According to Destatis, the official German statistics agency, Germany's GDP grew just 0.4% in 2013. This is the lowest growth rate since the 5.1% drop registered in 2009, during the global financial crisis. The German government also finished the year with a 0.1% deficit, versus a 0.1% surplus in 2012. So, although it remains stable, the country might start to revert trends and fall into recession. Given the circumstances, let's see how some German ADRs are performing.
Still unaffected
First, Fresenius Medical Care (NYSE: FMS ) is the No. 1 global provider of dialysis equipment. It enjoys leading market share of almost 33% in its home country.
Fresenius continues to report good results despite the performance of the German economy. The first three quarters of 2013 showed a 9% growth in sales and a 12% increase in net income.
The combination of an aging global population and Fresenius' vertically integrated equipment division makes the company a competitive player in the health services industry. In fact, rising rates of obesity and diabetes can only raise demand for dialysis services going forward. So fundamentals are on the company's side.
Top Income Stocks To Own For 2015: TriMas Corporation(TRS)
TriMas Corporation designs, manufactures, and distributes various products for commercial, industrial, and consumer markets worldwide. Its Packaging segment offers steel and plastic closure caps, drum enclosures, rings and levers, and specialty plastic closures, as well as dispensing systems, such as pumps and specialty sprayers to store, transport, process, and dispense various products for industrial, agricultural, food, beverage, personal care, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and medical markets. The company?s Energy segment provides metallic and non metallic gaskets; and various types of stud bolts, industrial fasteners, and specialty products for petroleum refining, petrochemical, oil field, and industrial markets. Its Aerospace and Defense segment offers aerospace fasteners and military munitions components to serve aircraft and weapons platforms in the aerospace and defense industries. The company?s Engineered Components segment provides natural gas engines and par ts, compressors, gas production equipment, and chemical pumps engineered for well sites for the oil and gas industry; and high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders for the transportation, storage, and dispensing of compressed gases. Its Cequent Asia Pacific and Cequent North America segments offer custom-engineered towing, trailering, and electrical products, including trailer couplers, winches, jacks, trailer brakes and brake control solutions, lighting accessories, and roof racks for recreational vehicle, agricultural/utility, marine, automotive, and commercial trailer markets; and functional vehicle accessories and cargo management solutions comprising vehicle hitches and receivers, sway controls, weight distribution and fifth-wheel hitches, hitch-mounted accessories, and other accessory components. The company sells its products through direct sales force, third‑party agents, distributors, licensees, and independent sales representatives. TriMas Corporation is based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Luke Jacobi]
Shares of TriMas (NASDAQ: TRS) were down 10 percent to $26.59 after the company cut its full-year profit outlook. The company also announced its plans to buy Allfast Fastening Systems for around $360 million.
- [By Garrett Cook]
Basic materials sector was the top decliner on Monday. Top losers in the sector included TriMas (NASDAQ: TRS), down 9.9 percent, and Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE: CLF), off 8.5 percent.
Top Income Stocks To Own For 2015: New Jersey Resources Corp (NJR)
New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR), incorporated in 1981, is an energy services holding company providing retail and wholesale energy services to customers in states from the Gulf Coast and Mid-Continent regions to the Appalachian and Northeast regions, the West Coast and Canada. NJR's subsidiaries and businesses include New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), NJR Clean Energy Ventures (NJRCEV), NJR Energy Services (NJRES) and NJR Energy Holdings Corporation (NJREH). NJNG is a local natural gas distribution company, which provides regulated retail natural gas service to approximately 500,100 residential and commercial customers in central and northern New Jersey and participates in the off-system sales and capacity release markets. NJR Clean Energy Ventures (NJRCEV) comprises the Company's Clean Energy Ventures segment and reports the results of operations and assets related to the Company's capital investments in renewable energy projects, including commercial and residential solar projects, as well as on-shore wind projects through a 19.9% interest in OwnEnergy. NJRES maintains and transacts around a portfolio of physical assets consisting of natural gas storage and transportation contracts. NJRES also provides wholesale energy management services to other energy companies and natural gas producers. NJRES comprises the Company's Energy Services segment. NJREH invests in energy-related ventures through its subsidiaries, NJNR Pipeline Company (Pipeline), which holds the Company's 5.53% ownership interest in Iroquois Gas Transmission L.P. (Iroquois) and NJR Steckman Ridge Storage Company, which holds the Company's 50% combined interest in Steckman Ridge GP, LLC and Steckman Ridge, LP (collectively, Steckman Ridge), a natural gas storage facility. Iroquois and Steckman Ridge comprise the Company's Energy Holdings segment.
