The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Friday it has "no reservations" with Chrysler Group's plans to recall the vehicles. The agency is expected to release a report on its investigation in a few weeks.
The decision ends an unusually public struggle between Chrysler and NHTSA. The agency asked Chrysler to recall 2.7 million Jeeps last June, contending that their gas tanks ��which are positioned behind the rear axle ��were at risk of rupturing and catching fire in rear-end crashes. Involved were Grand Cherokee SUVs from the 1993 to 2004 model years and Liberty SUVs from 2002 to 2007.
Chrysler initially refused to recall the vehicles. The company said the rate of fuel leaks and fires after crashes was similar to comparable vehicles that were sold during the time in question. It was the first time in two years that an automaker had refused NHTSA's request for a recall.
Hot Prefered Companies To Own In Right Now: Campus Crest Communities Inc (CCG)
Campus Crest Communities, Inc., incorporated on March 1, 2010, is a self-managed, self-administered and vertically-integrated developer, builder, owner and manager of purpose-built student housing properties in the United States. The Company operates in two segments: student housing operations and development, construction and management services. It owns the general partner interest and owns limited partner interests in Campus Crest Communities Operating Partnership, LP (the Operating Partnership). It holds substantially all of its assets and conducts substantially all of its business, through the Operating Partnership. As of December 31, 2010, it owned interests in 27 operating student housing properties containing approximately 5,048 apartment units and 13,580 beds. Twenty-one of its properties, containing approximately 3,920 apartment units and 10,528 beds, are wholly owned. On October 19, 2010, it acquired the remaining interest in Campus Crest at San Marcos, LLC, which owns The Grove at San Marcos, from HSRE. In January 2012, the Company acquired 50.1% interests in The Grove. On December 27, 2013, the Company closed its sale of four wholly owned student housing properties. In January 2014, Campus Crest Communities Inc and Beaumont Partners joint venture partnership acquired the 488-room, 22-story Holiday Inn Midtown in Montreal, Quebec.
As of December 31, 2010, the average occupancy for its 27 properties was approximately 88%. Its properties are primarily located in medium-sized college and university markets. As of December 31, 2010, the Company were party to one joint venture arrangement with HSRE, in which it owns a 49.9% interest.
Student Housing Operations
The Company�� student housing operations are consisted of rental and other service revenues, such as application fees, pet fees and late payment fees. In August 2010, the Company opened three additional properties that were owned by the same real estate venture.
Development, Construc! tion and Management Services
The Company provides development and construction services to unconsolidated joint ventures in which it has an ownership interest. The Company acts as a general contractor on all of its construction projects. In addition to its wholly owned properties, all of which are managed by the Company, it also provides management services to uncombined joint ventures in which, it has an ownership interest.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lawrence Meyers]
Campus Crest Communities (CCG) operates 33 student housing properties comprising 6,324 apartment units under its ��rove��brand name. It�� a REIT, so it distributes a minimum of 90% of taxable income as a common dividend of roughly 6%, which may even attract other investors. Campus Crest carries $225 million in debt and services it at a rate of about 5%. The company came into its own in 2012, as it reported solid EBITDA of $16.5 million and a profit after debt service and preferred stock payments, which it just started that year.
- [By Jonas Elmerraji]
2013 is panning out to be a rough year for Campus Crest Communities (CCG) -- shares of the small-cap student housing REIT have slid 12.7% since the calendar flipped over to January. While that sounds bad enough as it is, it's actually 31% underperformance vs. the S&P 500. And a quick glance at the chart makes it pretty clear to see why.
CCG is stuck in a textbook downtrend right now, bouncing between trendline resisatnce to the upside and a parallel support level below. You don't have to be an expert technical analyst to figure out where CCG's high probability price action is from here; it's down. Trendline resistance has acted as a ceiling for shares on the last four tests in 2013 – and with shares hitting their head on that resistance level this week, now's the optimal time to sell (or short) this REIT.
If you're looking for an opportunity to buy CCG, you could be in for a long wait. But the 50-day moving average has been a pretty good proxy for resistance since the start of the summer. I'd recommend waiting for that line to get broken before even thinking about doing anything but selling this stock. Until then, it's toxic.
