Sunday, May 24, 2015

10 Best Heal Care Stocks To Watch For 2015

With shares of Dell (NASDAQ:DELL) trading around $12, is DELL an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let�� analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Dell is a global information technology company that offers its customers a range of solutions and services, which are delivered directly by Dell as well as other distribution channels. The company operates in four segments: Large Enterprise, Public, Small and Medium Business, and Consumer. Dell serves a wide range of customers: global and national corporate businesses; educational institutions; government, health care, and law enforcement agencies; small and medium-sized businesses; as well as end users. Through its four segments, Dell is able to provide information technology products to a growing user base around the world. As economies continue to develop, look for a company like Dell to provide important technology products for years to come.

Top 10 Healthcare Technology Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Fifth Third Bancorp (FFH)

Fifth Third Bancorp (the Bancorp), incorporated on October 7, 1974, is a diversified financial services company. As of December 31, 2011, the Bancorp had $117 billion in assets, operated 15 affiliates with 1,316 full-service Banking Centers, including 104 Bank Mart locations open seven days a week inside select grocery stores, and 2,425 automated teller machines (ATMs) in 12 states throughout the Midwestern and Southeastern regions of the United States. The Bancorp operates in four business segments: Commercial Banking, Branch Banking, Consumer Lending and Investment Advisors. The Bancorp also has a 49% interest in Vantiv Holding, LLC.

Commercial Banking

Commercial Banking offers credit intermediation, cash management and financial services to large and middle-market businesses and government and professional customers. In addition to the traditional lending and depository offerings, Commercial Banking products and services include global cash management, foreign exchange and international trade finance, derivatives and capital markets services, asset-based lending, real estate finance, public finance, commercial leasing and syndicated finance.

Branch Banking

Branch Banking provides a range of deposit and loan and lease products to individuals and small businesses through 1,316 full-service Banking Centers. Branch Banking offers depository and loan products, such as checking and savings accounts, home equity loans and lines of credit, credit cards and loans for automobiles and other personal financing needs, as well as products designed to meet the specific needs of small businesses, including cash management services.

Consumer Lending

Consumer Lending includes the Bancorp�� mortgage, home equity, automobile and other indirect lending activities. Mortgage and home equity lending activities include the origination, retention and servicing of mortgage and home equity loans or lines of credit, sales and securitizations of t! hose loans, pools of loans or lines of credit, and all associated hedging activities. Indirect lending activities include loans to consumers through mortgage brokers and automobile dealers.

Investment Advisors

Investment Advisors provides a range of investment alternatives for individuals, companies and not-for-profit organizations. Investment Advisors is made up of four main businesses: Fifth Third Securities (FTS), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Bancorp; Fifth Third Asset Management, Inc. (FTAM), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Bancorp; Fifth Third Private Bank; and Fifth Third Institutional Services. FTS offers full service retail brokerage services to individual clients and broker dealer services to the institutional marketplace. FTAM provides asset management services and also advises the Bancorp�� family of mutual funds. Fifth Third Private Bank offers holistic strategies to affluent clients in wealth planning, investing, insurance and wealth protection. Fifth Third Institutional Services provide advisory services for institutional clients including states and municipalities.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By gurufocus]

    Prem Watsa, highly regarded CEO of Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. (FFH), wrote in March that ��e continue to fully hedge our common stock portfolios as our concerns about the United States��� You would think he has been wrong with the hedging as he is losing money with them. But the last time he was losing with hedging was during the last bull market from 2004 to 2006. He then made a killing with the hedges in 2007 and 2008.

  • [By Riddhi Kharkia]

    Last year, Blackberry investors were not quite pleased with the collapse of a $4.7 billion buyout by Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. (FFH) because the management had clearly highlighted the vulnerable cash position of the company and an uncontrollable rate of cash burn that reduced the time available to the company to bounce back. However, in retrospect, the decision made by FairFax to abandon the deal and instead fund the company with $1 billion in convertible bonds along with the appointment of a new management team proved to be beneficial for the struggling giant. In a bid to create superior products and innovate on the existing products, the current management has sparked reasonable hope among investors of a possible comeback.

