The buzz is building for Microsoft's (NASDAQ: MSFT ) recently unveiled Xbox One and Sony's (NYSE: SNE ) PlayStation 4, which was announced earlier this year. A major selling point is the new core architecture, which in both cases will be anchored by Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD ) processors.
Investors have cheered on the news, and AMD shares have more than doubled since bottoming out six months ago. Even game retailer GameStop (NYSE: GME ) has raced to fresh 52-week highs on the hopes that Microsoft and Sony can breathe new life into the fading video game industry.
What if things don't go according to plan? One problem with moving to AMD chips is that older games on disc will no longer be playable. This is going to have some important ramifications in defining the value proposition of the new consoles. GameStop's high-margin business of buying and reselling used games and gear will also be challenged by the clean slate for both platforms.
Top 10 Integrated Utility Stocks To Own For 2015: Lender Processing Services Inc (LPS)
Lender Processing Services, Inc. provides integrated technology, data, and services to the mortgage lending industry in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Technology, Data, and Analytics; and Transaction Services. Its Technology, Data, and Analytics segment offers software systems and information solutions that facilitate and automate various business processes across the life cycle of a mortgage. This segment�s primary applications and services include mortgage servicing platform, an application that automates loan servicing, including loan setup and ongoing processing, customer service, accounting and reporting to the secondary mortgage market, and federal regulatory reporting; Desktop, a Web-based workflow information system that can be used for managing and automating various workflow processes; and other software applications and services that automate and facilitate the origination of mortgage loans. It also provides data and analytics services , such as alternative valuation services, and data and information. The company�s Transaction Services segment offers customized outsourced business process and information solutions. Its origination services include settlement and title agency services comprising centralized title agency and closing services; appraisal services; and other origination services, such as federal flood zone certifications and monitoring services. This segment also provides default management services, consisting of foreclosure administrative services, property inspection and preservation; default title and settlement services; and alternative property valuation services. The company serves mortgage originators and servicers, other financial institutions, investors, attorneys, trustees, and real estate professionals. Lender Processing Services, Inc. was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Holly LaFon]
Despite economic and political turmoil, equity markets performed well across the board in September of 2013 and over the trailing twelve months. The September gains reversed losses in August and also resulted in positive overall quarterly performance with a number of major indexes moving further into record territory. After disturbing the markets in May and June with comments that they may taper Quantitative Easing (QE), the Fed surprised investors with an announcement that it would not reduce its asset purchases in the near-term. The announcement removed fears that a continued rise in interest rates may stall the economic recovery, as seen by the market's negative reaction to the sharp rise in the 10-year Treasury rate in August of 2013. Investors were also comforted by improving fundamentals both domestically and abroad. The Eurozone may finally be emerging from its prolonged recession and a number of economic reports in the U.S. continue to show progress. Specifically, initial unemployment claims dropped to a multiyear low early in September and the housing market continued to improve, as evidenced by prices rising 12.4 percent year-over year, which along with the stock market's strength, has created a positive wealth effect for consumers. In response to this general economic improvement, consumer confidence increased at the end of September, and the index of leading economic indicators ticked up as well, suggesting that, absent the effects of politics, the recovery in the real economy was continuing. Our portfolios that focus on corporate restructuring (Keeley Small Cap Value, Keeley Small-Mid Cap Value, Keeley Mid Cap Value, Keeley All Cap Value, and Keeley Alternative Value) have all experienced a productive investment cycle with respect to their opportunity sets, and many of our holdings have posted impressive results in recent quarters. Although we acknowledge an improving economy has boosted the outlook for our more cyclical holdings, our research has gu
Top 5 Forestry Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Lean Hogs (HE)
Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc., through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in electric utility and banking businesses primarily in Hawaii. The company is involved in the production, purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity from renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, photovoltaic, geothermal, wave, hydroelectric, sugarcane waste, municipal waste, and other biofuels, as well as from fuel oil. It distributes and sells electricity on the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, and Molokai; and serves suburban communities, resorts, the United States armed forces installations, and agricultural operations. As of December 31, 2011, the company had net generating and firm purchased capability of 2,326.9 megawatts. It also engages in providing banking and other financial services, such as accepting savings accounts, checking accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit; and providing loans comprising residential and commercial real es tate, residential mortgage, construction and development, multifamily residential and commercial real estate, consumer, and commercial loans to consumers and business. The company operated 57 branches and 119 automated teller machines. Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. was founded in 1891 and is based in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Leading and Lagging Sectors
Utilities stocks gained Friday, with Korea Electric Power (NYSE: KEP) leading advancers. Meanwhile, gainers in the sector included Huaneng Power International (NYSE: HNP), with shares up 1.8 percent, and Hawaiian Electric Industries (NYSE: HE), with shares up 1.4 percent. - [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Utilities shares dropped by 0.31 percent in the US market today. Among the sector stocks, Hawaiian Electric Industries (NYSE: HE) was down more than 2.9 percent, while Edison International (NYSE: EIX) tumbled around 1.4 percent.
