Although business headlines still tout earnings numbers, many investors have moved past net earnings as a measure of a company's economic output. That's because earnings are very often less trustworthy than cash flow, since earnings are more open to manipulation based on dubious judgment calls.
Earnings' unreliability is one of the reasons Foolish investors often flip straight past the income statement to check the cash flow statement. In general, by taking a close look at the cash moving in and out of the business, you can better understand whether the last batch of earnings brought money into the company, or merely disguised a cash gusher with a pretty headline.
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 AptarGroup (NYSE: ATR ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.
Best Prefered Stocks To Own Right Now: RingCentral Inc (RNG)
RingCentral, Inc., incorporated on February 9, 1999, is a provider of software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions for business communications. RingCentral Office, the Company�� flagship service, is a multi-user, enterprise-grade communications solution that enables its customers and their employees to communicate through voice, text and fax, on multiple devices, including Smartphone��, tablets, personal computers (PCs) and desk phones. The Company also offer RingCentral Professional, primarily an inbound call routing service with additional text and fax capabilities targeting smaller deployments, and RingCentral Fax, an Internet fax service that permits sending and receiving faxes over the Internet.
The Company�� solutions have been developed with a mobile-centric approach and can be configured, managed and used from a Smartphone or tablet. The Company�� solutions generally use existing broadband connections. The Company�� cloud-based business communications solutions provide a single user identity across multiple locations and devices, including smartphone, tablets, PCs and desk phones, and allow for communication across multiple channels, including voice, text and fax. The Company primarily generate revenues by selling subscriptions for our cloud-based services.
The Company competes with Alcatel-Lucent, S.A., Avaya Inc., Cisco Systems, Inc., Mitel Networks Corporation, ShoreTel, Inc., Siemens Enterprise Networks, LLC, Microsoft Corporation, Broadsoft, Inc., AT&T Inc., Verizon Communications Inc., Comcast Corporation, j2 Global, Inc., 8x8, Inc., Google Inc., Yahoo! Inc. and Amazon.com.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Paul Ausick]
Stocks on the Move: J.C. Penney Co. Inc. (NYSE: JCP) is down 13.9% at $8.97 after a secondary stock offering�that might have been designed to drive out short sellers. Violin Memory Inc. (NASDAQ: VMEM) is down 21% at $7.11 on a lousy IPO�day. RingCentral Inc. (NYSE: RNG) is up 39.5% at $18.14 on a good IPO day.
Best Income Stocks For 2014: Southwest Airlines Co (LUV)
Southwest Airlines Co., incorporated on March 9, 1967, operates Southwest Airlines, a passenger airline, which provides scheduled air transportation in the United States. As of December 31, 2011, the Company was serving 72 cities in 37 states throughout the United States. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company added addition services in two new states and three new cities: Charleston, South Carolina; Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina; and Newark, New Jersey. Southwest provides point-to-point. On May 2, 2011, the Company acquired AirTran Holdings, Inc. (AirTran).
AirTran�� route system provides hub-and-spoke, rather than point-to-point, service, with approximately half of AirTran�� flights originating or terminating at its hub in Atlanta, Georgia. AirTran also serves a range of markets with non-stop service from bases of operation in Baltimore, Maryland; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Orlando, Florida. As of December 31, 2011, AirTran was serving 68 United States and near-international destinations, including San Juan, Puerto Rico; Cancun, Mexico; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Nassau, The Bahamas; Oranjestad, Aruba; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and Bermuda. As of January 31, 2012, AirTran served 65 destinations. During 2011, approximately 71% of Southwest�� customers flew non-stop, and Southwest�� average aircraft trip stage length was 664 miles with an average duration of approximately 1.8 hours.