NJR has retail and other operations (Retail and Other). NJR Retail Holdings (Retail Holdings) is consolidates the Company's unregulated retail operations. Retail Holdings consi! sts of wholly owned subsidiaries, including NJR Home Services (NJRHS), a company which provides heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) service repair and contract services to approximately 134,900 customers, as well as solar installation projects; Commercial Realty & Resources (CR&R), a company that holds and develops commercial real estate holds and develops commercial real estate, and NJR Plumbing Services (NJRPS), a company that provides plumbing repair and installation services.
NJR Energy Investments (NJREI) is an unregulated affiliate, which consolidates the Company's unregulated energy-related investments. NJREI includes the wholly owned subsidiaries, including NJR Investment, a company which makes and holds energy-related investments, through equity instruments of public companies. NJR Energy Corporation (NJR Energy), a company that invests in energy-related ventures. NJR Service an unregulated company, which provides shared administrative services, including corporate communications, financial and planning, internal audit, legal, human resources and information technology for NJR and all subsidiaries.
The Company operates within four reportable business segments: Natural Gas Distribution, Clean Energy Ventures, Energy Services and Energy Holdings. The Natural Gas Distribution segment consists of regulated energy and off-system, capacity and storage management operations. The Clean Energy Ventures segment consists of capital investments in renewable energy projects. The Energy Services segment consists of unregulated wholesale energy operations. The Energy Holdings segment consists of investments in the midstream natural gas market, such as natural gas transportation and storage facilities.
Natural Gas Distribution
NJNG provides natural gas service to approximately 500,100 customers. NJNG's service territory is in New Jersey's Monmouth and Ocean counties and parts of Burlington, Morris, Middlesex and Sussex counties. It encompasses 1,516 sq! uare mile! s, covering 105 municipalities with an population of 1.4 million people. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012 (fiscal 2012), NJNG added 6,704 new customers and added natural gas heat and other services to another 539 existing customers. During fiscal 2012, NJNG's gas supply portfolio consists of long-term (over seven months), winter-term (November through March) and short-term (seven months or less) contracts. During fiscal 2012 , NJNG purchased gas from approximately one hundred suppliers under contracts ranging from one day to one year and purchased over 10% of its natural gas from two suppliers. NJNG maintains agreements for firm transportation and storage capacity with several interstate pipeline companies. NJNG receives natural gas at eight citygate stations located in Middlesex, Morris and Passaic counties in New Jersey.
The pipeline companies, which provide firm contract transportation service for NJNG and supply the above pipelines are ANR Pipeline Company (ANR), Iroquois Gas Transmission L.P., Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, Dominion Transmission Corporation (Dominion) and Columbia Gulf Transmission Company. In addition, NJNG has storage and related transportation contracts, which provide additional maximum daily deliverability to NJNG's citygate stations of 102,941 decatherm from storage fields in its Northeast market area.
Clean Energy Ventures
NJRCEV is an unregulated company, which invests, owns and operates renewable energy projects located in the State of New Jersey and owns an interest in an on-shore wind project developer. NJRCEV invests in, owns and operates residential and commercial solar installations in the State of New Jersey. As of September 30, 2012 , NJRCEV has placed a total of 35.9 megawatts of solar assets into service, including a combination of residential and commercial rooftop and ground mount solar systems.
Energy Services
NJRES provides unregulated wholesale energy services and engages in! the busi! ness of optimizing natural gas storage and transportation assets. The rights to these assets are acquired in anticipation of delivering natural gas or performing asset management activities for the Company's customers or in conjunction with identifying arbitrage opportunities that exist in the marketplace. These activities are conducted in the market areas, which include states from the Gulf Coast and Mid-Continent regions to the Appalachian and Northeast regions, the West Coast and Canada.
NJRES has developed a portfolio of natural gas storage and transportation capacity in the Gulf Coast, Mid-Continent, Appalachian and Northeast regions, the West Coast and Canada. NJRES also participates in park-and-loan transactions with pipeline and storage counterparties, where NJRES will park (store) natural gas to be redelivered to NJRES at a later date or borrow to be returned to the pipeline or storage field at a later date. NJRES has built a portfolio of customers, including local distribution companies, industrial companies, electric generators, retail aggregators, natural gas producers and other wholesale marketing companies.