  • [By Bloomberg]

    Mattel (MAT), the world's largest toymaker, agreed to buy Mega Brands (MB) for $460 million, acquiring the biggest challenger to Lego A/S in the construction-toy market. Mattel is offering C$17.75 ($16) a share, according to a statement today, a 36 percent premium over yesterday's closing price. The board of Montreal-based Mega Brands unanimously approved the transaction, and investors holding 39 percent of the stock, including Chief Executive Officer Marc Bertrand and Fairfax Financial Holdings (FFH), agreed to the deal. The purchase of Mega Brands, the world's second-largest maker of snap-together blocks, will fill a product hole for Mattel. It doesn't have its own construction line, locking it out of a $4 billion market in the U.S. and Europe. The category also is a bright spot in a toy industry that has seen growth stall in the U.S. Mattel considered starting its own construction line, then opted instead to buy Mega Brands because it would be faster and less risky, Mattel CEO Bryan G. Stockton said on a call with reporters. Mattel got its first taste of construction in 2012 when it debuted blocks for its Barbie brand through a licensing deal with Mega Brands. Mattel realized that replicating this kind of expertise would take years, Stockton said. 'About Growth' "This acquisition is all about growth," Stockton said. "We see an opportunity to expand our brands in this category across boys, girls and preschool." Mattel shares rose 0.8 percent to $37.44 at 10:34 a.m. in New York. They had declined 9 percent over the past year through yesterday. Shares of Montreal-based Mega Brands surged 36 percent to C$17.73 today in Toronto. Mattel is coming off a lackluster holiday season, with sales sinking 6.3 percent -- the biggest quarterly drop since 2009. The El Segundo, California-based toymaker has looked to acquisitions to boost sales in the past. In February of 2012, it paid $680 million to buy HIT Entertainment, owner of Thomas the Tank Engine. It also acq

10 Best Heal Care Stocks To Watch For 2015: Firstin Wireless Technology Inc (FINW)

Firstin Wireless Technology, Inc., formerly Passionate Pet, Inc., incorporated on September 30, 2010, is a mobile service provider. The Company is a software-based mobile service provider that enables enterprises and business users to make affordable and business-quality international long distance and roaming calls over its hybrid mobile VoIP (HY-mVoIPTM) technology. Its service does not replace a user�� existing wireless service, it augments it with global communication capabilities. The Company's application is free to download, and is available on Apple iPhone, Blackberry and Android smartphones.

The Company provides international long distance and roaming services to enterprises and business travelers over smartphones. Business users need to download the Firstin application onto their smartphones to allow them to place and receive international long distance and roaming calls from anywhere in the world for a fixed monthly fee and unlimited usage. The Company intends to revolutionize business mobile communications by spearheading the enterprise mobile VoIP revolution allowing for anywhere, anytime, business-quality and low-cost voice and data communications over smartphones.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Peter Graham]

    A look at SofTech, Inc�� financials reveals revenues of $1,375k (most recent reported quarter), $1,558k, $1,458k and $1,772k for the past four quarters along with net losses of $266k (most recent reported quarter), $51k and $14k and net income of $252k. At the end of August, SofTech, Inc had $828k in cash to cover $2,717k in current liabilities and $5,445k in total liabilities. Given the recent Asset Purchase Agreement and the deal with lenders, it would be good to wait for some more financials to see how SofTech, Inc�� balance sheet has improved.

    Firstin Wireless Technology Inc (OTCMKTS: FINW) Has Been Quiet Since February

    Small cap Firstin Wireless Technology is a mobile communications company that is leading the shift to the enterprise mobile VoIP revolution through its mobile telephony platform and apps, including a flagship Firstin solution that allows for anywhere, anytime mobile communications at significant cost reductions. On Friday, Firstin Wireless Technology closed at $0.255 for a market cap of $8.57 million plus FINW is down 3,087.5% over the past year and down 78.7% since August 2011 according to Google Finance.

