take to stop an out-of-control president is not shutting down the government. It’s a loaded term, it is an incendiary term, it is not apt, it is not a legitimate description of what happens.</p>
<p>Eighty-three to 85% of the government continues to operate. It is not a government shutdown. But I’m not advocating for that anyway. What everybody simply wants to happen here is the Republicans to get some gonads and act like they won this and understand what they were elected to do. They were elected to stop the policies of the Democrat Party and President Obama, plain and simple, not kick the can down the road every time they get together and promise to deal with it later. And it’s become apparent that that desire doesn’t exist.</p>
<p>It doesn’t look like the Republicans want to actually do what it would take to stop Obama. That’s the frustrating thing. But nobody I know, certainly not myself, is actually advocating for a, quote, unquote, government shutdown. That’s what the media is going to call it. What we’re advocating here is the Republicans stand up and avail themselves as every opportunity presents itself to stop the implementation extraconstitutionally of the Barack Obama agenda.</p>
<p><a href="http://nypost.com/2014/12/02/the-president-rewrites-the-obamacare-law-again/" type="external">Betsy McCaughey</a> is out today in the New York Post with yet another ream of examples of Obama wantonly changing Obamacare while nobody is looking in ways that he is not constitutionally empowered to do. He’s just making changes here, changes there, that affect who’s available, who qualifies, who doesn’t, what government and business must do to make health care available. It’s a never-ending list of things, that while everybody is arguing about Ferguson, more executive orders or executive actions are written and implemented, nobody finds out ’til after it’s done.</p>
<p>So you get sidetracked on this construct here of a government shutdown, which really isn’t a government shutdown. The things that happened a year ago were all because Obama took specific action, like closing the World War II Memorial, specifically to World War II vets but yet allowing the area to be used. I mean, this was a purposeful slap in the face, which is how Obama operates. (imitating Obama) “Oh, you gonna shut down my government on me? All right, is that what you’re gonna do? Okay, well, then take this.” While area is still functioning, it’s not shut down by virtue of what happened, he closes the World War II Memorial. He and he alone decides to shut it down, making it impossible for people to visit. And then he decided randomly to open it up for illegal immigrant activists.</p>
<p>He also, if you’ll recall, shut down tours of the White House, even though the Secret Service was still fully staffed. The Secret Service was still fully functioning, but he closed down the White House tours. There was no need for it. The Secret Service was fully funded. It was just done to punish people, which is how Obama and people like him behave when they don’t get their way. Poll after poll after poll shows that it is President Obama who is unpopular. Poll after poll after poll shows that it is the Democrat Party that is a little more unpopular right now than the Republican Party. It is just incredible the way real public opinion is being massaged and bent and flaked and formed here to bend to the will of the Democrats and their allies in the Drive-By Media.</p>
<p>But the piece de resistance is the Washington Post story telling us to ignore the election results. They don’t tell you the story. The election results don’t mean anything. The only thing that counts is our poll here. Here’s what it says. “Disapproval of Republicans grew from 63% immediately before the shutdown last year to 70% during the shutdown’s first week and 74% the following week.” Oh, my God, do you remember that? Seventy-four percent disapprove of the Republicans during the shutdown, and they don’t want to go through that again, oh, my God, no. Oh, oh, no, what’s the Chamber gonna say about us? Oh, my God, what are our big donors gonna do? They’re gonna kick our butts for being so unpopular. Oh, my God!</p>
<p>They come back and they win a landslide election. My contention to you is, and I asked you in the last half hour, search your memory bank, what do you remember about this shutdown? I’ll bet you remember the World War II shutdown. I’ll bet you remember the same area being opened up for illegal immigrant activists. I’ll bet you remember the White House tours. I’ll bet you Obama acting petulantly is what you remember, but you don’t remember being personally impacted. You don’t remember your life being damaged. You don’t remember being harmed beyond your ability to recover because of whatever government shutdown happened. And yet that is the story that is presented.</p>
<p>After the shutdown, by the way, a separate ABC/Washington Post poll found 53% saying the Republicans in Congress were mainly responsible for the shutdown. So, in the second week of the shutdown, 74% disapprove the Republicans. After the shutdown, 53% blamed the Republicans for it. And then 10 months later, the Republicans won an electoral landslide, the premise of which was to stop President Barack Obama and his implementation of his agenda, extraconstitutionally and legislatively, and the Democrat Party as well. That’s what happened.</p>
<p>And yet we’re being told here today the big lesson of last year is not the election, oh, no, don’t be infantile, Mr. Limbaugh. Mr. Limbaugh, this illustrates why you are not ever be going to be an accepted member of the establishment. You’re just not an advanced thinker, Mr. Limbaugh. You don’t exhibit the traits necessary to be a member of the establishment. You have to know what’s important. What’s important is the polling data. ‘Cause the polling data is what we raise money off of, and the polling data is what our consultants devise our campaigns over. And what you have to understand, Mr. Limbaugh, is that the media is able to make the public hate us, and you’re not helping, Mr. Limbaugh.</p>
<p>Right. There’s so much hate for the Republicans, they won in a landslide. And even if you acknowledge that the election was an anti-Democrat, anti-Obama election — which it was — the Republicans are still the guys that got the votes. If they were so hated and so despised, that wouldn’t have happened.</p>
<p>I don’t care how you want to look at this election, there is not a single shred of intelligent analysis or evidence anywhere that says, “Well, what the voters really want now, they want Republicans to help Obama and work with him on the implementation of his agenda. They are tired of the gridlock.” That’s why the Republicans won in a landslide, to help Obama and stop gridlock? Why didn’t they just throw the Republicans out then? Because the media’s been telling everybody that the problem is gridlock and the reason Obama’s in some trouble is because Republicans are mean and extremist Tea Party people that don’t want him to succeed and so forth.</p>
<p>Well, why not get rid of those guys, if that’s the correct portrayal? Why not just vote against all the Republicans, give Obama every Democrat he wants, like he had the first two years of his term, and then let’s all just sit back and enjoy our trip to utopia. Why didn’t that happen?</p>
<p>I’m not inside the Beltway, and I don’t know how many of you are, but it’s really fascinating to watch all this from afar and to observe the almost monolithic, for all of the brilliance that exists inside the conservative movement and all the brilliance that is said to exist in the Republican Party, to watch the monolithic political analysis, it’s stunning to me. Everybody there says, “Oh, no, we can’t shut down the government.” Why can’t one person stand up, besides Ted Cruz, why can’t somebody stand up and say, “No, we’re not even talking a government shutdown, Mr. and Miss America, ladies and gentlemen, of America, this is not even a government shutdown. That’s not what’s being discussed here.”</p>
<p>The reasons why things aren’t done continue to befuddle me as much as the reasons are done. Meanwhile, Mitch McConnell, grab audio sound bite number 22. I’m getting to that point I got papers scattered all over my desk, I don’t know what’s where now, so I’m lucky that an obscene profit time-out’s coming up where I can get back to some semblance here of structure at least in what’s coming.</p>
<p>Mitch McConnell yesterday, this is the 2014, Wall Street Journal CEO council annual meeting. This is the thing Boehner — wait a minute, now. Oh, I had a sound bite from somebody that went to this thing yesterday — I don’t remember. Anyway, McConnell’s at it, a bunch of CEOs. Many Democrats, by the way. A lot of Democrat CEOs. In fact, probably more Democrat CEOs than Republican CEOs today. And the Wall Street Journal has an annual confab for them. I guess these are the people get left out of Herbie Allen’s thing at Sun Valley every year so they do their own thing ’cause they don’t invited to the big clique’s party. And so here is what McConnell said. Now, get this.</p>
<p>MCCONNELL: If you look at the way the president’s reacted to what could only be described as a butt-kicking election by any objective standard… The president got crushed in this election! So I’ve been perplexed by the reaction since the election of sort of in-your-face, dramatic move to the left.</p>
<p>RUSH: This is the second time that Senator McConnell has told us he can’t believe what Obama’s doing. He can’t believe Obama’s moving to the left after such a huge defeat. He just can’t believe it. Why can’t he? If he really means this… That’s another story. If he really means this or he’s just saying it for consumption, we don’t really know. But if he really means it — and I have such a tough time believing he really means this, ’cause I can’t believe McConnell doesn’t get what’s going on.</p>
<p>But I guess it’s possible. But if it does, if it means he doesn’t know what’s going on, it’s an illustration of how our guys are stuck in a bygone era when elections mattered in this way. Elections were the people speaking. What the people thought mattered. Politicians, political parties were deferential to public opinion. Those days did exist. McConnell remembers them.</p>
<p>It wasn’t that long ago, this bygone era, when after an election loss like this, the losers would at least talk about the need to move to the center or even fake everybody out and do it with a couple of things. I think what’s going on here is, once again, the Republicans are relying on a force that no longer exists to do their work for them. In this case, they’re thinking that this expression of popular opinion alone will be enough to stop Obama, that Obama will see this degree of disapproval and it will shock him into stopping the things he’s doing.</p>
<p>Meaning the Republicans won’t have to do anything because public opinion will be enough. But that’s not the case with Obama and the Democrat Party. They view the general population with contempt. They view the general population as a bunch of dunces that are basically ignorant, don’t understand how things really work in the big show: Washington politics. “No way they could ever understand it. They don’t even know how to live their lives the right way, don’t even know how to do what’s best. That’s why we need Democrats to do that for them.”</p>
<p>So the opinion, the collective opinion of the general population, matters not a whit any longer.</p>
<p>BREAK TRANSCRIPT</p>
<p>RUSH: I want to go back to the McConnell stuff. I still can’t believe this. Well, I am kind of backtracked into this whole government shutdown charade, which is what that is. Anyway, greetings, my friends, and welcome back. Rush Limbaugh, the EIB Network. 800-282-2882 if you want to be on the program, and the e-mail address, [email protected]. Is it in fact number 22? Is that the McConnell sound bite? Yeah, here I’ve got this, yeah.</p>
<p>This is Mitch McConnell. Now, he’s at the Wall Street Journal CEO council. <a href="" type="internal">We played a sound bite of Jeb Bush</a> at the CEO meeting. Wall Street Journal does this thing. I think, folks, it’s for all the CEOs that don’t get invited to Herbie Allen’s big media mogul event in Sun Valley every summer.</p>
<p>I mean, that’s a big invite, and a lot of guys don’t get invited to that, so they do their own. It’s like guys set up a golf club. If Augusta won’t ask ’em to join, they set up their own golf club. This happens. And of course there’s a lot of Democrat CEOs in any group of CEOs. It’s not any more traditional that Big Business men are Republican or even conservative. But this is the second time Senator McConnell has alluded to this surprised view he has of President Obama. It just boggles my mind. So I want hear this again. It was yesterday in Washington at the Wall Street Journal CEO council annual meeting.</p>
<p>MCCONNELL: If you look at the way the president’s reacted to what could only be described as a butt-kicking election. By any objective standard the president got crushed in this election. So I’ve been perplexed by the reaction since the election of sort of in-your-face, dramatic move to the left.</p>
<p>RUSH: Did anybody have any expectation — this is what boggles my mind — has Obama ever triangulated and moved to the center? Is there anything about Barack Obama, has he ever moved to the right, which is the direction he’d have to go to get to the center? The thing that I guess stuns me about this is the expectation. How can you have the expectation when there’s no evidence? It’s not as though Barack Obama is a mystery. He’s been president for six years. He was a senator for a couple of days before that. He’s written a couple of books.</p>
<p>He’s an open book! The man is an avowed leftist. There is no other conclusion. There’s no mystery. And yet here’s the new Senate majority leader expressing, openly, in public expressing surprise that Obama hasn’t tacked to the center because he just lost big in an election. When in fact what Obama is doing — see, this is what I can’t believe people don’t see. I just can’t believe it. I can’t believe people don’t see this. I can’t believe that you and I, folks, are the only ones that see this stuff.</p>
<p>Obama’s got two years. He’s already demonstrated a fondness and an eagerness to govern outside the Constitution. He has demonstrated that he will happily violate the Constitution. He takes losses personally. People that don’t agree with him, he wants to rub their nose in it. He’s not gonna tack to the right in humility. There is no humility here, in Obama. He’s a narcissist. Humility is not in his vocabulary; it’s impossible.</p>
<p>He’s got two years left, and these two years, I’m telling you, are very scary, because he’s gonna double down and move further and further to the left, and he’s gonna dare these guys to stop him, and they are making it abundantly clear that they’re not interested in stopping him. They think that he’s gonna come stop himself. That’s what frightens me about this. They really think Obama’s gonna stop himself and move to the center ’cause he lost an election?</p>
<p>In Obama’s world, he didn’t lose anything. He wasn’t on the ballot. A bunch of hapless, stupid Democrats that didn’t even want him around lost the election. He didn’t even lose it. He’s not even responsible for the loss, in his world. I guarantee you when Obama gets together with Valerie Jarrett and maybe Michelle if they let her in the meeting, they sit around and they start bitching about how stupid and unappreciative the Democrats are.</p>
<p>And I guarantee you, he took personally the fact they didn’t want him around in their reelection campaigns. He might publicly say that he understands, but this is not the way you treat somebody who thinks as highly of himself as Obama thinks of himself. You don’t do this. You don’t cast him aside. You don’t publicly indicate that he’s bad news for you. You do not publicly indicate you don’t want Barack Obama around. And if you do, there’s gonna be a price to pay.</p>
<p>And now Schumer and Harkin out there saying Obamacare, worst mistake we ever made. I guarantee you in the White House, those guys have horns on their pictures, and they’re on the wall, and Josh Earnest and the boys are throwing darts at ’em. But to expect Barack Obama to stop himself, to expect Barack Obama to say, “Oh, you know what? I guess the American people don’t like my agenda. Okay, well, I better give the people what they want.” They don’t possibly really believe that, right? Can’t possibly.</p>
<p>That’s a bygone era in politics where losers responded to public opinion and tried to get back in the good graces of the public. Those days don’t exist anymore. Hell, not even on our side. I just had to play that again because it’s a second time. I forget what the first McConnell quote was, but it was the same thing. He expected Obama to tack to the middle after the election. I think he said this either election night or within a couple of days afterwards.</p>
<p>But you strip it all away, what it translates to is, they expect Obama to stop himself, that they really don’t have any interest in stopping him themselves, which is what their mandate is.</p> | true | 0 | rush opining whether republicans ought quote unquote shut government heating time washington post washington post republican partys best interests mind right washington post driveby media tell republican party really want republican party well right democrat party chucku schumer washington post case luis gutierrez tell republican party guys better come amnesty better support us better support comprehensive immigration reform youre never gon na win another election republicans best interests heart dont course republicans win election getting harder harder tell observe things happening washington harder harder tell election republicans acting like losers theyre acting like theyre gon na continue lose unless continue democrats want stunning amazing watch heres washington post heres republicans really shouldnt want government shutdown one chart chart election returns chart latest polling data yes see shouldnt shut government theres polling data says american people really hate republicans guys elected landslide victory independents moderate voters well republican voters mandated republican victory mandate stop obama stop conclusion yet weve got poll washington post saying people dont want republicans anything actually stop obama including government shutdown washington post wed conclude best interests republican party mind right republican party didnt follow democrats advice leading 2014 midterms huge landslide congressional republicans brainstorming ways punish president obama unilaterally deferring deportation millions illegal immigrants thats punishing president obama us want amnesty millions nothing punishing obama country see even republicans inside beltway going read story theyre going obviously influenced written way way writer guy named scott clement begins story congressional republicans brainstorming ways punish president obama unilaterally deferring deportation millions illegal immigrants gop leaders seem ruled partial government shutdown la 2013 according posts robert costa ed okeefe house gop still considering several possible funding bills discussions continued leaderships favored hill response obamas immigration moves according senior gop aides familiar process strategy would demonstrate partys defiance avoiding shutdown theatrics public disapproval plagued last year yeah shutdown last year anybody remember shutdown remember government shut last december folks mean alive paying attention im serious remember interruption remember congress closed remember dmv remember couldnt get welfare check remember social security checks didnt show remember medicare medicaid werent working remember couldnt get sleigh ride concession yellowstone park thats memory happened wasnt government shutdown theyre calling partial shutdown theyre calling partial shutdown seventeen percent government operations shut whole notion government shutdown language used negatively impact republican party fortunes ask anyone remember government shut last december remember whatever need government wasnt available remember government office closed remember incompetence obamacare rollout remember usual incompetence government bureaucracies dont remember shut werent government shut 1995 wow man really hurt us still feel impact today cant right real shutdown 1995 one lasted couple months clinton worked government employees union stack deck one ended getting thanksgiving turkeys got back pay nobody lost dime government shutdown even yellowstone park sleigh bell concession whatever got reimbursed whatever lost im asking seriously want think back ask remember life impacted affected government shutdown remember every moment bad ever want experience would maintain single one outside occasional government employee even remember government shutdown last december cant remember affected face open question today part government shut happened result clueless would wager nobody answer question thing remember republicans shut government next thing remember republicans shut government hate government hate everybody depending government thats probably remember even remember reason remember media template narrative terms real life many remember government shutdown last year contention nobody government shutdown last year dramatic negative punitive destructive descriptions come somebody explain republicans got blamed huge landslide last month happen polling data year ago identical polling data today polls say dont dare polls say way independents gon na hate democrats gon na hate mean media gon na hate gon na get ripped shreds shutting better republicans every time never ever works never accomplish want accomplish always end getting blamed hell recover right anybody remember year ago may wonks washington oh yeah man remember remember tried get congressional committee hearing offshore dingbat drill system set antifracking forces remember hearing got shut seriously mindboggling even talking real shutdown even get elections meaning elections consequences used happened last month utter shellacking democrat party got beat democrat party floor wiped presidents approval numbers hovering thirties logical interpretation meaning election people happy status quo certainly dont want logical interpretation election results people voted mass landslide numbers republicans want stopped therefore middle massive landslide election victory republicans lets characterize differently midst massive landslide election loss president obama democrats poll published washington post says absolute worst thing republicans could would shut government like last year something doesnt work logical progression republicans got much blame drastic maneuver shutting government last year hell win anything year mean wasnt hell pay wasnt price pay way along lines republicans come support amnesty election hell win election cause democrats media telling everybody else never prayer remember chuck schumer guys dont prayer hispanic community youre never gon na win beans especially gon na win white house dont get board amnesty right comprehensive immigration reform dont dont prayer come elections landslide loss guys telling us got ta win whats really happening democrat party branch office driveby media everything intimidate republicans acting victory thats theyre using years years fear media fear media polls fear generally better act like better anything thats based victory cause youre going hated people elected makes lot sense doesnt better anything victory better stop president obama better give wants better sign otherwise youre gon na pay price theres gon na hell pay really winning understand republicans got shellacked didnt happen washington post come openly story say election polling data poll poll poll remind republican party disapproval climbed 74 government shutdown last year lets put perspective wasnt government shutdown poll stacked questions structured get desired result media runs around asks people dont even know governments shut theyre even affected ask loaded question government shutdown course mean people means hell washingtons closed means nothings happening course thats means go ask people particular lowinformation crowd oh yeah republicans strongly oppose blame set poll comes affirm blame republicans look poll oh god shut government oh look getting beat oh god think took year recover fact bogus getgo government shutdown defy anybody tell affected affected country still arent done damage us economy shutting government barack obama policies done damage job prospects shutting government whatever theyre calling barack obamas economic policies done damage future job prospects shutting government obamas amnesty opening doors floodgates illegal immigrants central america come take job much less damage kids future misnamed hardtofind government shutdown barack obama people voted november answered break transcript rush remember two things last years government shutdown think ended outrage president obama democrats first thing remember world war ii vets finally memorial washington number planned trip country visit memorial given age likely going time would ever able visit barack obama shut decision discretionary move shut area world war ii memorial therefore veterans allowed go thats half story know allowed use area bunch protesters demanding amnesty immigration reform groups allowed government shutdown access areas close area world war ii vets denied im tell lasting memory held political consequence two events would american people angry barack obama democrats government shutdown tricks employed politically period time yet everybody wants run around assume mainstream media polling data republicans always pay price never recover silly engage kind activity stupid nobody wants government shutdown republicans always get blamed landslide election shutdown last year anybody got mad people mad obama democrats probably lasting anger well 1995 government shutdown lost nine congressional seats shutdown big myth folks break transcript rush government shutdown 1995 big one mean really republicans lost nine seats house picked two seats senate net loss seven congress thats nothing want advocate thats huge thats nowhere near happened democrats time democrats lost control senate lost 12 seats senate go ones theyd lost previously way let stress something snerdley asked break agitating government shutdown im government shutdown thats another thing diversionary move whole label describe legitimate constitutional legislative action executive branch take stop outofcontrol president shutting government loaded term incendiary term apt legitimate description happens eightythree 85 government continues operate government shutdown im advocating anyway everybody simply wants happen republicans get gonads act like understand elected elected stop policies democrat party president obama plain simple kick road every time get together promise deal later become apparent desire doesnt exist doesnt look like republicans want actually would take stop obama thats frustrating thing nobody know certainly actually advocating quote unquote government shutdown thats media going call advocating republicans stand avail every opportunity presents stop implementation extraconstitutionally barack obama agenda betsy mccaughey today new york post yet another ream examples obama wantonly changing obamacare nobody looking ways constitutionally empowered hes making changes changes affect whos available qualifies doesnt government business must make health care available neverending list things everybody arguing ferguson executive orders executive actions written implemented nobody finds til done get sidetracked construct government shutdown really isnt government shutdown things happened year ago obama took specific action like closing world war ii memorial specifically world war ii vets yet allowing area used mean purposeful slap face obama operates imitating obama oh gon na shut government right youre gon na okay well take area still functioning shut virtue happened closes world war ii memorial alone decides shut making impossible people visit decided randomly open illegal immigrant activists also youll recall shut tours white house even though secret service still fully staffed secret service still fully functioning closed white house tours need secret service fully funded done punish people obama people like behave dont get way poll poll poll shows president obama unpopular poll poll poll shows democrat party little unpopular right republican party incredible way real public opinion massaged bent flaked formed bend democrats allies driveby media piece de resistance washington post story telling us ignore election results dont tell story election results dont mean anything thing counts poll heres says disapproval republicans grew 63 immediately shutdown last year 70 shutdowns first week 74 following week oh god remember seventyfour percent disapprove republicans shutdown dont want go oh god oh oh whats chamber gon na say us oh god big donors gon na theyre gon na kick butts unpopular oh god come back win landslide election contention asked last half hour search memory bank remember shutdown ill bet remember world war ii shutdown ill bet remember area opened illegal immigrant activists ill bet remember white house tours ill bet obama acting petulantly remember dont remember personally impacted dont remember life damaged dont remember harmed beyond ability recover whatever government shutdown happened yet story presented shutdown way separate abcwashington post poll found 53 saying republicans congress mainly responsible shutdown second week shutdown 74 disapprove republicans shutdown 53 blamed republicans 10 months later republicans electoral landslide premise stop president barack obama implementation agenda extraconstitutionally legislatively democrat party well thats happened yet told today big lesson last year election oh dont infantile mr limbaugh mr limbaugh illustrates ever going accepted member establishment youre advanced thinker mr limbaugh dont exhibit traits necessary member establishment know whats important whats important polling data cause polling data raise money polling data consultants devise campaigns understand mr limbaugh media able make public hate us youre helping mr limbaugh right theres much hate republicans landslide even acknowledge election antidemocrat antiobama election republicans still guys got votes hated despised wouldnt happened dont care want look election single shred intelligent analysis evidence anywhere says well voters really want want republicans help obama work implementation agenda tired gridlock thats republicans landslide help obama stop gridlock didnt throw republicans medias telling everybody problem gridlock reason obamas trouble republicans mean extremist tea party people dont want succeed forth well get rid guys thats correct portrayal vote republicans give obama every democrat wants like first two years term lets sit back enjoy trip utopia didnt happen im inside beltway dont know many really fascinating watch afar observe almost monolithic brilliance exists inside conservative movement brilliance said exist republican party watch monolithic political analysis stunning everybody says oh cant shut government cant one person stand besides ted cruz cant somebody stand say even talking government shutdown mr miss america ladies gentlemen america even government shutdown thats whats discussed reasons things arent done continue befuddle much reasons done meanwhile mitch mcconnell grab audio sound bite number 22 im getting point got papers scattered desk dont know whats im lucky obscene profit timeouts coming get back semblance structure least whats coming mitch mcconnell yesterday 2014 wall street journal ceo council annual meeting thing boehner wait minute oh sound bite somebody went thing yesterday dont remember anyway mcconnells bunch ceos many democrats way lot democrat ceos fact probably democrat ceos republican ceos today wall street journal annual confab guess people get left herbie allens thing sun valley every year thing cause dont invited big cliques party mcconnell said get mcconnell look way presidents reacted could described buttkicking election objective standard president got crushed election ive perplexed reaction since election sort inyourface dramatic move left rush second time senator mcconnell told us cant believe obamas cant believe obamas moving left huge defeat cant believe cant really means thats another story really means hes saying consumption dont really know really means tough time believing really means cause cant believe mcconnell doesnt get whats going guess possible means doesnt know whats going illustration guys stuck bygone era elections mattered way elections people speaking people thought mattered politicians political parties deferential public opinion days exist mcconnell remembers wasnt long ago bygone era election loss like losers would least talk need move center even fake everybody couple things think whats going republicans relying force longer exists work case theyre thinking expression popular opinion alone enough stop obama obama see degree disapproval shock stopping things hes meaning republicans wont anything public opinion enough thats case obama democrat party view general population contempt view general population bunch dunces basically ignorant dont understand things really work big show washington politics way could ever understand dont even know live lives right way dont even know whats best thats need democrats opinion collective opinion general population matters whit longer break transcript rush want go back mcconnell stuff still cant believe well kind backtracked whole government shutdown charade anyway greetings friends welcome back rush limbaugh eib network 8002822882 want program email address elrushboeibnetcom fact number 22 mcconnell sound bite yeah ive got yeah mitch mcconnell hes wall street journal ceo council played sound bite jeb bush ceo meeting wall street journal thing think folks ceos dont get invited herbie allens big media mogul event sun valley every summer mean thats big invite lot guys dont get invited like guys set golf club augusta wont ask em join set golf club happens course theres lot democrat ceos group ceos traditional big business men republican even conservative second time senator mcconnell alluded surprised view president obama boggles mind want hear yesterday washington wall street journal ceo council annual meeting mcconnell look way presidents reacted could described buttkicking election objective standard president got crushed election ive perplexed reaction since election sort inyourface dramatic move left rush anybody expectation boggles mind obama ever triangulated moved center anything barack obama ever moved right direction hed go get center thing guess stuns expectation expectation theres evidence though barack obama mystery hes president six years senator couple days hes written couple books hes open book man avowed leftist conclusion theres mystery yet heres new senate majority leader expressing openly public expressing surprise obama hasnt tacked center lost big election fact obama see cant believe people dont see cant believe cant believe people dont see cant believe folks ones see stuff obamas got two years hes already demonstrated fondness eagerness govern outside constitution demonstrated happily violate constitution takes losses personally people dont agree wants rub nose hes gon na tack right humility humility obama hes narcissist humility vocabulary impossible hes got two years left two years im telling scary hes gon na double move left hes gon na dare guys stop making abundantly clear theyre interested stopping think hes gon na come stop thats frightens really think obamas gon na stop move center cause lost election obamas world didnt lose anything wasnt ballot bunch hapless stupid democrats didnt even want around lost election didnt even lose hes even responsible loss world guarantee obama gets together valerie jarrett maybe michelle let meeting sit around start bitching stupid unappreciative democrats guarantee took personally fact didnt want around reelection campaigns might publicly say understands way treat somebody thinks highly obama thinks dont dont cast aside dont publicly indicate hes bad news publicly indicate dont want barack obama around theres gon na price pay schumer harkin saying obamacare worst mistake ever made guarantee white house guys horns pictures theyre wall josh earnest boys throwing darts em expect barack obama stop expect barack obama say oh know guess american people dont like agenda okay well better give people want dont possibly really believe right cant possibly thats bygone era politics losers responded public opinion tried get back good graces public days dont exist anymore hell even side play second time forget first mcconnell quote thing expected obama tack middle election think said either election night within couple days afterwards strip away translates expect obama stop really dont interest stopping mandate | 2,857 |
<p>Chipmakers Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM) and Texas Instruments (NASDAQ: TXN) went down two very different paths in 2017. Qualcomm took investors on a roller-coaster ride, starting the year in the high $60s, then dropping to the high $40s, then rebounding for an anemic year-to-date gain of 4%. Texas Instruments steadily rose with a 34% gain and outperformed the NASDAQ's 28% rally.</p>
<p>I compared these two chipmakers <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2016/10/10/better-buy-qualcomm-inc-or-texas-instruments-inc.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=9a8240b2-d0ea-11e7-9a73-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">last October Opens a New Window.</a>&#160;and concluded that Qualcomm's lower valuation, higher dividend, and expansion into adjacent markets made it a better investment than TI. I was clearly wrong, since I didn't expect a barrage of probes and lawsuits to derail Qualcomm's growth over the past year. But is TI still the better choice after its year-long rally?</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Qualcomm is the world's largest mobile chipmaker, and its massive portfolio of wireless patents entitles it to a cut of all smartphone sales worldwide. Its chipmaking business -- which sells its flagship Snapdragon SoCs (system on chips) -- generates most of its revenue, but most of its profits come from the higher-margin licensing business.</p>
<p>Qualcomm faces challenges in both markets. Its chipmaking business ceded market share to cheaper rivals like MediaTek and first-party chipsets from companies like Huawei over the past few years. Its licensing business has been targeted by major customers like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and government regulators in China, South Korea, Taiwan, Europe, and the US -- <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/09/07/3-reasons-im-losing-faith-in-qualcomm-inc.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=9a8240b2-d0ea-11e7-9a73-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">which all claim Opens a New Window.</a> that Qualcomm's cut (up to&#160;5% of the wholesale price of each phone) is too high.</p>
<p>To diversify away from mobile devices, Qualcomm developed new chips for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, wearables, drones, and connected cars. It's also <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/10/02/qualcomms-nxp-deal-could-be-in-big-trouble.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=9a8240b2-d0ea-11e7-9a73-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">trying to buy Opens a New Window.</a> NXP Semiconductors (NASDAQ: NXPI), the biggest automotive chipmaker in the world.</p>
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<p>TI produces a wide range of analog and embedded chips for connected cars, industrial machines, wireless infrastructure, consumer electronics, enterprise systems, and other devices. Producing these chips requires less capital than the production of higher-end application processors like Qualcomm's Snapdragon.</p>
<p>Shifting production from 200mm to 300mm wafers over the past few years also cut TI's average production costs by about 40%. That's why TI continually expanded its gross margin as Qualcomm struggled:</p>
<p>TI's diverse business mix of chips across multiple industries allows it to offset softer orders in one industry with stronger orders in another. In recent quarters, its robust growth in the industrial and automotive markets offset softer demand in&#160;personal electronics and communications equipment.</p>
<p>Like Qualcomm, TI is a major Apple supplier. Sales of its chips to Apple accounted for 11% of its revenues in fiscal 2015, but that&#160;figure dropped below 10% last year. That lower dependence on Apple and the growth of its automotive and industrial unit arguably make TI a more well-balanced semiconductor play than Qualcomm.</p>
<p>Analysts expect Qualcomm's revenue and earnings to respectively fall 2% and 17% this year due to its unsettled fines in South Korea and Taiwan, its unresolved probes in the US and Europe, and multiple lawsuits against Apple. Apple, along with a second OEM (likely Huawei), also recently suspended its licensing payments to Qualcomm.</p>
<p>Wall Street expects TI's revenue and&#160;earnings to respectively grow 12% and 31% this year, fueled by rising demand for automotive and industrial chips along with its continuing shift toward 300mm production. Unlike Qualcomm, TI doesn't face any major litigation or regulatory probes.</p>
<p>However, Qualcomm has a lower valuation and a <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/08/22/how-sustainable-is-qualcomms-dividend.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=9a8240b2-d0ea-11e7-9a73-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">higher dividend Opens a New Window.</a> than TI. Qualcomm trades at 18 times next year's earnings, compared to TI's forward P/E of 22. Qualcomm pays a forward dividend yield of 4.2%, which is supported by a payout ratio of 83%.</p>
<p>TI pays a lower forward yield of 2.5%, but it's also supported by a lower payout ratio of 47%. Those figures indicate that TI's dividend, while lower, is more sustainable than Qualcomm's.</p>
<p>Texas Instruments' well-diversified business, higher margins, and more sustainable dividends all make it a better long-term investment than Qualcomm, which might need to make major changes to its high-margin licensing business to appease regulators. Its bruising battle with Apple could cause its components to be dropped from future iDevices, and the NXP deal remains in limbo due to the legal chaos.</p>
<p>However, investors should also remember that Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) also <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/11/03/why-qualcomm-stock-rocketed-higher-today.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=9a8240b2-d0ea-11e7-9a73-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">wants to buy Opens a New Window.</a> Qualcomm -- that's why its stock rallied nearly 30% over the past month. Qualcomm flatly rejected the initial $103 billion bid, but Broadcom is reportedly willing to sweeten the deal.</p>
<p>That might give Qualcomm a shot in the arm, but investors shouldn't buy stocks based on takeover buzz alone. Therefore, Texas Instruments still seems like a better buy than Qualcomm.</p>
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<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of November 6, 2017</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFSunLion/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=9a8240b2-d0ea-11e7-9a73-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Leo Sun Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Apple. The Motley Fool owns shares of Qualcomm and has the following options: long January 2020 $150 calls on Apple and short January 2020 $155 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom Ltd and NXP Semiconductors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=9a8240b2-d0ea-11e7-9a73-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | chipmakers qualcomm nasdaq qcom texas instruments nasdaq txn went two different paths 2017 qualcomm took investors rollercoaster ride starting year high 60s dropping high 40s rebounding anemic yeartodate gain 4 texas instruments steadily rose 34 gain outperformed nasdaqs 28 rally compared two chipmakers last october opens new window160and concluded qualcomms lower valuation higher dividend expansion adjacent markets made better investment ti clearly wrong since didnt expect barrage probes lawsuits derail qualcomms growth past year ti still better choice yearlong rally continue reading qualcomm worlds largest mobile chipmaker massive portfolio wireless patents entitles cut smartphone sales worldwide chipmaking business sells flagship snapdragon socs system chips generates revenue profits come highermargin licensing business qualcomm faces challenges markets chipmaking business ceded market share cheaper rivals like mediatek firstparty chipsets companies like huawei past years licensing business targeted major customers like apple nasdaq aapl government regulators china south korea taiwan europe us claim opens new window qualcomms cut to1605 wholesale price phone high diversify away mobile devices qualcomm developed new chips internet things iot devices wearables drones connected cars also trying buy opens new window nxp semiconductors nasdaq nxpi biggest automotive chipmaker world advertisement ti produces wide range analog embedded chips connected cars industrial machines wireless infrastructure consumer electronics enterprise systems devices producing chips requires less capital production higherend application processors like qualcomms snapdragon shifting production 200mm 300mm wafers past years also cut tis average production costs 40 thats ti continually expanded gross margin qualcomm struggled tis diverse business mix chips across multiple industries allows offset softer orders one industry stronger orders another recent quarters robust growth industrial automotive markets offset softer demand in160personal electronics communications equipment like qualcomm ti major apple supplier sales chips apple accounted 11 revenues fiscal 2015 that160figure dropped 10 last year lower dependence apple growth automotive industrial unit arguably make ti wellbalanced semiconductor play qualcomm analysts expect qualcomms revenue earnings respectively fall 2 17 year due unsettled fines south korea taiwan unresolved probes us europe multiple lawsuits apple apple along second oem likely huawei also recently suspended licensing payments qualcomm wall street expects tis revenue and160earnings respectively grow 12 31 year fueled rising demand automotive industrial chips along continuing shift toward 300mm production unlike qualcomm ti doesnt face major litigation regulatory probes however qualcomm lower valuation higher dividend opens new window ti qualcomm trades 18 times next years earnings compared tis forward pe 22 qualcomm pays forward dividend yield 42 supported payout ratio 83 ti pays lower forward yield 25 also supported lower payout ratio 47 figures indicate tis dividend lower sustainable qualcomms texas instruments welldiversified business higher margins sustainable dividends make better longterm investment qualcomm might need make major changes highmargin licensing business appease regulators bruising battle apple could cause components dropped future idevices nxp deal remains limbo due legal chaos however investors also remember broadcom nasdaq avgo also wants buy opens new window qualcomm thats stock rallied nearly 30 past month qualcomm flatly rejected initial 103 billion bid broadcom reportedly willing sweeten deal might give qualcomm shot arm investors shouldnt buy stocks based takeover buzz alone therefore texas instruments still seems like better buy qualcomm 10 stocks like better texas instrumentswhen investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right texas instruments wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns november 6 2017 leo sun opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool owns shares recommends apple motley fool owns shares qualcomm following options long january 2020 150 calls apple short january 2020 155 calls apple motley fool recommends broadcom ltd nxp semiconductors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 626 |
<p>By Henry Rodgers and Will Racke, <a href="http://dailycallernewsfoundation.org/2017/09/30/theres-nothing-conservative-about-the-gop-daca-bill/" type="external">DCNF</a> &lt;img class="alignright size-full wp-image-433456" src="http://www.bizpacreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/DCNF-2-1-1.jpg" alt="DCNF" width="200" height="60" /&gt;</p>
<p>A pair of Republican senators are marketing their bill to legalize the beneficiaries of an executive amnesty program as a tougher alternative to a competing Democratic proposal, but immigration skeptics say the bills are hardly different in substance.</p>
<p>Known as the “Succeed Act,” the GOP bill would give legal status to younger illegal immigrants covered under the now-cancelled Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. It requires applicants to meet strict education or work requirements to be eligible for a green card and lays out a 15-year path to citizenship — 10 years in a conditional status period and then at least five years as a legal permanent resident.</p>
<p>Co-sponsors Thom Tillis of North Carolina and James Lankford of Oklahoma have touted the bill as a “conservative” version to the Dream Act, which is backed backed by leading Democrats. Immigration hawks, on the other hand, call it an amnesty in disguise.</p>
<p>“It is agreeing to an amnesty, without the U.S. gaining anything. It’s not moderating immigration in any way,” Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies for the Center for Immigration Studies, told The Daily Caller News Foundation.</p>
<p>Vaughan says the main problem with the Tillis-Lankford proposal is that it does not preclude additional immigration by Dreamers’ family members. That process, known as chain migration, occurs when a new green card holder or naturalized citizen sponsors his relatives for an immigrant visa. After those family members arrive in the U.S., they also become eligible to sponsor other relatives, touching off a chain of theoretically unlimited family-based immigration.</p>
<p>The Succeed Act does prevent applicants from sponsoring their relatives while they go through the 15-year naturalization process. However, once they become American citizens, the amnestied immigrants will be able to petition for family members to come to the U.S. as well.</p>
<p>Immigration skeptics say the Succeed Act could open the door to a wave of chain migration that greatly exceeds the the size of the current DACA population of roughly 790,000. The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) estimates that the bill would offer a path to citizenship for as many as 2.5 million illegal immigrants. Even if only half of that number eventually attain citizenship, the subsequent wave of chain migration would be substantial.</p>
<p>That’s because over the last 35 years, chain migration has largely surpassed new immigration by what are known as “initiating immigrants,” or the first in their families to settle permanently in America. Of the 33 million legal immigrants admitted to the U.S. from 1981 to 2016, about 20 million — or 61 percent — were chain migration immigrants, according to a report written by Vaughan.</p>
<p>As Vaughan notes, the Succeed Act doesn’t address the larger question of family-based immigration. Its limits on chain migration only apply to the Dreamer population, and only while they are in conditional status.</p>
<p>“It’s an end to with no mitigating or balancing provisions,” Vaughan said. “All that this bill responds to is talking points it doesn’t actually address any of the problems in our immigration system.”</p>
<p>Vaughan said she was concerned that the Succeed Act would also lead to a “new wave” of illegal immigration by people looking to “take advantage of the amnesties,” which she said have become a recurring feature of the U.S. immigration policy.</p>
<p>“If it fails on the political merit, and it is too weak on legal immigration reform provisions, that makes it of no use to people who believe that our legal immigration system needs to be reined in,” she said.</p>
<p>A spokesman from Lankford’s office disputed Vaughn’s assessment of the Succeed Act, telling TheDCNF that the senator opposes chain migration.</p>
<p>“The SUCCEED Act prohibits chain migration for green card holders and also while undocumented young people go through the legalization process, which takes a minimum of 15 years,” the spokesman wrote in an email to TheDCNF. “Additionally, the SUCCEED Act prohibits welfare or immigration benefits for these undocumented young people, as well as their relatives who are in the U.S. illegally.”</p>
<p>As Lankford’s office noted, the Succeed Act would establish a longer timeline for citizenship than the Dream Act’s 13-year process. It also covers fewer people than the Dream Act, which could give amnesty up to 3.3 million illegal immigrants, according to FAIR.</p>
<p>But CIS, FAIR and other advocates for less immigration say the the two bills are more alike than different. Absent deeper changes to chain migration laws, both the Succeed Act and the Dream Act will lead to multiple wave of immigration far beyond the initial amnesty, Vaughan explained.</p>
<p>“It’s like, ‘Oh, we’ll make them be merit based,’” she said. “But when you look at the requirements, it’s have they been in the military, which only a few people with DACA ever have been, or have they graduated school, or are they employed, it looks like an amnesty without any offsetting provisions that would mitigate the effect of it.”</p>
<p>“And that’s not conservative. All of this is just more immigration,” Vaughan said.</p>
<p>Follow Henry Rodgers On <a href="https://twitter.com/henryrodgersdc" type="external">Twitter</a></p>
<p>Follow Will on <a href="https://twitter.com/hwillracke" type="external">Twitter</a></p>
<p>Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.</p> | true | 0 | henry rodgers racke dcnf ltimg classalignright sizefull wpimage433456 srchttpwwwbizpacreviewcomwpcontentuploads201701dcnf211jpg altdcnf width200 height60 gt pair republican senators marketing bill legalize beneficiaries executive amnesty program tougher alternative competing democratic proposal immigration skeptics say bills hardly different substance known succeed act gop bill would give legal status younger illegal immigrants covered nowcancelled deferred action childhood arrivals daca program requires applicants meet strict education work requirements eligible green card lays 15year path citizenship 10 years conditional status period least five years legal permanent resident cosponsors thom tillis north carolina james lankford oklahoma touted bill conservative version dream act backed backed leading democrats immigration hawks hand call amnesty disguise agreeing amnesty without us gaining anything moderating immigration way jessica vaughan director policy studies center immigration studies told daily caller news foundation vaughan says main problem tillislankford proposal preclude additional immigration dreamers family members process known chain migration occurs new green card holder naturalized citizen sponsors relatives immigrant visa family members arrive us also become eligible sponsor relatives touching chain theoretically unlimited familybased immigration succeed act prevent applicants sponsoring relatives go 15year naturalization process however become american citizens amnestied immigrants able petition family members come us well immigration skeptics say succeed act could open door wave chain migration greatly exceeds size current daca population roughly 790000 federation american immigration reform fair estimates bill would offer path citizenship many 25 million illegal immigrants even half number eventually attain citizenship subsequent wave chain migration would substantial thats last 35 years chain migration largely surpassed new immigration known initiating immigrants first families settle permanently america 33 million legal immigrants admitted us 1981 2016 20 million 61 percent chain migration immigrants according report written vaughan vaughan notes succeed act doesnt address larger question familybased immigration limits chain migration apply dreamer population conditional status end mitigating balancing provisions vaughan said bill responds talking points doesnt actually address problems immigration system vaughan said concerned succeed act would also lead new wave illegal immigration people looking take advantage amnesties said become recurring feature us immigration policy fails political merit weak legal immigration reform provisions makes use people believe legal immigration system needs reined said spokesman lankfords office disputed vaughns assessment succeed act telling thedcnf senator opposes chain migration succeed act prohibits chain migration green card holders also undocumented young people go legalization process takes minimum 15 years spokesman wrote email thedcnf additionally succeed act prohibits welfare immigration benefits undocumented young people well relatives us illegally lankfords office noted succeed act would establish longer timeline citizenship dream acts 13year process also covers fewer people dream act could give amnesty 33 million illegal immigrants according fair cis fair advocates less immigration say two bills alike different absent deeper changes chain migration laws succeed act dream act lead multiple wave immigration far beyond initial amnesty vaughan explained like oh well make merit based said look requirements military people daca ever graduated school employed looks like amnesty without offsetting provisions would mitigate effect thats conservative immigration vaughan said follow henry rodgers twitter follow twitter content created daily caller news foundation available without charge eligible news publisher provide large audience licensing opportunities original content please contact licensingdailycallernewsfoundationorg | 519 |
<p />
<p>The folks over at VideoCardz <a href="http://videocardz.com/64780/nvidia-now-offering-pc-gaming-revival-kit" type="external">noticed Opens a New Window.</a> that graphics specialist NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) has begun selling a "PC Gaming Revival Kit." This kit is designed to allow buyers to turn their gaming-incapable desktop computers into computers that can handle the latest PC games at solid quality and performance levels.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>The kit includes the following components:</p>
<p>VideoCardz says it could "only find this kit for Spanish-speaking countries, so it is unclear if this kit will be sold in other regions." Is this kit a good idea? Or is this concept doomed to fall flat? Let's take a closer look.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
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<p>Just about every modern desktop tower computer sold today comes with a central processing unit (CPU) that's more than capable of handling modern video games. The problem is that most of the tower desktops don't come equipped with gaming-capable graphics cards -- they use the relatively weak graphics processors that are integrated with the CPU.</p>
<p>What NVIDIA seems to be trying to exploit here, is that it only takes a new graphics card to turn these gaming-incapable systems into computers that can handle every game out there at good quality settings.</p>
<p>Now, many of these pre-built computers also use very cheap, low-grade power supplies that might not even be able to reliably supply power to a graphics card like the GTX 1060.</p>
<p>NVIDIA's solution to that problem is to throw in a power supply that can handle not only the power requirements of the GTX 1060, but also of higher-end graphics cards such as its own GeForce GTX 1070 and GeForce GTX 1080, ensuring that buyers of this kit can upgrade to higher-performance and more expensive graphics processors down the line.</p>
<p>And, finally, NVIDIA is including a fast flash-based storage drive as well. Most pre-built computers ship with large but slow hard disk drives, which can have a negative impact on the loading times of games.</p>
<p>In all, this looks like a reasonable upgrade kit that should appeal to those who want to upgrade their desktop PCs to be able to handle modern games but might not know what components they need to buy to make that happen. Conceptually, it's a good idea, and NVIDIA seems to have included a set of components that delivers a reasonable trade-off between price on one hand, and performance and capability on the other.</p>
<p>Although the concept here is generally good, there are some risks associated with selling such a kit that NVIDIA will need to take steps to mitigate, especially if it tries to offer such kits more broadly.</p>
<p>Users might find incompatibilities with these parts and their desktop systems. For example, a user's pre-built computer might not support the power supply because the system requires the use of proprietary power supplies. There's also the risk that customers find the idea of replacing these components on their own to be too daunting.</p>
<p>The good news is that NVIDIA can take some steps to mitigate these risks.</p>
<p>First, NVIDIA could build a compatibility-checker tool on its website, probably on the product page for this kit. Such a tool should be able to scan one's system, determine what type of pre-built system that it is, and then from there tell the user whether the computer in question supports the kit.</p>
<p>Next, NVIDIA could include a DVD with an instructional video showing users how to upgrade a typical system. NVIDIA already posts a lot of videos on its GeForce.com website that teach people about a lot of this stuff, though, so clearly the company recognizes the importance of educating potential and current customers.</p>
<p>It's in NVIDIA's best interests to get as many PC gamers onto its GeForce gaming platform as possible, and that means coming up with increasingly clever ways to bring new customers into the fold.</p>
<p>To the extent that NVIDIA can make it easier for individuals with non-gaming PCs to turn their computers into gaming PCs, NVIDIA may be able to grow the fundamental total addressable market (TAM) for the PC gaming market.</p>
<p>If NVIDIA is successful in growing that TAM, then it stands to benefit over the long term; not only does NVIDIA get a sale today, but it has a good shot of getting those new users' money whenever they choose to upgrade.</p>
<p>Indeed, users who are brought into the PC gaming fold with something friendly and relatively easy to use, such as the kit discussed here, might be more inclined to buy NVIDIA hardware in the future because of brand recognition and loyalty.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than Nvidia When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=6fbfb2c6-6230-4b6f-be76-ec8d78c6a8c7&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and Nvidia wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
