Top Specialty Retail Stocks To Invest In Right Now

Specialty retailer and shopping mall staple�Express (NYSE: EXPR  ) delivered a stellar earnings report last week that delighted investors and analysts alike. The beat was impressive, given that many specialty retailers remain challenged by macroeconomic tepidity and unseasonable weather patterns. Yet the real news regarding the company is not so much its recent performance but its upcoming focus. With management's latest comments in mind, let's take a closer look at Express.

Earnings recap
The tone just a few months back was much different for Express management, which was anticipating a more hesitant shopper base coupled with a large disconnect between spring break and the Easter holiday (not to mention a dreadful 2012). The company wisely chose to combat these factors with a very active promotional campaign -- namely a 40%-off, no-nonsense campaign that seemed to resonate with cost-conscious mall-goers. While same-store sales were flat on a year-over-year basis, management was excited to see a higher conversion rate in existing stores. More encouraging was the company's Web effort, with e-commerce growing an impressive 48% -- representing a total of 14% of the company's entire sales.

Top 10 Blue Chip Stocks To Buy For 2016: Vitacost.com Inc (VITC)

Vitacost.com, Inc. (Vitacost), incorporated in May 20, 1994, is an online retailer of health and wellness products, including dietary supplements such as vitamins, minerals, herbs and other botanicals, amino acids and metabolites, as well as cosmetics, natural personal care products, pet products, sports nutrition and health foods. The Company sells these products directly to consumers primarily through its Website, www.vitacost.com. It offers its customers the selection of healthy living products. It offers its customers a selection of approximately 40,000 Stock Keeping Units (SKUs), from over 2,000 third-party brands, such as New Chapter, Nature�� Way, Twinlab, Source Naturals, Jarrow Formulas, Jason, Desert Essence, Atkins, Bob�� Red Mill, BSN, Optimum Nutrition, USP Labs and MuscleTech in addition to its own brands: Vitacost, Cosmeceutical Sciences Institute (CSI), Best of All, and Smart Basics. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had approximately 2.1 million customers.

The Company offers products in a range of potency levels and dosage forms, such as tablets, capsules, vegi-capsules, softgels, gelcaps, liquids and powders. It offers products that encompass four main categories: Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs and Supplements; Sports Nutrition; Beauty; and Natural and Organic Food.

Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs and Supplements (VMHS)

VMHS products are taken to maintain or improve health and address specific health conditions. In its dietary supplements category, the Company offers its offer its Vitacost branded products as well as third-party brands such as Nature�� Way, Twinlab, Jarrow, Carlson and Rainbow Light. Vitamin and mineral products include multi-vitamins, lettered vitamins, such as Vitamin A, C, D, E and B-complex, along with minerals such as calcium, magnesium, chromium and zinc.

Herbal products include whole herbs, standardized extracts, herb combination formulas and teas. Supplements include essential fatty acids, probiotics, anti-o! xidants, phytonutrients and condition-specific formulas.

Sports Nutrition

Sports nutrition products are used in conjunction with cardiovascular conditioning, weight training and sports activities. Major categories in sports nutrition include protein and weight gain powders, meal replacements, nutrition bars, sport drinks and pre and post-workout supplements. The Company offers bodybuilding and sports products from third parties, such as Optimum Nutrition, CytoSport and BSN as well as our Vitacost branded sports nutrition products.

Beauty

Natural care products consist of a variety of natural products for skin, body, hair and oral health. The Company offers hundreds of natural personal-care products from companies, such as JASON, and Kiss My Face, as well as its CSI-branded products. These products appeal to allergen-conscious and environmentally-conscious consumers seeking products that are made without harsh chemicals and additives.

Natural and Organic Food

Natural and organic food products consist of organic and specialty products such as organic peanut butter, gluten free foods and low mercury tuna and salmon. The Company offers third-party brands, such as Kashi, Eden Foods and Amy�� Organic, as well as its Best of All natural food products.

Under its Vitacost brand, the Company offers over 900 products including multivitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, anti-oxidants and others. Under its CSI brand, it markets and sells health and beauty products such as facial cleanser, facial and body moisturizing creams and lotions, and other beauty and skincare products. Under its Best of All brand, it markets and sells organic food products such as banana chips, trail mix, almonds, cashews and more. Under its Smart Basics brand, it markets and sells organic fruit juices and extracts and related dietary supplements. Under its Walker Diet brand, it markets and sells low carb powders used to assist in weight loss and ! managemen! t.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Calling all cash flows
  When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Vitacost.com (Nasdaq: VITC  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

Top Specialty Retail Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Natural Grocers By Vitamin Cottage Inc (NGVC)

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc., incorporated on April 9, 2012, is a specialty retailer of natural and organic groceries and dietary supplements. The Company operates within the natural products retail industry. The Company offers products and brands, including a selection of natural and organic food, dietary supplements, body care products, pet care products and books.

The Company offers its customers an average of approximately 18,000 store-keeping units (SKUs) of natural and organic products per store, including an average of approximately 7,000 SKU of dietary supplements. As of June 30, 2012, the Company operated 55 stores in 11 states, including Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming, as well as a bulk food repackaging facility and distribution center in Colorado. The size of its stores varies from 5,000 selling square feet to 14,500 selling square feet, and a new store averages 9,500 selling square feet.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By David Mamos]

  The Fresh Market Inc. (Nasdaq: TFM), Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Inc. (NYSE: NGVC), and privately held Trader Joe's are others crowding into the field.

• [By John Udovich]

  Large cap natural and organic foods supermarket giant Whole Foods Market, Inc (NASDAQ: WFM), otherwise known as ��hole Wallet��r ��hole Paycheck,��is not the only player in the natural or organics supermarket space for consumers and investors alike as mid cap Sprouts Farmers Market Inc (NASDAQ: SFM) and small caps Fairway Group Holdings Corp (NASDAQ: FWM) and Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Inc (NYSE: NGVC) are also players in the space. It should be mentioned that Whole Foods Market is down 15.7% since the start of the year and has a downward trending technical chart, but�shares are�still up 13% over the past year, up 426.3% over the past five years and up 3,108.6% since January 1992.

Top Specialty Retail Stocks To Invest In Right Now: FTD Companies Inc (FTD)

FTD Companies, Inc. (FTD), incorporated on April 25, 2008, is a floral and gifting company. The Company provides floral, gift and related products and services to consumers and retail florists, as well as to other retail locations offering floral and gift products primarily in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland. The Company operates in one segment, which includes floral and related products and services. Its business uses the FTD and Interflora brands, both supported by the Mercury Man logo. The Company�� portfolio of brands also includes Flying Flowers, Flowers Direct, and Drake Algar in the United Kingdom. On November 1, 2013, United Online, Inc. (United Online) completed the separation of United Online into two independent, publicly traded companies: FTD Companies, Inc. and United Online, Inc.

The Company�� products revenues are derived primarily from selling floral, gift and related products to consumers and the related shipping and service fees. Products revenues also include revenues generated from sales of hard goods, software and hardware systems, cut flowers, packaging and promotional products, and a range of other floral-related supplies to floral network members. Its services revenues related to orders sent through the floral network are variable based on either the number of orders or on the value of orders and are recognized in the period in which the orders.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  BlueOrange Studio/Shutterstock One day out of 365, we pay homage to our sainted mothers. Those of us who are members of this long-suffering, uncomplaining, self-sacrificing class may get some soggy French toast in bed, (don't worry, kids; mom will clean up the kitchen), a chance to read in peace, or perhaps time to indulge in a long, hot bath. Bringing Home the Bacon If you really want to pay back mom for all she's done, get ready to pony up big. A card and some carnations (the official flower of Mother's Day, who knew?) just won't cut it. The cost of replacing mom as nurturer, nurse, cleaner and cook -- according to Insure.com's 2014 Mother's Day salary index -- would run you $62,985 a year, up from $59,862 in 2013. Breaking down the price of having someone else handle her various duties: Cooking and cleaning, $12,230 Child care, $21,736 Homework help, $7,290 Chauffeur, $5,672 Shopping, yard work, party and activity planning, finances, etc., $15,019 And my personal favorite, finding out what the kids are up to (paid in the equivalent value of a private detective), $1,036. Salary.com placed a higher value on moms in its 2014 Mother's Day salary survey, concluding that stay-at-home moms were worth $118,905 and working moms worth $70,107 (this does not include any paid salary from their job), with both groups putting more than 56 hours of overtime at home. These numbers are all up from last year's survey. Cooking It Up in a Pan Mom helps to pay for other things, too. Thanks to the Department of Agriculture, you can see what it costs to raise a child in the U.S. to 18. As of August 2013, the average cost is $241,080. This does not cover college, and hopefully dear old dad is contributing. In 2012, there were 10.3 million single U.S. mothers with children under 18, and one-third of women who gave birth in 2012 were single moms. By becoming moms, women give up time to do other things, what economists call an "opportunity cost." Particularly if your mother st

• [By John Udovich]

  As we head towards Black Friday, small cap specialty retail stocks United Online, Inc (NASDAQ: UNTD), TravelCenters of America LLC (NYSE: TA) and MarineMax, Inc (NYSE: HZO) have the distinction of being the best performing small cap�specialty retail stocks for this year (according to Finviz.com) with gains of 181.2%, 123.8% and 71.8%, respectively. With those returns in mind, what are these small cap specialty retail stocks doing right and will the performance last through the all important holiday season? Here is what new and existing investors and traders alike need to know or consider:

  United Online, Inc.�A provider of consumer products and services over the Internet, United Online�� Content & Media segment services are online nostalgia (Memory Lane) and online loyalty marketing (MyPoints) while its�primary Communications segment services are Internet access and email (NetZero and Juno). The reason United Online is among the�best performing specialty retail stocks for this year in various stock screening tools like Finviz.com�is actually misleading as the company has just completed the spin off�of subsidiary FTD Companies, a floral and gifts products company acquired in August 2008 for $441 million, as�FTD Companies Inc (NASDAQ: FTD) where United Online shareholders received one share of FTD common stock for every five shares of United Online common stock they hold. In addition, United Online completed�a�one-for-seven reverse stock split of United Online shares.�On Tuesday, small cap United Online, Inc fell 1.01% to $15.72 (UNTD has a 52 week trading range of $11.65 to $62.30 a share) for a market cap of $207.79 million plus the stock is up 181.2% since the start of the year and up 182.2% over the past five years. Meanwhile, the FTD Companies Inc�now has a�market cap of $611.60 and the stock is up almost 6% since October.