  • [By Peter Graham]

    Small cap stocks Bonamour Inc (OTCBB: BONI), Firstin Wireless Technology Inc (OTCMKTS: FINW) and Microchannel Technologies Corp (OTCBB: MCTC) have been attracting attention from variosu investment newsletters lately with at least two of these stocks being the subject of paid promotions. Of course, there is nothing wrong with properly disclosed paid promotions or investor relation types of activities as its up to investors and traders alike to do their due diligence. So how hot are these small cap stocks? Here is a quick reality check that might cool your appetite:

10 Best Heal Care Stocks To Watch For 2015: Exelis Inc (XLS)

Exelis Inc. (Exelis), incorporated on May 4, 2011, is engaged in Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) related products and systems and information and technical services, which the Company supplies to military, government and commercial customers in the United States and globally. The Company's customers include the United States Department of Defense (DoD), including the United States Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force, and its prime contractors, the United States Government intelligence agencies, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), allied foreign governments and domestic and foreign commercial customers. As a prime contractor, subcontractor, or preferred supplier, the Company participates in many high priority defense and non-defense programs in the United States. In January 2013, it acquired C4i Pty. Ltd. In February 2014, Exelis, Inc purchased FareSight, ARC's Web-based tool for corporate air travel optimization.

The Company operates in two segments: C4ISR Electronics and Systems, and Information and Technical Services. The Company's C4ISR Electronics and Systems segment provides communications, electronic warfare, imaging and image-processing, radar and sonar systems, space systems, and aerostructures for government and commercial customers globally. The Company's Information and Technical Services segment provides a range of systems integration, network design and development, cyber, intelligence, operations, sustainment, advanced engineering, logistics, space launch and range-support solutions for a range of the United States military and government agency customers. The Company has successfully completed and integrated several acquisitions over the last five years, which has broadened its product and technology portfolio and expanded its customer base.

C4ISR Electronics and Systems

Integrated Electronic Warfare Systems (IEWS) is a Electro! nic Warfare Countermeasures (ECM) and engaged in space microelectronics, mine-defense solutions and antennas. IEWS develops, produces and sells electronic warfare solutions to DoD services, classified customers and to allied nations. IEWS is a key player on platforms, such as the strike fighter, the F-18, and Special Operations Forces (SOF) MH-60s and MH-47, and also holds electronic warfare positions on the B-1B, B-52, CV-22, C-130 and F-16 (International) platforms. The Company is a provider of mechanical and combined influences mine sweeping devices to the United States Navy. IEWS is engaged in Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA), fielding systems on the B-1, B-52, F-16, F-18, SOF C-130s and the EA-6B. Communication Systems and Force Protection Systems (CFPS) is a engaged in the design and manufacture of radio frequency (RF)-based systems. The business has fielded more than 25,000 CREW Vehicle Receiver/Jammer (CVRJ) systems, in use by the United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force. The Company also specializes in tactical, satellite, wireless and special mission communications systems; information assurance and cryptographic systems; Global Positioning Systems (GPS); mobile ad hoc networking (MANET) solutions, and integrated C3 solutions for the United States and allied forces, as well as many government agencies. Products include SINCGARS, deployed military tactical radio program globally with more than 650,000 units in use in more than 35 countries. CFPS is also the developer of the Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW).

The Company's Night Vision and Imaging business is a engaged in image intensification, sensor fusion and digital night vision technology, integrated power and sensing devices, and decision support software and services solutions, which manage, exploit, analyze, visualize, interpret, and disseminate image related data. The Company is a developer, producer, and supplier of Generation 3 images intensification technology for the United States and allied military forces, as ! well as t! he federal homeland security market, and the Company is a producer of night vision products globally. The Company provides AN /PVS-14 and AN /PVS-7 ground night visions goggles and spare image intensifier tubes to the the United States military and allies, through foreign military sales, and the Company is a supplier to the United States military for the AN/AVS-6 and AN/AVS-9 aviation night visions goggle, which provides rotary- and fixed-wing pilots the ability to operate in extreme low-light situations. The Company is a supplier of the 2nd generation ENVG(O) system, the Spiral Enhanced Night Vision Goggle (SENVG), to the United States military. In addition the Company offers integrated software solutions, which scientists, defense and intelligence professionals, Geographic Information System users, researchers, and medical researches professionals use to turn complex data into useful information. The Company delivers streaming imagery and video data in an environment challenged by information overloads.

The Company's Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Systems business serves a range of government, civil and commercial customers with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, provide actionable data, and protect property and human life. The Company's capabilities include remote sensing payloads for ground, air and space, offering active and motion imaging, which provide data processing, exploitation, and dissemination and system performance modeling and simulation. The Company also provides solutions, which map and monitors the earth for a range of commercial and governmental users. The Company's sensors provide the commercial resolution space-based imagery in the United States.