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<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of Nov. 7, 2016</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/aeassa/info.aspx" type="external">Ashraf Eassa Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Nvidia. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/motley.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | folks videocardz noticed opens new window graphics specialist nvidia nasdaq nvda begun selling pc gaming revival kit kit designed allow buyers turn gamingincapable desktop computers computers handle latest pc games solid quality performance levels continue reading kit includes following components videocardz says could find kit spanishspeaking countries unclear kit sold regions kit good idea concept doomed fall flat lets take closer look image source getty images advertisement every modern desktop tower computer sold today comes central processing unit cpu thats capable handling modern video games problem tower desktops dont come equipped gamingcapable graphics cards use relatively weak graphics processors integrated cpu nvidia seems trying exploit takes new graphics card turn gamingincapable systems computers handle every game good quality settings many prebuilt computers also use cheap lowgrade power supplies might even able reliably supply power graphics card like gtx 1060 nvidias solution problem throw power supply handle power requirements gtx 1060 also higherend graphics cards geforce gtx 1070 geforce gtx 1080 ensuring buyers kit upgrade higherperformance expensive graphics processors line finally nvidia including fast flashbased storage drive well prebuilt computers ship large slow hard disk drives negative impact loading times games looks like reasonable upgrade kit appeal want upgrade desktop pcs able handle modern games might know components need buy make happen conceptually good idea nvidia seems included set components delivers reasonable tradeoff price one hand performance capability although concept generally good risks associated selling kit nvidia need take steps mitigate especially tries offer kits broadly users might find incompatibilities parts desktop systems example users prebuilt computer might support power supply system requires use proprietary power supplies theres also risk customers find idea replacing components daunting good news nvidia take steps mitigate risks first nvidia could build compatibilitychecker tool website probably product page kit tool able scan ones system determine type prebuilt system tell user whether computer question supports kit next nvidia could include dvd instructional video showing users upgrade typical system nvidia already posts lot videos geforcecom website teach people lot stuff though clearly company recognizes importance educating potential current customers nvidias best interests get many pc gamers onto geforce gaming platform possible means coming increasingly clever ways bring new customers fold extent nvidia make easier individuals nongaming pcs turn computers gaming pcs nvidia may able grow fundamental total addressable market tam pc gaming market nvidia successful growing tam stands benefit long term nvidia get sale today good shot getting new users money whenever choose upgrade indeed users brought pc gaming fold something friendly relatively easy use kit discussed might inclined buy nvidia hardware future brand recognition loyalty 10 stocks like better nvidia investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right nvidia wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns nov 7 2016 ashraf eassa opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool owns shares recommends nvidia try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 534 |
<p>Medicare provides an important safety net in your retirement, but if you don't understand the ins and outs of this critical program, you might not get the most out of it.</p>
<p>In this episode of The Motley Fool's <a href="http://www.fool.com/podcasts/industry-focus?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Industry Focus: Healthcare Opens a New Window.</a>podcast, analyst Kristine Harjes is joined by contributor Todd Campbell to explain the program, what it covers, and how stocks likeUnitedHealth Group(NYSE: UNH) andHumana (NYSE: HUM) could benefit from growing enrollment from aging baby boomers. The two also offer up insight into how Medicare could look under presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>A full transcript follows the video.</p>
<p>A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early, in-the-know investors! To be one of them, <a href="http://www.fool.com/mms/mark/ecap-foolcom-apple-wearable?aid=6965&amp;source=irbeditxt0000017&amp;ftm_cam=rb-wearable-d&amp;ftm_pit=2518&amp;ftm_veh=article_pitch&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">just click here Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>This podcast was recorded on September 14, 2016.</p>
<p>Kristine Harjes:Welcome to Industry Focus,the podcast that dives into a different sector of the stock market every day. It'sSeptember 14th, a Wednesday, so we're talking about healthcare, specifically Medicare, today. I'm your host, Kristine Harjes, and as usual, healthcare contributor Todd Campbell is calling into Fool HQ in Alexandria, Virginia. Todd, welcome to the show.</p>
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<p>Todd Campbell:Hi, Kristine!</p>
<p>Harjes:As I mentioned, we're going to talk about Medicare today. We're going to get some basics about the different parts and what's covered. And regardless of our listeners' ages, whether they're of age to get Medicare or nowhere close to it, I figured it would be useful if we could give some investing takeaways, what you can learn about Medicare spending, and other ways that Medicare overlaps with the world of investing. What do you think?</p>
<p>Campbell:I think that's a great approach; let's dive right in. This is going to be an interesting show for people to listen to, especially if they're coming up on 65.</p>
<p>Harjes:Exactly. As you mentioned, 65 is when you become eligible for Medicare. So, you have this seven-month window around your birthday month in which you can enroll. Realistically, you probably should enroll right about then, otherwise you face a bit of a risk of your premiums rising, particularly the longer you wait, the longer the premium could go up. And for part B, especially -- we'll talk about how there are different lettered parts to Medicare -- the penalty will continue on your premium for the rest of your life, unless you qualify for certain exceptions, such as if you work past 65, then you might end up not needing to claim it right away in order to avoid the penalty.</p>
<p>Campbell:That's a pretty stiff penalty when you think about it! A 10% penalty forever!</p>
<p>Harjes:Indefinitely, yeah.</p>
<p>Campbell:Just for missing a few months.</p>
<p>Harjes:Let's not talk about B too much before we talk about part A. Todd, do you want to give us the rundown on Medicare part A?</p>
<p>Campbell:As you alluded to, we have various parts of Medicare, they're all responsible for covering different parts of healthcare for recipients. Part A isoriginal Medicare. It's the part that handles inpatient hospitalization. So, you get sick, you go to the hospital, you get admitted, and that's where Medicare will step up and cover that cost. Most Americans qualify for Medicare part A without having to pay a premium.</p>
<p>Harjes:Once you're 65 and up, you will qualify, unless you didn't pay into Social Security for 10 years or more. And we'll talk a little bit more about where all this money comes from and how it's funded later, but essentially, it's funded by the same tax that pays for things like Social Security.</p>
<p>Campbell:Right, you basically have two forms of payment for all of these. Like you said, we'll get into the nuts and bolts of that a little bit further on. But it's either going to come via government, or it's going to come via premiums.</p>
<p>Harjes:Right. So, that's part A. There's also part B, which is quite different from part A. It covers things like doctor visits and your out-patient costs -- that can be things like medical equipment or medical therapy. Also in this bucket would be preventive screenings and testings. Andyou actually will end up paying a monthly premium. This is not completely free. This is where that penalty that we talked about first thing in the show will really matter. Typically, can you pay a monthly premium that's around $100. You can imagine, 10% on top of that, if you were a year late in enrolling, that's pretty significant over your lifetime.</p>
<p>Campbell:It can absolutely add up. If you were new to part B in 2016, you could be paying $120. You could be paying even more than that if you're a high-income earner, because part B premiums, there's a standard rate, and there's also an income adjustment. Yourpremiums could go up into hundreds of dollars, depending on how much income you report.</p>
<p>Harjes:Exactly. Once you've paid your premium,you're not quite done paying to get part B covered, because you have adeductible per year that you have to meet, meaning expenses that come out of your pocket before the plan's coverage kicks in. That is $166 per year. After that, you'll still pay 20% co-insurance.</p>
<p>Campbell:Yeah, I think a lot of people think of Medicare part A and part B as, "I get 100% of my care taken care of." That's not the case. With part A, your first 60 days or so of being in the hospital are covered, but beyond that, you start to contribute to that care on a daily basis. And with part B, like you said, you have not only the premiums, but you have a small deductible, and then you're responsible for that 20% share of the costs.</p>
<p>Harjes:Right. That's part A and part B. There is something that's referred to as part C, but I think it'll make more sense for us to talk first about part D, which is your prescription drug plans that are optional and can be added for a cost. These are administered by private insurers, not just coming out of the normal Medicare pot of part A and part B. Essentially, what happens here is you can pay a certain amount, and after that, your drug costs will be largely covered. There are so many different options out here for part D. If you're eligible, you really want to look at what types of drugs you need, how often, how much you're spending, and compare the plans to make sure you getthe best one for you.</p>
<p>Campbell:Yeah, it's very important for everyone to remember this. Part D plan costs canvary widely. And every one of these plans, because they're run by private companies, they can use drug formularies that reimburse very different amounts depending on the medications that you take. So, when you go to enroll in part D, make sure that you take the time to look through and make sure that any medication that you're on currently is covered in the best tier possible so that your out-of-pocket costs are less, because yes, part D will have premiums, but you'll also be on the hook for some other costs associated with that, including co-insurance and a deductible.</p>
<p>Harjes:Exactly. That was part A, and B, and D, so now it's probably time to talk about part C, which is more commonly known as Medicare Advantage. Todd, do you want to take that one?</p>
<p>Campbell:Yeah. And by the way, you did that right. It's hard to talk about part C if you don't know what part A, B, and C are. Part D is Medicare Advantage. They're plans that are offered by private insurers that oftentime bundle together and take over the responsibilities of part A, part B, and part D. Sometimes, you won't have to pay any extra premium to get a part C plan. Other times, you will. It's really going to depend on the insurer,the level of coverage, how much copayments will be, how much your co-insurance will be, etc. The thing to remember about Medicare Advantage, why it even exists, is that Medicare original, we'll call it, part A and part B, they don't cap out your spending. So, theoretically, you could pay the 20% co-insurance in part B forever. And you could pay your share of the hospitalization costs, once you get beyond that 60 days, forever. There's no cap on how much you spend in any given year. Part C plans do cap that spending.</p>
<p>Harjes:Right, exactly, and that's something that's important to a lot of people, to have that safety and the assurance that your spending will be kept. 31% of Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in Medicare Advantage. They can be very different, but in general, it'll cover stuff that Medicare doesn't. You can have hearing, vision, dental. There are a lot of things that aren't covered, surprisingly, by original Medicare that you can find a Medicare Advantage plan to cover.</p>
<p>Campbell:You're right. Hearing aids is a huge one that most of us are probably going to end up meeting at some point. And they can cost thousands of dollars, and you have to replace them every so often. And that's not covered by Medicare part A and part B. Part C plans, those Medicare Advantage plans, they can roll in dental coverage, they can roll in vision, all sorts of things. Of course, you'll have to pay a higher premium for those, but it gives you the flexibility to choose what kind of coverage you want.</p>
<p>Harjes:Exactly. If you know that listening to Industry Focus is a priority for the rest of your life, and you might need a hearing aid to do so, then you might want to consider this coverage.</p>
<p>Campbell:There are drawbacks, though, that we should probably touch on really quickly, on the Medicare Advantage plans. While they dogive you more flexibility, and potentially more coverage, and a little bit more protection, most of them are set up as HMOs or PPOs, which means they have limited doctor networks, so you have to stay in the network, whereas if you're with original Medicare part A and part B, those restrictions don't apply. Anyone that takes Medicare, you can go see.</p>
<p>Harjes:Right, that's a good point, too. Andthat reminds me about the star rating system, which I don't think a lot of people know about. Essentially, your Medicare Advantage plans will get a star rating, which is given by the Medicare system itself. It lets you know which plans it thinks are the best.</p>
<p>Campbell:Right, if youGoogleit, you can find out which one is the highest ranked. There are some advantages to being higher ranked for the insurers, so they'll try and get that five-star ranking. It's important to know just howhighly ranked your plan is. I recommend everybody goes out and at least takes a look at that.</p>
<p>Harjes:Exactly. I want to move on, eventually, to some of the stocks in this space, and how investors can use this information. But first, I promised that we would talk about funding. We all, as in the workforce in the United States, pay 1.45% of our earnings into the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, which goes toward Medicare. Employers, meanwhile, pay another 1.45%, so you have a total of 2.9%. As an asterisk there, if you're self-employed, you pay the entire 2.9%. There's a portion of this pool that covers Social Security systems. It's interesting because that tax is actually only levied on the first $118,599 in your earnings for 2016. Interestingly, the Medicare tax is levied on every single penny that you earn. So, that's where this money comes from. Do you have anything to add?</p>
<p>Campbell:They way that they break that out -- this will be interesting for our listeners to know -- the general fund, or tax receipts, that covers the cost of Medicare part A. Part B, the way they break that out is it starts at 75% of the funding, roughly, comes from tax receipts, and 25% comes from the premiums that are charged to the recipients. But, that can climb, obviously, depending on income,because of the premium income adjustment. But, roughly 75-25 to begin.</p>
<p>Harjes:That is interesting. So, let's spin to some socks. I'll start by pitchingHumana. They are one of the biggest Medicare players, they offer plans [in] all 50 states, they've been part of the program for over 30 years. Over 46% of Humana's 14 million members come from individual Medicare Advantage or Medicare part D plans. So, this is one easy way that you can invest in the space.</p>
<p>Campbell: UnitedHealth Group, they are a Goliath. Humana is a Goliath. These are big players in Medicare Advantage and the part D programs, and they're getting bigger every year, because remember, we have 76 million baby boomers,and they're turning 65 at a pace of 10,000 people per day. Anybody who's not opting for original part A and part B is theoretically providing additional revenue to these private insurers.</p>
<p>Harjes:Yeah, around $3 trillion each year is spent onhealthcare in the U.S. And that's only growing. About $0.20 for each of those dollars supposedly comes from Medicare, which added up to about $587 billion in 2013. Meanwhile, that's expected to grow substantially. The Congressional Budget Officeexpects that net Medicare outlays will increase by67%by the year 2024, which would bring it to $866 billion. Todd,as you mention, you havean aging population, you have healthcare becoming more expensive, and that does meanthat Medicare spending is going up.</p>
<p>Campbell: Right. It's tough sometimesfor investors, because we're trying to figure out,what's the purest way to investin a particular areawhere we think that growth is going to be coming. In Medicare,it's difficult,because most of the large insurers arediversified private insurers. They'reproviding employer-sponsoredinsurance,they're participatingin the Obamacare exchanges, they're runningMedicare programs for various states,and then they're also doingthese Medicare offerings,selling these Medicare plans.I think for investors who wantto have that diversification across the entire health insuranceindustry, a company like United Healthcare can make a lot of sense. And then for people who might be interested in more of a pure play onMedicare, consider Humana,because Humana gets 73% of the revenuedirectly from Medicare-related products, so, part C and part D plans.</p>
<p>Harjes: United Health is a reallyinteresting one, here. TheirMedicare supplement numbers, and theirMedicare Advantage, that's handled byOptumRx,and that has been a humongous driver of their revenue growth lately. If it keeps upwith current pace at that growth, thisOptumRx segment of the company could catch up to the non-Optum part. So, UNH isbecoming more and more of a way to play Medicare.</p>
<p>Campbell: Right.It's a services and technology company, too. Aswe get to the point where we're trying to find outthe best ways to provide the right treatment to the right patient at the right time, insurers arestarting to play a larger and larger role in helping to accomplish that. That'sobviously creating new revenue streams, andOptima is a great example of how that is playing out.</p>
<p>Harjes: Exactly. So, that's one route you can take -- looking at the insurers. Another way that an investor can look at this is dive into the figures that arepublished publicly about howand where Medicare spends most of its money. 14 drugs costsMedicare a billion dollars or more in 2013. These are for yourchronic conditions like diabetes, depression,high cholesterol. Some of the names that stood out to mein this list, the first one was Nexium.Nexium was the costliest drug in 2013. It cost the system $2.5 billion to cover to 1.5 millionMedicare patients that were being prescribed the drug. This is anAstraZenecadrug, althoughPfizerintroduced a generic back in 2015. If you look at the numbers forNexium,it's still making quite a bit of money. Thatgeneric came out in February of 2015,the Nexium brand still brought in $2.5 billion forAstraZeneca in 2015. Even though this was down from 2014 numbers, this is still a drug that'svery common among Medicare recipients. In 2015,it was still the second most expensive to the program.</p>
<p>Another one that stood out wasSovaldi, which we talked about a bunchon this show. This isGilead'shepatitis C drug. This was actually,in 2014, the No. 1 biggest expensedrug for Medicare, weighing in at $3.1 billion. That was to treat just 33,000beneficiaries. That's compared to roughly 1.4 million for Nexium. So,interesting dynamics there.</p>
<p>Campbell: You know, what's interesting here, too, Kristine, forinvestors, we also have to remember thatMedicare, yeah, there's a large populationof elderly people,and they're obviously going to be demanding a certain amount of drugs. Butthese companies are not pure plays. And there's risks that could be associated with that. We've all seen inthe news over the course of the last year, all this payer pushback that could lead toregulatory changesthat put the kiboshon future price increases for drugs.</p>
<p>Harjes: Exactly.I think that actually segues nicely intohow we should wrap up the episode, which is to say thatwith the upcoming presidential election,so much of this could besubject to change. You have two candidates right now that each have their ownpolicy proposals, and there's really no way to predictexactly what's going to happen to Medicaregoing forward.</p>
<p>Campbell: Yeah. There are some common themesacross the two major candidates. Both Clinton and Trumphave said that they would like to haveMedicare be able to negotiatedirectly with drugmakers. That's one thing. They both also suggested that theywouldn't be against allowing for the importation of drugs from cheapercountries into the United States,assuming, of course, that you could guaranteethe safetyand the authenticityof that medication. Clinton has some additional proposals,including expanding Medicareto people who are younger than 65, maybe people as early as 55would be able to enroll in the program. She's also proposed some caps in out-of-pocket spending on drugs that could helpMedicare patients. Meanwhile,Trump has said that he feels it's a third-rail topic, and we shouldn't be looking at reducing benefits to Medicare,we should probably leave it as it is from here.</p>
<p>Harjes: Right. So,it will definitely be an interesting thing to watch going forward. Every time we talk about politics,I feel like we have to mention thatgiven that you can't predict these things,it's very difficult to try to [work] them in to your investing,and this sort of uncertaintytouches just about every industry that there is. Unless you want to opt out of the stock marketaltogether,you have some sort of regulatory risk. But of course,with the pharmaceutical industry coming under such scrutiny lately,it's a hot topic in these presidential campaigns,and I'm sure we'll be hearing more on it from the two candidatesas the election season goes forward.</p>
<p>That about wraps up our show for today.I believe we're out of time. Todd, thank you so much,as always, for coming out. Folks,thanks for listening. As always,people on the program may have interestsin the stocks that they talk about,and The Motley Fool may have formal recommendationsfor or against,so don't buy or sell stocks based solely on what you hear. For Todd Campbell, I'm Kristine Harjes. Thanks for listening, and Fool on!</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFAnchor/info.aspx" type="external">Kristine Harjes Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of Gilead Sciences. <a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/EBCapitalMarkets/info.aspx" type="external">Todd Campbell Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of Gilead Sciences. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Gilead Sciences. The Motley Fool has the following options: short October 2016 $85 calls on Gilead Sciences. The Motley Fool recommends UnitedHealth Group. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/motley.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | medicare provides important safety net retirement dont understand ins outs critical program might get episode motley fools industry focus healthcare opens new windowpodcast analyst kristine harjes joined contributor todd campbell explain program covers stocks likeunitedhealth groupnyse unh andhumana nyse hum could benefit growing enrollment aging baby boomers two also offer insight medicare could look presidential hopefuls hillary clinton donald trump continue reading full transcript follows video secret billiondollar stock opportunity worlds biggest tech company forgot show something wall street analysts fool didnt miss beat theres small company thats powering brandnew gadgets coming revolution technology think stock price nearly unlimited room run early intheknow investors one click opens new window podcast recorded september 14 2016 kristine harjeswelcome industry focusthe podcast dives different sector stock market every day itsseptember 14th wednesday talking healthcare specifically medicare today im host kristine harjes usual healthcare contributor todd campbell calling fool hq alexandria virginia todd welcome show advertisement todd campbellhi kristine harjesas mentioned going talk medicare today going get basics different parts whats covered regardless listeners ages whether theyre age get medicare nowhere close figured would useful could give investing takeaways learn medicare spending ways medicare overlaps world investing think campbelli think thats great approach lets dive right going interesting show people listen especially theyre coming 65 harjesexactly mentioned 65 become eligible medicare sevenmonth window around birthday month enroll realistically probably enroll right otherwise face bit risk premiums rising particularly longer wait longer premium could go part b especially well talk different lettered parts medicare penalty continue premium rest life unless qualify certain exceptions work past 65 might end needing claim right away order avoid penalty campbellthats pretty stiff penalty think 10 penalty forever harjesindefinitely yeah campbelljust missing months harjeslets talk b much talk part todd want give us rundown medicare part campbellas alluded various parts medicare theyre responsible covering different parts healthcare recipients part isoriginal medicare part handles inpatient hospitalization get sick go hospital get admitted thats medicare step cover cost americans qualify medicare part without pay premium harjesonce youre 65 qualify unless didnt pay social security 10 years well talk little bit money comes funded later essentially funded tax pays things like social security campbellright basically two forms payment like said well get nuts bolts little bit either going come via government going come via premiums harjesright thats part theres also part b quite different part covers things like doctor visits outpatient costs things like medical equipment medical therapy also bucket would preventive screenings testings andyou actually end paying monthly premium completely free penalty talked first thing show really matter typically pay monthly premium thats around 100 imagine 10 top year late enrolling thats pretty significant lifetime campbellit absolutely add new part b 2016 could paying 120 could paying even youre highincome earner part b premiums theres standard rate theres also income adjustment yourpremiums could go hundreds dollars depending much income report harjesexactly youve paid premiumyoure quite done paying get part b covered adeductible per year meet meaning expenses come pocket plans coverage kicks 166 per year youll still pay 20 coinsurance campbellyeah think lot people think medicare part part b get 100 care taken care thats case part first 60 days hospital covered beyond start contribute care daily basis part b like said premiums small deductible youre responsible 20 share costs harjesright thats part part b something thats referred part c think itll make sense us talk first part prescription drug plans optional added cost administered private insurers coming normal medicare pot part part b essentially happens pay certain amount drug costs largely covered many different options part youre eligible really want look types drugs need often much youre spending compare plans make sure getthe best one campbellyeah important everyone remember part plan costs canvary widely every one plans theyre run private companies use drug formularies reimburse different amounts depending medications take go enroll part make sure take time look make sure medication youre currently covered best tier possible outofpocket costs less yes part premiums youll also hook costs associated including coinsurance deductible harjesexactly part b probably time talk part c commonly known medicare advantage todd want take one campbellyeah way right hard talk part c dont know part b c part medicare advantage theyre plans offered private insurers oftentime bundle together take responsibilities part part b part sometimes wont pay extra premium get part c plan times really going depend insurerthe level coverage much copayments much coinsurance etc thing remember medicare advantage even exists medicare original well call part part b dont cap spending theoretically could pay 20 coinsurance part b forever could pay share hospitalization costs get beyond 60 days forever theres cap much spend given year part c plans cap spending harjesright exactly thats something thats important lot people safety assurance spending kept 31 medicare beneficiaries enrolled medicare advantage different general itll cover stuff medicare doesnt hearing vision dental lot things arent covered surprisingly original medicare find medicare advantage plan cover campbellyoure right hearing aids huge one us probably going end meeting point cost thousands dollars replace every often thats covered medicare part part b part c plans medicare advantage plans roll dental coverage roll vision sorts things course youll pay higher premium gives flexibility choose kind coverage want harjesexactly know listening industry focus priority rest life might need hearing aid might want consider coverage campbellthere drawbacks though probably touch really quickly medicare advantage plans dogive flexibility potentially coverage little bit protection set hmos ppos means limited doctor networks stay network whereas youre original medicare part part b restrictions dont apply anyone takes medicare go see harjesright thats good point andthat reminds star rating system dont think lot people know essentially medicare advantage plans get star rating given medicare system lets know plans thinks best campbellright yougoogleit find one highest ranked advantages higher ranked insurers theyll try get fivestar ranking important know howhighly ranked plan recommend everybody goes least takes look harjesexactly want move eventually stocks space investors use information first promised would talk funding workforce united states pay 145 earnings federal insurance contributions act goes toward medicare employers meanwhile pay another 145 total 29 asterisk youre selfemployed pay entire 29 theres portion pool covers social security systems interesting tax actually levied first 118599 earnings 2016 interestingly medicare tax levied every single penny earn thats money comes anything add campbellthey way break interesting listeners know general fund tax receipts covers cost medicare part part b way break starts 75 funding roughly comes tax receipts 25 comes premiums charged recipients climb obviously depending incomebecause premium income adjustment roughly 7525 begin harjesthat interesting lets spin socks ill start pitchinghumana one biggest medicare players offer plans 50 states theyve part program 30 years 46 humanas 14 million members come individual medicare advantage medicare part plans one easy way invest space campbell unitedhealth group goliath humana goliath big players medicare advantage part programs theyre getting bigger every year remember 76 million baby boomersand theyre turning 65 pace 10000 people per day anybody whos opting original part part b theoretically providing additional revenue private insurers harjesyeah around 3 trillion year spent onhealthcare us thats growing 020 dollars supposedly comes medicare added 587 billion 2013 meanwhile thats expected grow substantially congressional budget officeexpects net medicare outlays increase by67by year 2024 would bring 866 billion toddas mention havean aging population healthcare becoming expensive meanthat medicare spending going campbell right tough sometimesfor investors trying figure outwhats purest way investin particular areawhere think growth going coming medicareits difficultbecause large insurers arediversified private insurers theyreproviding employersponsoredinsurancetheyre participatingin obamacare exchanges theyre runningmedicare programs various statesand theyre also doingthese medicare offeringsselling medicare plansi think investors wantto diversification across entire health insuranceindustry company like united healthcare make lot sense people might interested pure play onmedicare consider humanabecause humana gets 73 revenuedirectly medicarerelated products part c part plans harjes united health reallyinteresting one theirmedicare supplement numbers theirmedicare advantage thats handled byoptumrxand humongous driver revenue growth lately keeps upwith current pace growth thisoptumrx segment company could catch nonoptum part unh isbecoming way play medicare campbell rightits services technology company aswe get point trying find outthe best ways provide right treatment right patient right time insurers arestarting play larger larger role helping accomplish thatsobviously creating new revenue streams andoptima great example playing harjes exactly thats one route take looking insurers another way investor look dive figures arepublished publicly howand medicare spends money 14 drugs costsmedicare billion dollars 2013 yourchronic conditions like diabetes depressionhigh cholesterol names stood mein list first one nexiumnexium costliest drug 2013 cost system 25 billion cover 15 millionmedicare patients prescribed drug anastrazenecadrug althoughpfizerintroduced generic back 2015 look numbers fornexiumits still making quite bit money thatgeneric came february 2015the nexium brand still brought 25 billion forastrazeneca 2015 even though 2014 numbers still drug thatsvery common among medicare recipients 2015it still second expensive program another one stood wassovaldi talked bunchon show isgileadshepatitis c drug actuallyin 2014 1 biggest expensedrug medicare weighing 31 billion treat 33000beneficiaries thats compared roughly 14 million nexium sointeresting dynamics campbell know whats interesting kristine forinvestors also remember thatmedicare yeah theres large populationof elderly peopleand theyre obviously going demanding certain amount drugs butthese companies pure plays theres risks could associated weve seen inthe news course last year payer pushback could lead toregulatory changesthat put kiboshon future price increases drugs harjes exactlyi think actually segues nicely intohow wrap episode say thatwith upcoming presidential electionso much could besubject change two candidates right ownpolicy proposals theres really way predictexactly whats going happen medicaregoing forward campbell yeah common themesacross two major candidates clinton trumphave said would like havemedicare able negotiatedirectly drugmakers thats one thing also suggested theywouldnt allowing importation drugs cheapercountries united statesassuming course could guaranteethe safetyand authenticityof medication clinton additional proposalsincluding expanding medicareto people younger 65 maybe people early 55would able enroll program shes also proposed caps outofpocket spending drugs could helpmedicare patients meanwhiletrump said feels thirdrail topic shouldnt looking reducing benefits medicarewe probably leave harjes right soit definitely interesting thing watch going forward every time talk politicsi feel like mention thatgiven cant predict thingsits difficult try work investingand sort uncertaintytouches every industry unless want opt stock marketaltogetheryou sort regulatory risk coursewith pharmaceutical industry coming scrutiny latelyits hot topic presidential campaignsand im sure well hearing two candidatesas election season goes forward wraps show todayi believe time todd thank muchas always coming folksthanks listening alwayspeople program may interestsin stocks talk aboutand motley fool may formal recommendationsfor againstso dont buy sell stocks based solely hear todd campbell im kristine harjes thanks listening fool kristine harjes opens new window owns shares gilead sciences todd campbell opens new window owns shares gilead sciences motley fool owns shares recommends gilead sciences motley fool following options short october 2016 85 calls gilead sciences motley fool recommends unitedhealth group try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 1,810 |
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<p>Summit Midstream Partners bills itself as a "growth-oriented MLP," and it has done a fairly decent job doing just that since going public in 2012. Not only has its asset value nearly doubled, but its quarterly distribution is up 44% over that same time-frame:</p>
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<p><a href="http://ycharts.com/companies/SMLP/assets" type="external">SMLP Total Assets (Quarterly)</a> data by <a href="http://ycharts.com" type="external">YCharts Opens a New Window.</a></p>
<p>That growth, however, came at a cost with the company borrowing heavily, in particular, using the borrowing capacity of its revolving credit facility. Because of that it's a number that investors really need to know because it could cause problems down the road given that it's the company's main source of liquidity.</p>
<p>Summit Midstream's capital structureAs of the end of last year, Summit Midstream had borrowed $944 billion. That said, it's not the company's leverage in general that bears watching. While its year-end debt-to-EBITDA was 4.23 times, which is well above the company's long-term target leverage ratio of 3.5 to 4.0 times, that's not a huge concern at the moment. It's actually quite comparable to leading MLPEnterprise Products Partners , which had a 4.2 times debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio at the end of last year, well above the 3.5 to 3.9 times range it had averaged in the prior five years.</p>
<p>What is mildly concerning is the type of debt Summit Midstream Partners used. As the slide below shows, more than a third of its borrowing had been done via its revolving credit facility.</p>
<p>Source: Summit Midstream Partners Investor Presentation.</p>
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<p>While the company says that it is using a conservative financial strategy, it had borrowed nearly 50% of the total borrowing capacity of its credit facility as of the end of last year. Having said that, the credit facility was recently up-sized to $1.25 billion in conjunction with its most recent drop down transaction. However, it then borrowed $360 million of that capacity to basically make a down payment on the drop down transaction, taking out an IOU with its parent company for the rest of the $800 million to $900 million it still owes for those assets. As a result it has now borrowed roughly 56% of the newly up-sized amount. Compare that to Enterprise Products Partners, which boasts $4.4 billion of liquidity having barely touched itscredit facility's $4.7 billion borrowing base.</p>
<p>Liquidity will start running lowSummit Midstream's liquidity on the other hand, which is currently of around $550 million, is expected to slowly drain over the next few years given the company's current plans. That's because it plans to fund a portion of its roughly $150 million to $200 million of annual capex on that revolver given that it can't access the debt or equity markets right now at attractive rates due to the currently weak market conditions. As such, its liquidity is projected to erode a bit each year, falling to a projected low of $300 million in 2018:</p>
<p>Source: Summit Midstream Partners Investor Presentation.</p>
<p>There are a number of reasons why this is a potential concern for investors. First of all, the company's current asset base might not perform as expected due to the deepening downturn in the energy market, which could tighten its liquidity even further. While a robust 98% of its revenue is fee-based, a bankruptcy at one or more of its key customers, for example, could lead to weaker cash generation than was expected. On the other side of the equation, if additional growth opportunities arise, Summit Midstream might not have the liquidity to fund those projects because of the shrinking capacity on its revolver.</p>
<p>Contrast this with Enterprise Products Partners. Not only does it have an abundance of available capacity on its credit facility, but because that and its larger size and investment grade credit rating it can still access the capital markets at very reasonable rates. In fact, earlier this month it was able to price $1.25 billion of notes at fixed interest rates as low as 2.85% with Enterprise even pricing a 30-year note at just 4.9%. Summit Midstream, on the other hand, is paying 5.5% and 7.5% for its debt, which is due early next decade.</p>
<p>Investor takeawayBecause Summit Midstream Partners relies so heavily on its credit facility, investors really need to keep an eye on how much capacity it still has on that facility. If industry conditions worsen, it runs the risk of running out of liquidity at the worst possible moment. Further, its shrinking capacity could be a problem if the company has a growth opportunity come its way, but it can't fund that project because it lacks the access to cash. Bottom line, investors will want to see the company start to pay down this facility to make sure it has the liquidity it needs in the future.</p>
<p>The article <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/04/22/1-key-summit-midstream-partners-stock-number-you-m.aspx" type="external">1 Key Summit Midstream Partners' Stock Number You Must Know Opens a New Window.</a> originally appeared on Fool.com.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFmd19/info.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">Matt DiLallo Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of Enterprise Products Partners. The Motley Fool recommends Enterprise Products Partners. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/help/index.htm?display=about02" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | summit midstream partners bills growthoriented mlp done fairly decent job since going public 2012 asset value nearly doubled quarterly distribution 44 timeframe continue reading smlp total assets quarterly data ycharts opens new window growth however came cost company borrowing heavily particular using borrowing capacity revolving credit facility number investors really need know could cause problems road given companys main source liquidity summit midstreams capital structureas end last year summit midstream borrowed 944 billion said companys leverage general bears watching yearend debttoebitda 423 times well companys longterm target leverage ratio 35 40 times thats huge concern moment actually quite comparable leading mlpenterprise products partners 42 times debttoadjusted ebitda ratio end last year well 35 39 times range averaged prior five years mildly concerning type debt summit midstream partners used slide shows third borrowing done via revolving credit facility source summit midstream partners investor presentation advertisement company says using conservative financial strategy borrowed nearly 50 total borrowing capacity credit facility end last year said credit facility recently upsized 125 billion conjunction recent drop transaction however borrowed 360 million capacity basically make payment drop transaction taking iou parent company rest 800 million 900 million still owes assets result borrowed roughly 56 newly upsized amount compare enterprise products partners boasts 44 billion liquidity barely touched itscredit facilitys 47 billion borrowing base liquidity start running lowsummit midstreams liquidity hand currently around 550 million expected slowly drain next years given companys current plans thats plans fund portion roughly 150 million 200 million annual capex revolver given cant access debt equity markets right attractive rates due currently weak market conditions liquidity projected erode bit year falling projected low 300 million 2018 source summit midstream partners investor presentation number reasons potential concern investors first companys current asset base might perform expected due deepening downturn energy market could tighten liquidity even robust 98 revenue feebased bankruptcy one key customers example could lead weaker cash generation expected side equation additional growth opportunities arise summit midstream might liquidity fund projects shrinking capacity revolver contrast enterprise products partners abundance available capacity credit facility larger size investment grade credit rating still access capital markets reasonable rates fact earlier month able price 125 billion notes fixed interest rates low 285 enterprise even pricing 30year note 49 summit midstream hand paying 55 75 debt due early next decade investor takeawaybecause summit midstream partners relies heavily credit facility investors really need keep eye much capacity still facility industry conditions worsen runs risk running liquidity worst possible moment shrinking capacity could problem company growth opportunity come way cant fund project lacks access cash bottom line investors want see company start pay facility make sure liquidity needs future article 1 key summit midstream partners stock number must know opens new window originally appeared foolcom matt dilallo opens new window owns shares enterprise products partners motley fool recommends enterprise products partners try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window copyright 1995 2016 motley fool llc rights reserved motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 520 |
<p>Material, tech shares among day's biggest gainers</p>
<p>U.S. stocks traded near session highs on Tuesday, with both the Dow and the S&amp;P 500 on track for their second straight daily gain, while the Nasdaq was poised to snap a three-session losing streak as recent weakness inspired some investors to hunt for investment opportunities.</p>
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<p>The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 178 points, or 0.8%, to 21,882, led higher by shares of Cisco Systems Inc.(CSCO), Apple Inc.(AAPL) and Caterpillar Inc.(CAT). If gains hold, the blue-chip gauge will post its best daily point-and-percentage gain since April 25 (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dow-industrials-150-point-surge-puts-benchmark-on-track-for-best-daily-gain-in-nearly-4-months-2017-08-22), according to FactSet data.</p>
<p>The S&amp;P 500 surged 20 points, or 0.8%, to 2,448. The day's gains were broad, with nine of the 11 primary S&amp;P 500 sectors rising on the day. The biggest sector gainers were materials (XLB), up 1%, and technology (XLK), 1.3% higher.</p>
<p>The Nasdaq Composite Index climbed 75 points, or 1.2%, to 6,285.</p>
<p>Among the biggest gainers on the day, Freeport-McMoRan Inc.(FCX) rose 2.8%, boosting material names. In tech, semiconductors were among the biggest advancers, with Applied Materials Inc. (AMAT) up 2.6% and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) climbing 1%.</p>
<p>U.S. stock indexes are attempting to rally from successive bruising weekly declines that have tested investor confidence in the market's bull run, as political strife besetting President Donald Trump's administration and the threat of military conflagrations in the Korean Peninsula rattles nerves.</p>
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<p>Still, the main indexes aren't far from record levels, with the Dow and S&amp;P 500 within two percentage points of their closing all-time highs, hit on Aug. 7, while the Nasdaq, which has been more intensely hit by selling, is down about 2.1% from its July 26 record.</p>
<p>"There had been fears that last week's selling may accelerate, given the ructions and uncertainty apparent within the Trump administration and concerns that this week's U.S./South Korean military exercises around the Korean Peninsula could trigger hostilities with North Korea," said David Morrison, market strategist at Spread Co, in a post online (https://www.fxstreet.com/analysis/european-us-indices-indicate-stronger-open-201708220706).</p>
<p>"But for now it looks as if traders are taking advantage of the recent selloff to buy the dips, in tried and tested manner. The question is if it will work as well now as it has in the past," Morrison added.</p>
<p>Read: A problem for buy-the-dip investors: no dips to buy (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/a-problem-for-buy-the-dip-investors-no-dips-to-buy-2017-08-08)</p>
<p>"Valuations, as we all know, are in the sky," said Bruce Bittles, chief investment strategist at Robert W. Baird &amp; Co. "But they don't tell you the direction of the market. What they tell you is the level of risk in the market, and investor psychology. That people are buying here suggests there's long-term optimism, although there's also vulnerability."</p>
<p>Read:'Bull market check list remains intact' despite pullback, Morgan Stanley says (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bull-market-check-list-remains-intact-despite-pullback-morgan-stanley-says-2017-08-21)</p>
<p>The U.S. and South Korea this week kicked off their annual military exercises (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/tensions-expected-to-rise-as-us-south-korea-start-annual-war-games-2017-08-20) that in the past have enraged Pyongyang. North Korea warned on Sunday that the exercises are "reckless behavior driving the situation into the uncontrollable phase of a nuclear war."</p>
<p>Bittles, however, said recent weakness in the market has not been due to North Korea or Washington, rather it's been a deterioration in market breadth, or fewer stocks sustaining the market, that's weighed upon sentiment.</p>
<p>Jackson Hole: Traders were already focusing on the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank's central bank symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyo., which starts Thursday and runs through Saturday. Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen and European Central Bank President Mario Draghi are among top speakers, with investors hoping to get hints on the future monetary policy path from both institutions.</p>
<p>"The conference has in recent years been a venue for big news in monetary policy, but this time around it is likely to be undramatic," wrote UBS economists in a note.</p>
<p>"We expect [Yellen's] speech to keep to well-trod financial stability topics--some excesses may exist, but the system is safe--and eschew discussion of potential near-term policy actions," they said.</p>
<p>Yellen and Draghi are both slated to speak on Friday.</p>
<p>The U.S. dollar rose on Tuesday in anticipation of the speeches, with the ICE Dollar Index up 0.4% at 93.51.</p>
<p>Stock movers: Shares of Nordson Corp.(NDSN) tumbled 10% after the industrial machinery company's outlook fell short of Wall Street estimates (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/nordson-shares-fall-on-outlook-after-earnings-beat-2017-08-21).</p>
<p>Chevron Corp. (CVX) shares rose 0.6% following a report (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/chevron-ceo-john-watson-to-step-down-wsj-2017-08-22-13912733) that Chief Executive John Watson was stepping down.</p>
<p>Medtronic PLC (MDT) shares slipped 2.1% after it reported quarterly sales that fell short of forecast.</p>
<p>Tronc Inc.(TRNC) shares rallied 6.7% after the media company announced a management shakeup (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/tronc-shares-gain-8-after-company-names-new-la-times-publisher-2017-08-22) at the Los Angeles Times.</p>
<p>Pandora Media Inc.(P) shares rose 4.8% after a Morgan Stanley analyst said the online music service should benefit from focusing on its core business.</p>
<p>Toll Brothers Inc.(TOL) reported third-quarter earnings that beat expectations (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/toll-brothers-profit-beats-estimates-as-sales-fall-slightly-short-2017-08-22), though sales came in below forecasts. The stock declined 2.9%.</p>
<p>Shares of Coty Inc. (COTY) fell 13% after the beauty-products company reported fourth-quarter results that missed Wall Street expectations.</p>
<p>DSW Inc.(DSW) shares jumped 17% and were on track for their best single-session climb (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dsws-stock-surge-puts-it-on-track-for-best-daily-gain-since-its-2005-public-debut-2017-08-22)since going public in 2005, on solid quarterly earnings</p>
<p>After the market closes on Tuesday, results are expected from Salesforce.com Inc.(CRM) and Intuit Inc.(INTU). Read a preview of Salesforce earnings: Looking to e-commerce, AI for growth as Dreamforce approaches (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/salesforce-earnings-looking-to-e-commerce-ai-for-growth-as-dreamforce-approaches-2017-08-21)</p>
<p>U.S.-listed shares of Australian-based BHP Billiton Ltd.(BHP.AU) rose 1.3% after the mining giant said it swung to a full-year profit (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bhp-billiton-swings-to-profit-to-hike-dividend-2017-08-22) and it plans to sell its U.S. shale business.</p>
<p>Other markets:Asian stock markets closed mainly higher (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/singapore-ends-5-day-slump-leads-asian-market-gains-2017-08-21), with Singapore's FTSE Straits Times Index ending a five-session losing streak.</p>
<p>European markets finished in positive territory (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/european-stocks-set-to-snap-losing-streak-as-miners-jump-2017-08-22), after three straight sessions of losses.</p>
<p>Oil prices rose 0.5% on a decline in U.S. supply (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/oil-prices-rebound-ahead-of-us-supply-data-2017-08-22), while metal prices mostly declined after recent run-ups, with gold (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/gold-struggles-to-reclaim-1300-despite-safe-haven-underpinnings-2017-08-22) settling down 0.4% to $1,291 an ounce.</p>
<p>--Sara Sjolin in London contributed to this report.</p>
<p>(END) Dow Jones Newswires</p>
<p>August 22, 2017 14:25 ET (18:25 GMT)</p> | true | 0 | material tech shares among days biggest gainers us stocks traded near session highs tuesday dow sampp 500 track second straight daily gain nasdaq poised snap threesession losing streak recent weakness inspired investors hunt investment opportunities continue reading dow jones industrial average jumped 178 points 08 21882 led higher shares cisco systems inccsco apple incaapl caterpillar inccat gains hold bluechip gauge post best daily pointandpercentage gain since april 25 httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorydowindustrials150pointsurgeputsbenchmarkontrackforbestdailygaininnearly4months20170822 according factset data sampp 500 surged 20 points 08 2448 days gains broad nine 11 primary sampp 500 sectors rising day biggest sector gainers materials xlb 1 technology xlk 13 higher nasdaq composite index climbed 75 points 12 6285 among biggest gainers day freeportmcmoran incfcx rose 28 boosting material names tech semiconductors among biggest advancers applied materials inc amat 26 advanced micro devices inc amd climbing 1 us stock indexes attempting rally successive bruising weekly declines tested investor confidence markets bull run political strife besetting president donald trumps administration threat military conflagrations korean peninsula rattles nerves advertisement still main indexes arent far record levels dow sampp 500 within two percentage points closing alltime highs hit aug 7 nasdaq intensely hit selling 21 july 26 record fears last weeks selling may accelerate given ructions uncertainty apparent within trump administration concerns weeks ussouth korean military exercises around korean peninsula could trigger hostilities north korea said david morrison market strategist spread co post online httpswwwfxstreetcomanalysiseuropeanusindicesindicatestrongeropen201708220706 looks traders taking advantage recent selloff buy dips tried tested manner question work well past morrison added read problem buythedip investors dips buy httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryaproblemforbuythedipinvestorsnodipstobuy20170808 valuations know sky said bruce bittles chief investment strategist robert w baird amp co dont tell direction market tell level risk market investor psychology people buying suggests theres longterm optimism although theres also vulnerability readbull market check list remains intact despite pullback morgan stanley says httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorybullmarketchecklistremainsintactdespitepullbackmorganstanleysays20170821 us south korea week kicked annual military exercises httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorytensionsexpectedtoriseasussouthkoreastartannualwargames20170820 past enraged pyongyang north korea warned sunday exercises reckless behavior driving situation uncontrollable phase nuclear war bittles however said recent weakness market due north korea washington rather deterioration market breadth fewer stocks sustaining market thats weighed upon sentiment jackson hole traders already focusing kansas city federal reserve banks central bank symposium jackson hole wyo starts thursday runs saturday federal reserve chairwoman janet yellen european central bank president mario draghi among top speakers investors hoping get hints future monetary policy path institutions conference recent years venue big news monetary policy time around likely undramatic wrote ubs economists note expect yellens speech keep welltrod financial stability topicssome excesses may exist system safeand eschew discussion potential nearterm policy actions said yellen draghi slated speak friday us dollar rose tuesday anticipation speeches ice dollar index 04 9351 stock movers shares nordson corpndsn tumbled 10 industrial machinery companys outlook fell short wall street estimates httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorynordsonsharesfallonoutlookafterearningsbeat20170821 chevron corp cvx shares rose 06 following report httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorychevronceojohnwatsontostepdownwsj2017082213912733 chief executive john watson stepping medtronic plc mdt shares slipped 21 reported quarterly sales fell short forecast tronc inctrnc shares rallied 67 media company announced management shakeup httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorytroncsharesgain8aftercompanynamesnewlatimespublisher20170822 los angeles times pandora media incp shares rose 48 morgan stanley analyst said online music service benefit focusing core business toll brothers inctol reported thirdquarter earnings beat expectations httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorytollbrothersprofitbeatsestimatesassalesfallslightlyshort20170822 though sales came forecasts stock declined 29 shares coty inc coty fell 13 beautyproducts company reported fourthquarter results missed wall street expectations dsw incdsw shares jumped 17 track best singlesession climb httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorydswsstocksurgeputsitontrackforbestdailygainsinceits2005publicdebut20170822since going public 2005 solid quarterly earnings market closes tuesday results expected salesforcecom inccrm intuit incintu read preview salesforce earnings looking ecommerce ai growth dreamforce approaches httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorysalesforceearningslookingtoecommerceaiforgrowthasdreamforceapproaches20170821 uslisted shares australianbased bhp billiton ltdbhpau rose 13 mining giant said swung fullyear profit httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorybhpbillitonswingstoprofittohikedividend20170822 plans sell us shale business marketsasian stock markets closed mainly higher httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorysingaporeends5dayslumpleadsasianmarketgains20170821 singapores ftse straits times index ending fivesession losing streak european markets finished positive territory httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryeuropeanstockssettosnaplosingstreakasminersjump20170822 three straight sessions losses oil prices rose 05 decline us supply httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryoilpricesreboundaheadofussupplydata20170822 metal prices mostly declined recent runups gold httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorygoldstrugglestoreclaim1300despitesafehavenunderpinnings20170822 settling 04 1291 ounce sara sjolin london contributed report end dow jones newswires august 22 2017 1425 et 1825 gmt | 666 |
<p />
<p>Technology advances and consumer habits have made it easier for identity thieves to steal personal information and wreak havoc on your financials before it gets detected.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>If your information gets in the wrong hands, a fraudster can recreate your identity and compromise your bank accounts and credit cards, and the consequences can be long-lasting.</p>
<p>Account and credit card numbers, passwords and answers to security questions are critically important to protect, says Bob Welther, assistant vice president of Risk Consulting at ACE Private Risk Services.</p>
<p>Although online banking has been around for the past 20 years and is pretty secure, the industry is moving towards mobile phones and tablets, says Mike Urban, director of Financial Crime <a type="external" href="" />Solutions at Fiserv, and those platforms aren’t as secure.</p>
<p>But not all identity theft happens on the high tech level. In fact, Joe Reynolds, identity fraud product manager at insurer Travelers, says many people become victims through old-fashioned theft like stolen mail, wallets or purses.</p>
<p>“Identity thieves really do gain a lot of personal info by digging through trash,” says Reynolds. Anything with personal information should be shredded: return address stickers, receipts, bank statements, invoices, and credit card offers.</p>
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<p>“Keep door and drawers secure—wherever you’re keeping personal info like birth certificates and Social Security cards,” says Reynolds. Keep these discretely stored if not secured and don’t carry your Social Security number or card in your wallet. If asked, experts suggest providing a Social Security number only when absolutely necessary.</p>
<p>Protect Your Network</p>
<p>With more information moving online, it’s important to make sure all wireless access points are protected, recommends Urban.</p>
<p>Use strong passwords and change them often. “If [your password’s] something you can easily remember, it’s also something that can be easily cracked,” says Welther.</p>
<p>Use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters in your password. Avoid any words that can be found in dictionaries or names of favorite sports teams or pets since there’s software that can crack anything found in dictionaries or associated with an individual.</p>
<p>“Change your password at least every six months and don’t have the same password for longer than a year,” recommends certified public accountant Ernest Almonte. Have a different password for every website and don’t leave them out for everyone to see.</p>
<p>Be Wary Of Emails and Texts</p>
<p>“Be very cautious of links or attachments that look suspicious,” says Welther. “Even if it comes from friends or family, if it’s a suspicious looking link or attachment, do not click on it. If you receive that email from your bank or a different institution and it looks official, don’t access your account or try to gain access to our account using the link in the email.”</p>
<p>If you receive a suspicious email or text, Almonte recommends calling the number on the company’s legitimate website or provided on the back of a credit card. “Don’t ever give your personal information [like Social Security number or birthdate] unless you initiated the call,” says Almonte.</p>
<p>Create multiple accounts on your laptop. When setting up your computer, Urban suggests creating a new user for anyone who will use your laptop in addition to the “Administrator” account. Logging on as a regular user can help to prevent Malware installations since an installation will prompt users for the administrator password. Malware allows a criminal to have access to your device without your permission, and some programs look when you enter credit card info.</p>
<p>Keep software current. Install updates to operating systems on laptops and devices as they come out, says Urban, since these keep security protections current. Consider installing Malware detection software on your PC or Mac as an added layer of protection.</p>
<p>Check Credit Reports</p>
<p>Experts suggest reviewing your credit reports annually through AnnualCreditReport.com. Monitoring services can alert you when you or your family’s identify is in jeopardy, says Welther, and some insurance carriers have identity protection services. Checking your credit report will alert you if there’s any suspicious activity.</p>
<p>Protect Personal Info on Social Media</p>
<p>We share everything online and scammers work to compile this information to figure out passwords and open accounts.</p>