- [By shash63]
Ever since the evolution of electricity, demand for electric power has been been rising exponentially. To satisfy America's need for the ever growing demand of power; various companies are looking to generate more power by use of conventional and non conventional methods. Hawaiian Electric Industries (HE) is one such company in the U.S. that supplies 95% of electricity in Hawaii with its customer base of over 450,000.
Top 5 Forestry Stocks To Invest In Right Now: NetSpend Holdings Inc.(NTSP)
Netspend Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides general purpose reloadable (GPR) prepaid debit and payroll cards, and alternative financial service solutions to underbanked and other consumers in the United States. Its GPR cards offer access to FDIC-insured depository accounts with a menu of pricing and features tailored to underbanked consumers needs; and serves as access devices to an FDIC-insured depository account with a bank. The company also provides various products and services to its cardholders, such as direct deposit, interest-bearing savings accounts, bill pay functionality, card-to-card transfer capability, personal financial management tools, and online and mobile phone card account access, as well as overdraft protection through its issuing Banks, and complimentary insurance coverage services. Netspend Holdings, Inc. markets its cards through various distribution channels, including retail distributors, direct-to-consumer and online marketi ng programs, and contractual relationships with corporate employers. As of December 31, 2011, it offered approximately 2.1 million active cards through approximately 600 retail distributors at approximately 40,000 locations; and reload services through approximately 450 retailers at approximately 130,000 locations. The company was founded in 1999 and is based in Austin, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jane Edmondson]
One additional item of note: the stock has been a rumored take-out candidate since another large competitor, NetSpend (NTSP), received an offer to be acquired in February by global payment solutions provider TSYS (TSS).
Top 5 Forestry Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Polycom Inc.(PLCM)
Polycom, Inc. provides communications equipment that enables businesses, telecommunications service providers, governmental and educational institutions, and healthcare customers to conduct video, voice, data, and Web communications. The company offers network infrastructure, including conferencing infrastructure, distributed media applications, management applications, recording and streaming security, and remote access for universal video collaboration; unified communications (UC) group systems, which include immersive telepresence, group video, and group voice systems that enable geographically dispersed individuals to communicate; UC personal devices comprising desktop video devices, desktop voice, and wireless local area network products that extend HD voice, video, and content to desktops, home offices, mobile users, and branch sites. It also provides various services, including assessments, implementation services, network consulting services, usage and adoption ser vices, wireless services application integration, and advanced project management services. The company sells its products through a network of channel partners, including distributors, value-added resellers, system integrators, communications services providers, and retailers in North America, Central America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. Polycom, Inc. was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Pleasanton, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Alex Planes]
What: Shares of Polycom (NASDAQ: PLCM ) have fallen by 13% today. Yesterday, the company's CEO resigned abruptly, which came amid allegations of some "irregularities" in the former exec's expense reports. That, along with with some disappointing guidance in last afternoon's earnings report, has sent analysts scurrying from the stock.
- [By Victor Selva]
On Feb. 3, the billionaire investor George Soros (Trades, Portfolio) bought Polycom Inc. (PLCM) at an average price of $11.72 and currently holds 9,400,708 shares of the stock. This trade makes me feel that he is betting in favor of the communications equipment sub-industry. So let's take a look at this company and try to explain to investors the reasons this is an apparently appealing investment opportunity in an industry that is becoming concentrated and globalized, dominated by large players like Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Qualcomm (QCOM).
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