Top Specialty Retail Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Ulta Salon Cosmetics and Fragrance Inc (ULTA)

Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. (Ulta), incorporated on January 9, 1990, is a beauty retailer, which provides one-stop shopping for prestige, mass and salon products and salon services in the United States. During the year ended January 28, 2012 (fiscal 2011), the Company opened 61 new stores. It operates full-service salons in all of its stores. Its Ulta store format includes an open and modern salon area with approximately eight to 10 stations. The entire salon area is approximately 950 square feet with a concierge desk, skin treatment room, semi-private shampoo and hair color processing areas. Each salon is a full-service salon offering hair cuts, hair coloring and permanent texture, with salons also providing facials and waxing.

The Company offers products in the categories, such as cosmetics, which includes products for the face, eyes, cheeks, lips and nails; haircare, which includes shampoos, conditioners, styling products, and hair accessories; salon styling tools, which includes hair dryers, curling irons and flat irons; skincare and bath and body, which includes products for the face, hands and body; fragrance for both men and women; private label, consisting of Ulta branded cosmetics, skincare, bath and body products and haircare, and other, including candles, home fragrance products and other miscellaneous health and beauty products. The Company has combined its three operating segments: retail stores, salon services and e-commerce, into one reportable segment.

The Company competes with Macy��, Nordstrom, Sephora, Bath & Body Works, CVS/pharmacy, Walgreens, Target, Wal-Mart, Regis Corp., Sally Beauty and JCPenney salons.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Ulta (Nasdaq: ULTA  ) reported earnings on June 11. Here are the numbers you need to know.

  The 10-second takeaway
  For the quarter ended May 4 (Q1), Ulta beat slightly on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Big Earnings Movers: Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance Inc. (NASDAQ: ULTA) is up 17.3% at $117.49, after posting a new 52-week high of $118.27 today. United Natural Foods Inc. (NASDAQ: UNFI) is up 12.9% at $67.72 after posting a new 52-week high of $69.35 earlier.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Equities Trading DOWN
  Shares of Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance (NASDAQ: ULTA) were down 21.05 percent to $93.18 after the company reported downbeat third-quarter results and issued a weak fourth-quarter outlook. Piper Jaffray downgraded the stock from Overweight to Neutral and lowered the target price from $129 to $113.

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  I went out on a limb last week, and now it's time to see how that decision played out.

  I predicted that Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) would close higher on the week. I felt that taking the stage for WWDC 2013 would give the consumer-tech giant the ideal opportunity to win back the market's waning interest in its products. The new cylindrical Mac Pro is cool. The iOS update is a welcome upgrade. There's even hope that iTunes Radio will be a game-changer in streaming. However, the stock actually sold off on the news. I was wrong. I predicted that the tech-heavy Nasdaq would outperform the Dow Jones Industrial Average. (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) . This has been a tricky call lately, so how did it play out this time? Well, the market closed lower this week. The Nasdaq moved 1.3% lower on the week, but the Dow managed to close 1.1% lower. I was wrong. My final call was for Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ: ULTA  ) to beat Wall Street's income estimates in its latest quarter. The beauty-salon operator has been posting blowout quarterly results over the past year, and I was banking on seeing the trend continue. Analysts were looking for a profit of $0.62 a share during the quarter, and it came through with net income of $0.65. I was right.

  One out of three? Bummer! I can do better than that.

Top Specialty Retail Stocks To Invest In Right Now: West Marine Inc (WMAR)

West Marine, Inc., incorporated in September 1993, is a specialty retailer of boating supplies and accessories. The Company offers an assortment of merchandise for the boat and for the boater. It operates in three segments: Stores, Port Supply and Direct-to-Customer. The Company sells to both retail and wholesale customers in its Stores segment. In addition, the Company has three franchised stores in Turkey. The Company�� Port Supply segment is its wholesale segment. The Company�� Direct-to-Customer, which includes e-commerce, catalog and call center transactions. During the year ended December 31, 2011, Stores segment generated approximately 90% of its net revenues. During 2011, products shipped to Port Supply customers directly from its warehouses represented approximately 4% of its net revenues.

During 2011, its Direct Sales segment offered customers around the world more than 75,000 products and accounted for the remaining 6% of its net revenues. Private label products, which the Company sells under the West Marine, Black Tip, Third Reef, Pure Oceans, Lifesling, SeaVolt and Seafit brand names, usually are manufactured in Asia, the United States and Europe.

Stores Segment

During 2011, the Company opened six stores while closing 14 stores. In December 2011, it opened its Fort Lauderdale Boating Superstore, a 50,000 square foot flagship. Its flagship stores ranging in size from 21,000 to 50,000 square feet, offering an array of merchandise typically about 16,000 items, as well as displays designed to help customers make informed product selections. It also operates large format stores, standard-sized stores and smaller Express stores. Its large format stores range from 13,000 to 19,000 square feet and carry about 11,000 items. The standard-sized stores typically range from 6,000 to 12,000 square feet and carry over 6,000 items. Express stores typically range from 2,500 to 3,000 square feet and carry over 4,000 items, mainly hardware and other supplies needed! for day-to-day boat maintenance and repairs.

Port Supply Segment

Port Supply customers include businesses involved in boat sales, boat building, boat commissioning and repair, yacht chartering, marina operations and other boating-related activities. In addition, Port Supply sells to government and industrial customers who use its products for boating and non-boating purposes. Port Supply, the Company�� wholesale segment, serves wholesale customers seeking convenience and a larger assortment of products than those carried by typical distributors.

Direct-to-Customer Segment

The Company�� e-commerce Website provides its customers with access to a selection of approximately 75,000 products, product advisor tips and technical information, over 450 product videos and customer-submitted product reviews. This segment also provides customers with access to knowledgeable technical advisors who can assist its customers in understanding the various uses and applications of the products it sell. It operates a virtual call center from which its associates assist its customers by taking calls from their homes or from its support center in Watsonville, California. Its virtual call center supports sales generated through its e-commerce Website, catalogs and stores and provides customer service offerings.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Interactive Buyside]

  West Marine (Nasdaq: WMAR) is an undervalued retailer.  The company is going through a change in focus from a bricks and mortar boat product retailer to a fully integrated retail and wholesale business through bricks and clicks, targeting the boating and water enthusiast customer.   Recent results have been affected by a severe rainy and cool spring which hurt boat usage and delayed the start of the season.  The company has accelerated cash investments to build larger more productive stores and expand its ecommerce abilities, consequently affecting free cash flow short term.  The stock lacks sponsorship as there is only one research report written on the company by a small boutique firm.  The stock trades at only book value despite the company being the leading industry player with a solid balance sheet and significant net cash position. 

Top Integrated Utility Companies To Own For 2016

Top Integrated Utility Companies To Own For 2016: NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NBY)

NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company, engages in the development of various product candidates for the therapeutic needs of the anti-infective market. Its products include Aganocide compounds comprising NVC-422 that are synthetic molecules for the treatment of impetigo and adenoviral conjunctivitis, as well as for reducing the incidence of urinary catheter blockage and encrustation, and the associated urinary tract infections. The company is also involved in developing NeutroPhase, a solution for cleansing and debriding wounds. It has collaboration and license agreement with Galderma S.A. to develop and commercialize its Aganocide compounds, which covers acne, impetigo, and other dermatological conditions. The company was formerly known as NovaCal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and changed its name to NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in February 2007. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was incorporated in 2000 and is based in Emeryville, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  NovaBay(r) Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Amex:NBY), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing its first-in-class, anti-infective Aganocide(r) compounds for the local non-systemic treatment and prevention of infections, reported that Tom Paulson, Chief Financial Officer, will present at the Rodman & Renshaw 14th Annual Healthcare Conference held September 9-11, 2012, in New York, NY.

source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/top-integrated-utility-companies-to-own-for-2016.html

Top 10 Undervalued Stocks To Invest In Right Now

Drug manufacturer Abbott Laboratories (ABT) reported revenue growth that was below expectations due to its exposure to the slower growth economies in Europe and the emerging markets. Despite the recent weakness, Abbott is a high-quality company with shares that we believe to be attractively priced. In addition, its management team has a strong record of investing capital prudently.