<p>“Often, through various systems, the answers [to security questions] can be found through pubic domains,” says Welther. Since hackers can get a new password if they’re able to identify you as you through the security questions, use different security questions for different institutions.</p>
<p>Watch Your Credit Card</p>
<p>Although challenging in a restaurant, make sure your credit card always stays in plain view so that in a store, you know your information’s not being compromised, says Welther.</p>
<p>Instead of signing the back, write “See ID” instead to limit a thief’s damage. Check to make sure receipts don’t include your entire credit card number and scratch this info out if they do.</p>
<p>Be Careful With Public Wi-Fi</p>
<p>Welther cautions against logging onto any bank or credit card accounts on a public Wi-Fi network since your keystrokes can be monitored. If the logon and password are saved on your device, it’s even easier to steal this information.</p>
<p>“If you’re using a public network in a coffee shop or airplane, make sure you’re working as privately as possible—make sure no one’s looking over your shoulder,” says Welther.</p>
<p>What to do if Your Identity’s Stolen</p>
<p>“If you feel that your identity has been stolen or compromised, there are numerous steps that you should pursue immediately,” says Welther. Contact your financial institutions that may be involved, the three credit bureaus, law enforcement and your insurance carrier to check whether you’ve identity fraud coverage.</p>
<p>If your data is compromised because of an electronic transaction, you are protected against any fraud on your account under Regulation E and will, most likely, be reimbursed for charges against your credit cards or bank accounts.</p> | true | 0 | technology advances consumer habits made easier identity thieves steal personal information wreak havoc financials gets detected continue reading information gets wrong hands fraudster recreate identity compromise bank accounts credit cards consequences longlasting account credit card numbers passwords answers security questions critically important protect says bob welther assistant vice president risk consulting ace private risk services although online banking around past 20 years pretty secure industry moving towards mobile phones tablets says mike urban director financial crime solutions fiserv platforms arent secure identity theft happens high tech level fact joe reynolds identity fraud product manager insurer travelers says many people become victims oldfashioned theft like stolen mail wallets purses identity thieves really gain lot personal info digging trash says reynolds anything personal information shredded return address stickers receipts bank statements invoices credit card offers advertisement keep door drawers securewherever youre keeping personal info like birth certificates social security cards says reynolds keep discretely stored secured dont carry social security number card wallet asked experts suggest providing social security number absolutely necessary protect network information moving online important make sure wireless access points protected recommends urban use strong passwords change often passwords something easily remember also something easily cracked says welther use combination uppercase lowercase letters numbers special characters password avoid words found dictionaries names favorite sports teams pets since theres software crack anything found dictionaries associated individual change password least every six months dont password longer year recommends certified public accountant ernest almonte different password every website dont leave everyone see wary emails texts cautious links attachments look suspicious says welther even comes friends family suspicious looking link attachment click receive email bank different institution looks official dont access account try gain access account using link email receive suspicious email text almonte recommends calling number companys legitimate website provided back credit card dont ever give personal information like social security number birthdate unless initiated call says almonte create multiple accounts laptop setting computer urban suggests creating new user anyone use laptop addition administrator account logging regular user help prevent malware installations since installation prompt users administrator password malware allows criminal access device without permission programs look enter credit card info keep software current install updates operating systems laptops devices come says urban since keep security protections current consider installing malware detection software pc mac added layer protection check credit reports experts suggest reviewing credit reports annually annualcreditreportcom monitoring services alert familys identify jeopardy says welther insurance carriers identity protection services checking credit report alert theres suspicious activity protect personal info social media share everything online scammers work compile information figure passwords open accounts often various systems answers security questions found pubic domains says welther since hackers get new password theyre able identify security questions use different security questions different institutions watch credit card although challenging restaurant make sure credit card always stays plain view store know informations compromised says welther instead signing back write see id instead limit thiefs damage check make sure receipts dont include entire credit card number scratch info careful public wifi welther cautions logging onto bank credit card accounts public wifi network since keystrokes monitored logon password saved device even easier steal information youre using public network coffee shop airplane make sure youre working privately possiblemake sure ones looking shoulder says welther identitys stolen feel identity stolen compromised numerous steps pursue immediately says welther contact financial institutions may involved three credit bureaus law enforcement insurance carrier check whether youve identity fraud coverage data compromised electronic transaction protected fraud account regulation e likely reimbursed charges credit cards bank accounts | 591 |
<p />
<p>Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE: PXD) has long believed that it's sitting on one of -- if not the-- biggest oil fields in the world. In fact, so much low-cost oil saturates the rocks beneath the land it controls in the <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2016/07/16/the-5-companies-dominating-the-permian-basin.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Permian Basin Opens a New Window.</a> of western Texas that the company recently unveiled a bold decade-long plan to develop this resource. What's remarkable about that plan is that the production from new wells will fuel more than 20% annual cash flow growth over the next 10 years even if oil prices don't budge.</p>
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<p>That's elite-level cash flow growth that, according to an analysisbyJPMorgan, only 15 companies have eclipsed over the past decade. Among those cash flow growth kings were tech giants Apple(NASDAQ: AAPL), Amazon, and Alphabet. Given the historical performance of those tech giants and the others on the list, Pioneer's ambitious growth plan could fuel its stock to deliver market-thrashing returns in the years ahead.</p>
<p>Sands Weems. Image source: Pioneer Natural Resources.</p>
<p>Pioneer Natural Resources is one of the few oil companies that has consistently grown production during the oil market's recent downturn. The company has increased output every quarter since oil prices collapsed in 2014, with last year's production up 15% versus 2015. Contrast this with similarly sized rivals like Bakken Shale-focused Continental Resources (NYSE: CLR) or diversified shale driller Encana (NYSE: ECA). In Continental Resources' case, its production was down 4.3% year over year in 2016 while Encana's output slumped double-digits due in part to asset sales.</p>
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<p>The reason Pioneer could continue growing was due to its cash-rich balance sheet and the fact it earns higher returns on new wells thanks to the unique properties of the Permian. Currently, Pioneer Natural Resources' internal rates of return on new wells in the Basin will range from 50% to 100% assuming $55 oil and $3 natural gas this year. Contrast this with Encana, which earns a minimum 35% return from its best wells at those prices or Continental's 40% return for Bakken wells at $55 oil. Those higher returns enable Pioneer to generate more cash flow, which it can reinvest to grow faster than its rivals.</p>
<p>As those returns suggest, Pioneer Natural Resources controls some prime drillable land. Thanks to a series of smart acquisitions and organic leasing, the company currently holds a 785,000-acre position that it built up over the past two decades. The company believes that there are as much as 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent resources underneath that land, which it can extract through an estimated 20,000 future drilling locations.</p>
<p>At current oil prices, the company anticipates that it can generate sufficient cash flow to drill enough new wells each year to boost its production by 15% annually over the next decade. That would grow the company's output from an average of 234,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day last year (BOE/D) up to an even 1 million BOE/D by the end of 2026. Moreover, due to the high-margin nature of these wells, it would grow Pioneer Natural Resources' cash flow by a more than 20% compound annual rate over that same time frame assuming no further improvement in crude prices.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>Those metrics would put the company in an elite category. For example, if it achieved its cash flow grow target, it would generate more than $10 billion in operating cash flow in 2026, up from $1.5 billion last year. Just to put that into perspective, big oil giant ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) generated roughly $4.4 billion in cash flow from operating activities last year on more than 1.5 million BOE/D of production. Though, to be fair, ConocoPhillips' realized price per BOE was $28.35 last year, so its cash flow would have been higher using Pioneer's commodity price assumptions.</p>
<p>However, it's the sheer rate of Pioneer's growth that is so remarkable, not just for an oil producer, but when taken in the context of the broader market. As previously mentioned, JPMorgan found that just 15 stocks in the entire Russell 1000 Index have grown cash flow by more than 20% annually over a 10-year period, with the bulk of that elite group made up of tech giants such as Apple. Needless to say, that steadily growing cash flow has done wonders for their stock prices:</p>
<p><a href="http://ycharts.com/companies/AAPL" type="external">AAPL</a> data by <a href="http://ycharts.com" type="external">YCharts Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>In fact, according to the bank's research, these 15 stocks have delivered an average total shareholder return of 662% over that timeframe, or an average yearly return of nearly 19%. That's not to say Pioneer will match those returns, but it's 10-year growth forecast certainly gives it the fuel to deliver market-beating returns as long as oil prices don't collapse again. Meanwhile, if prices rise above Pioneer's outlook, it would likely grow cash flow by an even healthier clip.</p>
<p>Bottom line, Pioneer Natural Resources's forecast makes it a stock that growth investors should seriously consider.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than Pioneer Natural ResourcesWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=0fd0b797-18a9-4ea9-8d78-3e6a435523fb&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and Pioneer Natural Resources wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
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<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of February 6, 2017</p>
<p>Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. <a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFmd19/info.aspx" type="external">Matt DiLallo Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of AMZN, Apple, and ConocoPhillips and has the following options: long January 2018 $85 calls on Apple and short January 2018 $90 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends GOOGL, GOOG, AMZN, and Apple. The Motley Fool has the following options: long January 2018 $90 calls on Apple and short January 2018 $95 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | pioneer natural resources nyse pxd long believed sitting one biggest oil fields world fact much lowcost oil saturates rocks beneath land controls permian basin opens new window western texas company recently unveiled bold decadelong plan develop resource whats remarkable plan production new wells fuel 20 annual cash flow growth next 10 years even oil prices dont budge continue reading thats elitelevel cash flow growth according analysisbyjpmorgan 15 companies eclipsed past decade among cash flow growth kings tech giants applenasdaq aapl amazon alphabet given historical performance tech giants others list pioneers ambitious growth plan could fuel stock deliver marketthrashing returns years ahead sands weems image source pioneer natural resources pioneer natural resources one oil companies consistently grown production oil markets recent downturn company increased output every quarter since oil prices collapsed 2014 last years production 15 versus 2015 contrast similarly sized rivals like bakken shalefocused continental resources nyse clr diversified shale driller encana nyse eca continental resources case production 43 year year 2016 encanas output slumped doubledigits due part asset sales advertisement reason pioneer could continue growing due cashrich balance sheet fact earns higher returns new wells thanks unique properties permian currently pioneer natural resources internal rates return new wells basin range 50 100 assuming 55 oil 3 natural gas year contrast encana earns minimum 35 return best wells prices continentals 40 return bakken wells 55 oil higher returns enable pioneer generate cash flow reinvest grow faster rivals returns suggest pioneer natural resources controls prime drillable land thanks series smart acquisitions organic leasing company currently holds 785000acre position built past two decades company believes much 11 billion barrels oil equivalent resources underneath land extract estimated 20000 future drilling locations current oil prices company anticipates generate sufficient cash flow drill enough new wells year boost production 15 annually next decade would grow companys output average 234000 barrels oil equivalent per day last year boed even 1 million boed end 2026 moreover due highmargin nature wells would grow pioneer natural resources cash flow 20 compound annual rate time frame assuming improvement crude prices image source getty images metrics would put company elite category example achieved cash flow grow target would generate 10 billion operating cash flow 2026 15 billion last year put perspective big oil giant conocophillips nyse cop generated roughly 44 billion cash flow operating activities last year 15 million boed production though fair conocophillips realized price per boe 2835 last year cash flow would higher using pioneers commodity price assumptions however sheer rate pioneers growth remarkable oil producer taken context broader market previously mentioned jpmorgan found 15 stocks entire russell 1000 index grown cash flow 20 annually 10year period bulk elite group made tech giants apple needless say steadily growing cash flow done wonders stock prices aapl data ycharts opens new window fact according banks research 15 stocks delivered average total shareholder return 662 timeframe average yearly return nearly 19 thats say pioneer match returns 10year growth forecast certainly gives fuel deliver marketbeating returns long oil prices dont collapse meanwhile prices rise pioneers outlook would likely grow cash flow even healthier clip bottom line pioneer natural resourcess forecast makes stock growth investors seriously consider 10 stocks like better pioneer natural resourceswhen investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right pioneer natural resources wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns february 6 2017 suzanne frey executive alphabet member motley fools board directors matt dilallo opens new window owns shares amzn apple conocophillips following options long january 2018 85 calls apple short january 2018 90 calls apple motley fool owns shares recommends googl goog amzn apple motley fool following options long january 2018 90 calls apple short january 2018 95 calls apple motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 651 |
<p />
<p>Google parent Alphabet finished last quarter with $18 billion in cash and equivalents, $46 billion in marketable securities, and $73 billion in overseas cash and securities. With that massive cash hoard, Alphabet can buy plenty of companies to expand Google's ecosystem.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>A recent <a href="http://recode.net/2016/03/18/google-is-shopping-for-cloud-companies-on-the-list-namely-and-shopify/" type="external">Re/code Opens a New Window.</a> <a href="http://recode.net/2016/03/18/google-is-shopping-for-cloud-companies-on-the-list-namely-and-shopify/" type="external">report Opens a New Window.</a>claimsthat's precisely what the company plans to do, and that it's already compiled an "early working list" of potential acquisition targets. Let's take a look at five interesting companies on that list, and how they could help Google challenge its rivals.</p>
<p>Source: Google.</p>
<p>ShopifyShopify provides a cloud-based e-commerce platform for small- to medium-sized businesses. Its software enables companies to design, set up, and manage their own online stores, as well as accept credit cards, view incoming orders, and review completed transactions.</p>
<p>Shopify finished last quarter with 243,000 merchants -- a 21.5% jump from the previous quarter. Monthly recurring revenue rose 71% annually, to $11.3 million, while client GMV (gross merchandise volume) soared 109%, to $2.8 billion.</p>
<p>Subscriptions revenue from its software platform rose 70%, to $34.6 million, while merchant solutions revenue from its payments system surged 140%, to $35.6 million. Shopify's total sales nearly doubled, to $70.2 million, beating estimates by $9 million. But like many fast-growing cloud companies, Shopify isn't profitable, and its net losses are widening.</p>
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<p>With an enterprise value of $1.9 billion, Shopify would be an easy purchase for Google. Google could then use Shopify's features to enhance Google Wallet, Android Pay, and Google Express to improve its overall position in mobile payments and e-commerce.</p>
<p>Source: Google.</p>
<p>Callidus SoftwareCallidus Software provides cloud-based sales, marketing, learning, and customer-experience solutions to companies. Its CallidusCloud platform helps companies gauge overall sales effectiveness and sales performance.</p>
<p>Callidus posted annual sales growth of more than 20% for five consecutive quarters. Last quarter, sales rose 22.7% annually, to $46.8 million, beating expectations by $0.2 million. SaaS (software as a service) revenue rose 34%, to $32.6 million, fueled by consistent demand for CallidusCloud and its acquisition of healthcare insurance and compliance education content provider Bridgefront. Services and license revenue rose 10%, to $10.8 million. But like Shopify, Callidus also remains unprofitable on a GAAP-adjusted basis.</p>
<p>Callidus' enterprise value of $745 million makes it a lightweight purchase for Google, which could integrate CallidusCloud into Google Apps for Business. The addition of those features, which work with Salesforce's industry-leading CRM platform, can help Google compete more effectively against Microsoft's SaaS enterprise offerings, which include Office365 and Dynamics CRM.</p>
<p>Xactly, Namely, and MetavineGoogle could also beef up that system to include payroll services by acquiring Xactly and Namely. Xactly, which has an enterprise value of just $140 million, provides cloud-based employee-compensation software, while privately held Namely is a cloud-based HR software firm.</p>
<p>It could additionally expand its enterprise presence by acquiring privately held Metavine, which provides cloud services that help companies develop business apps. Namely has raised $108 million in three rounds of funding, while Metavine has raised $5.5 million so far.</p>
<p>Focusing on the cloud, e-commerce, and enterprise marketsGoogle's shopping list indicates that the company is interested in strengthening its cloud, e-commerce, and enterprise efforts. That expansion means that Amazon and Microsoft should start paying attention.</p>
<p>Synergy Research Group estimatesthat Amazon's AWS controls 31% of the cloud infrastructure market, followed by Microsoft's Azure at 9% and IBM'sBluemix at 7%. Google, which ranks fourth with a 4% share, has been trying to catch up by slashing prices and poaching customers, but it still has a long way to go.</p>
<p>Google's efforts to challenge Amazon in e-commerce haven't made a huge splash yet, while its cloud apps have lessthan half the market share of Office 365 among large enterprise users. Therefore, dipping into its cash hoard to invest in cloud, e-commerce, and enterprise apps might help Google catch up to Amazon and Microsoft in those critical growth markets.</p>
<p>The article <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/03/25/5-companies-on-googles-shopping-list.aspx" type="external">5 Companies on Google's Shopping List Opens a New Window.</a> originally appeared on Fool.com.</p>
<p>Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. <a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFSunLion/info.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">Leo Sun Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of Amazon.com. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), Amazon.com, and Salesforce.com. The Motley Fool owns shares of Microsoft. The Motley Fool recommends Shopify. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/help/index.htm?display=about02" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | google parent alphabet finished last quarter 18 billion cash equivalents 46 billion marketable securities 73 billion overseas cash securities massive cash hoard alphabet buy plenty companies expand googles ecosystem continue reading recent recode opens new window report opens new windowclaimsthats precisely company plans already compiled early working list potential acquisition targets lets take look five interesting companies list could help google challenge rivals source google shopifyshopify provides cloudbased ecommerce platform small mediumsized businesses software enables companies design set manage online stores well accept credit cards view incoming orders review completed transactions shopify finished last quarter 243000 merchants 215 jump previous quarter monthly recurring revenue rose 71 annually 113 million client gmv gross merchandise volume soared 109 28 billion subscriptions revenue software platform rose 70 346 million merchant solutions revenue payments system surged 140 356 million shopifys total sales nearly doubled 702 million beating estimates 9 million like many fastgrowing cloud companies shopify isnt profitable net losses widening advertisement enterprise value 19 billion shopify would easy purchase google google could use shopifys features enhance google wallet android pay google express improve overall position mobile payments ecommerce source google callidus softwarecallidus software provides cloudbased sales marketing learning customerexperience solutions companies calliduscloud platform helps companies gauge overall sales effectiveness sales performance callidus posted annual sales growth 20 five consecutive quarters last quarter sales rose 227 annually 468 million beating expectations 02 million saas software service revenue rose 34 326 million fueled consistent demand calliduscloud acquisition healthcare insurance compliance education content provider bridgefront services license revenue rose 10 108 million like shopify callidus also remains unprofitable gaapadjusted basis callidus enterprise value 745 million makes lightweight purchase google could integrate calliduscloud google apps business addition features work salesforces industryleading crm platform help google compete effectively microsofts saas enterprise offerings include office365 dynamics crm xactly namely metavinegoogle could also beef system include payroll services acquiring xactly namely xactly enterprise value 140 million provides cloudbased employeecompensation software privately held namely cloudbased hr software firm could additionally expand enterprise presence acquiring privately held metavine provides cloud services help companies develop business apps namely raised 108 million three rounds funding metavine raised 55 million far focusing cloud ecommerce enterprise marketsgoogles shopping list indicates company interested strengthening cloud ecommerce enterprise efforts expansion means amazon microsoft start paying attention synergy research group estimatesthat amazons aws controls 31 cloud infrastructure market followed microsofts azure 9 ibmsbluemix 7 google ranks fourth 4 share trying catch slashing prices poaching customers still long way go googles efforts challenge amazon ecommerce havent made huge splash yet cloud apps lessthan half market share office 365 among large enterprise users therefore dipping cash hoard invest cloud ecommerce enterprise apps might help google catch amazon microsoft critical growth markets article 5 companies googles shopping list opens new window originally appeared foolcom suzanne frey executive alphabet member motley fools board directors leo sun opens new window owns shares amazoncom motley fool owns shares recommends alphabet shares alphabet c shares amazoncom salesforcecom motley fool owns shares microsoft motley fool recommends shopify try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window copyright 1995 2016 motley fool llc rights reserved motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 548 |
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<p>When NASCAR opened its Sprint Cup racing season Sunday with the Daytona 500, automakers began a new era of brand identity in the sport.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Now using a sixth-generation car design, NASCAR has brought back to the sport a rivalry between car manufacturers that was largely missing in recent years. The three manufacturers that run in the Sprint Cup racing series, Ford (NYSE:F), Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE:TM) and General Motors’ (NYSE:GM) Chevrolet, have made cars that feature unique body panels and more closely resemble what consumers can find in a showroom.</p>
<p>NASCAR moved to a safety-first design in the wake of Kenny Irwin Jr.’s death in 2000 and Dale Earnhardt’s fatal accident in 2001, leaving its vehicles with a template look that emphasized parity but left a Chevrolet indistinguishable from a Ford. Dubbed the Car of Tomorrow, the fifth-generation vehicle received tepid reaction from drivers and fans while in use from 2007 through last season.</p>
<p>Car manufacturers were left without an opportunity to flex their design muscles, and their race cars bore little resemblance to their consumer vehicles.</p>
<p>“That car was based solely on safety,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR’s Vice President of Competition and Racing Development. He said racing teams, carmakers and NASCAR independently began to realize that a new car was needed. “We were all coming to the same conclusions and becoming more on the same page independently. We were ready to do something better.”</p>
<p>The sport was built on the adage that you win on Sunday, sell on Monday. Research indicated that it happened. Fans went out and bought cars.</p>
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<p>Things changed beginning with this season’s Daytona 500. Generation-6 Sprint Cup race cars have rejuvenated brand identity and an automaker rivalry after years of NASCAR designs that diminished the visual difference between each car.</p>
<p>“We put the stock back in stock car racing, so to speak,” said Mike Albano, Chevrolet’s Director of Communications.</p>
<p>‘Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday’</p>
<p>NASCAR gradually shifted toward cars designed for racing before its latest generation of cars made their race-day debut at Daytona. The move reflects NASCAR’s effort to increase viewership partly by putting its cars back into focus.</p>
<p>“The people who had been here all along and are long-time fans have a better feel for the sport” with the introduction of Gen-6 cars, Pemberton said.</p>
<p>“Cars had gotten away from resembling what was sold in showrooms, and NASCAR took this to heart,” said Les Unger, National Motorsports Manager at Toyota. “NASCAR wanted to start down the road of making next-gen Sprint Cup cars that look more like production cars.”</p>
<p>There was a time when drivers actually drove their cars to the track on race day. That was back when cars used in NASCAR races were nearly identical to the cars consumers parked in their driveways.</p>
<p>“At that time, cars looked like Fords, Chevys and Dodges,” said media consultant and former CBS (NYSE:CBS) Sports President Neal Pilson, who was at the network when it purchased the rights to air some races on television in the 1970s. In 1979, CBS broadcast the first flag-to-flag coverage of the Daytona 500.</p>
<p>“The sport was built on the adage that you win on Sunday, sell on Monday. Research indicated that it happened. Fans went out and bought cars.”</p>
<p>Pilson said as races got more high-tech, the thought was to streamline cars and make them more like race cars. This led to cars that tended to look alike. As NASCAR evolved over the last few years, he added, its leadership thought it would go back to more unique designs for each automaker.</p>
<p>“The Gen-6 car goes back to the selling theory from 30 years ago,” Pilson said. “The first week might be too early to expect anything, but you would think the public would respond more to cars that look like the cars in showrooms. People will have greater sense of identification.”</p>
<p>Will NASCAR Boost Car Sales?</p>
<p>While Gen-6 cars are not entirely the same as showroom models, they are visibly recognizable as brand-name vehicles and call greater attention to design. And carmakers are looking for the cars to bring more interest to their respective brands.</p>
<p>“While you can’t necessarily say there is a definite correlation” between the Gen-6 car and consumer sales, “our feeling is there’s at least an advantage on the appearance side, since the cars are more relevant visually,” Unger said.</p>
<p>Toyota, which replaced Dodge in the Sprint Cup manufacturer lineup, designed a version of its Camry for racing. The Japanese automaker has built a larger presence in NASCAR, and having a more relevant-looking Cup car will help boost Toyota’s brand, Unger said.</p>
<p>“We feel the image of Toyota as a brand within the NASCAR fan base has increased dramatically,” he said, “and what people see on the track now is more meaningful.”</p>
<p>Unger added that Toyota has come a long way since it began making cars for Sprint Cup.</p>
<p>“The buying consideration on Toyota’s side when we first got in wasn’t as great” as other manufacturers, he explained, but internal market research has shown improved Toyota brand identity among NASCAR fans.</p>
<p>Chevy’s newest creation for NASCAR drivers is the Chevrolet SS, which will also be available to consumers as a sedan beginning in the third or fourth quarter this year. Driver Jeff Gordon helped unveil the 2014 rear-wheel-drive sport sedan at Daytona International Speedway last week.</p>
<p>It’s early in the NASCAR season, so it remains to be seen exactly what kind of sales benefit carmakers like Chevy will receive. However, Chevy has seen the benefits of racing in Europe and Asia, where it races the Cruze compact sedan.</p>
<p>“People came to the showroom looking for the Cruze,” Albano said, noting that the company races the Camaro and Corvette as well. “It builds enthusiasm for the brand.”</p>
<p>Albano noted that the SS moniker—an acronym for Super Sport—carries with it six decades of history at Chevy, and the brand’s race car will only bring more attention to Chevy vehicles.</p>
<p>“We have some great equity in that name,” Albano said. “It doesn’t just help us sell that car (the Chevrolet SS). Our Camaro and Corvette use it as well.”</p>
<p>For Chevy, the Sprint Cup season is off to a good start. Danica Patrick was behind the wheel of a Chevy when she became the first woman to win the Daytona 500’s pole position, while Jimmie Johnson, also a Chevy driver, won the big race on Sunday and Dale Earnhardt Jr. placed second.</p>
<p>“The season couldn’t have started any better for us,” Albano said.</p>
<p>Ford also had a good showing in the Great American Race, with reigning Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski placing fourth in his Ford Fusion. The Fusion race car, which has a front grill that is visually identifiable, is the first NASCAR car designed by Ford engineers since the 1960s.</p>
<p>All sixth-generation cars weigh 160 pounds less than the previous version. They also feature driver names on the upper portion of the windshield, while sponsor decals have been moved from headlight and taillight areas to the front and rear bumpers.</p>
<p>Pilson noted how expensive it is for manufacturers to invest in a racing division and provide cars for NASCAR drivers. But he added that car companies feel it is worth the cost given the attention it brings to the brand.</p>
<p>“NASCAR tests very well on fan loyalty, and fans have a very high degree of knowledge of advertisers,” Pilson explained.</p>
<p>“It brings fans to the brand, and obviously we hope they will turn into customers,” Albano said, adding that there are technological advantages of producing race cars because the company can use advances in design and engineering in its street cars.</p>
<p>New Era for Racing Automakers</p>
<p>As for NASCAR, its latest car bodes well for racing’s future. Sprint Cup cars are far and away more identifiable to fans, who have responded positively to the change. Carmakers are just waiting to see if fans will also respond by stopping by a showroom.</p>
<p>“I think we have the ability now to have cars introduced more often, as manufacturers have model changes,” said Pemberton, who believes NASCAR will continue to focus on maintaining uniqueness between brands. “A lot of fans like what they see, and I think they appreciate the effort put into the new car. This sets the stage for the next 10 years at least.”</p>
<p>Pilson said there was some criticism related to an apparent lack of side-by-side racing and passing, but he chalked it up to a reaction to Saturday’s crash that sent debris flying into the stands and left 28 fans injured.</p>
<p>Even though NASCAR is just one weekend into its Sprint Cup season, its Gen-6 car is already creating plenty of conversation about the sport. According to Nielsen, the Daytona 500 averaged 16.7 million viewers, a 24% jump compared to last year’s ratings and the most since 2008’s 17.8 million viewers. The Daytona 500 aired on FOX, which is owned by FOX Business Network’s parent company, News Corp. (NASDAQ:NWS).</p>
<p>And the more success NASCAR has this season, the better off automakers and sponsors will be. Pilson mentioned that success with the Gen-6 car and increased NASCAR viewership would, in turn, aid the sponsors who pay for advertising and have their logos displayed on the cars.</p>
<p>“I think it will work,” Pilson, who was at Daytona last weekend, said of the Gen-6 car. “Based on the reaction I got at Daytona, people felt very good about their cars. I think the sport will do well this year.”</p> | true | 0 | nascar opened sprint cup racing season sunday daytona 500 automakers began new era brand identity sport continue reading using sixthgeneration car design nascar brought back sport rivalry car manufacturers largely missing recent years three manufacturers run sprint cup racing series ford nysef toyota motor corp nysetm general motors nysegm chevrolet made cars feature unique body panels closely resemble consumers find showroom nascar moved safetyfirst design wake kenny irwin jrs death 2000 dale earnhardts fatal accident 2001 leaving vehicles template look emphasized parity left chevrolet indistinguishable ford dubbed car tomorrow fifthgeneration vehicle received tepid reaction drivers fans use 2007 last season car manufacturers left without opportunity flex design muscles race cars bore little resemblance consumer vehicles car based solely safety said robin pemberton nascars vice president competition racing development said racing teams carmakers nascar independently began realize new car needed coming conclusions becoming page independently ready something better sport built adage win sunday sell monday research indicated happened fans went bought cars advertisement things changed beginning seasons daytona 500 generation6 sprint cup race cars rejuvenated brand identity automaker rivalry years nascar designs diminished visual difference car put stock back stock car racing speak said mike albano chevrolets director communications win sunday sell monday nascar gradually shifted toward cars designed racing latest generation cars made raceday debut daytona move reflects nascars effort increase viewership partly putting cars back focus people along longtime fans better feel sport introduction gen6 cars pemberton said cars gotten away resembling sold showrooms nascar took heart said les unger national motorsports manager toyota nascar wanted start road making nextgen sprint cup cars look like production cars time drivers actually drove cars track race day back cars used nascar races nearly identical cars consumers parked driveways time cars looked like fords chevys dodges said media consultant former cbs nysecbs sports president neal pilson network purchased rights air races television 1970s 1979 cbs broadcast first flagtoflag coverage daytona 500 sport built adage win sunday sell monday research indicated happened fans went bought cars pilson said races got hightech thought streamline cars make like race cars led cars tended look alike nascar evolved last years added leadership thought would go back unique designs automaker gen6 car goes back selling theory 30 years ago pilson said first week might early expect anything would think public would respond cars look like cars showrooms people greater sense identification nascar boost car sales gen6 cars entirely showroom models visibly recognizable brandname vehicles call greater attention design carmakers looking cars bring interest respective brands cant necessarily say definite correlation gen6 car consumer sales feeling theres least advantage appearance side since cars relevant visually unger said toyota replaced dodge sprint cup manufacturer lineup designed version camry racing japanese automaker built larger presence nascar relevantlooking cup car help boost toyotas brand unger said feel image toyota brand within nascar fan base increased dramatically said people see track meaningful unger added toyota come long way since began making cars sprint cup buying consideration toyotas side first got wasnt great manufacturers explained internal market research shown improved toyota brand identity among nascar fans chevys newest creation nascar drivers chevrolet ss also available consumers sedan beginning third fourth quarter year driver jeff gordon helped unveil 2014 rearwheeldrive sport sedan daytona international speedway last week early nascar season remains seen exactly kind sales benefit carmakers like chevy receive however chevy seen benefits racing europe asia races cruze compact sedan people came showroom looking cruze albano said noting company races camaro corvette well builds enthusiasm brand albano noted ss monikeran acronym super sportcarries six decades history chevy brands race car bring attention chevy vehicles great equity name albano said doesnt help us sell car chevrolet ss camaro corvette use well chevy sprint cup season good start danica patrick behind wheel chevy became first woman win daytona 500s pole position jimmie johnson also chevy driver big race sunday dale earnhardt jr placed second season couldnt started better us albano said ford also good showing great american race reigning sprint cup champion brad keselowski placing fourth ford fusion fusion race car front grill visually identifiable first nascar car designed ford engineers since 1960s sixthgeneration cars weigh 160 pounds less previous version also feature driver names upper portion windshield sponsor decals moved headlight taillight areas front rear bumpers pilson noted expensive manufacturers invest racing division provide cars nascar drivers added car companies feel worth cost given attention brings brand nascar tests well fan loyalty fans high degree knowledge advertisers pilson explained brings fans brand obviously hope turn customers albano said adding technological advantages producing race cars company use advances design engineering street cars new era racing automakers nascar latest car bodes well racings future sprint cup cars far away identifiable fans responded positively change carmakers waiting see fans also respond stopping showroom think ability cars introduced often manufacturers model changes said pemberton believes nascar continue focus maintaining uniqueness brands lot fans like see think appreciate effort put new car sets stage next 10 years least pilson said criticism related apparent lack sidebyside racing passing chalked reaction saturdays crash sent debris flying stands left 28 fans injured even though nascar one weekend sprint cup season gen6 car already creating plenty conversation sport according nielsen daytona 500 averaged 167 million viewers 24 jump compared last years ratings since 2008s 178 million viewers daytona 500 aired fox owned fox business networks parent company news corp nasdaqnws success nascar season better automakers sponsors pilson mentioned success gen6 car increased nascar viewership would turn aid sponsors pay advertising logos displayed cars think work pilson daytona last weekend said gen6 car based reaction got daytona people felt good cars think sport well year | 941 |
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<p>RUSH: Some days the scope and the difficulty of my job is made very clear to me. There are people who have been with me, for all intents and purposes, since day one. Now, Mr. Snerdley has been intimately aware of this program since day one. He didn’t join the program until a couple of his cousins bombed out. Mario Snerdley didn’t work out. Melva Snerdley was first. But Snerdley was around. He’s been around the program for all 26 years, whatever it is.</p>
<p>Snerdley just asked me a question that, by virtue of being here 26 years, he should know the answer to, and yet he still had to ask me. And this tells me if somebody that’s been here every minute, other than vacations, of course, of the past 26 years and still doesn’t know the answer to this, then what can I expect audience members who cannot spend that much time with the program to understand? And it just makes it obvious how difficult the task is here.</p>
<p>The question that Snerdley asked me is: “Can you tell me why this Bruce Jenner story is getting so much attention?” Yes. But you should not have to ask me that. I realize you can’t listen to every minute of the program because you’re screening and you might miss profundities and salient points during such times, but I say things more than once. So the odds are, when I mention this, you’ll remember me having said it. The fact that you have failed to connect it to your own question is what’s interesting to me.</p>
<p>Do you recall last week and the week prior that I observed the gay community has pretty much peaked in terms of protest anger and agitation, because they succeeded. Gay marriage is happening. Young people seem to be totally in favor of it. If you look at pop culture, television, you can’t watch a single TV show where there’s not gay affection, gay sex, gay love. It’s common now. But they can’t just go away because the agenda never gets completed. It always has to march on.</p>
<p>So what has surfaced to take the place of anger and protest in the gay community, is the transgender community. The transgender community is the gay community of 10 years ago. The transgenders have taken the place of gays who were discriminated against and made fun of and laughed at and so forth. So the transgenders are now occupying the position in the political spectrum where the militant homosexuals occupied ten years ago.</p>
<p>Well, that alone should tell you why it’s a big story. ‘Cause what Bruce Jenner is engaging in here is transgenderism, is it not? And he’s maybe one of the biggest transgenders in terms of name recognition and credibility. I mean, he’s a gold medal winning Olympian in I think the decathlon. That’s 10 different competitions in one event, and he won the gold. He had numerous profiles during that Olympic games, you know, the profiles they do of the competitors. They followed him around one average training day, and it started with the alarm clock going off at four in the morning and Jenner jumping out of bed, followed him all through the day.</p>
<p>You add to that that he has become, by virtue of marriage, the stepfather of the Kardashians. I mean, anybody in their orb is gonna make news, and the weirder, the better. The question is not, why is Bruce Jenner such big news. Now, are you asking me why is the Bruce Jenner story so big with the public or with the media? ‘Cause with the media it’s a slam dunk answer.</p>
<p>This fits everything the media wants to do in terms of turning the culture upside down, redefining what normal is. Getting revenge against the majority for all of these decades of discrimination and mockery and disapproval and all these religious fanatics judging other people simply because of, quote, who they love, unquote. Bruce Jenner helps to unlock the rage and anger.</p>
<p>Now, he made a mistake in the interview with Diane Sawyer. Well, I don’t know if it’s a mistake, but he announced that he’s a Republican. So whatever good vibe he was gonna get from coming out, he just destroyed. You ought to see what happened to him on Twitter. You ought see the Twitterverse after Jenner announced that he’s a Republican. Love went to instant diabolical hate and rejection. People who previously applauded him for his bravery, hell, the sports Drive-Bys, they’re so orgasmic about this they can’t contain themselves, until he said he was a Republican.</p>
<p>Now they’re prepared to throw him overboard. They were calling him brave and courageous and more people need to take this step. Now we’ve got interviews with the first wife, “Yeah, he told me he really liked to wear my dresses.” We’re getting interviews with the second wife, Linda Thompson, “Yes, I’ve known this, but I didn’t go public with it.”</p>
<p>So apparently, the news that we’re getting is that Bruce Jenner has been oriented toward the female and the chopadickoffamy, what, 40 years. And finally overcame the oppressive judgmentalism of society and decided just to go for it and let his inner female come out and the outer female be the dominant. And there was applause, because anything to upset the Christians, Mr. Snerdley, anything to upset the religious right, anything to upset these damn conservatives and Republicans that believe in their precious social issues. This is a slam dunk why this is big news.</p>
<p>But the fact that he announced he’s a Republican, that cost him. That cost him some love and affection within certain people out there on Twitter and so forth. And, by the way, that is its own lesson. You have these — what do I call them? I don’t want to call them conditions. You have these lifestyle choices. Some of them are automatically assumed to be liberal. Single mother, single parent, gay, automatic Democrat, right? Automatic liberal. Transgender, automatic liberal. Bruce Jenner comes out as a Republican, ah, ah, ah, ah. “We now don’t care that you’re transgender, because the fact that you’re a Republican is yuk. How could you dare? You can’t be a legitimate transgender and be a Republican.”</p>
<p>You should see some of these tweets. Which, as I say, is a lesson into itself about, you know, what can the Republicans do to reach these people. Nothing. There’s literally nothing. Call it whatever you want, the brand is so destroyed, however you want to explain it or categorize. Look at Ted Cruz and these guys that own the gay hotel. It wasn’t a fundraiser. He just went to talk to ’em. He just went to talk to ’em in their Manhattan penthouse, and these guys are being hit up and beat up and ripped to shreds by other gays and homosexuals who say boycott these guys hotel, don’t ever go.</p>
<p>These guys, I’ve never seen two more frightened public people. They’re begging forgiveness. They’re now ripping Ted Cruz to shreds after saying he was a nice guy and it was a productive meeting. Not acceptable.</p> | true | 0 | rush days scope difficulty job made clear people intents purposes since day one mr snerdley intimately aware program since day one didnt join program couple cousins bombed mario snerdley didnt work melva snerdley first snerdley around hes around program 26 years whatever snerdley asked question virtue 26 years know answer yet still ask tells somebody thats every minute vacations course past 26 years still doesnt know answer expect audience members spend much time program understand makes obvious difficult task question snerdley asked tell bruce jenner story getting much attention yes ask realize cant listen every minute program youre screening might miss profundities salient points times say things odds mention youll remember said fact failed connect question whats interesting recall last week week prior observed gay community pretty much peaked terms protest anger agitation succeeded gay marriage happening young people seem totally favor look pop culture television cant watch single tv show theres gay affection gay sex gay love common cant go away agenda never gets completed always march surfaced take place anger protest gay community transgender community transgender community gay community 10 years ago transgenders taken place gays discriminated made fun laughed forth transgenders occupying position political spectrum militant homosexuals occupied ten years ago well alone tell big story cause bruce jenner engaging transgenderism hes maybe one biggest transgenders terms name recognition credibility mean hes gold medal winning olympian think decathlon thats 10 different competitions one event gold numerous profiles olympic games know profiles competitors followed around one average training day started alarm clock going four morning jenner jumping bed followed day add become virtue marriage stepfather kardashians mean anybody orb gon na make news weirder better question bruce jenner big news asking bruce jenner story big public media cause media slam dunk answer fits everything media wants terms turning culture upside redefining normal getting revenge majority decades discrimination mockery disapproval religious fanatics judging people simply quote love unquote bruce jenner helps unlock rage anger made mistake interview diane sawyer well dont know mistake announced hes republican whatever good vibe gon na get coming destroyed ought see happened twitter ought see twitterverse jenner announced hes republican love went instant diabolical hate rejection people previously applauded bravery hell sports drivebys theyre orgasmic cant contain said republican theyre prepared throw overboard calling brave courageous people need take step weve got interviews first wife yeah told really liked wear dresses getting interviews second wife linda thompson yes ive known didnt go public apparently news getting bruce jenner oriented toward female chopadickoffamy 40 years finally overcame oppressive judgmentalism society decided go let inner female come outer female dominant applause anything upset christians mr snerdley anything upset religious right anything upset damn conservatives republicans believe precious social issues slam dunk big news fact announced hes republican cost cost love affection within certain people twitter forth way lesson call dont want call conditions lifestyle choices automatically assumed liberal single mother single parent gay automatic democrat right automatic liberal transgender automatic liberal bruce jenner comes republican ah ah ah ah dont care youre transgender fact youre republican yuk could dare cant legitimate transgender republican see tweets say lesson know republicans reach people nothing theres literally nothing call whatever want brand destroyed however want explain categorize look ted cruz guys gay hotel wasnt fundraiser went talk em went talk em manhattan penthouse guys hit beat ripped shreds gays homosexuals say boycott guys hotel dont ever go guys ive never seen two frightened public people theyre begging forgiveness theyre ripping ted cruz shreds saying nice guy productive meeting acceptable | 590 |
<p>Suit accuses Delaware of selling their stock; lawsuit holds wide implications nationally</p>
<p>This article is being republished as part of our daily reproduction of WSJ.com articles that also appeared in the U.S. print edition of The Wall Street Journal (August 21, 2017).</p>
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<p>A lawsuit before Delaware's Chancery Court could have broad implications for state finances around the country and for foreign shareholders who hold more than $6 trillion of stock in U.S. corporations.</p>
<p>Two French scientists are suing the state of Delaware for seizing and selling their stock without their knowledge, depriving them of millions of dollars in gains.</p>
<p>French scientists Dr. Gilles Gosselin and Dr. Jean Louis Imbach allege that Delaware officials wrongfully seized their shares in Idenix Pharmaceuticals Inc. and sold the stock for $1.7 million to pad the state budget in 2009.</p>
<p>After Merck &amp; Co. acquired Idenix in 2014, the scientists learned they no longer had stock in the company and couldn't collect on a $13.7 million windfall from the deal because Delaware officials had sold their shares five years earlier. Unable to return the stock, officials only reimbursed the money the state received, leaving the two investors out some $12 million.</p>
<p>In a court filing at the end of July, the plaintiffs called the state's actions "tortious and unconstitutional." In an earlier filing, they alleged Delaware "willfully, recklessly and negligently" failed to act as custodians of their property and violated the U.S. Constitution's takings and due process clauses, among other claims.</p>
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<p>Delaware officials declined to comment on the case beyond the court filings. In those, the state argued it followed its law to the letter.</p>
<p>The suit calls into question Delaware's execution of a law that allows it to take unclaimed assets such as dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks and securities from companies incorporated in the state. Although the owners can recover the property or its equivalent value at any time, officials can sell the property and use the proceeds for state programs if they can't find the rightful owners. Such seizures represented more than 10% of the state's $4 billion 2017 fiscal-year budget, ended on June 30.</p>
<p>More than half of all publicly traded companies in the country are incorporated in Delaware, so most U.S. companies are vulnerable to the rule.</p>
<p>Under the law, shareholders must show an active interest in their stock to prove they haven't abandoned it. They can do this by voting in an annual election, signing into an online brokerage account or cashing a dividend check.</p>
<p>If they don't establish contact for three consecutive years, the law triggers a series of events that can lead to the state taking custody of the unclaimed shares. Under the law, companies must inform shareholders of the rules, but lawyers and securities advocates fear that foreign shareholders who don't understand them and aren't in touch with U.S. advisers could be surprised to learn they no longer hold the securities they purchased.</p>
<p>Delaware exploited foreign shareholders to bolster an important revenue source, said Ethan Millar, a lawyer for the plaintiffs at Alston &amp; Bird LLP. Many foreign investors have put their holdings in long-term accounts and don't realize their investments may no longer be there.</p>
<p>"Most investors are buy-and-hold," he said. "This is a rule that really hurts people."</p>
<p>The law is meant to ensure companies don't hold onto unclaimed goods and securities that don't belong to them, said David Gregor, the state official responsible for administering the unclaimed property law. If the state can't find the rightful owners, it should use the property for the public good, he added.</p>
<p>"The companies shouldn't benefit from poor bookkeeping," he said.</p>
<p>Although every state has a similar unclaimed property law on its books, Delaware has been the most aggressive enforcer. The state collected $607.1 million from gross unclaimed property receipts during its 2017 fiscal year ending on June 30, making it the state's third largest revenue source.</p>
<p>Stock taken into custody accounted for $248 million of the gross total, according to the most recent state estimates, a 21% increase from 2016. The amounts collected from stock sales are naturally volatile, and some of the increase in 2017 was due to a rising stock market that boosted values, said Mr. Gregor.</p>
<p>Delaware isn't alone. States around the country are targeting foreign-owned shares for extra revenue, said Jennifer Borden, a lawyer who has represented securities industry groups trying to stop state seizure programs. Illinois, South Dakota and Tennessee have made it easier this year for officials to seize and sell securities they deem abandoned. That's putting an undue burden on foreign shareholders to protect their investments, said Ms. Borden.</p>
<p>The French scientists were unlucky, but Delaware's decision to sell the shares upon seizure could also have benefitted them if Idenix's stock price had fallen instead, said Patrick Reynolds, senior tax counsel for the Council on State Taxation, a nonprofit trade association. Still, the state's underlying attitude towards seized property is worrisome, he added.</p>
<p>"This is one more time that the state is viewing the unclaimed property laws as a way, not to reunite the property with owners, but as a revenue source," he said. "Once you do that, it becomes a troubling issue."</p>
<p>Write to Vipal Monga at [email protected]</p>
<p>(END) Dow Jones Newswires</p>
<p>August 21, 2017 02:47 ET (06:47 GMT)</p> | true | 0 | suit accuses delaware selling stock lawsuit holds wide implications nationally article republished part daily reproduction wsjcom articles also appeared us print edition wall street journal august 21 2017 continue reading lawsuit delawares chancery court could broad implications state finances around country foreign shareholders hold 6 trillion stock us corporations two french scientists suing state delaware seizing selling stock without knowledge depriving millions dollars gains french scientists dr gilles gosselin dr jean louis imbach allege delaware officials wrongfully seized shares idenix pharmaceuticals inc sold stock 17 million pad state budget 2009 merck amp co acquired idenix 2014 scientists learned longer stock company couldnt collect 137 million windfall deal delaware officials sold shares five years earlier unable return stock officials reimbursed money state received leaving two investors 12 million court filing end july plaintiffs called states actions tortious unconstitutional earlier filing alleged delaware willfully recklessly negligently failed act custodians property violated us constitutions takings due process clauses among claims advertisement delaware officials declined comment case beyond court filings state argued followed law letter suit calls question delawares execution law allows take unclaimed assets dormant bank accounts uncashed checks securities companies incorporated state although owners recover property equivalent value time officials sell property use proceeds state programs cant find rightful owners seizures represented 10 states 4 billion 2017 fiscalyear budget ended june 30 half publicly traded companies country incorporated delaware us companies vulnerable rule law shareholders must show active interest stock prove havent abandoned voting annual election signing online brokerage account cashing dividend check dont establish contact three consecutive years law triggers series events lead state taking custody unclaimed shares law companies must inform shareholders rules lawyers securities advocates fear foreign shareholders dont understand arent touch us advisers could surprised learn longer hold securities purchased delaware exploited foreign shareholders bolster important revenue source said ethan millar lawyer plaintiffs alston amp bird llp many foreign investors put holdings longterm accounts dont realize investments may longer investors buyandhold said rule really hurts people law meant ensure companies dont hold onto unclaimed goods securities dont belong said david gregor state official responsible administering unclaimed property law state cant find rightful owners use property public good added companies shouldnt benefit poor bookkeeping said although every state similar unclaimed property law books delaware aggressive enforcer state collected 6071 million gross unclaimed property receipts 2017 fiscal year ending june 30 making states third largest revenue source stock taken custody accounted 248 million gross total according recent state estimates 21 increase 2016 amounts collected stock sales naturally volatile increase 2017 due rising stock market boosted values said mr gregor delaware isnt alone states around country targeting foreignowned shares extra revenue said jennifer borden lawyer represented securities industry groups trying stop state seizure programs illinois south dakota tennessee made easier year officials seize sell securities deem abandoned thats putting undue burden foreign shareholders protect investments said ms borden french scientists unlucky delawares decision sell shares upon seizure could also benefitted idenixs stock price fallen instead said patrick reynolds senior tax counsel council state taxation nonprofit trade association still states underlying attitude towards seized property worrisome added one time state viewing unclaimed property laws way reunite property owners revenue source said becomes troubling issue write vipal monga vipalmongawsjcom end dow jones newswires august 21 2017 0247 et 0647 gmt | 547 |
<p>Intel's next CEO is likely to shepherd the top chipmaker into a growing contract-manufacturing business, a strategic shift that could lead to a deal with Apple Inc and give it a fighting chance to make inroads in the mobile arena.</p>
<p>Manufacturing chips on behalf of other companies is a major departure for Intel, which for decades has based its business on using its manufacturing prowess to offer its own PC chips superior to rival products. As PC sales contract and Intel's fabrication plants operate at less than full capacity, the chipmaker sees an opportunity to fill idle production lines while earning new revenue.</p>
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<p>Such a move may also offer a backdoor of sorts into large-scale production of chips for mobile devices, where Intel has made little headway after underestimating the impact of the iPhone and iPad and falling behind more nimble rivals.</p>
<p>Intel said last week it will open up its prized manufacturing technology to make chips designed by fellow chipmaker Altera -- snagging its first sizeable customer in a contract manufacturing, or "foundry", business expected to grow.</p>