Energy Holdings
Energy Holdings include investments in natural gas transportation and storage assets and is consisted of NJNR Pipeline, which consists of its 5.53% equity investment in Iroquois Gas Transmission System, which is a 412 -mile natural gas pipeline from the New York-Canadian border to Long Island, New York, and NJR Steckman Ridge Storage Company, which holds the Company's 50% equity investment in Steckman Ridge. Steckman Ridge is a partnership, jointly owned and controlled by subsidiaries of the Company and subsidiaries of Spectra Energy Corporation, which built, owns and operates a 17.7 billion cubic feet natural gas storage facility in western Pennsylvania.
Other Business Operations
Retail and Other operations consist of the unregulated affiliates, including NJRHS, which provides HVAC service, sales and ! installat! ion of appliances to approximately 134,900 customers, as well as installation of solar equipment, and CR&R, which holds and develops commercial real estate. As of September 30, 2012 , CR&R's real estate portfolio consisted of 27 acres of undeveloped land in Monmouth County, 52 acres of undeveloped land in Atlantic County, and a 56,400 -square-foot office building on five acres of land in Monmouth County. NJR Investment invests in and holds certain energy-related investments, through equity instruments of public companies. NJR Energy invests in energy-related ventures. NJR Service provides shared administrative and financial services to the Company and all its subsidiaries.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Garrett Cook]
Utilities shares rose 0.26 percent in today’s trading. Top gainers in the sector included Pampa Energia SA (NYSE: PAM), up 2 percent, and New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR), up 1.9 percent.
Hot Wireless Telecom Companies To Own In Right Now: iShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF (IWR)
iShares Russell Midcap Index Fund (the Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the mid-capitalization sector of the United States equity market as represented by the Russell Midcap Index (the Index). The Index is a capitalization-weighted index consisting of the 800 smallest companies in the Russell 1000 Index. The Index is a subset of the Russell 1000 Index, and serves as the underlying index for the Russell Midcap Growth and Value Index series.
The Fund uses a representative sampling strategy in seeking to track the Index. iShares Russell Midcap Index Fund's investment advisor is Barclays Global Fund Advisors.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
One of the most famous scenes in the cult classic, the Graduate, was when Mr. McGuire�took Dustin Hoffman�� character aside and said�"Ben, I want to say one word to you, just one word: Plastics"; but what about the Berry Plastics Group Inc (NYSE: BERY) and its performance verses that of the�iShares S&P 500 Index ETF (NYSEARCA: IVV), iShares Russell Midcap Index Fund ETF (NYSEARCA: IWR) and iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Index ETF (NYSEARCA: IJR)? I should mention that plastics and the Berry Plastics Group was not the place to be yesterday as the stock took a tumble on reduced guidance.
Top Income Stocks To Own For 2015: International Rectifier Corporation (IRF)
International Rectifier Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets power management semiconductors worldwide. The company operates through six segments: Power Management Devices, Energy Saving Products, Automotive Products, Enterprise Power, HiRel, and Intellectual Property. The Power Management Devices segment provides power metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs), FETKYs, and DirectFETs for power supply, data processing, telecommunications, industrial, and commercial battery-powered systems. The Energy Saving Products segment provides analog high voltage integrated circuits (HVICs), insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) platforms, digital control ICs, and IRAM integrated power modules for motor control appliances, industrial automation, lighting and display, audio, and video applications. The Automotive Products segment offers HVICs, intelligent power switch ICs, power MOSFETs, IGBTs, diodes, and advanced power modules for various automotive applications. The Enterprise Power segment offers DirectFET discrete products, digital PWM controllers, power monitoring products, voltage regulators, low voltage ICs, and PowIRstages primarily for applications in servers, storage, routers, switches, infrastructure equipment, notebooks, graphic cards, and gaming consoles. The HiRel segment provides RAD-hard discretes, RAD-hard ICs, power management modules, DC-DC converters, and high temperature converters for satellites and space exploration vehicles, military hardware, and other high reliability applications. The Intellectual Property segment sells and licenses technologies and manufacturing process know-how. The company was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in El Segundo, California.
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 International Rectifier (NYSE: IRF ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.