From Diamond Hill Capital (Trades, Portfolio) Large Cap Fund third quarter 2013 commentary.

Also check out: Diamond Hill Capital Undervalued Stocks Diamond Hill Capital Top Growth Companies Diamond Hill Capital High Yield stocks, and Stocks that Diamond Hill Capital keeps buying

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Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes)

Top 10 New Stocks To Buy For 2016: Schlumberger N.V.(SLB)

Schlumberger Limited, together with its subsidiaries, supplies technology, integrated project management, and information solutions to the oil and gas exploration and production industries worldwide. The company?s Oilfield Services segment provides exploration and production services; wireline technology that offers open-hole and cased-hole services; supplies engineering support, directional-drilling, measurement-while-drilling, and logging-while-drilling services; and testing services. This segment also offers well services; supplies well completion services and equipment; artificial lift; data and consulting services; geo services; and information solutions, such as consulting, software, information management system, and IT infrastructure services that support oil and gas industry. Its WesternGeco segment provides reservoir imaging, monitoring, and development services; and operates data processing centers and multiclient seismic library. This segment also offers variou s services include 3D and time-lapse (4D) seismic surveys to multi-component surveys for delineating prospects and reservoir management. The company?s M-I SWACO segment supplies drilling fluid systems to improve drilling performance; fluid systems and specialty tools to optimize wellbore productivity; production technology solutions to maximize production rates; and environmental solutions that manages waste volumes generated in drilling and production operations. Its Smith Oilfield segment designs, manufactures, and markets drill bits and borehole enlargement tools; and supplies drilling tools and services, tubular, completion services, and other related downhole solutions. The company?s Distribution segment markets pipes, valves, and fittings, as well as mill, safety, and other maintenance products. This segment also provides warehouse management, vendor integration, and inventory management services. Schlumberger Limited was founded in 1927 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Halliburton (HAL), Schlumberger (SLB) and Baker Hughes (BHI). Three oil services firms with three very different responses to news today.

  Bloomberg

  First up, Halliburton. It reported a profit of 93 cents a share, above forecasts for 89 cents, yet Halliburton’s shares have dropped 1.8% to $49.76. Citigroup’s Robin Shoemaker and Mark Brown explain why:

• [By Jim Jubak]

  But it just doesn't seem to matter for Schlumberger (SLB). Schlumberger is a member of my Jubak's Picks portfolio.

  On January 17, the oil services and technology company reported fourth quarter earnings of $1.35 a share, beating Wall Street estimates by two cents a share. Earnings grew by 29.8% year over year.

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Notable earnings released on Friday included:

  Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) reported third quarter EPS of $0.50 on revenue of $8.10 billion, compared to last year�� loss of $0.55 per share on revenue of $5.29 billion. General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) reported third quarter EPS of $0.36 on revenue of $35.7 3 billion, compared to last year�� EPS of $0.36 on revenue of $36.35 billion. Ingersol-Rand (NYSE: IR) reported EPS of $0.57 on revenue of $3.75 billion, compared to last year�� EPS of $1.07 on revenue of $3.59 billion. Schlumberger N.V. (NYSE: SLB) reported third quarter EPS of $1.29 on revenue of $11.61 billion, compared to last year�� EPS of $1.08 on revenue of $10.61 billion. Honeywell International (NYSE: HON) reported EPS of $1.24 on revenue of $9.65 billion, compared to last year�� EPS of $1.20 on revenue of $9.34 billion.

  Pre-Market Movers

Top 10 Undervalued Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Tupperware Corporation(TUP)

Tupperware Brands Corporation operates as a direct seller of various products across a range of brands and categories through an independent sales force. The company engages in the manufacture and sale of kitchen and home products, and beauty and personal care products. It offers preparation, storage, and serving solutions for the kitchen and home, as well as kitchen cookware and tools, children?s educational toys, microwave products, and gifts under the Tupperware brand name primarily in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Asia Pacific, and North America. The company provides beauty and personal care products, which include skin care products, cosmetics, bath and body care, toiletries, fragrances, nutritional products, apparel, and related products principally in Mexico, South Africa, the Philippines, Australia, and Uruguay. It offers beauty and personal care products under the Armand Dupree, Avroy Shlain, BeautiControl, Fuller, NaturCare, Nutrimetics, Nuvo, and Swissgar de brand names. The company sells its Tupperware products directly to distributors, directors, managers, and dealers; and beauty products primarily through consultants and directors. As of December 26, 2009, the Tupperware distribution system had approximately 1,800 distributors, 61,300 managers, and 1.3 million dealers; and the sales force representing the Beauty businesses approximately 1.1 million. The company was formerly known as Tupperware Corporation and changed its name to Tupperware Brands Corporation in December 2005. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Where growth will come from
  One area that Newell Rubbermaid still has to tap fully is emerging markets. The company has done a good job of expanding overseas, with 17% annual growth in Latin America. But with barely a quarter of its sales coming from outside the U.S. and Canada, the company has a lot further to go. Storage rival Tupperware (NYSE: TUP  ) gets fully 60% of its total revenue from emerging markets, and it too has seen impressive gains in South America as well as the Asia-Pacific region.

Top 10 Undervalued Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Caterpillar Inc.(CAT)

Caterpillar Inc. manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives worldwide. It operates through three lines of businesses: Machinery, Engines, and Financial Products. The Machinery business offers construction, mining, and forestry machinery, including track and wheel tractors, track and wheel loaders, pipelayers, motor graders, wheel tractor-scrapers, track and wheel excavators, backhoe loaders, log skidders, log loaders, off-highway trucks, articulated trucks, paving products, skid steer loaders, underground mining equipment, tunnel boring equipment, and related parts. It also manufactures diesel-electric locomotives; and manufactures and services rail-related products and logistics services for other companies. The Engines business provides diesel, heavy fuel, and natural gas reciprocating engines for Caterpillar machinery, electric power generation systems, marine, petrol eum, construction, industrial, agricultural, and other applications. It offers industrial turbines and turbine-related services for oil and gas, and power generation applications. This business also remanufactures Caterpillar engines, machines, and engine components; and offers remanufacturing services for other companies. The Financial Products business provides retail and wholesale financing alternatives for Caterpillar machinery and engines, solar gas turbines, and other equipment and marine vessels, as well as offers loans and various forms of insurance to customers and dealers. It also offers financing for vehicles, power generation facilities, and marine vessels. The company markets its products directly, as well as through its distribution centers, dealers, and distributors. It was formerly known as Caterpillar Tractor Co. and changed its name to Caterpillar Inc. in 1986. Caterpillar Inc. was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Stocks failed to follow through on yesterday’s gains as lukewarm economic data kept the market running in place. Goldman Sachs (GS), Boeing (BA), JPMorgan Chase�(JPM), Caterpillar (CAT) and United Health (UNH) fell.

Top 10 Undervalued Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Dollar Tree Inc.(DLTR)

Dollar Tree, Inc. operates discount variety stores in the United States and Canada. Its stores offer merchandise primarily at the fixed price of $1.00. The company operates its stores under the names of Dollar Tree, Deal$, Dollar Tree Deal$, Dollar Giant, and Dollar Bills. Its stores offer consumable merchandise, including candy and food, and health and beauty care, as well as household consumables, such as paper, plastics, household chemicals, in select stores, and frozen and refrigerated food; variety merchandise, which includes toys, durable housewares, gifts, party goods, greeting cards, softlines, and other items; and seasonal goods, such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas merchandise. As of April 30, 2011, it operated 4,089 stores in 48 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 88 stores in Canada. The company was founded in 1986 and is based in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lawrence Meyers]

  This isn�� some growing new industry set to take the world further into the 21st century. It�� an old concept that hasn�� innovated, won�� innovate, and will slowly but surely die out over this century. When I walk into a Walgreens, I see a miniature Target (TGT), a more expensive Dollar Tree (DLTR), and a provider of prescriptions in a world where everything is becoming mail order.

Top 10 Penny Companies To Invest In Right Now

 What if there was a secret way of looking at the stock market and individual companies that allowed you to see the real value of everything – regardless of the current price?    If there was such a method, you could invest your hard-earned capital with much more confidence, knowing you were getting a real bargain. You would never have to worry about using a stop-loss because you'd never, ever lose a penny investing again. All you'd really have to do is look around once in a while and pick up the most obvious bargains.    If you had this kind of ability, you'd not only become a more successful investor, you'd become a vastly more patient investor. You'd have real certainty about your choices. You'd know, every single time you bought something that, sooner or later, it would end up becoming massively profitable.

Top 5 Consumer Service Stocks To Buy Right Now: USA Technologies Inc.(USAT)

USA Technologies, Inc. supplies cashless, remote management, reporting, and energy management solutions for the unattended point of sale market primarily in the United States. The company offers networked devices and associated services that enable the owners and operators of stand-alone distributed assets, such as vending machines, kiosks, personal computers, photocopiers, and laundry equipment the ability to remotely monitor, control, and report on the results of these distributed assets, as well as the ability to offer their customers cashless payment options. Its products include Intelligent Vending, an ePort connect solution for the vending industry; Kiosk, an ePort solution that offers an electronic payment option and Web-based remote monitoring and management for various kiosk types; eSuds, a solution for the commercial laundry industry; Business Express, which provides self-service business center solutions to the hotel and motel industry; and ePort Transact soluti on for the self-service business center devices, such as printers and copy machines. The company also manufactures and sells energy conservation products comprising VendingMiser, CoolerMiser, VM2IQ and CM2IQ, SnackMiser, and PlugMiser for various existing equipment, including refrigerated vending machines and glass front coolers. USA Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1992 and is based in Malvern, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  USA Technologies (NASDAQ: USAT) is estimated to report its Q4 earnings at $0.02 per share on revenue of $9.89 million.

