Monday, January 27, 2014

Top 5 Consumer Service Stocks To Watch Right Now

My wife told her life insurer she lost weight, and it slashed her rate by nearly $200 a year. Can I do the same if my health has improved, and does this work with other types of insurance? --J.K., Baltimore

SEE ALSO: 6 Healthy Habits That Will Save You Money

Life, disability and long-term-care com颅panies often reduce their rates if you become less risky to them -- but only if you ask and usually only if you show proof of a long-term change.

Your best bet is with term life insurance. Insurers will often reduce your rate if your health improves rather than risk losing you to another insurer. If you lose weight, stop smoking, or lower your cholesterol or blood pressure level, or if you��e been cancer-free for several years since buying the policy, ask for a reduction.

Top 5 Consumer Service Stocks To Watch Right Now: Ecs Holdings Limited (E18.SI)

ECS Holdings Limited, an investment holding company, engages in the distribution of information and communications technology products and services. The company�s Enterprise Systems segment offers enterprise systems tools, including middleware, operating systems, Unix/NT servers, databases, storage, and security products for information technology (IT) infrastructure. Its IT Services segment is involved in the IT infrastructure design and implementation, training, maintenance, and support services. The company�s Distribution segment distributes IT products, such as desktop PCs, notebooks, handhelds, and printers for the commercial and consumer markets. It also engages in the retail of IT products and equipment, and accessories. ECS Holdings Limited distributes its products in Singapore, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The company was founded in 1985 and is based in Singapore. ECS Holdings Limited is a subsidiary of VST Holdings Limited.

Top 5 Consumer Service Stocks To Watch Right Now: Fidelity National Financial Inc. (FNF)

Fidelity National Financial, Inc. provides title insurance, mortgage services, and diversified services in the United States. The company provides title insurance, escrow, and other title related services, including collection and trust activities, trustee’s sales guarantees, recordings, and reconveyances, as well as home warranty insurance to various customers in the residential and commercial market sectors of the real estate industry. It is also involved in the design, manufacture, remanufacture, market, and distribution of aftermarket and original equipment electrical components for automobiles, light trucks, heavy-duty trucks, and other vehicles worldwide. In addition, the company owns and operates restaurants comprising the O'Charley's, Ninety Nine Restaurants, Max & Erma's, Village Inn, Bakers Square, and Stoney River Legendary Steaks concepts in the United States. Fidelity National Financial, Inc. is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Rich Duprey]

    Title insurance company�Fidelity National Financial (NYSE: FNF  ) announced yesterday its third-quarter dividend of $0.16 per share, the same rate it's paid for the past three quarters after raising the payout 14% from $0.14 per share.

  • [By Jon C. Ogg]

    Fidelity National Financial Inc. (NYSE: FNF) was raised to Outperform from Market Perform at Keefe Bruyette & Woods.

    Finish Line Inc. (NASDAQ: FINL) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Janney Capital Markets.

Top Warren Buffett Companies To Watch In Right Now: Intersil Corporation(ISIL)

Intersil Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and markets analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits for applications in the industrial, computing, consumer, and communications electronics markets. The company?s industrial products include operational amplifiers, bridge drivers, isolated and non-isolated power management products, switches and multiplexers, video decoders, and other standard analog and power management products used in medical imaging, energy management, automotive, military, instrumentation, security surveillance, and factory automation markets. Its computing products comprise desktop, server, notebook, and network attached storage power management products, including core power devices and other power management products for peripheral devices, as well as lithium ion battery chargers. The company?s consumer products consist of handheld, display, gaming, light sensor, and class-D audio amplifier products for use in smartphones, LCD televisions, tablet computers, electronic game systems, set top boxes, MP3 players, GPS systems, AV receivers, and home audio systems. Its communication products include line drivers, isolated and non-isolated power management, radiation-hardened products, digital power management products, broadband and hot plug power management products, and high-speed data converters for applications in DSL, home gateway, satellite, networking, cellular base station, and networking/switching equipment markets. The company markets its products through distributors and value added resellers to original equipment manufacturers, original design manufacturers, and contract manufacturers in China, the United States, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Germany, Singapore, and Mexico. Intersil Corporation was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Milpitas, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Intersil (NASDAQ: ISIL) tumbled 4.81 percent to $10.92 after Evercore Partners downgraded the stock from Equal-Weight to Underweight.

