NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- In early April, I made the case for prolonged weakness for assets denominated in Japanese yen. This forecast proved largely accurate, as the CurrencyShares Japanese Yen Trust ETF (FXY) is 14% lower on the year; and the yen itself is the second-worst performing developed-market currency relative to the U.S. dollar.
To some, these declines might suggest renewed opportunities to buy. But when we consider the policy outlook at the Bank of Japan, and potential cutbacks in monetary stimulus from the Federal Reserve, there is little reason to believe this downtrend has reached a true bottom.
To the contrary, the yen remains a sell, even at these weaker levels. Major divergences in central bank policy favor the U.S. dollar over its Japanese counterpart, and these are trends that should continue well into 2014. In Japan, the intention has been to ramp up bond-purchasing programs as a means to normalize consumer inflation levels.
Top 10 Insurance Companies To Watch For 2015: The First of Long Island Corporation(FLIC)
The First of Long Island Corporation operates as a bank holding company for The First National Bank of Long Island that provides various financial services. It offers various deposit products, including checking, money market, savings, escrow service and interest on lawyer, time deposit, NOW, rent security, holiday club, and individual retirement accounts. The company?s loan portfolio consists of commercial and industrial loans; residential and commercial mortgage loans; home equity loans and lines; multifamily loans; construction loans; consumer loans, such as auto and home improvement loans, personal loans, overdraft checking lines, and credit cards; commercial loans, which include short-term business loans, term and installment loans, revolving credit term loans, and loans secured by marketable securities, general business assets, deposits, and surrender value of life insurance policies; and commercial and standby letters of credit. In addition, it provides account rec onciliation, ATM banking, bank by mail, bill payment, cash management, collection, drive-through banking, personal money orders, Internet and telephone banking, merchant credit card depository, lock box, night depository, payroll, remote deposit, securities transactions, signature guarantee, trust and investment management, wire transfers and foreign cables, and withholding tax depository services, as well as offers controlled disbursement accounts, travelers and counter checks, mutual funds, annuities, life insurance and securities, safe deposit boxes, and the U.S. savings bonds. Further, the company provides pension trust, personal trust, estate, and custody services; and insurance agency services, as well as owns a real estate investment trust. It offers its services to privately owned businesses, professionals, consumers, public bodies, and other organizations through its 34 branches primarily in Long Island and Manhattan. The company was founded in 1927 and is based in Glen Head, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dividends4Life]
The First of Long Island Corporation (FLIC) operates as a bank holding company for The First National Bank of Long Island that provides financial services. Sept. 19, the company increased its quarterly dividend 4% to $0.26 per share. The dividend is payable Oct. 11, 2013 to shareholders of record on October 3, 2013. The yield based on the new payout is 2.7%.
Top 10 Performing Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Altisource Residential Corp (RESI)
Altisource Residential Corporation is a development-stage company engaged in the acquisition and ownership of single-family rental assets. The Company�� primary sourcing strategy to acquire these assets includes purchase of sub-performing and non-performing mortgages, as well as single-family homes at or following the foreclosure sale (REO Properties (REO)).
The Company intends to pursue opportunities to acquire its single-family rental assets throughout the United States. The Company is managed by Altisource Asset Management Corporation (AAMC). On December 21, 2012, Altisource Residential Corporation�� spin-off from Altisource Portfolio Solutions S.A. (Altisource) was completed.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Amanda Alix]
For Wall Street types, single-family foreclosures can be bought cheaply and in bulk, then fixed up and rented. Companies like the Blackstone Group (NYSE: BX ) and Colony Financial (NYSE: CLNY ) have been very active in this market, with the former purchasing 16,000 homes just last year, and the latter ramping up its own portfolio to approximately 7,000. This new industry has also spawned fresh entrants from the REIT field, Silver Bay Realty (NYSE: SBY ) and Altisource Residential, (NYSE: RESI ) two trusts that were spun off earlier this year from parent companies Two Harbors Investment (NYSE: TWO ) and Altisource Portfolio Solutions (NASDAQ: ASPS ) , specifically to take advantage of the boom in the foreclosure-to-rental market.
- [By Mark Holder]
Altisource Residential (NYSE: RESI ) (NYSE: RESI ) (NYSE: RESI ) purchases distressed mortgage loan portfolios with a strategy to work with borrowers to modify and refinance loans to either keep them in their homes or convert the unmodified loans into renovated rental properties.
