The crunch is pushing up freight rates, costs that are likely to be passed on to consumers in higher retail prices.
Last month, trucking industry employment hit a six-year high of 1.4 million as carriers added 6,800 workers, the most since April 2013. The economy is picking up and businesses may still have been catching up after bad weather delayed deliveries early this year. But the job gains are at least partly fueled by the need for more drivers to offset the reduced hours, industry officials say.
"The government has forced drivers into basically a five-day work week," says David Osiecki, head of legislative affairs for the American Trucking Associations.
5 Best Shipping Stocks To Own For 2016: Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. (BIO)
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. manufactures and supplies the life science research, healthcare, analytical chemistry, and other markets worldwide with a range of products and systems used to separate complex chemical and biological materials and to identify, analyze, and purify their components. It operates in two segments, Life Science and Clinical Diagnostics. The Life Science segment develops, manufactures, sells, and services reagents, apparatus, and instruments used for biological research. This segment sells its products to university and medical school laboratories, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, food testing laboratories, and government and industrial research facilities. The Clinical Diagnostics segment develops, manufactures, sells, and services automated test systems, informatics systems, test kits, and specialized quality controls for the healthcare market. This segment sells its products to reference laboratories, hospital laboratories, screening faci lities, physicians? office laboratories, transfusion laboratories, and insurance and forensic testing laboratories. The company was founded in 1952 and is headquartered in Hercules, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Victor Selva]
Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. (BIO) is a manufacturer and distributor of its own life science research and clinical diagnostics products. The company has two primary segments: Life Science and Clinical Diagnostics. The company sells its products and services to a diverse client base comprised of scientific research, healthcare, education and government customers.
- [By Seth Jayson]
Bio-Rad Laboratories (NYSE: BIO ) reported earnings on May 7. Here are the numbers you need to know.
The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Bio-Rad Laboratories met expectations on revenues and whiffed on earnings per share.
Best Trucking Stocks To Invest In Right Now: EXCO Resources NL(XCO)
EXCO Resources, Inc., an independent oil and natural gas company, engages in the exploration, exploitation, development, and production of onshore North American oil and natural gas properties with a focus on shale resource plays. The company holds interests in various projects located in East Texas, North Louisiana, Appalachia, and the Permian Basin in west Texas. As of December 31, 2010, it had proved reserves of approximately 1.5 trillion cubic feet equivalent; and operated 7,276 wells. The company was founded in 1955 and is based in Dallas, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Arjun Sreekumar]
In Pennsylvania, for instance, several hundred wells have been drilled but not completed because the takeaway capacity to get their production to market simply isn't there. Several operators have been forced to drastically reduce their rig counts in the region. For instance, both EXCO Resources (NYSE: XCO ) and Talisman Energy (NYSE: TLM ) have just one rig each remaining in the Marcellus.
Best Trucking Stocks To Invest In Right Now: W. R. Grace & Co (GRA)
W.R. Grace & Co. (Grace), incorporated on August 6, 1997, is engaged in the production and sale of specialty chemicals and specialty materials on a global basis. The Company operates in three segments: Grace Catalysts Technologies; Grace Materials Technologies; and Grace Construction Products. Grace Catalysts Technologies will include catalysts and related technologies used in refining, petrochemical and other chemical manufacturing applications. Grace's Advanced Refining Technologies LLC (ART) joint venture will be managed in this segment. Grace Materials Technologies will include engineered materials, coatings and sealants used in industrial, consumer, pharmaceutical and packaging applications. Grace Construction Products will include specialty construction chemicals and specialty building materials used in commercial, infrastructure and residential construction. The Company conducts business in over 40 countries. In July 2012, the Company acquired Rheoset Industria e Comercio de Aditivos Ltda. In November 2012, the Company acquired the assets of Noblestar Catalysts Co., Ltd. In April 2013, it acquired Chemind Construction Products. In December 2013, the Company announced that it has completed the acquisition of the assets of the Polypropylene Licensing and Catalysts business of The Dow Chemical Company.
Refining Technologies
The Company is engaged in developing and manufacturing fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts and additives for petroleum refiners. Grace markets hydroprocessing catalysts primarily through ART, its joint venture with Chevron Products Company (Chevron). The Company established ART to combine its technology with that of Chevron and to develop, market and sell hydroprocessing catalysts to customers in the petroleum refining industry worldwide. Grace is a supplier of hydroprocessing catalysts designed for processing these feedstocks. The Company offers products for fixed-bed resid hydrotreating, on-stream catalyst replacement, ebullating-bed resid hydro! cracking and distillate hydrotreating processes. It also offers a full line of catalysts, customized for individual refiners, used in processing ultra-low sulfur content gasoline and diesel fuel, including its SMART Catalyst System and ApART catalyst system.