    Texas Industries (NYSE: TXI) was down, falling 4.36 percent to $65.78 after Longbow Research downgraded the stock from buy to neutral.

Top 5 Consumer Service Stocks To Watch Right Now: Galvanic Applied Sciences Inc (GAV.V)

Galvanic Applied Sciences Inc. engages in the design, manufacture, sale, and servicing of analytical measurement equipment to the gas processing industry and industrial process markets. It provides H2S analyzers, gas chromatographs, tail gas analyzers, acid gas analyzers, continuous emission monitoring systems, total sulfur analyzers, sulfur gas chromatographs, moisture analyzers, volume correctors, and pressure recorders for the gas measurement industry. The company also offers a range of on-line chemical analyzers, H2S in liquid sulfur analyzers, in-line viscometers, in-line optical and acoustic transmitters, and photometers for the liquids measurement business. It markets its products through a network of distributors and representatives in Canada, the United States, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. The company is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

Top 5 Consumer Service Stocks To Watch Right Now: Honey Badger Exploration Inc (TUF.V)

Honey Badger Exploration Inc., an exploration stage company, engages in the acquisition and exploration of copper, gold, and base metal properties in Nevada, and British Columbia, Canada. The company was formerly known as Telkwa Gold Corp. and changed its name to Honey Badger Exploration Inc. in June 2008. Honey Badger Exploration Inc. was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

Top 5 Consumer Service Stocks To Watch Right Now: WTV Holdings Inc (TVTV)

WTV Holdings Inc., formerly WhereverTv Broadcasting Corp, designs, manufactures, develops and leases concrete steel and structural insulated panels (SIPs) modular structures through its wholly owned licensed subsidiaries, New Century Structures, Inc. (NCSI) and Sustainable Structures Leasing, LLC (SSL). NCSI provides architectural/engineering, design, manufacturing and construction services for modular facilities utilizing concrete, steel framed and SIPs for use in commercial, educational, municipalities and residential developments. Prior to the acquisition of SSL by the Company, SSL conducted limited operations.

On January 29, 2007, the Company signed a letter of intent with NCSI whereby NCSI would merge with K2 Acquisition, Inc. (Merger Sub). On August 10, 2007, ABCC acquired all of the outstanding common stock of NCSI. The merger with NCSI and Merger Sub were completed with NCSI being the surviving entity. The Company changed its name from K2 Digital, Inc. On October 11, 2007, ABCC acquired 100% of the outstanding stock of SSL for nominal consideration. Subsequently, the Company converted SSL into a C Corporation. The acquisition of SSL was made to accommodate

It offers leasing opportunities through its working relationships with various financing partners. It provides services in the form of architectural and engineering design, and/or review and project development, including financing options for qualified clients. These services are billed based upon projected labor hours required and vary according to project. Products of the Company include concrete modular facilities and components; steel framed modular facilities and components, and structural insulated steel panel modular facilities and components. Services include master planning and pre-design services; architectural design; engineering review and analysis; construction services; installation and shipping; project development, and acquisition options, such as leasing and lease-purchase to qualified clients.

It leases its four-acre manufacturing site in Orlando. In addition to the modular classrooms, NCSI has completed building awards from the National Aeronautical Space Administration contractors for the development of concrete facilities at The Kennedy Space Center. NCSI has completed commercial contracts with SeaWorld Adventure Parks of Orlando, and is completing the World Headquarters for the National Semi-Trailer Corporation in Orlando, Florida.

Top 5 Consumer Service Stocks To Watch Right Now: Uranium Equities Ltd(UEQ.AX)

Uranium Equities Limited engages in the exploration and development of uranium mining properties in Australia. The company owns 100% interest in Nabarlek uranium project consisting of approximately 50 square kilometers in the Alligator Rivers Uranium Field, Northern territory. It also engages in the development of uranium, as a by-product, from phosphates used in the production of phosphate based fertilizers in association with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technical Organisation. The company is headquartered in Adelaide, Australia.