Radar, Reconnaissance and Acoustic Systems (R2A) provides radio frequency (RF) and acoustic surveillance sensors for both domestic and international defense customers, with a portfolio of related technology-based products in the commercial area. R2A's capabilities include d! efense su! rveillance radars, air traffic control radars, command and control, towed and hull mount sonars, tactical data links and airborne multifunction radars. The R2A business also provides electronic warfare and signal intelligence systems for reconnaissance and surveillance, with monitoring and signal processing systems and equipment for Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), Electronic Support Measures (ESM), Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) and Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) applications.

Integrated Structures (IS) is a designer and producer of aircraft-armament suspension and release equipment, weapons interface systems, and advanced composite structures and subsystems for military and commercial customers. IS is an advanced designers and manufacturers of lightweight advanced fiber-reinforced composite structures. The Company has supplied composites to aerospace prime contractors, including Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky and BAE Systems.

The Company's Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) business is a total GPS navigation systems supplier providing GPS payload, receiver and control solutions. The next generation Global Positioning System Operational Control System (GPS OCX) provide command, control and mission support for current and future GPS satellites based on a modern, service-oriented architecture, which will integrate a government and industry open system standard. The Company is providing the key navigation processing elements and precision monitors station receivers during the current phase of the GPS OCX program, which includes advanced anti-jam capabilities, and system security, accuracy and reliability.

Information and Technical Services

The Company's Communication, Command and Control Systems (C3S) business provides systems engineering, lifecycle sustainment, logistic support, modernization, and operations and maintenance for the United States military launch, test and training ranges, NASA's Ground Communications Networks and ot! her the U! nited States Government assets globally. C3S supports complex mission requirements, which covers a spectrum of support, from facilities maintenance to reverse engineering of legacy systems. Key areas of support include system engineering, sustainment, logistics, depot maintenance, software engineering and configuration management for range instrumentation, such as tracking, telemetry, optical, weather, communications, and command & control networks and systems. The Company is a contractor on NASA's Space Communications Network Services (SCNS) contract for the Goddard Space Flight Center, which provides communications and tracking services for a range of Earth-orbiting spacecraft, such as the International Space Station. The Company operates, maintain, and sustain the communications networks and infrastructure, which supports deep space exploration missions, such as the Cassini mission to Saturn and the Mars Rovers. The Company is also the contractor for the Joint Spectrum Center's (JSC) Electromagnetic Spectrum Engineering Services contracts, where the Company provides engineering systems support, technical analysis, test support, and long-term strategic planning. C3S also provides payload processing and launch services for numerous government agencies. These systems and assets are critical to the launch range and space communications network infrastructures, including air, land and sea training range for the United States Navy, the United States Air Force space launch ranges on the United States East and West Coasts and NASA's space ground communications networks.

The Company's Advanced Information Systems business serves a range of federal customers in defense, intelligence and homeland security. The Company serves missions in military and national intelligence, deterrence and defenses against chemical, biological, radiological nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) threats, strategic programs and other core defense programs. The Company develops information-enabled solutions for the United States! Governme! nt customers.

Afghanistan Programs (AP) consists of two contracts with the United States Army Corps of Engineers to provide facilities operations, maintenance and training services for the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and the Combined Security Transition Command in both Northern and Southern Afghanistan (ANSF Facilities Support programs). Under these two contracts, AP provides operations and maintenance support for more than 300 ANSF locations in Afghanistan, while simultaneously training Afghans to assume responsibility for the facilities at the completion of the contract. AP also supports the warfighter under the Logistics Civilian Augmentation Program (LOGCAP), which provides logistics and supply operations, airfield operations and transportation support to the United States warfighter and to the Afghanistan National Security Forces.

The Company provides the FAA with engineering expertise and full system solutions in the development and implementation of a modernized air traffics system. The Company's core program is the ADS-B system: the cornerstone program of the FAA's Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) initiative to modernize from a ground-based system of air traffic control to a satellite-based system of air traffic management. As a contractor on ADS-B, the Company is designing, building and operating a nationwide system of radio communications, telecommunications networks, information technology and software to deliver accurate, networked, real-time surveillance data to the automated systems of the FAA. The Company is developing concepts under the Systems Engineering 2020 (SE2020) contract. The work spans all dimensions of a national effort to transform air traffic control, including ground systems, avionics, aircraft, air traffic control rules and procedures, human factors, safety and security, environmental processes and standards.