Grace provides enabling technologies that are silica- and silica-alumina-based functional additives and process aids, such as silica gel, colloidal silica, zeolitic adsorbents, precipitated silica and silica-aluminas, for a range of applications. The Company��s product portfolio includes PERKASIL, LUDOX, PHONOSORB, PHONOSORB MTX, SYLOBEAD, SYLOSIV, CRYOSIV, SAFETYSORB, PoliEdge, SYLODENT, SYLOID FP, SYLOBLANC, ELFADENT, SYLOID, DARACLAR, TriSyl, SHIELDEX, SYLOWHITE, SYLOJET, DURAFILL, LUDOX, DAREX, DARAFORM, DARASEAL, DARABLEND, Sincera, Celox, Apperta, Sistiaga, and SAFETYSORB.
Specialty Technologies
The Company is a provider of catalyst systems and catalyst supports to the polyolefins industry for a variety of polyethylene and polypropylene process technologies. These types of catalysts are used for the manufacture of polyethylene and polypropylene resins used in products such as plastic film, high-performance plastic pipe, automobile parts, household appliances and household containers. Its Magnapore polymerization catalyst is used to produce high performance polyethylene in the slurry loop process for pipe and film applications. Its POLYTRAK polymerization catalyst is used in automobile bumpers and household appliances. The Company's DAVICAT standard and customized catalysts offer a range of chemical and physical properties based on its material science technology for supported catalysts, polystyrene, herbicide, neutriceuticals and on purpose olefins. The Company's RANEY nickel, cobalt and copper hydrogenation and dehydrogenation catalysts are used for the synthesis of organic compounds for the fibers, polyurethanes, engineered plastics, pharmaceuticals, sweeteners and petroleum industries.
Gr! ace Const! ruction Products
Grace Construction Products produces and sells specialty construction chemicals and specialty building materials. It includes construction chemicals including concrete admixtures and fibers used to modify the rheology, improve the durability and enhance various other properties of concrete, mortar, masonry and other cementitious construction materials; and additives used in cement processing to improve energy efficiency in manufacturing, enhance the characteristics of finished cement and improve ease of use, and Building materials used in both new construction and renovation/repair projects. The products protect buildings and civil engineering structures from water, vapor and air penetration. The portfolio includes waterproofing membranes for commercial and residential buildings, specialty grouts for use in waterproofing and soil stabilization applications, air and vapor barriers, and other products to solve the specialized needs of preventative and repair applications.
The Company competes with Albemarle, BASF, Criterion, Haldor Topsoe, Axens, PQ/INEOS, Evonik, UOP, Altana, Waters Corporation, Agilent Technologies, Thermo-Fisher and Sika.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Steve Sears]
New stocks in what Goldman calls the “Hedge Fund VIP list,”�include Actavis (ACT), Baidu (BIDU), Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B), Crown Castle International (CCI), Entergy Louisiana (ELB), �Equinix (EQIX), Facebook (FB), Fleetcor Technologies (FLT), W.R. Grace (GRA), MetLife (MET), Macquarie Infrastructure (MIC), Micron (MU), Time Warner Cable (TWC), and Time Warner (TWX).
- [By Rich Duprey]
Yet the price spike also spurred the development of�alternatives to the metals. Toyota (NYSE: TM ) , for example, began manufacturing cars with induction motors rather than with those using rare earth magnets, as did General Motors (NYSE: GM ) , which noted that although they're slightly less efficient, they're also a heckuva lot cheaper to make and buy. General Electric (NYSE: GE ) began developing wind turbine generators that relied less upon permanent-magnet machines and W.R. Grace (NYSE: GRA ) offered fluid catalytic cracking catalysts, which oil refiners use to produce gasoline and diesel, that contained�less�lanthanum.�
Best Trucking Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Cancer Genetics Inc (CGIX)
Cancer Genetics, Inc. (CGI), incorporated on April 8, 1999, is an early-stage, diagnostic company. The Company focuses on developing and commercializing genomic tests and services to improve the diagnosis, prognosis and response to treatment (theranosis) of cancer. These cancers include hematological, urogenital and human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers. It provides its tests and services to oncologists and pathologists at hospitals, cancer centers, and physician offices. In January 2012, the Company received CLIA approval for MatBA-SLL, its microarray for risk stratification in small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). In February 2013, the Company received CLIA approval for MatBA-DLBCL, its microarray for diagnosis, prognosis and patient monitoring in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). In addition, the Company is developing a series of other genomic tests in its core oncology markets. The Company develops and produces two types of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-based genomic tests: microarrays and probes.
The Company is in the final stages of validating MatBATM-SLL for risk stratification in small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), a subset of CLL that presents as a mass, with Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Long Island Jewish / North Shore Hospital. The Company is also internally clinically validating the MatBATM microarray in a variety of additional lymphoma subtypes, including mantle-cell lymphoma (MCL), follicular lymphoma (FL), and diffuses large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Its MatBATM array has been designed to measure genetic markers at 80 specific genomic sites where genetic alterations are associated with mature B cell neoplasms.