Top Income Stocks To Own For 2015: Rigel Pharmaceuticals Inc.(RIGL)
Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage drug development company, engages in the discovery and development of small-molecule drugs for the treatment of inflammatory/autoimmune diseases, as well as for certain cancers and metabolic diseases. Its product development programs include R788, which completed a phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis; and is in phase 2 clinical trials for B-cell lymphoma, T-cell lymphoma, immune thrombocytopenia purpura, and certain solid tumors. The company?s product development programs also comprise R343, which is in phase 1b clinical trial for the treatment of asthma. In addition, its preclinical programs include oral JAK3 inhibitor program for research in the area of immunology/inflammation; adiponectin mimetics for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and other potential indications; and muscle atrophy program for muscle homeostasis. Further, the company is evaluating R763/AS703569 compound in its aurora kinase inhibition program targeting cancer cell proliferation. Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has collaboration agreements with AstraZeneca AB; Pfizer, Inc.; and Daiichi Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. The company was founded in 1996 and is based in South San Francisco, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Max Macaluso, Ph.D.]
Early Tuesday morning, Rigel Pharmaceuticals� (NASDAQ: RIGL ) and its now-ex-partner, AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN ) , reported late-stage clinical trial results for the experimental rheumatoid arthritis drug Fostamatinib. In the following video, health-care analyst Max Macaluso discusses why Rigel dropped 18% after the news was released and the risks that lie ahead for Rigel Pharmaceuticals.
- [By Maxx Chatsko]
Rigel Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: RIGL ) was kicked in the stomach earlier this month, when AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN ) returned full rights for fostamatinib. The Big Pharma member decided to write off $140 million of assets attributed to the partnership rather than take the next steps in commercializing the drug for rheumatoid arthritis. Ouch. While it's a smart idea for AstraZeneca to walk away now, Rigel is in a tough spot with its top drug candidate receiving a vote of no confidence. There is a handful of companies that stand to benefit from fostamatinib's failure. In the following video, Fool contributor Maxx Chatsko explains what it means for investors and what the future could hold for the development-stage company. �
Top Income Stocks To Own For 2015: M/I Homes Inc. (MHO)
M/I Homes, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, primarily operates as a builder of single-family homes in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Homebuilding and Financial Services. The Homebuilding segment designs, constructs, markets, and sells single-family homes, attached townhomes, and condominiums to first-time, move-up, empty-nester, and luxury buyers in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and southern regions. It markets its finished homes through company-employed sales consultants under the M/I Homes, Showcase Homes, and TriStone Homes trade names. This segment also purchases undeveloped land to develop into finished lots for the construction of single-family homes and for sale to others. As of December 31, 2011, it had 3,041 developed lots and 625 lots under development in inventory, as well as owned raw land expected to be developed into approximately 3,491 lots. The Financial Services segment is involved in originating and selling mortgages, and colle cting fees for title insurance and closing services. This segment serves as a title insurance agent by providing title insurance policies, and examination and closing services to purchasers of its homes. M/I Homes, Inc. was founded in 1973 and is based in Columbus, Ohio.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Travis Hoium]
What: Shares of M/I Homes (NYSE: MHO ) fell as much as 10% today after the company released earnings.
So what: Revenue jumped 37%, to $234.6 million, in the second quarter, and net income nearly doubled, to $6.05 million, or $0.25 per share. But analysts were expecting $258 million in revenue, and earnings of $0.36 per share, so results were still behind estimates.�
- [By The Oxen Group]
According to home construction news site Builderonline.com, MDC ranks 11th in terms of total number of home closings for the year 2012. Out of the top 10 competitors, MDC has the lowest PEG value, followed by Ryland Group (RYL) and Meritage Homes (MTH) with 0.23 and 0.6, respectively. The current pe ratio is lowest for the company followed by Ryland Group with 7.4 and Meritage Homes (MHO) with 11. In terms of forward pe, the top ten competitors have values in the 10-14 range. Putting numbers in perspective, relative to its competitors we believe that MDC presents a better value for investors looking to take advantage of the real estate market rebound.
- [By George Putnam, Editor, New Generation Research, Inc.]
Steve Halpern: You have an exception to that rule, you look at a smaller home builder, M/I Homes (MHO), and you like that. Could you tell us why.
- [By Rich Duprey]
Homebuilder�M/I homes� (NYSE: MHO ) �announced yesterday�it will be paying�a second-quarter cash dividend of�$0.609375�per share on its outstanding depositary shares with each representing 1/1,000th of a Series A preferred share of M/I Homes. The dividend is not changing.