Best Prefered Stocks To Own Right Now: Hansen Medical Inc.(HNSN)
Hansen Medical, Inc. develops, manufactures, and sells medical robotics designed for positioning, manipulation, and control of catheters and catheter-based technologies. The company?s products comprise the Sensei Robotic Catheter System and its related Artisan and Lynx catheters. It offers Sensei Robotic Catheter systems and Artisan catheters for manipulation, positioning, and control of mapping catheters during electrophysiology procedures. The company also provides robotic platforms consisting of the Magellan Robotic System and the NorthStar Robotic Catheter for the treatment of vascular disease. In addition, it offers CoHesion 3D Visualization Module, a software interface that provide physicians with 3D visualization to augment their ability to move a catheter throughout the heart, as well as control the placement of the catheter in specific locations. The company sells its products through direct sales force in the United States; and through direct sales force and dis tributors primarily in the European Union and internationally. It has a joint development agreement and co-marketing agreement with St. Jude Medical, Inc. for the development of CoHesion 3D Visualization Module; and a collaboration agreement with Philips Medical Systems Nederland B.V. to co-develop integrated products for use in the diagnosing and treatment of arrhythmias. The company was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
Yesterday, small cap medical robotics stock MAKO Surgical Corp (NASDAQ: MAKO) soared 82.19% after it was announced that Stryker Corporation (NYSE: SYK) would acquire it���meaning it might be time to take a closer look at large cap medical robotics leader Intuitive Surgical, Inc (NASDAQ: ISRG) along with small caps Accuray Incorporated (NASDAQ: ARAY) and Hansen Medical, Inc (NASDAQ: HNSN). MAKO Surgical Corp�markets both its RIO Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic System and proprietary RESTORIS family of implants to surgeons for a procedure called MAKOplastythat provides a less invasive method for knee resurfacing and a new procedure for Total Hip Arthroplasty.�Stryker Corporation, whose medical technologies include reconstructive, medical and surgical, and neurotechnology and spine products, agreed to pay $1.65 billion or $30 a share for a massive 86%�premium for MAKO Surgical Corp. That�� sounds great for investors unless you are an investor who go in the stock back in 2011 and early 2012 when shares hit as high as the�$43 level.
- [By Rich Smith]
While billed as a rival to America's Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG ) , Mazor actually bears closer resemblance to tiny Hansen Medical (NASDAQ: HNSN ) . Lacking profits despite raking in nearly $15 million in revenues last year, Mazor doesn't generate positive free cash flow like Intuitive does. Instead, it burns it like Hansen does (albeit more slowly). Last year, negative free cash flows amounted to $2.1 million, which suggests that Wallachbeth's endorsement may be a bit premature.
- [By Roberto Pedone]
One health care player that insiders are active in here is Hansen Medical (HNSN), which develops, manufactures and markets new generation of medical robotics for accurate positioning, manipulation and stable control of catheters and catheter-based technologies. Insiders are buying this stock into relative weakness, since shares are off by 19.2% so far in 2013.
Hansen Medical has a market cap of $113 million and an enterprise value of $118 million. This stock trades at a premium valuation, with a price-to-sales of 7.13. Its estimated growth rate for this year is -3%, and for next year it's pegged at 36.2%. This is not a cash-rich company, since the total cash position on its balance sheet is $21.08 million and its total debt is $29.57 million.
A beneficial owner just bought 8.1 million shares, or about $9.96 million worth of stock, at $1.23 per share.
From a technical perspective, HNSN is currently trending above its 50-day and just below is 200-day moving average, which is neutral trendwise. This stock recently spiked up sharply from its low of $1.14 to its recent high of $1.96 a share with big upside volume. Since that move, shares of HNSN have pulled back and started to consolidation between $1.77 and $1.60 a share. This stock is now starting to bounce higher and move within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade.
If you're bullish on HNSN, then look for long-biased trades as long as this stock is trending some key near-term support levels at $1.60 to its 50-day at $1.51, and then once it breaks out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $1.77 to $1.96 a share high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average volume of 530,653 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then HNSN will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $2.15 to $2.23 a share. Any high-volume move above those levels will then gi
- [By John Udovich]
Small cap robotic stock Adept Technology (NASDAQ: ADEP) has put in a very good performance this month verses its immediate peer�iRobot Corporation (NASDAQ: IRBT) as well as against medical robotic stocks like MAKO Surgical (NASDAQ: MAKO), Accuray Incorporated (NASDAQ: ARAY) and Hansen Medical, Inc (NASDAQ: HNSN). I should also mention that we have recently added Adept Technology to our SmallCap Network Elite Opportunity (SCN EO) portfolio (we are up 9% since last week) because we feel robotics is an improving sector as companies aim to reduce overhead and improve efficiencies through machine to machine (M2M) automation.