<p>That has spurred talk of an Apple deal. A source close to one of the companies says Intel and Apple executives have discussed the issue in the past year but no agreement has been reached.</p>
<p>"If you can have a strategic relationship where you're making chips for one of the largest mobile players, you should definitely consider that. And for Apple, that gets them a big advantage." said Pat Becker Jr, of Becker Capital Management, which owned about $39 million worth of Intel shares at the end of last year.</p>
<p>Intel's plan entails heavy capital spending, even as it struggles in its core market and has yet to find enough new demand to fill future fabrication plants. It would also mean getting into a foundry sector that, because it depends on volume to drive business, is highly vulnerable to economic swings and could compress Intel's industry-leading margins.</p>
<p>But it is a bet that analysts say is necessary if Intel wants to remain a top player. The company believes that taking on more contract manufacturing business will not only help fill an upcoming generation of production lines, but help pay for the cost of research to upgrade them.</p>
<p>After Intel upped its capital spending budget by $2 billion to $13 billion this year, speculation grew that Apple could ink a deal to use Intel's leading process technology to make better chips for its iPad and iPhone. Doing so could help Apple end its foundry relationship with Samsung, which has become a fierce competitor with its own smartphones and tablets.</p>
<p>Sunit Rikhi, vice president and general manager of Intel custom foundry, told Reuters last week his group is ready to take on a potential large, unidentified mobile customer, although he declined to discuss Apple specifically.</p>
<p>Intel spokesman Chuck Mulloy said the chipmaker is in constant discussions with Apple, which buys its PC chips, but he would not comment on negotiations about a potential foundry relationship. An Apple spokesman declined to comment.</p>
<p>CEO QUEST</p>
<p>This is all happening as the board of directors at Intel looks for a candidate to replace outgoing CEO Paul Otellini, a talent search that has gone on longer than some insiders expected since it was announced in November.</p>
<p>While Otellini has said he expects to be replaced by an Intel insider, the board of directors has recently increased its focus on potential outside candidates, according to two sources.</p>
<p>Whomever the board chooses must face fundamental decisions about Intel's still-small contract manufacturing business, like how much and how quickly to expand and whether it should supply to Apple, which designs its mobile chips using technology Intel competes with.</p>
<p>"This is potentially huge," said JMP analyst Alex Gauna. "The new CEO will have a very large opportunity to take this to the next level. Those discussions about taking on Apple as a foundry customer are going to be very complex and very contentious."</p>
<p>Intel's chip-manufacturing technology is at least two years ahead of Taiwanese foundry TSMC's or Samsung's. But critics say Intel's "x86" chip architecture is better suited to PCs and servers than to mobile gadgets, which prize low power-consumption and portability.</p>
<p>FUNDAMENTAL DECISIONS</p>
<p>Demand for chips used in smartphones and tablets is far outpacing demand for PC chips, making mobile a must-have market for Intel and other semiconductor manufacturers.</p>
<p>Making Apple's chips however would come at a price for Intel. Such a move could be seen as a capitulation of Intel's own smartphone and tablet chip designs, which are gradually becoming more efficient but have yet to be accepted for use in any major devices.</p>
<p>Complicating a possible deal is that the iPhone maker designs its mobile chips with technology licensed from ARM Holdings. ARM's architecture competes against Intel's and is ubiquitous in mobile gadgets, where Intel's own technology has not caught on.</p>
<p>Santa Clara, California-based Intel has long been king of the PC chip market, particularly through its historic "Wintel" alliance with Microsoft, which led to breathtakingly high profit margins and an 80 percent market share.</p>
<p>Intel's gross margins are expected to be about 60 percent this year, down from 62 percent in 2012 but still more attractive than TSMC's gross margins of around 48 percent.</p>
<p>"They have a business-model question they have to answer. That's something the new CEO will have to wrestle with," said Sanford Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon.</p>
<p>Intel has struggled to adapt its powerful processors for battery-powered smartphones and tablets that require much less intensive computing. Its market share for smartphones stands at less than 1 percent, trailing Qualcomm, Samsung and others.</p>
<p>Concerns on Wall Street about slowing PC sales and Intel's lack of progress in mobile have pushed the chipmaker's shares down about 19 percent over the past year.</p>
<p>In Intel's favor is the fact that the sheer amount of investment involved in new generations of semiconductor manufacturing technology has led most chipmakers in recent decades to give up running their own capital-intensive fabrication plants, turning instead to foundries like TSMC.</p>
<p>Intel's agreement with Altera followed deals with minor chipmakers to use Intel's fabs. Otellini in December said "a lot of stuff" was in the pipeline.</p>
<p>Shifting production of iPhone and iPad chips to Intel could lead to an additional $4.2 billion in revenue in 2015, with a gross margin of around 50 percent, according to Macquarie analyst Shawn Webster.</p>
<p>"They've got to have a foundry component to the business, just so they can get the best return on investment for all that capital they're spending," said Evercore Partners analyst Patrick Wang. "The next CEO is the guy or gal who's going to execute that strategy."</p>
<p>(Reporting by Noel Randewich)</p>
<p>Advertisement</p> | true | 0 | intels next ceo likely shepherd top chipmaker growing contractmanufacturing business strategic shift could lead deal apple inc give fighting chance make inroads mobile arena manufacturing chips behalf companies major departure intel decades based business using manufacturing prowess offer pc chips superior rival products pc sales contract intels fabrication plants operate less full capacity chipmaker sees opportunity fill idle production lines earning new revenue continue reading move may also offer backdoor sorts largescale production chips mobile devices intel made little headway underestimating impact iphone ipad falling behind nimble rivals intel said last week open prized manufacturing technology make chips designed fellow chipmaker altera snagging first sizeable customer contract manufacturing foundry business expected grow spurred talk apple deal source close one companies says intel apple executives discussed issue past year agreement reached strategic relationship youre making chips one largest mobile players definitely consider apple gets big advantage said pat becker jr becker capital management owned 39 million worth intel shares end last year intels plan entails heavy capital spending even struggles core market yet find enough new demand fill future fabrication plants would also mean getting foundry sector depends volume drive business highly vulnerable economic swings could compress intels industryleading margins bet analysts say necessary intel wants remain top player company believes taking contract manufacturing business help fill upcoming generation production lines help pay cost research upgrade intel upped capital spending budget 2 billion 13 billion year speculation grew apple could ink deal use intels leading process technology make better chips ipad iphone could help apple end foundry relationship samsung become fierce competitor smartphones tablets sunit rikhi vice president general manager intel custom foundry told reuters last week group ready take potential large unidentified mobile customer although declined discuss apple specifically intel spokesman chuck mulloy said chipmaker constant discussions apple buys pc chips would comment negotiations potential foundry relationship apple spokesman declined comment ceo quest happening board directors intel looks candidate replace outgoing ceo paul otellini talent search gone longer insiders expected since announced november otellini said expects replaced intel insider board directors recently increased focus potential outside candidates according two sources whomever board chooses must face fundamental decisions intels stillsmall contract manufacturing business like much quickly expand whether supply apple designs mobile chips using technology intel competes potentially huge said jmp analyst alex gauna new ceo large opportunity take next level discussions taking apple foundry customer going complex contentious intels chipmanufacturing technology least two years ahead taiwanese foundry tsmcs samsungs critics say intels x86 chip architecture better suited pcs servers mobile gadgets prize low powerconsumption portability fundamental decisions demand chips used smartphones tablets far outpacing demand pc chips making mobile musthave market intel semiconductor manufacturers making apples chips however would come price intel move could seen capitulation intels smartphone tablet chip designs gradually becoming efficient yet accepted use major devices complicating possible deal iphone maker designs mobile chips technology licensed arm holdings arms architecture competes intels ubiquitous mobile gadgets intels technology caught santa clara californiabased intel long king pc chip market particularly historic wintel alliance microsoft led breathtakingly high profit margins 80 percent market share intels gross margins expected 60 percent year 62 percent 2012 still attractive tsmcs gross margins around 48 percent businessmodel question answer thats something new ceo wrestle said sanford bernstein analyst stacy rasgon intel struggled adapt powerful processors batterypowered smartphones tablets require much less intensive computing market share smartphones stands less 1 percent trailing qualcomm samsung others concerns wall street slowing pc sales intels lack progress mobile pushed chipmakers shares 19 percent past year intels favor fact sheer amount investment involved new generations semiconductor manufacturing technology led chipmakers recent decades give running capitalintensive fabrication plants turning instead foundries like tsmc intels agreement altera followed deals minor chipmakers use intels fabs otellini december said lot stuff pipeline shifting production iphone ipad chips intel could lead additional 42 billion revenue 2015 gross margin around 50 percent according macquarie analyst shawn webster theyve got foundry component business get best return investment capital theyre spending said evercore partners analyst patrick wang next ceo guy gal whos going execute strategy reporting noel randewich advertisement | 682 |
<p>If you were to make a list of the most influential bankers in the United States, few would surpass Hugh McColl, the former CEO of Bank of America (NYSE: BAC). It wasn't just that McColl was largely responsible for building Bank of America into the behemoth it is today. He was also the driving force behind legislation that opened up interstate banking across the country.</p>
<p>Listen in to this segment of <a href="https://www.fool.com/podcasts/industry-focus?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=682ed13e-8e23-11e7-8b2f-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Industry Focus: Financials Opens a New Window.</a>, where we discuss the best bankers of the modern era.</p>
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<p>A full transcript follows the video.</p>
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<p>This video was recorded on Aug. 7, 2017.</p>
<p>Gaby Lapera: I'm going to tell you a little bit of a meandering story, a little bit of a Maxfield story, if you will. [laughs] I'm going to start with this challenge that was posed hypothetically to myself, which is to pick the top three bankers in the United States. The first one is Alexander Hamilton, which kind of goes without saying. He was the one who was like, "You know what we should do? We should have central banking. Also, America's future is not agrarian." You know, I think he called the right shot on both counts with that one.</p>
<p>Second banker that I think everyone can agree was huge for the American financial system is J.P. Morgan. He helped bail out the American financial system, he created these connections with Europe. Without him, I don't really know where we would be as a country. But then, if forced to pick a third one, and I know that Maxfield definitely agrees with me on this, I would pick Hugh McColl of Bank of America. I don't know if listeners know this, but you know how you can go to Bank of America and there's a Bank of America in basically every state -- except for Nebraska, much to my ire. There's a Wells Fargo&#160;in Nebraska. Anyway. Before, you couldn't do that. Before, it was really hard for banks to have branches, and it was illegal in a lot of states for banks to have more than one branch. And that was for a variety of reasons. But, back in the day, Hugh McColl, he was in North Carolina, one of the few states that allowed banks to have more than one branch, and he really pushed for legislation to be changed so that banks could branch outside of their state. Without that, we wouldn't have the financial system that we have today.</p>
<p>John Maxfield: Yeah. I think that's a great overview. Alexander Hamilton wasn't actually a banker, and I think this is exactly the point you're trying to make -- if you look at the bank industry that we have today and you had to pick three people who had the most significant contribution to how it has evolved, the first one, yeah, Alexander Hamilton, because he set this thing up. The second one, J.P. Morgan, because he was the link between us and Europe during the American Industrial Revolution or the Gilded Age, which is really where the United States of America gained its power. And then, more recently, Hugh McColl. To your point, when he started banking, Hugh McColl joined a small bank in North Carolina in 1959. When he started banking, it was called unit banking at the time. Unit banking meant that you could basically just have one location in most states. You couldn't have branches in most states. And you couldn't operate across interstate lines. And think about how different that is relative to what we have today, where we have a bank like Bank of America and a bank like Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase, literally, the branch networks span the North American continent. And the person who is most responsible for that is Hugh McColl. What he did is, he really proactively pushed, he saw the importance of expanding branches across interstate lines and having larger branch networks.</p>
<p>Let me add a little bit more context around this. There's a guy named Charles Calomiris who's probably the top bank historian in the United States. Really, in particular, he's at the top when it comes to understanding how the regulatory environment has evolved over the years in the United States. And one of the things he talks about in this incredible book called Fragile By Design that goes back through the history of banking and regulatory policies, one of the things he talks about in there is that, in Canada, they basically had no banking crises over the past couple hundred years, whereas in the United States, we've had 17 major banking crises. And you say, "Why would the United States have so many but Canada wouldn't?" And one of the reasons is, we didn't let our banks, for all these years, expand and diversify geographically. If you were an agricultural bank in Nebraska, to your point, which is also, I'm from Wyoming, right across the border to Nebraska, my family's business is principally in Nebraska. And what you would see is, you would have these agricultural depressions or you would have droughts that would hit those areas. Well, the banks in those areas, if you could only operate in that area and you had a drought and you were an agricultural bank, you had no hope. The farmers wouldn't be able to pay their debts and you would go under. What Hugh McColl realized, and other people realized this, too, is, look, if you could have branches in all of these different regions, you would reduce the fragility of each individual bank. And then, you wouldn't have as many financial crises, because financial crises are fueled by bank failures. And Hugh McColl is really the one who, at Bank of America, pushed through, came up with this idea and proactively pushed through the legislation that changed the United States banking structure from one based on unit banking to what we have today.</p>
<p>Lapera: I think listeners are probably thinking to themselves, "This is a wonderful story!" Thank you, listeners. We really appreciate that. Secondly, they're probably also wondering, "What is this meant to illustrate?" And I think the thing that we're trying to get at here is that really great bankers and really great banks are really proactive at seizing opportunities and making opportunities for themselves.</p>
<p>Maxfield: That's exactly right. The laws were against Hugh McColl's ideas, so what did Hugh McColl do? And I literally talked to Hugh McColl two weeks ago, and the way he explained it was great. He said, "Look, it was my banker." It was Bank of America's in-house banker who wrote the legislation for what was called the Southeast Regional Banking Compact, which then allowed banks in all the states in the Southeast to have branches within each of them, so you could expand and have these regional banks. And it was Bank of America that got that ball rolling. They wrote that legislation, got that ball rolling that eventually culminated in a piece of legislation that was passed in the U.S. Congress in 1994 that then opened up branch banking across the entire United States.</p>
<p>Lapera: Yeah. I think, how that's applicable today is, what banks should be looking for, generally, the opportunities that they're going to need to seize to create opportunities for themselves, are probably going to be in the tech arena. So they stay relevant, and not just relevant but push beyond that, and find the next thing that will make them bigger, more stable, draw more customers in.</p>
<p>Maxfield: Oh my God, that's such a good transition, Gaby. The reason that such a good transition is because one of the benefits of Bank of America today, one of its advantages is, because of Hugh McColl's work, building that banking to what it is today, the behemoth that it is, it has the economies of scale to invest in technology. And technology is where the battle of banking is being fought right now, and really will be fought in the future. And it's because of the scale that Hugh McColl built that they're going to be able to compete effectively in that arena.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFCaffeine/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=682ed13e-8e23-11e7-8b2f-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Gaby Lapera Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of JPMorgan Chase. <a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/JohnMaxfield37/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=682ed13e-8e23-11e7-8b2f-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">John Maxfield Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of Bank of America and Wells Fargo. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=682ed13e-8e23-11e7-8b2f-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | make list influential bankers united states would surpass hugh mccoll former ceo bank america nyse bac wasnt mccoll largely responsible building bank america behemoth today also driving force behind legislation opened interstate banking across country listen segment industry focus financials opens new window discuss best bankers modern era continue reading full transcript follows video 10 stocks like better bank americawhen investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right bank america wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns august 1 2017 advertisement video recorded aug 7 2017 gaby lapera im going tell little bit meandering story little bit maxfield story laughs im going start challenge posed hypothetically pick top three bankers united states first one alexander hamilton kind goes without saying one like know central banking also americas future agrarian know think called right shot counts one second banker think everyone agree huge american financial system jp morgan helped bail american financial system created connections europe without dont really know would country forced pick third one know maxfield definitely agrees would pick hugh mccoll bank america dont know listeners know know go bank america theres bank america basically every state except nebraska much ire theres wells fargo160in nebraska anyway couldnt really hard banks branches illegal lot states banks one branch variety reasons back day hugh mccoll north carolina one states allowed banks one branch really pushed legislation changed banks could branch outside state without wouldnt financial system today john maxfield yeah think thats great overview alexander hamilton wasnt actually banker think exactly point youre trying make look bank industry today pick three people significant contribution evolved first one yeah alexander hamilton set thing second one jp morgan link us europe american industrial revolution gilded age really united states america gained power recently hugh mccoll point started banking hugh mccoll joined small bank north carolina 1959 started banking called unit banking time unit banking meant could basically one location states couldnt branches states couldnt operate across interstate lines think different relative today bank like bank america bank like wells fargo jpmorgan chase literally branch networks span north american continent person responsible hugh mccoll really proactively pushed saw importance expanding branches across interstate lines larger branch networks let add little bit context around theres guy named charles calomiris whos probably top bank historian united states really particular hes top comes understanding regulatory environment evolved years united states one things talks incredible book called fragile design goes back history banking regulatory policies one things talks canada basically banking crises past couple hundred years whereas united states weve 17 major banking crises say would united states many canada wouldnt one reasons didnt let banks years expand diversify geographically agricultural bank nebraska point also im wyoming right across border nebraska familys business principally nebraska would see would agricultural depressions would droughts would hit areas well banks areas could operate area drought agricultural bank hope farmers wouldnt able pay debts would go hugh mccoll realized people realized look could branches different regions would reduce fragility individual bank wouldnt many financial crises financial crises fueled bank failures hugh mccoll really one bank america pushed came idea proactively pushed legislation changed united states banking structure one based unit banking today lapera think listeners probably thinking wonderful story thank listeners really appreciate secondly theyre probably also wondering meant illustrate think thing trying get really great bankers really great banks really proactive seizing opportunities making opportunities maxfield thats exactly right laws hugh mccolls ideas hugh mccoll literally talked hugh mccoll two weeks ago way explained great said look banker bank americas inhouse banker wrote legislation called southeast regional banking compact allowed banks states southeast branches within could expand regional banks bank america got ball rolling wrote legislation got ball rolling eventually culminated piece legislation passed us congress 1994 opened branch banking across entire united states lapera yeah think thats applicable today banks looking generally opportunities theyre going need seize create opportunities probably going tech arena stay relevant relevant push beyond find next thing make bigger stable draw customers maxfield oh god thats good transition gaby reason good transition one benefits bank america today one advantages hugh mccolls work building banking today behemoth economies scale invest technology technology battle banking fought right really fought future scale hugh mccoll built theyre going able compete effectively arena gaby lapera opens new window owns shares jpmorgan chase john maxfield opens new window owns shares bank america wells fargo motley fool position stocks mentioned motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 780 |
<p>Glencore PLC said it would to invest nearly $1 billion in a Peruvian zinc operation, another sign the Swiss mining and trading giant is opening its cash hoard for acquisitions as rebounding commodity prices refill its coffers.</p>
<p>The investment in Peruvian mining company Volcan Compañia Minera S.A.A. will add to Glencore's world-beating zinc assets. Glencore is the world's leading miner and trader of zinc, an essential metal for making steel, owning a position big enough already that the company's decisions can move prices.</p>
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<p>Soaring zinc prices, buoyed in part because of the firm's 2015 decision to shut down about 4% of global zinc production, have boosted Glencore's profits this year.</p>
<p>Glencore said Tuesday it had already struck agreements with shareholders of Volcan to purchase 27% of its class A shares for $531 million. It said it is making an offer to all Volcan shareholders for up to 48% of its class A shares, which would put its total holdings of class A shares as high as 66.3%.</p>
<p>Including class B shares, Glencore, an investor in Volcan since 2004, will hold between 19% and 28% of the company following the investment, which it expects to complete by November or December.</p>
<p>The total amount payable by Glencore, depending on shareholders' response, will be between $531 million and $956 million, the company said. The investment will be paid out of existing cash resources, it said.</p>
<p>Volcan is "one of the world's largest producers of zinc, lead and silver, " according to the company's website.</p>
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<p>Glencore, led by mining-deal maven Ivan Glasenberg, has been more focused on acquisitions during the recent recovery in commodities than most of its competitors.</p>
<p>Glencore inked a $1.1 billion deal in July for a stake in Australian coal assets and considered a bid for $11 billion grain trading company Bunge Ltd. In February, Glencore agreed to pay $531 million in cash to acquire stakes in two African copper projects.</p>
<p>Glencore's shares have surged more than 400% since they plunged in 2015 as investors worried that falling commodity prices, sparked by an economic slowdown in China, would lead to downgrades from credit-ratings firms.</p>
<p>Rebounded prices for copper, cobalt, zinc, coal and other commodities have provided much needed cash to Glencore and other mining companies, letting them pay down debt, reinstate dividends and, increasingly, look to do deals.</p>
<p>Write to Scott Patterson at [email protected]</p>
<p>LONDON -- Glencore PLC said it could invest nearly $1 billion in a Peruvian zinc operation, another sign the Swiss mining and trading giant is opening its cash hoard for acquisitions as rebounding commodity prices refill its coffers.</p>
<p>The investment in Peruvian mining company Volcan Compañia Minera S.A.A. will add to Glencore's world-beating zinc assets. Glencore is the world's leading miner and trader of zinc, an essential metal for making steel, owning a position big enough already that the company's decisions can move prices.</p>
<p>Soaring zinc prices, buoyed in part because of the firm's 2015 decision to shut down about 4% of global zinc production, have boosted Glencore's profits this year.</p>
<p>Glencore said Tuesday it had already struck agreements with shareholders of Volcan to purchase 27% of its class A shares for $531 million. It said it is making an offer to all Volcan shareholders for up to 48% of its class A shares, which would put its total holdings of class A shares as high as 66.3%.</p>
<p>Including class B shares, Glencore, an investor in Volcan since 2004, will hold between 19% and 28% of the company following the investment, which it expects to complete by November or December.</p>
<p>The total amount payable by Glencore, depending on shareholders' response, will be between $531 million and $956 million, the company said. The investment will be paid out of existing cash resources, it said.</p>
<p>Glencore, which was required to make an offer for the B shares in accordance with Peruvian stock-exchange rules, is unlikely to spend significantly more than the $531 million outlay for the A shares, according a person familiar with the matter.</p>
<p>Volcan is "one of the world's largest producers of zinc, lead and silver, " according to the company's website.</p>
<p>Glencore, led by mining-deal maven Ivan Glasenberg, has been more focused on acquisitions during the recent recovery in commodities than most of its competitors.</p>
<p>Glencore inked a $1.1 billion deal in July for a stake in Australian coal assets and considered a bid for $11 billion grain trading company Bunge Ltd. In February, Glencore agreed to pay $531 million in cash to acquire stakes in two African copper projects.</p>
<p>Glencore's shares have surged more than 400% since they plunged in 2015 as investors worried that falling commodity prices, sparked by an economic slowdown in China, would lead to downgrades from credit-ratings firms.</p>
<p>Rebounded prices for copper, cobalt, zinc, coal and other commodities have provided much needed cash to Glencore and other mining companies, letting them pay down debt, reinstate dividends and, increasingly, look to do deals.</p>
<p>Write to Scott Patterson at [email protected]</p>
<p>(END) Dow Jones Newswires</p>
<p>October 03, 2017 14:35 ET (18:35 GMT)</p> | true | 0 | glencore plc said would invest nearly 1 billion peruvian zinc operation another sign swiss mining trading giant opening cash hoard acquisitions rebounding commodity prices refill coffers investment peruvian mining company volcan compañia minera saa add glencores worldbeating zinc assets glencore worlds leading miner trader zinc essential metal making steel owning position big enough already companys decisions move prices continue reading soaring zinc prices buoyed part firms 2015 decision shut 4 global zinc production boosted glencores profits year glencore said tuesday already struck agreements shareholders volcan purchase 27 class shares 531 million said making offer volcan shareholders 48 class shares would put total holdings class shares high 663 including class b shares glencore investor volcan since 2004 hold 19 28 company following investment expects complete november december total amount payable glencore depending shareholders response 531 million 956 million company said investment paid existing cash resources said volcan one worlds largest producers zinc lead silver according companys website advertisement glencore led miningdeal maven ivan glasenberg focused acquisitions recent recovery commodities competitors glencore inked 11 billion deal july stake australian coal assets considered bid 11 billion grain trading company bunge ltd february glencore agreed pay 531 million cash acquire stakes two african copper projects glencores shares surged 400 since plunged 2015 investors worried falling commodity prices sparked economic slowdown china would lead downgrades creditratings firms rebounded prices copper cobalt zinc coal commodities provided much needed cash glencore mining companies letting pay debt reinstate dividends increasingly look deals write scott patterson scottpattersonwsjcom london glencore plc said could invest nearly 1 billion peruvian zinc operation another sign swiss mining trading giant opening cash hoard acquisitions rebounding commodity prices refill coffers investment peruvian mining company volcan compañia minera saa add glencores worldbeating zinc assets glencore worlds leading miner trader zinc essential metal making steel owning position big enough already companys decisions move prices soaring zinc prices buoyed part firms 2015 decision shut 4 global zinc production boosted glencores profits year glencore said tuesday already struck agreements shareholders volcan purchase 27 class shares 531 million said making offer volcan shareholders 48 class shares would put total holdings class shares high 663 including class b shares glencore investor volcan since 2004 hold 19 28 company following investment expects complete november december total amount payable glencore depending shareholders response 531 million 956 million company said investment paid existing cash resources said glencore required make offer b shares accordance peruvian stockexchange rules unlikely spend significantly 531 million outlay shares according person familiar matter volcan one worlds largest producers zinc lead silver according companys website glencore led miningdeal maven ivan glasenberg focused acquisitions recent recovery commodities competitors glencore inked 11 billion deal july stake australian coal assets considered bid 11 billion grain trading company bunge ltd february glencore agreed pay 531 million cash acquire stakes two african copper projects glencores shares surged 400 since plunged 2015 investors worried falling commodity prices sparked economic slowdown china would lead downgrades creditratings firms rebounded prices copper cobalt zinc coal commodities provided much needed cash glencore mining companies letting pay debt reinstate dividends increasingly look deals write scott patterson scottpattersonwsjcom end dow jones newswires october 03 2017 1435 et 1835 gmt | 526 |
<p>Social Security is arguably the most important social program for seniors. Each month, the Social Security Administration (SSA) divvies out more than 61 million stipends to eligible beneficiaries, of which 42 million are retired workers.&#160; Without this income, many of these seniors would likely struggle to make ends meet, especially with SSA data noting that 62% rely on Social Security for at least half of their monthly income.</p>
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<p>Every year, there is perhaps nothing more important for these folks than the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) announcement from the SSA. COLA is nothing more than the inflation-adjusted "raise" that beneficiaries receive from one year to the next.</p>
<p>Social Security's inflationary tether is the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, or CPI-W. It takes it account <a href="https://www.fool.com/retirement/2017/10/08/the-8-major-spending-categories-that-affect-social.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=cd1b807c-b01c-11e7-8533-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">eight major spending categories Opens a New Window.</a> that cover various goods and services and allows the SSA to determine an appropriate inflationary raise for eligible beneficiaries from one year to the next. When calculating COLA, the SSA averages the CPI-W reading from the third quarter of the previous year (July through September) and compares it to the third-quarter reading from the current year. If the average increases, then beneficiaries receive a commensurate raise that's rounded to the nearest tenth of a percent. If it declines, then benefits remain static from one year to the next.</p>
<p>On Friday, Oct. 13, at 8:30am ET, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm" type="external">released Opens a New Window.</a> its September 2017 inflation data, which was the last piece of the puzzle needed to determine what COLA should be for the upcoming year. Let's take a closer look at what retired workers, the disabled, and survivors can expect.</p>
<p>As reported by the BLS, the CPI-W increased at a rapid 0.6% pace in September, or 2.3% on a 12-month non-seasonally adjusted basis in September. This large increase, like August, was <a href="https://www.fool.com/retirement/2017/09/23/social-security-benefits-to-rise-following-hurrica.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=cd1b807c-b01c-11e7-8533-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">precipitated by hurricanes Harvey and Irma Opens a New Window.</a>, which pushed energy prices notably higher as refineries and drilling platforms were shut down. Gasoline prices rose 6% in August and 13% in September, which was the primary reason for the lift in overall inflation rates. While hurricanes aren't good news, in this rare instance they are for Social Security recipients.</p>
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<p>With this in mind, let's check the math.</p>
<p>According to SSA data logged from the BLS&#160;, here are the CPI-W reading from 2016 in the July through September months:</p>
<p>This works out to an average reading in the third quarter of 2016 of 235.056, and this figure serves as the baseline.</p>
<p>Now let's take a look at SSA logged data for 2017 in July and August, as well as the final piece of the puzzle reported today by the BLS for September:</p>
<p>These three reading average out to 239.668 over the third quarter. If we compared the two, the Q3 reading from 2017 increased by 1.96% from the baseline, which when rounded works out to a 2% aggregate increase. In other words, Social Security benefits are going to rise by 2% in 2018. That's the highest increase over the past six years, and a modest bump given the 0% COLA received in three of the past eight years.</p>
<p>So, what does a 2% COLA actually mean for you? Put simply, you'll receive 2% more per month in 2018 than you were paid in 2017. According to the August 2017 snapshot from the SSA, the average retired worker was bringing home $1371.14 a month.&#160; Essentially, it means the average retiree can expect around $27 more a month, or about $329 more a year in 2018. That's certainly better than the paltry 0.3% COLA increase for 2017.</p>
<p>However, there are two caveats that Social Security beneficiaries need to be aware of.</p>
<p>The first that you should be aware of is Medicare Part B premium costs. If you're already enrolled in Medicare, and you've been protected from high inflation rates in Part B premiums in recent years by the hold harmless, you're probably not going to see all of your 2% COLA increase. Instead, part or all of your increase could go toward playing "catch up" on your Part B premiums that are likely still well below the going monthly rate for newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries.</p>
<p>Secondly, it's still highly probable that your COLA of 2% isn't going to adequately cover the rising cost of expenses that today's seniors are facing. In 33 of the past 35 years (not counting 2017), Social Security's COLA has been lower than the medical care inflation rate. This is because the CPI-W factors in the expenditures of working-age Americans, whereas seniors tend to spend a considerably higher percentage of their income on healthcare costs. Of late, housing costs, such as rents, have been rising at a quicker pace, too.</p>
<p>Ultimately, a 2% COLA is a modest win for seniors and beneficiaries as a whole, but it's nothing to cheer in excess about given the probability that Part B premiums will steal some (or all) of that thunder for about 70% of recipients, and the increase may not cover the true inflation that most seniors are dealing with.</p>
<p>The $16,122 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $16,122 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after.&#160; <a href="http://www.fool.com/mms/mark/ecap-foolcom-social-security?aid=8727&amp;source=irreditxt0000002&amp;ftm_cam=ryr-ss-intro-report&amp;ftm_pit=3186&amp;ftm_veh=article_pitch&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=cd1b807c-b01c-11e7-8533-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=cd1b807c-b01c-11e7-8533-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | social security arguably important social program seniors month social security administration ssa divvies 61 million stipends eligible beneficiaries 42 million retired workers160 without income many seniors would likely struggle make ends meet especially ssa data noting 62 rely social security least half monthly income continue reading every year perhaps nothing important folks annual costofliving adjustment cola announcement ssa cola nothing inflationadjusted raise beneficiaries receive one year next social securitys inflationary tether consumer price index urban wage earners clerical workers cpiw takes account eight major spending categories opens new window cover various goods services allows ssa determine appropriate inflationary raise eligible beneficiaries one year next calculating cola ssa averages cpiw reading third quarter previous year july september compares thirdquarter reading current year average increases beneficiaries receive commensurate raise thats rounded nearest tenth percent declines benefits remain static one year next friday oct 13 830am et bureau labor statistics bls released opens new window september 2017 inflation data last piece puzzle needed determine cola upcoming year lets take closer look retired workers disabled survivors expect reported bls cpiw increased rapid 06 pace september 23 12month nonseasonally adjusted basis september large increase like august precipitated hurricanes harvey irma opens new window pushed energy prices notably higher refineries drilling platforms shut gasoline prices rose 6 august 13 september primary reason lift overall inflation rates hurricanes arent good news rare instance social security recipients advertisement mind lets check math according ssa data logged bls160 cpiw reading 2016 july september months works average reading third quarter 2016 235056 figure serves baseline lets take look ssa logged data 2017 july august well final piece puzzle reported today bls september three reading average 239668 third quarter compared two q3 reading 2017 increased 196 baseline rounded works 2 aggregate increase words social security benefits going rise 2 2018 thats highest increase past six years modest bump given 0 cola received three past eight years 2 cola actually mean put simply youll receive 2 per month 2018 paid 2017 according august 2017 snapshot ssa average retired worker bringing home 137114 month160 essentially means average retiree expect around 27 month 329 year 2018 thats certainly better paltry 03 cola increase 2017 however two caveats social security beneficiaries need aware first aware medicare part b premium costs youre already enrolled medicare youve protected high inflation rates part b premiums recent years hold harmless youre probably going see 2 cola increase instead part increase could go toward playing catch part b premiums likely still well going monthly rate newly eligible medicare beneficiaries secondly still highly probable cola 2 isnt going adequately cover rising cost expenses todays seniors facing 33 past 35 years counting 2017 social securitys cola lower medical care inflation rate cpiw factors expenditures workingage americans whereas seniors tend spend considerably higher percentage income healthcare costs late housing costs rents rising quicker pace ultimately 2 cola modest win seniors beneficiaries whole nothing cheer excess given probability part b premiums steal thunder 70 recipients increase may cover true inflation seniors dealing 16122 social security bonus retirees completely overlook youre like americans youre years behind retirement savings handful littleknown social security secrets could help ensure boost retirement income example one easy trick could pay much 16122 year learn maximize social security benefits think could retire confidently peace mind after160 simply click discover learn strategies opens new window motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 560 |
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<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
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<p>One of the most admirable qualities of Vanguard is that it doesn't have a profit motive. The company is owned by investors who own its funds, resulting in a lineup of investor-friendly funds with microscopic expense ratios. Thus, investors who can invest in its funds in a retirement account have a big leg up on others who are stuck with higher-fee funds.</p>
<p>The three funds below are some of the best retirement funds for investors who are lucky enough to have Vanguard funds in their 401(k) plans.</p>
<p>Data source: Vanguard.</p>
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<p>Vanguard's Total Stock Market Index Fund is an excellent pick for retirement accounts because it is broadly diversified and inexpensive to hold. The <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/06/29/5-reasons-to-buy-the-vanguard-total-stock-market-e.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Total Stock Market fund Opens a New Window.</a> held more than 3,600 U.S.-listed stocks at the time of writing, investing in everything from companies worth as little as $10 million to giant household names like Apple, which has a stock market value in excess of $560 billion.</p>
<p>The underlying index for the fund attempts to invest in 99.5% of American stocks by market cap, excluding only the smallest 0.5% of stocks that may be too illiquid or too small for the fund to hold. Excluding the very smallest of U.S.-listed stocks protects the fund from investing in stocks that are so small that Vanguard's index fund would drive the majority of daily buying or selling.</p>
<p>Holdings are weighted by market cap. Thus, larger companies make up a bigger percentage of the fund's assets.</p>
<p>Data source: Vanguard.</p>
<p>A frequent concern of financial planners is that their clients have a "home country bias" in their portfolios, investing too heavily in domestic stocks while investing too little in foreign stocks. The Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-U.S. index fund currently holds 2,550 stocks that are listed outside the United States, making it an excellent fund for beefing up your foreign stock ownership.</p>
<p>Going global has its advantages. Not all corporate behemoths are primarily listed on U.S. exchanges. Note that the five largest companies in this fund are recognizable to most American investors.</p>
<p>Data source: Vanguard.</p>
<p>The fund is most heavily invested in developed markets around the world. Japan, the United Kingdom, and France represent its three largest geographic exposures, making up 17.7%, 13.8%, and 6.4% of fund assets, respectively. Emerging markets comprised just 19% of fund assets combined, meaning that you'll likely want to add an emerging markets fund to your portfolio to get more exposure to up-and-coming global economies.</p>
<p>The Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund seeks to invest in small to large companies that are listed in emerging markets around the world. The fund currently holds nearly 4,100 stocks, with China, Taiwan, and India making up its three largest country exposures at 27.5%, 15.4%, and 12.2% of assets, respectively.</p>
<p>By far the riskiest of the three funds discussed here, this fund has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/07/09/vanguard-emerging-markets-etf-pros-and-cons.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">heavy bias Opens a New Window.</a> toward Asian stocks, specifically Chinese companies. It also has the heaviest weighting in small-cap companies, which are simply less stable than their large-cap counterparts. Nearly half (approximately 48%) of fund assets were invested in companies with market values smaller than $8 billion at the time of writing.</p>
<p>Vanguard's index funds really shine against higher-cost competitors in emerging market funds. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the average actively managed emerging markets fund had an expense ratio of 1.54% of assets, nearly 4.7 times more than Vanguard's emerging market index fund. The average emerging market index fund charged 0.56%, still 70% more than Vanguard's most expensive share class, which carries annual expenses equal to 0.33% of assets. Vanguard is a leader in driving <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/08/27/index-funds-vs-mutual-funds.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">down fund fees Opens a New Window.</a> across the industry.</p>
<p>Investors who buy the three funds above will have a diversified portfolio of thousands of stocks that include household name conglomerates in the largest developed economies to the smallest stocks in emerging markets around the world.</p>
<p>Investors should tread carefully, even with Vanguard's funds. Its funds come in many different forms from the highest-fee Investor Shares share classes to the lowest-cost Admiral, Institutional, and Institutional Plus share classes. The difference can be substantial -- the Investor Shares class of Vanguard's emerging markets fund carry an expense ratio of 0.33% of assets while its Institutional Plus share class carries an annual expense ratio of just 0.10%. (The first table in this article refers to the highest-cost Investor Shares funds.)</p>
<p>Some retirement plans complicate choices by offering multiple share classes of the same funds. When in doubt, pick the lowest-cost share class available, as it will always outperform higher-cost share classes due to the difference in fees.</p>
<p>The $15,834 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known Social Security secrets could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $15,834 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. <a href="http://www.fool.com/mms/mark/ecap-foolcom-social-security?aid=8727&amp;source=irreditxt0000002&amp;ftm_cam=ryr-ss-intro-report&amp;ftm_pit=3186&amp;ftm_veh=article_pitch&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies. Opens a New Window.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFValueMagnet/info.aspx" type="external">Jordan Wathen Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Amazon.com, Apple, and Johnson and Johnson. The Motley Fool owns shares of ExxonMobil and Microsoft and has the following options: long January 2018 $90 calls on Apple and short January 2018 $95 calls on Apple. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/motley.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. 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<p>Walt Disney Co's market capitalization is almost twice as big as Netflix Inc.'s. It operates the most successful movie studio in Hollywood, one of the most profitable channels on cable television and the biggest theme-park business in the world.</p>
<p>Yet its pursuit of 21st Century Fox Inc.'s entertainment assets indicates that repositioning its television business to compete in the streaming, a-la-carte world Netflix dominates has become Disney's top priority.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Disney's TV operation alone is substantially larger than Netflix, but its growth has stalled while its digital competitor is booming. Netflix's revenue increased 32% in the first nine months of its current fiscal year to $8.4 billion and its operating income grew 163% to $593.4 million. In the first nine months of its fiscal year, Disney's TV revenue was flat at $18 billion and operating income fell 11% to $6 billion.</p>
<p>Recent talks for Disney to acquire Fox's entertainment cable networks and film and television studio, and stakes in European satellite broadcaster Sky and streaming television company Hulu, have stalled, and it is unclear whether they will restart, let alone result in a deal, according to people close to the discussions. Fox and Wall Street Journal parent News Corp. share common ownership.</p>
<p>In an interview before the Fox talks were reported this week, Disney Chief Strategy Officer Kevin Mayer said Disney has in the past decade spent $15 billion buying up "really high quality" intellectual property from Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Entertainment and "Star Wars" producer Lucasfilm.</p>
<p>"Now we've turned our attention to the one platform seeing growth challenges," he said. "That's the television platform."</p>
<p>That same logic applies to its pursuit of Fox's assets, analysts and people close to Disney said.</p>
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<p>The company is already in the midst of a multibillion-dollar effort to launch direct-to-consumer online video offerings, an effort that could be the final legacy of Chief Executive Robert Iger, who is scheduled to retire in 2019.</p>
<p>That same year, Disney has said, it plans to launch a family-entertainment service featuring television shows and movies, including recent theatrical releases that currently stream on Netflix under a deal that ends next year and Mr. Iger intends to not renew.</p>
<p>Next year, Disney aims to debut an ESPN streaming service featuring sports not currently available on television.</p>
<p>Both will use technology from the streaming company BamTech, on which Disney this year spent $1.58 billion for majority control.</p>
<p>Mr. Mayer described the streaming services as "not an anti-Netflix move, but a pro-Disney move."</p>
<p>He said he believes Disney's video offerings can stand alongside Netflix's, as well as Amazon.com Inc.'s streaming service, in a future where families subscribe to multiple digital-entertainment services.</p>
<p>But if Disney isn't looking to take down Netflix, it is reckoning with the company's success. In addition, Disney and other Hollywood studios now view Netflix less as a cash-rich buyer for its content than as a competitor, particularly as the digital company has moved aggressively into original production with hits like "Stranger Things" and even big-budget movies like the upcoming "Bright," starring Will Smith.</p>
<p>In pulling its movies from Netflix in 2019, Disney gave up an estimated $300 million-plus a year, people with knowledge of the arrangement said. And while it currently produces Marvel superhero series like "Daredevil" for Netflix, new Marvel shows in the future are expected to live on the company's own streaming service.</p>
<p>"Netflix is eating the world," said one veteran Hollywood executive. "The biggest challenge for Disney, and for all of us, is to compete with them."</p>
<p>Buying Fox's 30% stake in Hulu would give Disney majority control of that streaming service, which the company could position as an adult-targeted entertainment service that stands alongside its family and sports ones, said people close to the company. It could feature content produced by 20th Century Fox's television studio, as well as those that air on the FX cable network, both of which Disney would buy under the stalled talks, said people close to Disney.</p>
<p>With Sky, Disney would get the dominant European pay-television distributor. Fox currently owns 39% of Sky and has bid $15.5 billion to buy the rest -- an offer currently held up by U.K. regulatory review.</p>
<p>Owning even part of a traditional TV distributor would be a big shift for Disney. But it would bring the company more in line with two of its biggest competitors: Cable giant Comcast Corp., owner of NBCUniversal, and AT&amp;T Inc., which owns DirecTV and has agreed to acquire Time Warner Inc.</p>
<p>Buying Fox would bring Disney one other significant asset that would make it a more formidable competitor in TV and film. Under a deal that dates back to the 1990s, Fox controls big- and small-screen rights to Marvel's X-Men and other characters who have appeared in their comic books, as well as the Fantastic Four.</p>
<p>Fox has produced 15 movies with its Marvel rights, including the hits "X-Men: Days of Future Past," "Deadpool" and this year's "Logan." It has recently moved into television, with "Legion" on FX and "The Gifted" on the Fox network.</p>
<p>Following an acquisition, Disney would consolidate its control of all its Marvel characters save for Spider-Man, still at Sony Pictures Entertainment, and could have them appear together in films and TV series.</p>
<p>Write to Ben Fritz at [email protected]</p>
<p>(END) Dow Jones Newswires</p>
<p>November 08, 2017 05:44 ET (10:44 GMT)</p> | true | 0 | walt disney cos market capitalization almost twice big netflix incs operates successful movie studio hollywood one profitable channels cable television biggest themepark business world yet pursuit 21st century fox incs entertainment assets indicates repositioning television business compete streaming alacarte world netflix dominates become disneys top priority continue reading disneys tv operation alone substantially larger netflix growth stalled digital competitor booming netflixs revenue increased 32 first nine months current fiscal year 84 billion operating income grew 163 5934 million first nine months fiscal year disneys tv revenue flat 18 billion operating income fell 11 6 billion recent talks disney acquire foxs entertainment cable networks film television studio stakes european satellite broadcaster sky streaming television company hulu stalled unclear whether restart let alone result deal according people close discussions fox wall street journal parent news corp share common ownership interview fox talks reported week disney chief strategy officer kevin mayer said disney past decade spent 15 billion buying really high quality intellectual property pixar animation studios marvel entertainment star wars producer lucasfilm weve turned attention one platform seeing growth challenges said thats television platform logic applies pursuit foxs assets analysts people close disney said advertisement company already midst multibilliondollar effort launch directtoconsumer online video offerings effort could final legacy chief executive robert iger scheduled retire 2019 year disney said plans launch familyentertainment service featuring television shows movies including recent theatrical releases currently stream netflix deal ends next year mr iger intends renew next year disney aims debut espn streaming service featuring sports currently available television use technology streaming company bamtech disney year spent 158 billion majority control mr mayer described streaming services antinetflix move prodisney move said believes disneys video offerings stand alongside netflixs well amazoncom incs streaming service future families subscribe multiple digitalentertainment services disney isnt looking take netflix reckoning companys success addition disney hollywood studios view netflix less cashrich buyer content competitor particularly digital company moved aggressively original production hits like stranger things even bigbudget movies like upcoming bright starring smith pulling movies netflix 2019 disney gave estimated 300 millionplus year people knowledge arrangement said currently produces marvel superhero series like daredevil netflix new marvel shows future expected live companys streaming service netflix eating world said one veteran hollywood executive biggest challenge disney us compete buying foxs 30 stake hulu would give disney majority control streaming service company could position adulttargeted entertainment service stands alongside family sports ones said people close company could feature content produced 20th century foxs television studio well air fx cable network disney would buy stalled talks said people close disney sky disney would get dominant european paytelevision distributor fox currently owns 39 sky bid 155 billion buy rest offer currently held uk regulatory review owning even part traditional tv distributor would big shift disney would bring company line two biggest competitors cable giant comcast corp owner nbcuniversal atampt inc owns directv agreed acquire time warner inc buying fox would bring disney one significant asset would make formidable competitor tv film deal dates back 1990s fox controls big smallscreen rights marvels xmen characters appeared comic books well fantastic four fox produced 15 movies marvel rights including hits xmen days future past deadpool years logan recently moved television legion fx gifted fox network following acquisition disney would consolidate control marvel characters save spiderman still sony pictures entertainment could appear together films tv series write ben fritz benfritzwsjcom end dow jones newswires november 08 2017 0544 et 1044 gmt | 571 |
<p>For more than half a century, cigarette smoking has been on the decline, forcing companies like Altria Group (NYSE: MO) to adapt to changing conditions. Despite attacks on multiple fronts, Altria has found ways to <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2016/06/22/altria-stock-hits-new-highs-after-supreme-court-wi.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=503213c6-bb0e-11e7-9553-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">win court battles Opens a New Window.</a>, fight back against consumer advocates, and use its brand loyalty to push profits higher. Recently, Altria has started to get <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/07/14/how-altria-group-inc-has-changed-in-the-past-two-y.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=503213c6-bb0e-11e7-9553-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">more of a presence in the cigarette-alternative market Opens a New Window.</a>, following the lead of industry peers that have seen considerable success in that niche.</p>
<p>Coming into Thursday's third-quarter financial report, Altria investors were looking to see very modest gains in revenue but solid profit increases. Altria's revenue was actually lower than year-ago levels, but solid bottom-line performance confirmed for most investors that the company remains on course. Let's look more closely at how Altria did and what lies ahead for the tobacco giant.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Altria's third-quarter results continued a trend of mixed performance. Revenue net of excise taxes was down about 1% to $5.12 billion, which was slightly worse than the slight gain most investors were expecting to see. Yet net income soared 70% to $1.87 billion, and after allowing for some one-time items, adjusted earnings of $0.90 per share topped the consensus forecast for $0.88.</p>
<p>The key smokeable products segment reflected the issues that the entire company faced. Revenue dropped almost 3% from year-ago levels, as pricing power was insufficient to make up for volume declines. The business suffered a particularly steep drop in shipments of more than 6%, as retail market share declined for Altria's brands compared to those of its domestic competitors. Yet reported operating company income jumped 8% on an adjusted basis as Altria cited lower costs and smaller numbers related to tobacco and health-related litigation. The key Marlboro brand saw market share drop half a percentage point to 43.2%, and that sent Altria's overall share down to 50.5% from 51.1% in the third quarter of 2016.</p>
<p>The smokeless products segment did better than its smokeable counterpart. Revenue net of excise tax was up 4.5% for the quarter, and adjusted operating company income jumped almost 16%. Shipment volumes were down almost 2%, but higher pricing and fewer investments in promotions helped to bolster the unit's bottom line. The Skoal brand continued to underperform its peer Copenhagen, and all told, market share for Altria's smokeless product line fell by more than a percentage point to 53.8%.</p>
<p>Altria kept seeing tough times in its wine business. Sales were down just a fraction of a percent, but adjusted operating company income dropped 5% due to higher production costs. Shipment volume was roughly unchanged for the quarter, showing some signs of improvement from extensive declines in earlier in the year.</p>
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<p>CEO Marty Barrington kept his comments simple: "Altria delivered outstanding performance in the third quarter and for the first nine months of 2017," Barrington said, "as our core tobacco operating companies generated strong income growth." The CEO pointed to expected strengthening in the second half of 2017 as showing up in Altria's third-quarter results.</p>