Top Income Stocks To Own For 2015: Synaptics Inc (SYNA)
Synaptics Incorporated is a developer and supplier of custom-designed human interface solutions that enable people to interact with a range of mobile computing, communications, entertainment, and other electronic devices. The Company focuses on the personal computer ( PC) market, primarily notebook computers, including ultrabooks, the markets for digital lifestyle products, including mobile smartphones and feature phones, the tablet market, and other select electronic device markets with its customized human interface solutions. The Company generally supplies its human interface solutions to its original equipment manufacturer (OEM) customers through their contract manufacturers, which take delivery of its products and pay the Company directly for them.
The Company provides custom human interface solutions for navigation, cursor control, and multimedia controls for many of the world�� premier PC OEMs. In addition to notebook applications, other PC product applications for its technology include peripherals, such as keyboards, mice, and monitors, as well as remote control devices for desktops, PCs, and digital home applications. Its solutions for the PC market include the TouchPad, the ClickPad, the TouchStyk, and dual pointing solutions. The Company�� tablet includes the ClearPad Series 7. In August 2012, it acquired Pacinian and the Video Display Operation of Integrated Device Technology, Inc.
TouchPad
TouchPad provides a method for screen navigation, cursor movement, and gestures and provides a platform for interactive input for both the consumer and corporate markets. TouchPad solutions offer various advanced features, including Scrolling, Customizable tap zones, performance of entertainment, productivity, and media tasks, tapping and dragging of icons, and device Interaction. The Company�� TouchPad solutions are available in a variety of sizes, electrical interfaces, and thicknesses.
ClickPad
The Company�� ClickPad introduces! a clickable mechanical design to the TouchPad application. Its ClickPad is activated by pressing down on the internal tact switch to perform a left- or right-button click and provides feedback similar to pressing a physical button. The latest version of ClickPad features ClickEQ, which is a mechanical solution.
ForcePad
The Company's ForcePad is a thinner version of the Company's ClickPad, which introduces a new dimension in control through the addition of variable force sensitivity. ForcePad is designed to provide consistent performance across OEM models through its design intelligence and self-calibration features.
Dual Pointing Solutions
The dual pointing solutions offer a TouchPad with a pointing stick in a single notebook computer. Its dual pointing solutions also provide the end user the ability to use both interfaces interchangeably. The Company has developed two solutions for use in the dual pointing market. Its first solution integrates all the electronics for controlling a third-party resistive strain gauge pointing stick onto its TouchPad PCB. Its second dual pointing solution uses its TouchStyk and offers the OEM integration. The second solution is a completely modular design, allowing OEMs to offer TouchPad-only, TouchStyk-only, or dual pointing solutions on a build-to-order basis.
TouchStyk
The Company�� TouchStyk is a pointing stick interface solution for PC notebooks. TouchStyk is an integrated module that uses capacitive technology similar to that of its TouchPad. TouchStyk is enabled with press-to-select and tap-to-click capabilities and can be integrated into multiple computing and communications devices.
NavPoint
The Company�� NavPoint solution offers TouchPad functionality for small form factor devices in accessing and managing content in handheld devices through navigation controls. It also includes short- and long-distance scrolling features, tapping, and mouse-like cursor navigation.
ClearPadThe Company�� ClearPad touchscreen solutions consist of a transparent, thin capacitive sensor, which is a discrete sensor, that can be placed over any display, such as an liquid crystal display (LCD) or organic light-emitting diode (OLED). Its ClearPad Series 3 can provide full-time tracking of ten or more fingers simultaneously and features stylus support and support for various sensor configurations, including discrete sensors, sensor-on-lens, which includes sensor electrodes patterned on the bottom of the glass cover lens; on-cell, which includes sensor electrodes patterned on the display glass, and in-cell, which includes sensor electrodes patterned inside the LCD glass.
The Company�� ClearPad Series 4 products combines its capacitive multi-touch technology with a device�� display driver in a single-chip solution delivering advanced display noise management and capacitive sensing performance. Its ClearPad Series 7 products are designed for large touchscreen market for products more closely related to clamshell notebooks, slates, tablets, and similar devices. The Company�� ClearPad Series 7 products include single-chip touchscreen solutions and multi-chip touchscreen solutions designed for devices, such as gaming applications.
FlexPad
This capacitive sensing interface is mounted beneath a mechanical keypad, and allows the keypad surface to be used for advanced scrolling and navigation features, character entry, and advanced gesture input on handheld devices. With navigation functionality similar to a touch pad, FlexPad offers interface and industrial design differentiation.