Top 5 Consumer Service Stocks To Watch Right Now: Broadcom Corporation(BRCM)

Broadcom Corporation designs and develops semiconductors for wired and wireless communications. It provides a portfolio of system-on-a-chip (SoC) and software solutions for the manufacturers of computing and networking equipment, digital entertainment and broadband access products, and mobile devices, which enable the delivery of voice, video, data, and multimedia content to the home, office, and mobile environment. Its broadband communications products include cable modem SoCs; femtocell SoCs; MPEG/AVC/VC-1 encoders and transcoders; xDSL, passive optical network, and cable modem customer premises equipment and central office solutions; powerline networking SoCs; digital cable, direct broadcast satellite, terrestrial, and Internet protocol (IP) set-top box integrated receiver demodulators; high definition television and standard definition TV SoCs; and Blu-ray disc SoCs. The company?s mobile and wireless products comprise Wi-Fi and Bluetooth SoCs, wireless connectivity com bo chips, global positioning system SoCs, multimedia processors, applications processors, power management units, VoIP SoCs, mobile TV SoCs, and near field communications tags. Its infrastructure and networking products include Ethernet copper transceivers, Ethernet controllers and switches, backplane and optical front-end physical layer devices, security processors and adapters, and broadband processors. The company markets and sells its products through direct sales force, distributors, and manufacturers? representatives in the United States, as well as through regional offices, and a network of independent distributors and representatives in Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America. The company was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Irvine, California.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Paul Ausick]

    Broadcom Corp. (NASDAQ: BRCM) reported third quarter 2013 results after markets closed on Tuesday. For the quarter, the semiconductor maker posted adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.76 on revenues of $2.15 billion. In the same period a year ago, the company reported EPS of $0.79 on revenues of $2.09 billion. Third-quarter results compare to the Thomson Reuters consensus estimates for EPS of $0.69 EPS and $2.13 billion in revenues.

  • [By Ashraf Eassa]

    After the "scary" drop from $66 to $61.38 or so, the sentiment briefly turned negative on the name. When you run into these kinds of drops, just head on over to StockTwits, and you'll see the same "twits" parroted over and over again. In Qualcomm's case, they went something like:

    <Technical Analysis Mumbo Jumbo> THIS SEES $53!Broadcom (BRCM) will eat Qualcomm's lunch, Qualcomm going below $60!They missed estimates! What a lousy company!

    And it went on and on. Smart money, while perhaps slightly perturbed by the drop in QCT operating margins, recognized that the QTL profit stream was still great, and further recognized that the company had now raised full-year guidance twice... precisely due to QCT market share leadership. Just because Qualcomm missed the overly-optimistic analyst estimates doesn't mean that the shares deserved that kind of whack for more than a week or two.

  • [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET.COM]

    Broadcom provides wireless and wired semiconductor technologies to businesses and consumers worldwide. A recent earnings release has investors disappointed with the company. The stock has struggled in recent years and is currently trading near lows for the year. Over the last four quarters, earnings have decreased while revenues have increased, which has left investors to expect more from the company. Relative to its peers and sector, Broadcom has been a weak year-to-date performer. WAIT AND SEE what Broadcom does this coming quarter.

Top 5 Consumer Service Stocks To Watch Right Now: Shanda Games Ltd (GAME.O)

Shanda Games Limited (Shanda Games), incorporated on June 12, 2008, is engaged in the development and operation of online games and related businesses in the People�� Republic of China. Some of its online games are also Web games, which the Company categorizes as either massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) or advanced casual games, rather than as a separate category of online games. As of February 29, 2012, Shanda Games operated 35 online games. Its game player base, which consisted of 20.4 million average monthly active users and 4.5 million average monthly paying users for the three-month period ended December 31, 2011. In April 2011, the Company acquired a 51.85% interest in a game operating company, which provides services in East Asia.

As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned 149 software copyrights. As of December 31, 2011, it owned or licensed 53 trademarks. As of December 31, 2011, it owned or licensed 329 registered domain names, including its official Website and domain names registered in connection with each of the games the Company offers. As of December 31, 2011, it had 17 patent applications pending with the State Intellectual Property Office of China. The Company operates MMORPGs, advanced casual games and Web games in China. Its MMORPGs are action adventure-based and draw upon themes, such as martial arts adventure, fantasy, strategy and historical events. The Company develops and sources an array of game content through multiple channels, including in-house development, licensing, investment and acquisition, and joint operation. Through these channels, it has built a diversified game portfolio and a game pipeline.

The Company licenses games from international and domestic developers. As of February 29, 2012, 13 of its 35 online games were licensed from third-party developers, including Mir II. It invests in independent game development and operating studios identified by 18 Capital. The Company acquire intellectual property right! ! s to online games; equity rights in online game development and operating studios, or an option to acquire equity interests in online game development and operating studios in the future.