<p>Altria once again repeated its call on full-year earnings growth, which it still sees in a range of 7.5% to 9.5%. That would work out to a range of $3.26 to $3.32 per share on an adjusted basis for 2017.</p>
<p>Many investors hope that reduced-risk products will play a more important role for Altria going forward, and one piece of news during the quarter provided a good sign of potential growth in that area. Altria's MarkTen e-vapor product saw third-quarter volume jump by more than half, as the company expanded its distribution network to take advantage of overall growth in demand for e-vapor. Market share for MarkTen hit 13.5%, and even though the company already has its products in stores representing almost two-thirds of total category volume, Altria's Nu Mark subsidiary will expand into 15,000 additional retail stores during the fourth quarter.</p>
<p>Altria investors were pleased with the report, and the stock climbed more than 3% on Thursday following the report. Even though pressure in the conventional cigarette business continues, new optimism about alternatives could be the catalyst to get Altria stock moving in the right direction again.</p>
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<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFGalagan/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=503213c6-bb0e-11e7-9553-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Dan Caplinger Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=503213c6-bb0e-11e7-9553-0050569d32b9&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | half century cigarette smoking decline forcing companies like altria group nyse mo adapt changing conditions despite attacks multiple fronts altria found ways win court battles opens new window fight back consumer advocates use brand loyalty push profits higher recently altria started get presence cigarettealternative market opens new window following lead industry peers seen considerable success niche coming thursdays thirdquarter financial report altria investors looking see modest gains revenue solid profit increases altrias revenue actually lower yearago levels solid bottomline performance confirmed investors company remains course lets look closely altria lies ahead tobacco giant continue reading altrias thirdquarter results continued trend mixed performance revenue net excise taxes 1 512 billion slightly worse slight gain investors expecting see yet net income soared 70 187 billion allowing onetime items adjusted earnings 090 per share topped consensus forecast 088 key smokeable products segment reflected issues entire company faced revenue dropped almost 3 yearago levels pricing power insufficient make volume declines business suffered particularly steep drop shipments 6 retail market share declined altrias brands compared domestic competitors yet reported operating company income jumped 8 adjusted basis altria cited lower costs smaller numbers related tobacco healthrelated litigation key marlboro brand saw market share drop half percentage point 432 sent altrias overall share 505 511 third quarter 2016 smokeless products segment better smokeable counterpart revenue net excise tax 45 quarter adjusted operating company income jumped almost 16 shipment volumes almost 2 higher pricing fewer investments promotions helped bolster units bottom line skoal brand continued underperform peer copenhagen told market share altrias smokeless product line fell percentage point 538 altria kept seeing tough times wine business sales fraction percent adjusted operating company income dropped 5 due higher production costs shipment volume roughly unchanged quarter showing signs improvement extensive declines earlier year advertisement ceo marty barrington kept comments simple altria delivered outstanding performance third quarter first nine months 2017 barrington said core tobacco operating companies generated strong income growth ceo pointed expected strengthening second half 2017 showing altrias thirdquarter results altria repeated call fullyear earnings growth still sees range 75 95 would work range 326 332 per share adjusted basis 2017 many investors hope reducedrisk products play important role altria going forward one piece news quarter provided good sign potential growth area altrias markten evapor product saw thirdquarter volume jump half company expanded distribution network take advantage overall growth demand evapor market share markten hit 135 even though company already products stores representing almost twothirds total category volume altrias nu mark subsidiary expand 15000 additional retail stores fourth quarter altria investors pleased report stock climbed 3 thursday following report even though pressure conventional cigarette business continues new optimism alternatives could catalyst get altria stock moving right direction 10 stocks like better altria groupwhen investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right altria group wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns october 9 2017 dan caplinger opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool position stocks mentioned motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 529 |
<p>Hoover Dam / AP</p>
<p>BY: <a href="" type="internal">Bill Gertz</a> May 1, 2013 5:00 am</p>
<p>U.S. intelligence agencies traced a recent cyber intrusion into a sensitive infrastructure database to the Chinese government or military cyber warriors, according to U.S. officials.</p>
<p>The compromise of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ National Inventory of Dams (NID) is raising new concerns that China is preparing to conduct a future cyber attack against the national electrical power grid, including the growing percentage of electricity produced by hydroelectric dams.</p>
<p>According to officials familiar with intelligence reports, the Corps of Engineers’ National Inventory of Dams was hacked by an unauthorized user believed to be from China, beginning in January and uncovered earlier this month.</p>
<p>The database contains sensitive information on vulnerabilities of every major dam in the United States. There are around 8,100 major dams across waterways in the United States.</p>
<p>Pete Pierce, a Corps of Engineers spokesman, confirmed the cyber incident but declined to provide details.</p>
<p>"The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is aware that access to the National Inventory of Dams (NID), to include sensitive fields of information not generally available to the public, was given to an unauthorized individual in January 2013 who was subsequently determined to not to have proper level of access for the information," Pierce said in a statement.</p>
<p>"[U.S. Army Corps of Engineers] immediately revoked this user's access to the database upon learning that the individual was not, in fact, authorized full access to the NID," he said.</p>
<p>The Corps is continuing to bolster and review security protocols governing access to the database, he added.</p>
<p>The Corps’ dam database portal recently added a statement that said "usernames and passwords have changed to be compliant with recent security policy changes." The changes were initiated after the hacking incident.</p>
<p>The database categorizes U.S. dams by the number of people that would be killed if a dam fails. They include "significant" and "high" hazard levels.</p>
<p>Michelle Van Cleave, the former National Counterintelligence Executive, a senior counterintelligence policymaker, said the database compromise highlights the danger posed by hackers who are targeting critical U.S. infrastructure for future attacks.</p>
<p>"In the wrong hands, the Army Corps of Engineers’ database could be a cyber attack roadmap for a hostile state or terrorist group to disrupt power grids or target dams in this country," Van Cleave said in an email.</p>
<p>"You may ask yourself, why would anyone want to do that? You could ask the same question about why anyone would plant IEDs at the Boston Marathon."</p>
<p>Van Cleave said the intrusion appears to be part of an effort to collect "vulnerability and targeting data" for future cyber or military attacks.</p>
<p>"Alarm bells should be going off because we have next to no national security emergency preparedness planning in place to deal with contingencies like that," she said.</p>
<p>Gen. Keith Alexander, commander of the U.S. Cyber Command, warned in a 2011 speech that cyber attacks were escalating from causing disruptions to actual destructive strikes, including cyber attacks on hydroelectric dams.</p>
<p>Alexander provided what he said were indirect examples of two types of anticipated cyber attacks. The first was a cyber strike that could produce a cascading power failure like the August 2003 electrical power outage in the Northeast United States caused by a tree falling on a high-voltage power line</p>
<p>The second involved the catastrophic destruction of a water-driven electrical generator at Russia’s Sayano-Shushenskaya dam, near the far eastern city of Cheremushki, in August 2009. One of the dam’s 10 650-megawatt hydro turbine generators, weighing more than 1,000 tons, was mistakenly started by a computer operator 500 miles away.</p>
<p>As a result, the generator began spinning, rose 50 feet in the air, and exploded, killing 75 people and destroying eight of the remaining nine turbines at the dam.</p>
<p>"That’s our concern about what’s coming in cyberspace—a destructive element," said Alexander in the September 2011 speech on cyberwarfare. He is also the director of the National Security Agency, the electronic spying agency.</p>
<p>According to the Corps <a href="http://geo.usace.army.mil/pgis/f?p=397:1:0" type="external">website</a>, the dam inventory was created under a 1972 law and was updated in 1986 to require coordination between the Corps and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.</p>
<p>In 2002 and 2006 the law was updated further in recognition that dams are part of critical U.S. infrastructure and require protection.</p>
<p>Security analysts have said that critical infrastructure—electrical power grids, financial networks, transportation controls, and industrial control systems—are increasingly vulnerable to cyber attack because of computer networks used to run them.</p>
<p>The security lapse highlights the Obama administration’s failure to upgrade cyber security and protect infrastructure despite a recent executive order seeking to improve security.</p>
<p>The dam database compromise also comes amid plans by the administration to expand hydroelectric power in the Untied States, which is considered a "green" renewable energy source, by 15 percent through upgrading dams.</p>
<p>The Energy Department said in a recent report that upgrading dams could produce 12 gigawatts of electricity without carbon emissions, Bloomberg <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-17/hydroelectric-power-seen-expanding-15-from-upgrading-u-s-dams.html" type="external">reported</a> recently.</p>
<p>Energy officials analyzed 54,391 dams out of more than 80,000 dams that lack hydroelectric generators. Currently, some 2,500 dams produce hydroelectric power.</p>
<p>Increasing hydroelectric power would "help diversify our energy mix, create jobs and reduce carbon pollution nationwide," Energy Secretary Steven Chu said in a statement.</p>
<p>President Barack Obama has set a goal of producing 80 percent of U.S. electrical power from so-called clean energy systems by 2035.</p>
<p>The Energy Department report said that adding generators to existing dams would be faster and less expensive than building new dams.</p>
<p>Hydropower made up six percent of total U.S. electricity produced in 2011. More than half of all hydroelectric power is produced in Washington, Oregon, and California.</p> | true | 0 | hoover dam ap bill gertz may 1 2013 500 us intelligence agencies traced recent cyber intrusion sensitive infrastructure database chinese government military cyber warriors according us officials compromise us army corps engineers national inventory dams nid raising new concerns china preparing conduct future cyber attack national electrical power grid including growing percentage electricity produced hydroelectric dams according officials familiar intelligence reports corps engineers national inventory dams hacked unauthorized user believed china beginning january uncovered earlier month database contains sensitive information vulnerabilities every major dam united states around 8100 major dams across waterways united states pete pierce corps engineers spokesman confirmed cyber incident declined provide details us army corps engineers aware access national inventory dams nid include sensitive fields information generally available public given unauthorized individual january 2013 subsequently determined proper level access information pierce said statement us army corps engineers immediately revoked users access database upon learning individual fact authorized full access nid said corps continuing bolster review security protocols governing access database added corps dam database portal recently added statement said usernames passwords changed compliant recent security policy changes changes initiated hacking incident database categorizes us dams number people would killed dam fails include significant high hazard levels michelle van cleave former national counterintelligence executive senior counterintelligence policymaker said database compromise highlights danger posed hackers targeting critical us infrastructure future attacks wrong hands army corps engineers database could cyber attack roadmap hostile state terrorist group disrupt power grids target dams country van cleave said email may ask would anyone want could ask question anyone would plant ieds boston marathon van cleave said intrusion appears part effort collect vulnerability targeting data future cyber military attacks alarm bells going next national security emergency preparedness planning place deal contingencies like said gen keith alexander commander us cyber command warned 2011 speech cyber attacks escalating causing disruptions actual destructive strikes including cyber attacks hydroelectric dams alexander provided said indirect examples two types anticipated cyber attacks first cyber strike could produce cascading power failure like august 2003 electrical power outage northeast united states caused tree falling highvoltage power line second involved catastrophic destruction waterdriven electrical generator russias sayanoshushenskaya dam near far eastern city cheremushki august 2009 one dams 10 650megawatt hydro turbine generators weighing 1000 tons mistakenly started computer operator 500 miles away result generator began spinning rose 50 feet air exploded killing 75 people destroying eight remaining nine turbines dam thats concern whats coming cyberspacea destructive element said alexander september 2011 speech cyberwarfare also director national security agency electronic spying agency according corps website dam inventory created 1972 law updated 1986 require coordination corps federal emergency management agency 2002 2006 law updated recognition dams part critical us infrastructure require protection security analysts said critical infrastructureelectrical power grids financial networks transportation controls industrial control systemsare increasingly vulnerable cyber attack computer networks used run security lapse highlights obama administrations failure upgrade cyber security protect infrastructure despite recent executive order seeking improve security dam database compromise also comes amid plans administration expand hydroelectric power untied states considered green renewable energy source 15 percent upgrading dams energy department said recent report upgrading dams could produce 12 gigawatts electricity without carbon emissions bloomberg reported recently energy officials analyzed 54391 dams 80000 dams lack hydroelectric generators currently 2500 dams produce hydroelectric power increasing hydroelectric power would help diversify energy mix create jobs reduce carbon pollution nationwide energy secretary steven chu said statement president barack obama set goal producing 80 percent us electrical power socalled clean energy systems 2035 energy department report said adding generators existing dams would faster less expensive building new dams hydropower made six percent total us electricity produced 2011 half hydroelectric power produced washington oregon california | 610 |
<p>The United States and Cuba restored full diplomatic relations Monday after more than five decades of frosty relations rooted in the Cold War.</p>
<p>The new era began with little fanfare when an agreement between the two nations to resume normal ties on July 20 came into force just after midnight Sunday and the diplomatic missions of each country were upgraded from interests sections to embassies. When clocks struck 12:00 in Washington and Havana, they tolled a knell for policy approaches spawned and hardened over the five decades since President John F. Kennedy first tangled with youthful revolutionary Fidel Castro over Soviet expansion in the Americas.</p>
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<p>Without ceremony in the pre-dawn hours, maintenance workers were to hang the Cuban flag in the lobby of the State Department alongside those of other nations with which the U.S. has diplomatic relations. The historic shift will be publicly memorialized later Monday when Cuban officials formally inaugurate their embassy in Washington and Cuba's blue, red and white-starred flag will fly for the first time since the countries severed ties in 1961. Secretary of State John Kerry will then meet his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodriguez, and address reporters at a joint news conference.</p>
<p>The U.S. Interests Section in Havana plans to announce its upgrade to embassy status in a written statement on Monday, but the Stars and Stripes will not fly at the mission until Kerry visits in August for a ceremonial flag-raising.</p>
<p>And yet, though normalization has taken center stage in the U.S.-Cuba relationship, there remains a deep ideological gulf between the nations and many issues still to resolve. Among them: thorny disputes such as over mutual claims for economic reparations, Havana's insistence on the end of the 53-year-old trade embargo and U.S. calls for Cuba to improve on human rights and democracy. Some U.S. lawmakers, including several prominent Republican presidential candidates, have vowed not to repeal the embargo and pledged to roll back Obama's moves on Cuba.</p>
<p>Still, Monday's events cap a remarkable change of course in U.S. policy toward the communist island under President Barack Obama, who had sought rapprochement with Cuba since he first took office and has progressively loosened restrictions on travel and remittances to the island.</p>
<p>Obama's efforts at engagement were frustrated for years by Cuba's imprisonment of U.S. Agency for International Development contractor Alan Gross on espionage charges. But months of secret negotiations led in December to Gross's release, along with a number of political prisoners in Cuba and the remaining members of a Cuban spy ring jailed in the United States. On Dec. 17, Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced they would resume full diplomatic relations.</p>
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<p>Declaring the longstanding policy a failure that had not achieved any of its intended results, Obama declared that the U.S. could not keep doing the same thing and expect a change. Thus, he said work would begin apace on normalization.</p>
<p>That process dragged on until the U.S. removed Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism in late May and then bogged down over issues of U.S. diplomats' access to ordinary Cubans.</p>
<p>On July 1, however, the issues were resolved and the U.S. and Cuba exchanged diplomatic notes agreeing that the date for the restoration of full relations would be July 20.</p>
<p>"It's a historic moment," said longtime Cuban diplomat and analyst Carlos Alzugaray.</p>
<p>"The significance of opening the embassies is that trust and respect that you can see, both sides treating the other with trust and respect," he said. "That doesn't mean there aren't going to be conflicts - there are bound to be conflicts - but the way that you treat the conflict has completely changed."</p>
<p>Cuba's ceremony at the stately 16th Street mansion in Washington that has been operating as an interests section under the auspices of the Swiss embassy will be attended by some 500 guests, including a 30-member delegation of diplomatic, cultural and other leaders from the Caribbean nation, headed by Foreign Minister Rodriguez.</p>
<p>The U.S. will be represented at the event by Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson, who led U.S. negotiators in six months of talks leading to the July 1 announcement, and Jeffrey DeLaurentis, the chief of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana who will now become charge d'affaires.</p>
<p>Although the Interests Section in Havana won't see the pomp and circumstance of a flag-raising on Monday, workers there have already drilled holes on the exterior to hang signage flown in from the U.S., and arranged to print new business cards and letterhead that say "Embassy" instead of "Interests Section." What for years was a lonely flagpole outside the glassy six-story edifice on Havana's seafront Malecon boulevard recently got a rehab, complete with a paved walkway.</p>
<p>Every day for the last week, employees have been hanging hand-lettered signs on the fence counting down, in Spanish, to Monday: "In 6 days we will become an embassy!" and so on.</p>
<p>Both interests sections have technically operated as part of Switzerland's embassies in Washington and Havana. The Swiss also were caretakers for the former American Embassy and ambassador's residence from 1961 to 1977, when the U.S. had no diplomatic presence in the country at all.</p>
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<p>Orsi reported from Havana.</p> | true | 0 | united states cuba restored full diplomatic relations monday five decades frosty relations rooted cold war new era began little fanfare agreement two nations resume normal ties july 20 came force midnight sunday diplomatic missions country upgraded interests sections embassies clocks struck 1200 washington havana tolled knell policy approaches spawned hardened five decades since president john f kennedy first tangled youthful revolutionary fidel castro soviet expansion americas continue reading without ceremony predawn hours maintenance workers hang cuban flag lobby state department alongside nations us diplomatic relations historic shift publicly memorialized later monday cuban officials formally inaugurate embassy washington cubas blue red whitestarred flag fly first time since countries severed ties 1961 secretary state john kerry meet cuban counterpart bruno rodriguez address reporters joint news conference us interests section havana plans announce upgrade embassy status written statement monday stars stripes fly mission kerry visits august ceremonial flagraising yet though normalization taken center stage uscuba relationship remains deep ideological gulf nations many issues still resolve among thorny disputes mutual claims economic reparations havanas insistence end 53yearold trade embargo us calls cuba improve human rights democracy us lawmakers including several prominent republican presidential candidates vowed repeal embargo pledged roll back obamas moves cuba still mondays events cap remarkable change course us policy toward communist island president barack obama sought rapprochement cuba since first took office progressively loosened restrictions travel remittances island obamas efforts engagement frustrated years cubas imprisonment us agency international development contractor alan gross espionage charges months secret negotiations led december grosss release along number political prisoners cuba remaining members cuban spy ring jailed united states dec 17 obama cuban president raul castro announced would resume full diplomatic relations advertisement declaring longstanding policy failure achieved intended results obama declared us could keep thing expect change thus said work would begin apace normalization process dragged us removed cuba list state sponsors terrorism late may bogged issues us diplomats access ordinary cubans july 1 however issues resolved us cuba exchanged diplomatic notes agreeing date restoration full relations would july 20 historic moment said longtime cuban diplomat analyst carlos alzugaray significance opening embassies trust respect see sides treating trust respect said doesnt mean arent going conflicts bound conflicts way treat conflict completely changed cubas ceremony stately 16th street mansion washington operating interests section auspices swiss embassy attended 500 guests including 30member delegation diplomatic cultural leaders caribbean nation headed foreign minister rodriguez us represented event assistant secretary state western hemisphere affairs roberta jacobson led us negotiators six months talks leading july 1 announcement jeffrey delaurentis chief us interests section havana become charge daffaires although interests section havana wont see pomp circumstance flagraising monday workers already drilled holes exterior hang signage flown us arranged print new business cards letterhead say embassy instead interests section years lonely flagpole outside glassy sixstory edifice havanas seafront malecon boulevard recently got rehab complete paved walkway every day last week employees hanging handlettered signs fence counting spanish monday 6 days become embassy interests sections technically operated part switzerlands embassies washington havana swiss also caretakers former american embassy ambassadors residence 1961 1977 us diplomatic presence country ___ orsi reported havana | 516 |
<p>Before you finally and officially retire, it's important to make sure you're ready for such a huge shift in your lifestyle and your finances. Much like a pilot will complete the tasks on a pre-flight checklist before the plane ever leaves the ground, you should read through and complete the tasks on your retirement checklist before deciding to leave the workforce forever.</p>
<p>Here are six things you must do before you make the leap.</p>
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<p>If you're going to buy <a href="http://www.fool.com/retirement/2017/03/02/do-you-need-long-term-care-insurance.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=56665e42-8449-11e7-8a90-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">long-term care insurance Opens a New Window.</a>, the best time to do so is in your 50s, not your 60s. Your premiums will be much lower if you buy the policy this early. Plus, by getting that decision out of the way so far in advance, you'll simplify the often chaotic pre-retirement years by resolving one of your critical decisions.</p>
<p>Because the majority of retirees <a href="http://www.fool.com/retirement/2017/05/09/69-of-americans-will-need-long-term-care-someday-h.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=56665e42-8449-11e7-8a90-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">will need long-term care Opens a New Window.</a> at some point, and the costs can easily run into the six-figure range, long-term care insurance is likely a good financial move. At least look at a few policies and consider how they'd fit into your retirement budget. If you decide to pass on long-term care insurance, you'll definitely need to come up with some other way to pay for long-term care.</p>
<p>Every retiree needs a bucket list -- a list of all the things you want to accomplish or experience before shuffling off this mortal coil. If you're not entirely sure how you want to spend your days as a retiree, a bucket list can point you in the right direction. For example, if half the items on your bucket list involve traveling to different countries, then you should figure out how you'll fit all that traveling into your schedule and your budget. If you already have a bucket list, take it out every few years, cross off anything you've accomplished, and add anything new that's occurred to you since the last review.</p>
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<p>Too many retirees start to feel aimless when they don't have work and other obligations to fill their time. Start thinking about how you'll find joy and purpose in your life in retirement -- and even consider <a href="https://www.fool.com/retirement/2017/02/21/3-reasons-to-work-during-retirement.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=56665e42-8449-11e7-8a90-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">continuing to work Opens a New Window.</a> at least part-time, because in addition to padding your income, it may have a number of physical and mental benefits.</p>
<p>It's best to start thinking about where you want to live during retirement a few years before you actually retire. You don't have to pick a specific house or apartment, but you should at least narrow your options down to one geographical area and one type of living situation (a house you own, a rental, a retirement community, a family member's home, a series of cruise ships, etc.).</p>
<p>Making these decisions well in advance gives you the opportunity to do some research and make some visits to the place you're considering. And if your dream destination turns out to be a big disappointment, you still have plenty of time to come up with a plan B.</p>
<p>OK, budgeting is boring. But it's still important to write up at least a basic retirement budget and compare it to the sources of income you'll have. If the numbers are way out of whack, you need to know this before you retire. For example, if you add up your anticipated expenses during retirement and reach a total of $4,000 per month, but your income -- including Social Security benefits, retirement savings accounts, and other <a href="http://www.fool.com/retirement/2017/05/30/7-great-sources-of-retirement-income.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=56665e42-8449-11e7-8a90-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">sources of income Opens a New Window.</a>&#160;-- will only come to $3,000 per month, then you need to either cut some expenses or find additional sources of income. It'll be a whole lot easier to make those kinds of corrections a year or two in advance than it would be after you retire.</p>
<p>The age at which you <a href="http://www.fool.com/retirement/2017/04/08/is-it-smarter-to-claim-social-security-at-62-or-70.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=56665e42-8449-11e7-8a90-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">claim your Social Security benefits Opens a New Window.</a> will have a significant impact on how much money you end up getting each month. Claim early, and your benefits will be permanently reduced. Claim late, and you'll get "delayed retirement credits" that can give a nice boost to your benefits checks. Claim at your " <a href="https://www.fool.com/retirement/2016/12/04/what-is-your-social-security-retirement-age.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=56665e42-8449-11e7-8a90-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">full retirement age</a>," and you'll get exactly the amount specified on your Social Security statement.</p>
<p>If you're within a year of your planned retirement date, you've probably already thought through when you want to claim Social Security -- but until you know the actual amount of your benefits checks, this decision is at least partly theoretical. And because Social Security benefits are based on your earnings, you won't know how much you'll get until you're fairly close to retirement. That's why one year before retirement is a great time to look at your Social Security statement, do the math on claiming early versus late, and work those numbers into the budget you created in the previous step.</p>
<p>Missing your <a href="http://www.fool.com/retirement/2017/08/17/4-important-decisions-to-make-before-enrolling-i-2.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=56665e42-8449-11e7-8a90-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">initial Medicare enrollment period Opens a New Window.</a> can create a host of problems, so by the time you turn 65 it's important to know what you're going to do about Medicare. And many of the initial enrollment decisions are irrevocable -- or at least very messy to fix. For example, if you decide to get a <a href="http://www.fool.com/retirement/2017/06/12/medicare-advantage-vs-medigap-which-is-the-best-ch.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=56665e42-8449-11e7-8a90-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Medicare Advantage plan Opens a New Window.</a> but later want to switch to <a href="http://www.fool.com/retirement/2017/02/12/should-you-get-a-medigap-plan.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=56665e42-8449-11e7-8a90-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Medigap Opens a New Window.</a>, you might find it impossible: Medigap providers are required to let you enroll during your initial enrollment period, but after that they can decline you for a variety of reasons, including pre-existing conditions.</p>
<p>At least three months before your initial enrollment period begins, look at the Medicare plans available in your area and compare Medicare Advantage with original Medicare plus Medigap to see which is a better fit for your needs. Pick out two or three plans that you like and rank them in order of which you prefer. Then, when your initial enrollment period begins, go back to the list of plans in your area and look at them again. Confirm that you really want to get the plan you picked during your first round, and if not, pick out a different option. Starting the decision-making process early gives you plenty of time to double-check yourself, think up alternatives, and generally be as sure as possible that you're making the best decision for your future.</p>
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<p>The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;uuid=56665e42-8449-11e7-8a90-0050569d4be0&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | finally officially retire important make sure youre ready huge shift lifestyle finances much like pilot complete tasks preflight checklist plane ever leaves ground read complete tasks retirement checklist deciding leave workforce forever six things must make leap continue reading youre going buy longterm care insurance opens new window best time 50s 60s premiums much lower buy policy early plus getting decision way far advance youll simplify often chaotic preretirement years resolving one critical decisions majority retirees need longterm care opens new window point costs easily run sixfigure range longterm care insurance likely good financial move least look policies consider theyd fit retirement budget decide pass longterm care insurance youll definitely need come way pay longterm care every retiree needs bucket list list things want accomplish experience shuffling mortal coil youre entirely sure want spend days retiree bucket list point right direction example half items bucket list involve traveling different countries figure youll fit traveling schedule budget already bucket list take every years cross anything youve accomplished add anything new thats occurred since last review advertisement many retirees start feel aimless dont work obligations fill time start thinking youll find joy purpose life retirement even consider continuing work opens new window least parttime addition padding income may number physical mental benefits best start thinking want live retirement years actually retire dont pick specific house apartment least narrow options one geographical area one type living situation house rental retirement community family members home series cruise ships etc making decisions well advance gives opportunity research make visits place youre considering dream destination turns big disappointment still plenty time come plan b ok budgeting boring still important write least basic retirement budget compare sources income youll numbers way whack need know retire example add anticipated expenses retirement reach total 4000 per month income including social security benefits retirement savings accounts sources income opens new window160 come 3000 per month need either cut expenses find additional sources income itll whole lot easier make kinds corrections year two advance would retire age claim social security benefits opens new window significant impact much money end getting month claim early benefits permanently reduced claim late youll get delayed retirement credits give nice boost benefits checks claim full retirement age youll get exactly amount specified social security statement youre within year planned retirement date youve probably already thought want claim social security know actual amount benefits checks decision least partly theoretical social security benefits based earnings wont know much youll get youre fairly close retirement thats one year retirement great time look social security statement math claiming early versus late work numbers budget created previous step missing initial medicare enrollment period opens new window create host problems time turn 65 important know youre going medicare many initial enrollment decisions irrevocable least messy fix example decide get medicare advantage plan opens new window later want switch medigap opens new window might find impossible medigap providers required let enroll initial enrollment period decline variety reasons including preexisting conditions least three months initial enrollment period begins look medicare plans available area compare medicare advantage original medicare plus medigap see better fit needs pick two three plans like rank order prefer initial enrollment period begins go back list plans area look confirm really want get plan picked first round pick different option starting decisionmaking process early gives plenty time doublecheck think alternatives generally sure possible youre making best decision future 16122 social security bonus retirees completely overlook youre like americans youre years behind retirement savings handful littleknown social security secrets could help ensure boost retirement income example one easy trick could pay much 16122 year learn maximize social security benefits think could retire confidently peace mind after160 simply click discover learn strategies opens new window motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 629 |
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<p>Image source: Johnson Controls corporate website</p>
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<p>Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) reported earnings this week. How did the company fare in the second quarter? Growing diluted earnings per share 18% year over year, the company appears to have had a successful quarter. But let's dig in further and see what it all means in the long term.Building on building efficiencyThe second largest operating segment by net revenue, building efficiency will become the largest when the automotive interiors business spinoff is complete. It's important, therefore, to keep a close watch on the segment, for it will be a large part of the company's new identity. On the Q1 conference call, management warned that difficulty securing federal jobs and weakness in China and the Middle East could impede second quarter growth, resulting in sales growth between 4.5% to 5.5%. Actually, the company reported weakness in Europe and Latin America during the quarter, but it was just a blip on the radar -- the segment's net revenue increased by a whopping 33%. Systems and service contributed largely to the growth: Orders in North America increased by 7% and Asia grew by 9%.The top line was only one of several bright spots for the segment. Growing 2%, the backlog now stands at $4.7 billion -- important since it reported no growth during the first quarter. Segment margin also reported growth, improving by 50 basis points. The increase in sales plus the margin expansion contributed to segment income climbing an impressive 42% (43% if you exclude foreign exchange) year over year.Staying powerPlaying second fiddle to building efficiency, the power solutions segment reported Q2 net revenue level with that from the same period last year.</p>
<p>Image source: Johnson Controls Corporate website.</p>
<p>Although the company reported higher volumes in the Americas and Asia, volumes in Europe declined. In fact, the company delivered a record 2.6 million batteries to China in the quarter -- a 60% increase year over year. The company reported 18% growth in global shipments for its AGM batteries -- located in stop-start vehicles. In an investor presentation last December, management noted that it is looking to increasing AGM sales to drive sales growth for the segment between 9% to 11% for FY 2016. In the same presentation, management forecast AGM sales -- an important piece to the long term plan for the segment -- more than doubling from 12.4 million in FY 2015 to 26.9 million in FY 2020.Also staying about level, segment margin rose 10 basis points year over year. Segment income was also level with the same period last year; excluding foreign exchange, though, it grew by 3%.M&amp;A updateIn addition to organic growth, Johnson Controls is counting on a joint venture with Hitachi, merger with Tyco International, and spin off of its automotive interiors business to help effect the company's transformation. Though it didn't release specific figures -- citing incremental revenues -- management noted that the joint venture with Hitachi seems to be moving in the right direction. According to Alex Molinaroli, Johnson Controls chairman, president, and CEO: "In Building Efficiency, the Johnson Controls-Hitachi joint venture is exceeding our expectations."Regarding Tyco, management maintained that the merger is expected to be completed by Oct. 1, and it followed suit with the automotive interiors spin off into the new entity, Adient. Details of Adient's financials have not been released, though management expects to file them in Form 10 with the SEC by the end of April. Confirming that separations costs of $400 million to $600 million for FY 2016 are in line with previous estimates, management expects the separation to be completed on October 31, 2016.</p>
<p>The takeawayAlthough overall revenue dropped 2% year over year, investors should shrug this off; the decline primarily stemmed from an 18% drop in net revenue for the automotive experience segment -- a segment that, presumably, will no longer exist by the end of the year. Excluding the segment, net revenue from what will be left, building efficiency and power solutions, grew by a combined 20% -- a reassuring sign for long-term investors.If investors weren't pleased enough with the company's Q2 performance, perhaps they will be with management's revised guidance for the year. Raising it from diluted EPS of $3.70 to $3.90, management is forecasting FY 2016 diluted EPS of $3.85 to $4.00.</p>
<p>The article <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/04/25/3-takeaways-from-johnson-controls-q2-earnings.aspx" type="external">3 Takeaways From Johnson Controls' Q2 Earnings Opens a New Window.</a> originally appeared on Fool.com.</p>
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<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/scott81236/info.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">Scott Levine Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of Johnson Controls,. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/help/index.htm?display=about02" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | image source johnson controls corporate website continue reading johnson controls nyse jci reported earnings week company fare second quarter growing diluted earnings per share 18 year year company appears successful quarter lets dig see means long termbuilding building efficiencythe second largest operating segment net revenue building efficiency become largest automotive interiors business spinoff complete important therefore keep close watch segment large part companys new identity q1 conference call management warned difficulty securing federal jobs weakness china middle east could impede second quarter growth resulting sales growth 45 55 actually company reported weakness europe latin america quarter blip radar segments net revenue increased whopping 33 systems service contributed largely growth orders north america increased 7 asia grew 9the top line one several bright spots segment growing 2 backlog stands 47 billion important since reported growth first quarter segment margin also reported growth improving 50 basis points increase sales plus margin expansion contributed segment income climbing impressive 42 43 exclude foreign exchange year yearstaying powerplaying second fiddle building efficiency power solutions segment reported q2 net revenue level period last year image source johnson controls corporate website although company reported higher volumes americas asia volumes europe declined fact company delivered record 26 million batteries china quarter 60 increase year year company reported 18 growth global shipments agm batteries located stopstart vehicles investor presentation last december management noted looking increasing agm sales drive sales growth segment 9 11 fy 2016 presentation management forecast agm sales important piece long term plan segment doubling 124 million fy 2015 269 million fy 2020also staying level segment margin rose 10 basis points year year segment income also level period last year excluding foreign exchange though grew 3mampa updatein addition organic growth johnson controls counting joint venture hitachi merger tyco international spin automotive interiors business help effect companys transformation though didnt release specific figures citing incremental revenues management noted joint venture hitachi seems moving right direction according alex molinaroli johnson controls chairman president ceo building efficiency johnson controlshitachi joint venture exceeding expectationsregarding tyco management maintained merger expected completed oct 1 followed suit automotive interiors spin new entity adient details adients financials released though management expects file form 10 sec end april confirming separations costs 400 million 600 million fy 2016 line previous estimates management expects separation completed october 31 2016 takeawayalthough overall revenue dropped 2 year year investors shrug decline primarily stemmed 18 drop net revenue automotive experience segment segment presumably longer exist end year excluding segment net revenue left building efficiency power solutions grew combined 20 reassuring sign longterm investorsif investors werent pleased enough companys q2 performance perhaps managements revised guidance year raising diluted eps 370 390 management forecasting fy 2016 diluted eps 385 400 article 3 takeaways johnson controls q2 earnings opens new window originally appeared foolcom advertisement scott levine opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool owns shares johnson controls try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window copyright 1995 2016 motley fool llc rights reserved motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 523 |
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<p>One thing that my parents tried to convey was the distinguishing between buying something cheap and getting a bargain. It sounds the same, but there is a subtle difference. Something that is cheap is probably some piece of junk that you will regret buying, whereas something selling for a bargain is something of quality that you can get utility from for years to come. The same applies to stocks. There are tons of cheap stocks out there, but most of them inevitably turn into regrets and a lesson learned. Getting a quality stock you can hang on to for decades selling at a decent valuation, that's a bargain.</p>
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<p>If you are looking to add a quality stock at a price you can be proud you paid, then three companies you may want to look at now are railcar manufacturer The Greenbrier Companies (NYSE: GBX), telecom giant Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), and grocery behemoth The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR). Here's a look at why investors can get a great bang for their buck with these stocks today.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>Let's start with the long-term thesis for anything related to the rail industry. Until we can invent Star Trek-type technologies like teleporters or replicators, we will need to transport goods. With that in mind, rail is hands down the most cost effective means to move goods over long distances. In many cases, moving goods via rail is pennies on the dollar cheaper than via truck or via planes on a per ton-mile basis. So we need rail and the railcars to hold material. This is where The Greenbrier Companies comes in, and the company's stock sells for a very cheap valuation right now.</p>
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<p>The past couple years have been less than ideal for the rail car industry. Declining use of coal and the recent oil price crash meant demand for hoppers to move coal and frack sand almost disappeared. The company has responded, though, by cutting operational costs. Even after some sharp declines in revenue recently, the company was able to improve gross margins and maintain a 16% return on equity despite the market headwinds.</p>
<p>The good news is that one of these markets -- frack sand -- is on the mend, so we can reasonably expect some better results from its wheels &amp; parts and leasing &amp; services segment. Also, Greenbrier recently announced a partnership with a Japanese railcar manufacturer for a multi-year purchase agreement that lasts through 2023.</p>
<p>So the market for this business is improving, the company has drastically improved its operations and balance sheet in recent years, and some longer term catalysts suggest the company is in the midst of an upswing in this cyclical industry. With Greenbrier's stock trading at a modest 4.0 times EBITDA, this seems like a very good time to look at adding Greenbrier to one's portfolio.</p>
<p>If you were to follow financial media as of late, the one thing that Verizon Communications is doing right now is coming up with crappy new names for its media branch. I think we can all agree that Oath -- the name Verizon has settled on for its media arm that mostly entails Yahoo and AOL -- is both a dumb name and probably a waste of corporate time and money. Also, AOL and Yahoo haven't exactly been the best-performing media companies, so there is a real possibility that Oath will be a flop for Verizon.</p>
<p>Here's the thing, though. With Verizon's core business of wireless communications, it can afford to take a few risky swings from time to time.</p>
<p>Providing wireless phone and data service to customers with subscription contracts is probably the closest thing possible to a regulated utility without actually being regulated. There are only four major players in the U.S., but Verizon and AT&amp;T are head and shoulders above the other two. Also, wireless subscriptions are a pretty sticky business. In 2016, Verizon's churn rate -- total customer turnover -- was only 1.26%. That means that clients who sign up tend to stick around and pay those monthly bills.</p>
<p>It takes a lot of capital spending to maintain and improve Verizon's network infrastructure, particularly as it is making some massive investments in the shift to 5G data. Verizon expects to test 5G in 11 cities in 2017and will do a full roll-out in the early 2020s. Not only does the company's current subscription base more than support these investments with operational cash flow, but increased data usage in the coming years means that those investments will be well worth it.</p>
<p>For investors thinking on a shorter time scale, Oath blowing up in Verizon's face is enough reason to push shares down to an enterprise value to EBITDA ratio of 5.3 times and a dividend yield of 4.7%, the underlying business at Verizon is strong enough to take a few risks like Oath and still churn out plenty of cash to reward shareholders.</p>
<p>It's hard to argue that there is a better grocery store operator than Kroger. There are the simple operating metrics one can point to that show this. Kroger's asset turnover rate -- total sales divided by total assets, a measure of how efficiently it is stocking its stores and managing its inventory -- is 3.16 times. Compare that to Whole Foods Market or Sprouts Farmers Market -- 2.48 times and 2.81 times, respectively -- and you get an idea of how Kroger can do the behind-the-scenesthings better than others.</p>
<p>At the same time, the business of selling groceries is changing fast. Between e-commerce retailers such as Amazon finding ways to deliver things like groceries quickly and meal delivery services like Blue Apron changing the meal preparation game, Kroger and traditional grocers face a real challenge of getting shoppers in the door and to fill their carts.</p>
<p>Kroger is taking on this challenge with a multi-faceted attack. One way is to improve the in-store experience, as evidenced by its recent acquisition of specialty food purveyor Murray's Cheese. Kroger's successful store-within-a-store partnership with Murray's has helped to boost specialty and organic sales, so the company wants to roll the idea out across more of its stores. Another approach is through its online ordering platform ClickList. This service allows shoppers to order online and either pick up in store or have the items delivered to their homes, essentially turning Kroger's existing locations into fulfillment centers. While we can't say for certain if these initiatives will stave off these new competitors, Kroger's strong customer loyalty and its best in class operations suggest it has a good shot.</p>
<p>Groceries isn't the fastest growing business, but Kroger's high rates of return and propensity to reward shareholders with a growing dividend and share buybacks suggest that the company's stock valuation of 6.9 times EBITDA is a bargain that any price conscious shopper can appreciate.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than Verizon CommunicationsWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=3612b37b-0597-4951-9567-10aadf355aee&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and Verizon Communications wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
<p><a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=3612b37b-0597-4951-9567-10aadf355aee&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Click here Opens a New Window.</a> to learn about these picks!</p>
<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of April 3, 2017</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFDirtyBird/info.aspx" type="external">Tyler Crowe Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of Kroger and Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool recommends The Greenbrier Companies. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | one thing parents tried convey distinguishing buying something cheap getting bargain sounds subtle difference something cheap probably piece junk regret buying whereas something selling bargain something quality get utility years come applies stocks tons cheap stocks inevitably turn regrets lesson learned getting quality stock hang decades selling decent valuation thats bargain continue reading looking add quality stock price proud paid three companies may want look railcar manufacturer greenbrier companies nyse gbx telecom giant verizon communications nyse vz grocery behemoth kroger co nyse kr heres look investors get great bang buck stocks today image source getty images lets start longterm thesis anything related rail industry invent star trektype technologies like teleporters replicators need transport goods mind rail hands cost effective means move goods long distances many cases moving goods via rail pennies dollar cheaper via truck via planes per tonmile basis need rail railcars hold material greenbrier companies comes companys stock sells cheap valuation right advertisement past couple years less ideal rail car industry declining use coal recent oil price crash meant demand hoppers move coal frack sand almost disappeared company responded though cutting operational costs even sharp declines revenue recently company able improve gross margins maintain 16 return equity despite market headwinds good news one markets frack sand mend reasonably expect better results wheels amp parts leasing amp services segment also greenbrier recently announced partnership japanese railcar manufacturer multiyear purchase agreement lasts 2023 market business improving company drastically improved operations balance sheet recent years longer term catalysts suggest company midst upswing cyclical industry greenbriers stock trading modest 40 times ebitda seems like good time look adding greenbrier ones portfolio follow financial media late one thing verizon communications right coming crappy new names media branch think agree oath name verizon settled media arm mostly entails yahoo aol dumb name probably waste corporate time money also aol yahoo havent exactly bestperforming media companies real possibility oath flop verizon heres thing though verizons core business wireless communications afford take risky swings time time providing wireless phone data service customers subscription contracts probably closest thing possible regulated utility without actually regulated four major players us verizon atampt head shoulders two also wireless subscriptions pretty sticky business 2016 verizons churn rate total customer turnover 126 means clients sign tend stick around pay monthly bills takes lot capital spending maintain improve verizons network infrastructure particularly making massive investments shift 5g data verizon expects test 5g 11 cities 2017and full rollout early 2020s companys current subscription base support investments operational cash flow increased data usage coming years means investments well worth investors thinking shorter time scale oath blowing verizons face enough reason push shares enterprise value ebitda ratio 53 times dividend yield 47 underlying business verizon strong enough take risks like oath still churn plenty cash reward shareholders hard argue better grocery store operator kroger simple operating metrics one point show krogers asset turnover rate total sales divided total assets measure efficiently stocking stores managing inventory 316 times compare whole foods market sprouts farmers market 248 times 281 times respectively get idea kroger behindthescenesthings better others time business selling groceries changing fast ecommerce retailers amazon finding ways deliver things like groceries quickly meal delivery services like blue apron changing meal preparation game kroger traditional grocers face real challenge getting shoppers door fill carts kroger taking challenge multifaceted attack one way improve instore experience evidenced recent acquisition specialty food purveyor murrays cheese krogers successful storewithinastore partnership murrays helped boost specialty organic sales company wants roll idea across stores another approach online ordering platform clicklist service allows shoppers order online either pick store items delivered homes essentially turning krogers existing locations fulfillment centers cant say certain initiatives stave new competitors krogers strong customer loyalty best class operations suggest good shot groceries isnt fastest growing business krogers high rates return propensity reward shareholders growing dividend share buybacks suggest companys stock valuation 69 times ebitda bargain price conscious shopper appreciate 10 stocks like better verizon communicationswhen investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right verizon communications wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns april 3 2017 tyler crowe opens new window owns shares kroger verizon communications motley fool owns shares recommends verizon communications motley fool recommends greenbrier companies motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 739 |
<p>Movements that&#160;“are consistent with deliberate action by someone on the plane.” Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" />Two so-called ‘innocent’ Iranians fly to Malaysia but NOT from Iran. They go from Tehran to Qatar where they purchase two passports that were stolen in Thailand, bought through a Thai travel agent and an Iranian middleman, that takes them to Malaysia to get a flight to Beijing then on to Amsterdam with the final destination being Germany. Two passports…one an Italian passport used by Delavar Seyed Mohammadreza, 29…the other an Austrian passport used by Pouria Nour Mohammad Mehrdad, 18…who then fly from Qatar to Kuala Lumpur, where they board Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. And why Germany…the younger Iranian ‘supposedly’ has a mother in Germany who claims her son was on his way to Germany to seek asylum…guess the new route to European asylum is through China. But the question is why NOT travel a direct route from Iran to Germany with a valid passport which can easily be booked online for about $1000 instead of dealing with stolen passports?</p>
<p>Why indeed even as Interpol Chief <a href="" type="internal">Ronald Noble</a> said it’s believed the two are NOTHING but illegal immigrants who went through Kuala Lumpur to reach Europe, and are“probably not terrorists.”&#160;</p>
<p>Probably nots do NOT cut it in today’s post 9/11 world…period.</p>
<p>And NO mention has been made or attention focused on the Chinese Uighur muslim man with flight simulation training…flight simulation training just like some of the hijackers of 9/11 infamy had. Instead attention is being focused on the pilot and co-pilot as the plane’s disappearance has now been ruled by Malaysian government officials to be a deliberate, criminal act, and NO accident.</p>
<p>But with NO reports or evidence linking either the pilot or the co-pilot to any wrongdoing, isn’t it odd that time is being wasted on this wild goose chase for why NOT stay focused on the two Iranians and the Chinese Uighur muslim? I’ll tell you why…first, as to the Iranians, any attention focused on Iran could jeopardize the kumbaya warm fuzzies the Obama administration is embracing after the Geneva Accords to help paint Iran as a nation wanting to join the world community by stopping their quest for nuclear weapons. And we know that has as much truth to it as all Obama’s birth certificates combined do. Second, China has become a world player in the trade markets…in the jobs market…in the money lending market…and we and other nations are so much in debt to them that we cannot afford to point fingers at them as they have us and the others under its promissory ‘note due’ thumb.</p>
<p>But these are the very nations that need to be under scrutiny as isn’t it odd that now the search perimeter has been expanded all the way to the so-called ‘stan countries’ including Pakistan and to Iran as well. A search perimeter that encompasses large areas of the muslim world…as in most of the countries that support or gave birth to terrorism. And with terror analysts saying that Malaysia is home to people who are operatives of militant islamic groups, isn’t it odd that Malaysia (to date) has NOT been targeted in any terror attacks. But China has indeed been facing problems with its muslim population in its far west regions… muslims who complain to any and all who will listen about their perceived Chinese repression of their religious rights. And tying these two countries together is the fact that since 2011, Malaysia has deported at least 17 muslims…probably more…who were using fake passports to travel back and forth to China.</p>
<p>And what of the plane itself…based on pings to satellites and unconfirmed reports of radar hits, the plane apparently flew between known flight paths on its way to Europe or the Middle East. This seems to hold true based on a 2:15 am report of a radar hit of a plane to the west instead of north of Malaysia over the strait. The plane was unidentified, but with all other planes accounted for what else but Flight 370 could this be? And if this was indeed the plane it would have to come down eventually somewhere…but where?</p>