ClearButtons
The Company�� ClearButtons product is an extension of its core capacitive sensing technology that has been used in TouchPad solutions for notebook PCs, mobile smartphones, and feature phones. ClearButtons is a sensor that can be mounted under plastic, providing OEMs with integration and design options for scrolling and b! uttons.
TouchButtons
The Company�� TouchButtons product provides capacitive button and scrolling controls for an interface solution designed to replace mechanical buttons. Button arrays and ScrollStrips can be programmed to perform various functions, such as controls for multimedia, display and device settings in notebook PCs, multimedia keyboards, MP3 players, digital photo frames, monitors, and other digital lifestyle products. TouchButton interfaces are designed for integration under the plastic face of a device, allowing for a sealed, durable, and thin design, which can be coupled with light emitting diode (LED) animation.
ThinTouchTM
The Company�� ThinTouch, is a design technology that delivers a full keyboard solution that is 40% thinner than traditional keyboard solutions. ThinTouch provides design architecture that facilitates backlighting.
Proximity Sensing
The Company�� proximity sensing technology enables users to interact with consumer electronics without touch. With this technology, sensors in a device, such as a notebook PC, mobile phone, peripheral, or digital photo frame, sense the presence of a user�� hand to activate a function, such as illuminating LEDs for discoverable buttons or waking devices from power-saving mode.
Dual Mode
The Company�� Dual Mode-enabled TouchPad interface allows a user to switch between cursor control and icon-based control on the TouchPad surface. In default mode, a Dual Mode-enabled TouchPad provides the same cursor control for on-screen navigation as a standard TouchPad. When the user taps on a launch icon located on the TouchPad surface, control icons illuminate on the TouchPad surface.
ChiralMotion Gesture
The Company�� ChiralMotion Gesture technology can be applied for continuous circular motion to initiate precise and fine-tuned scrolling on any two-dimensional input surface, such as its TouchPad and ClearPad solutions. ChiralMoti! on Gestur! e technology is suited for small handheld products, such as feature-rich mobile handsets, personal navigation systems, and personal media players that require easy access for entertainment, music, and other digital files.
Synaptics Gesture Suite
The Company�� Synaptics Gesture Suite (SGSTM) provides users with an intuitive way to interact with their notebook computers. SGS was developed by analyzing the most common workflows from entertainment activities, such as viewing photos and listening to music, to productivity activities, such as accessing e-mails and presentations. SGS represents a portfolio of gestures available on its interface solutions. These gestures are compatible with a range of Microsoft Windows and Linux applications. Gestures in the market include Pinch, Rotate, ChiralMotion Scrolling, Two-Finger Scrolling, Three-Finger Flick, Three-Finger Down, and Four-Finger Flick.
Enhanced Gesture Recognition
Synaptics�� Enhanced Gesture Recognition is a suite of ClearPad gestures included in its firmware. Customers can easily enable SingleTouch gestures, such as Tap, Double Tap, Press, and Flick; DualTouch gestures, such as Pinch and Pivot Rotate, and multi-finger gestures for ClearPad directly from its touch module firmware. No additional ssoftware is required on the host processor to implement these gestures.
Dual Mode for TouchPad
The Company's Dual Mode-enabled TouchPad interface allows a user to switch between cursor control and icon-based controls on the TouchPad surface. In default mode, a Dual Mode-enabled TouchPad provides the same cursor control for on-screen navigation as a standard TouchPad.
The Company competes with Alps Electric, Elan Microelectronics, Atmel, Cypress and Melfas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Evan Niu, CFA]
What: Shares of Synaptics (NASDAQ: SYNA ) have popped by as much as 18% today after the company posted solid quarterly earnings and provided upbeat guidance thanks to design wins at Samsung.
- [By Wallace Witkowski]
Shares of Synaptics Inc. (SYNA) �surged 18% to $78.34 on moderate volume after the touch-screen company said it had agreed to acquire smartphone- and tablet-display driver company Renesas SP Drivers Inc and raised its forth-quarter revenue outlook to a range of $300 million to $310 million.
- [By Ryan Sullivan]
The Google (NASDAQ: GOOG ) -branded,�LG-manufactured Nexus 5 is the first high-definition smartphone to use Synaptics'� (NASDAQ: SYNA ) ClearPad 3350 In-cell touchscreen technology. This new technology equips the Nexus 5 with a single-chip touch controller integrated into the display. The product offers increased touchscreen sensitivity with a 10-finger multi-touch display and 120 Hz refresh rate.