As of December 31, 2011, Southwest offered 25 weekday roundtrips from Dallas Love Field to Houston Hobby, 13 weekday roundtrips from Phoenix to Las Vegas, 13 weekday roundtrips from Burbank to Oakland, and 12 weekday roundtrips from Los Angeles International to Oakland. Southwest offers connecting service opportunities from over 60 Southwest cities to different Volaris airports in Mexico including Aguascalientes, Guadalajara, Mexico City (MEX), Mexico City-Toluca (TLC), Morelia, and Zacatecas. The Company�� International Connect portal conducts two separate transac! tions: one with Southwest�� reservation system and one with Volaris�� reservation system.
Southwest bundles fares into three categories: Wanna Get Away, Anytime, and Business Select. Wanna Get Away fares are lowest fares. Business Select fares are refundable and changeable, and funds may be applied toward future travel on Southwest. Business Select fares also include additional perks, such as priority boarding, a frequent flyer point multiplier, priority security and ticket counter access in select airports, and one complimentary adult beverage coupon for the day of travel. The Company�� Internet Website, southwest.com, is the avenue for Southwest Customers to purchase tickets online. During 2011, southwest.com accounted for approximately 78% of all Southwest bookings. During 2011, approximately 84% of Southwest�� Passenger revenues came through its Website, including revenues from SWABIZ, the Company�� business travel reservation Web page.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lisa Levin]
Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE: LUV) shares reached a new 52-week high of $21.99 after the company reported a strong rise in its fourth-quarter profit.
- [By Paul R. La Monica]
Even Southwest (LUV), which is widely regarded as one of the best run companies in the industry, has fallen more than 5%.
Smaller airlines Alaska Air (ALK), JetBlue (JBLU) and Spirit (SAVE) have also fallen, but not as much as the big four national carriers.
Best Income Stocks For 2014: TearLab Corporation(TEAR)
TearLab Corporation operates as an ophthalmic device company. It engages in developing and commercializing TearLab Osmolarity System, a proprietary in vitro diagnostic tear testing platform that measures tear film osmolarity for the diagnosis of dry eye disease. The company?s system enables eye care practitioners to test for sensitive and specific biomarkers using nanoliters of tear film at the point-of-care. Its TearLab Osmolarity System consists of TearLab disposable, which is a single-use microfluidic microchip; TearLab pen, which is a hand-held device that interfaces with the TearLab disposable; and TearLab reader, which is a small desktop unit that allows for the docking of the TearLab disposable and the TearLab pen, as well as provides a quantitative reading for the operator. TearLab Corporation markets its system through a network of distributors in North America, Europe, and Asia. The company, formerly known as OccuLogix, Inc., was founded in 1996 and is headquart ered in San Diego, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Seth Jayson]
TearLab (Nasdaq: TEAR ) reported earnings on May 13. Here are the numbers you need to know.
The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), TearLab beat expectations on revenues and exceeded expectations on earnings per share. - [By Roberto Pedone]
One potential earnings short-squeeze candidate is in-vitro diagnostic player TearLab (TEAR), which is set to release numbers on Tuesday after the market close. Wall Street analysts, on average, expect TearLab to report revenue of $3.51 million on a loss of 13 cents per share.
This company has managed to top Wall Street estimates two times over the last four quarters, which is a bullish earnings trend. If TearLab can delve another beat, then shares could be setting up for a large move higher.
The current short interest as a percentage of the float for TearLab is extremely high at 37.1%. That means that out of the 25.54 million shares in the tradable float, 8.59 million shares are sold short by the bears. This is a huge short interest on a stock with a very low tradable float. If the bulls get the earnings news they're looking for, then shares of TEAR could easily explode higher post-earnings as the bears jump to cover some of their bets.
From a technical perspective, TEAR is currently trending above both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, which is bullish. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last six months, with shares moving higher from its low of $5.26 to its recent high of $15.18 a share. During that uptrend, shares of TEAR have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of TEAR within range of triggering a major breakout trade post-earnings.