<p>The first scenario as to where sends chills up one’s spine. Fact…this jet needs 3,600 feet to land and many airports in both friendly and unfriendly countries have runways of this length, but 5000+ feet is needed for takeoff. If this plane was hijacked, as most experts and Malaysian government officials now agree that it has been, it obviously was done for some very nefarious purpose…and with Iranians on board it must be remembered that there is NOTHING more nefarious than Iran’s plans for Israel. So did this jet after being secured by hijackers land in and be welcomed by some terror supporting country for retrofitted with a WMD to be dropped over Israel? Could be, but if so searchers need to focus their attention on airports that have suddenly added length to their takeoff runways.</p>
<p>The second scenario is that even if the plane was indeed hijacked that does NOT mean it made it to its intended destination…therefore it could have gone down over water. And over water there is very little radar coverage, meaning if the plane was flying at a low level with radars NOT being able to see over the horizon beyond 25 miles, and with NO one searching flying the sort of airborne AWACS radar planes that could spot low flying targets, the plane could very well fly unnoticed until it crashed, again unnoticed, into the sea.</p>
<p>So Flight 370 either crashed into the water, crashed somewhere on land, or landed someplace nobody suspects or is looking for as mentioned above.</p>
<p>And while some say that if this was hijacking of the terrorist kind why hasn’t credit been taken? That is quite simple to answer… terrorists… jihadis…take claim only after a successful event has occurred NOT before and NEVER while an act is in progress.</p>
<p>So as the mystery of Malaysian Flight 370 continues unanswered I still say let’s look at the possibility…as per LOST…that a time continuum was crossed over as right now that is as good a possibility as anything else we have.</p>
<p>Diane Sori is the Editor of <a href="http://thepatriotfactor.blogspot.com/2014/03/op-ed-why-dont-we-just-ask-nsa-where.html" type="external">The Patriot Factor</a>.</p>
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<p /> | true | 0 | movements that160are consistent deliberate action someone plane malaysian prime minister najib razak two socalled innocent iranians fly malaysia iran go tehran qatar purchase two passports stolen thailand bought thai travel agent iranian middleman takes malaysia get flight beijing amsterdam final destination germany two passportsone italian passport used delavar seyed mohammadreza 29the austrian passport used pouria nour mohammad mehrdad 18who fly qatar kuala lumpur board malaysia airlines flight 370 germanythe younger iranian supposedly mother germany claims son way germany seek asylumguess new route european asylum china question travel direct route iran germany valid passport easily booked online 1000 instead dealing stolen passports indeed even interpol chief ronald noble said believed two nothing illegal immigrants went kuala lumpur reach europe areprobably terrorists160 probably nots cut todays post 911 worldperiod mention made attention focused chinese uighur muslim man flight simulation trainingflight simulation training like hijackers 911 infamy instead attention focused pilot copilot planes disappearance ruled malaysian government officials deliberate criminal act accident reports evidence linking either pilot copilot wrongdoing isnt odd time wasted wild goose chase stay focused two iranians chinese uighur muslim ill tell whyfirst iranians attention focused iran could jeopardize kumbaya warm fuzzies obama administration embracing geneva accords help paint iran nation wanting join world community stopping quest nuclear weapons know much truth obamas birth certificates combined second china become world player trade marketsin jobs marketin money lending marketand nations much debt afford point fingers us others promissory note due thumb nations need scrutiny isnt odd search perimeter expanded way socalled stan countries including pakistan iran well search perimeter encompasses large areas muslim worldas countries support gave birth terrorism terror analysts saying malaysia home people operatives militant islamic groups isnt odd malaysia date targeted terror attacks china indeed facing problems muslim population far west regions muslims complain listen perceived chinese repression religious rights tying two countries together fact since 2011 malaysia deported least 17 muslimsprobably morewho using fake passports travel back forth china plane itselfbased pings satellites unconfirmed reports radar hits plane apparently flew known flight paths way europe middle east seems hold true based 215 report radar hit plane west instead north malaysia strait plane unidentified planes accounted else flight 370 could indeed plane would come eventually somewherebut first scenario sends chills ones spine factthis jet needs 3600 feet land many airports friendly unfriendly countries runways length 5000 feet needed takeoff plane hijacked experts malaysian government officials agree obviously done nefarious purposeand iranians board must remembered nothing nefarious irans plans israel jet secured hijackers land welcomed terror supporting country retrofitted wmd dropped israel could searchers need focus attention airports suddenly added length takeoff runways second scenario even plane indeed hijacked mean made intended destinationtherefore could gone water water little radar coverage meaning plane flying low level radars able see horizon beyond 25 miles one searching flying sort airborne awacs radar planes could spot low flying targets plane could well fly unnoticed crashed unnoticed sea flight 370 either crashed water crashed somewhere land landed someplace nobody suspects looking mentioned say hijacking terrorist kind hasnt credit taken quite simple answer terrorists jihadistake claim successful event occurred never act progress mystery malaysian flight 370 continues unanswered still say lets look possibilityas per lostthat time continuum crossed right good possibility anything else diane sori editor patriot factor | 543 |
<p>Dividend stocks yielding more than 3% are coveted among income investors. Why? Well, for starters, that easily beats the current 1.8% yield of the S&amp;P 500. And although higher yields are often a hallmark of higher risk, there's a sweet spot of dividend stocks yielding between about 2% and 5% that are among the most stable and mature businesses you can invest in.</p>
<p>If above-average dividend yields and stable payouts sound good to you, then you should consider taking a closer look at French energy giant Total SA (NYSE: TOT), North American pipeline leader Kinder Morgan (NYSE: KMI), and dividend champion ONEOK (NYSE: OKE). Here's why they're three dividend stocks to buy right now.</p>
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<p>Total is one of the largest producers of crude oil and natural gas in the world, but it's definitely tuned in to the possibility that fossil fuel consumption may soon peak. Coal is expected to be among the first casualties thanks to shifting demands in global electricity markets, while almost every supermajor concedes that crude oil consumption could peak in the next decade or two as electric vehicles encroach on the turf of the internal combustion engine. Natural gas may prove stickier, but also figures to play a central role in meeting climate goals.</p>
<p>The company is preparing by building profitable renewable energy companies (solar energy, energy storage, and the like) and investing generously in technologies that require more long-term thinking (next-gen biotech platforms for creating jet fuel).</p>
<p>Total is also betting big on the largest opportunity in natural gas: the quickly growing <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/03/18/5-things-royal-dutch-shell-wants-you-to-know-about.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=b1a8359d-2305-4538-a60e-10694f40e197&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">global market for liquefied natural gas (LNG) Opens a New Window.</a>. The company will be the second-largest LNG trader in the world by 2020. That alone is expected to generate $3 billion in operating cash flow per year.</p>
<p>Of course, while focusing on the future should be important for investors, it's not as if Total wields a lackluster portfolio in more traditional energy markets -- by far its bread and butter now and for years to come. Good stewardship of shareholder capital and a focus on safe and efficient operations over the years resulted in a <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/02/08/total-sa-records-a-blowout-quarter-and-initiates-s.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=b1a8359d-2305-4538-a60e-10694f40e197&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">solid 2017 Opens a New Window.</a>. It generated copious amounts of cash, sported the lowest debt-to-capital ratio of the supermajors, and pledged to increase its dividend 10% by 2020 while repurchasing $5 billion in shares.</p>
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<p>Considering the current dividend yield is 5.1%, investors could feel almost spoiled over the next three years if dividends rise further.</p>
<p>Kinder Morgan is a large and mature business, but the stock hasn't exactly been a poster child of stability in recent years. That's because the company's structure dictates that it maintain a relatively high level of debt, which got it into trouble when energy prices collapsed a few years ago. The fee-based business has proved resilient, although management was forced to redirect cash flow from the dividend to debt repayments.</p>
<p>In 2018, investors are looking to reap the rewards from difficult decisions made in the last three years. Compared to 2017, Kinder Morgan is increasing its per-share dividend 60% this year and 150% by 2020. In other words, the 3.2% yield is about to grow substantially, which makes it an <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/03/16/better-buy-enterprise-products-partners-lp-vs-kind.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=b1a8359d-2305-4538-a60e-10694f40e197&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">attractive energy stock and dividend stock Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>The massive dividend increase should be sustainable, too. Kinder Morgan is expecting to generate an additional $1.6 billion in earnings from growth projects coming online in the near future. Considering the company is the largest pipeline operator in North America -- which is <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/08/31/the-long-term-trend-that-makes-kinder-morgan-inc-a.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=b1a8359d-2305-4538-a60e-10694f40e197&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">nearing energy independence Opens a New Window.</a> -- fee-based businesses that serve as the conduit for major energy producing and exporting regions figure to be pretty solid investments for investors over the long term.</p>
<p>ONEOK is another pipeline company, but one that has taken a slightly different route than Kinder Morgan in recent years. It merged with its former <a href="https://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/what-is-a-master-limited-partnership.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=b1a8359d-2305-4538-a60e-10694f40e197&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">MLP Opens a New Window.</a> to save money, maintains a relatively high coverage ratio, and still manages to pay out a 5.2% dividend yield. While that's pretty impressive, <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/03/05/5-reasons-oneok-incs-management-team-thinks-its-54.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=b1a8359d-2305-4538-a60e-10694f40e197&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">management has plans Opens a New Window.</a> to increase the payout 9% to 11% annually through 2021 while maintaining a coverage ratio of at least 1.2.</p>
<p>ONEOK has multiple expansion projects coming online by early 2020 that bode well for its ability to deliver on its targets. Meanwhile, management seems to be considering the potential to expand on or around those projects beyond 2021, which could come at a more capital-efficient price tag than greenfield construction -- something that could greatly benefit shareholders.</p>
<p>So, although ONEOK has an aggressive plan in place to grow the business, increase the dividend, and continue deleveraging the balance sheet, it looks as if management is poised to deliver on its lofty goals.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than Kinder MorganWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-static%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=d6b1cb8d-0e54-4956-9a5e-15e4bde553db&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=b1a8359d-2305-4538-a60e-10694f40e197&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and Kinder Morgan wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
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<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of March 5, 2018</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFBlacknGold/info.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=b1a8359d-2305-4538-a60e-10694f40e197&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Maxx Chatsko Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Kinder Morgan and ONEOK. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;referring_guid=b1a8359d-2305-4538-a60e-10694f40e197&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | dividend stocks yielding 3 coveted among income investors well starters easily beats current 18 yield sampp 500 although higher yields often hallmark higher risk theres sweet spot dividend stocks yielding 2 5 among stable mature businesses invest aboveaverage dividend yields stable payouts sound good consider taking closer look french energy giant total sa nyse tot north american pipeline leader kinder morgan nyse kmi dividend champion oneok nyse oke heres theyre three dividend stocks buy right continue reading total one largest producers crude oil natural gas world definitely tuned possibility fossil fuel consumption may soon peak coal expected among first casualties thanks shifting demands global electricity markets almost every supermajor concedes crude oil consumption could peak next decade two electric vehicles encroach turf internal combustion engine natural gas may prove stickier also figures play central role meeting climate goals company preparing building profitable renewable energy companies solar energy energy storage like investing generously technologies require longterm thinking nextgen biotech platforms creating jet fuel total also betting big largest opportunity natural gas quickly growing global market liquefied natural gas lng opens new window company secondlargest lng trader world 2020 alone expected generate 3 billion operating cash flow per year course focusing future important investors total wields lackluster portfolio traditional energy markets far bread butter years come good stewardship shareholder capital focus safe efficient operations years resulted solid 2017 opens new window generated copious amounts cash sported lowest debttocapital ratio supermajors pledged increase dividend 10 2020 repurchasing 5 billion shares advertisement considering current dividend yield 51 investors could feel almost spoiled next three years dividends rise kinder morgan large mature business stock hasnt exactly poster child stability recent years thats companys structure dictates maintain relatively high level debt got trouble energy prices collapsed years ago feebased business proved resilient although management forced redirect cash flow dividend debt repayments 2018 investors looking reap rewards difficult decisions made last three years compared 2017 kinder morgan increasing pershare dividend 60 year 150 2020 words 32 yield grow substantially makes attractive energy stock dividend stock opens new window massive dividend increase sustainable kinder morgan expecting generate additional 16 billion earnings growth projects coming online near future considering company largest pipeline operator north america nearing energy independence opens new window feebased businesses serve conduit major energy producing exporting regions figure pretty solid investments investors long term oneok another pipeline company one taken slightly different route kinder morgan recent years merged former mlp opens new window save money maintains relatively high coverage ratio still manages pay 52 dividend yield thats pretty impressive management plans opens new window increase payout 9 11 annually 2021 maintaining coverage ratio least 12 oneok multiple expansion projects coming online early 2020 bode well ability deliver targets meanwhile management seems considering potential expand around projects beyond 2021 could come capitalefficient price tag greenfield construction something could greatly benefit shareholders although oneok aggressive plan place grow business increase dividend continue deleveraging balance sheet looks management poised deliver lofty goals 10 stocks like better kinder morganwhen investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right kinder morgan wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns march 5 2018 maxx chatsko opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool owns shares recommends kinder morgan oneok motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 577 |
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<p>Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) protests have broken out at dozens of stores across the country, but lost in the commotion is the reality of the work life at Wal-Mart -- and what the Bentonville, Arkansas mega retailer saw happen with unions at Hostess Brands, maker of Twinkies and Ding Dongs, now in bankruptcy liquidation.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>It would be a coup for the union movement to get "Big Labor" in the door at the nation's biggest retailer, which employs about as many people as are on active duty in the U.S. military. The union attacks have picked up in intensity as Wal-Mart has moved out of the non-union south to build stores in pro-union cities, such as in the northeast.</p>
<p>The Wal-Mart protests are timed for Black Friday, which Wal-Mart calls the “super bowl of shopping;” but they’ve mostly been a non-event.</p>
<p>Wal-Mart U.S Chief executive Bill Simon said in a statement: "Only 26 protests occurred at stores last night and many of them did not include any Wal-Mart associates,” adding, “We estimate that less than 50 associates participated in the protest nationwide ... about the same number of associates [who] missed their scheduled shift as last year.”</p>
<p>Here’s the reality. The facts are, many workers come looking for jobs at Wal-Mart from heavily unionized grocery stores and supermarkets, where they get paid much less in the way of benefits, and where labor infractions and on-the-job injuries are significant. Wal-Mart has said about a third of the company's hires come from other grocers or places like McDonald's (NYSE:MCD), in search of better wages and benefits.</p>
<p>The average annual wage at Wal-Mart is about $20,744, compared to about $20,200 at grocery stores, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics. About 50% of its workers had no health coverage before joining. Nine out of ten workers now get insurance through Wal-Mart or elsewhere -- meaning their spouses’ coverage. There have been complaints that Wal-Mart’s plans are too pricey for workers, while the company says it offers an array of plans -- plus mini-med plans, the low-cost, cheap plans now outlawed by health reform, so this could change.</p>
<p>Yes turnover is high, about half of Wal-Mart’s workers quit every year, however, that’s lower than the 65% national average for retail workers, according to the National Retail Federation. Even elected officials in crunchy Burlington, Vermont. have told me they like their Wal-Mart because it has created a lot of economic activity and jobs for the area, including new shopping hubs, art galleries, new restaurants and retail boutiques. Employment in Burlington has risen because elected officials made decisions like accepting Wal-Mart.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, where are stores like Grand Union, Pathmark, A&amp;P, Winn-Dixie, Montgomery Ward, Caldors and Ames? Shoppers and Wal-Mart are putting inefficient businesses out of business.</p>
<p>Yes critics can argue that Wal-Mart gets its products cheaply made in China, wrecking jobs here. That’s a legitimate point. However, does anyone seriously think shutting down Wal-Mart will stop that trend? Also, dozens of Wal-Mart workers conduct hundreds of inspections of overseas factories to ensure they meet United Nations standards of safety and pay.</p>
<p>Compare the union attempts at Wal-Mart to what happened at now bankrupt Hostess Brands, maker of Twinkies, Ding Dongs, Dolly Madison cakes and Wonder Bread. The 82-year old business will now be liquidated after a national strike by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Union, the company’s second -largest union that started on Nov. 9. This is the second bankruptcy in a decade for Hostess, as sales plummeted from $3.1 billion in 2006 to just $2.45 billion in 2011, a 20% drop, according to PrivCo, a financial research company. Hostess’s balance sheet was underwater, carrying debt of over $1.43 billion, $2 billion in unfunded pension liabilities and just $40.4 million in cash. Net losses nearly tripled from 2006 to 2010, from $128 million to $341 million, PrivCo says.</p>
<p>But while Hostess hammered out an eleventh-hour agreement in bankruptcy court with its largest union, the Teamsters, to cut workers' pay and benefits, the bakery union balked and went on strike.</p>
<p>The details are ugly when you see what was going on behind the scenes at Hostess. It reportedly was dealing with 372 separate collective-bargaining contracts, 80 separate health and benefits plans, and 40 different pension plans.</p>
<p>Union rules said no Hostess delivery trucks could have both bread and snacks on board, despite the fact the goods were going to the same stores. Drivers were not allowed to load the snacks onto their trucks, certain workers could only load snacks not bread, and vice versa. &#160;PrivCo notes that potential suitors for Hostess may include the owner of the Sara Lee, Entenmann's and Arnold brands, and Flowers Foods, which owns Tastykakes, Nature's Own, Dandee, and Sunbeam brands. C. Dean Metropoulos, a private equity firm, has been hovering too -- it owns brands like Pabst Blue Ribbon beer, Chef Boyardee and Bumblebee Tuna. PrivCo estimates Hostess' brands “could fetch about $1 billion in an asset sale based on comparable private M&amp;A deal multiples on the PrivCo data platform.” The unfunded $2 billion pension liability “will be picked up by the government controlled Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp. (PBGC), as well as other corporations participating in its multi-employer pension plan,” PrivCo notes.</p>
<p>PrivCo CEO Sam Hamadeh said in a statement: "As Americans both cut back spending on baked goods as well as move toward healthier eating options, Hostess Brands failed to innovate and offer fresher, healthier baked goods, resulting in 9 straight years of revenue declines. With just $40 million in cash remaining, over $1.4 billion in total liabilities, its high fixed cost and distribution structure – which Hostess was unable to reduce due to strict legacy union contracts - and another $2 billion in unfunded pension obligations, &#160;Hostess was doomed without significant concessions from its unions.”</p>
<p>Advertisement</p> | true | 0 | walmart nysewmt protests broken dozens stores across country lost commotion reality work life walmart bentonville arkansas mega retailer saw happen unions hostess brands maker twinkies ding dongs bankruptcy liquidation continue reading would coup union movement get big labor door nations biggest retailer employs many people active duty us military union attacks picked intensity walmart moved nonunion south build stores prounion cities northeast walmart protests timed black friday walmart calls super bowl shopping theyve mostly nonevent walmart us chief executive bill simon said statement 26 protests occurred stores last night many include walmart associates adding estimate less 50 associates participated protest nationwide number associates missed scheduled shift last year heres reality facts many workers come looking jobs walmart heavily unionized grocery stores supermarkets get paid much less way benefits labor infractions onthejob injuries significant walmart said third companys hires come grocers places like mcdonalds nysemcd search better wages benefits average annual wage walmart 20744 compared 20200 grocery stores according bureau labor statistics 50 workers health coverage joining nine ten workers get insurance walmart elsewhere meaning spouses coverage complaints walmarts plans pricey workers company says offers array plans plus minimed plans lowcost cheap plans outlawed health reform could change yes turnover high half walmarts workers quit every year however thats lower 65 national average retail workers according national retail federation even elected officials crunchy burlington vermont told like walmart created lot economic activity jobs area including new shopping hubs art galleries new restaurants retail boutiques employment burlington risen elected officials made decisions like accepting walmart meanwhile stores like grand union pathmark aampp winndixie montgomery ward caldors ames shoppers walmart putting inefficient businesses business yes critics argue walmart gets products cheaply made china wrecking jobs thats legitimate point however anyone seriously think shutting walmart stop trend also dozens walmart workers conduct hundreds inspections overseas factories ensure meet united nations standards safety pay compare union attempts walmart happened bankrupt hostess brands maker twinkies ding dongs dolly madison cakes wonder bread 82year old business liquidated national strike bakery confectionery tobacco workers grain millers union companys second largest union started nov 9 second bankruptcy decade hostess sales plummeted 31 billion 2006 245 billion 2011 20 drop according privco financial research company hostesss balance sheet underwater carrying debt 143 billion 2 billion unfunded pension liabilities 404 million cash net losses nearly tripled 2006 2010 128 million 341 million privco says hostess hammered eleventhhour agreement bankruptcy court largest union teamsters cut workers pay benefits bakery union balked went strike details ugly see going behind scenes hostess reportedly dealing 372 separate collectivebargaining contracts 80 separate health benefits plans 40 different pension plans union rules said hostess delivery trucks could bread snacks board despite fact goods going stores drivers allowed load snacks onto trucks certain workers could load snacks bread vice versa 160privco notes potential suitors hostess may include owner sara lee entenmanns arnold brands flowers foods owns tastykakes natures dandee sunbeam brands c dean metropoulos private equity firm hovering owns brands like pabst blue ribbon beer chef boyardee bumblebee tuna privco estimates hostess brands could fetch 1 billion asset sale based comparable private mampa deal multiples privco data platform unfunded 2 billion pension liability picked government controlled pension benefit guarantee corp pbgc well corporations participating multiemployer pension plan privco notes privco ceo sam hamadeh said statement americans cut back spending baked goods well move toward healthier eating options hostess brands failed innovate offer fresher healthier baked goods resulting 9 straight years revenue declines 40 million cash remaining 14 billion total liabilities high fixed cost distribution structure hostess unable reduce due strict legacy union contracts another 2 billion unfunded pension obligations 160hostess doomed without significant concessions unions advertisement | 608 |
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<p>Potash stocks have been favorites among dividend investors despite the cyclical nature of the industry. Most potash stocks boast a strong dividend track record, though challenging industry conditions recently compelled major potash producers Potash Corp. of Saskatchewanand The Mosaic Companyto slash dividends. Agrium Inc.has kept its dividends intact so far but has been cautious about increases.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Investors in potash stocks, however, may not have to fear further dividend cuts, what with the industry showing faint signs of a revival. Potash is, after all, among the three most important crop nutrients, so demand should pick up at some point in time, allowing potash companies to continue to reward shareholders. Here's a quick lowdown of the publicly traded potash stocks and their current dividend yields:</p>
<p>*Returns as of March 29, 2017.</p>
<p>Among these, Intrepid Potash doesn't pay a dividend, while Compass Minerals, Rio Tinto, and BHP Billiton have very little exposure to potash. With that in mind, let's check out the dividend history and growth potential for the three top potash dividend stocks.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
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<p>Agrium was pretty miserly with its dividends until about 2012, when a proxy battle with an activist investor compelled management to rethink its policies and reward shareholders more generously. Agrium's dividend has grown leaps and bound since.</p>
<p>To be fair, Agrium is less a potash and more a diversified agricultural company that also sells seeds and crop protection products. Fertilizers accounted for about41% of its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) in 2016 of which only about 4% came from potash. Nonetheless, Agrium is among the world's primary potash producers, which is why it is the only other company aside from Potash Corp. and Mosaic to be part of the world's leading potash offshore marketing group Canpotex, which handles exports outside the U.S. and Canada. Thanks to expansion, Agrium's stake in Canpotex increased about 3 percentage points to 10.3% in 2016.</p>
<p>Image source: Agrium.</p>
<p>Agrium currently pays40%-50% of its free cash flow in dividends. As you might've heard, Agrium and Potash Corp. are planning to merge, and the good news is that the merged entity aims to maintain a dividend "equal to" Agrium's current level, which means Agrium's dividends should be intact going forward.</p>
<p>Potash Corp. jolted investors last year when it cut its dividend not once but twice and, boy, how steep were the cuts -- 34% first and 60% the next. Potash Corp.'s aggressive dividend policy was to blame, as its payout had crossed 100% at a time when potash markets were hitting rock bottom. The company was forced to cut dividends for the first time in history.</p>
<p>Frankly, Potash Corp.'s dividends still look precarious going by the huge gap between its per-share dividends and net income and free cash flow.</p>
<p><a href="http://ycharts.com/companies/POT/dividend_ttm" type="external">POT Dividends Paid (TTM)</a> data by <a href="http://ycharts.com" type="external">YCharts Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>The worst, however, might be over for three reasons: recovering potash markets, declining capex and higher potential cash flows, and impending merger with Agrium that'll create the world's largest crop nutrient company. Both companies are confident of getting the regulatory go-ahead for the merger. If it goes through, Potash Corp. should become a financially stronger company with sustainable dividends thanks to Agrium's diversified portfolio and solid financial standing -- Agrium earned greater profits and free cash flows than Potash Corp. during the trailing 12 months.</p>
<p>Potash Corp.'s current dividend yield of 2.3% might not be enticing, but the company has paid a dividend every quarter since 1990. That's the best you can find in the potash industry.</p>
<p>It was only earlier this year that Mosaic decided to cut its dividends in line with the tough industry conditions -- it announced a steep 45% cut in annual targeted dividend in one go.But there's a huge difference between Mosaic's and Potash Corp.'s cuts: Mosaic's free cash flow is still enough to cover its existing dividends. In other words, while Potash Corp.'s dividend cuts were desperate attempts after its payout hit dangerous levels, Mosaic's is a proactive step to ensure it can sustain its dividends even during challenging conditions. That's an excellent approach that reflects management's integrity and credibility.</p>
<p>At the same time, management is confident that end markets have bottomed. That, combined with its capital discipline and growth initiatives -- such as Mosaic's impending $2.5 billion acquisition of Vale's Brazilian fertilizer business -- should be rewarding to shareholders in the long run. Mosaic might be a primary phosphate company, but it is also among the world's largest potash producers, accounting for 12% of global and nearly 41% of North America's annual potash capacity. That makes Mosaic one of the best potash dividend stocks you can find.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than PotashCorpWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=54e472ac-628d-4d29-b5b0-12ff322626b3&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and PotashCorp wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
<p><a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=54e472ac-628d-4d29-b5b0-12ff322626b3&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Click here Opens a New Window.</a> to learn about these picks!</p>
<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of February 6, 2017</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/Nehams/info.aspx" type="external">Neha Chamaria Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of Vale S.A. The Motley Fool recommends Compass Minerals. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | potash stocks favorites among dividend investors despite cyclical nature industry potash stocks boast strong dividend track record though challenging industry conditions recently compelled major potash producers potash corp saskatchewanand mosaic companyto slash dividends agrium inchas kept dividends intact far cautious increases continue reading investors potash stocks however may fear dividend cuts industry showing faint signs revival potash among three important crop nutrients demand pick point time allowing potash companies continue reward shareholders heres quick lowdown publicly traded potash stocks current dividend yields returns march 29 2017 among intrepid potash doesnt pay dividend compass minerals rio tinto bhp billiton little exposure potash mind lets check dividend history growth potential three top potash dividend stocks image source getty images advertisement agrium pretty miserly dividends 2012 proxy battle activist investor compelled management rethink policies reward shareholders generously agriums dividend grown leaps bound since fair agrium less potash diversified agricultural company also sells seeds crop protection products fertilizers accounted about41 earnings interest taxes depreciation amortization ebitda 2016 4 came potash nonetheless agrium among worlds primary potash producers company aside potash corp mosaic part worlds leading potash offshore marketing group canpotex handles exports outside us canada thanks expansion agriums stake canpotex increased 3 percentage points 103 2016 image source agrium agrium currently pays4050 free cash flow dividends mightve heard agrium potash corp planning merge good news merged entity aims maintain dividend equal agriums current level means agriums dividends intact going forward potash corp jolted investors last year cut dividend twice boy steep cuts 34 first 60 next potash corps aggressive dividend policy blame payout crossed 100 time potash markets hitting rock bottom company forced cut dividends first time history frankly potash corps dividends still look precarious going huge gap pershare dividends net income free cash flow pot dividends paid ttm data ycharts opens new window worst however might three reasons recovering potash markets declining capex higher potential cash flows impending merger agrium thatll create worlds largest crop nutrient company companies confident getting regulatory goahead merger goes potash corp become financially stronger company sustainable dividends thanks agriums diversified portfolio solid financial standing agrium earned greater profits free cash flows potash corp trailing 12 months potash corps current dividend yield 23 might enticing company paid dividend every quarter since 1990 thats best find potash industry earlier year mosaic decided cut dividends line tough industry conditions announced steep 45 cut annual targeted dividend one gobut theres huge difference mosaics potash corps cuts mosaics free cash flow still enough cover existing dividends words potash corps dividend cuts desperate attempts payout hit dangerous levels mosaics proactive step ensure sustain dividends even challenging conditions thats excellent approach reflects managements integrity credibility time management confident end markets bottomed combined capital discipline growth initiatives mosaics impending 25 billion acquisition vales brazilian fertilizer business rewarding shareholders long run mosaic might primary phosphate company also among worlds largest potash producers accounting 12 global nearly 41 north americas annual potash capacity makes mosaic one best potash dividend stocks find 10 stocks like better potashcorpwhen investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right potashcorp wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns february 6 2017 neha chamaria opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool owns shares vale sa motley fool recommends compass minerals motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 578 |
<p>Image source: Pixabay.</p>
<p>Overall, it's been a pretty exceptional two decades for the marijuana industry. Sure, there have been a few bumps in the road, like the failure of a medical marijuana amendment in Florida in 2014. But as a whole, the increasing acceptance of cannabis has been almost constant since 1996.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Since California first legalized medical marijuana for compassionate use in 1996, two dozen states have legalized its medical use -- that's half the country! This year alone, both Ohio and Pennsylvania have legalized the use of medical marijuana for certain ailments, and they both did so through the legislative process (i.e., without putting the issue on the ballot for voters to decide).</p>
<p>On top of the 25 states that have legalized medical cannabis over the past 20 years, four states, along with Washington, D.C., have legalized the use of recreational marijuana since 2012. In Colorado alone, trailing-12-month sales came to $1 billion as of February. Legal marijuana sales generated about $135 million in tax and licensing revenue in Colorado in 2015, much of which will go toward the state's education program, as well as its law enforcement and drug abuse programs.</p>
<p>And this could just be the tip of the iceberg. Cannabis industry analysts at ArcView Market Research see the industry growing at an average clip of 30% per year through 2020. This takes into account growth from existing industries and the potential for new approvals, including up to a dozen states that will be voting on whether to legalize medical or recreational marijuana in the upcoming November election.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
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<p>The steady growth of the cannabis industry has been overshadowed by an even more exciting event: the potential rescheduling of medical marijuana by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).</p>
<p>Currently, the marijuana plant is defined as a schedule 1 substance. This means it has no federally recognized medical benefits and is considered to be an illicit drug. As long as marijuana remains an illicit drug, businesses that sell marijuana face two very big disadvantages.</p>
<p>First, cannabis-based businesses have little to no access to basic financial services. Although banks could probably serve the cannabis industry and add to their profits, most banks fear the potential for legal action from the federal government. Because the marijuana plant is still illegal, allowing a marijuana business to open a checking account or take out a loan could be construed as money laundering. Without access to checking accounts or credit, these businesses are forced to deal primarily in cash, which is both a security concern and an expansion inhibitor.</p>
<p>The other issue for marijuana businesses is that they pay a much higher tax rate than normal businesses. Internal Revenue Service tax code 280E disallows normal tax deductions in instances where the product being sold is illicit. This means companies in the marijuana industry have to pay tax on gross profits, rather than net profits.</p>
<p>If the DEA were to reschedule marijuana to anything other than a schedule 1 substance (i.e., schedule 2 through 5), then cannabis would be deemed to have medically beneficial properties, which would allow physicians throughout the country to prescribe medical marijuana for patients. Furthermore, it would allow medical researchers to study the effects of marijuana on certain diseases without having to jump through a long series of hoops. Presumably, the inherent financial disadvantages would fall by the wayside as well, as banks could serve marijuana businesses without fear of repercussions.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>However, the DEA delivered a buzzkill of epic proportions to marijuana supporters last month.</p>
<p>Originally, the DEA was rumored to be making its decision on whether or not to reschedule medical marijuana by July 1, or, as the Santa Monica Observerclaimed, Aug. 1. But the DEA is certainly in no rush to make up its mind on what it considers a critical issue.</p>
<p>In an <a href="http://anewdomain.net/2016/06/21/on-cannabis-rescheduling-questions-the-dea-responds-exclusive/" type="external">interview Opens a New Window.</a> with online publication aNewDomain, DEA staff coordinator Russ Baer noted, "What is under-reported right now is how complex the marijuana plant is." According to aNewDomain, the plant itself contains about 480 compounds, and medical marijuana can be administered in multiple ways, which means the scope of research being conducted by the DEA could be far beyond what marijuana supporters initially expected.</p>
<p>When pressed about the July 1 or Aug. 1 deadlines for a decision, Baer added, "We are not holding ourselves to any artificial timeframe." However, it is worth noting that the DEA has received the scientific and health recommendations from the Food and Drug Administration that are required as part of its own eight-part review process, which may or may not lead to the rescheduling of cannabis.</p>
<p>So what does this mean for the cannabis industry and the potential for reclassification? Essentially, it means a decision is coming, but it will likely come much later than most people had expected. In other words, for the foreseeable future, the marijuana industry will continue to face inherent disadvantages.</p>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>Even if the DEA decides to reclassify cannabis from schedule 1 to schedule 2, thereby allowing physicians to prescribe cannabis for certain ailments, a number of different obstacles could arise and obstruct growth for the industry.</p>
<p>The biggest concern is that cannabis will be reclassified as a schedule 2 substance -- one that has medical benefits but is considered addictive and prone to abuse. If that happens, then the FDA will have enormous power over the cannabis industry. For example, the FDA could control how the marijuana industry markets to adults, including how packaging material is labeled. It could, and probably would, regularly inspect growing and processing facilities to ensure that consistent manufacturing standards are being met (e.g., consistent THC content).</p>
<p>But most worrisome of all, it could require cannabis businesses to run clinical trials to confirm that marijuana offers the health benefits being advertised. All of these added regulations could be incredibly costly for the cannabis industry, which could wind up pushing smaller players out in favor of bigger businesses that could afford the higher regulatory costs. Strict regulation could also hinder marijuana businesses' efforts to lower their prices and thus make their products more competitive with black-market alternatives.</p>
<p>Don't get me wrong: A reclassification to anything other than schedule 1 should be seen as a step forward for the industry. But how big of a step it will be depends on the DEA -- if it ever reclassifies the drug at all.</p>
<p>For the time being, marijuana supporters, as well as investors hoping to take advantage of a possible reclassification, would be wise to temper their expectations and exercise some patience, as the DEA is in no rush to issue its decision.</p>
<p>A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, <a href="http://www.fool.com/mms/mark/ecap-foolcom-apple-wearable?aid=6965&amp;source=irbeditxt0000017&amp;ftm_cam=rb-wearable-d&amp;ftm_pit=2518&amp;ftm_veh=article_pitch&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">just click here Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFUltraLong/info.aspx" type="external">Sean Williams Opens a New Window.</a>has no material interest in any companies mentioned in this article. You can follow him on CAPS under the screen name <a href="http://caps.fool.com/player/tmfultralong.aspx" type="external">TMFUltraLong Opens a New Window.</a>, and check him out on Twitter, where he goes by the handle <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/TMFUltraLong" type="external">@TMFUltraLong Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a>makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | image source pixabay overall pretty exceptional two decades marijuana industry sure bumps road like failure medical marijuana amendment florida 2014 whole increasing acceptance cannabis almost constant since 1996 continue reading since california first legalized medical marijuana compassionate use 1996 two dozen states legalized medical use thats half country year alone ohio pennsylvania legalized use medical marijuana certain ailments legislative process ie without putting issue ballot voters decide top 25 states legalized medical cannabis past 20 years four states along washington dc legalized use recreational marijuana since 2012 colorado alone trailing12month sales came 1 billion february legal marijuana sales generated 135 million tax licensing revenue colorado 2015 much go toward states education program well law enforcement drug abuse programs could tip iceberg cannabis industry analysts arcview market research see industry growing average clip 30 per year 2020 takes account growth existing industries potential new approvals including dozen states voting whether legalize medical recreational marijuana upcoming november election image source getty images advertisement steady growth cannabis industry overshadowed even exciting event potential rescheduling medical marijuana us drug enforcement agency dea currently marijuana plant defined schedule 1 substance means federally recognized medical benefits considered illicit drug long marijuana remains illicit drug businesses sell marijuana face two big disadvantages first cannabisbased businesses little access basic financial services although banks could probably serve cannabis industry add profits banks fear potential legal action federal government marijuana plant still illegal allowing marijuana business open checking account take loan could construed money laundering without access checking accounts credit businesses forced deal primarily cash security concern expansion inhibitor issue marijuana businesses pay much higher tax rate normal businesses internal revenue service tax code 280e disallows normal tax deductions instances product sold illicit means companies marijuana industry pay tax gross profits rather net profits dea reschedule marijuana anything schedule 1 substance ie schedule 2 5 cannabis would deemed medically beneficial properties would allow physicians throughout country prescribe medical marijuana patients furthermore would allow medical researchers study effects marijuana certain diseases without jump long series hoops presumably inherent financial disadvantages would fall wayside well banks could serve marijuana businesses without fear repercussions image source getty images however dea delivered buzzkill epic proportions marijuana supporters last month originally dea rumored making decision whether reschedule medical marijuana july 1 santa monica observerclaimed aug 1 dea certainly rush make mind considers critical issue interview opens new window online publication anewdomain dea staff coordinator russ baer noted underreported right complex marijuana plant according anewdomain plant contains 480 compounds medical marijuana administered multiple ways means scope research conducted dea could far beyond marijuana supporters initially expected pressed july 1 aug 1 deadlines decision baer added holding artificial timeframe however worth noting dea received scientific health recommendations food drug administration required part eightpart review process may may lead rescheduling cannabis mean cannabis industry potential reclassification essentially means decision coming likely come much later people expected words foreseeable future marijuana industry continue face inherent disadvantages image source getty images even dea decides reclassify cannabis schedule 1 schedule 2 thereby allowing physicians prescribe cannabis certain ailments number different obstacles could arise obstruct growth industry biggest concern cannabis reclassified schedule 2 substance one medical benefits considered addictive prone abuse happens fda enormous power cannabis industry example fda could control marijuana industry markets adults including packaging material labeled could probably would regularly inspect growing processing facilities ensure consistent manufacturing standards met eg consistent thc content worrisome could require cannabis businesses run clinical trials confirm marijuana offers health benefits advertised added regulations could incredibly costly cannabis industry could wind pushing smaller players favor bigger businesses could afford higher regulatory costs strict regulation could also hinder marijuana businesses efforts lower prices thus make products competitive blackmarket alternatives dont get wrong reclassification anything schedule 1 seen step forward industry big step depends dea ever reclassifies drug time marijuana supporters well investors hoping take advantage possible reclassification would wise temper expectations exercise patience dea rush issue decision secret billiondollar stock opportunity worlds biggest tech company forgot show something wall street analysts fool didnt miss beat theres small company thats powering brandnew gadgets coming revolution technology think stock price nearly unlimited room run early intheknow investors one click opens new window sean williams opens new windowhas material interest companies mentioned article follow caps screen name tmfultralong opens new window check twitter goes handle tmfultralong opens new window motley fool position stocks mentioned try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new windowmakes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 758 |
<p />
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Many investors prefer established large-cap businesses in the consumer-goods sector because they come with an attractive combination of growth potential and financial stability. Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS) and Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) are titans of their respective fields, well-known household names with decades of strong operating history.</p>
<p>Both companies are in a state of transition these days. Disney faces upheaval in the increasingly competitive digital entertainment industry, and Coca-Cola's customers are becoming more health-conscious with every passing day.</p>
<p>Let's take a closer look at these two consumer-friendly giants. Which one seems more likely to turn its turbulent industry conditions into an opportunity, building long-term value for shareholders?</p>
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<p>Since Coke doesn't produce family-friendly entertainment and Disney isn't producing carbonated beverages, this is not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison. Given the widely different capital structures and financial expectations of their respective sectors, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to use industry-specific metric for this comparison.</p>
<p>Turning to cash-centric data points instead, we can get some sense of how richly valued Disney and Coke shares might be in relation to one another.</p>
<p>For example, we can weigh the stocks according to their enterprise value over <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/ebitda.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">EBITDA profits Opens a New Window.</a>. Here, we're using an approximation of true cash profits and measuring that against the company's total price tag in an imagined buyout scenario.</p>
<p>From that angle, Disney looks downright cheap. The House of Mouse is valued at 9.4 times trailing EBITDA profits, while Coke's tally stands at 17.3.</p>
<p>Taking a slightly different aim, Disney also trades at 19.7 times its trailing free cash flows. Here, Coke is floating at a 27.7 level.</p>
<p>Both stocks have seen some hard times lately. Disney's shares have taken a 9.8% haircut over the past 52 weeks while Coca-Cola gained 4.8%. They missed out on 11% gains in the major stock market indices.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Disney's cash profits are surging, while Coke is moving in the opposite direction:</p>
<p><a href="http://ycharts.com/companies/DIS/free_cash_flow_ttm" type="external">DIS Free Cash Flow (TTM) Opens a New Window.</a> data by <a href="http://ycharts.com" type="external">YCharts Opens a New Window.</a></p>
<p>The valuation gap boils down to which stock investors have a better grip of.</p>
<p>Coke is essentially a simple business based on high-quality manufacturing and distribution of a widely wanted product line. Market makers have seen consumer habits changing before, and they expect Coca-Cola to survive this makeover as well. The company can retool its global distribution networks to manage less of its sugary flagship drinks in favor of bottled water and <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/08/09/monster-beverage-corp-earnings-another-rip-roaring.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">energy drinks Opens a New Window.</a>, and this too shall pass. Coca-Cola will survive, and the stock is unlikely to plunge very far from changing industry conditions.</p>
<p>That's not true for Disney. Traditional movie theaters and cable networks are facing huge challenges from all-digital entertainment alternatives, and investors worry that Disney's soaring bottom line might come crashing down. There are major risks here, but Disney is well equipped to manage the digital era.</p>
<p>Disney's core product is high-quality entertainment. Whether its child-friendly fare is presented on the silver screen, through digital streaming services, via DVD and Blu-ray discs, or on VHS tapes, the real business doesn't change. It's just another medium, and Disney will find a way to take advantage of whatever technologies might come along.</p>
<p>In the end, Disney's shares come with a large discount for business risks. And like Coke, the company should sail right into the new era with its sails largely unruffled.</p>
<p>Overall, we're looking at two fine businesses in the midst of tackling some new challenges to their business models. Both seem likely to survive just fine and should continue to reward long-term shareholders over the coming decades. There are really no bad choices here.</p>
<p>But Disney is priced like a failure, despite its strong brand and surging cash flows. That's a severe misunderstanding. You should take advantage of this temporary discount while it lasts, because Walt Disney will keep producing cash as long as consumers are interested in superb entertainment.</p>
<p>And that, I think, will always be true.</p>
<p>A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, <a href="http://www.fool.com/mms/mark/ecap-foolcom-apple-wearable?aid=6965&amp;source=irbeditxt0000017&amp;ftm_cam=rb-wearable-d&amp;ftm_pit=2667&amp;ftm_veh=article_pitch&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">just click here Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFZahrim/info.aspx" type="external">Anders Bylund Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of Walt Disney. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Walt Disney. The Motley Fool also recommends Coca-Cola. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
<p>We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/motley.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | image source getty images continue reading many investors prefer established largecap businesses consumergoods sector come attractive combination growth potential financial stability walt disney nyse dis cocacola nyse ko titans respective fields wellknown household names decades strong operating history companies state transition days disney faces upheaval increasingly competitive digital entertainment industry cocacolas customers becoming healthconscious every passing day lets take closer look two consumerfriendly giants one seems likely turn turbulent industry conditions opportunity building longterm value shareholders advertisement since coke doesnt produce familyfriendly entertainment disney isnt producing carbonated beverages exactly applestoapples comparison given widely different capital structures financial expectations respective sectors doesnt make whole lot sense use industryspecific metric comparison turning cashcentric data points instead get sense richly valued disney coke shares might relation one another example weigh stocks according enterprise value ebitda profits opens new window using approximation true cash profits measuring companys total price tag imagined buyout scenario angle disney looks downright cheap house mouse valued 94 times trailing ebitda profits cokes tally stands 173 taking slightly different aim disney also trades 197 times trailing free cash flows coke floating 277 level stocks seen hard times lately disneys shares taken 98 haircut past 52 weeks cocacola gained 48 missed 11 gains major stock market indices meanwhile disneys cash profits surging coke moving opposite direction dis free cash flow ttm opens new window data ycharts opens new window valuation gap boils stock investors better grip coke essentially simple business based highquality manufacturing distribution widely wanted product line market makers seen consumer habits changing expect cocacola survive makeover well company retool global distribution networks manage less sugary flagship drinks favor bottled water energy drinks opens new window shall pass cocacola survive stock unlikely plunge far changing industry conditions thats true disney traditional movie theaters cable networks facing huge challenges alldigital entertainment alternatives investors worry disneys soaring bottom line might come crashing major risks disney well equipped manage digital era disneys core product highquality entertainment whether childfriendly fare presented silver screen digital streaming services via dvd bluray discs vhs tapes real business doesnt change another medium disney find way take advantage whatever technologies might come along end disneys shares come large discount business risks like coke company sail right new era sails largely unruffled overall looking two fine businesses midst tackling new challenges business models seem likely survive fine continue reward longterm shareholders coming decades really bad choices disney priced like failure despite strong brand surging cash flows thats severe misunderstanding take advantage temporary discount lasts walt disney keep producing cash long consumers interested superb entertainment think always true secret billiondollar stock opportunity worlds biggest tech company forgot show something wall street analysts fool didnt miss beat theres small company thats powering brandnew gadgets coming revolution technology think stock price nearly unlimited room run early intheknow investors one click opens new window anders bylund opens new window owns shares walt disney motley fool owns shares recommends walt disney motley fool also recommends cocacola try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 524 |
<p>Financials sell off as insurers are hit in wake of hurricanes Harvey, Irma</p>
<p>U.S. stocks turned lower in early Thursday trade, led by steep falls in financials, as investors tracked the affect of Hurricane Irma and focused on European Central Bank President Mario Draghi's comments about the future of economic stimulus in the eurozone.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>The ECB left key interest rates unchanged, while Draghi indicated that the decision on how to taper the quantitative-easing program will come in October (http://blogs.marketwatch.com/thetell/2017/09/07/ecb-live-blog-is-a-strong-euro-making-mario-draghi-miserable/).</p>
<p>The S&amp;P 500 was down 3 points, or 0.1%, at 2,462, with seven of the 11 main sectors trading in the green. Financials were leading the losses, down 1.3%, while so-called defensive sectors such as utilities and real estate were higher.</p>
<p>The Dow Jones Industrial gave up early gains to trade down 20 points, or 0.1%, at 21,785 The Nasdaq Composite lost 2 points, or 0.1%, to 6,390.</p>
<p>Some analysts suggested that the combination of a number of devastating hurricanes hitting the U.S. and potential escalation of nuclear threat in North Korea is keeping investors cautious.</p>
<p>"Investors don't want to go into the weekend when North Korea is scheduled to show its military prowess during the Founders day celebration without their hedges in place," said Quincy Krosby, chief market strategist, at Prudential Financial.</p>
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<p>The major U.S. benchmarks closed higher on Wednesday (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-stock-futures-kept-in-check-by-worries-over-north-korea-hurricane-irma-2017-09-06) after congressional leaders and President Donald Trump agreed to extend the debt-limit deadline and fund the government through mid-December.</p>
<p>The agreement raised hopes for more bipartisan deals that would allow the Trump administration to move forward with its promised economic reforms. However, it also raised concerns that divisiveness in the Republican party may limit further policy success, because other GOP leaders weren't in favor of a short-term agreement.</p>
<p>First Take:Trump's deal with 'Chuck and Nancy' may improve chances for his legislative agenda (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/debt-ceiling-deal-may-slightly-improve-chances-for-trump-agenda-2017-09-06)</p>
<p>Investors turned their attention to Category 5 Hurricane Irma that wrecked (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/death-toll-rises-to-8-as-hurricane-irma-barrels-through-caribbean-heads-for-florida-2017-09-07) a string of Caribbean Islands as it barreled toward the Florida coast. The weather system--the worst ever recorded in the Atlantic--is expected to hit the Miami area and the Florida Keys on Sunday, sparking a mandatory evacuation of the southern, coastal parts of the state.</p>