Top 10 Performing Stocks To Invest In Right Now: IDT Corp (IDT)
IDT Corporation (IDT), incorporated on March 15, 1996, is a multinational holding company with operations primarily in the telecommunications industry. The Company operates in two segments: Telecom Platform Services and Consumer phones Services, which comprise its IDT Telecom division. Telecom Platform Services provides telecommunications services, including prepaid and rechargeable calling products and international long distance traffic termination, as well as various payment services. Consumer Phone Services provides consumer local and long distance services in the United States. All other segments include Zedge Holdings, Inc. (Zedge), which owns and operates an on-line platform, including Android app, that allows users to share and obtain content to personalize mobile phones and tablets; Fabrix T.V., Ltd. (Fabrix), a software development company specializing in cloud-based video processing, storage and delivery; IDT Spectrum, which holds, leases and sells fixed wireless spectrum; Innovative Communications Technologies, Inc. (ICTI), which holds intellectual property primarily related to voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), technology and the licensing and other businesses related to this intellectual property; the Company's real estate holdings, and other smaller businesses. On October 28, 2011, the Company completed the Genie Energy spin-off. In July 2013, Straight Path Communications Inc announced its spin-off from IDT Corporation.
Telecom Platform Services
IDT markets and distributes multiple communications and payment services across four business categories, including retail communications, wholesale termination services, payment services and hosted platform solutions. Retail Communications provides international long-distance calling products primarily to immigrant communities worldwide, with markets in the United States and Europe. These products include the Company's Boss Revolution Pinless product (an international calling service sold through the Boss Revolution ! payment platform), as well as many of its disposable calling card brands, including Boss, La Leyenda and Feliz, and mobile apps, including PennyTalk. Wholesale Termination Services is a global telecom carrier, terminating international long distance calls around the world for Tier 1 fixed line and mobile network operators, as well as other aggregators through the Company's network of 800-plus carrier interconnects. Payment Services provides payment offerings, such as international mobile top-up, or IMTU, as well as gift cards in both the United States and Europe. IMTU enables customers to purchase minutes for a prepaid mobile telephone in another country. IMTU is available in both traditional cards, as well as on the Company's Boss Revolution payment platform. Payment Services also includes reloadable prepaid debit cards and bank identification number (BIN) sponsorship services offered in Europe by IDT Financial Services through the Company's Gibraltar-based bank. Hosted Platform Solutions provides customized communications services that leverage the Company's networks, platforms and/or technology to cable companies and other operators.
The Company�� Boss Revolution payment platform is an online portal that can be accessed via a regular Web browser and utilized to sell a range of the Company's products and services. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012, the Company added domestic mobile top-up (DMTU) offerings. The Company sells its traditional calling cards under the La Leyenda, Boss, Playball, GOOOL, RED, Feliz, PT-1 and PennyTalk brand names, among others, providing telephone access to more than 230 countries and territories. As of July 31, 2012, IDT sold more than 1,000 different calling cards in the United States and more than 800 different cards abroad, with specific cards featuring favorable rates to specific international destinations. The Company's calling cards are marketed primarily to the ethnic and immigrant communities in the United States, Europe, Asia, Latin America! and Afri! ca.
Consumer Phone Services
The Company provides its bundled local/long distance phone service in 11 states, marketed under the brand name IDT America. The Company's bundled local/long distance service, offered predominantly to residential customers, includes unlimited local, regional toll and domestic long distance calling and popular calling features. A second plan is available, providing unlimited local service with the Company's long distance included for as low as 3.9 cents per minute. IDT also offers stand-alone long distance service throughout the United States. As of July 31, 2012, the Company had approximately 10,500 active customers for its bundled local/long distance plans and approximately 45,200 customers for its long distance-only plans.
The Company competes with AT&T,Verizon, InComm, Blackhawk Network and Coinstar.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Monica Gerson]
IDT (NYSE: IDT) is projected to report its Q4 earnings at $0.28 per share on revenue of $397.40 million.
Xyratex (NASDAQ: XRTX) is expected to post its Q3 earnings at $0.05 per share on revenue of $209.31 million.
- [By Seth Jayson]
IDT (NYSE: IDT ) reported earnings on June 6. Here are the numbers you need to know.
The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended April 30 (Q3), IDT met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.
