Top-performing funds tend to attract a lot of money. That�� what happened to Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery (STDIX), which recently closed to new customers after seeing its asset base nearly doubled, to more than $3 billion, over the past five years. As is our custom, the closure prompted us to remove the mutual fund from the Kiplinger 25 and set us in search of a replacement.
AT A GLANCE: Kiplinger's 25 Favorite No-Load Funds
The newest member of the list of our favorite no-load funds is Parnassus Mid Cap (PARMX). As the name indicates, Parnassus prowls among midsize companies, which for it means generally investing in stocks with market capitalizations, at the time of purchase, of $3 billion to $20 billion. What the name doesn�� say is that Parnassus practices socially responsible investing, making it the first such fund to join the Kip 25. The fund favors companies that it believes behave ethically, and it won�� invest in tobacco stocks, beer and booze companies or weapons makers, among others.
Top 5 Diversified Bank Companies To Watch For 2015: PartnerRe Ltd (PRE)
PartnerRe Ltd. (PartnerRe), incorporated in August 24, 1993, is the ultimate holding company for its international reinsurance group. The Company provides reinsurance on a global basis through its wholly owned subsidiaries, including Partner Reinsurance Company Ltd. (PartnerRe Bermuda), Partner Reinsurance Europe plc (PartnerRe Europe) and Partner Reinsurance Company of the U.S. (PartnerRe U.S.). Its risks reinsured include property, casualty, motor, agriculture, aviation/space, catastrophe, credit/surety, engineering, energy, marine, specialty property, specialty casualty, multiline and other lines and mortality, longevity and health. The Company also offers alternative risk products, which include weather and credit protection to financial, industrial and service companies on a global basis. In January 2013, the Company acquired Presidio Reinsurance Group, a United States-based specialty accident and health reinsurance and insurance writer. In March 2013, the Company announced the formation of Lorenz Re Ltd.
The Company provides reinsurance for its clients in approximately 150 countries globally. Through its branches and subsidiaries, the Company provides reinsurance of non-life and life risks to ceding companies (primary insurers, cedants or reinsureds) on either a proportional or non-proportional basis through treaties or facultative reinsurance. The Company operates in three segments: Non-life, Life and Corporate and Other. Its Corporate and Other segment is consisted of the capital markets and investment related activities of the Company, including principal finance transactions, insurance-linked securities and strategic investments, and its corporate activities, including other operating expenses.
Non-life Segment
The Non-life segment is divided into four sub-segments, North America, Global (Non-the United States) Property and Casualty (Global (Non-the United States) P&C), Global (Non-the United States) Specialty and Catastrophe. The North America sub-seg! ment includes agriculture, casualty, motor, multiline, property, surety and other risks generally originating in the United States. The Global (Non-the United States) P&C sub-segment includes casualty, motor and property business generally originating outside of the United States. The Global (Non-the United States) Specialty sub-segment business include agriculture, aviation/space, credit/surety, energy, engineering, marine, specialty casualty, specialty property and other lines. The Catastrophe sub-segment is consisted of the Company�� catastrophe line of business. The Company reinsures, primarily on a proportional basis, agricultural yield and price/revenue risks related to flood, drought, hail and disease related to crops, livestock and aquaculture. The Company provides specialized reinsurance protection for airline, general aviation and space insurance business on a proportional basis and through facultative arrangements.
The Company�� space business relates to coverages for satellite assembly, launch and operation for commercial space programs. Its casualty business includes third party liability, employers��liability, workers��compensation and personal accident coverages written on both a proportional and non-proportional basis, including structured reinsurance of casualty risks. The Company provides property catastrophe reinsurance protection, written on a non-proportional basis, against the accumulation of losses caused by windstorm, earthquake, tornado, tropical cyclone, flood or by any other natural hazard, which is covered under a property policy. Credit reinsurance, written on a proportional basis, provides coverage to commercial credit insurers, and the surety line relates to bonds and other forms of security written by specialized surety insurers. The Company provides reinsurance coverage for the onshore oil and gas industry, mining, power generation and pharmaceutical operations on a proportional basis and through facultative arrangements.
The Company p! rovides r! einsurance for engineering projects globally, predominantly on a proportional treaty basis and through facultative arrangements. The Company provides reinsurance protection and technical services relating to marine hull, cargo, transit and offshore oil and gas operations on a proportional or non-proportional basis. The Company�� motor business includes reinsurance coverages for third party liability and property damage risks arising from both passenger and commercial fleet automobile coverages written by cedants. This business is written predominantly on a proportional basis.