Middle East Programs (MEP) provides oversight and management for the Company's teams working in t! hat regio! n. The core capabilities of the MEP include logistics, vehicle maintenance and repair, facility and utilities maintenance and repair services, civil engineering, minor construction, transportation services, base operations, guard services, and emergency fire and life support services. MEP also maintains a range of equipment, from small arms to Patriot missiles, performing maintenance tasks both domestically and overseas. Logistics services also include transport of soldiers and equipment for combat operations. The Company's vehicle maintenance and repair contract is its Kuwait based Army Preposition Stock-5 (APS-5 Kuwait) contract.

The Communications and Information Systems (CYBER) business supports a range of the United States and Joint Forces military activities, as well as Federal civilian communications infrastructures globally, ranging from wideband satellite communications systems to network operations and management services. CYBER's capabilities include network management; mobile and fixed satellite communications operations and maintenance (SATCOM O&M); help desk support; switch, node and router support; database development; engineering; furnishing and installation of communications systems; information assurance of protected military networks, and field and depot level maintenance of communications equipment. As the prime contractor for the United States Army Network Command's Total Army Communications for Southwest Asia, central Asia and Africa program (TACSWACAA), CYBER maintains operational availability and information security for network resources in the battlefield network ever deployed. For the United States Southern Command, it operates and maintains tethered aerostats, which perform core drug interdiction and air sovereignty missions along the United States southern border. Communications support includes operations and maintenance for missions, such as the Defense Red Switch Network, which provides the President, Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, combatant co! mmanders ! and various agencies with secure communications technology and systems.

The United States and Europe Programs is centered on logistics, base operations and infrastructure support to multiple military and governmental agencies in the United States and Europe. The business consists of supporting contracts with the United States Air Force and United States Army, including bases in the United States and Germany. The Company provides full spectrum base operating support, logistics, supply, maintenance and security to each of these installations. United States and Europe programs also focus on the nature of surface, rail and air transportation services, all life support services, as well as civil engineering and minor construction services.

The Company competes with Lockheed Martin Corporation, The Boeing Company, Raytheon Company, General Dynamics Corporation, L-3 Communications Corporation, SAIC Inc., Northrop Grumman Corporation, Harris Corporation, BAE Systems, Inc., Thales Group, EADS N.V., Finmeccanica S.p.A., DynCorp, KBR and Fluor.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By MONEYMORNING]

    Exelis Inc. (NYSE: XLS) is a leader in military technology covering everything from surveillance to communications to advanced materials.

    For instance, it has 40 years' experience building lightweight composite assemblies used in military airplanes and helicopters. Exelis also makes night vision goggles that provide voice and data communications in a secure format.

10 Best Heal Care Stocks To Watch For 2015: adidas AG (ADDDF)

adidas AG is a Germany-based holding company for the adidas Group, which is engaged in sports footwear, apparel and accessories. The Company diversifies its activities into three operating segments: Wholesale Business; Retail Business, and Other Businesses. The Wholesale Business segment comprises the adidas and Reebok business activities with retailers. The Retail Business segment comprises the own-retail and e-Commerce activities of the adidas and Rebook brands. The Other Businesses segment comprises the brands TaylorMade-adidas Golf, Rockport, Reebok-CCM Hockey and other centrally managed brands. Furthermore, the Company diversifies its activities by geographical regions into Western Europe, European Emerging Markets, North America, Greater China, Other Asian Markets and Latin America. As of December 31, 2012, the Company operated a total of 177 subsidiaries and affiliated companies located in Germany and abroad. Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Ben Rooney]

    Shares of Adidas (ADDDF), which trade in Frankfurt and also have a small listing in the U.S., are down 7% since the World Cup started on June 12, though they were bouncing back Friday. Nike shares are up more than 5% over the same period of time.

