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.
Top 5 Freight Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Unilever NV (UNA)
Unilever N.V. (NV) is a supplier of fast moving consumer goods. The two parent companies, NV and Unilever PLC (PLC), together with their group companies, operate as the Unilever Group (Unilever). The Company�� four product areas are Personal Care, Foods, Refreshment and Home Care. The Company's personal care, which includes sales of skincare and haircare products, deodorants and oral care products; foods, which includes sales of soups, bouillons, sauces, snacks, mayonnaise, salad dressings, margarines and spreads; refreshment, which includes sales of ice cream, tea-based beverages, weight-management products and nutritionally enhanced staples sold in developing markets and home care, which includes sales of home care products, such as laundry tablets, powders and liquids, soap bars and a range of cleaning products. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Inyoung Hwang]
Unilever (UNA) slipped 2.8 percent to 27.94 euros after saying sales growth slowed as trading in emerging markets deteriorated at a faster rate. Underlying group sales for the three months will rise 3 percent to 3.5 percent, the maker of Lipton tea and Dove soap said late yesterday in a statement. That compares with 5 percent growth in both the first half and second quarter.
- [By Adi Narayan]
Unilever (UNA) fell short on its public offer to raise its majority holding in Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (HUVR) to 75 percent, ending up with about a two-thirds stake after some shareholders of the Mumbai-based company opted not to sell.
Top 10 Safest Stocks For 2014: Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc.(CBRL)
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the development and operation of the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store restaurant and retail concept in the United States. Its restaurants provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The company?s gift shops offer various decorative and functional items, such as rocking chairs, holiday and seasonal gifts, apparel, toys, music CD?s, cookware, old-fashioned-looking ceramics, figurines, a book-on-audio sale-and-exchange program, and various other gift items, as well as candies, preserves, pies, cornbread mixes, coffee, syrups, pancake mixes, and other food items. As of November 22, 2011, it operated 608 company-owned locations in 42 states. The company was formerly known as CBRL Group, Inc. and changed its name to Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. in December 2008. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Lebanon, Tennessee.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Shauna O'Brien]
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (CBRL) shares dropped over 4% on Wednesday morning after the company reported lower fourth quarter earnings and a weak outlook for its first quarter.
The Lebanon, TN-based company reported fourth quarter earnings of $34.3 million, or $1.43 per share, down slightly from $34.7 million, or $1.47 per share, a year ago. On average, analysts expected to see earnings of $1.35 per share.
Total revenue fell to $646.1 million from $700.01 million last year. Analysts expected to see revenue of $668.68 million.
Cracker Barrel President and CEO Sandra Cochran commented: “The fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 represents the seventh consecutive quarter of year-over-year improvement in comparable store traffic, restaurant sales, and retail sales. The financial results of the fourth quarter and full year reflect the effective execution of our strategic plan. As we begin our 2014 fiscal year, we are poised to capitalize on the achievements of fiscal 2013.”
For FY2013, CBRL’s earnings rose 14% to $117.27 million, while EPS rose to $4.90 per share. On an adjusted basis, earnings were $4.97 per share, up 15% from the year prior. Total revenue for the year was $2.64 billion, up 3% from a year ago.
Looking forward, the company expects to see first quarter earnings between $1.05 and $1.15 per share. This estimate would fall significantly below the average analyst estimate of $1.32 per share.
For FY2014, the company expects EPS in the range of $5.60 to $5.80 and revenue between $2.7 billion and $2.75 billion. Analysts expect to see earnings of $5.69 per share and $2.74 billion in revenue.
Cracker Barrel shares were down $4.70, or 4.39%, during Wednesday morning trading. The stock is up 59% YTD.