The Company�� multiline business provides both property and casualty reinsurance coverages written on both a proportional and non-proportional basis. Property business provides reinsurance coverage to insurers for property damage or business interruption losses resulting from fires, catastrophes and other perils covered in industrial, commercial property and homeowners��policies, and are written on both a proportional and non-proportional basis. The Company�� predominant exposure under these property coverage is to property damage. The Company�� property reinsurance treaties exclude certain risks, such as war, nuclear, biological and chemical contamination, radiation and environmental pollution.
The Company provides specialized reinsurance protection for non-the United States casualty business. This reinsurance protection is offered on a proportional, non-proportional or facultative basis. The Company provides specialized reinsurance protection for non-the United States property business. This reinsurance protection is offered on a proportional, non-proportional or facultative basis. The Company�� Non-life business is produced both through brokers and through direct relationships with insurance companies. In North America, business is written through brokers, while globally, the business is written on both a direct and broker basis.
Life Segment
The Company�� Life ! segment i! ncludes the mortality, longevity and health lines of business written primarily in the United Kingdom, Ireland and France. The Company provides reinsurance coverage to life insurers and pension funds to against individual and group mortality and disability risks. Mortality business is written on a proportional basis through treaty agreements. Mortality business is subdivided into death and disability covers (with various riders) written in Continental Europe, term assurance and critical illness (TCI) written in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and guaranteed minimum death benefit (GMDB) written in Continental Europe. The Company also writes certain treaties on a non-proportional basis in France.
The Company provides reinsurance coverage to employer sponsored pension schemes and life insurers who issue annuity contracts offering long-term retirement benefits to consumers, who seek protection against outliving their financial resources. The Company�� longevity portfolio is subdivided into standard and non-standard annuities. The non-standard annuities are annuities sold to consumers with aggravated health conditions and are underwritten on an individual basis. The Company provides reinsurance coverage to life insurers with respect to individual and group health risks. The Company�� Life business is produced both through brokers and through direct relationships with insurance companies. During the year ended December 31, 2011, one cedant accounted for 13% of the Life segment�� total gross premiums written and one broker, the Aon Group (including the Benfield Group), accounted for 16% of the Life segment�� total gross premiums written.
The Company competes with Munich Re, Swiss Re, Everest Re, Hannover Re, SCOR, Transatlantic, Arch Capital, Axis Capital and XL Group.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Marc Bastow]
International insurance holding company PartnerRe Ltd. (PRE) raised its quarterly dividend 5% to 67 cents per share, payable on Feb. 28 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 18.
PRE Dividend Yield: 2.72%
Hot Mid Cap Stocks To Watch Right Now: Grupo Casa Saba S.A. de C.V.(SAB)
Grupo Casa Saba, S.A.B. de C.V., through its subsidiaries, operates as a multi-channel and multi-product wholesale distributor primarily in Mexico. It distributes pharmaceutical products; health and beauty aids; publication products, such as magazines, books, albums, and stickers; food and non-perishable products; personal care and consumer goods; and general merchandise. The company also sells pharmaceutical products through its Farmacias ABC pharmacy chain located in Guadalajara, Jalisco; Farmacias Provee de Especialidades primarily located in Monterrey and Nuevo Leon of Mexico, as well as in the states of Chihuahua and Coahuila; and through Farmacias Benavides. In addition, it provides freight services to third parties. Further, it operates medical clinics; and offers specialized medical, rehabilitation, and surgical services, as well as provides real estate services. The company serves pharmacies, mass merchandisers, retail and convenience stores, specialty stores, sup ermarkets, and other specialized channels. As of December 31, 2010, it operated a distribution network consisting of 22 active distribution centers. It also operates in Brazil, Chile, and Peru. Grupo Casa Saba, S.A.B. de C.V. was founded in 1892 and is based in Mexico, Mexico.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Inyoung Hwang]
U.K. stocks erased losses in the last half hour of trading, leaving the FTSE 100 Index (UKX) little changed, as a rally in British Sky Broadcasting Group Plc (BSY) and SABMiller Plc (SAB) offset Dagong Global Credit Rating Co.�� downgrade of U.S. sovereign debt.