10 Best Heal Care Stocks To Watch For 2015: Halliburton Company(HAL)

Halliburton Company provides various products and services to the energy industry for the exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas worldwide. It operates in two segments, Completion and Production, and Drilling and Evaluation. The Completion and Production segment offers production enhancement services, completion tools and services, cementing services, and Boots & Coots. Its production enhancement services include stimulation and sand control services; completion tools and services comprise subsurface safety valves and flow control equipment, surface safety systems, packers and specialty completion equipment, intelligent completion systems, expandable liner hanger systems, sand control systems, well servicing tools, and reservoir performance services; cementing services consist of bonding the well and well casing, while isolating fluid zones and maximizing wellbore stability, and casing equipment; and Boots & Coots include well intervention services , pressure control, equipment rental tools and services, and pipeline and process services. The Drilling and Evaluation segment provides field and reservoir modeling, drilling, evaluation, and wellbore placement solutions that enable customers to model, measure, and optimize their well construction activities. Its services comprise fluid services, drilling services, drill bits, wireline and perforating services, testing and subsea services, software and asset solutions, and integrated project management and consulting services. The company serves independent, integrated, and national oil companies. Halliburton Company was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By ovenerio]

    In this article, let's take a look at Halliburton Company (HAL), a $57.48 billion market cap company, which is a leading oilfield services company which provides products and services to the global energy industry.

  • [By Dimitra DeFotis]

    Adams’ partial list of potential losers:

    BP (BP) : the highest profile potential loser. It owns 19.75% of Russian energy giant Rosneft, which accounted a third of�BP�� production in the fourth quarter. Sanctions that inhibit oil and gas flows to Europe, or banking/capital flows, would “hit Rosneft and BP early and hard.” An offset: there could be an uptick in demand for a pipeline 30% owned and operated by BP because it transports Azerbaijan oil through Georgia and Turkey to the Mediterranean ��a southern route avoiding Georgia and Ukraine. Chevron (CVX) pipeline investments could be stymied. It also�signed a 50-year agreement to explore for and develop oil and gas in western Ukraine, involving up to $10 billion of investment. “A Russian takeover spikes that deal,” Adams says. Oilfield services companies Halliburton (HAL), Baker Hughes (BHI), and Weatherford International�(WFT) all do business in Russia that could be prohibited if it is labeled a rogue nation.

    The crisis in Ukraine and Russia’s tactics make U.S. assets look more secure and more valuable: some U.S. refiners that could export fuel, utility holding companies that could export liquefied natural gas, and related pipeline companies could see even more benefits, longer-term, �from the North American fracking and horizontal drilling boom. But approval of the TransCanada (TRP) Keystone XL pipeline is a necessary piece of that equation, Adams writes.

  • [By Sara Murphy]

    The industry has noticed the benefits of recycling and has seen the rising legislative tide, and is beginning to adopt frac water recycling more broadly. Oil-field services companies Halliburton (NYSE: HAL  ) and Baker Hughes (NYSE: BHI  ) are truly pushing ahead with this strategy, and have reaped early success. Halliburton has introduced its H2O Forward suite of CleanWave and CleanStream technologies in both the Permian and Bakken regions, with reported savings in the range of $500,000-$700,000. To compete with this, Baker Hughes has designed its H2prO offering, which has been tested in the Permian Basin.

10 Best Heal Care Stocks To Watch For 2015: Omnicare Inc (OCR)

Omnicare, Inc. (Omnicare) is a healthcare services company. The Company operates in two primary businesses: Long-Term Care Group (LTC) and Specialty Care Group (SCG). Through LTC, Omnicare provides pharmaceuticals and related pharmacy and ancillary services to long-term care facilities, as well as chronic care facilities and other settings. SCG provides commercialization services for the biopharmaceutical industry in addition to end-of-life pharmaceutical care management for hospice care agencies. At December 31, 2011, LTC provided its pharmacy services in 47 states in the United States, the District of Columbia and in Canada. In September 2012, Five Star Quality Care, Inc. sold its pharmacy business to Omnicare.

Long-Term Care Group

Omnicare operates the institutional pharmacy business in North America. LTC's customers consist of skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), assisted living facilities (ALFs), independent living communities, hospitals, correctional facilities, and other healthcare service providers. LTC consisted of approximately 83% of the Company�� total net sales during the year ended December 31, 2011 and dispensed approximately 115.1 million prescriptions. The Company provides pharmacy consulting, including monthly patient drug therapy evaluations, assist in compliance with state and federal regulations and provide clinical and health management programs (utilizing outcomes-based algorithm technology). LTC also provides a range of technology solutions based on its Omniview Web-based platform.