Best Prefered Stocks To Own Right Now: 1st United Bancorp Inc (FUBC)
1st United Bancorp, Inc. (Bancorp) is a financial holding company. 1st United Bank, a Florida state chartered bank, is Bancorp�� wholly owned subsidiary. The Company offers its customers, professionals, high net-worth individuals and small and medium-sized businesses, a variety of traditional loan, deposit and cash management products. As of December 31, 2010, Bancorp operated banking center from 15 locations consisting of four banking centers in Palm Beach County, four banking centers in Broward County, four banking centers in Miami-Dade County, and one banking center each in Sebastian, Vero Beach and Barefoot Bay, Florida. As of December 31, 2010, the total assets of Bancorp were at 1.268 billion and the total loans of the Company were at $847.7 million. As of December 31, 2010, its total deposits were $1.064 billion. On January 8, 2011, the Company purchased all of the assets of The Bank of Miami, National Association (The Bank of Miami). Effective April 1, 2012, the Company merged with Anderen Financial, Inc. (Anderen), under which it acquired Anderen and its subsidiary, Anderen Bank. In July 2013, 1st United Bancorp Inc completed its acquisition by merger of Enterprise Bancorp Inc (EBI) and its wholly owned subsidiary Enterprise Bank of Florida.
Investment Activity
Bancorp�� investment portfolio includes several callable agency debentures, mortgage-backed securities, adjustable rate mortgage pass-throughs, and collateralized mortgage obligations. As of December 31, 2010, the investment portfolio of the Company was at $102,289, 000.
Lending Activity
Bancorp offers a range of loans to its customers. The Company includes commercial loans, which include collateralized loans for working capital (including inventory and receivables), business expansion (including real estate construction, acquisitions and improvements), and purchase of equipment and machinery; small business loans, including small business administration (SBA) lending; Export-Im! port Bank insured or guaranteed loans; residential real estate loans to enable borrowers to purchase, refinance, construct upon or improve real property, and home equity loans, and consumer loans, including collateralized and uncollateralized loans for financing automobiles, boats, home improvements, and personal investments. As of December 31, 2010, the Company�� Commercial and Industrial loans were approximately $10.3 million, in Export Import (EXIM) loans which have either insurance or a guarantee of between 90% and 100% from the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
Through the Company�� lending division and SBA division, its commercial real estate loan portfolio includes loans secured by office buildings, warehouses, retail stores and other properties, which are located in or near the markets. Commercial real estate loans are generally originated in amounts up to 80% of the appraised value of the property securing the loan. It originates a mix of fixed rate and adjustable rate residential mortgage loans. It offers adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), and maintains these ARMs in the portfolio or sells the ARMs in the secondary market.
The construction loan portfolio includes residential real estate, commercial real estate and homeowners��association projects. Through the business lending divisions, the Company offers real estate construction loans to individuals for the construction of their residences, to businesses and business owners primarily for owner-occupied, commercial real estate, and to homeowners��associations for general repair and/or improvements to the properties. The Company has construction loans on commercial real estate projects secured by industrial properties, office buildings or other property. The land loan portfolio includes exposure to land development, both residential and commercial. As of December 31, 2010, approximately $7.0 million or 21% of the construction and land development loan portfolio was part of the Loss Share Agreements.
T! he Company originates consumer loans bearing both fixed and prime-based variable interest rates. It originates the loans directly through the banking centers, business bankers and residential lenders. It focus the consumer lending on the origination of direct second mortgage loans and home equity loans (secured by a junior lien on residential real property), and home improvement loans. Second mortgage and home improvement loans generally originate on either a line of credit or a fixed term basis ranging from 5 to 15 years. It also extends personal loans, which may be secured by various forms of collateral, both real and personal, or to a minimal extent, on an unsecured basis.
The Company focus on the commercial loan market consists of small- to medium-sized businesses with combined borrowing needs up to $20.0 million. These businesses include professional associations (physicians, law firms, and accountants), medical services, retail trade, construction, transportation, wholesale trade, manufacturing, and tourism-related service industries. Its commercial loans are derived from the market area and underwritten on the basis of the borrowers��ability to service, such debt from recurring income. The EXIM lending operation makes loans to companies that export United States goods and services to international markets and makes loans to foreign companies to facilitate the purchase of United States goods. As of December 31, 2010, it had approximately $10.3 million in Exim loans.