Hot Mid Cap Stocks To Watch Right Now: Array BioPharma Inc.(ARRY)
Array BioPharma Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of small molecule drugs to treat patients afflicted with cancer and inflammatory diseases in North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. Its programs under development include ARRY-520, a kinesin spindle protein inhibitor in Phase 2 clinical trial for patients with multiple myeloma; ARRY-614, a p38/Tie-2 dual inhibitor in Phase 1 clinical trial for patients with myelodysplastic syndrome; ARRY-380, a HER2 inhibitor in Phase 1 clinical trial for breast cancer; ARRY-797, a p38 inhibitor in Phase 2 clinical trial for pain; and ARRY-502, a CRTh2 antagonist in Phase 1 clinical trial for allergic inflammation. The company?s partnered drugs in clinical development comprise Selumetinib and AZD8330 MEK inhibitors for cancer in Phase 2 trial; MEK162 and MEK300 MEK inhibitors for cancer in Phase 2 trial; Danoprevir, a Hepatitis C virus protease inhibitor in Phase 2 trial; ARRY-543, a HER2/EGFR inhibitor in Phase 2 trial for solid tumors; and LY2603618, a ChK-1 inhibitor in Phase 2 trial for cancer. Its partnered drugs in clinical development also include AMG 151, a glucokinase activator in Phase 1b trial for Type 2 diabetes; GDC-0068, a AKT inhibitor in Phase 1b trial for cancer; VTX-2337, a toll-like receptor in Phase 1b trial for cancer; VTX-1463, a toll-like receptor in Phase 1b trial for allergy; ARRY-382, a cFMS inhibitor in Phase 1 trial for cancer; and ARRY-575 and GDC-0425, which are ChK-1 inhibitors in Phase 1 trial for cancer. The company has collaborations with Amgen, Inc.; ASLAN Pharmaceuticals Pte Ltd.; AstraZeneca, PLC; Celgene Corporation; Genentech, Inc.; Novartis International Pharmaceutical Ltd.; InterMune, Inc.; Eli Lilly and Company; and VentiRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc for the development and commercialization of the partnered drugs. Array BioPharma Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sean Williams]
Shareholders "nudged" Array BioPharma (NASDAQ: ARRY ) higher by nearly 18% on the week after it announced positive mid-stage data on ARRY-502, a treatment for mild to moderate persistent allergic asthma. In its mid-stage trial, ARRY-502 met its primary endpoint of improving lung function as measured by forced expiratory volume in one second, or FEV1. In the overall trial, FEV1 increased by 3.9% compared to the placebo, while a specified subset of patients in the Th2 Biomarker group saw their FEV1 jump by 6.8% relative to the placebo. ARRY-502 also met a number of secondary endpoints. Since the asthma market is a crowded field, Array also put the feelers out there that it's looking for a licensing partner to help take this experimental drug into the next stage.
- [By Dan Carroll]
Array's phase 2 study pays off big
It's tough to find a stock anywhere on the market that had as good a week as Array BioPharma (NASDAQ: ARRY ) . Shares of the biotech picked up nearly 17.8% on the week, part of a 63.5% gain year-to-date. The company's developmental drug to treat persistent allergic asthma, ARRY-502, hit the right marks in improving patient lung function in phase 2 trial results. Even better for investors, Array CEO said several other health companies have shown interest to help the company in development of ARRY-502. - [By John Udovich]
Biotech and the cancer treatment segment of the biotech market has been a hot area for some time with important cancer stocks like large cap Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ: CELG) and small caps�Array BioPharma (NASDAQ: ARRY), Cancer Genetics Inc (NASDAQ: CGIX), EXACT Sciences Corporation (NASDAQ: EXAS) and�MetaStat Inc (OTCMKTS: MTST) all producing a steady flow of important news�for investors this week or in recent weeks. Consider the following:
- [By Sean Williams]
Array BioPharma (NASDAQ: ARRY ) presented some particularly intriguing findings with its MEK inhibitor, selumetinib, which it has licensed out to AstraZeneca�to treat uveal melanoma (cancer of the eye). Historically this is a very difficult to treat disease, but initial studies of selumetinib more than doubled the time it took for the disease to progress compared to the current standard of treatment, temozolomide. In trials, selumetinib delivered 15.9 weeks without disease progression, an overall response rate of 50%, and major tumor shrinkage exhibited in 15% of patients. For temozolomide, steady disease was only established for a median of seven weeks with no tumor shrinkage present.�
Hot Mid Cap Stocks To Watch Right Now: Flotek Industries Inc (FTK)
Flotek Industries, Inc. (Flotek), incorporated on May 17, 1985, is a diversified global supplier of drilling and production related products and services. Its core focus is oilfield specialty chemicals and logistics, down-hole drilling tools and down-hole production tools used in the energy and mining industries. Flotek operates in three segments: Chemicals and Logistics, Drilling Products and Artificial Lift. The Company operates using third party agents in Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Middle East, and Asia. In May 2013, Flotek Industries Inc through its wholly owned subsidiary acquired the entire share capital of Florida Chemical Co Inc.