  Vail Resorts (NYSE: MTN) is projected to post a Q4 loss at $1.71 per share on revenue of $117.82 million.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  USA Technologies (NASDAQ: USAT) is projected to report its Q3 earnings at $0.00 per share on revenue of $10.63 million.

  P&F Industries (NASDAQ: PFIN) is expected to report its quarterly results.

Top 10 Penny Companies To Invest In Right Now: Helios Advantage Income Fund Inc. (HAV)

Helios Advantage Income Fund, Inc. is a close ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Brookfield Investment Management Inc. The fund invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. It invests a majority of its assets in below investment grade debt securities, which are bonds rated Ba1 or lower by Moody's Investors Service, Inc., BB+ or lower by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the Barclays Capital U.S. Corporate High Yield Index and the Barclays Capital Ba U.S. High Yield Index. It was formerly known as RMK Advantage Income Fund, Inc. Helios Advantage Income Fund, Inc. was formed on November 8, 2004 and is domiciled in the United States.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tom Stoukas]

  Havas SA (HAV) surged 6 percent to 5.82 euros, its largest rally in 14 months. The French advertising company reported first-half profit of 58 million euros ($77 million), beating the average analyst estimate of 55.9 million euros.

Top 10 Penny Companies To Invest In Right Now: RCM Technologies Inc.(RCMT)

RCM Technologies, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, development, and delivery of business and technology solutions for commercial and government sectors in North America. It operates through three segments: Information Technology (IT), Engineering, and Commercial Services. The IT segment provides enterprise business solutions, application services, infrastructure solutions, competitive advantage and productivity solutions, and life sciences solutions. The Engineering segment offers engineering and design, engineering analysis, engineer-procure-construct, configuration management, hardware/software validation and verification, quality assurance, technical writing and publications, manufacturing process planning and improvement, reliability centered maintenance, component and equipment testing, and risk management engineering services. The Commercial Services segment provides long-term and short-term staffing, executive search, and placement servic es in various fields, including rehabilitation, nursing, managed care, allied health care, health care management, and medical office support, as well as offers in-patient, outpatient, sub-acute and acute care, multilingual speech pathology, rehabilitation, geriatric, pediatric, and adult day care services to hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools, sports medicine facilities, and private practices. This segment also offers contract and temporary services, and permanent placement services for full-time and part-time personnel in various functional areas, including office, clerical, data entry, secretarial, light industrial, shipping, receiving, and general warehousing. The company offers its services to aerospace/defense, energy, financial services, life sciences, manufacturing and distribution, public sector, and technology industries. RCM Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1971 and is based in Pennsauken, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  RCM Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:RCMT) reported that primarily due to unexpected and extended client procedural delays in awarding certain engagements under an existing contract with a major North American utility, the Company’s second quarter revenues and operating income will fall short of its expectations.

Top 10 Penny Companies To Invest In Right Now: Midway Gold Corporation(MDW)

Midway Gold Corp., an exploration stage company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in North America. Its principal properties include the Spring Valley, Midway, Pan, and Gold Rock gold and silver mineral properties located in Nevada; and the Golden Eagle gold mineral property located in Washington. The company was formerly known as Red Emerald Resource Corp. and changed its name to Midway Gold Corp. in July 2002. Midway Gold Corp. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Midway Gold (NYSE: MDW) shares fell 3.90% to reach a new 52-week low of $0.74. Midway Gold's trailing-twelve-month ROA is -11.16%.

  Posted-In: 52-Week LowsNews Movers & Shakers Intraday Update Markets

Top 10 Penny Companies To Invest In Right Now: Enstar Group Limited (ESGR)

Enstar Group Limited, through its subsidiaries, acquires and manages insurance and reinsurance companies in run-off. The company settles insurance and reinsurance claims. It also offers management and consultancy, claims inspection, and reinsurance collection services to its affiliates and third-party clients. The company operates in the United States, Bermuda, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia. Enstar Group Limited was formerly known as Castlewood Holdings Limited and changed its name to Enstar Group Limited. Enstar Group Limited was founded in 2001 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matt Koppenheffer and David Hanson]

  In this segment from Thursday's Where the Money Is, Motley Fool financial analysts Matt Koppenheffer and David Hanson discuss Matt's stock pitch of the week, Enstar Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESGR  ) . In the insurance world, insurers can start an insurance business, or a line of insurance, that ends up performing poorly. This can force the insurer to then put that line of insurance, or the entire business, into what is known as run-off. This means they are no longer selling policies, and will only continue to manage the existing policies for the life of those policies. That is where Enstar comes in.

Top 10 Penny Companies To Invest In Right Now: PMC - Sierra Inc.(PMCS)

PMC-Sierra, Inc. engages in the design, development, marketing, and support of semiconductor solutions for the enterprise infrastructure and communications infrastructure markets. Its products include controllers based on Fibre Channel, Serial Attached SCSI, and Serial ATA that enable the development of external and server-attached storage systems; framers and mappers, which convert the data into a format for transmission in the network before the data is sent to the next destination; line interface units that transmit and receive signals over a physical medium, such as wire, cable, or fiber; and microprocessor-based system-on-chips, which perform the high-speed computations that help in identifying and controlling the flow of signals and data in various network equipment used in the communications, storage, and enterprise markets. The company also offers packet and cell processors that examine the contents of cells or packets, and perform various management and reporting functions; radio frequency transceivers, which transmit and receive broadband signals over the air; and serializers/deserializers that convert and multiplex traffic between slower speed parallel streams and higher speed serial streams. PMC-Sierra sells its products to end customers directly, as well as through distributors and independent manufacturers? representatives primarily in China, Asia, Japan, Taiwan, Europe, the United States, and the Middle East. The company was founded in 1983 and is based in Santa Clara, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  PMC (Nasdaq:PMCS), the semiconductor innovator transforming networks that connect, move and store big data, reported that the Company will present at the Citi 2012 Technology Conference on September 5, 2012, in New York, NY.

Top 10 Penny Companies To Invest In Right Now: Rowan Companies Inc.(RDC)

Rowan Companies, Inc. provides onshore and offshore oil and gas contract drilling services in the United States and internationally. The company offers its contract drilling services through its fleet of 28 self-elevating mobile offshore drilling platforms and 30 deep-well land drilling rigs. The company was founded in 1923 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Offshore drillers like Ensco (ESV), Seadrill (SDRL) and Rowan (RDC) are sinking today, but shares of Transocean (RIG) have managed to stay afloat.

  AFP

  Transocean has gained 0.9% to $41.85 at 1:22 p.m. today, even as Ensco has fallen 1.3% to $50.89, Seadrill has plunged 3.1% to $34.87 and Rowan has dipped 0.8% to $30.89.

Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ:PLUG): Can FedEx Deliver $10 for PLUG?

Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ:PLUG) is blowing up – in the good way. The green-tech company's shares were up 18.18% on Wednesday, building on Tuesday's 38.9% pop. Humpday's activity was 11 times the normal daily volume. That's going to work!

To rehash the reason for all the PLUG enthusiasm quickly, On Tuesday, PLUG announced they will develop hydrogen, fuel cell range extenders for 20 FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX) electric delivery trucks.

We wrote about the potential, ultimate benefit from FDX's side of the story, you can read about it here.

[Related -Plug Power Inc (NASDAQ:PLUG) and FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX): A Green Producing Relationship]

Today, we take a shot at what it could mean if everything goes perfectly for Plug Power and they get all of FedEx delivery trucks and vans. As mentioned in yesterday's article, "FDX Chief Executive Frederick W. Smith says the company's couriers travel 2.5 million miles using 70,000 motorized vehicles worldwide." These extenders will increase the charge to close 160 miles, which covers almost all of FedEx's delivery routes.

The best we can tell, statisticbrain.com says FedEx has 43 electric vehicles in its fleet. You do the math, 70,000 motor vehicles with only 43 the electric variety, and a CEO who has publicly called for an energy "solution that may become economically attractive sooner than most think: cars and trucks powered by electricity."

[Related -FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX) Q2 Preview: Can FedEx Deliver Another Earnings Upside?]

The dots were connected with yesterday's news; hence: PLUG's multi-day pop. Let's do some dot connecting of our own. Based on the number of fuel cells Plug Power sold in the last nine months, PLUG generated more than $20,000 in revenue per battery sold in the nine months ended September 30. However, that includes service fees and for fork-lifts, which require less energy than vans and trucks.

Top Growth Stocks For 2016

For now, at least, the focus of the extended range fuel cell will be for FedEx vans. Unfortunately, the kind folks at FedEx would not share with us the number of vans or the replacement rate; so, we will have to make a guess on both parts.

Based on what we see on the road, perhaps your experience is the same; this author sees more delivery trucks than 18-wheelers. Conservatively, we estimate half the fleet is the local delivery type. 