Deposits
Bancorp maintains a range of deposit accounts to meet the needs of the residents and businesses in the primary service area. Products include an array of checking account programs for individuals and small businesses, including money market accounts, certificates of deposit, individual retirement account (IRA) accounts, and sweep investment capabilities. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had approximately $309.5 million in deposits by foreign nationals banking in the United States. A! s of Dece! mber 31, 2010, it had approximately $70 million in wholesale certificates of deposit.
The Company competes with Bank of America, SunTrust Bank, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase & Co., BB&T, PNC, Citigroup and BankUnited, Inc.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Marc Bastow]
The biggest increase among our dividend stocks this week came from Boca Raton, Florida-based financial holding company 1st United Bancorp (FUBC), who raised its quarterly dividend 100% to 2 cents per share, payable March 7 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 24.
FUBC Dividend Yield: 1.07%
Best Prefered Stocks To Own Right Now: Martin Midstream Partners L.P.(MMLP)
Martin Midstream Partners L.P. collects, transports, stores, and markets petroleum products and by-products in the United States Gulf Coast region. The company?s Terminalling and Storage segment owns or operates 27 marine shore based terminal facilities and 12 specialty terminal facilities that provide storage, processing, and handling services for producers and suppliers of petroleum products and by-products, lubricants, and other liquids, including the refining of various grades and quantities of naphthenic lubricants and related products. This segment also offers land rental services to oil and gas companies, and storage and handling services for lubricants and fuel oil. The Natural Gas Services segment is involved in the gathering and processing of natural gas, and distribution of natural gas liquids (NGLs). This segment owns 1 NGL pipeline; and 3 NGL supply and storage facilities, as well as has ownership interests in approximately 719 miles of gathering and transmis sion pipelines located in the natural gas producing regions of east Texas, Northwest Louisiana, the Texas Gulf Coast and offshore Texas and federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico. The Sulfur Services segment processes and distributes sulfur produced by oil refineries that is primarily used in the production of fertilizers and industrial chemicals. This segment own and operates 6 sulfur-based fertilizer production plants, and 1 emulsified sulfur blending plant that manufacture sulfur-based fertilizer products for wholesale distributors and industrial users; 1 sulfuric acid production plant that processes molten sulfur into sulfuric acid; and 1 ammonium sulfate production plant that processes sulfuric acid into ammonium sulfate. The Marine Transportation segment utilizes a fleet of 41 inland marine tank barges, 20 inland push boats, and 4 offshore tug barge units that transport petroleum products and by-products. The company was founded in 2002 and is based in Kilgore, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jonas Elmerraji]
Today, we're starting small with Martin Midstream Partners (MMLP), a $1.2 billion firm that transports and stores natural gas and sulfur. Shares of MMLP have had a stellar year in 2013, rallying more than 47% since the calendar flipped over to January -- and this stock's technicals point to even higher ground in the second half.
That's because MMLP is currently forming an ascending triangle pattern, a technical setup that's formed by horizontal resistance above shares at $46 and uptrending support to the downside. Basically, as MMLP bounces in between those two technical price levels, it's getting squeezed closer and closer to a breakout above that $46 resistance level. When that breakout happens, we've got a buy signal for shares.
Confirmation is going to be important to watch in MMLP. This stock has popped above $46 intraday in the past, only to fall back down to close within the pattern. Waiting for a close above $46 followed by a consecutive open above it greatly reduces the possibility of a bull trap in this stock.
- [By Alyssa Oursler]
This mega-trend is hardly news, and it can be played from all angles. One especially promising option: Martin Midstream Partners (MMLP).
This master limited partnership�cleans up, stores and transports gas — essentially collecting a “toll” on the gas that passes through its pipelines, then passing most of that toll along to shareholders per its MLP status. The current result of that setup: a mouth-watering 6.7% yield.
- [By Aimee Duffy]
The role of the barge can't be underestimated. Barge receipts increased more than two percentage points year over year, and this is a great place for investors to look for opportunity. Companies with maritime resources benefit from this trend, as well as growth in exports. Three such companies that are worth a look are:
Kirby Corporation (NYSE: KEX ) , which operates 30% of the coastal tank barges in the U.S.� Oiltanking Partners (NYSE: OILT ) , which has storage capacity of 12.1 million barrels and six deepwater docks on the Houston Ship Channel Martin Midstream Partners (NASDAQ: MMLP ) , which operates a large fleet of inland barges and controls 31 marine terminals�These companies won't be the only winners, but they are a good place to start your research.