CGI is also developing microarray tests for the diagnosis, prognosis and theranosis of a range of urogenital cancers. These include the UroGenRA microarray for kidney, prostate and bladder cancers and the UGenRA microarray for endometrial (lining of the uterus), ovarian and cervical cancers. UroGenRA detects genomic changes in over 100 r! egions of the human genome with potential diagnostic and/or prognostic value in one or more of these types of cancer. It has initiated clinical validation for UroGenRA targeting kidney and prostate cancers in collaboration with Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Its UGenRA microarray has been designed as a platform to detect genomic changes occurring in 83 regions of the human genome that have been linked to endometrial, ovarian and cervical cancers In addition, it develop and manufacture a portfolio of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) based DNA probes focused on blood-based and solid cancers that it sell outside the United States. The Company laboratory services include: Oncology Testing Services, which are based on its microarray tests and are available only in its clinical laboratory; Esoteric Oncology Testing Services, which it offers a suite of esoteric oncology testing services for hematological, urogenital and HPV-associated cancers, and Clinical Trial Services, which also utilize its clinical laboratory to provide clinical trial services to biopharmaceutical companies and clinical research organizations.
Hematological Cancer Arrays: MatBA-CLL/SLL, Other Mat-BA and LeukA
MatBA is an oligonucleotide-based microarray the Company developed for the analysis of genomic alterations in mature B-cell neoplasms to determine prognosis and theranosis. MatBA incorporates a common architecture of specific genomic regions that can be applied across the seven major mature B-cell neoplasms. As a group, hematologic cancers (cancers of the blood, bone marrow or lymph nodes) display clinical, pathologic and genetic complexity. Importantly, the clinical course of the six main subtypes of these neoplasms ranges from indolent (follicular lymphoma) to aggressive (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma and multiple myeloma), or mixed (chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma, or CLL/SLL).
MatBA is designed to detect genomic copy number chan! ges in ma! ture B-cell neoplasms. The test relies on the comparative genomic hybridization of fluorescently differentially-labeled normal DNA and DNA extracted from the cancer specimen (array-CGH). Array-CGH utilizes minimal biopsy material and uses DNA as the analyte (the component whose properties are being measured). MatBA was custom-designed to represent 80 regions of the human genome which have diagnostic and/or prognostic value in one or more of the mature B-cell neoplasm subtypes as identified through our research and analysis efforts. Unlike other technologies such as FISH, array-CGH using MatBA simultaneously permits the detection of genomic gains and losses at multiple locations on a chromosome (loci) that characterize the mature B-cell neoplasm subtypes. For each subtype of B-cell neoplasm, cohorts of specimens with full clinical annotation are evaluated using MatBA to identify associations between single and weighted combinations of genomic gains/losses and clinically relevant endpoints.
The Company offers the application of MatBA for prognostication in one subtype of mature B-cell neoplasm, CLL, where about half of patients experience indolent disease, or slow progression, and the remaining half, a relatively aggressive progression. MatBA-CLL provides genetic-based information to guide clinical management of this disease. In January 2012, MatBA-SLL was approved under CLIA and accordingly may now be offered as an LDT by its laboratory. In January 2013, this assay received approval by CLIA and New-York State for clinical use, and accordingly may now be offered as an LDT by our reference laboratory.
During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company had similar development of MatBA as a prognostic tool in two of the other main subtypes of mature B-cell lymphomas, namely DLBCL and FL. FL is characterized by a slow progression that in up to approximately 60% of cases transforms to DLBCL, an aggressive lymphoma. Prognostic and theranostic biomarkers of therapeutic options are req! uired for! these diseases.
Urogenital cancer arrays: UroGenRA, UGenRA
The UroGenRA microarray provides diagnostic and prognostic analysis for kidney, bladder and prostate cancer. Its initial launch, UroGenRA-Kidney targets kidney cancer. It also develops extensions of UroGenRA for bladder and prostate cancers. UGenRA provide diagnostic, prognostic and theranostic information for the primary gynecological cancers, cervical, ovarian and endometrial. UroGenRA is a CGH-based array which serves as a platform for the diagnosis, prognosis and theranosis of kidney, prostate and bladder cancers. It represents 101 regions of the human genome potentially with diagnostic, prognostic and/or theranostic value in one or more of these types of cancers. UroGenRA-Kidney For kidney cancer, UroGenRA is specifically designed to classify renal tumors into the four main subtypes (clear cell, papillary, chromophobe and oncocytoma), which is critical to patient management and treatment protocols.