If you're bullish on TEAR, then I would wait until after its report and look for long-biased trades if this stock manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $14.28 to its 52-week high at $15.18 a share with high volume. Look for volume on that move that registers near or above its three-month average action of 942,598 shares. If that breakout hits, then TEAR will set up to enter new 52-week high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside
Best Income Stocks For 2014: Clariant AG (CLN)
Clariant AG is a Switzerland-based holding company engaged in the chemical sector. The Company's key markets include Paints, comprising decorative interior and exterior, primers, varnishes, anticorrosion and industrial applications, Construction, comprising concrete applications, roofing, tiling, sealants and primers, Adhesives, comprising wood, paper, lamination, packaging and Pressure Sensitive Adhesives, and Textile, leather and paper, comprising various functional effects and coatings. The Company diversifies its business into several units, including Additives, Catalysis & Energy, Emulsions, Functional Materials, Industrial & Consumer Specialties, Leather Services, Masterbatches, Oil & Mining Services, Paper Specialties, Pigments and Textile Chemicals. In every business unit, the Company diversifies five geographical regions, including Europe, Latin America, North America, Asia/Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. In January 2014, it sold its Detergents & Intermediates business. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Tom Stoukas]
Clariant slid 1.6 percent to 15.57 francs, dropping for a seventh day. UBS removed the company from its most preferred list because of the shares��recent rally. Clariant (CLN) has surged 26 percent this year, while the SPI has gained 21 percent.
Best Income Stocks For 2014: Baxter International Inc. (BAX)
Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and markets products for people with hemophilia, immune disorders, infectious diseases, kidney disease, trauma, and other chronic and acute medical conditions. It operates in three segments: BioScience, Medication Delivery, and Renal. The BioScience segment processes recombinant and plasma-based proteins to treat hemophilia and other bleeding disorders; plasma-based therapies to treat immune deficiencies, alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, burns and shock, and other chronic and acute blood-related conditions; products for regenerative medicine, such as biosurgery products; and vaccines. The Medication Delivery segment manufactures intravenous solutions and administration sets; premixed drugs and drug-reconstitution systems; pre-filled vials and syringes for injectable drugs; intravenous nutrition products; infusion pumps; and inhalation anesthetics. It also offers products and services related to pha rmacy compounding, drug formulation, and packaging technologies. The Renal segment provides products to treat end-stage renal disease or irreversible kidney failure. It manufactures solutions and other products for peritoneal dialysis, a home-based therapy; and distributes product for hemodialysis, which is conducted in a hospital or clinic. It markets its products to hospitals, kidney dialysis centers, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, doctors? offices, clinical and medical research laboratories, and patients at home under physician supervision. The company was founded in 1931 and is based in Deerfield, Illinois.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Shauna O'Brien]
On Friday, healthcare company Baxter International Inc. (BAX) announced that it has finalized its acquisition of medical technology company Gambro AB.
The acquisition will help Baxter’s long term growth in the healthcare industry and will expand its product and therapies portfolio. Baxter will also help grow Gambro’s international exposure by expanding into Latin American and Asia Pacific.
The deal was worth about $3.9 billion and will be included in BAX’s third quarter and full year results.
Robert L. Parkinson, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Baxter commented: “The combination of these two respected renal leaders – Baxter and Gambro – will enable Baxter to better serve healthcare providers and patients through a collective offering of innovative renal products and therapies.”
“Together, we will advance the state of dialysis care for patients with kidney disease worldwide.”
Baxter International shares were mostly flat during pre-market trading Friday. The stock is up 5% YTD.
Best Income Stocks For 2014: Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund (ETO)
Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Opportunities Fund (the Fund) is a closed-end management investment company. The Fund's investment objective is to provide a high level of after-tax total return. The Fund pursues its objective by investing primarily in dividend-paying common and preferred stocks.