<p>Several people have died in Barbuda, St. Martin and Anguilla, according to media reports.</p>
<p>Irma comes just two weeks after Hurricane Harvey hit the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast, where damages are estimated by AccuWeather to be up to $190 billion (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/hurricane-harvey-could-cost-190-billion-be-worst-ever-us-natural-disaster-says-accuweather-2017-08-31).</p>
<p>Read:JetBlue and Delta offer special pricing to people fleeing Hurricane Irma (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/jetblue-and-delta-offer-special-pricing-to-people-fleeing-hurricane-irma-2017-09-06)</p>
<p>ECB in focus: The ECB left key interest rates unchanged and expects them to remain at present levels for "extended period". In the accompanying statement, which was virtually identical to the previous one, the central bank said that asset buying will continue at a EUR60 billion ($71 billion) a month through year-end or beyond and quantitative easing could be ramped up if the outlook deteriorates.</p>
<p>The euro strengthened against rivals after Draghi answered questions during the news conference, hitting $1.20 in early New York trade. That helped push the ICE Dollar Index down 0.8% to 91.566.</p>
<p>Read: Here's how the ECB got 'stuck in the euro trap' on its way to winding down QE (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-how-the-ecb-got-stuck-in-the-euro-trapon-its-way-to-winding-down-qe-2017-09-05)</p>
<p>European stocks (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/european-stocks-hold-steady-in-runup-to-ecb-update-2017-09-07) trimmed earlier gains but were still slightly higher.</p>
<p>Economic news:Initial jobless claims (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/storm-surge-hurricane-harvey-boosts-jobless-claims-by-62000-to-298000-2017-09-07)in the period running from Aug. 27 to Sept. 2 surged by 62,000 to 298,000, reaching the highest level since spring 2015, largely due to Hurricane Harvey that left many in Texas unable to work.</p>
<p>Among Federal Reserve speakers, Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester is scheduled to address the economic outlook and monetary policy at the Economic Club of Pittsburgh, at 12:15 p.m. Eastern.</p>
<p>New York Fed President William Dudley will speak at New York University at 7 p.m. Eastern. Later, Kansas City Fed President Esther George will discuss the U.S. economic outlook at the Omaha Economic Forum in Omaha, Neb., at 8:15 p.m. Eastern.</p>
<p>On Wednesday, Fed Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer said Wednesday that he would resign from the central bank next month.</p>
<p>Read:Fed's departing Fischer remembered as 'stalwart' amidst central bank turmoil (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/teacher-to-bernanke-and-draghi-fischer-remembered-as-giant-in-field-2017-09-06)</p>
<p>Stock movers: Shares of GoPro Inc.(GPRO) rallied 19% after the wearable camera maker said it expects to be profitable on an adjusted basis in the third quarter.</p>
<p>Shares of RH(RH) soared 45% after the upscale retailer formerly known as Restoration Hardware reported earnings that topped Wall Street estimates (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/rh-shares-soar-30-on-earnings-beat-raised-guidance-2017-09-06) late Wednesday.</p>
<p>Amazon.com Inc.(AMZN) shares rose 0.7FB% after the online retailer said it plans to open a second headquarters somewhere in North America (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/amazon-begins-city-search-for-second-n-american-headquarters-plans-to-invest-over-5-billion-2017-09-07) that will house up to 50,000 employees and cost $5 billion to build and operate.</p>
<p>Facebook Inc.(FB) shares dipped 0.9% after the company late Wednesday said it traced ad sales totaling $100,000 from Russian accounts (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/facebook-links-thousands-of-political-ads-to-russian-troll-farm-2017-09-06), some of which are likely linked to a troll farm in St. Petersburg called the Internet Research Agency.</p>
<p>Mastercard Inc.(MA) shares jumped 3.3% to trade at a record (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/mastercards-stock-heads-for-record-open-after-revenue-outlook-raised-2017-09-07)after the company raised its revenue outlook. Rival Visa Inc. (V) shares also rose, up 1.6%.</p>
<p>Barnes &amp; Noble Inc.(BKS) shares sank 14% after the bookseller reported fiscal first-quarter earnings and sales that missed consensus.</p>
<p>Other markets:Asian markets closed mixed (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/south-korea-leads-gains-in-asia-as-markets-rebound-2017-09-06), with South Korean and stocks ending higher, but Chinese and Hong Kong lower.</p>
<p>Crude-oil was slightly lower, while gold prices advanced.</p>
<p>(END) Dow Jones Newswires</p>
<p>September 07, 2017 10:27 ET (14:27 GMT)</p> | true | 0 | financials sell insurers hit wake hurricanes harvey irma us stocks turned lower early thursday trade led steep falls financials investors tracked affect hurricane irma focused european central bank president mario draghis comments future economic stimulus eurozone continue reading ecb left key interest rates unchanged draghi indicated decision taper quantitativeeasing program come october httpblogsmarketwatchcomthetell20170907ecbliveblogisastrongeuromakingmariodraghimiserable sampp 500 3 points 01 2462 seven 11 main sectors trading green financials leading losses 13 socalled defensive sectors utilities real estate higher dow jones industrial gave early gains trade 20 points 01 21785 nasdaq composite lost 2 points 01 6390 analysts suggested combination number devastating hurricanes hitting us potential escalation nuclear threat north korea keeping investors cautious investors dont want go weekend north korea scheduled show military prowess founders day celebration without hedges place said quincy krosby chief market strategist prudential financial advertisement major us benchmarks closed higher wednesday httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryusstockfutureskeptincheckbyworriesovernorthkoreahurricaneirma20170906 congressional leaders president donald trump agreed extend debtlimit deadline fund government middecember agreement raised hopes bipartisan deals would allow trump administration move forward promised economic reforms however also raised concerns divisiveness republican party may limit policy success gop leaders werent favor shortterm agreement first taketrumps deal chuck nancy may improve chances legislative agenda httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorydebtceilingdealmayslightlyimprovechancesfortrumpagenda20170906 investors turned attention category 5 hurricane irma wrecked httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorydeathtollrisesto8ashurricaneirmabarrelsthroughcaribbeanheadsforflorida20170907 string caribbean islands barreled toward florida coast weather systemthe worst ever recorded atlanticis expected hit miami area florida keys sunday sparking mandatory evacuation southern coastal parts state several people died barbuda st martin anguilla according media reports irma comes two weeks hurricane harvey hit texas louisiana gulf coast damages estimated accuweather 190 billion httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryhurricaneharveycouldcost190billionbeworsteverusnaturaldisastersaysaccuweather20170831 readjetblue delta offer special pricing people fleeing hurricane irma httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryjetblueanddeltaofferspecialpricingtopeoplefleeinghurricaneirma20170906 ecb focus ecb left key interest rates unchanged expects remain present levels extended period accompanying statement virtually identical previous one central bank said asset buying continue eur60 billion 71 billion month yearend beyond quantitative easing could ramped outlook deteriorates euro strengthened rivals draghi answered questions news conference hitting 120 early new york trade helped push ice dollar index 08 91566 read heres ecb got stuck euro trap way winding qe httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryhereshowtheecbgotstuckintheeurotraponitswaytowindingdownqe20170905 european stocks httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryeuropeanstocksholdsteadyinrunuptoecbupdate20170907 trimmed earlier gains still slightly higher economic newsinitial jobless claims httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorystormsurgehurricaneharveyboostsjoblessclaimsby62000to29800020170907in period running aug 27 sept 2 surged 62000 298000 reaching highest level since spring 2015 largely due hurricane harvey left many texas unable work among federal reserve speakers cleveland fed president loretta mester scheduled address economic outlook monetary policy economic club pittsburgh 1215 pm eastern new york fed president william dudley speak new york university 7 pm eastern later kansas city fed president esther george discuss us economic outlook omaha economic forum omaha neb 815 pm eastern wednesday fed vice chairman stanley fischer said wednesday would resign central bank next month readfeds departing fischer remembered stalwart amidst central bank turmoil httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryteachertobernankeanddraghifischerrememberedasgiantinfield20170906 stock movers shares gopro incgpro rallied 19 wearable camera maker said expects profitable adjusted basis third quarter shares rhrh soared 45 upscale retailer formerly known restoration hardware reported earnings topped wall street estimates httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryrhsharessoar30onearningsbeatraisedguidance20170906 late wednesday amazoncom incamzn shares rose 07fb online retailer said plans open second headquarters somewhere north america httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryamazonbeginscitysearchforsecondnamericanheadquartersplanstoinvestover5billion20170907 house 50000 employees cost 5 billion build operate facebook incfb shares dipped 09 company late wednesday said traced ad sales totaling 100000 russian accounts httpwwwmarketwatchcomstoryfacebooklinksthousandsofpoliticaladstorussiantrollfarm20170906 likely linked troll farm st petersburg called internet research agency mastercard incma shares jumped 33 trade record httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorymastercardsstockheadsforrecordopenafterrevenueoutlookraised20170907after company raised revenue outlook rival visa inc v shares also rose 16 barnes amp noble incbks shares sank 14 bookseller reported fiscal firstquarter earnings sales missed consensus marketsasian markets closed mixed httpwwwmarketwatchcomstorysouthkorealeadsgainsinasiaasmarketsrebound20170906 south korean stocks ending higher chinese hong kong lower crudeoil slightly lower gold prices advanced end dow jones newswires september 07 2017 1027 et 1427 gmt | 610 |
<p />
<p>As 2016 comes to an end, it looks like the industry's largest player, 3D Systems (NYSE: DDD), will be the best-performing 3D printing stock this year. It's up nearly 74% as of Dec. 19.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>3D Systems is the best-performing 3D printing stock of 2016 to date. Data by YCharts.</p>
<p>Moreover, unless something cataclysmic happens in the next eight trading days, 2016 will mark the first year since 2013 that 3D Systems has closed in the green; 2014 and 2015 were train wrecks for almost all of the 3D printing stocks, especially 3D Systems and fellow industry bigwig Stratasys (NASDAQ: SSYS).</p>
<p>Swedish industrial 3D printing specialistArcam(NASDAQOTH: AMAVF) is also on track to post a whopping gain in 2016, as it's up 64% to date. Arcam will likely take the silver medal, but there's a slight possibility that it could sprint past 3D Systems before the year closes. Arcam -- which is up a smoking 149% since I called it the <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/09/03/the-best-3d-printing-stock-to-buy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">best 3D printing stock Opens a New Window.</a> to buy in September 2015 -- was the only pure-play 3D printing stock that had an up year last year. (Since that call, Arcam had been up 46% through early September and has tacked on the rest of its big gain since then due to General Electricannouncing it intended to acquire the company; GE has since acquired a controlling stake in Arcam.)</p>
<p>As to the other pure plays that trade on U.S. stock exchanges, Belgian software and service specialistMaterialise is up 10.1% -- a little short of the S&amp;P 500's total return of 13.1% -- ExOne, which makes industrial 3D printers, is hugging the flat line; Stratasys is down nearly 19%; and German voxeljet-- which makes polymer 3D printers and has a service operation -- is nearly 32% in the red. (For the curious: Non-pure play Proto Labsis down 14.9% in 2016 through Dec. 19.)</p>
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<p>So while the group's performance as a whole is far from the heady years of 2012 and 2013, there is some 3D printing stock momentum as we head into 2017.</p>
<p>Before we discuss why 3D Systems stock is having a great year, investors should remember that it's still far off its all-time high. Here's the picture since Jan. 1, 2014 (the 3D printing stocks hit all-time highs in very late 2013 through very early 2014), with Stratasys included for context.</p>
<p>Data by <a href="http://ycharts.com" type="external">YCharts</a>.</p>
<p>The chart below shows the big picture. Despite getting clobbered in 2014 and 2015, 3D Systems' stock has still outperformed the broader market by more than a factor of two over the 10-year period, though Stratasys has significantly underperformed the market over this period.</p>
<p>Data by <a href="http://ycharts.com" type="external">YCharts</a>.</p>
<p>Investors should be very clear about this point: While 3D Systems' stockis up big in 2016, the company's businessis still struggling.</p>
<p>Since early 2015, 3D Systems -- along with Stratasys and some of the other players -- has struggled to grow revenue amid a widespread slowdown in demand for its enterprise 3D printers. The struggle at the top line has flowed through to the bottom line, leading to earnings losses on a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis throughout 2015 and 2016.</p>
<p>While I do think the stock price has gotten ahead of 3D Systems' business performance this year, there are some legitimate reasons behind the market's optimism. These include:</p>
<p>Image source: 3D Systems.</p>
<p>Thethird quarter was the first time since Q2 2015 that revenue increased on a year-over-year basis. While this increase was a modest 3.2%, at least it halted the year-over-year revenue declines. In the second and third quarters of 2016, the earnings losses on a GAAP basis narrowed from the year-ago periods. Moreover, adjusted earnings in both quarters blew by Wall Street's estimates.</p>
<p>Another likely reason the market has been more optimistic about 3D Systems this year is the change at the top. The market was likely satisfied with the choiceof Vyomesh Joshi -- who came on board in April -- as the new CEO, since he has relevant big-company experience: He was a top 2D-printing exec at the former Hewlett-Packard before it split into two companies. However, in my view, the exit of the previous CEO was a much bigger reason for the market's optimism. Avi Reichenthal, who left late last year, had taken 3D Systems on an acquisitionbinge for the few years previous to his departure, which likely resulted in not enough resources being devoted to nurturing the company's existing businesses.</p>
<p>I think it's likely that many market participants viewed Joshi's shake-up of the C-suite positively because the company has long had a poor corporate culture, according to <a href="https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/3D-Systems-Reviews-E2061.htm" type="external">Glassdoor ratings Opens a New Window.</a>. Within a few months of being named CEO, Joshi replaced the previous CFO with a former finance colleague at Hewlett-Packard. He also apparently let the COO and CMO go; neither of those positions has been filled.</p>
<p>3D Systems completely exited the desktop 3D printer market -- mainly aimed at consumers and professionals -- in the third quarter. The desktop market is generally a lower-margin business than the enterprise business, and competition is fierce, which means there will likely continue to be major pricing pressures. So this seems like a good move.</p>
<p>Early in the year, 3D Systems introduced Figure 4, a development-stage new tech geared toward manufacturing applications. This is a robotic, modular, stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing tech that the company touts as 50 times faster than conventional SLA technology.Joshi said on the third-quarter earnings call that Figure 4 is at least two years away from commercialization.</p>
<p>Things are looking brighter for 3D Systems in 2016 than they did in 2015. However, investors should remain cautious, as the company is still struggling to grow revenue due to tepid demand for its enterprise 3D printers, and earnings on a GAAP basis remain negative.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than 3D Systems When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
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<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFMcKenna/info.aspx" type="external">Beth McKenna Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Proto Labs. The Motley Fool owns shares of General Electric. The Motley Fool recommends 3D Systems and Stratasys. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/motley.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | 2016 comes end looks like industrys largest player 3d systems nyse ddd bestperforming 3d printing stock year nearly 74 dec 19 continue reading 3d systems bestperforming 3d printing stock 2016 date data ycharts moreover unless something cataclysmic happens next eight trading days 2016 mark first year since 2013 3d systems closed green 2014 2015 train wrecks almost 3d printing stocks especially 3d systems fellow industry bigwig stratasys nasdaq ssys swedish industrial 3d printing specialistarcamnasdaqoth amavf also track post whopping gain 2016 64 date arcam likely take silver medal theres slight possibility could sprint past 3d systems year closes arcam smoking 149 since called best 3d printing stock opens new window buy september 2015 pureplay 3d printing stock year last year since call arcam 46 early september tacked rest big gain since due general electricannouncing intended acquire company ge since acquired controlling stake arcam pure plays trade us stock exchanges belgian software service specialistmaterialise 101 little short sampp 500s total return 131 exone makes industrial 3d printers hugging flat line stratasys nearly 19 german voxeljet makes polymer 3d printers service operation nearly 32 red curious nonpure play proto labsis 149 2016 dec 19 advertisement groups performance whole far heady years 2012 2013 3d printing stock momentum head 2017 discuss 3d systems stock great year investors remember still far alltime high heres picture since jan 1 2014 3d printing stocks hit alltime highs late 2013 early 2014 stratasys included context data ycharts chart shows big picture despite getting clobbered 2014 2015 3d systems stock still outperformed broader market factor two 10year period though stratasys significantly underperformed market period data ycharts investors clear point 3d systems stockis big 2016 companys businessis still struggling since early 2015 3d systems along stratasys players struggled grow revenue amid widespread slowdown demand enterprise 3d printers struggle top line flowed bottom line leading earnings losses generally accepted accounting principles gaap basis throughout 2015 2016 think stock price gotten ahead 3d systems business performance year legitimate reasons behind markets optimism include image source 3d systems thethird quarter first time since q2 2015 revenue increased yearoveryear basis increase modest 32 least halted yearoveryear revenue declines second third quarters 2016 earnings losses gaap basis narrowed yearago periods moreover adjusted earnings quarters blew wall streets estimates another likely reason market optimistic 3d systems year change top market likely satisfied choiceof vyomesh joshi came board april new ceo since relevant bigcompany experience top 2dprinting exec former hewlettpackard split two companies however view exit previous ceo much bigger reason markets optimism avi reichenthal left late last year taken 3d systems acquisitionbinge years previous departure likely resulted enough resources devoted nurturing companys existing businesses think likely many market participants viewed joshis shakeup csuite positively company long poor corporate culture according glassdoor ratings opens new window within months named ceo joshi replaced previous cfo former finance colleague hewlettpackard also apparently let coo cmo go neither positions filled 3d systems completely exited desktop 3d printer market mainly aimed consumers professionals third quarter desktop market generally lowermargin business enterprise business competition fierce means likely continue major pricing pressures seems like good move early year 3d systems introduced figure 4 developmentstage new tech geared toward manufacturing applications robotic modular stereolithography sla 3d printing tech company touts 50 times faster conventional sla technologyjoshi said thirdquarter earnings call figure 4 least two years away commercialization things looking brighter 3d systems 2016 2015 however investors remain cautious company still struggling grow revenue due tepid demand enterprise 3d printers earnings gaap basis remain negative 10 stocks like better 3d systems investing geniuses david tom gardner stock tip pay listen newsletter run decade motley fool stock advisor tripled market david tom revealed believe 10 best stocks opens new window investors buy right 3d systems wasnt one thats right think 10 stocks even better buys click opens new window learn picks stock advisor returns nov 7 2016 beth mckenna opens new window position stocks mentioned motley fool owns shares recommends proto labs motley fool owns shares general electric motley fool recommends 3d systems stratasys try foolish newsletter services free 30 days opens new window fools may hold opinions believe considering diverse range insights opens new window makes us better investors motley fool disclosure policy opens new window | 702 |
<p />
<p>Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE:GS) owns hundreds of billions of dollars of stocks, bonds and commodities. Add to its portfolio: a 217-foot luxury yacht called "Natita."</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>The story behind the boat begins with a 2014 loan to a prized Goldman client, billionaire Texas oilman William Kallop. It ends with Goldman suing its own client and the U.S. Marshals last month swooping down on a West Palm Beach marina to impound the yacht -- which boasts of a movie theater, Jacuzzi and helipad.</p>
<p>Goldman's nautical trophy is a strange but inevitable outcome of Wall Street's latest gold rush: lending to wealthy clients, the loans backed by everything from Warhols to wine.</p>
<p>These loans, which are growing quickly at firms such as Goldman, Morgan Stanley and UBS Group AG, are an exotic spin on the most basic thing banks do: lending money to people. They have the added benefit of building loyalty among prized, ultrawealthy clientele.</p>
<p>Like any loans, though, they can go bad and leave banks holding assets that aren't easy to value or sell. Goldman will likely auction "Natita," which already has been on the market for almost two years with no takers.</p>
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<p>A Goldman spokesman declined to comment on the case. Mr. Kallop didn't respond to requests for comment. A lawyer for Mr. Kallop declined to comment.</p>
<p>"If you do it right, it's a great business and clients will absolutely love you for it," said Bruce Holley, a partner at the Boston Consulting Group who advises private banks on wealth-management strategy. "But there are a lot of ways to mess up."</p>
<p>Banks pushed wealth lending in recent years against a backdrop of increasing deposits and tepid demand for traditional loans. Goldman's private bank has quadrupled its overall lending balances since 2012 to $29 billion. Morgan Stanley wealth-loan balances are up 420% since 2012 to $74 billion.</p>
<p>The largest chunk of wealth loans are mortgages and loans backed by stock portfolios. A smaller but growing segment is secured by valuables such as classic cars, hedge-fund stakes, and even rare violins.</p>
<p>Wealth loans are especially profitable for banks because the revenue they generate is shared less generously with brokers than trading commissions and other fees.</p>
<p>Banks say these loans are safe because they already know the borrowers, their assets, and their ability to repay. And unlike, say, credit cards, these loans have collateral and often a personal guarantee as well. Goldman said in a February filing that the value of collateral in its wealth loans "generally exceed[s]" the loan amount.</p>
<p>Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank AG have lent against the art collection of hedge-fund billionaire Steven A. Cohen, who owns works by Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso, according to Connecticut state filings. Top Blackstone Group LP executives including founder Steve Schwarzman have borrowed from UBS against their stakes in the private-equity firms' funds, New York filings show.</p>
<p>Goldman lent to natural gas wildcatter Aubrey McClendon against his wine collection, according to an Oklahoma filing. Executives joked the collateral was "particularly liquid." After Mr. McClendon's death in 2015, the collection -- heavy on rare Bordeaux -- was auctioned for $8.4 million. Goldman made its money back.</p>
<p>Although not as well-known as those borrowers, Mr. Kallop was the kind of client who private banks court.</p>
<p>In the 1970s, he joined a family-owned marine-services company called McAllister Towing &amp; Transportation. A legal dispute in 1993 resulted in a split of the company. The tugboat and ferry operations stayed with the family. Mr. Kallop took the offshore oil business, which he built over the next two decades into a portfolio of drilling rights, rig operators and construction arms.</p>
<p>He sold the business for nearly $1 billion in 2009 to a consortium of Colombian and Korean investors. Mr. Kallop then dabbled in investing, taking a 7% stake in energy company Quicksilver Resources and bought a 300-year-old liquor distillery in Peru.</p>
<p>He spent lavishly, acquiring three Gulfstream jets and at least eight residences, including a Peruvian mansion, two homes in the Dominican Republic and a working cattle ranch in Texas, according to property record, lawsuits and people who have worked for him.</p>
<p>And he bought yachts -- at least seven of them over the past eight years.</p>
<p>In addition to "Natita," which he bought in 2010 and named for his mother-in-law, Mr. Kallop's fleet includes "Bad Girl," moored in the Dominican Republic, and "Honey Fitz," a 93-footer used by President John F. Kennedy that he bought at Sotheby's Camelot auction in 1998 and restored.</p>
<p>Another yacht, "La Diva," which was once owned by Ivanka Trump, was destroyed in a fire.</p>
<p>A few years ago, Goldman came calling. The Wall Street firm's private bank manages some $450 billion in assets for 11,500 ultrarich clients, and was developed in the 1980s to help business owners like Mr. Kallop manage their windfall after a sale.</p>
<p>Mr. Kallop became a client. In 2014, he borrowed $21.2 million from the bank to buy a 12,000-square foot Tahitian-inspired oceanfront mansion just down the beach from Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump's private club in Palm Beach, Fla., county records show.</p>
<p>In 2014, Mr. Kallop borrowed $32 million from Goldman against the "Natita" and "Bad Girl," court records show. The loan, the maritime equivalent of a home-equity loan, carried an interest rate of 3 percentage points above the London interbank offered rate.</p>
<p>But then Mr. Kallop hit money troubles, according to former employees and acquaintances. He put off upgrades to the boats, which were showing signs of wear -- bad enough for a March 2016 charter group to walk off "Natita" in Nassau, a former crew member said.</p>
<p>Goldman ordered periodic valuations of the yacht after making the loan, according to the crew member.</p>
<p>Mr. Kallop laid off crew members and put "Natita" up for sale in 2015 for 59.5 million euros ($67 million), then dropped the price to $57.5 million last year, according to court document. He sold a second Palm Beach house in April 2015 for $19 million. Goldman alleges he stopped paying back on the loan last November.</p>
<p>Three crew members, including the captain, were recently awarded roughly $90,000 in back pay by a Florida court. A Texas judge last month awarded his former bodyguard more than $500,000 for unpaid services. Mr. Kallop also owes the Florida marina where "Natita" is docked hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees, employees said.</p>
<p>Eventually, Goldman filed suit in a Miami federal court to seize the boat in a maritime version of a foreclosure. Acting on a judge's orders, U.S. Marshals impounded "Natita" at a West Palm Beach marina, where it remains.</p>
<p>Goldman's first move as owner-in-waiting: buying $67,000 worth of fuel to keep the yacht's generator running, according to court filings.</p>
<p>Today, the yacht is listed for $39.9 million, according to broker Worth Avenue Yachts. The outstanding balance of the loan owed to Goldman is roughly $28 million.</p>
<p>Write to Liz Hoffman at [email protected]</p>
<p>(END) Dow Jones Newswires</p>
<p>August 10, 2017 05:44 ET (09:44 GMT)</p> | true | 0 | goldman sachs group inc nysegs owns hundreds billions dollars stocks bonds commodities add portfolio 217foot luxury yacht called natita continue reading story behind boat begins 2014 loan prized goldman client billionaire texas oilman william kallop ends goldman suing client us marshals last month swooping west palm beach marina impound yacht boasts movie theater jacuzzi helipad goldmans nautical trophy strange inevitable outcome wall streets latest gold rush lending wealthy clients loans backed everything warhols wine loans growing quickly firms goldman morgan stanley ubs group ag exotic spin basic thing banks lending money people added benefit building loyalty among prized ultrawealthy clientele like loans though go bad leave banks holding assets arent easy value sell goldman likely auction natita already market almost two years takers advertisement goldman spokesman declined comment case mr kallop didnt respond requests comment lawyer mr kallop declined comment right great business clients absolutely love said bruce holley partner boston consulting group advises private banks wealthmanagement strategy lot ways mess banks pushed wealth lending recent years backdrop increasing deposits tepid demand traditional loans goldmans private bank quadrupled overall lending balances since 2012 29 billion morgan stanley wealthloan balances 420 since 2012 74 billion largest chunk wealth loans mortgages loans backed stock portfolios smaller growing segment secured valuables classic cars hedgefund stakes even rare violins wealth loans especially profitable banks revenue generate shared less generously brokers trading commissions fees banks say loans safe already know borrowers assets ability repay unlike say credit cards loans collateral often personal guarantee well goldman said february filing value collateral wealth loans generally exceeds loan amount morgan stanley deutsche bank ag lent art collection hedgefund billionaire steven cohen owns works andy warhol pablo picasso according connecticut state filings top blackstone group lp executives including founder steve schwarzman borrowed ubs stakes privateequity firms funds new york filings show goldman lent natural gas wildcatter aubrey mcclendon wine collection according oklahoma filing executives joked collateral particularly liquid mr mcclendons death 2015 collection heavy rare bordeaux auctioned 84 million goldman made money back although wellknown borrowers mr kallop kind client private banks court 1970s joined familyowned marineservices company called mcallister towing amp transportation legal dispute 1993 resulted split company tugboat ferry operations stayed family mr kallop took offshore oil business built next two decades portfolio drilling rights rig operators construction arms sold business nearly 1 billion 2009 consortium colombian korean investors mr kallop dabbled investing taking 7 stake energy company quicksilver resources bought 300yearold liquor distillery peru spent lavishly acquiring three gulfstream jets least eight residences including peruvian mansion two homes dominican republic working cattle ranch texas according property record lawsuits people worked bought yachts least seven past eight years addition natita bought 2010 named motherinlaw mr kallops fleet includes bad girl moored dominican republic honey fitz 93footer used president john f kennedy bought sothebys camelot auction 1998 restored another yacht la diva owned ivanka trump destroyed fire years ago goldman came calling wall street firms private bank manages 450 billion assets 11500 ultrarich clients developed 1980s help business owners like mr kallop manage windfall sale mr kallop became client 2014 borrowed 212 million bank buy 12000square foot tahitianinspired oceanfront mansion beach maralago president donald trumps private club palm beach fla county records show 2014 mr kallop borrowed 32 million goldman natita bad girl court records show loan maritime equivalent homeequity loan carried interest rate 3 percentage points london interbank offered rate mr kallop hit money troubles according former employees acquaintances put upgrades boats showing signs wear bad enough march 2016 charter group walk natita nassau former crew member said goldman ordered periodic valuations yacht making loan according crew member mr kallop laid crew members put natita sale 2015 595 million euros 67 million dropped price 575 million last year according court document sold second palm beach house april 2015 19 million goldman alleges stopped paying back loan last november three crew members including captain recently awarded roughly 90000 back pay florida court texas judge last month awarded former bodyguard 500000 unpaid services mr kallop also owes florida marina natita docked hundreds thousands dollars fees employees said eventually goldman filed suit miami federal court seize boat maritime version foreclosure acting judges orders us marshals impounded natita west palm beach marina remains goldmans first move ownerinwaiting buying 67000 worth fuel keep yachts generator running according court filings today yacht listed 399 million according broker worth avenue yachts outstanding balance loan owed goldman roughly 28 million write liz hoffman lizhoffmanwsjcom end dow jones newswires august 10 2017 0544 et 0944 gmt | 750 |
<p>South Korean technology powerhouse Samsung Electronics Co posted a fourth straight record quarterly profit - of $7.4 billion - with strong sales of its Galaxy range of phones masking sharply lower sales of memory chips.</p>
<p>The record run, though, is likely to end in December, with profit growth slowing even more next year as TV markets stagnate and growth in high-end smartphones eases from the recent breakneck speed. Profit is expected to grow 16 percent next year, down from a forecast 73 percent this year, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>"The biggest concern for Samsung is that its smartphone growth momentum will slow. It'll be difficult to maintain such a high profit margin from handsets as the market gets crowded and competition will intensify," said Nam Dae-jong, an analyst at Hana Daetoo Securities.</p>
<p>Reporting just hours after rival Apple Inc, Samsung said July-September operating profit almost doubled to 8.12 trillion won, in line with its earlier estimate. Net profit rose to 6.56 trillion won.</p>
<p>Samsung sold 56.3 million smartphones in the third quarter, according to research firm IDC, giving it a global market share of 31.3 percent - more than double that of Apple, which said it sold 26.9 million iPhones. Apple launched its latest iPhone 5 on September 21.</p>
<p>Samsung said it will book patent-related provisions once a U.S. court rules on its litigation with Apple. A U.S. federal jury said in August that Samsung had copied key features of the iPhone, awarding Apple $1.05 billion in damages. Apple has since asked for another $707 million, and the California court is set to rule on that in early December.</p>
<p>"The amount of provisioning will be fixed according to the U.S. court ruling, and the costs will be set aside this quarter only if there's a ruling within the current quarter," said Robert Yi, head of Samsung's investor relations.</p>
<p>NEXT BIG THING</p>
<p>While Samsung outsells Apple in gadgets, the Korean group's market value is just a third of the U.S. firm's $578 billion, and investors question whether it can narrow that gap as the stellar handset business is set to lose steam and Apple, also its biggest customer, looks to spread its supplier base wider.</p>
<p>"Samsung has a lot of strong businesses like tablets, OLED TVs and micro-processor chips that could become its next big thing and step it up to the next level," said Lee Sun-tae, analyst at NH Investment &amp; Securities. "But these aren't fully ready to become a real earnings driver like the Galaxy."</p>
<p>Illustrating the might of Samsung's handset business, third-quarter profits from the mobile division more than doubled to 5.63 trillion won - 69 percent of total group profit - as sales of the Galaxy S III, introduced in late May, powered ahead of the iPhone 5 launch. Samsung is estimated to have shipped 18-20 million S IIIs in July-September.</p>
<p>But strong sales of Apple devices - iPhones, iPads and iPods - also help the Korean group, which makes chips, micro-processors and flat screens for the popular gadgets.</p>
<p>Still Samsung shares trade more cheaply - at 7.5 times next year's estimated earnings versus Apple's 11.6 times - as its broader business portfolio, including thin-margin washing machines and fridges, makes it more vulnerable to weak consumer spending. Shares in Samsung have climbed 24 percent this year, easily outpacing the benchmark KOSPI's 5 percent gain, but only half the gains made by Apple.</p>
<p>Samsung traded down 2 percent in Seoul on Friday.</p>
<p>"It will take time for Samsung to narrow the gap with Apple in tablets. Its Galaxy Tab tablet PCs aren't sexy enough to outsell Apple's iPad," said NH Investment's Lee. "There are concerns Samsung's earnings would peak this year. There's little room for its mobile business to make more money, while there's a limited upside in chips and displays."</p>
<p>NEW DRIVERS</p>
<p>Samsung is now looking to a new range of mobile products, such as its Ativ tablets using Microsoft's new Windows operating system, to propel growth. And it needs new clients for its screens and chips as Apple peels away to other suppliers.</p>
<p>Samsung has stopped supplying displays for the iPhone, and has a reduced role in the iPad panel - down to 26 percent this quarter from 38 percent a year ago, according to DisplaySearch. Apple is buying fewer memory chips from Samsung for the iPhone 5, relying more on SK Hynix Inc and Elpida Memory.</p>
<p>Bernstein analysts reckon Apple will also gradually phase out Samsung as the main supplier of the mobile micro-processor, used to power the iPhone and iPad, and shift to rival supplier TSMC, starting late next year.</p>
<p>Despite Apple's migration to rival suppliers, Samsung's display division returned to a profit of 1.1 trillion won from a year-earlier loss, on improving sales of mobile displays used in the Galaxy series and other high-end phones and tablets.</p>
<p>Analysts said Samsung should benefit as more electronics vendors reshuffle their products to make more tablets and slim ultrabooks, which consume expensive flat-screens, more sophisticated packaged chips and memory chips.</p>
<p>"That key component market is getting tighter, thanks to the mobile boom. There are now lots of IT companies producing tablets and ultrabooks. This will restore the component supply imbalance, which has been extremely skewed to Apple due to its huge bargaining power," said Kim Sung-in, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities.</p>
<p>CHIPS ARE DOWN</p>
<p>Third-quarter profit at Samsung's chip division, which competes against Toshiba Corp and SK Hynix, dropped 28 percent to 1.15 trillion won as prices of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips sagged, though a recovery in NAND flash chips, widely used in mobile devices, helped offset the weakness. The company said it expected DRAM oversupply to run on into the current quarter, but the NAND market would be tight.</p>
<p>Samsung predicted the year-end holiday season would see only a muted rise in demand as consumers from Europe to the United States spend cautiously in a weak economy. It said it would look to protect margins by increasing mobile micro-processors and improving the mix of high-value memory chips.</p>
<p>Underscoring the weak demand, the Bank of Korea said on Friday the economy grew just 0.2 percent in July-September from the previous quarter, with companies spending less because of the export gloom.</p>
<p>Samsung's quarterly revenue was equal to around a fifth of South Korea's GDP.</p>
<p>($1 = 1103.6500 Korean won)</p>
<p>(Reporting by Miyoung Kim; Editing by Ian Geoghegan)</p>
<p>Advertisement</p> | true | 0 | south korean technology powerhouse samsung electronics co posted fourth straight record quarterly profit 74 billion strong sales galaxy range phones masking sharply lower sales memory chips record run though likely end december profit growth slowing even next year tv markets stagnate growth highend smartphones eases recent breakneck speed profit expected grow 16 percent next year forecast 73 percent year according thomson reuters ibes continue reading biggest concern samsung smartphone growth momentum slow itll difficult maintain high profit margin handsets market gets crowded competition intensify said nam daejong analyst hana daetoo securities reporting hours rival apple inc samsung said julyseptember operating profit almost doubled 812 trillion line earlier estimate net profit rose 656 trillion samsung sold 563 million smartphones third quarter according research firm idc giving global market share 313 percent double apple said sold 269 million iphones apple launched latest iphone 5 september 21 samsung said book patentrelated provisions us court rules litigation apple us federal jury said august samsung copied key features iphone awarding apple 105 billion damages apple since asked another 707 million california court set rule early december amount provisioning fixed according us court ruling costs set aside quarter theres ruling within current quarter said robert yi head samsungs investor relations next big thing samsung outsells apple gadgets korean groups market value third us firms 578 billion investors question whether narrow gap stellar handset business set lose steam apple also biggest customer looks spread supplier base wider samsung lot strong businesses like tablets oled tvs microprocessor chips could become next big thing step next level said lee suntae analyst nh investment amp securities arent fully ready become real earnings driver like galaxy illustrating might samsungs handset business thirdquarter profits mobile division doubled 563 trillion 69 percent total group profit sales galaxy iii introduced late may powered ahead iphone 5 launch samsung estimated shipped 1820 million iiis julyseptember strong sales apple devices iphones ipads ipods also help korean group makes chips microprocessors flat screens popular gadgets still samsung shares trade cheaply 75 times next years estimated earnings versus apples 116 times broader business portfolio including thinmargin washing machines fridges makes vulnerable weak consumer spending shares samsung climbed 24 percent year easily outpacing benchmark kospis 5 percent gain half gains made apple samsung traded 2 percent seoul friday take time samsung narrow gap apple tablets galaxy tab tablet pcs arent sexy enough outsell apples ipad said nh investments lee concerns samsungs earnings would peak year theres little room mobile business make money theres limited upside chips displays new drivers samsung looking new range mobile products ativ tablets using microsofts new windows operating system propel growth needs new clients screens chips apple peels away suppliers samsung stopped supplying displays iphone reduced role ipad panel 26 percent quarter 38 percent year ago according displaysearch apple buying fewer memory chips samsung iphone 5 relying sk hynix inc elpida memory bernstein analysts reckon apple also gradually phase samsung main supplier mobile microprocessor used power iphone ipad shift rival supplier tsmc starting late next year despite apples migration rival suppliers samsungs display division returned profit 11 trillion yearearlier loss improving sales mobile displays used galaxy series highend phones tablets analysts said samsung benefit electronics vendors reshuffle products make tablets slim ultrabooks consume expensive flatscreens sophisticated packaged chips memory chips key component market getting tighter thanks mobile boom lots companies producing tablets ultrabooks restore component supply imbalance extremely skewed apple due huge bargaining power said kim sungin analyst kiwoom securities chips thirdquarter profit samsungs chip division competes toshiba corp sk hynix dropped 28 percent 115 trillion prices dynamic random access memory dram chips sagged though recovery nand flash chips widely used mobile devices helped offset weakness company said expected dram oversupply run current quarter nand market would tight samsung predicted yearend holiday season would see muted rise demand consumers europe united states spend cautiously weak economy said would look protect margins increasing mobile microprocessors improving mix highvalue memory chips underscoring weak demand bank korea said friday economy grew 02 percent julyseptember previous quarter companies spending less export gloom samsungs quarterly revenue equal around fifth south koreas gdp 1 11036500 korean reporting miyoung kim editing ian geoghegan advertisement | 692 |
<p>ABC and NBC on Tuesday night joined the effort to undermine the anti-Obama tea party participants by smearing them as racists as ABC framed a story around the proposition "some prominent Obama supporters are now saying" the opposition to Obama is "driven, in part, by a refusal to accept a black President," while NBC anchor Brian Williams touted how "former President Carter spoke up and spoke out about" the supposed racism. Williams alleged "a certain number of signs and images at last weekend's big tea party march in Washington and at other recent events have featured racial and other violent themes and President Carter today said he is extremely worried by it." ( <a href="http://media.eyeblast.org/newsbusters/static/2009/09/2009-09-15-NBC-NN-Williams.mp3" type="external">MP3 audio</a> of Williams, Video below)With "OUT OF LINE?" on screen beneath what appeared to be pictures from the August town halls, ABC anchor Charles Gibson set up the piece from Dan Harris who recited a litany of liberal presumptions:</p>
<p>They've waved signs likening President Obama to Hitler and the devil, raised questions about whether he was really born in this country, falsely accused him of planning to set up death panels, decried his speech to students as indoctrination and called him everything from a fascist to a socialist to a communist. And all that was before Mr. Obama's speech was interrupted by a Representative who once fought to keep the Confederate flag waving over the South Carolina state house. Add it all up, and some prominent Obama supporters are now saying that it paints a picture of an opposition driven, in part, by a refusal to accept a black President. ( <a href="http://media.eyeblast.org/newsbusters/static/2009/09/2009-09-15-ABC-WNCG-Harris.mp3" type="external">MP3 audio</a>, Video below)</p>
<p>Harris noted that conservatives "point out that President George W. Bush was also called a Nazi and a fascist and was booed by Democrats during a State of the Union speech and labeled a liar on the floor of Congress." Unsaid, back then ABC News didn't feature stories aimed at tarring Bush's harshest critics.</p>
<p>"This morning in Atlanta, former President Carter spoke up and spoke out about what he has seen emerging in some of the public protests against President Obama," Williams announced in touting his "exclusive" session with Carter:</p>
<p>During the interview, we talked about what some see as a heightened climate of racial and other hate speech since the election of President Obama. A certain number of signs and images at last weekend's big tea party march in Washington and at other recent events have featured racial and other violent themes and President Carter today said he is extremely worried by it.</p>
<p>As Williams spoke, viewers saw clips of anti-Obama protesters holding signs, but I saw nothing "violent" or even "racial," though the reference to Hitler is questionable. The signs:</p>
<p>"Bury ObamaCare with Kennedy"</p>
<p>"Change We Don't Believe In"</p>
<p>"Hitler Gave Good Speeches Too"</p>
<p>"Just Say No to Socialized Medicine"</p>
<p>"Throw All of the Bums Out"</p>
<p>Carter asserted "an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he's African-American" and "that African-Americans are not qualified to lead this great country. It's an abominable circumstance and grieves me and concerns me very deeply." Williams highlighted how Carter "went on to say that because of President Obama's personal qualities, he will be able to quote, 'triumph over the racist attitude that is the basis for the negative environment that we see so vividly demonstrated in public affairs in recent days,' end of quote." (MSNBC's Countdown promoted Carter's comments as "Breaking News.") On Monday night, CNN pursued the same agenda to discredit Obama's critics. Check my BiasAlert item, " <a href="" type="internal">CNN's Situation Room Charges: 'Racial Tinge to Tea Movement</a>'" From the Tuesday, September 15 World News on ABC, following Jonathan Karl's story on the House's reprimand of Congressman Joe Wilson:</p>
<p>CHARLES GIBSON: And the polarization in the House of Representatives, which Jon mentioned, is reflected far beyond Capitol Hill. Political discontent is part of the fabric of this country. But at town halls and public rallies, President Obama has been called much more than a liar. Here's Dan Harris.</p>
<p />
<p>DAN HARRIS: They've waved signs likening President Obama to Hitler and the devil, raised questions about whether he was really born in this country, falsely accused him of planning to set up death panels, decried his speech to students as indoctrination and called him everything from a fascist to a socialist to a communist.</p>
<p>WOMAN, AT TOWN HALL, TO SENATOR SPECTER: We don't want this country turning into Russia.</p>
<p>HARRIS: And all that was before Mr. Obama's speech was interrupted by a Representative who once fought to keep the Confederate flag waving over the South Carolina state house. Add it all up, and some prominent Obama supporters are now saying that it paints a picture of an opposition driven, in part, by a refusal to accept a black President.</p>
<p>U.S. REP. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (D-TX): They now see that this might be the same old racism that has steered the policies in this country for years.</p>
<p>HARRIS: With one pastor in Arizona now publicly hoping for the President's demise-</p>
<p>AUDIO OF STEVEN ANDERSON: I'm going to pray that he dies and goes to hell.</p>
<p>HARRIS: -And people showing up at his events with firearms, there is real fear for his safety.</p>
<p>U.S. REP. BARBARA LEE (D-CA): Hate speech can turn into hate crimes.</p>
<p>HARRIS: Conservatives say Obama backers are playing the race card.</p>
<p>ROGER CLEGG, PRESIDENT, CENTER FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITY: It's a classic case of calling wolf.</p>
<p>HARRIS: They point out that President George W. Bush was also called a Nazi and a fascist and was booed by Democrats during a State of the Union speech and labeled a liar on the floor of Congress. Conservatives argue this is a nation built on dissent, and that opposition to the current President is based on substantive disagreement over issues like health care.</p>
<p>CLEGG: I just think that it's very wrong-headed and unfair to suggest that the Americans who oppose some of these proposals are doing so because of race.</p>
<p>HARRIS: The White House is trying very hard not to be pulled into this debate.</p>
<p>ROBERT GIBBS, ON CNN: I don't think the President believes that people are upset because of the color of his skin.</p>
<p>HARRIS: Mr. Obama's election was hailed as a new chapter in American race relations. It's becoming increasingly clear that this new chapter may not yet be fully written. Dan Harris, ABC News, New York.</p>
<p>Williams teased NBC Nightly News: "Here in Washington and around the country how much of the current political fireworks show is about race? Tonight, a former President weighs in." The subsequent segment:</p>
<p />
<p>BRIAN WILLIAMS: This morning in Atlanta, former President Carter spoke up and spoke out about what he has seen emerging in some of the public protests against President Obama. We were in Atlanta to interview President Carter, at the Carter Center, for air at a later date in connection with his upcoming 85th birthday. During the interview, we talked about what some see as a heightened climate of racial and other hate speech since the election of President Obama. A certain number of signs and images at last weekend's big tea party march in Washington and at other recent events have featured racial and other violent themes and President Carter today said he is extremely worried by it.</p>
<p>FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER: I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he's African-American. I live in the south and I've seen the south come a long way and I've seen the rest of the country that shared the south's attitude toward minority</p>
<p />
<p>groups, at that time particularly African-Americans, that that racism [unintelligible word] still exists. And I think it's bubbled up to the surface because of belief among many white people, not just in the south, but around the country, that African-Americans are not qualified to lead this great country. It's an abominable circumstance and grieves me and concerns me very deeply.</p>
<p>WILLIAMS: President Carter in Atlanta today. He went on to say that because of President Obama's personal qualities, he will be able to quote, "triumph over the racist attitude that is the basis for the negative environment that we see so vividly demonstrated in public affairs in recent days," end of quote.</p>
<p>- Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center</p> | true | 0 | abc nbc tuesday night joined effort undermine antiobama tea party participants smearing racists abc framed story around proposition prominent obama supporters saying opposition obama driven part refusal accept black president nbc anchor brian williams touted former president carter spoke spoke supposed racism williams alleged certain number signs images last weekends big tea party march washington recent events featured racial violent themes president carter today said extremely worried mp3 audio williams video belowwith line screen beneath appeared pictures august town halls abc anchor charles gibson set piece dan harris recited litany liberal presumptions theyve waved signs likening president obama hitler devil raised questions whether really born country falsely accused planning set death panels decried speech students indoctrination called everything fascist socialist communist mr obamas speech interrupted representative fought keep confederate flag waving south carolina state house add prominent obama supporters saying paints picture opposition driven part refusal accept black president mp3 audio video harris noted conservatives point president george w bush also called nazi fascist booed democrats state union speech labeled liar floor congress unsaid back abc news didnt feature stories aimed tarring bushs harshest critics morning atlanta former president carter spoke spoke seen emerging public protests president obama williams announced touting exclusive session carter interview talked see heightened climate racial hate speech since election president obama certain number signs images last weekends big tea party march washington recent events featured racial violent themes president carter today said extremely worried williams spoke viewers saw clips antiobama protesters holding signs saw nothing violent even racial though reference hitler questionable signs bury obamacare kennedy change dont believe hitler gave good speeches say socialized medicine throw bums carter asserted overwhelming portion intensely demonstrated animosity toward president barack obama based fact black man hes africanamerican africanamericans qualified lead great country abominable circumstance grieves concerns deeply williams highlighted carter went say president obamas personal qualities able quote triumph racist attitude basis negative environment see vividly demonstrated public affairs recent days end quote msnbcs countdown promoted carters comments breaking news monday night cnn pursued agenda discredit obamas critics check biasalert item cnns situation room charges racial tinge tea movement tuesday september 15 world news abc following jonathan karls story houses reprimand congressman joe wilson charles gibson polarization house representatives jon mentioned reflected far beyond capitol hill political discontent part fabric country town halls public rallies president obama called much liar heres dan harris dan harris theyve waved signs likening president obama hitler devil raised questions whether really born country falsely accused planning set death panels decried speech students indoctrination called everything fascist socialist communist woman town hall senator specter dont want country turning russia harris mr obamas speech interrupted representative fought keep confederate flag waving south carolina state house add prominent obama supporters saying paints picture opposition driven part refusal accept black president us rep eddie bernice johnson dtx see might old racism steered policies country years harris one pastor arizona publicly hoping presidents demise audio steven anderson im going pray dies goes hell harris people showing events firearms real fear safety us rep barbara lee dca hate speech turn hate crimes harris conservatives say obama backers playing race card roger clegg president center equal opportunity classic case calling wolf harris point president george w bush also called nazi fascist booed democrats state union speech labeled liar floor congress conservatives argue nation built dissent opposition current president based substantive disagreement issues like health care clegg think wrongheaded unfair suggest americans oppose proposals race harris white house trying hard pulled debate robert gibbs cnn dont think president believes people upset color skin harris mr obamas election hailed new chapter american race relations becoming increasingly clear new chapter may yet fully written dan harris abc news new york williams teased nbc nightly news washington around country much current political fireworks show race tonight former president weighs subsequent segment brian williams morning atlanta former president carter spoke spoke seen emerging public protests president obama atlanta interview president carter carter center air later date connection upcoming 85th birthday interview talked see heightened climate racial hate speech since election president obama certain number signs images last weekends big tea party march washington recent events featured racial violent themes president carter today said extremely worried former president jimmy carter think overwhelming portion intensely demonstrated animosity toward president barack obama based fact black man hes africanamerican live south ive seen south come long way ive seen rest country shared souths attitude toward minority groups time particularly africanamericans racism unintelligible word still exists think bubbled surface belief among many white people south around country africanamericans qualified lead great country abominable circumstance grieves concerns deeply williams president carter atlanta today went say president obamas personal qualities able quote triumph racist attitude basis negative environment see vividly demonstrated public affairs recent days end quote brent baker vice president research publications media research center | 806 |
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>Just before the weekend, we learned that out of the fifty states, <a href="" type="internal">California, Texas and New York will be getting the largest dump</a> of Muslim “ <a href="" type="internal">refugees</a>” coming from the Middle East. They are also <a href="" type="internal">unscreened Muslims</a> as well. So, if you were wondering if <a href="" type="internal">a town near you</a> was going to be a dumping ground for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596981040/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1596981040&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=freedomoutpos-20&amp;linkId=RWBGCBSJSEH5OYAJ" type="external">potential jihadists</a>, we’ve got a complete list for you.</p>
<p>The Obama State Department has released a list of 190 cities in the United States that they will be releasing these unvetted and unscreened Muslim “refugees” into. Here’s the list:</p>
<p />
<p>Ann Corcoran has been covering what is going on and it isn’t just the Obama administration who is neglecting their constitutional duties. It’s also a Republican-controlled House and Senate.</p>
<p>Corcoran <a href="https://refugeeresettlementwatch.wordpress.com/2015/09/14/is-congress-shirking-its-duty-to-america-on-refugee-admissions-yes-and-has-done-so-for-more-than-2-decades/" type="external">writes</a>:</p>
<p>Has Congress been shirking its duty for decades?</p>
<p>Sure looks like it! Because of the proposals to bring in as many as 100,000 Syrians in the next 12 months, there must be hearings! Come on Trey Gowdy! Come on Bob Goodlatte! Where are you?</p>
<p>History tells us that the House (and the Senate) have been shirking their duties under the Refugee Act of 1980 for twenty years!</p>
<p>She went on to <a href="https://refugeeresettlementwatch.wordpress.com/2015/09/14/is-congress-shirking-its-duty-to-america-on-refugee-admissions-yes-and-has-done-so-for-more-than-2-decades/" type="external">point out</a> that history:</p>
<p>Take a trip down memory lane to the House debate on the ‘Immigration in the National Interest Act of 1995′(HR2202) spearheaded by Rep. Lamar Smith and see what was said about the “consultation” process and how it has been ignored to America’s great detriment.</p>
<p>From <a href="https://www.congress.gov/congressional-report/104th-congress/house-report/469/1" type="external">House Report 104-469</a> (hat tip: Richard Falknor at <a href="http://blueridgeforum.com/" type="external">Blue Ridge Forum</a>). Report is dated March 4, 1996. Former Democratic Rep. Elizabeth Holtzman who was involved with the passage of the Refugee Act of 1980, as chairman of he immigration subcommittee, is quoted as confirming the importance of the consultation process and Congress’ role!</p>