LTC also provides a range of other products and services, including intravenous medications and nutrition products (infusion therapy products and services), respiratory therapy services, medical supplies and equipment (including billing the Medicare Part B program for eligible patients) and clinical care planning. It also provides pharmaceutical case management services for retirees, employees and dependents. The Company purchases, repackages and dispenses presc! ription and non-prescription medication in accordance with physician orders and deliver such prescriptions to long-term care facilities for administration to individual residents (by the facilities��nursing staff for SNFs).

The Company services long-term care facilities typically within a radius of approximately 150 miles of its pharmacy locations and maintain an around-the-clock, seven-day per week, on-call pharmacist service for emergency dispensing and delivery, and for consultation with the facility's staff or attending physician. The Company utilizes a unit-of-use drug distribution system. This means that its prescriptions are packaged for dispensing in individual doses. The Company�� range of technologies allow Web-based access to electronic medical records, automated pharmacy billing, online medication refills and returns processing, census tracking, pre-admission medication assessment and access to the Omnicare Guidelines.

Specialty Care Group

SCG serves the needs of biopharmaceutical manufacturers, physicians, nurses, caregivers and patients. Its services are based on five platforms: brand support services, third party logistics, patient assistance programs, specialty pharmacy and disease management for end-of-life care. In the Company�� specialty pharmacy platform, it provides dispensing of specialized pharmaceuticals. These specialized drugs deal primarily with specific categories of drugs and disease states, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, oncology and growth hormones. In its end-of-life care platform, Omnicare provides hospice care pharmaceutical management. SCG accounted for approximately 17% of the Company�� total net sales during 2011.

Omnicare competes with PharMerica Corporation.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Anna Prior]

    Omnicare Inc.(OCR) raised its quarterly dividend by 43% and boosted its stock buyback program by $500 million in a bid to increase shareholder value.

  • [By Benjamin Shepherd]

    The American long-term care industry has been growing rapidly and will continue doing so for years to come. According to a study from the US Department of Health and Human Services, more than 70 percent of Americans over the age of 65 will need long-term care services at some point in their lives. Anyone over the age of 65 has a 40 percent chance of entering a nursing home and about 20 percent of them will remain there for at least five years.

    The size of the 65 and older population jumped by more than 15 percent between 2000 and 2010, compared to just 9.7 percent growth in the population as a whole. That group now makes up about 13 percent of the total population and is forecast to account for more than 16 percent by the end of this decade and 20.2 percent by 2050.

    Those trends have spurred huge runs for real estate investment trusts (REIT) that operate assisted-living facilities, rehabilitation centers and nursing homes across the country. While the senior living REITs have been an extremely profitable play on America�� graying population, their tide is ebbing with the prospect of rising interest rates creating fears that their profitability will be dinged. That creates opportunities for value investors focused on long-term returns, but it means short-term volatility.

    In this context, one compelling investment now is Omnicare (NYSE: OCR), a company that provides pharmacy services to long-term care and other medical facilities. Omnicare receives prescription orders from physicians at facilities, reviews them for effectiveness and any potential interactions with other drugs the patient is receiving and then prepares the drugs in specialized individual packages for easy administration.

    Omnicare has consultant pharmacists who can regularly review patient charts for potential interactions and duplications or to recommend alternative drugs or formulations that can increase the effectiveness of a patient�� medications, while also potent

  • [By Marc Bastow]

    Healthcare services provider Omnicare (OCR) raised its quarterly dividend 43% to 20 cents per share, payable on Dec. 24 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 16.
    OCR Dividend Yield: 1.36%

  • [By John Kell]

    Omnicare Inc.(OCR) swung to an unexpected fourth-quarter loss on write-downs related to its hospice pharmacy business and certain certain retail operations that have been classified as discontinued operations. Results missed expectations, sending shares down 5.5% to $61 premarket.

10 Best Heal Care Stocks To Watch For 2015: Universal Display Corp (OLED)

Universal Display Corporation, incorporated on April, 24, 1985, is engaged in the research, development and commercialization of organic light emitting diode (OLED) technologies and materials for use in flat panel display, solid state lighting and other product applications. The Company�� primary business strategy is to develop and license its OLED technologies to product manufacturers for use in these applications. Its primary business is to develop and license its OLED technologies to manufacturers of products for display applications, such as cell phones, portable media devices, tablets, laptop computers and televisions, and specialty and general lighting products; and develop new OLED materials and sell the materials to those product manufacturers. The Company sells its OLED materials to customers for evaluation and use in commercial OLED products. As of December 31, 2012, the Company owns, exclusively license or have the sole right to sublicense more than 3,000 patents issued and pending worldwide. On July 23, 2012, the Company entered into a Patent Sale Agreement (the Agreement) with FUJIFILM. Under the Agreement, FUJIFILM sold more than 1,200 OLED related patents and patent applications.