The Fund�� top 10 equity holdings include Freeport-McMoran Copper, Veolia Environment, Southern Copper Corp., Societe Generale, Chevron Corp., Occidental Petroleum Corp., Exelon Corp., Total SA Spon ADR, Entergy Corp. and Suncor Energy Inc. Top 10 equity holdings represented 25.3% of total investments as of April 30, 2007.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By GURUFOCUS]
Special Purpose Funds- Eaton Vance Tax-Adv. Global Dividend Oppor. Fund (ETO) | Yield: 7.3%
- The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust (GLU) | Yield: 6.2%
- Pimco Global Stocksplus Income Fund (PGP) | Yield: 9.5%
- LMP Real Estate Income Fund Inc. (RIT) | Yield: 7.0%
Best Income Stocks For 2014: Tronox Ltd (TROX)
Tronox Limited, incorporated on September 21, 2011, is engaged in production and marketing of titanium bearing mineral sands and titanium dioxide pigment (TiO2). The Company�� TiO2 products are critical components of everyday applications, such as coatings, plastics, paper and other applications. The Company�� mineral sands business consists primarily of two product streams: titanium feedstock and zircon. The Company operates in three segments: mineral sands, pigment and corporate and other. The corporate and other include its electrolytic manufacturing business. It has operations in North America, Europe, South Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. The Company operates three TiO2 facilities at the locations in Hamilton, Mississippi, Botlek, The Netherlands, and Kwinana, Western Australia, representing approximately 465,000 tons of annual TiO2 production capacity. In addition, it operates three separate mining operations: KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Sands located in South Africa, Namakwa Sands located in South Africa and the Tiwest Joint Venture located in Western Australia, which has a combined annual production capacity of approximately 723,000 tons of titanium feedstock and approximately 265,000 tons of zircon. On June 15, 2012, the existing business of Tronox Incorporated was combined with the mineral sands business under Tronox Limited.
Mineral Sand segment
The Company's minerals segment includes the exploration, mining and beneficiation of mineral sands deposits. These operations produce titanium feedstock, including ilmenite, chloride slag, slag fines and rutile, as well as zircon, pig iron and activated charcoal. Titanium feedstock is used primarily to manufacture TiO2. Zircon is a mineral which is primarily used as an opacifier in ceramic glazes for tiles, plates, dishes and industrial products.
Pigment segment
The Company's pigment segment primarily produces and markets TiO2, and has production facilities in the United States, Australia, and the! Netherlands. TiO2 is used in a range of products due to its ability to impart whiteness, brightness and opacity. TiO2 is used in the manufacture of coatings, plastics and paper and in a range of other applications, including inks, fibers, rubber, food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. TiO2 is a critical component of everyday consumer applications due to its superior ability to cover or mask other materials effectively and efficiently relative to alternative white pigments and extenders.
Corporate and other
Corporate and other is comprised of corporate activities and businesses that are no longer in operation, as well as its electrolytic manufacturing and marketing operations, all of which are located in the United States. It�� electrolytic and other chemical products operations are focused on advanced battery materials, sodium chlorate and specialty boron products.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dan Caplinger]
Another source of potential problems is the titanium dioxide market. DuPont has made substantial investments in boosting TiO2 production based on the extremely high demand seen a couple of years ago, but buyers stockpiled substantial amounts of the chemical in order to avoid paying ever-higher prices. DuPont joined competitors Huntsman (NYSE: HUN ) and Tronox (NYSE: TROX ) in implementing TiO2 price increases, with DuPont's effective July 1, but the question remains whether the paint makers that need the chemical will keep buying or continue to seek cheaper substitutes.
- [By Aaron Levitt]
Under the strain of the environmental liabilities, Kerr-McGee was forced to reorganize in 2001. As a result, it eventually spun off its chemicals business and a paint pigment plant into Tronox (TROX) in 2005. That spin-off took many of Kerr-McGee�� old environmental liabilities with it. Three months after it was complete, Anadarko offered to buy Kerr-McGee�� oil and gas assets. Tronox was later forced to file for bankruptcy under the weight of the fines and levies.
- [By James O'Toole]
In 2005 and 2006, the company transferred its valuable oil and gas exploration assets to a new corporate entity that was later acquired by Anadarko. The environmental liabilities were left with the old company, which was renamed Tronox (TROX).
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