The Company operates its business in People's Republic of China, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, which consist of Shengqu Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (Shengqu), Shengji Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (Shengji), Lansha Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (Lansha) and Kuyin Software (Shanghai) Co., Ltd (Kuyin); its variable interest entities and their subsidiaries (VIEs), which consist of Shanghai Hongli Digital Technology Co., Ltd. (Shanghai Hongli) and Shanghai Shulong Technology Development Co., Ltd. (Shanghai Shulong) and their wholly owned subsidiaries, Shanghai Shulong Computer Technology Co., Ltd. (Shulong Computer), Nanjing Shulong Computer Technology Co., Ltd. (Nanjing Shulong), Chengdu Youji Technology Co., Ltd. (Chengdu Youj i), Tianjin Youji Technology Co., Ltd. (Tianjin Youji), Chengdu Aurora Technology Development Co., Ltd. (Chengdu Aurora), and Chengdu Simo Technology Co., Ltd. (Chengdu Simo).

The Company competes with Tencent Holdings Limited, NetEase.com, Changyou.com Limited, Perfect World Co., Ltd., Giant Interactive, Kingsoft Corporation Limited, KongZhong Corporation, NetDragon Websoft Inc., Nineyou International Limited, The9 Limited, Activision Blizzard, Inc., Electronic Arts Inc., Zynga Inc., NCSoft Corporation, and Nexon Corporation.

Top 5 Consumer Service Stocks To Watch Right Now: Life Healthcare Group (LTGHF.PK)

Life Healthcare Group Holdings Limited is an investment holding company. It is engaged in acute private hospital care. Its hospitals division consists of core acute care hospital business and services for acute physical rehabilitation, acute mental healthcare and renal dialysis in South Africa and Botswana. Its healthcare services division consists of acute and long-term hospitalization services to public sector patients, as well as contracted occupational healthcare to private and public employers. International division consists of its 26% interest in Max Healthcare Institute Limited (Max Healthcare), an acute care hospital business in India. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012 (fiscal 2012), it acquired a 26% interest in Max Healthcare and an additional 25% interest in Medical Imaging Botswana Proprietary Limited, and disposed of 50% interest in Occulli Trust and Bloemfontein Eye Clinic, and total interest in Birchmed Day Clinic Partnership and the related property.

Top 5 Consumer Service Stocks To Watch Right Now: Trunkbow International Holdings Ltd.(TBOW)

Trunkbow International Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates as a mobile application enabler, offering application platforms that provide mobile value added solutions, as well as mobile payment solutions in the People?s Republic of China. The company?s technology platforms enable the operators to offer mobile value added services to end-users. Its products include caller color ring back tone to allow callers to set their own personalized dialing tone when dialing out; number change notification solution to simplify the process of switching between carriers for the subscriber; and color numbering solution to subscribe to multiple numbers in different regions with one SIM card and one phone. The company offers mobile payment solutions in the form of providing system integration, sale of software, patent licensing, and maintenance services. Its mobile payment system solutions enable the end-user to consolidate various functions, such as credit/debit cards, pu blic transit cards, employee identification, facility entrance/exit, and membership cards into one device, as well as to perform various account maintenance functions comprising refilling of prepaid cards, user preferences, and archiving transaction records. The company also provides other technology solutions that enable value added functionalities on mobile devices. Its solutions include missed call reminder, news flash services, roaming greeting, spam intercept, and virtual PBX. The company sells its technology platform solutions through direct sales force; and through independent third-party resellers, including telecom operators and electronic payment processors. It has strategic partnership with China UnionPay to provide clearing house functions for mobile payment solutions. Trunkbow International Holdings Limited was founded in 2001 and is based in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China.

Top 5 Consumer Service Stocks To Watch Right Now: Merck Ltd (MERCK)

Merck Limited is an India-based company engaged in pharmaceuticals and chemicals businesses. The Pharmaceuticals segment includes Merck Serono and Consumer Health Care. Merck Serono division aims to continue their penetration into the rural areas with the core legacy brands of Neurobion, Polybion and Evion.It focuses on areas, such as Cardio-Diabetic and Women�� Health. Consumer Health Care division aims to gain further growth by adding further line extensions on brand Nasivion and Seven Seas, and leveraging on the local and global R&D capabilities. The Chemical segment consists of two divisions: Pharm Chem Solutions and Performance Materials. The Pharm Chem Solutions division offers products and solutions for Pharma and BioPharma industry. Products mainly consists of Active Pharmaceutical ingredients, Excipients and Bio-pharmaceuticals. The Performance Materials Division consists of two segments, namely, Pigments and Cosmetic actives.

