Top Defensive Stocks To Own Right Now

In order to estimate likely returns and risks in the financial markets, our general approach is to identify a set of historical instances that match current conditions on a broad range of important dimensions (in practice, using an "ensemble approach" that randomizes over scores of subsets of historical data). We then look at various features of that cluster, including the average return that followed over various horizons, the deepest loss over various horizons, and the overall spread of those outcomes. In general, the clusters include a mix of both positive and negative outcomes, resulting in moderate estimates of expected return and moderate estimates of risk. In some cases, the average return across the cluster of instances is very positive, and the individual instances show few negative outcomes at all. That sort of condition justifies a very aggressive investment position. In contrast, since the late-1990's, the average returns of the clusters have been quite poor, with a preponderance of negative outcomes in historical instances having similar characteristics. There have been a few exceptions, including the bulk of 2003 (and on the basis of the ensemble methods we presently use, the period between early-2009 and early 2010 - see Notes on Risk Management for details on our unpleasant "miss" during that period). But generally speaking, market conditions since the late-1990's have supported a defensive investment stance much more often than is typical on a historical basis. Of course, the near-zero total return of the S&P 500 since the late-1990's, coupled with two separate market losses of more than 50%, is a reflection that on average, concerns about poor return and high risk during this period have been well-placed.

Top Long Term Stocks To Buy For 2015: Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc (KKD)

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. (Krispy Kreme), December 02, 1999, is a retailer and wholesaler of doughnuts complementary beverages and treats and packaged sweets. The Company�� principal business is owning and franchising Krispy Kreme stores, at which a variety of doughnuts, including the Company�� Original Glazed doughnut, are sold and distributed together with complementary products, and where a broad array of coffees and other beverages are offered. As of February 3, 2013, there were 239 Krispy Kreme stores operated domestically in 38 states and in the District of Columbia, and there were 509 shops in 21 other countries around the world. Of the 748 total stores, 295 were factory stores and 453 were satellites. The Company operates in four segments: Company Stores, domestic franchise stores, international franchise stores, and the KK Supply Chain.

Company Stores

Its Company Stores segment consists of the operating activities of its Company-owned stores. These stores sell doughnuts and complementary products through the on-premises and wholesale channels. Many of the doughnut varieties the Company offers in its doughnut shops also are distributed, through off-premises sales channels. In addition, it offers a number of products through off-premises channels, including honeybuns, fruit pies, mini-crullers, cupcakes and various chocolate enrobed products, generally packaged as individually wrapped snacks or packaged in snack bags. Krispy Kreme has a beverage program, which includes drip coffees, both coffee-based and noncoffee-based frozen drinks, juices, sodas, milks, water and packaged and fountain beverages. In addition, the Company also develops beverages such as espresso, cappuccino and hot chocolate.

Domestic Franchise

The Domestic Franchise segment consists of the Company�� domestic store franchise operations. This segment derives revenue principally from initial development and franchise fees related to new stores and from royalties on sa! les by franchise stores. As of February 3, 2013, there were 142 domestic franchise stores in 29 states, consisting of 99 factory and 43 satellite stores.

International Franchise

The International Franchise segment consists of the Company�� international store franchise operations. International franchise stores sell doughnuts and complementary products almost exclusively through the on-premises sales channel using shop formats similar to those used in the United States, and also using a kiosk format. A portion of sales by the franchisees in Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia are made to wholesale customers. As of February 3, 2013, there were 509 international franchise shops in 21 countries, consisting of 120 factory stores and 389 satellite shops.

KK Supply Chain Business Segment

The Company operates an integrated supply chain. The KK Supply Chain segment buys and processes ingredients it uses to produce doughnut mixes and manufactures doughnut-making equipment that all factory stores are required to purchase. The Company manufactures doughnut mixes at its facility in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In addition to traditional doughnut mixes and mixes made from mix concentrate, the Company produces or manages the production of doughnut premix, which is used to produce doughnut mixes in certain international locations. The KK Supply Chain segment also purchases and sells supplies, including icings and fillings, other food ingredients, juices, signage, display cases, uniforms and other items to both Company and franchisee-owned stores.