That puts us at 35,000 potential fuel cell needing electric possibilities. We'll put the average life of a delivery van at five years since that is allowable depreciation recovery periods trucks. That is 7,000 replacement vans a year.

After some digging on the internet and PLUG's website, iStock guestimates that the top end 10-kilowatt Plug Power hydrogen GenDrive Series 1000 product costs around $9,000 per battery. The US department of Energy says the factory cost per kilowatt is roughly $650 to produce a fuel cell. The difference is the mark-up and part educated guess.

Doubling the range will probably increase the cost. For the sake of argument, we'll put it at 50% more and a per battery price of $13,500.

If all goes well with the current test of 20 extended range batteries i.e. it's cost effective and reliable, then it's not s stretch to expect the relationship between PLUG and FDX expand to cover additional vans. In all likelihood, each van will require more than one battery for backup and to account for more than one delivery route per day.

We'll put the number at 1.5. Let it be known that most of PLUG's current customers purchase multiple fuel cells per fork-lift. So, 1.5 is probably on the low end.

Using the best case scenario of 100% of FDX replacement vehicles switching from gas to fuel cells, then 7,000 vans a year equals 10,500 batteries (1.5 per van) purchased. At $13,500 per, we arrive at $141.75 million per year, which does not include service revenue or current business.

Let's add in what is on the books now, some service revenue for out hypothetical FDX deal, and put the annual revenue figure close at $200 million. That's a massive increase from last year's $24.49 million; however, the company's market-cap stands at 466.84 million, already. That's richly priced at 16 times sales.

We think Wall Street would be comfortable paying five times sales (probably a lot more) for that sort of growth rate and high visibility for ongoing business. Based on the current shares outstanding, and the FDX relationship maxing out, we think a fair price for Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ:PLUG) would be $9.75.

That being said; if the test with FedEx doesn't pan out, then the stock could be looking up at a buck. 

Best India Stocks To Buy For 2016

Best India Stocks To Buy For 2016: Tata Motors Ltd(TTM)

Tata Motors Limited, an automobile company, engages in the manufacture and sale of commercial and passenger vehicles primarily in India. The company offers cars, utility vehicles, trucks, buses and coaches, and defense vehicles, as well as develops electric and hybrid vehicles for personal and public transportation. It also involves in distributing and marketing cars; and financing the vehicles sold by the company. In addition, the company engages in the provision of engineering and automotive solutions, as well as machine tools and factory automation solutions; construction equipment manufacturing; automotive vehicle components manufacturing and supply chain activities; tooling and plastic and electronic components for automotive and computer applications; and automotive retailing and service operations. It offers its products and services through its dealership, sales, services, and spare parts network. The company also markets its commercial and passenger vehicles in Eu rope, Africa, the Middle East, South East Asia, South Asia, and South America. The company was formerly known as Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company Limited and changed its name to Tata Motors Limited in July 2003. Tata Motors Limited was founded in 1945 and is based in Mumbai, India.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Alanna Petroff]

  The auto manufacturer, which is owned by India's Tata Motors (TTM), revealed its hiring plans Monday in Detroit.

  The Jaguar F-PACE, which is expected to go on sale in 2016, is based off a concept car that debuted last year.

• [By Sean Williams]

  2. Tata Motors (NYSE: TTM  )
  Want another easy way to find cheap growth stocks? Try focusing on companies that are positioned to succeed in emerging markets like India.

source from Top! Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-india-stocks-to-buy-for-2016.html

10 Best Integrated Utility Stocks To Watch For 2016

10 Best Integrated Utility Stocks To Watch For 2016: American Capital Agency Corp (AGNC)

American Capital Agency Corp. (AGNC) is a real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company earns income primarily from investing on a leveraged basis in agency mortgage-backed securities. These investments consist of residential mortgage pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) for which the principal and interest payments are guaranteed by government-sponsored entities, such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), or by a United States Government agency, such as the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) (collectively, GSEs). It may also invest in agency debenture securities issued by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae or the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB). The Company is managed by American Capital AGNC Management, LLC, which is an affiliate of American Capital, Ltd.

AGNC funds its investments primarily through short-term borrowings structured as repurchase agreements. The agency mortgage-backed securities in which the Company invests consist of agency residential pass-through certificates and CMOs. Agency residential pass-through certificates are securities representing interests in pools of mortgage loans secured by residential real property. Agency CMOs are securities that are structured instruments representing interests in agency residential pass-through certificates. Agency CMOs consist of multiple classes of securities.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Boniface Murigu]

  It's no secret that mREITs such as American Capital Agency (NASDAQ: AGNC  ) (NASDAQ: AGNC  ) (NASDAQ: AGNC  ) , Annaly Capital Management (NYSE: NLY  ) (NYSE: NLY  ) (NYSE: NLY  ) ,and CYS Investmentshave gone through a very turbulent trading period, with all major players losing a sizable share of market value.

• [By John Maxfield]

  An article published today by Bloomberg News cited a source at JPMorgan Chase claiming that mREITs like Annaly Capital Management (NYSE: NLY  ) , American Capital Agency (NASDAQ: AGNC  ) , and ARMOUR Residential (NYSE: ARR  ) may have needed to sell about $30 billion worth of MBSes in "just one week last month to maintain the amount of borrowing relative to their net worth." As the article went on to note, "Those types of sales deepened losses in the mortgage-bond market, which had the worst quarter since 1994, accelerated the exit from fixed-income funds, and fueled a jump in home-loanratesto a two-year high."

• [By Monica Gerson]

  American Capital Agency (NASDAQ: AGNC) shares fell 4.48% to $22.80 in the pre-market trading after the company reported Q3 comprehensive income of $0.45 per common share and net book value of $25.27 per common share.

• [By David Hanson]

  In a yield-starved environment, mREITs sporting double-digit dividends have caught the attention of many investors. One company that has grown extremely fast during the Fed's QE programs is American Capital Agency (NASDAQ: AGNC  ) .

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/10-best-integrated-utility-stocks-to-watch-for-2016.html

The inside scoop from 7 Santa standouts

We didn't sit on Santa's lap. He sat on ours.

Santa – make that seven shopping mall Santas – told us their inside stories.

Our questions were less about being naughty or nice and more about the behind-the-scenes lives of mall Santas on and off the job. We interviewed Santas stationed this holiday at top shopping centers coast-to-coast to find out what gives them North Pole credentials.

Each had a unique story, sometimes a sad story.

Just about every one of the nation's 1,500 major shopping malls has at least one Santa. The malls aren't rolling out the annual Santa Express just because elves asked them to. Kids may link Santa with gifts and snow, but malls equate him with shoppers and dough.

"The mall Santa has been one of the most tried-and-true ways of driving holiday traffic," says Jesse Tron, spokesman for the International Council of Shopping Centers.That, he says, is why Santas are usually hired by the mall's marketing director. Santa is good PR.

He helps to sell stuff, too. Lots of it. "I'd say 100% of the people buy something while they are here to see Santa," says Maureen Bausch, executive vice president for business development at the sprawling Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn.

But is Santa more than a PR tool – and a selling machine?

Seven Santas told us there's much more. While many kids come asking for stuff, others come asking for hope. Santa's job is to provide a little bit of both.

.

#

SANTA TO THE STARS

Patrick Turnbull is Santa to the rich and famous.

That's more by accident than design. When you've been an estate gardener to Hollywood producer Norman Lear for 40 years – as Turnbull has – you're bound to rub elbows with the well-to-do.

That resulted, 14 years ago, in Turnbull showing up at the Playboy Mansion, on a lark, to try out as Santa Claus for the annual Christmas party there. He won. Next thing he knew, there was Playboy founder Hugh Hefner seated on his lap – and then a! photo of that moment in Playboy magazine.

Turnbull, 64, gets $150 for the first hour at a party or shopping mall and $100 for each hour after that. Clients get what they pay for. One of his six handmade Santa outfits cost him a cool $3,500.

But he'll get it back. Over the five weeks before Christmas, he expects to earn up to $9,000 at 22 gigs. One is at a holiday charity event that actor Kevin Costner is hosting at his Carpinteria, Calif., home.

Not all the wealthy people he works with are famous. Years ago, a top executive at a Swiss bank hired Turnbull for a Christmas party at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Turnbull thought he was posing for pictures. Then the exec asked him to address the audience of big shots.

"Suddenly, I was supposed to give words of inspiration – beyond money -- to rich businesspeople," he recalls. Apparently he did well, because he's been invited back year after year to do the same.

#

SPECIAL NEEDS SANTA

Imagine not being able to hear the sounds of Christmas.

No jingle bells. No laughter. No ho-ho-ho.

Val Jenkins can imagine that. Jenkins is not deaf, but the retired school employee from Spring City, Utah, is an unusual Santa Claus who learned sign language and communicates the joy of Christmas with the deaf.

Val Jenkins, resident Santa at Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto, Calif., uses sign language to communicate to deaf kids.(Photo: Noerr Programs)

He is hard of hearing and has a brother who is deaf.

"I can understand what these kids are going through," says Jenkins, 63, resident Santa at the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto, Calif. "These are kids who are afraid of being singled out by society."

A few! years ag! o, a deaf girl – who was with a caregiver – was too shy to approach him, so he walked up to her. He knelt down, spoke with her briefly in sign language, then asked her something she'd never been asked before: to sing Jingle Bells with him in sign language.