Top 10 Performing Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Gladstone Land Corp (LAND)
Gladstone Land Corporation, incorporated on March 24, 2011, is an externally-managed real estate company formed to invest in farmland located in agricultural markets throughout the United States. The Company�� farmland is concentrated in locations where tenants are able to grow annual row crops, such as berries, lettuce and melons, among others, which are planted and harvested annually or more frequently. The Company also leases a small parcel on its Oxnard farm to an oil company. In January 2014, the Company acquired a 1,895-acre farm in the Columbia Basin of the Pacific Northwest. On December 27, 2013, the Company acquired a 1,760-acre farm in Willcox, Cochise County, Arizona. Effective January 2, 2014, Gladstone Land Corp acquired an undisclosed farmland located in Oregon.
As of December 27, 2012, the Company�� portfolio of properties consisted of the San Andreas Farm in Watsonville, California; West Gonzales Farm in Oxnard, California; West Beach Farms in Watsonville, California; Dalton Lane Farm in Watsonville, California; Keysville Road Farms in Plant City, Florida; Colding Loop Farm in Wimauma, Florida, and Trapnell Road Farms in Plant City, Florida. As of December 27, 2012, the Company extended the Dalton Lane Farm lease for three years. As of December 27, 2012, the Company in addition to acquiring properties, planned to acquire farmland in exchange for limited partnership units, or units, of Gladstone Land Limited Partnership.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
Last Friday, small cap Farmland Partners Inc (NYSEMKT: FPI) had an IPO to join Gladstone Land Corp (NASDAQ: LAND), Alico, Inc (NASDAQ: ALCO) and Limoneira Company (NASDAQ: LMNR) as the latest option for retail investors seeking a way to invest in American farmland. After all, there is that old quote attributed to Mark Twain: "Buy land, they're not making it anymore." Moreover, February Wall Street Journal article noted that From 2009 to mid-2013, average prices for agricultural land in the�US rose by half while in Iowa, Nebraska and some other Midwest farm states, prices more than doubled. However, the same article noted that there is mounting evidence that the farmland�boom is fizzling out as�farmland prices in Iowa fell 3% over the second half of last year and those in Nebraska fell 1%. The good news though is that today's agricultural sector looks markedly different than it did during the last farmland bust back in�the early 1980s while Greyson Colvin, the managing partner at investment manager Colvin & Co. (which owns about 7,000 acres of farmland), was quoted as saying: "We think this next 12 months is going to be the best window we've had in the past five years [to invest in farmland].��/p>
- [By Cameron Swinehart]
Gladstone Land Corp (LAND) -
A U.S. based farmland investment company that currently offers a plus 9% annual distribution. It owns and leases farmland in Florida, California, Michigan and Oregon with appraised land value of $79 million. The distribution is paid monthly which should attract income investors.
- [By Sarah Jones]
Land Securities (LAND) Group Plc, Britain�� largest real estate investment trust, and Persimmon Plc both climbed at least 1.5 percent. Glencore Xstrata Plc led a rally in commodity producers as base metals climbed. HSBC Holdings Plc (HSBA) led declining shares, falling 1.5 percent.
Top 10 Performing Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Century Peak Metals Holdings Corp (CPM)
Century Peak Metals Holdings Corporation is engaged in promoting, operating, managing, holding, acquiring or investing in corporations or entities that are engaged in mining activities or mining-related activities. It also invests in real estate development and energy. Its subsidiaries include Century Peak Corporation (CPC), Century Hua Guang Smelting Incorporated (CHGSI), Century Sidewide Smelting Inc. (CSSI) and Century Summit Carrier, Inc. (CSCI). The principal activities of CPC is to invest in and engage in the business of operating and mining of mineral resources in the Philippines, such as iron ore, copper, gold, silver, lead, manganese, chromites, nickel etc. and prospecting, exploring, milling, concentrating, converting, smelting, treating, refining and manufacturing, and preparing for the market. Advisors' Opinion:- [By kcpl]
Corning is focusing on its growth strategies. Management had already discussed in the previous quarter that it plans to quickly integrate Corning Precision Materials (CPM) in Korea in order to realize synergies, gain further cost advantages, and increase its flexibility of glass supply. The company completed its acquisition of CPM in the first quarter. As a result of this acquisition, its display sales improved 55% to $1 billion.