The Company competes with Dolly Madison, Entenmann��, Hostess, Little Debbie, and Sara Lee.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Brendan Conway]

  Krispy Kreme Doughnuts’ (KKD) stock has slumped Friday after the chain missed Wall Street’s profit forecasts.�But�Janney Capital Markets�is urging clients to take another bite.

  Direct operating expenses were a factor in the final 2Q earnings of 14 cents per share — those costs rose 9.5%. Investors were also met with a disappointing 13% drop in foreign sales. This morning’s media coverage, meanwhile, has focused on the apparent costliness of expanding internationally. “That’s important for a company where its strategy has been to diversify abroad especially to Asia,” writes�Miller Tabak & Co. strategist�Andrew Wilkinson.

  The Wall Street Journal’s Tom Di Fonzo

  None of that is the focus Friday for Janney’s Mark Kalinowski and Amy Babington, who were impressed with the 10% same-store-sales growth in domestic company-owned stores. As they wrote in a client note:

  Domestic same-store sales trends�remain highly encouraging, with fiscal Q2 comps up by +10.0% for company-owned�stores (just below our ��igh on the sell-side��estimate of +10.5%), and by +11.5% for�franchised outlets (above our ��igh on the sell-side��projection of +10.5%). In�addition, Krispy Kreme reveals that for the first three weeks of fiscal Q3 (essentially�August/September/October), same-store sales for U.S. company-owned stores were�+5%, +12%, and flat, respectively ��suggesting a nearly +6% type trend to start fiscal�Q3.

  KKD is down more than 14% to $19.95 in Friday afternoon trading. Dunkin’ Brands Group (DNKN), by comparison, has fallen 0.1% to $43.04.

• [By Chris Hill]

  Krispy Kreme's (NYSE: KKD  ) 1st-quarter profits rise 33%, and shares hit a nine-year high. Guess? (NYSE: GES  ) moves higher on stronger-than-expected first-quarter profits. AIG (NYSE: AIG  ) stumbles after missing a payment deadline. And Lions Gate Entertainment (NYSE: LGF  ) reports strong fourth-quarter results, fueled by strong home-video sales of the Twilight�series. In this installment of Investor Beat, Motley Fool analysts Ron Gross and Charly Travers discuss four stocks making big moves.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Chipotle has gained 2.1% to $427.90, the second best performer in the S&P 500, while Panera has dropped 2.8% to $159.47, and underperforming�Jack in the Box (JACK), which has dipped 0.3% to $39.98, Krispy Kreme (KKD), which has fallen 2% to $19.43, and Starbucks (SBUX), which is off 0.5% at $76.98.

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Notable earnings reports currently on tap for next week: Qihu 360 Technology Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: QIHU), Avago Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: AVGO), LDK Solar Co. Ltd. (NYSE: LDK), Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF), Joy Global Inc. (NYSE: JOY), Campbell Soup Co. (NYSE: CPB), JA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: JASO), Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. (NYSE: KKD), and ReneSola Ltd. (NYSE: SOL).

Top Defensive Stocks To Own Right Now: DigitalGlobe Inc (DGI)

DigitalGlobe, Inc. provides commercial earth imagery products and information services worldwide. It collects imagery products and services through its QuickBird, WorldView-1, and WorldView-2 satellites, as well as aerial and satellite imagery from third party suppliers. The company offers a range of online and offline distribution options, including desktop software applications; Web services, which provide direct online access to the company�s image library; file transfer protocol; physical media, such as CD, DVD, and hard drive; and direct access program that facilitates certain customers to task and download data from its WorldView-1 and WorldView-2 satellites. Its imagery products and services support various uses, including defense, intelligence and homeland security, mapping and analysis, environmental monitoring, oil and gas exploration, and infrastructure management. DigitalGlobe, Inc. serves defense contractors; civil government agencies; providers of location-b ased services; and various companies in energy, telecommunications, utility, forestry, mining, financial services, environmental, and agricultural industries through direct and indirect channels. The company was formerly known as EarthWatch, Incorporated and changed its name to DigitalGlobe, Inc. in August 2002. DigitalGlobe, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Longmont, Colorado. DigitalGlobe, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Maxx Chatsko]

  The second well-researched pick that worked out in the long run was satellite manufacturer GeoEye. After a few balks, the company was acquired by DigitalGlobe (NYSE: DGI  ) . Similar to Hess, GeoEye was caught in a temporary downturn caused by short-term-minded investors. The company still held the highest-resolution commercial remote-sensing satellite and, despite having a smaller geospatial archive than DigitalGlobe, was 3.6 times more efficient in turning its imagery into revenue. The company was trading at $19 per share 13 months ago, but ended life as an independent company at over $35 per share.