Phosphorescent Organic Light Emitting Diode Technologies

Phosphorescent OLEDs utilize specialized materials and device structures that allow OLEDs to emit light through a process known as phosphorescence. Traditional fluorescent OLEDs emit light through an inherently less efficient process. Theory and experiment show that phosphorescent OLEDs exhibit device efficiencies up to four times higher than those exhibited by fluorescent OLEDs. Phosphorescence substantially reduces the power requirements of an OLED and is potentially useful in displays for hand-held devices, such as Smartphone��, where battery power is often a limiting factor. Phosphorescence is also important for area displays such as televisions, where higher device efficiency and lower heat generation may enable longer ! product lifetimes and increased energy efficiency.

Additional Proprietary Organic Light Emitting Diode Technologies

Additional OLED Technologies include FOLED Flexible OLEDs, Thin-Film Encapsulation, UniversalP2OLED Printable Phosphorescent OLEDs, OVJP Organic Vapor Jet Printing, OVPD Organic Vapor Phase Deposition and TOLED Transparent OLEDs. The Company is working on a number of technologies required for the fabrication of OLEDs on flexible substrates. As of December 31, 2012, it was conducting research and development on FOLED technologies internally, under several of its United States government programs and in connection with the government-sponsored Flexible Display Center at Arizona State University (ASU). The Company announced its, patented encapsulation technology for the packaging of flexible OLEDs and other thin-film devices, as well as for use as a barrier film for plastic substrates. Its approach for manufacturing a small molecule OLED, including a PHOLED, is based on a vacuum thermal evaporation (VTE) process.

The Company has partnered with Aixtron AG, which is a manufacturer of metal-organic chemical vapor deposition equipment, to develop and qualify equipment for the fabrication of OLED displays utilizing the OVPD process. It has developed a technology for the fabrication of OLEDs that have transparent cathodes. TOLEDs use a transparent cathode and either a transparent, reflective or opaque metal anode.

Organic Light Emitting Diode Materials Supply Business

The Company supplies its proprietary UniversalPHOLED materials to display manufacturers and others. The Company qualifies its materials in OLED devices before shipment in order to ensure that they meet required specifications. During 2012, the Company continued supplying its proprietary UniversalPHOLED materials to SDC for use in its commercial AMOLED display products and for its development efforts. During 2012, the Company also supplied its UniversalPHOLED materials to! LG Displ! ay for use in its commercial AMOLED display products, to Tohoku Pioneer for use in its commercial PMOLED display products, and Konica Minolta for its manufacture of commercial OLED lighting products. During 2012, the Company also supplied its proprietary OLED materials to these and various other product manufacturers for evaluation and for purposes of development, manufacturing qualification and product testing.

The Company competes with Eastman Kodak Company (Kodak), Cambridge Display Technology, Ltd. (CDT), Sumitomo Chemical Company (Sumitomo), Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. (Idemitsu Kosan), Merck KGaA and BASF Corporation.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Anders Bylund]

    All the really hot names are relative upstarts, according to market analyst Strategy Analytics.�It seems clear that the gold rush in the smartphone era is coming to an end. In this video, Fool contributor Anders Bylund walks you through the signs of a coming revolution, and makes an educated guess at what might be next. Spoiler alert: This could be a great time to invest in bleeding-edge component makers like Universal Display (NASDAQ: OLED  ) .

  • [By John Udovich]

    Small cap display stock SGOCO Group Ltd (NASDAQ: SGOC) just sank 27.89% after reporting earnings, meaning its worth taking a closer look at it along with some other innovative display stocks like�Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) and Universal Display Corporation (NASDAQ: OLED). After all, just about every new consumer gadget along with cars and even appliances are incorporating display technology. I should also mention that we have had Corning Incorporated in our SmallCap Network Elite Opportunity (SCN EO) portfolio since early December (we are up around 29.20%) as we believe the company is in the sweet spot for next generation flexible screens and mobile wearables.

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