- [By Robert Rapier]
The index includes everything from behemoths like Enterprise Product Partners (NYSE: EPD) and Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (NYSE: KMP) down to a pair with market capitalizations under $1 billion in Martin Midstream Partners (NASDAQ: MMLP) and Navios Maritime Partners (NYSE: NMM). The total market cap of the index is $328 billion, and its one-, three- and five-year total returns are 20 percent, 48 percent and 194 percent. The index yield is 6 percent.
Best Prefered Stocks To Own Right Now: Renewable Energy Group Inc (REGI)
Renewable Energy Group, Inc., incorporated in August 2006, is a producer of biodiesel in the United States. The Company is engaged in each aspect of biodiesel production, from acquiring feedstock, managing construction and operating biodiesel production facilities to marketing, selling and distributing biodiesel and its co-products. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company sold approximately 150 million gallons of biodiesel. As of December 31, 2011, the Company operated a network of six biodiesel plants, with an aggregate production capacity of 212 million gallons per year. On July 12, 2011, the Company acquired SoyMor Biodiesel, LLC (SoyMor), which has 30 million gallons per year biodiesel production facility in Albert Lea, Minnesota. In January 2012, it exercised its option to purchase the 60 million gallons per year facility in Seneca, Illinois, which it operated under a lease. In August 2013, the Company acquired biodiesel plant in Mason City, Iowa. In January 2014, Renewable Energy Group Inc acquired renewable chemical technology developer LS9, Inc.
The Company produces its biodiesel from a range of feedstocks, including inedible animal fat, used cooking oil and inedible corn oil. It also produces a smaller portion of its biodiesel from virgin vegetable oils. It owns biodiesel production facilities with capacities consisting of 12 million gallons per year facility in Ralston, Iowa; 35 million gallons per year facility near Houston, Texas, or the Houston facility; 45 million gallons per year facility in Danville, Illinois, and 30 million gallons per year facility in Newton, Iowa.
The Company competes with Archer Daniels Midland Company, Cargill, Incorporated, Louis Dreyfus Commodities Group, Ag Processing Inc., Mansfield, Astra, Gavilon, Tenaska, ED&F Man, Dynamic Fuels, LLC, Syntroleum Corporation, Tyson Foods, Inc., Diamond Green Diesel, LLC and Darling International.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Steve Symington and Alison Southwick]
Dubbed Diamond Green Diesel, the plant will be able to produce nearly two-thirds the number of gallons of biodiesel as the combined total of all seven of the plants owned by the United States' current biodiesel leader, Renewable Energy Group (NASDAQ: REGI ) .
Best Prefered Stocks To Own Right Now: Community Trust Bancorp Inc.(CTBI)
Community Trust Bancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for Community Trust Bank, Inc. that provides various banking products and services. It accepts various deposit product that include checking accounts, regular and term savings accounts and savings certificates, commercial demand deposit accounts, individual retirement accounts and Keogh plans, non interest bearing deposits, NOW accounts, money market deposits, savings accounts, and certificates of deposit and other time deposits. The company?s loan portfolio comprises residential and commercial real estate loans; commercial loans; commercial, construction, mortgage, and personal loans; and lease-financing, lines of credit, revolving lines of credit, term loans, and other specialized loans, including asset-based financing. It also provides full service securities brokerage services; annuity and life insurance products; trust services; debit cards; cash management services to corporate and individual customers; l etters of credit; safe deposit boxes; and funds transfer services. In addition, the company acts as a trustee of personal trusts, an executor of estates, trustee for employee benefit trusts, registrar, transfer agent, paying agent for bond and stock issues; and depositor for securities, as well as provides full service brokerage services. Community Trust operates 80 banking locations in eastern, northeastern, central, and south central Kentucky; southern West Virginia; and northeastern Tennessee, as well as 5 trust offices across Kentucky. The company was founded in 1903 and is headquartered in Pikeville, Kentucky.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dividends4Life]
Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Community Trust Bank Corp. (CTBI). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:
Company Description: Community Trust Bank Corp. owns and operates Community Trust Bank, Inc. of Pikeville, KY, which provides commercial banking services in Kentucky and West Virginia; and a trust company. - [By Dividends4Life]
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