Top 5 Consumer Service Stocks To Watch Right Now: Cameron International Corp (CAM)

Cameron International Corporation (Cameron), incorporated on November 10, 1994, provides flow equipment products, systems and services to worldwide oil, gas and process industries. Cameron operates in three business segments: Drilling and Production Systems (DPS), Valves & Measurement (V&M) and Process & Compression Systems (PCS). The DPS segment includes businesses, which provides systems and equipment used to control pressures and direct flows of oil and gas wells. The V&M segment includes businesses, which provides valves and measurement systems used to control, direct and measure the flow of oil and gas as they are moved from individual wellheads through flow lines, gathering lines and transmission systems to refineries, petrochemical plants and industrial centers for processing. The PCS segment includes businesses, which provides standard and custom-engineered process packages for separation and treatment of impurities within oil and gas and compression equipment and aftermarket parts and services to the oil, gas and process industries. During the year ended December 31, 2011, it acquired LeTourneau Technologies, Inc. (LeTourneau) from Joy Global Inc. During 2011, it acquired Vescon Equipamentos Industrias Ltda. During 2011, it acquired 51% interest in Newmans Valves. In September 2012, TTS Group ASA sold its drilling equipment business to the Company. Effective August 5, 2013, Cameron International Corp acquired a 75% interest in Douglas Chero SpA, from Consilium SGR SpA.

Drilling & Production Systems Segment

Cameron�� products are employed in a range of operating environments, including basic onshore fields, complex onshore and offshore environments, deepwater subsea applications and ultra-high temperature geothermal operations. The products within this segment include surface and subsea production systems, blowout preventers (BOPs), drilling and production control systems, block valves, gate valves, actuators, chokes, wellheads, manifolds, drilling risers, top drive! s, mud pumps, other rig products and aftermarket parts and services. In addition, the DPS segment designs and manufactures structural components for land and offshore drilling rigs. The segment�� businesses also manufacture elastomers, which are used in pressure and flow control equipment and other petroleum industry applications, as well as in the petroleum, petrochemical, rubber molding and plastics industries. The businesses within this segment market their products directly to end-users through a worldwide network of sales and marketing employees, supported by agents in some international locations. Customers include oil and gas majors, national oil companies, independent producers, engineering and construction companies, drilling contractors, rental companies and geothermal energy producers. The businesses included in this segment are Drilling Systems, Surface Systems, Subsea Systems and Flow Control.

Drilling Systems is a global supplier of integrated drilling systems for onshore and offshore applications. Drilling equipment designed and manufactured includes ram and annular BOPs, control systems, drilling risers, drilling valves, choke and kill manifolds, diverter systems, top drives, draw works, mud pumps, other rig products and aftermarket parts and services. The products are marketed under the Cameron, Guiberson, H&H CUSTOM, H&H, Melco, LeTourneau, Lewco, OEM and Townsend brand names. Surface Systems is a global market in supplying surface production equipment, from conventional to high-pressure, high temperature (HPHT) wellheads, production systems and controls, block valves, gate valves, mudline systems, dry completion systems and aftermarket parts and services. The products are marketed under the Cameron, Camrod, IC, McEvoy, Precision, SBS, Tundra, Willis and WKM brand names. Cameron, which has a global base of installed equipment and an aftermarket presence in hydrocarbon-producing region worldwide, is the provider of surface production equipment. Surface Systems added new s! ales and ! aftermarket facilities in the Marcellus, Eagle Ford and Haynesville shale regions.

Subsea Systems is a provider of subsea wellheads, production systems and controls, manifolds and aftermarket parts and services to customers worldwide, from basic subsea tree orders to integrated solutions, as well as installation and aftermarket support. These products are marketed under the Cameron, Mars, McEvoy and Willis brand names. Flow Control provides chokes, actuators, gears, valve accessories and automation solutions to other Cameron businesses, as well as to other industry manufacturers and directly to end users under such brand names as Cameron, Dynatorque, Ledeen, Maxtorque, Test and Willis. Flow Control has expanded its subsea chemical injection metering valve (CIMV) product line, introducing a high-flow CIMV.