- [By Laura Brodbeck]
Wednesday
Earnings Expected: Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBRL), FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX), Lennar Corporation (NYSE: LEN), United Natural Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ: UNFI) Economic Releases Expected: British unemployment rate, Eurozone CPI, U.S. CPI, U.S. current account, Japanese trade balanceThursday
Top 10 Safest Stocks For 2014: Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. (HII)
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. designs, builds, overhauls, and repairs ships primarily for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. It offers nuclear-powered ships, such as aircraft carriers and submarines; and non-nuclear ships, including surface combatants, expeditionary warfare/amphibious assault, coastal defense surface ships, and national security cutters, as well as engages in the refueling and overhaul, and inactivation of nuclear-powered ships. The company also operates as a full-service systems provider for the design, engineering, construction, and life cycle support of major programs for surface ships; and a provider of fleet support and maintenance services for the U.S. Navy. In addition, it provides a range of support services, including fabrication, construction, equipment, and technical services, as well as product sales to commercial nuclear power plants, fossil power plants, and other industrial facilities, as well as government customers. The company is based in Newport News, Virginia.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Smith]
Following up on a $65 million contract award to fund purchases of "long lead material" in early March, and a further $407.4 million awarded a couple of weeks later, the Department of Defense modified its contract with Huntington Ingalls (NYSE: HII ) yet again on Monday.
- [By Rich Smith]
Captain Kirk has left the bridge
As one new sub enters the lineup, however, an aircraft carrier is leaving it. On Friday, DoD confirmed that it is proceeding with plans to defuel, retire, and disassemble the USS Enterprise -- America's first, and longest-serving nuclear aircraft carrier. Huntington Ingalls (NYSE: HII ) has received a $745 million contract to begin work on the removal of fuel from the carrier's eight nuclear reactors. Once this work is done, the Enterprise will be towed to its final berth at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, there to be disassembled and sold for scrap.�
Top 10 Safest Stocks For 2014: PowerShares Dynamic Large Cap Growth Portfolio (PWB)
PowerShares Dynamic Large Cap Growth Portfolio (the Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of an equity index called the Dynamic Large Cap Growth Intellidex Index (the Intellidex). The Fund will normally invest at least 80% of its assets in common stocks of large-cap companies. A company is considered to be a large-cap company if it falls within the Intellidex model. The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its total assets in common stocks that comprise the Intellidex. The Intellidex consists of 50 United States large-cap growth stocks selected principally on the basis of their capital appreciation potential as identified by the AMEX (the Intellidex Provider) pursuant to its Intellidex methodology.
The Fund, using an indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate the performance of the Intellidex. The Fund generally will invest in all of the stocks comprising the Intellidex in proportion to their weightings in the Intellidex. The Fund�� investment advisor is PowerShares Capital Management LLC.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Paul Ausick]
Two ETFs to watch are Guggenheim Solar (NYSEMKT: TAN), which is up more than 80% so far this year, and PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy (NYSEMKT: PWB), up more than 40%. Both are less liquid than the company shares and their gains have been smaller, but both should do well if the solar stocks keep running up.
Top 10 Safest Stocks For 2014: NK Lukoil OAO (LKOH)
NK Lukoil OAO (Neftyanaya Kompaniya LUKOIL OAO or NK LUKOIL OJSC) is a Russia-based integrated oil and gas company. The Company is engaged in the business of oil exploration, production, refining, marketing and distribution. It is an owner of refineries, gas processing, petrochemical plants and gas stations network located in Russia, Eastern and Western Europe, as well as Africa. The Company�� petroleum products are sold in the Russian Federation, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, Eastern and Western Europe, Asia and the United States. NK Lukoil OAO operates through numerous subsidiaries and affiliated companies. In April 2013, the Company acquired a 100% of Samara-Nafta ZAO and completed acquisition of CJSC Kama-Oil. In June 2013, it sold a 99.57% stake in Lukoil Odes'kyi NPZ PAT. The Company�� major shareholder is NKO ZAO NRD with a stake of 91.60%. In December 2013, it consolidated a 100% stake in ISAB Srl. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Julia Leite]
Brazil�� Ibovespa (IBOV) fell to a six-week low, while the real slid to its weakest level in four years, spurring central bank intervention. Housing Development Finance Corp. drove India�� S&P BSE Sensex down, while the rupee completed its worst month in a year. OAO Lukoil (LKOH), Russia�� second-largest oil producer, slipped 2.3 percent as crude slumped.