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Telecommunications services shares dropped about 0.48 percent in trading on Friday. Top decliners in the sector included DigitalGlobe (NYSE: DGI), down 5.7 percent, and NQ Mobile (NYSE: NQ), off 3.6 percent.

Top Defensive Stocks To Own Right Now: G&K Services Inc (GK)

G&K Services, Inc., incorporated on December 1, 1934, provides branded uniform and facility services programs. The Company serves a base of approximately 170,000 customers. The Company serves customers in all industries, including automotive, warehousing, distribution, transportation, energy, manufacturing, food processing, pharmaceutical, retail, restaurants, hospitality, government, healthcare and many others. The Company provides service to customers of almost every size, from Fortune 100 companies to small and midsize firms. The Company has one million people within its customer base who wear G&K work apparel every work day. In January 2014, the Company announced that it has sold its direct sale program business.

The Company's customer focused relationships involve customers renting or directly purchasing uniforms and providing facility products and services to meet a variety of critical needs in the workplace, including Image, Organization safety and security, Brand awareness, Employee retention, Employee protection and Product protection. The Company also offers facility services programs that provide a range of dust control, maintenance, hand care and hygiene products and services. They include floor mat offerings (traction control, logo, message, scraper, anti-fatigue), towel products (shop, kitchen, bar, bath, dish, continuous roll, microfiber), mop offerings (dust, microfiber, wet), fender covers, selected linen items and restroom hygiene products. The Company's providing of regularly scheduled weekly service of these products and services helps the Company's customers maintain a clean, safe and attractive environment within their facilities for their employees and customers.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Calling all cash flows
  When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on G&K Services (Nasdaq: GK  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

Top Defensive Stocks To Own Right Now: World Energy Solutions Inc(DE)

World Energy Solutions, Inc. provides a range of energy management solutions to commercial and industrial businesses, institutions, utilities, and governments. It offers technology-enabled solutions, such as online audits of facilities to identify retrofit options and project management services for retrofit implementation, as well as cross-selling opportunities for commodity auctions. The company primarily focuses on retail and wholesale energy procurement clients via its online auction platforms, including the World Energy Exchange, the World Green Exchange, and the World DR Exchange. The World Energy Exchange enables energy consumers in North America to negotiate for the purchase or sale of electricity, natural gas, and other energy resources from energy suppliers who have agreed to participate on auction platform. The World Green Exchange enables buyers and sellers to negotiate for the purchase or sale of environmental commodities, such as renewable energy certificates , verified emissions reductions, and certified emissions reductions. The World DR Exchange enables curtailment service providers and energy consumers to negotiate in structured auction events designed to yield price transparency. The company was formerly known as World Energy Exchange, Inc. World Energy Solutions, Inc. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Bieglmeier]

  Deere & Company (DE) plans to announce third quarter results on Wednesday, November 20, 2013, at approximately 9:00 a.m. CT.

  Wall Street anticipates that the heavy equipment maker will make a profit of $1.89 per share for the quarter. iStock expects the Deere to beat Wall Street's consensus number. The iEstimate is $1.95.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Caterpillar’s 2% gain has trumped the Dow Jones Industrial Average’s 0.04% rise, and United Technology’s (UTX) 0.1% drop, while competitor Deere (DE) has gained 1.9% to $83.22.

Top Defensive Stocks To Own Right Now: Lantrovision(s)

Lantrovision (S) Ltd engages in the design, installation, supply, and provision of consultancy services on network integration and structured cabling. It is involved in the design and installation of computer cabling, as well as the trade of related accessories and peripherals; provision of cabling infrastructure services; sale of cabling accessories; and provision of system integration and network infrastructure services, as well as offers installation, maintenance, and support services for structured cabling systems and components. The company also engages in the structure, design, installation, and consultation of network system with computer communication technology. In addition, it manufactures and sells structuralized cable laying system and multimedia technology; trades in computer peripherals, electronic components, and products for various applications, planners, consultants, advisors, and managers in relation to computer services; and supplies data backup and ret rieval systems. Further, the company provides solutions for testing, monitoring, and analyzing enterprise and telecommunication networks; and contracting services for voice, data, and telecommunication. It primarily operates in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, and Korea, as well as in Thailand and the Philippines. The company was founded in 1990 and is based in Singapore.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tess Stynes]

  Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Monday’s session are Sprint Corp.(S), American International Group Inc.(AIG)�and Solta Medical Inc.(SLTM)

Top Defensive Stocks To Own Right Now: Hospira Inc (HSP)

Hospira, Inc. (Hospira), incorporated on September 16, 2003, is a provider of injectable drugs and infusion technologies. Hospira's portfolio includes generic acute-care and oncology injectables, as well as integrated infusion therapy and medication management products. Hospira's portfolio of products is used by hospitals and alternate site providers, such as clinics, home healthcare providers and long-term care facilities. Hospira conducts operations worldwide and is managed in three reportable segments: Americas; Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and Asia Pacific (APAC). The Americas segment includes the United States, Canada and Latin America; the EMEA segment includes Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and the APAC segment includes Asia, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. In all segments, Hospira sells a line of products, including specialty injectable and other pharmaceuticals and medication management products.

Specialty Injectable Pharmaceuticals

Hospira's specialty injectable pharmaceutical products consist of generic injectable pharmaceuticals. The other drugs' therapeutic areas include analgesia, anesthesia, anti-infectives, cardiovascular, oncology, and other areas. All of Hospira's generic injectable pharmaceuticals in the United States include unit-of-use bar-code labels that can be used to support medication delivery. Hospira primarily procures the active pharmaceutical ingredients in these products from third-party suppliers. During the year ended December 31, 2011, Hospira portfolio included 87 injectable drug launches consisting of 13 compounds. Among these launches included, in the United States, docetaxel (an oncolytic drug used to treat a variety of cancers), topotecan (an oncolytic drug used for the treatment of small cell lung cancer) and imipenem-cilastatin (a beta-lactam antibiotic). Hospira also launched a solution formulation of gemcitabine (an oncolytic drug used to treat a variety of cancers), which augmented Hospira's portfolio of gemcitabin! e products. New-to-country launches in EMEA in 2011, included topotecan, meropenem, gemcitabine, imipenem-cilastatin, remifentanil, docetaxel and levofloxacin. New-to-country launches in APAC in 2011, included docetaxel, piperacillin tazobactam, oxaliplatin, meropenem and gemcitabine. Hospira's specialty injectable pharmaceutical products also include Precedex (dexmedetomidine HCl), a sedative. Precedex is licensed to Hospira by Orion Corporation in the Americas and APAC segments, and in the Middle East and Africa.

Hospira sells and markets Precedex for use in non-intubated patients requiring sedation, as well as intubated and mechanically ventilated patients. Hospira's specialty injectable pharmaceuticals also include biologic products, which are molecules derived from cells that are demonstrated to be similar to an approved originator product. Hospira's biosimilar, Retacrit, was available in 20 EMEA countries during 2011. Its second biosimilar, Nivestim, was launched during the year ended December 31, 2010, and was available in 21 countries, including Australia, where the biosimilar filgrastim product was launched in 2011. Hospira's drug delivery formats include offerings in ampules and flip-top vials, which clinicians can use with standard syringes. Hospira's drug delivery options include Carpuject and iSecure prefilled syringes, AnsyrTM prefilled needleless emergency syringe systems, First Choice ready-to-use premix and the ADD-Vantage system for preparing drug solutions from prepackaged drug powders or concentrates.

Other Pharmaceuticals

Hospira's other pharmaceuticals primarily consist of intravenous (I.V.) solutions, nutritionals and contract manufacturing services. Hospira offers infusion therapy solutions and related supplies that include I.V. solutions for general use, I.V. nutrition products, and solutions for the washing and cleansing of wounds or surgical sites. All of Hospira's injectable I.V. solutions in the United States include unit-of-use bar-c! ode label! s that can be used to support medication management efforts. Hospira also offers infusion therapy solutions in its VisIV non-PVC, non-DEHP I.V. container, an I.V. bag. Hospira's contract manufacturing services are offered through its One2One services group, which provides formulation development, filling and finishing of injectable and oral drugs worldwide. Hospira works with its pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers to develop injectable forms of their drugs, and Hospira fills and finishes those and other drugs into containers and packaging selected by the customer. The customer then sells the finished products under its own label. Hospira's One2One manufacturing services group generally does not manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients, but offers a range of filling and finishing services in a variety of delivery systems.