Chemicals and Logistics
The chemical business provides oil and natural gas field specialty chemicals for use in drilling, cementing, stimulation and production activities. The Company�� specialty chemicals are manufactured to withstand a range of down-hole pressures, temperatures and other well-specific conditions. Flotek operates two laboratories, a technical services laboratory and a research and development laboratory, which focus on design, development and testing of new chemical formulations and enhancement of existing products, often in cooperation with the customers. Its micro-emulsions are stable mixtures of oil, water and surface active agents, forming complex nano-fluids, in which the molecules are organized into nanostructures. The micro-emulsions are composed of renewable plant derived cleaning ingredients and oils and are biodegradable. Flotek�� logistics business designs, project manages and operates automated bulk material handling and loading facilities. These bulk facilities handle oilfield products, including sand and other materials for well-fracturing operations, dry cement and additives for oil and gas well cementing, and supply materials used in oilfield operations.
Drilling Products
Flotek is a provider of down-hole drilling tools used in the oilfield, min! ing, water-well and industrial drilling activities. It manufactures, sells, rents and inspects specialized equipment for use in drilling, completion, and production and workover activities. The rental tools include stabilizers, drill collars, reamers, wipers, jars, shock subs, wireless survey, and measurement while drilling (MWD) tools and mud-motors. Equipment sold primarily includes mining equipment, centralizers and drill bits. Flotek focuses its product marketing primarily in the Southeast, Northeast, Mid-Continent and Rocky Mountain regions of the United States, with international sales conducted through third party agents.
Artificial Lift
Flotek provides pumping system components, electric submersible pumps (ESPs), gas separators, production valves and services. The products address the needs of coal bed methane and traditional oil and gas production to move gas, oil and other fluids from the producing horizon to the surface. The Artificial Lift products employ technologies to improved performance. The Petrovalve product optimizes pumping efficiency in horizontal completions, heavy oil and wells with high liquid to gas ratios. Artificial Lift products are manufactured in China, assembled domestically and distributed globally.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By David Smith]
Flotek Industries (NYSE: FTK )
The smallest member of the trio, with a market cap of about $815 million, Flotek operates on the services side of the energy sector. As I've previously pointed out to Fools, it also constitutes a rare instance wherein the analysts who monitor the company all accord it strong buy ratings. But with Flotek's share price having risen by more than 40% year to date, it is difficult to contest that unanimous confidence. - [By David Smith]
Flotek Industries (NYSE: FTK )
I've mentioned Flotek Industries to Fools in the past. The relatively small ($940 million capitalization and growing) company provides a range of products and assistance for oil and gas operations, from well construction to production. It's also the only services company -- and one of but a handful of companies in any sector -- that's been accorded a perfect consensus of one (strong buy) by the analysts.
Hot Mid Cap Stocks To Watch Right Now: Market Vectors Short Municipal Index ETF (SMB)
Market Vectors Short Municipal Index ETF (the Fund) seeks to replicate as closely as possible the price and yield performance of the Barclays Capital AMT-Free Short Continuous Municipal Index (the Index). The Index provides broad exposure to investment-grade municipal bonds with a nominal maturity of 1 to 6 years. To be included in the Index, bonds must be rated investment-grade (Baa3/BBB- or higher) by at least two ratings agencies: Moody��, S&P, Fitch. If only two of the three agencies rate the security, the lower rating is used to determine index eligibility. If only one of the three agencies rates a security, the rating must be investment grade. They must have an outstanding par value of at least $7 million and be issued as part of a transaction of at least $75 million. The bonds must be fixed rate, have a dated-date within the last five years, and must be at least 1 year but less than 6 years from their maturity date. Its investment advisor is Van Eck Associates Corporation. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Todd Rosenbluth]
Two others are iShares Short-Term National AMT-Free Municipal Bond ETF (SUB) and Market Vectors Short Municipal Index ETF (SMB).
The Market Vectors fund, not surprisingly, has more A bond exposure and less AA exposure than the iShares fund. However, both have lower average durations than iShares National AMT-Free Muni Bond and thus might appeal to investors concerned about the impact of higher rates.