Top 10 Safest Stocks For 2014: Culp Inc (CFI)
Culp, Inc., incorporated on March 16, 1972, manufactures, sources, and markets mattress fabrics used for covering mattresses, box springs, and foundations and upholstery fabrics primarily for use in production of upholstered furniture. The Company operates in two segments: mattress fabrics and upholstery fabrics. The mattress fabric business markets woven and knitted fabrics, and sewn covers made from those fabrics, which are used primarily in the production of bedding products, including mattresses, box springs, and foundations. The upholstery fabric business markets a variety of fabric products that are used in the production of upholstered furniture, such as, sofas, recliners, chairs, loveseats, sectionals, and sofa-beds. The Company markets a variety of fabrics in different categories to its global customer base, including fabrics produced at the Company's manufacturing facilities and fabrics produced by other suppliers.
The Company markets products primarily to manufacturers that operate in two principal markets. The mattress fabrics segment supplies the bedding industry, which produces mattress sets (mattresses, box springs, and foundations). The upholstery fabrics segment supplies the residential furniture industry. As of April 28, 2013, the Company had fourteen active manufacturing plants and distribution facilities, which are located in North and South Carolina; Quebec, Canada; Shanghai, China; and Poznan, Poland. The Company also sources fabrics from other manufacturers, located mostly in China and Turkey, with those fabrics being produced specifically for the Company and created by its designers. The Company operates distribution centers in North Carolina and Shanghai, China to facilitate distribution of its products, and a distribution facility in Poznan, Poland.
Mattress Fabrics
The Company�� mattress fabrics segment, also known as Culp Home Fashions, manufactures and markets mattress fabric to bedding manufacturers. These fabrics encompass woven! jacquard fabrics, knitted fabrics, and some converted fabrics. Culp Home Fashions has manufacturing facilities located in Stokesdale and High Point, North Carolina, and St. Jerome, Quebec, Canada. One Stokesdale plant and the St. Jerome plant both manufacture and finish jacquard (damask) fabric. Its products include woven jacquards, which include various patterns and intricate designs, Converted, which includes suedes, pile and embroidered fabrics, and Knitted Fabric, which includes various patterns and intricate designs produced on special-width circular knit machines utilizing a variety of synthetic and natural yarns.
Upholstery Fabrics
The Company�� upholstery fabrics segment markets fabrics for residential furniture, including synthetic leathers, velvets, woven jacquards, woven dobbies, and suedes. This segment operates fabric manufacturing facilities in Anderson, South Carolina, and Shanghai, China. The Company markets fabrics produced in these two locations, as well as a variety of upholstery fabrics sourced from third party producers, mostly in China. Its products include Synthetic Leathers, which includes composite products which are face finished with polyurethane, either by printing or coating, velvets, woven jacquards, and suedes.
The Company competes with Bekaert Textiles B.V., Global Textile Alliance, Richloom Fabrics, Merrimack Fabrics, Morgan Fabrics, and Specialty Textile, Inc.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Monica Gerson]
Culp (NYSE: CFI) is estimated to post its Q1 earnings at $0.35 per share on revenue of $74.39 million.
Esterline Technologies (NYSE: ESL) is expected to post its Q3 earnings at $1.40 per share on revenue of $516.57 million.
Top 10 Safest Stocks For 2014: Homex Development Corp (HOMEX*)
Desarrolladora Homex SAB de CV is a Mexico-based homebuilding company. Together with its subsidiaries, the Company is mainly engaged in the promotion, design, development, construction and sale of affordable entry level and middle income residential housing. The Company has four divisions: the Mexico Division; the International Division; the Infrastructure Division, and the Tourism Division. To carry out its activities, the Company engages in land acquisition, obtaining permits and licenses, designing, constructing, marketing and selling homes, obtaining individual financing for its customers and developing communities to satisfy housing needs in Mexico. The Company participates in housing supply offers from the main housing funds in Mexico. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Julia Leite]
Industrias CH gained 7.9 percent to 85.55 pesos today. Homex (HOMEX*) climbed 5.4 percent to 8.16 pesos, extending this week�� gains to 16 percent. Urbi gained 7.2 percent to 2.37 pesos today, advancing 16 percent in the past five days. Corp. Geo gained 1.5 percent today to 5.55 pesos, climbing 14 percent for the week.
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