Medication Management

Medication management products include electronic drug delivery pumps, safety software and disposable administration sets dedicated to Hospira pumps. These sets are used to deliver I.V. fluids and medications. Hospira also offers software maintenance agreements and other service offerings. Hospira's electronic drug delivery pumps include Hospira's general infusion system, Symbiq; the Plum A+ line of infusion pumps; Hospira's patient-controlled analgesia device, LifeCare PCA; the GemStar ambulatory infusion pump; and the Plum XLD infusion pump. Hospira offers the Hospira MedNet safety software system, which has been designed to enable hospitals to customize intravenous drug dosage limits and track drug delivery to prevent medication errors. The wireless network version of the Hospira MedNet system establishes real-time send-and-receive capability and can interface with select hospital and pharmacy information systems. The Hospira MedNet system is standard in the Symbiq infusion system, and is also available as an additional feature for the Plum A+ line, and LifeCare PCA devices. Hospira also offers safety software with its Ge! mStar pum! p.

Medication management includes TheraDoc, Inc. products, which are module-based clinical surveillance systems that provide patient safety surveillance and clinical decision support. Medication management also includes gravity administration sets and other device products, including needlestick safety products and programs to support Hospira's customers' needlestick prevention initiatives. LifeShield CLAVE and LifeShield MicroCLAVE connectors are one-piece valves that directly connect syringes filled with medications to a patient's I.V. line without the use of needles. ICU Medical's CLAVE connectors are a component of administration sets sold by Hospira to its customers in the United States and select markets outside the United States.

The Company competes with Baxter International Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim, Fresenius Kabi, Pfizer, Sandoz, Sanofi, Teva Pharmaceuticals, B. Braun Melsungen AG, CareFusion, Terumo, Actavis, Intas Pharmaceuticals, Ltd, Medac GmbH, Mylan Inc., Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. and Aspen.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonas Elmerraji]

  Pharmaceutical firm Hospira (HSP) hasn't done much since July; shares have been trading sideways for months now. But even though Hospira hasn't really participated in the recent rally, there's still a trade to be made here.

  Hospira is currently forming a rectangle pattern, a price setup that's formed by a horizontal resistance level above shares at $42 and another horizontal support level down at $38.50. The rectangle gets its name because it essentially "boxes in" shares. The high-probability trade comes when HSP exits its channel -- a move through $42 is a buy signal, whereas a drop below $38.50 is a signal to sell.

  Whenever you're looking at any technical price pattern, it's critical to think in terms of those buyers and sellers. Rectangles, triangles, and other pattern names are a good quick way to explain what's going on in a stock, but they're not the reason it's tradable. Instead, it all comes down to supply and demand for shares.

  That $42 resistance level, for example, is a price where there has been an excess of supply of shares; in other words, it's a place where sellers have been more eager to step in and take gains than buyers have been to buy. That's what makes a breakout above it so significant -- the move means that buyers are finally strong enough to absorb all of the excess supply above that price level.

  Sit on the sidelines until HSP breaks outside of the rectangle.

• [By Holly LaFon]

  Company % of Assets Pepsico (PEP) 3.4 Philip Morris (PM) 2.3 Tesco PLC ADR (TSCO) 2.1 Molson Coors Brewing (TAP) 2.1 Microsoft (MSFT) 1.9 Merck (MRK) 1.9 Procter & Gamble (PG) 1.8 Avon Products (AVN) 1.6 Wal��art (WMT) 1.6 Medtronic 1.6 Hospira (HSP) 1.5 BP (BP) 1.4 Medco Health Solutions (MHS) 1.3 Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) 1.3 Unilever NV (UL) 1.3
  Jeff is also optimistic about natural gas and believes the recession in Europe could be setting up "a generational buying opportunity."

• [By Saumya Vaishampayan]

  Hospira Inc. (HSP) �shares gained 7%. The company on Wednesday posted a 58% surge in third-quarter profit as revenue edged up 1.4%, with adjusted profit and sales beating expectations.