The girl was enthralled. She sadly told Jenkins that her parents did not sign with her. The caregiver explained to Jenkins that they were not interested in learning sign language.

A week later, the girl returned with an uncle and jumped into Jenkins' arms. The uncle saw their special relationship and later passed that on to the parents.

Two weeks before Christmas, she showed up again – with both parents. They told Jenkins something that struck him as the best gift he could imagine: Both were learning sign language, they said, thanks to him.

'CHOCOLATE' SANTA

David Allen grew up in a world where Christmas was supposed to be white – and so was Santa.

David Allen poses with Elena Recinto in Detroit. "They call me the chocolate Santa," he says.(Photo: Marco Floyd, Party Pictures)

That's why the 57-year-old retired security employee from Detroit was taken aback five years ago when he was asked to portray Santa at a local mall. Sure, he had the big belly, but he certainly didn't have the flowing white beard and locks.

Never mind that. He's been playing Santa ever since with a fake white beard and fake white hair.

"They call me the chocolate Santa," he laughs.

He rarely gets comments about his color, he says, except from teen siblings or parents. "Kids don't see color," he says.

This is his third year as Santa at the Northland Center in Southfield, Mich. The shopping center, in an area with a large African-American population, has h! ad black ! Santas for at least seven years, says Pam Lightbody, mall marketing director..

When he first started to play Santa, Allen recalls, "I would turn people's heads." Not anymore.

He's got one big goal: "I want to be the first black Santa in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade."

#

INTENSE SANTA

Long before a kid plops on his lap and hands him a wish list, Santa Neil Beck has his game plan in motion. It begins when the kid is still in line.

Top 10 Recreation Companies To Watch For 2016

Neil Beck has been the Santa at Bellevue Square shopping mall in Washington for 13 years.(Photo: Scott Matsuda via Arthur and Associates)

Beck waves and makes eye contact. "If you start when they're in line, you can win them over before they get here," explains Beck, 68, a retired community college instructor in Bellevue, Wash. For 13 years, he's been Santa at the Bellevue Square shopping mall.

Small things matter. He constantly chews breath mints and wears a perfume that smells like fresh-baked cookies.

Some meetings are particularly tough.

Several years ago, a bald mother, a stage-four cancer patient, came with her four daughters. The girls all sat on his lap, and Beck prodded the mother to join them, which she finally did.

A year later, the girls returned – without their mother. She had died that October. One of the daughters told Beck that her mom so treasured that photo that she kept it on the mantel all year. "They told me that photo will always be there."

#

SANTA BY APPOINTMENT

One of the harshest realities of visiting Santa Claus is those long, long lines.

One of two Santas at the Ma! ll of Ame! rica has a solution. He's Santa by appointment.

Oh, what fun it is to ride with Santa and his elves at Mall of America. This Santa won't reveal his name because he says he doesn't want to confuse kids.(Photo: Mall of America)

He's fully booked for the season. In fact, he was 90% booked before he even showed up at the mall on Nov. 12. But sometimes folks cancel, so you can always try to get on his lengthy wait list.

This Santa goes by the name Santa Sid (stands for Santa in Disguise). He won't reveal his real name because he says he doesn't want to confuse kids. The 60-year-old Santa is retired from working at an aircraft parts supply maker.

Santa Sid got in the business more than 40 years ago, as a 19-year-old, shortly after his 4-year-old brother died of leukemia. "That really got to me," says Santa Sid. He needed to find a way to make himself – and others – happy.

He takes his Santa gig very, very seriously. His beard and hair are real, and every day when he arrives at the mall, he first stops at a hair salon to get them primped and dyed. "Shoppers line up at the window taking pictures," he says.

#

SUITCASE SANTA

For much of the year, this Santa lives in Santa Claus, Ind., on Rudolph Lane.

Then, come mid-November, he packs his suitcase and drives 400 miles to South Charlotte, S.C., where he's employed for almost six weeks as Santa at the SouthPark Mall.

SouthPark Mall's Santa Gary (whose full ! name cann! ot be divulged) settles in for a long winter's nap.(Photo: The Noerr Programs)

Santa Gary puts in roughly 210 days annually in the role of Santa Claus, including a good chunk of it in the summer playing the Santa role for an entertainment company that requires him not to disclose his last name. "There are a lot of others who claim to be full-time Santas," says the 62-year-old. "But I see more children in one year than most Santas see in four."

At first, becoming Santa was not an expression of joy. It was something closer to desperation. About a dozen years ago, within three months he lost his job and was diagnosed with cancer.

With no job and caring little about his appearance, he started to grow a beard. "People began to tell me that I looked like Santa," he recalls. "I sort of fell into it."

It's not just kids who come to see Santa Gary. Not long ago, a 95-year-old great grandmother asked if she could sit on his lap. The moment she did, she started to cry. "What's the matter, Grandma?" he asked, thinking he'd somehow hurt her. The old woman told him she'd lived 95 years without ever sitting in Santa's lap. "But I always wanted to."

#

SANTA KNOWS ME

Some folks think it's the white beard that makes Santa Claus genuine. Others think it's the jelly belly.

But as far as Santa Ken Traveller, 70, is concerned, it's knowing the names of all the kids who come to sit on his lap and inscribing those first names in a big book.

Ken Traveller, a veteran mall Santa at Tysons Galleria in McLean, Va., talks with Lilly Smith, 6, and her brother Nihl Smith, 4, of Falls Church, Va.(Photo: Jack Gruber, USA TODAY)

He's filled 14 books in 14 years as Santa at Tysons Galleria in McLean,! Va. Assi! stants help, quietly asking parents waiting in line, then passing the names to Santa Ken.

He quickly inscribes a name in his book, then bellows the name to call the usually shocked child up. "When they ask how I know their name," he says, "I remind them that I'm keeping a list and checking it twice."

There are emotional moments when even Santa has no words.

One family with six kids visited Traveller each year. One of the daughters, Margaret, was in a wheelchair, and the father always lifted her onto Santa's lap.

One year the family didn't come. The next year they were back – without Margaret. One of the children told him Margaret had died the year before.

That's when Santa began to cry. Traveller and his wife, too, had lost one of their children years ago. "I told them," he recalls tearfully, "maybe they're up in heaven together."

A worker dressed as Santa Claus hugs a Zebra shark at the Sunshine International Aquarium on Dec. 11 in Tokyo.  Shizuo Kambayashi, APFullscreen Miley Cyrus performs with a dancer dressed as Santa Claus during the KIIS-FM Jingle Ball concert at Staples Center on Dec. 6 in Los Angeles.  Chris Pizzello, Invision, via APFullscreen Men dressed as Santa Claus use the restroom at a bar during the SantaCon event on Dec. 14 in Vancouver, British Columbia. SantaCon is held in 300 locations in 44 countries.  Darryl Dyck, The Canadian Press, via APFullscreen Santa Claus dunks a basketball Dec. 16 during a timeout in the fourth quarter of the NBA basketball game between the Boston Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves in Boston.  Michael Dwyer, APFullscreen A Palestinian shop owner sets up a Santa Claus figure on the street near Jaffa Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem on Dec. 19.  Abir Sultan EPAFullscreen People photograph a Santa Claus figure in a famous pose from the Marilyn Monroe movie "The Seven Year Itch" outside a department store Dec. 17 in Taiyuan, China.  APFullscreen A penguin wearing a Santa Claus costume parades through the Everland amusement park on Dec. 18 in Yongin, South Korea.  Woohae Chu, AFP/Getty ImagesFullscreen People dressed as Santa Claus run at Tompkins Square Park during the annual SantaCon bar crawl Dec. 14 in New York City.  Kena Betancur, Getty ImagesFullscreen A Boston Bruins fan dressed as Santa Claus cheers in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames on Dec. 17 in Boston.  Elise Amendola, APFullscreen A man dressed as Santa Claus waits for the beginning of a training session for seasonal workers portraying Santa Claus or angels on Nov. 30 in Berlin, Germany.  Gero Breloer, APFullscreenLike this topic? You may also like these photo galleries:ReplayAu! toplaySho! w ThumbnailsShow CaptionsLast SlideNext Slide

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WHAT KIDS ARE ASKING SANTA FOR THIS YEAR:

Santa to the Stars: iPads, iPhones, Barbie dolls, pets

Special Needs Santa: American Girl dolls, trains

"Chocolate" Santa: electronics

Intense Santa: cellphones, iPads, Xbox, Wii

Santa by Appointment: Skylanders Swap Force toys, Apple products, Nooks, Kindles

Suitcase Santa: Plush toys, trains

Santa Knows Me: Legos, American Girl dolls, iPads, cellphones, pets

#

WHAT SANTA WANTS THIS YEAR:

Santa to the Stars: Funds to pay medical bills

Special Needs Santa: "I want all children to be happy."

"Chocolate" Santa: Money for a wedding ring

Intense Santa: A really good camera

Santa by Appointment: A vacation with his wife

Suitcase Santa: Peace on earth

Santa Knows Me: "I want all sad children to be happy."

Top 10 Retail Stocks To Watch For 2015

The do-it-for-me market is hot in the U.S and it is growing faster than the do-it-yourself market as a result of increase in older vehicles in the U.S. This aging of vehicles is creating a pent up demand for aftermarket parts and services. This is giving business opportunities to various companies.