Valves & Measurement Segment

Cameron�� products include gate valves, ball valves, butterfly valves, Orbit valves, double block & bleed valves, plug valves, globe valves, check valves, actuators, chokes and aftermarket parts and services, as well as measurement products such as totalizers, turbine meters, flow computers, chart recorders, ultrasonic flow meters and sampling systems. This equipment and the related services are marketed through a worldwide network of combined sales and marketing employees, as well as distributors and agents in selected international locations. Customers include oil and gas majors, independent producers, engineering and construction companies, pipeline operators, drilling contractors and major chemical, petrochemical and refining companies. The businesses included in this segment are Distributed Valves, Engineered Valves, Process Valves, Measurement Systems and Aftermarket Services.

Distributed Valves provides a range of valves used in the exploration, production and transportation of oil and gas, with products sold through a network of wholesalers and distributors, primarily in North America and to upstream markets in A! sia-Pacif! ic and the Middle East. These valves are marketed under the brand names Cooper, Demco, Navco, Newco, Nutron, OIC, Techno, Texstream, Thornhill Craver, Wheatley and WKM. Engineered Valves provides a range of customized ball, gate and check valves serving the oil and gas production, pipeline, subsea and liquefied natural gas (LNG) markets. Products are marketed under the brand names Cameron, Entech, Grove, Ring-O, TK and Tom Wheatley.

Process Valves provides valves under the brand names of General Valve, Orbit, TBV and WKM for use in critical service applications that are often subject to extreme temperature conditions, particularly in refinery, power generation, including nuclear, chemical, petrochemical, gas processing and liquid storage terminal markets, including liquefied natural gas (LNG). Measurement Systems designs, manufactures and distributes measurement products, systems and solutions to the global oil and gas, process and power industries. The Company�� main product brand names include Barton, Caldon, Clif Mock, Jiskoot, Linco, Nuflo and PAAI. Aftermarket Services provides preventative maintenance, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) spare parts, repair, field service, asset management and remanufactured products for valves and actuators.

Process & Compression Systems Segment

Integrally geared centrifugal compressors are used by customers worldwide in a range of industries, including air separation, petrochemical, chemical and process gas. Products include oil and gas separation equipment, heaters, dehydration and desalting units, gas conditioning units, membrane separation systems, water processing systems, integral engine-compressors, separable reciprocating compressors, two and four-stroke cycle gas engines, turbochargers, integrally-geared centrifugal compressors, compressor systems and controls. Aftermarket services include spare parts, technical services, repairs, overhauls and upgrades. The businesses included in this segment are Process System! s, Recipr! ocating Compression and Centrifugal Compression.

The process systems businesses provide custom-engineered process packages to oil and gas majors, national oil companies, independent operators and engineering, procurement and construction companies worldwide for separation and treatment of oil, gas, water and solids. Products offered include separators, heaters, dehydration and desalting units, gas conditioning units, membrane separation systems, water processing systems and aftermarket parts and services. PCS markets its process systems products under the Cameron, Consept, Cynara, Hydromation, KCC, Metrol, Mozley, NATCO, Petreco, Porta-test, Unicel, Vortoil and Wemco brand names.

Reciprocating Compression equipment is used throughout the energy industry by gas transmission companies, compression leasing companies, oil and gas producers and independent power producers. Reciprocating Compression products and services are marketed under the Ajax, Cooper-Bessemer, CSI, Enterprise, Superior, Texcentric and TSI brand names. Ajax integral engine-compressors, which combine the engine and compressor on a single drive shaft, are used for gas re-injection and storage, as well as on smaller gathering and transmission lines. Superior-brand separable compressors are used for natural gas applications, including production, storage, withdrawal, processing and transmission, as well as petrochemical processing. These high-speed separable compressor units can be matched with either natural gas engine drivers or electric motors. Reciprocating Compression also provides global support for its products and maintains sales and service offices in key international locations. During 2011, approximately 60% of the Reciprocating Compression revenues were generated by sales of aftermarket parts and services in support of the Company�� worldwide installed base of compression equipment. Customers for Reciprocating Compression products include oil and gas majors, national oil companies, petrochemical and re! fining co! mpanies, midstream natural gas companies, independent power producers and compressed natural gas distribution companies.