Hot Mid Cap Stocks To Watch Right Now: EDAP TMS S.A.(EDAP)
EDAP TMS S.A., through its subsidiaries, engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of minimally invasive medical devices primarily for urological diseases. The company operates in two divisions, High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), and Urology Devices and Services (UDS). The HIFU division involves in the development, manufacture, and marketing of medical devices based on HIFU technology for the minimally invasive destruction of various types of localized tumors. This division offers Ablatherm, a HIFU-based ultrasound guided device for the treatment of organ-confined prostate cancer. Its HIFU technology allows the surgeon to destroy a defined area of diseased tissue without damaging surrounding tissue and organs. This division also engages in the leasing of equipment, as well as the sale of disposables, spare parts, and maintenance services. This division markets and sells its products through its direct marketing and sales organization, as well as through third-party distributors and agents. The UDS division engages in the development, manufacture, marketing, and servicing of medical devices for the minimally invasive diagnosis or treatment of urological disorders, primarily urinary stones and other clinical indications. This division provides lithotripters for the treatment of urinary tract stones by means of ESWL technology. This division manufactures three models of lithotripters: the Sonolith Praktis, the Sonolith i-move, and the Sonolith i-sys. This division also involves in the leasing of lithotripters, as well as the sale of disposables, spare parts, and maintenance services. This division markets and sells its products through its direct sales and service platform, as well as through agents and third-party distributors. The company?s customers include public and private hospitals, urology clinics, and research institutions worldwide. EDAP TMS S.A. was founded in 1979 and is based in Vaulx-en-Velin, France.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Bryan Murphy]
Last week, yours truly posed the unpopular (though largely ignored) premise that EDAP TMS S.A. (NASDAQ:EDAP) was poised to tumble. It wasn't anything personal, nor was it a judgment call on the merits of the company. It was simply a trading-based call, observing how the rally EDAP was enjoying at the time appeared to be running out of gas, and there was no floor to halt any pullback.
- [By Bryan Murphy]
This isn't going to be a well-received idea, given how bullish the stock appears to be at this time, but EDAP TMS S.A. (NASDAQ:EDAP) is a sell. Up 82% since the end of May, EDAP is ripe for a pullback, and may have reached the bearish pivot point as of today.
- [By John Udovich]
Laparoscopic surgery or minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is a type of surgical technique where�operations in the abdomen are performed through small incisions while small cap stocks ArthroCare Corporation (NASDAQ: ARTC), EDAP TMS S.A. (NASDAQ: EDAP), SafeStitch Medical Inc (OTCBB: SFES) and Arch Therapeutics Inc (OTCBB: ARTH) are all in some way focused on aiding minimally invasive procedures. According to a 2012 report produced by MedMarket Diligence, LLC, approximately 114 million surgical and procedure-based wounds occur annually worldwide,�including�36 million in the US, and perhaps�up to a quarter of these procedures can be described as laparoscopic in nature.�Moreover,�use of the technique is bound to increase�as�it reduces�pain and hemorrhaging plus leads to a�shorter recovery time.
Hot Mid Cap Stocks To Watch Right Now: Atwood Oceanics Inc. (ATW)
Atwood Oceanics, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in offshore drilling, and the completion of exploratory and developmental oil and gas wells. The company owns semisubmersible rigs, semisubmersible tender assist rigs, jack-up drilling rigs, and submersible drilling rigs. As of November 22, 2010, it operated nine mobile offshore drilling units located in offshore southeast Asia, offshore Africa, offshore Australia, offshore South America, and the Mediterranean Sea. The company was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jon C. Ogg]
Atwood Oceanics Inc.�(NYSE: ATW) was added to the Conviction Buy list on December 16, after having been raised from Neutral to Buy back in May. Shares were at $51.11 before the call, rose to $52.11 on the day of the call and have trended up to almost $53 since. Atwood’s consensus price target now is almost $65.
- [By Alex Planes]
Investors love stocks that consistently beat the Street without getting ahead of their fundamentals and risking a meltdown. The best stocks offer sustainable market-beating gains, with robust and improving financial metrics that support strong price growth. Does Atwood Oceanics (NYSE: ATW ) fit the bill? Let's take a look at what its recent results tell us about its potential for future gains.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Diamond Offshore had dropped 18% this year through yesterday’s close, while Transocean (RIG) had fallen 15%, Noble (NE) had declined 17%, Seadrill (SDRL) had dropped 12% and Atwood Oceanics (ATW), which reported earnings yesterday, had fallen 13%. But all the bearishness has been forgotten, what with the S&P 500 up more than 1% and Diamond Offshore trouncing analyst forecasts.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
We do not see an immediate inflection in group sentiment but see an opportunity in getting paid to wait for a market recovery. Our favorite yield plays include [Seadrill, Seadrill Partners, and North Atlantic Drilling.] Meanwhile, we would stick to premium asset exposure ([Atwood Oceanics (ATW), Ensco (ESV), Pacific Drilling (PACD]) over lower- end fleets ([Diamond Offshore Drilling (DO), Noble (NE), Transocean (RIG)]).
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