Monro Muffler Brake (MNRO) is a popular name in the DIFM & Services segment, while Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack (PBY) is a hybrid of DIFM-DIY. The present perspective seems bright for such aftermarket service providers. However, these two are entirely different from aftermarket retailers such as Advance Auto Parts (AAP). Let us take a look at the present aftermarket scenario and its prospects.

A Look at Monro Muffler

Monro Muffler came out with impressive results. The company saw strong sales, amounting to an 18% increase in net income. But as per management�� estimates, the company�� revenue saw a decline as a result of a weak retail environment, which negatively influenced purchasing behavior.

Top 10 European Companies To Watch For 2016: SK3 Group Inc (SKTO)

SK3 Group, Inc. (SK3), formerly CTT International Distributors Inc., is a development-stage company. The Company was formed by the merger of Slabsdirect.com, Inc. and CTT International Distributors Inc. SK3 has one subsidiary, CTT Distributors Ltd., which is the operating company. SK3 is in the e-commerce business and provides non-branded computer and electronic merchandise at discount prices to the Internet consumer through its Website www.cheaperthanthem.com. The Website is hosted by Ezyra E-Business Services, an unrelated party, which charges SK3 an annual fee to host the Website. In December 2009, Healthcare of Today, Inc. acquired controlling interest in the Company. In December 2009, the Company acquired NuvoDigital Technology, Inc., a data security technology firm based in Salt Lake City. In addition, in December 2009, the Company's parent company Healthcare of Today, Inc. acquired Xenotis Pty Ltd. In February 2011, the Company acquired PRN Registry. In March 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of HealthStaff Training Institute. In March 2011, the Company acquired W&M Medical Management, Inc. Effective March 14, 2013, the Company acquired Medical Greens, a provider of medical logistics services.

SK3 has a direct business, in which it buys and takes possession of excess electronic and computer inventory for resale (Direct Business). In addition, SK3 has a fulfillment partner business, in which SK3 facilitates the sale of merchandise of other retailers, cataloguers or manufacturers (Fulfillment Associates) through the Website (Fulfillment Business). For both the direct business and fulfillment business, SK3 has developed a consumer and a wholesaler sales channel.

SK3�� Direct Business involves buying and taking possession of inventory for resale. The Company offers moving picture experts group layer-3 audio (MP3) players and a frequency modulation (FM) transmitter accessory for MP3 players on the Website. SK3 seeks to become an online retailer offering non-b! randed electronic and computer merchandise for sale over the Internet. SK3�� Fulfillment Business sells merchandise of Fulfillment Associates through the Website. SK3 manages the orders collected for the Fulfillment Associates through the Website and forwards the orders on to the Fulfillment Associate, who then fills the order. The Fulfillment Associates perform essentially the same operations as a warehouse: order picking and shipping.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James E. Brumley]

  Truth be told, it's not clear if SK3 Group Inc. (OTCMKTS:SKTO) is best described when compared to a name like Cerner Corporation (NASDAQ:CERN), or to a Gentiva Health Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:GTIV). The company's got elements of both major industries being represented by CERN and GTIV (home health care, and information technology), with the addition of another budding industry thrown into the mix. One thing IS clear though... SKTO shares have decidedly reversed a nasty downtrend, and may now be one of the market's best small cap healthcare speculative trades.

Top 10 Retail Stocks To Watch For 2015: J.C. Penney Company Inc. Holding Company(JCP)

J. C. Penney Company, Inc., through its subsidiary, J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc., operates department stores in the United States and Puerto Rico. The company sells family apparel and footwear, accessories, fine and fashion jewelry, beauty products, and home furnishings. It also provides various services, such as styling salon, optical, portrait photography, and custom decorating. The company also sells its products through its Internet Web site, jcp.com. J. C. Penney Company, Inc. has strategic alliance with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. As of December 7, 2011, it operated approximately 1,100 department stores. The company was founded in 1902 and is based in Plano, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Last year the old Kraft snack foods company (now Mondelez International) stirred up controversy by posting a picture of a rainbow Oreo to its Facebook page.�J.C. Penney (NYSE: JCP  ) has also come in for sustained criticism for hiring openly gay entertainer Ellen DeGeneres as its spokeswoman, and Whole Foods Markets (NASDAQ: WFM  ) CEO John Mackey has long considered inclusiveness as part of his "conscious capitalism" credo.�

• [By Douglas A. McIntyre]

  The proof of the risk is in the hours most retails have decided to stay open this weekend. Many will open stores on Thanksgiving. These ranks from the largest in Walmart�(NYSE: WMT) to the most troubled in J.C. Penney (NYSE: JCP). Of course, with Walmart’s size and balance sheet, it can risk a slow December. J.C. Penney cannot. Healthy retailers will take a risk with Thanksgiving retail sales. Weak retailer will risk their existence.

• [By Douglas A. McIntyre]

  Much less certain are the fates of retailers who needed to make money this year. The Sears and Kmart units of Sears Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: SHLD) sit at the top of that list, along with J.C. Penney Co. Inc. (NYSE: JCP). Each faces the vexing problem of how to drag in customers and liquidate inventory not sold in November and December. Investors have not shown optimism. J.C. Penney stock sold off from more than $10 nearly a month ago to as low as $8 recently. Shares of Sears Holdings have dropped more than 25% during the past month.

• [By Daniel Jones]

  Revenue is impaired
  Perhaps the most interesting of GNC relationship's is with Rite Aid. According to an agreement between these two companies, GNC has been able to set up a store-within-a-store model inside of various Rite Aid locations. Such a decision between two companies to join forces in this way may appear to be odd, but the model has worked out so well that other retailers like J.C. Penney (NYSE: JCP  ) have adopted it.

Top 10 Retail Stocks To Watch For 2015: Burberry Group PLC (BURBY)

Burberry Group plc (Burberry) is a holding company. The Company designs and sources luxury apparel and accessories, selling through a diversified network of retail (including digital), wholesale and licensing channels worldwide. The Company�� Retail/wholesale channel is engaged in the sale of luxury goods through Burberry mainline stores, concessions, outlets and digital commerce, as well as Burberry franchisees, prestige department stores globally and multi-brand specialty accounts. The Company�� retail channel includes approximately 206 mainline stores, 214 concessions within department stores, digital commerce and 49 outlets. The Company�� wholesale channel includes sales to department stores, multi-brand specialty accounts, Travel Retail and franchisees who operates approximately 65 Burberry stores. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Reuters]

  Peter Foley/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesBurberry Group CEO Angela Ahrendts. LONDON -- Christopher Bailey, the designer credited with restoring the cachet to fashion brand Burberry, is to become chief executive next year when long-standing boss Angela Ahrendts will move to Apple. The 157-year-old British fashion house, famous for its camel, red and black check pattern, said Tuesday that Ahrendts would step down by mid-2014 after which Bailey would combine his role as chief creative officer with chief executive. News the 42-year-old Yorkshireman would hold both positions sparked concern among some analysts that he might be taking on too much, and sent shares in the group down 6 percent in early trading, valuing the business at 6.6 billion pounds. "There will undoubtedly be relief that Mr. Bailey, the driving force behind the brand for the last 12 years, is staying," Morgan Stanley (MS) said in a note to clients. "But we anticipate some investor concern about combining the chief creative officer and CEO roles, which are both time consuming and require very different skill sets." Ahrendts, who has been Burberry (BURBY) boss for eight years, during which time its share price has soared about 250 percent, will take up a newly created position at Apple as a senior vice president with oversight of retail and online stores. She will report directly to CEO Tim Cook. Ahrendts will be looking to do better than the last chief executive of a British company who left London to join Apple (AAPL) -- John Browett who quit Dixons to lead the iPad and iPhone maker's global retail expansion in 2012. He left six months later. Bailey joined Burberry in 2001 and has held the major creative role for six years, helping to rebuild the group after it became a victim of its own success in the 1990s when its trademark pattern was embraced by the mass market, losing its appeal to its core wealthy clientele. Under Ahrendts and Bailey, the group has refocused on the luxury market, inc

Top 10 Retail Stocks To Watch For 2015: Matahari Department Store Tbk PT (LPPF)

PT Matahari Department Store Tbk operates as a multi-format retailer. The Company, based in Indonesia, operates as the Department Store division of Matahari Putra Prima. The Matahari Group is Indonesia's multi-format retailer with core retail businesses in fashion and household groceries businesses targeted for middle - upper middle consumers throughout the country. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Emma O��rien]

  PT Matahari Department Store (LPPF), Indonesia�� largest retailer, climbed 7.7 percent to 14,000 rupiah after the stock was added to the MSCI Emerging Markets Index.