Centrifugal Compression manufactures and supplies integrally geared centrifugal compressors and provides aftermarket services to customers worldwide. Centrifugal air compressors, used in manufacturing processes (plant air), are sold under the Turbo-Air. Engineered compressors are used in the process air and gas industries and are identified by the MSG. The process and plant air centrifugal compressors deliver oil-free compressed air and other gases to customers, thus preventing oil contamination of the finished products. Centrifugal Compression also provides installation and maintenance services, parts, repairs, overhauls and upgrades to its worldwide customers for plant air and process gas compressors. It also provides aftermarket service and repairs on all equipment it produces through a worldwide network of distributors, service centers and field service technicians utilizing an extensive inventory of parts marketed under the Joy brand name. Centrifugal Compression customers include oil and gas majors, national oil companies, air separation companies, independent power producers, petrochemical and refining companies, midstream natural gas companies and durable goods manufacturers.

The Company competes with Aker Solutions, Balon Corporation, Circor International, Inc., Dover Corporation, Dril-Quip, Inc., Emerson Process Management, FlowServ Corp., FMC Technologies, Inc., GE Oil & Gas Group, Stream-Flo Industries Ltd., National Oilwell Varco Inc., Zy-Tech Global Industries company, Flotek Industries, Inc., Pibiviese, Robbins & Myers Fluid Management Group, SPX Corporation�� Flow Technology Segment, Tyco International Ltd., Weatherford, Ltd., Ariel Corporation, Compressor Engineering Corporation, Demag, Dresser-Rand Company, FS-Elliott Company LLC, Endyn Energy Dynamics, Hoerbiger Group and IR Air Solutions.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By David Smith]

    A Foolish takeaway
    After 51 acquisitions in the past four years -- including its biggest, Robbins & Myers, which closed during the quarter -- National Oilwell Varco appears to be catching its breath. Beyond that, it's noteworthy that Cameron International (NYSE: CAM  ) , a competitor of Varco in some areas (blowout preventers, for instance) also reported results last week that came in under expectations.

  • [By David Smith]

    A promising partnership
    Total outlays for subsea facilities were slightly more than $25 billion in 2011. That number is expected to rocket to about $130 billion by 2020. Among several companies that will benefit from this nearly five-fold growth are Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB  ) and Cameron International (NYSE: CAM  ) .

  • [By Dan Caplinger]

    Another issue that Varco has to face is the specter of increasing competition. Cameron International (NYSE: CAM  ) has arisen as a big player in the drilling and production systems space, with a particular emphasis on subsea applications like blowout preventers. With Cameron sporting a recent partnership with Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB  ) , the combination will have both the expertise and the financial resources to challenge Varco in that niche. More broadly, up-and-coming Forum Energy (NYSE: FET  ) has sought to emulate Varco's broad-based services menu, offering remotely operated vehicles for deepwater inspection and construction as well as pipe and cementing materials and a range of subsea systems and equipment. Forum has posted solid results in its brief history, taking steps to continue its fast growth trajectory.

Top 5 Consumer Service Stocks To Watch Right Now: MakeMusic Inc.(MMUS)

MakeMusic, Inc. develops and markets music education technology solutions that transform how music is composed, taught, learned, and performed. It offers SmartMusic, an interactive music teaching and learning solution for band, orchestra, and vocal students to use at schools and homes; SmartMusic Gradebook, a Web-based grade book for teachers to post assignments to students, receive completed assignments from students, assess student achievement, and manage student records; and SmartMusic Inbox, a free application for Android and Apple platforms. The company also provides Finale family of music notation products for use with Macintosh and Windows PC operating systems that enable a musician to enter musical data into a computer using the computer keyboard, a musical instrument digital interface (MIDI)-equipped electronic music keyboard, or other MIDI-equipped instruments, as well as to display the data on a computer screen as a musical score. Its SmartMusic software solutio ns serve public and private school music administrators, instrumental music educators, and their students primarily in the United States and Canada; and Finale family of notation products serve composers, arrangers, publishers, and music teachers worldwide. The company markets its SmartMusic software solutions directly through its Website, smartmusic.com; and Finale family of notation products through channel-specific distributors and retailers in musical instrument, educational, and consumer electronic channels, as well as directly through its Website. MakeMusic, Inc. was founded in 1990 and is based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

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