<p>The Refugee Act of 1980 intended to provide Congress with a meaningful role in the process of determining refugee admissions. In the words of former Representative Elizabeth Holtzman, then Chair of the House Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and International Law, ``Importantly, for the first time, the bill requires that Congress be consulted before refugees are admitted, and spells out in detail the elements of that consultation.” 55 Additionally, the Report of the House Committee on the Judiciary regarding the Refugee Act of 1980 stated the following: \55\ 125 Cong. Rec. H11966, H1167 (daily ed. Dec. 13, 1979) (statement of Rep. Holtzman).</p>
<p>The Committee has made every effort to assure that Congress has a proper and substantial role in all decisions on refugee admissions. In the past, the Attorney General’s consultation with this committee regarding admissions has been merely a matter of courtesy or custom. * * * The Committee cannot overemphasize the importance it attaches to consultation. The Congress is charged under the Constitution with the responsibility for the regulation of immigration, and this responsibility continues with respect to refugee admissions.56 \56\ House Report 96-608 at 12-14 (1979).</p>
<p>In the past several years, the refugee consultation process has devolved into a single meeting between the Executive Branch and the House and Senate Judiciary Committees near the end of the fiscal year–the very type of process which the 1980 Act expressly rejected. As an example, the refugee consultation for fiscal year 1996 occurred in the middle of September 1995–two weeks prior to the beginning of fiscal year 1996. The failure of the Administration to consult with Congress on the number and allocation of refugee admissions until just prior to the beginning of the fiscal year meant that the series of discussions between the President and Congress called for in section 207(d)(1) of the INA did not take place. [This is exactly what is happening right now!—ed]</p>
<p>The current process of determining refugee admissions does not provide Congress with a meaningful role in this process, as intended in the Refugee Act of 1980. The number of refugee admissions for a particular fiscal year should not be set unilaterally by the President. As former Chairwoman Holtzman stated: “* * * there is no substitute for public scrutiny, public disclosure, public debate on an issue of such importance as the admission of refugees to the United States.” 57 The only way to have an adequate public debate on the issue of refugees is to give Congress a more meaningful role in determining number and allocation of refugee admissions. \57\ 125 Cong. Rec. H37203 (daily ed. Dec. 20, 1979).</p>
<p>One should not be surprised to find the <a href="http://freedomoutpost.com/2014/11/united-arab-emirates-dojs-job-designates-hamas-cair-terrorist-organization/" type="external">designated terror group Council on American-Islamic Relations</a> (CAIR) <a href="http://www.kmov.com/story/30021188/hundreds-join-rally-to-bring-syrian-refugees-to-st-louis" type="external">behind trying to move some of these potential jihadists into areas like St. Louis</a>.</p>
<p>In my home State of South Carolina, an office has been established in Columbia. I echo Ms. Corcoran’s words, Come on Trey Gowdy, where are you?</p>
<p>Here’s what I honestly think. This administration has known from the get go that this was going to happen. It has been openly ignoring immigration laws for those crossing our southern borders and Muslims. It <a href="http://freedomoutpost.com/2013/04/obama-administration-persecutes-homeschool-family-romeike/" type="external">attacked a Christian homeschooling family over seeking asylum here previously</a>. This taking in of Muslim “refugees” by the united States rather than lands like <a href="" type="internal">Saudi Arabia</a> ( <a href="http://freedomoutpost.com/2013/12/cia-leak-incontrovertible-evidence-911-state-sponsored/" type="external">who I believe is more responsible</a> than Afghanistan or Iraq for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;field-keywords=9%2F11&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;tag=freedomoutpos-20&amp;url=search-alias%3Daps&amp;linkId=RCQZ4ULKRV3TP3T7" type="external">9/11</a>) is treason against the united States and every single elected representative and Obama and his minions should be held accountable (by accountable I mean they should be tried, convicted and summarily executed for their crimes against the people).</p>
<p>Until then, the <a href="http://freedomoutpost.com/2014/02/constitutionally-defined-troops-support/" type="external">Constitution provides for troops to defend against invasions and insurrections</a>. We’re called the militia. Perhaps this is why the <a href="http://rightwingnews.com/democrats/obamas-fbi-is-once-again-warning-that-white-militias-are-as-big-a-threat-as-radical-islamists/" type="external">Obama administration is targeting militia.</a> There is no doubt that this is as much an <a href="http://freedomoutpost.com/2015/09/the-invasion-of-the-west-has-begun/" type="external">orchestrated invasion</a> as was the <a href="http://freedomoutpost.com/2014/07/border-patrol-agent-zack-taylor-immigration-crisis-has-been-orchestrated-as-asymmetrical-warfare-to-destroy-the-country-from-within/" type="external">crossing of illegals last year</a> due to the <a href="http://freedomoutpost.com/2014/06/orchestrated-dhs-solicited-escorts-65000-illegal-immigrant-children-january/" type="external">planning of this current administration</a>.</p>
<p>Courtesy of <a href="http://freedomoutpost.com/2015/09/heres-the-list-of-cities-obama-will-dump-invading-muslim-refugees/" type="external">Freedom Outpost</a>.</p>
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<p /> | true | 0 | weekend learned fifty states california texas new york getting largest dump muslim refugees coming middle east also unscreened muslims well wondering town near going dumping ground potential jihadists weve got complete list obama state department released list 190 cities united states releasing unvetted unscreened muslim refugees heres list ann corcoran covering going isnt obama administration neglecting constitutional duties also republicancontrolled house senate corcoran writes congress shirking duty decades sure looks like proposals bring many 100000 syrians next 12 months must hearings come trey gowdy come bob goodlatte history tells us house senate shirking duties refugee act 1980 twenty years went point history take trip memory lane house debate immigration national interest act 1995hr2202 spearheaded rep lamar smith see said consultation process ignored americas great detriment house report 104469 hat tip richard falknor blue ridge forum report dated march 4 1996 former democratic rep elizabeth holtzman involved passage refugee act 1980 chairman immigration subcommittee quoted confirming importance consultation process congress role refugee act 1980 intended provide congress meaningful role process determining refugee admissions words former representative elizabeth holtzman chair house subcommittee immigration refugees international law importantly first time bill requires congress consulted refugees admitted spells detail elements consultation 55 additionally report house committee judiciary regarding refugee act 1980 stated following 55 125 cong rec h11966 h1167 daily ed dec 13 1979 statement rep holtzman committee made every effort assure congress proper substantial role decisions refugee admissions past attorney generals consultation committee regarding admissions merely matter courtesy custom committee overemphasize importance attaches consultation congress charged constitution responsibility regulation immigration responsibility continues respect refugee admissions56 56 house report 96608 1214 1979 past several years refugee consultation process devolved single meeting executive branch house senate judiciary committees near end fiscal yearthe type process 1980 act expressly rejected example refugee consultation fiscal year 1996 occurred middle september 1995two weeks prior beginning fiscal year 1996 failure administration consult congress number allocation refugee admissions prior beginning fiscal year meant series discussions president congress called section 207d1 ina take place exactly happening right nowed current process determining refugee admissions provide congress meaningful role process intended refugee act 1980 number refugee admissions particular fiscal year set unilaterally president former chairwoman holtzman stated substitute public scrutiny public disclosure public debate issue importance admission refugees united states 57 way adequate public debate issue refugees give congress meaningful role determining number allocation refugee admissions 57 125 cong rec h37203 daily ed dec 20 1979 one surprised find designated terror group council americanislamic relations cair behind trying move potential jihadists areas like st louis home state south carolina office established columbia echo ms corcorans words come trey gowdy heres honestly think administration known get go going happen openly ignoring immigration laws crossing southern borders muslims attacked christian homeschooling family seeking asylum previously taking muslim refugees united states rather lands like saudi arabia believe responsible afghanistan iraq 911 treason united states every single elected representative obama minions held accountable accountable mean tried convicted summarily executed crimes people constitution provides troops defend invasions insurrections called militia perhaps obama administration targeting militia doubt much orchestrated invasion crossing illegals last year due planning current administration courtesy freedom outpost | 521 |
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<p>Like most people, I have a love-hate relationship with technology. I love that it enables quick access to information, allows for swift communication, and speeds along processes, but I hate that&#160;it sometimes feels difficult to keep up with all the changes. Like others who work in <a href="https://www.recruiter.com/talent-acquisition.html" type="external">talent acquisition Opens a New Window.</a>, I look with some trepidation at the emerging technologies that are about to take our business by storm.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Chatbots, automation tools, and an increasingly socially connected world are just the latest movements to&#160;change talent acquisition. The way I see it, these new technologies are either going to be our friends or our foes.</p>
<p>Or perhaps there is a third option.</p>
<p>Friend?</p>
<p>Oracle's <a href="https://go.oracle.com/LP=44187?elqCampaignId=80620" type="external">HR in 2017 Opens a New Window.</a> report is one of many predicting that technology can make routine work a lot less painful. It cites one industry innovator who says that the prospect of robots taking over some of our work is less scary than the prospect that they won't. Translation: We will all finally be freed from repetitive, time-consuming, low-value tasks as automation becomes more widespread.</p>
<p>For instance, chatbots are on the rise. This form of truly "intelligent" and interactive artificial intelligence (AI) is capable of fielding and answering many questions. Chatbots are surfacing in a wide range of applications, including HR.</p>
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<p>Imagine if a chatbot could answer routine questions like "How many paid days off do I have left this year?" or "Is Halloween a statutory holiday" (I think it should be!). Instead of fielding these repetitive and routine questions, HR pros could let chatbots handle them while dealing with more strategic issues that have a greater impact on business success.</p>
<p>Innovative technologies could also help make us more effective employees by delivering training and development platforms, according to CEB's <a href="https://www.cebglobal.com/human-resources/hr-in-2017.html" type="external">Key Imperatives for HR in 2017 Opens a New Window.</a>&#160;report. Employees now have access to customized training that is adapted to their needs, learning styles, and areas that have been identified for personal development. These training platforms can even eliminate the middleman: Rather than waiting for the corporate trainer to schedule a session, employees can access&#160;virtual trainers on demand. This empowers employees to take more control of their personal and professional development.</p>
<p>Oracle also predicts that AI could lead to less bias in&#160;hiring. For example, AI can parse resumes without injecting into the process the unconscious biases we may have against things like education, age, or previous employers. In this ways and many others, the rise of robots and other technology could, ironically, help us finally put people first.</p>
<p>Finally, there is a growing appetite for using technology to gather feedback from candidates and employees. My colleague at Alexander Mann Solutions, Laurie Padua, recently discussed this in <a href="http://www.hrzone.com/community/blogs/laurie-padua/real-time-candidate-feedback-a-reality-in-2017" type="external">a blog post for HRZone Opens a New Window.</a>. Padua, who leads our technology and operations consulting team, sees how technology will soon allow real-time feedback to become a reality. By using this kind of data, companies can deliver more positive and engaging candidate experiences than ever before. We are already experimenting and have enjoyed early successes with AI and robotics to support our customers.</p>
<p>From creating actionable data based on employee surveys to advancing employee engagement initiatives and providing real-time feedback on every action taken by a worker, advanced technologies can serve as valuable tools to improve efficiency in HR processes from onboarding through to the exit interview.</p>
<p>Foe?</p>
<p>The flipside of AI and other automated systems is that some jobs will likely be eliminated. The person who supports your corporate trainer with scheduling and logistics may find their role is made obsolete by tech that manages the administrative side of training. The same goes for the folks who field those routine HR questions I mentioned earlier. Just as the advances seen in the industrial and personal computing revolutions disrupted the careers of many, technology is about to have a major impact on our&#160;profession.</p>
<p>Evolving technologies –&#160;from social media to automated processes like those found in applicant tracking systems – have added complexity to the talent profession. Recruiters must now also be marketers and salespeople, promoting their roles and organizations across platforms and channels. Before, it was as "easy" (I know, it was never truly easy) as posting a role in the local newspaper or advertising on a job board and hoping for the best. Of course, this complexity is ultimately beneficial because it yields better, more targeted results and enables talent professionals to focus more of their time on value-added initiatives.</p>
<p>While technology may help combat unconscious bias, how will it handle the even more intangible facets of hiring, like assessing cultural fit or a person's work ethic? I agree with most observers who believe that some degree of human judgment will always remain necessary in recruiting. These emerging technologies aren't set to displace talent professionals anytime soon, if ever. So, while they may not be full-on enemies, we'll have to 'go along to get along.'</p>
<p>Which leads me to the third option.</p>
<p>Frenemy?</p>
<p>You know that friend you love to hate? Or hate to love? Your "frenemy," so to speak. (By the way, they probably feel the same way about you. It's all about deciding how much you need each other – and what for.)</p>
<p>I predict this is actually the most likely outcome of all these emerging technologies. With the adoption of any new innovation comes disruption, and with disruption comes discomfort for those impacted by the change. But there are also strides forward – some good, some bad, but ultimately, not completely one or the other. The key is to be equal parts adaptable and selfish: understand that the change is here and figure out how it can make you a better performer.</p>
<p>As the Oracle report argues, it is unlikely that the widespread adoption of these technologies will be instantaneous. Rather, progress is much more likely to be cautious. Some early adopters – both companies and individuals – will figure it out and succeed, while others&#160;won't and will revert back to old processes until they're ready to dip their toes back in the water. Both will have to decide just how much risk they're willing and able to take.</p>
<p>I recommend you find a guide for the journey. In my personal life, it's my millennial son who urges me to try new apps and to experiment with different technologies, including my new Peloton bike. In my professional life, it is the innovation team at Alexander Mann Solutions. They are exploring, applying, and recommending these advancements in an effort to drive out waste, improve efficiency, and most importantly, free up HR professionals to focus on their strategic imperatives.</p>
<p>The key for the talent function in any business will be to prepare for this change with an open mind and to make sure each member of the team understands how they need to adjust to evolve and move forward.</p>
<p>Susan Cooksey is vice president, solution sales, at <a href="http://alexandermannsolutions.com/" type="external">Alexander Mann Solutions Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | true | 0 | like people lovehate relationship technology love enables quick access information allows swift communication speeds along processes hate that160it sometimes feels difficult keep changes like others work talent acquisition opens new window look trepidation emerging technologies take business storm continue reading chatbots automation tools increasingly socially connected world latest movements to160change talent acquisition way see new technologies either going friends foes perhaps third option friend oracles hr 2017 opens new window report one many predicting technology make routine work lot less painful cites one industry innovator says prospect robots taking work less scary prospect wont translation finally freed repetitive timeconsuming lowvalue tasks automation becomes widespread instance chatbots rise form truly intelligent interactive artificial intelligence ai capable fielding answering many questions chatbots surfacing wide range applications including hr advertisement imagine chatbot could answer routine questions like many paid days left year halloween statutory holiday think instead fielding repetitive routine questions hr pros could let chatbots handle dealing strategic issues greater impact business success innovative technologies could also help make us effective employees delivering training development platforms according cebs key imperatives hr 2017 opens new window160report employees access customized training adapted needs learning styles areas identified personal development training platforms even eliminate middleman rather waiting corporate trainer schedule session employees access160virtual trainers demand empowers employees take control personal professional development oracle also predicts ai could lead less bias in160hiring example ai parse resumes without injecting process unconscious biases may things like education age previous employers ways many others rise robots technology could ironically help us finally put people first finally growing appetite using technology gather feedback candidates employees colleague alexander mann solutions laurie padua recently discussed blog post hrzone opens new window padua leads technology operations consulting team sees technology soon allow realtime feedback become reality using kind data companies deliver positive engaging candidate experiences ever already experimenting enjoyed early successes ai robotics support customers creating actionable data based employee surveys advancing employee engagement initiatives providing realtime feedback every action taken worker advanced technologies serve valuable tools improve efficiency hr processes onboarding exit interview foe flipside ai automated systems jobs likely eliminated person supports corporate trainer scheduling logistics may find role made obsolete tech manages administrative side training goes folks field routine hr questions mentioned earlier advances seen industrial personal computing revolutions disrupted careers many technology major impact our160profession evolving technologies 160from social media automated processes like found applicant tracking systems added complexity talent profession recruiters must also marketers salespeople promoting roles organizations across platforms channels easy know never truly easy posting role local newspaper advertising job board hoping best course complexity ultimately beneficial yields better targeted results enables talent professionals focus time valueadded initiatives technology may help combat unconscious bias handle even intangible facets hiring like assessing cultural fit persons work ethic agree observers believe degree human judgment always remain necessary recruiting emerging technologies arent set displace talent professionals anytime soon ever may fullon enemies well go along get along leads third option frenemy know friend love hate hate love frenemy speak way probably feel way deciding much need predict actually likely outcome emerging technologies adoption new innovation comes disruption disruption comes discomfort impacted change also strides forward good bad ultimately completely one key equal parts adaptable selfish understand change figure make better performer oracle report argues unlikely widespread adoption technologies instantaneous rather progress much likely cautious early adopters companies individuals figure succeed others160wont revert back old processes theyre ready dip toes back water decide much risk theyre willing able take recommend find guide journey personal life millennial son urges try new apps experiment different technologies including new peloton bike professional life innovation team alexander mann solutions exploring applying recommending advancements effort drive waste improve efficiency importantly free hr professionals focus strategic imperatives key talent function business prepare change open mind make sure member team understands need adjust evolve move forward susan cooksey vice president solution sales alexander mann solutions opens new window | 651 |
<p />
<p>There's been a lot of chatter in the conservative blogosphere lately about a law that would appear to prevent Islamists and others advocating totalitarianism from immigrating into the United States.</p>
<p>The law in question is known as the <a href="http://www.uscis.gov/iframe/ilink/docView/SLB/HTML/SLB/act.html" type="external">Immigration and Nationality Act</a>, and was passed on June 27, 1952.&#160; That law revised U.S. laws regarding immigration, naturalization and nationality.</p>
<p>Section 313 of that law states:</p>
<p>(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section&#160;405(b)&#160;, no person shall hereafter be naturalized as a citizen of the United States-</p>
<p>(1) who advocates or teaches, or who is a member of or affiliated with any organization that advocates or teaches, opposition to all organized government; or</p>
<p>(2) who is a member of or affiliated with (A) the Communist Party of the United States; (B) any other totalitarian party of the United States; (C) the Communist Political Association; (D) the Communist or other totalitarian party of any State of the United States, of any foreign state, or of any political or geographical subdivision of any foreign state; (E) any section, subsidiary, branch, affiliate, or subdivision of any such association or party; or (F) the direct predecessors or successors of any such association or party, regardless of what name such group or organization may have used, may now bear, or may hereafter adopt, unless such alien establishes that he did not have knowledge or reason to believe at the time he became a member of or affiliated with such an organization (and did not thereafter and prior to the date upon which such organization was so registered or so required to be registered have such knowledge or reason to believe) that such organization was a Communist-front organization; or</p>
<p>(3) who, although not within any of the other provisions of this section, advocates the economic, international, and governmental doctrines of world communism or the establishment in the United States of a totalitarian dictatorship, or who is a member of or affiliated with any organization that advocates the economic, international, and governmental doctrines of world communism or the establishment in the United States of a totalitarian dictatorship, either through its own utterances or through any written or printed publications issued or published by or with the permission or consent of or under authority of such organizations or paid for by the funds of such organization; or</p>
<p>(4) who advocates or teaches or who is a member of or affiliated with any organization that advocates or teaches (A) the overthrow by force or violence or other unconstitutional means of the Government of the United States or of all forms of law; or (B) the duty, necessity, or propriety of the unlawful assaulting or killing of any officer or officers (either of specific individuals or of officers generally) of the Government of the United States or of any other organized government because of his or their official character; or (C) the unlawful damage, injury, or destruction of property; or (D) sabotage; or</p>
<p>(5) who writes or publishes or causes to be written or published, or who knowingly circulates, distributes, prints, or displays, or knowingly causes to be circulated, distributed, printed, published, or displayed or who knowingly has in his possession for the purpose of circulation, publication, distribution, or display, any written or printed matter, advocating or teaching opposition to all organized government, or advocating (A) the overthrow by force, violence, or other unconstitutional means of the Government of the United States or of all forms of law; or (B) the duty, necessity, or propriety of the unlawful assaulting or killing of any officer or officers (either of specific individuals or of officers generally) of the Government of the United States or of any other organized government, because of his or their official character; or (C) the unlawful damage, injury, or destruction of property; or (D) sabotage; or (E) the economic, international, and governmental doctrines of world communism or the establishment in the United States of a totalitarian dictatorship; or</p>
<p>(6) who is a member of or affiliated with any organization, that writes, circulates, distributes, prints, publishes, or displays, or causes to be written, circulated, distributed, printed, published, or displayed, or that has in its possession for the purpose of circulation, distribution, publication, issue, or display, any written or printed matter of the character described in subparagraph (5).</p>
<p>(b) The provisions of this section or of any other section of this Act shall not be construed as declaring that any of the organizations referred to in this section or in any other section of this Act do not advocate the overthrow of the Government of the United States by force, violence, or other unconstitutional means.</p>
<p>(c) The provisions of this section shall be applicable to any applicant for naturalization who at any time within a period of ten years immediately preceding the filing of the application for naturalization or after such filing and before taking the final oath of citizenship is, or has been found to be within any of the classes enumerated within this section, notwithstanding that at the time the application is filed he may not be included within such classes.</p>
<p>(d) Any person who is within any of the classes described in subsection (a) solely because of past membership in, or past affiliation with, a party or organization may be naturalized without regard to the provisions of subsection (c) if such person establishes that such membership or affiliation is or was involuntary, or occurred and terminated prior to the attainment by such alien of the age of sixteen years, or that such membership or affiliation is or was by operation of law, or was for purposes of obtaining employment, food rations, or other essentials of living and where necessary for such purposes.</p>
<p>The law prohibits entry to the US if the person belongs to an organization seeking to overthrow the US government by "force, violence, or other unconstitutional means."</p>
<p>Writing at the Sons of Liberty, Tim Brown <a href="http://sonsoflibertymedia.com/2015/12/islamists-communists-and-other-totalitarians-are-prohibited-by-law-from-immigrating-to-the-us/" type="external">said</a>, "The Koran and the Hadiths present Sharia and demand submission to Islam, which is antithetical to Biblical law and the US Constitution, as well as to our Republic."</p>
<p>He added:</p>
<p>Whether one pushes Islam as a religion is irrelevant. It's ideology is opposed to America and her laws, including her Constitution.</p>
<p>First, consider that Hussein Obama has ignored immigration law, both with regards to those coming across our southern border and those from the Middle East.</p>
<p>Now, consider that this is about immigration and naturalization and its aim was primarily at Communism. However, it also mentions totalitarianism being promoted. That is all that Islam does. They are no different than Communism in their ideology. They just claim to do it in the name of Allah rather than advance the idea of a Creator.</p>
<p>And it's interesting to note that Communists, Islamists and many radical leftists are quite united in their calls for violence, revolution and "change."</p>
<p>It would seem, therefore, that Donald Trump's call for a moratorium on immigration of Muslims may have some basis in the law.&#160; It's now time to demand that our lawmakers actually enforce the law in the name of national security rather than threaten to prosecute Americans for speech they don't like.</p>
<p>Related:</p>
<p>If you haven't checked out and liked our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ConservativeFiringLine?fref=ts" type="external">Facebook</a> page, please go <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ConservativeFiringLine?fref=ts" type="external">here</a> and do so.</p> | true | 0 | theres lot chatter conservative blogosphere lately law would appear prevent islamists others advocating totalitarianism immigrating united states law question known immigration nationality act passed june 27 1952160 law revised us laws regarding immigration naturalization nationality section 313 law states notwithstanding provisions section160405b160 person shall hereafter naturalized citizen united states 1 advocates teaches member affiliated organization advocates teaches opposition organized government 2 member affiliated communist party united states b totalitarian party united states c communist political association communist totalitarian party state united states foreign state political geographical subdivision foreign state e section subsidiary branch affiliate subdivision association party f direct predecessors successors association party regardless name group organization may used may bear may hereafter adopt unless alien establishes knowledge reason believe time became member affiliated organization thereafter prior date upon organization registered required registered knowledge reason believe organization communistfront organization 3 although within provisions section advocates economic international governmental doctrines world communism establishment united states totalitarian dictatorship member affiliated organization advocates economic international governmental doctrines world communism establishment united states totalitarian dictatorship either utterances written printed publications issued published permission consent authority organizations paid funds organization 4 advocates teaches member affiliated organization advocates teaches overthrow force violence unconstitutional means government united states forms law b duty necessity propriety unlawful assaulting killing officer officers either specific individuals officers generally government united states organized government official character c unlawful damage injury destruction property sabotage 5 writes publishes causes written published knowingly circulates distributes prints displays knowingly causes circulated distributed printed published displayed knowingly possession purpose circulation publication distribution display written printed matter advocating teaching opposition organized government advocating overthrow force violence unconstitutional means government united states forms law b duty necessity propriety unlawful assaulting killing officer officers either specific individuals officers generally government united states organized government official character c unlawful damage injury destruction property sabotage e economic international governmental doctrines world communism establishment united states totalitarian dictatorship 6 member affiliated organization writes circulates distributes prints publishes displays causes written circulated distributed printed published displayed possession purpose circulation distribution publication issue display written printed matter character described subparagraph 5 b provisions section section act shall construed declaring organizations referred section section act advocate overthrow government united states force violence unconstitutional means c provisions section shall applicable applicant naturalization time within period ten years immediately preceding filing application naturalization filing taking final oath citizenship found within classes enumerated within section notwithstanding time application filed may included within classes person within classes described subsection solely past membership past affiliation party organization may naturalized without regard provisions subsection c person establishes membership affiliation involuntary occurred terminated prior attainment alien age sixteen years membership affiliation operation law purposes obtaining employment food rations essentials living necessary purposes law prohibits entry us person belongs organization seeking overthrow us government force violence unconstitutional means writing sons liberty tim brown said koran hadiths present sharia demand submission islam antithetical biblical law us constitution well republic added whether one pushes islam religion irrelevant ideology opposed america laws including constitution first consider hussein obama ignored immigration law regards coming across southern border middle east consider immigration naturalization aim primarily communism however also mentions totalitarianism promoted islam different communism ideology claim name allah rather advance idea creator interesting note communists islamists many radical leftists quite united calls violence revolution change would seem therefore donald trumps call moratorium immigration muslims may basis law160 time demand lawmakers actually enforce law name national security rather threaten prosecute americans speech dont like related havent checked liked facebook page please go | 582 |
<p>In his book The Consolations of Philosophy, Alain de Botton offers that: “At the heart of every frustration lies a basic structure: the collisions of a wish with an unyielding reality.” He goes on to observe: “Our greatest furies spring from events which violate our sense of the ground of our existence.” So much has been written and discussed lately re: the frustrations of the diminishing white middle class male…and this archetype has been used to explain the Trump ascendancy. Yet the truly frustrated political/demographic class today are left-wing Democrats who hijacked what was once the party of the working man and flew it into the cliff of identity politics and tribalism…and have reaped the results in lost election after election since 2008.</p>
<p>The Left, so sure of their moral high ground, yet so bewildered at their marginalization, have found no validation at the ballot box. So they have grown ever more agitated, like someone locked in a steam room now pounding on the door and flailing around as the temperature (in this case the rise of Republican political power not just in Washington but across the state capitals) builds. Eventually, as the reality of their own powerlessness sinks in, a lashing out in more unconventional, even violent ways will result. The grisliest expression of this psychology was realized in the form of gunshots last Wednesday.</p>
<p>The hatred witnessed on June 14 was forged not just in the fires of the 2016 campaign but indeed through the steady erosion of real leftist power since its apogee in the 2008 election. The morning after Donald Trump’s seismic victory, Game Change co-author John Heilemann predicted: “Democrats are going to spend a lot of time thinking about how we could have lost to this guy. And how bad your candidate had to be to lose to Donald Trump.” But that is not the course they chose. Instead of a much-needed Stuart Smalley mirror-gazing moment of collective reflection, Democratic leadership, taking their cues from an apoplectic far-left coastal/municipal constituency, opted to not just be the opposition party. Rather, they embarked on a campaign whose ultimate end is nothing short of reversing the general election.</p>
<p>It is an elitist response. To bestow legitimacy upon a Trump presidency would be to admit their beliefs are out of step with the people they feel are their credentialed right to rule. This cannot be. The only reasonable explanation, then, is that the rubes between the western slopes of the Appalachians and the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevadas must be deranged, duped, ignorant, or suffer from a cornucopia of “isms.” There is no space in this cloistered mindset for self-analysis, let alone self-critique. Nor is there any need as they see it. Merely #resist. It is no coincidence that Democrats are three times as likely as Republicans to block someone on social media if they have different politics. There is no need for them to hear opposing views any more than an astronaut need engage a Flat Earther. The virtue of Leftism is settled political science. This makes it all more disconcerting for them when reality crashes through the bubble. And, as per de Botton, there is a direct path from frustration to fury. We are seeing it now.</p>
<p>What is happening within broader Democratic circles, and the organized protests in particular — be they of the bright-eyed knitted vulva cap design or the darkly violent anarchy of Antifa — is the equivalent to a mass temper tantrum. It must be enraging to know you are in the right, and the other side (whomever they are, but usually beginning with the Tron of the white, heterosexual American male) are buffoons, and yet be forced to watch as election after election shows your real political power slipping away in the form of lost state legislatures, lost governorships, a lost House, a lost Senate, and now, the final turn of the screw, a lost White House and with it the Supreme Court. This cannot be happening. Clearly there is something else besides losing in the arena of ideas at play here. Something sinister. So they latch onto the Russia-hacked-the-election mantra and, despite mounting evidence (or lack thereof) that President Trump was not directly involved in any collusion, continue to press on. An investigation is needed, they say, to show that an investigation is not needed.</p>
<p>But there is no genuine desire on the part of Democrats to get at the bottom of the Russian connection — after all, their own candidate was openly engaged in advancing Russian interests in the form of uranium deals while her husband raked in $500,000 speaking fees in Moscow. Rather, they know that special counsels have a way of unearthing skeletons buried in the basement, even if originally tasked with rummaging through the attic…as Bill Clinton discovered when an ostensible probe into Whitewater turned into Monica-gate and paralyzed his administration. That is the intention here. As self-examination is not an option for the righteous, destroying the vile enemy by any means necessary when thwarted at the voting booth is the only recourse. Thus, there will always be another investigation after another which they hope will cumulatively isolate and bleed this administration’s credibility and approval ratings by a thousand cuts just in time for 2020.</p>
<p>In a way, what we have seen on the Left is a curious phenomenon that afflicted by-passed Japanese garrisons in World War 2 when denied their Gotterdammerungs and instead were cut-off and left to wither and die miserably on the vine. The garrisons, observed William Manchester, experienced a “psychological hernia” and felt themselves the victims of a monstrous injustice. Irrational, violent, even suicidal behavior followed. The more extremist elements of the once populist working man’s Democratic Party are behaving the same way now. They seem unable to come to grips with a monstrous injustice that has befallen them. As such, the heated rhetoric intensifies as the frustration builds. Being powerless in politics is nitroglycerin to the soul of the pious. It is only a matter of time before someone, unable to cope with a reality that defies their expectations, snaps and lashes out in a heinous fashion.</p>
<p>It was a noble effort this past week to cloak the GOP-targeted shooting in bipartisanship, with the pleas to dial back the hate “on both sides.” But this sentiment will be short-lived as it, too, belies liberal reality. There is not an equal distribution of political violence today. The assaults, the rioting, the looting, the shooting of police, the physical intimidation, the shouting down and even shutting down of free speech across college campuses, the barricading, the racial re-segregation and threats to even liberal professors who find this unacceptable, and now the targeting of innocents solely for their political affiliations, are disproportionately a manifestation of the mobilized Left. It is a reflexive phenomenon of those who know that, for all their righteous indignation and intellect, they are losing the battle of ideas — certainly in elections — and with it the power to see their own vision of the country implemented. Soon even their last recourse, the courts, may be taken from them. It is just too much for some to bear.</p>
<p>As it turns out, Obama’s strategy of polarizing and carving up identities to cobble together a 51% voting block of the aggrieved only worked for one unique candidate. It was not transferable to a 69-year-old, shrill, white grandmother tainted with corruption and with no clear vision for the future beyond seeing herself ensconced in the Oval Office. The tribalism model has been, so far at least, rejected on all levels of government by swaths of an American electorate who still view themselves as just that: Americans. The setbacks have not stopped the leftist tantrum however. When it comes to the Democratic Party, there is no room for soul-searching. There is only the strategy of digging in deeper behind their moral ramparts and waging guerrilla war through endless investigations, hearings, and protest in an attempt to thwart the will of the people as expressed in the electoral process. Unless Donald Trump burns himself on a pyre of his own tweets and arrogant recklessness, a very likely possibility, the Left’s now-toxic, even dangerous level of frustration will continue to percolate in a way their opponents, too adroit at winning elections over the past eight years to pay them much mind, cannot fathom. This would not be good for the country, no matter which side of the aisle one finds him or herself on when the bullets of frustration fly.</p> | true | 0 | book consolations philosophy alain de botton offers heart every frustration lies basic structure collisions wish unyielding reality goes observe greatest furies spring events violate sense ground existence much written discussed lately frustrations diminishing white middle class maleand archetype used explain trump ascendancy yet truly frustrated politicaldemographic class today leftwing democrats hijacked party working man flew cliff identity politics tribalismand reaped results lost election election since 2008 left sure moral high ground yet bewildered marginalization found validation ballot box grown ever agitated like someone locked steam room pounding door flailing around temperature case rise republican political power washington across state capitals builds eventually reality powerlessness sinks lashing unconventional even violent ways result grisliest expression psychology realized form gunshots last wednesday hatred witnessed june 14 forged fires 2016 campaign indeed steady erosion real leftist power since apogee 2008 election morning donald trumps seismic victory game change coauthor john heilemann predicted democrats going spend lot time thinking could lost guy bad candidate lose donald trump course chose instead muchneeded stuart smalley mirrorgazing moment collective reflection democratic leadership taking cues apoplectic farleft coastalmunicipal constituency opted opposition party rather embarked campaign whose ultimate end nothing short reversing general election elitist response bestow legitimacy upon trump presidency would admit beliefs step people feel credentialed right rule reasonable explanation rubes western slopes appalachians eastern slopes sierra nevadas must deranged duped ignorant suffer cornucopia isms space cloistered mindset selfanalysis let alone selfcritique need see merely resist coincidence democrats three times likely republicans block someone social media different politics need hear opposing views astronaut need engage flat earther virtue leftism settled political science makes disconcerting reality crashes bubble per de botton direct path frustration fury seeing happening within broader democratic circles organized protests particular brighteyed knitted vulva cap design darkly violent anarchy antifa equivalent mass temper tantrum must enraging know right side whomever usually beginning tron white heterosexual american male buffoons yet forced watch election election shows real political power slipping away form lost state legislatures lost governorships lost house lost senate final turn screw lost white house supreme court happening clearly something else besides losing arena ideas play something sinister latch onto russiahackedtheelection mantra despite mounting evidence lack thereof president trump directly involved collusion continue press investigation needed say show investigation needed genuine desire part democrats get bottom russian connection candidate openly engaged advancing russian interests form uranium deals husband raked 500000 speaking fees moscow rather know special counsels way unearthing skeletons buried basement even originally tasked rummaging atticas bill clinton discovered ostensible probe whitewater turned monicagate paralyzed administration intention selfexamination option righteous destroying vile enemy means necessary thwarted voting booth recourse thus always another investigation another hope cumulatively isolate bleed administrations credibility approval ratings thousand cuts time 2020 way seen left curious phenomenon afflicted bypassed japanese garrisons world war 2 denied gotterdammerungs instead cutoff left wither die miserably vine garrisons observed william manchester experienced psychological hernia felt victims monstrous injustice irrational violent even suicidal behavior followed extremist elements populist working mans democratic party behaving way seem unable come grips monstrous injustice befallen heated rhetoric intensifies frustration builds powerless politics nitroglycerin soul pious matter time someone unable cope reality defies expectations snaps lashes heinous fashion noble effort past week cloak goptargeted shooting bipartisanship pleas dial back hate sides sentiment shortlived belies liberal reality equal distribution political violence today assaults rioting looting shooting police physical intimidation shouting even shutting free speech across college campuses barricading racial resegregation threats even liberal professors find unacceptable targeting innocents solely political affiliations disproportionately manifestation mobilized left reflexive phenomenon know righteous indignation intellect losing battle ideas certainly elections power see vision country implemented soon even last recourse courts may taken much bear turns obamas strategy polarizing carving identities cobble together 51 voting block aggrieved worked one unique candidate transferable 69yearold shrill white grandmother tainted corruption clear vision future beyond seeing ensconced oval office tribalism model far least rejected levels government swaths american electorate still view americans setbacks stopped leftist tantrum however comes democratic party room soulsearching strategy digging deeper behind moral ramparts waging guerrilla war endless investigations hearings protest attempt thwart people expressed electoral process unless donald trump burns pyre tweets arrogant recklessness likely possibility lefts nowtoxic even dangerous level frustration continue percolate way opponents adroit winning elections past eight years pay much mind fathom would good country matter side aisle one finds bullets frustration fly | 722 |
<p />
<p>Neil Young said only love can break your heart. It can <a href="http://www.credit.com/personal-finance/5-easy-steps-to-get-control-of-your-finances/?utm_source=Fox&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_content=IB_1&amp;utm_campaign=v_day_gotchas" type="external">break the bank Opens a New Window.</a>, too, particularly during Valentine’s season, when emotions — and loneliness – can run high.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Scammers and companies that turns gotchas into profits know all about your weaknesses. The “loneliness industry” cut its teeth with 1-900 commercials during the 1990s, but now it’s perfected the craft. The loneliness business runs the gamut from legit-but-sneaky, like many online flower delivery firms, to outright fraud, like sweetheart scams.</p>
<p>Valentines will spend an average of $142 this year on candy, flowers, apparel and more, up from $133.91 last year, according to the National Retail Federation, totaling $18.9 billion just in the U.S. Plenty of folks want a chunk of that change. To try to keep you and your money safe this holiday, here’s a guide.</p>
<p>1. Flowers</p>
<p>There’s no way around it: Flower prices jump off the charts this week, as demand skyrockets. Expect to pay $40 for a bouquet that cost $20 last week (or next week). If you are in the kind of secure relationship that allows for smart holiday shifting — Christmas cards sure are cheap on Dec. 26 — buying flowers next week is a great option!</p>
<p>Major online florists like ProFlowers, 1800Flowers and FTD.com all have a good reputation for delivering bouquets on time, no small feat during the crunch of Valentine’s Day. While picking out your own gift at a local florist may be&#160;a better idea, there’s nothing wrong with ordering flowers online. Just be sure you know what you are paying, and understand it’ll take some stick-to-it-ive-ness to find out. At all three retailers, you don’t learn the final price until you’ve worked your way through several pages of forms, including delivery address and so on. The arrangement that sounded like it would cost $30 in a radio ad will actually cost $50 or more, particularly if you’ve waited this long to order. Delivery on Valentine’s Day, a Saturday, could set you back even more.</p>
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<p>2. Romance Scams</p>
<p>Don’t have someone to buy flowers for? You are likely to turn to an app or website for help. Pew says one in 10 U.S. adults have done so, and the number of people who <a href="http://blog.credit.com/2015/01/4-ways-to-avoid-online-dating-scams-105715/?utm_source=Fox&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_content=IB_2&amp;utm_campaign=v_day_gotchas" type="external">dated someone they met online Opens a New Window.</a> grew to 66% over the past eight years. Maybe this week will inspire you to take the plunge. When you do, know that plenty of criminals lurk on all the sites. And there’s nothing more tragic than a “sweetheart scam.” Con artists may spend weeks and even months gaining trust from victims — even sending flowers purchased with <a href="http://www.credit.com/identity-theft-protection/?utm_source=Fox&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_content=IB_3&amp;utm_campaign=v_day_gotchas#signs-its-been-stolen" type="external">stolen credit cards Opens a New Window.</a> or using fake phots they’ve lifted from actual dating profiles. Then, they make their move. Barb Sluppick has been running a forum called Romance Scams for more than five years, and she says the scams show no signs of slowing down. Most victims find her support group after it’s too late.</p>
<p>“We are getting a lot of the same. Getting victims to send money, cash checks, ship merchandise,” she said, adding that prepaid cards have been&#160;the&#160;currency of choice for scammers lately.</p>
<p>Particularly tragic are family members who contact Sluppick looking for advice when a loved one simply can’t be convinced that their “lover” is really a criminal.</p>
<p>“We are also getting lots of contacts from family and friends of victims who are so caught up in the scam and do not believe that they are being scammed,” she said. “We do our best to assist them in steps to take to help the person out of the scammer’s hands. I am sad to say that those kinds of interventions are not always successful. There are families that have been ripped apart because the victim chooses the scammer over their family and friends. That is one of my biggest frustrations and we are trying to find better ways to help these families and friends.”</p>
<p>3. Apps &amp;&#160;Hackers</p>
<p>But even if you don’t think you would fall for that, your online love search might leave you more vulnerable than you think.</p>
<p>A new study released this week by IBM found more than 60% of leading dating mobile apps they studied, on the Android mobile platform, are potentially vulnerable to a variety of cyber-attacks that put personal user information and corporate data at risk. Fully 26 of the 41 dating apps they analyzed on the Android mobile platform had either medium or high severity vulnerabilities, by IBM’s ratings.</p>
<p>The study has implications for both individuals and corporations, which now routinely allow employees to “bring your own device” for work. That means company data is intermingled with online dating apps that might not be safe.</p>
<p>Here’s what IBM found:</p>
<p>“Consumers need to be careful not to reveal too much personal information on these sites as they look to build a relationship with another user on these dating apps,” said Caleb Barlow, Vice President, IBM Security. “Our research demonstrates that some users may be engaged in a dangerous tradeoff – with increased accessibility resulting in decreased personal security and privacy.”</p>
<p>It’s not easy to adjust privacy settings on most apps — many won’t work if you turn off certain features — but users should at least restrict app access to location information as much as possible. Obviously, with an app like Tinder, which lets users find potential mates who are nearby, that’s not possible, so use your judgment.</p>
<p>Most critically, users should avoid revealing too much in dating profiles. Even something innocuous like a pet’s name could make someone more vulnerable to a hack later — many sites use pet’s name as a security question. It’s always a good idea to check your <a href="http://www.credit.com/credit-reports/free-annual-credit-report/?utm_source=Fox&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_content=IB_4&amp;utm_campaign=v_day_gotchas" type="external">free annual credit reports Opens a New Window.</a> for possible signs of fraud (like unauthorized new accounts or collection items for a debt someone else ran up in your name) – and it’s especially important to check your credit if you believe someone has <a href="http://www.credit.com/identity-theft-protection/?utm_source=Fox&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_content=IB_5&amp;utm_campaign=v_day_gotchas#steps-to-take-if-its-been-stolen" type="external">scammed your identity info from you Opens a New Window.</a>. You can also get a <a href="https://www.credit.com/free-credit-report-card/?utm_source=Fox&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_content=IB_6&amp;utm_campaign=v_day_gotchas" type="external">free credit report summary on Credit.com Opens a New Window.</a>, updated monthly.</p>
<p>And don’t forget, online dating profiles can remain online long after you’ve found love. It’s good data hygiene to remove profiles when they aren’t necessary any longer. It’s probably good for domestic tranquility, too.</p>
<p>More From Credit.com</p>
<p><a href="http://www.credit.com/credit-monitoring/?utm_source=Fox&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_content=BO_1&amp;utm_campaign=v_day_gotchas#how-to-use-free-credit-monitoring-tools" type="external">How to Use Free Credit Monitoring Tools Opens a New Window.</a> <a href="http://www.credit.com/credit-monitoring/?utm_source=Fox&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_content=BO_1&amp;utm_campaign=v_day_gotchas#how-to-use-free-credit-monitoring-tools" type="external" /> <a href="http://www.credit.com/identity-theft-protection/?utm_source=Fox&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_content=BO_2&amp;utm_campaign=v_day_gotchas#signs-its-been-stolen" type="external">The Signs Your Identity Has Been Stolen Opens a New Window.</a> <a href="http://www.credit.com/identity-theft-protection/?utm_source=Fox&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_content=BO_2&amp;utm_campaign=v_day_gotchas#signs-its-been-stolen" type="external" /> <a href="http://www.credit.com/identity-theft-protection/?utm_source=Fox&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_content=BO_3&amp;utm_campaign=v_day_gotchas#steps-to-take-if-its-been-stolen" type="external">What to Do If You're a Victim of Identity Theft Opens a New Window.</a></p>
<p>Bob Sullivan is author of the New York Times best-sellers Gotcha Capitalism and Stop Getting Ripped Off. His stories have appeared in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and hundreds of other publications. He has appeared as a consumer advocate and technology expert numerous times on NBC's TODAY show, NBC Nightly News, CNBC, NPR's Marketplace, Terry Gross' Fresh Air, and various other radio and TV outlets. He helped start MSNBC.com and wrote there for nearly 20 years, most of it penning the consumer advocacy column The Red Tape Chronicles. See more at <a href="http://www.bobsullivan.net" type="external">www.bobsullivan.net Opens a New Window.</a>. Follow Bob Sullivan on <a href="http://facebook.com/BobSullivanNBC" type="external">Facebook Opens a New Window.</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/RedTapeChron" type="external">Twitter Opens a New Window.</a>. <a href="http://blog.credit.com/author/bob-sullivan/?utm_source=Fox" type="external">More by Bob Sullivan Opens a New Window.</a></p> | true | 0 | neil young said love break heart break bank opens new window particularly valentines season emotions loneliness run high continue reading scammers companies turns gotchas profits know weaknesses loneliness industry cut teeth 1900 commercials 1990s perfected craft loneliness business runs gamut legitbutsneaky like many online flower delivery firms outright fraud like sweetheart scams valentines spend average 142 year candy flowers apparel 13391 last year according national retail federation totaling 189 billion us plenty folks want chunk change try keep money safe holiday heres guide 1 flowers theres way around flower prices jump charts week demand skyrockets expect pay 40 bouquet cost 20 last week next week kind secure relationship allows smart holiday shifting christmas cards sure cheap dec 26 buying flowers next week great option major online florists like proflowers 1800flowers ftdcom good reputation delivering bouquets time small feat crunch valentines day picking gift local florist may be160a better idea theres nothing wrong ordering flowers online sure know paying understand itll take sticktoitiveness find three retailers dont learn final price youve worked way several pages forms including delivery address arrangement sounded like would cost 30 radio ad actually cost 50 particularly youve waited long order delivery valentines day saturday could set back even advertisement 2 romance scams dont someone buy flowers likely turn app website help pew says one 10 us adults done number people dated someone met online opens new window grew 66 past eight years maybe week inspire take plunge know plenty criminals lurk sites theres nothing tragic sweetheart scam con artists may spend weeks even months gaining trust victims even sending flowers purchased stolen credit cards opens new window using fake phots theyve lifted actual dating profiles make move barb sluppick running forum called romance scams five years says scams show signs slowing victims find support group late getting lot getting victims send money cash checks ship merchandise said adding prepaid cards been160the160currency choice scammers lately particularly tragic family members contact sluppick looking advice loved one simply cant convinced lover really criminal also getting lots contacts family friends victims caught scam believe scammed said best assist steps take help person scammers hands sad say kinds interventions always successful families ripped apart victim chooses scammer family friends one biggest frustrations trying find better ways help families friends 3 apps amp160hackers even dont think would fall online love search might leave vulnerable think new study released week ibm found 60 leading dating mobile apps studied android mobile platform potentially vulnerable variety cyberattacks put personal user information corporate data risk fully 26 41 dating apps analyzed android mobile platform either medium high severity vulnerabilities ibms ratings study implications individuals corporations routinely allow employees bring device work means company data intermingled online dating apps might safe heres ibm found consumers need careful reveal much personal information sites look build relationship another user dating apps said caleb barlow vice president ibm security research demonstrates users may engaged dangerous tradeoff increased accessibility resulting decreased personal security privacy easy adjust privacy settings apps many wont work turn certain features users least restrict app access location information much possible obviously app like tinder lets users find potential mates nearby thats possible use judgment critically users avoid revealing much dating profiles even something innocuous like pets name could make someone vulnerable hack later many sites use pets name security question always good idea check free annual credit reports opens new window possible signs fraud like unauthorized new accounts collection items debt someone else ran name especially important check credit believe someone scammed identity info opens new window also get free credit report summary creditcom opens new window updated monthly dont forget online dating profiles remain online long youve found love good data hygiene remove profiles arent necessary longer probably good domestic tranquility creditcom use free credit monitoring tools opens new window signs identity stolen opens new window youre victim identity theft opens new window bob sullivan author new york times bestsellers gotcha capitalism stop getting ripped stories appeared new york times wall street journal hundreds publications appeared consumer advocate technology expert numerous times nbcs today show nbc nightly news cnbc nprs marketplace terry gross fresh air various radio tv outlets helped start msnbccom wrote nearly 20 years penning consumer advocacy column red tape chronicles see wwwbobsullivannet opens new window follow bob sullivan facebook opens new window twitter opens new window bob sullivan opens new window | 728 |
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