- [By Srdjan Bejakovic]
In the first quarter, semiconductor maker Atmel� (NASDAQ: ATML ) recorded $337 million in revenue, $7 million above the upper end of its own guidance range. Additionally, management claims that 2014 will be a year of growth and increased profitability for the company, driven by continuing demand for microcontrollers and an improving picture in Atmel's touch business. What's lying behind the surprising revenue numbers, and can Atmel prosper in spite of increasing competition from such solid companies as Microchip Technologies� (NASDAQ: MCHP ) and Synaptics (NASDAQ: SYNA ) ?
Top Income Stocks To Own For 2015: Medbox Inc (MDBX)
Medbox Inc. (Medbox) offers a machine that dispenses medication to individuals based on biometric identification (fingerprint sample). The machine allows pharmacies, hospitals, doctors' offices, and alternative medicine clinics to manage employee possession of sensitive drugs. The system also allows these clinics to demonstrate that the user visiting the machine is a registered patient and that the patient has a valid and unexpired authorization from a physician to possess and use the medicine dispensed. The Company has national and international presence with offices in Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, London and Tokyo.
Medbox, through its subsidiaries, offers consulting services to the alternative medicine industry, as well as to the mini self-storage market. The Company provides consulting services primarily to individuals and groups seeking to establish new clinics and facilities, often in jurisdictions that have recently passed legislation concerning the availability of alternative medicines, as well as existing jurisdictions, nationwide.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
The SEC has halted trading of small cap marijuana stock Growlife Inc (OTCMKTS: PHOT) after a relatively brief trading halt for�Advanced Cannabis Solutions, Inc (OTCMKTS: CANN), but Tranzbyte Corp (OTCMKTS: ERBB), Cannabis Science Inc (OTCMKTS: CBIS) and Medical Marijuana Inc (OTCMKTS: MJNA) are still very much alive. However and as I have noted (repeatedly)�in the past (see here), Medical Marijuana Inc has a�former CEO who has been indicted for a multi-state mortgage fraud scam/ponzi scheme while Medbox Inc (OTCMKTS: MDBX) is another marijuana stock with some ��ssues��that were summed up nicely in a Southern Investigative Reporting Foundation article cleverly entitled: Tinkerer, Lawyer, Hustler, Lies: One Man�� Path to a Dope Fortune. Obviously, investing in marijuana stocks is not for conservative. Nevertheless, there is�still plenty of good or bad news for investors in the marijuana sector to inhale, including the following:
- [By Peter Graham]
What�� the Catch With Endocan Corp? According to various disclosures, a transaction or transactions of $10k has or will occur to mention Endocan Corp in various investment newsletters. However, Endocan Corp has actually been quiet since early February when the company issued a press release to say that they were ��elighted��that the US Congress and President Obama appear on the verge of approving the first key law to legalize hemp cultivation and advanced research on a federal level (Note: On January 29, 2014, the US House of Representatives approved the "farm bill" that contains a provision for certain cultivation of industrial hemp for research in a number of US states). Endocan Corp also issued ��hareholder guidance��concerning an multi-year, strategic growth agreement with Medicine Dispensing Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Medbox Inc (OTCMKTS: MDBX), that was announced on August 20, 2013. Under that agreement, Endocan Corp will be bringing proprietary cannabinoid-based products and formulations to market in state-approved regulatory environments with dispensaries to be branded by the company while using the advanced, patented 'Medbox' dispensing technology. However, the latest financials for Endocan Corp date from the end of March 2013 ��meaning the company has some catching up to do.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
But, as the Huffington Post points out, most of the companies that stand to benefit are very small–they make micro caps look big–trade over the counter–good bye liquidity. That includes transaction-processing company MediSwipe (MWIPD), GreenGro Technologies (GRNH) Medbox (MDBX), which makes dispenser for high-risk drugs, and GW Pharmaceuticals (GWPRF).
- [By John Udovich]
Small cap marijuana stocks Medical Marijuana Inc (OTCMKTS: MJNA), Cannabis Science Inc (OTCMKTS: CBIS), Medbox Inc (OTCMKTS: MDBX), Growlife Inc (OTCBB: PHOT) and HEMP, Inc (OTCMKTS: HEMP) were all surging by double digits yesterday thanks in part to legal sales of pot beginning in Colorado.
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