Top 10 Performing Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Bk Of Nova Scotia Com Npv (BNS.TO)
The Bank of Nova Scotia provides various personal, commercial, corporate, and investment banking services in Canada and internationally. It operates in four segments: Canadian Banking, International Banking, Global Wealth & Insurance, and Global Banking & Markets. The Canadian Banking segment provides retail and small business banking products and services, including deposit accounts, investments, mortgages, loans, debit cards, credit cards, and related creditor insurance products to individuals and small businesses; and commercial banking solutions comprising deposit, lending, and cash management solutions to medium and large businesses. This segment offers its products through a network of 1,038 branches and 3,800 automated banking machines, and specialized sales teams, as well as through Internet, mobile, and telephone banking in Canada. The International Banking segment provides retail and commercial banking services to customers located in the Caribbean, Latin America , Central America, and Asia through a network of approximately 3,000 branches and offices, 7,500 automated banking machines, in-store banking kiosks, and specialized sales forces, as well as through mobile, Internet, and telephone banking. The Global Wealth & Insurance segment provides wealth management services, comprising asset management and client-facing services; and insurance products and services, such as creditor, life and health, home, and auto and travel insurance products. The Global Banking & Markets segment offers corporate lending, equity and debt underwriting, and mergers and acquisitions advisory services, as well as fixed income, derivatives, prime brokerage, securitization, foreign exchange, equity sales, trading and research, energy and agricultural commodities, and precious and base metals to corporate, government, and institutional investor clients. The Bank of Nova Scotia was founded in 1832 and is based in Toronto, Canada.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Roadmap2Retire]
Monthly Contributions: I add to my positions in the following stock and funds on a monthly basis:
Claymore S&P US Dividend Growers ETF (CUD.TO) is an ETF of 83 dividend growers and provides me with exposure to excellent corporations across all sectors. The ETF has a 1.8% yield and pays distributions monthly. iShares Canadian Financial Monthly Income Fund (FIE.A.TO) is an ETF of 24 Canadian financial equities (70%) and bonds (30%). The fund yields 6.5% and pays distributions monthly. Scotia Canadian Balanced Fund (mutual fund) is an index fund tracking the Canadian S&P/TSX Composite Index and the DEX Universe Bond Index. The fund yields 0.52% and pays distributions quarterly. The Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS.TO) is the third largest of the Canadian banks by deposits and market cap. BNS is also the most international of the Canadian banks with exposure in 55 countries outside Canada. BNS saw a pause in its dividend growth during the financial crisis. However, BNS has started raising dividends after the crisis with a 5-yr DGR of 5.15%. I have a DRIP plan in BNS and invest monthly to this holding. My WatchlistI am also considering various stocks that are not currently in my portfolio, but the current high valuations do not provide many options.
Top 10 Performing Stocks To Invest In Right Now: American International Group Inc.(AIG)
American International Group, Inc. is an international insurance organization. The company operates property and casualty insurance networks worldwide and conducts activities in the U.S. life insurance and retirement services industry. It also involves in commercial aircraft leasing and residential mortgage guaranty insurance businesses. The company, through Chartis Inc., provides various property and casualty insurance products under commercial and consumer categories worldwide. These products include surplus lines, executive liability/directors? and officers? liability, employment practices, excess casualty, and travel/assistance lines. American International Group, through SunAmerica Financial Group, offers a suite of life insurance and retirement products and services, including term life, universal life, accident and health, fixed and variable deferred annuities, fixed payout annuities, mutual funds, and financial planning products and services to individuals and grou ps in the United States. The company, through International Lease Finance Corporation, operates as an aircraft lessor that acquires commercial jet aircraft from various manufacturers and other parties, and leases those aircraft to airlines worldwide. It also sells aircraft from its fleet to other leasing companies, financial services companies, and airlines, as well as provides management services to third-party owners of aircraft portfolios. American International Group, through United Guaranty Corporation, issues residential mortgage guaranty insurance that covers mortgage lenders from the first loss for credit defaults on high loan-to-value conventional first-lien mortgages for the purchase or refinance of one- to four-family residences in the U.S. and internationally. The company was founded in 1967 and is based in New York, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Anand Chokkavelu, CFA]
I'm buying more of some of my favorites in the financials-centric real-money portfolio I manage for The Motley Fool: best-in-class megabank Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC ) , ongoing insurance comeback story AIG (NYSE: AIG ) , and Midwestern regional banker Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ: FITB ) .
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