Top 10 Retail Stocks To Watch For 2015: Kohl's Corporation(KSS)

Kohl?s Corporation operates department stores in the United States. The company?s stores offer private and exclusive, as well as national branded apparel, footwear, and accessories for women, men, and children; soft home products, such as sheets and pillows; and housewares primarily to middle-income customers. As of January 29, 2011, it operated 1,089 stores in 49 states. The company also offers on-line shopping on its Web site at Kohls.com. Kohl?s Corporation was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bloomberg]

  Companies added fewer workers than projected in February, a sign that U.S. employers were waiting for a pickup in demand before boosting headcount, a private report based on payrolls showed today. The 139,000 increase in employment followed a revised 127,000 gain in January that was weaker than initially reported, the weakest two months since August-September 2012, according to the ADP Research Institute in Roseland, N.J. The median forecast of 39 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for a 155,000 advance. Harsh winter weather conditions, which kept some shoppers away from stores and car dealerships, help explain why companies were hesitant to accelerate hiring at a more robust pace. Faster payroll growth that spurs bigger wage gains would help to boost the consumer purchases that make up almost 70 percent of the economy. "Employment was weak across a number of industries," Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics in West Chester, Pa., said in a statement. Moody's produces the figures with ADP (ADP). "Bad winter weather, especially in mid-month, weighed on payrolls. Job growth is expected to improve with warmer temperatures." Estimates in the Bloomberg survey of economists ranged from gains of 100,000 to 180,000 after a previously reported increase of 175,000 in January. Missing Mark ADP's numbers have missed the mark in tracking the government's jobs figures over the past couple of months. The group's initial estimates showed a 238,000 gain in employment for December followed by a 175,000 January increase. That compares with the Labor Department's initial estimate of an 87,000 gain in December private payrolls and a 142,000 increase in January. Stock-index futures were little changed after the report. The contract on the Standard & Poor's 500 index (^GSPC) expiring this month rose less than 0.1 percent to 1,872 at 9:06 a.m. in New York. Payrolls at goods-producing industries increased headcount by 19,000. Factories added 1,000 workers,

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]

  Kohl�� is a department store retailer that operates locations across the United States. The company reported third-quarter earnings, and, like Wal-Mart, the company�� results showed that the retail landscape is still challenging leading up to the holiday shopping season. The stock has not made significant progress in recent years and is now pulling back from highs for the year. Over the last four quarters, earnings and revenues have been rising. However, investors have had mixed feelings about recent earnings announcements. Relative to its peers and sector, Kohl�� has been a relative performance leader year-to-date. Look for Kohl’s to OUTPERFORM.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Its strong day has also helped boost other retailers.�Kohl���(KSS), for instance, has gained 1.4% to $55.51, while�Macy���(M) has risen 1.1% to $45.40. Sears Holdings�(SHLD), however, has dropped 1% to $55.34.

• [By Tom Taulli]

  Competition: While TJX attempts to undercut more traditional retailers, it has plenty of competition in the deep-discount game, Ross Stores (ROST), Kohl’s (KSS) and Burlington Stores (BURL). TJX also must contend with big-box operators like Target (TGT). So far, TJX has been able to dig itself a niche and remain fairly differentiated, but it’s fair to point out the danger in slipping — in retail, customers always have plenty of alternatives.

Top 10 Retail Stocks To Watch For 2015: Barnes & Noble Inc (BKS)

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (Barnes & Noble), incorporated on November 19, 1986, is a bookseller. The Company is a content, commerce and technology company that provides customers access to books, magazines, newspapers and other content across its multi-channel distribution platform. As of April 27, 2013, it operated 1,361 bookstores in 50 states, 686 bookstores on college campuses, and operates one of the Web eCommerce sites, and develops digital content products and software. Barnes & Noble operates in three segments: B&N Retail, B&N College and NOOK. The Company�� principal business is the sale of trade books (generally hardcover and paperback consumer titles), mass market paperbacks (such as mystery, romance, science fiction and other popular fiction), children�� books, eBooks and other digital content, NOOK and related accessories, bargain books, magazines, gifts, cafe products and services, educational toys & games, music and movies direct to customers through its bookstores or on barnesandnoble.com.

Of the Company�� 1,361 bookstores, 675 operate primarily under the Barnes & Noble Booksellers trade name. Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, LLC (B&N College), a wholly owned subsidiary of Barnes & Noble, operates 686 college bookstores at colleges and universities across the United States. Barnes & Noble Retail (B&N Retail) operates the 675 retail bookstores. Retail also includes the Company�� eCommerce site and Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. (Sterling or Sterling Publishing), a leader in general trade book publishing.

B&N Retail

This segment includes 675 bookstores as of April 27, 2013, primarily under the Barnes & Noble Booksellers trade name. These stores generally offer a dedicated NOOK area, a comprehensive trade book title base, a cafe, and departments dedicated to Juvenile, Toys & Games, DVDs, Music, Gift, Magazine and Bargain products. The stores also offer a calendar of ongoing events, including author appearances and children�� activities. The B&! N Retail segment also includes the Company�� eCommerce website, barnesandnoble.com, and its publishing operation, Sterling Publishing. Barnes & Noble stores range in size from 3,000 to 60,000 square feet depending upon market size, with an overall average store size of 26,000 square feet. During the fiscal year ended April 27, 2013 (fiscal), the Company reduced the Barnes & Noble store base by 0.3 million square feet, bringing the total square footage to 17.7 million square feet. The Company�� B&N Retail segment purchases physical books on a regular basis from over 800 publishers and over 50 wholesalers or distributors. As of April 27, 2013, Barnes & Noble had stores in 162 of the total 210 Designated Market Area markets.

Sterling Publishing is a publisher of non-fiction trade titles. It is a range of non-fiction and illustrated books and kits across a range of imprints, in categories, such as health and wellness, music and culture, food and wine, crafts and photography, puzzles and games, history and current affairs, as well as a children�� books.

B&N College

B&N College sells new and used textbooks in campus bookstores and online. As of April 27, 2013, B&N College operated 686 stores nationwide. The Company�� customer base, which is mainly consisted of students and faculty, can purchase various items from their campus stores, including textbooks and course-related materials, emblematic apparel and gifts, trade books, computer products, NOOK products and related accessories, school and dorm supplies, convenience and cafe items.

As of April 27, 2013, B&N College operates 651 traditional college bookstores and 35 academic superstores, which are generally larger in size, offer cafes and provide a sense of community that engages the surrounding campus and local communities in college activities and culture. The traditional bookstores range in size from 500 to 48,000 square feet. The academic superstores range in size from 8,000 to 75,000 square feet. B&! N College! �� three customer constituencies are students, faculty members and campus administrators.

NOOK

This segment includes the Company�� digital business, which includes the Company�� eBookstore, digital newsstand and sales of NOOK devices and accessories to third party distribution partners, as well as to B&N Retail and B&N College. Barnes & Noble�� NOOK digital bookstore and Reading Apps provide customers the ability to purchase and read their digital content and access to their Lifetime Library on a range of digital platforms, including Windows 8 PCs and tablets, iPad, iPhone , Android smartphones and tablets, PC and Mac. Barnes & Noble has implemented features on its digital platform to ensure that customers can access their NOOK content from almost all of today�� most popular devices.

The Company competes with Target, Books-A-Million, Waldenbooks, Amazon.com, Apple, Wal-Mart and Costco.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  It sure seems that way, as investors look past the continued slide in Nook sales and reward Barnes & Noble (BKS) for stronger same-store sales elsewhere. Janney’s David Strasser and team explain why:

• [By Jeremy Bowman]

  Barnes & Noble� (NYSE: BKS  ) shares plummeted 14% today after�Liberty Media� (NASDAQ: LMCA  ) said it was dumping 90% of the preferred stock it holds in the bookseller. In 2011, the media conglomerate had invested $204 million in Barnes & Noble for a stake equivalent to 17% of the company, largely on the strength of the Nook e-reader. The Nook has since faded in popularity and put up continued operational losses for the retailer, making today's sale further confirmation of the unlikelihood of the Nook or its parent company making a turnaround. Barnes & Noble will also lose Liberty CEO Greg Maffei from its board as a result of the sale.�

• [By Adam Levine-Weinberg]

  On Monday afternoon, Barnes & Noble (NYSE: BKS  ) announced that CEO William Lynch had resigned. The company made a variety of management changes to accommodate his departure, but it notably didn't appoint a new CEO. Instead, the top executives will report to company founder and executive chairman Leonard Riggio.

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  In this video, longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz explains why Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX  ) , Barnes & Noble (NYSE: BKS  ) , and even Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN  ) are featured brands in the Microsoft mini-store ad. This is a humbler Mr. Softy than we've seen before, and that may ultimately pay off for Microsoft stock.

Top 10 Retail Stocks To Watch For 2015: Tim Hortons Inc.(THI)

Tim Hortons Inc. develops, franchises, and operates quick service restaurants primarily in Canada and the United States. Its restaurants serve coffee and other hot and cold beverages, baked goods, sandwiches, soups, and other food products. As of April 03, 2011, the company and its restaurant owners operated 3,169 restaurants in Canada and 613 restaurants in the United States under the Tim Hortons name; and had 274 primarily self-serve licensed locations in the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom Tim Hortons Inc. was founded in 1964 and is based in Oakville, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chad Fraser]

  Tim Hortons (NYSE: THI) is Canada’s leading coffee chain, with 3,468 outlets in the country, as well as 807 in the U.S. and 29 in the Middle East.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Burger King Worldwide (BKW) has risen 3.2% to $33.45 after Warren Buffett said he would help finance its merger with Tim Hortons (THI). Tim Hortons has leaped 10% to $82.55.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Tim Hortons (NYSE: THI  ) will have a new nameplate on the door of its chief executive's office starting this summer. The company announced that it has named Marc Caira as CEO, effective July 2. He succeeds Paul House, who will remain in his post as chairman of the board.