UroGenRA-Prostate for prostate cancer, UroGenRA use prostate core/needle biopsy to assess genomic variability of the cancer and help in the identification of biomarkers for assessment of the risk of recurrence, to assess treatment options for intermediate risk patients, and to explore the genomic aberrations of circulating tumor cells. UroGenRA-Prostate is in the commercial development stage. UroGenRA-Bladder is a diagnosed bladder cancers are defined by the fact or extent of invasion of the muscle. UroGenRA-Bladder is in the clinical development stage.
UGenRA for Endometrial, Ovarian and Cervical Cancers
UGenRA is designed as a platform to detect gains and losses of genomic material in 83 regions of the chromosome associated with responses to particular therapies in patients with endometrial, ovarian and cervical. UGenRA-Endometrial Endometrial cancer is common cancer in women in the United States. In this disease, endometrial hyperplasia is a precursor lesion of endometr! ioid endo! metrial carcinoma (EEC). UGenRA Endometrial is in the clinical development stage.
UGenRA-Ovarian is cases of ovarian cancer. UGenRA Ovarian is in the clinical development stage. As of December 31, 2012, UGenRA-Cervical was approximately 11,270 cases of cervical cancer diagnosed and approximately 4,290 deaths from cervical cancer in the United States. UGenRA Cervical is in the clinical development stage.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By RedChip]
Cancer Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CGIX) had a big run in September; at one point, shares were up more than 130% over their IPO and secondary offering price of $10.
- [By RedChip]
Cancer Genetics (NASDAQ: CGIX), an emerging leader in DNA-based cancer diagnostics, priced a $15 million secondary offering and began trading on the NASDAQ today.
The offering will bring in a sizable cash infusion to CGIX, setting the stage for continued expansion of the Company��s sales and marketing efforts, as well as further product development and commercialization. In addition, it will enable the Company to fund its joint venture investment with Mayo Clinic and retire mezzanine financing. - [By RedChip]
In an amended S-1 filed with the SEC this morning, Cancer Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CGIX) added two new firms to its offering syndicate and upped its capital raise 25% to $50 million. With the underwriters�� overallotment, the total raise is now forecasted to reach as much as $57.5 million.
Best Trucking Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Sina Corporation(SINA)
SINA Corporation provides online media and mobile value-added services (MVAS) in the People?s Republic of China. It provides advertising, non-advertising, and free services through SINA.com, Weibo.com, and SINA Mobile. SINA.com offers free interest-based channels that provide region-focused format and content, including news, sports, automobile-related news, finance, entertainment, luxury, technology, digital, tools, collectibles, video, music, and wireless application protocol, as well as interactive platform for fashion-conscious users to share comments and ideas on a range of topics, such as health, cosmetics, and beauty. The company's microblogging platform, Weibo.com, enables its users to follow the hottest topics being discussed online, as well as discussions related to people they know. Weibo accounts consist of celebrities, commercial enterprises, government entities, and grass root Internet users. Its SINA Mobile service allows users to receive news and informatio n, download ring tones, mobile games and pictures, and participate in dating and friendship communities. The company also offers SINA Game, which serves as an interactive platform that provides users with downloads and gateway access to popular online games; SINA eReading, a shop for book reviews; SINA.net, an enterprise solutions platform to assist businesses and government bodies; and SINA Mall, an online shopping Website. In addition, it provides a platform for Chinese bloggers; photo-sharing platform; free email, VIP mail, and corporate email for enterprise users; audio and video-based instant messaging tools; proprietary search technology; and classified advertising services, as well as hosts topic-specific discussion forums in Chinese language; and creates user-maintained and supported online communities. The company has strategic cooperation agreement with China Unicom (Hong Kong) Limited. SINA Corporation was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Shanghai, the Peop le?s Republic of China.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Anna Prior]
Chinese Internet company Sina Corp.(SINA) said it was hit by a $815,000 fine and received notices from the government that certain licenses would be revoked over “unhealthy and indecent content.” The company separately said it expects first-quarter revenue and adjusted per-share earnings that topped analysts’ expectations. Shares fell 3.4% premarket.
Best Trucking Stocks To Invest In Right Now: McDonald's Corporation(MCD)
McDonald?s Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a worldwide foodservice retailer. It franchises and operates McDonald?s restaurants that offer various food items, soft drinks, coffee, and other beverages. As of December 31, 2009, the company operated 32,478 restaurants in 117 countries, of which 26,216 were operated by franchisees; and 6,262 were operated by the company. McDonald?s Corporation was founded in 1948 and is based in Oak Brook, Illinois.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]
Credit: StarbucksStarbucks' artichoke and goat cheese flat bread NEW YORK -- In an attempt to keep the sales and profits flowing nearly around the clock, Dunkin' Donuts (DNKN) and Starbucks (SBUX) are planning to sell more dinner-friendly foods in 2015. The endless-work clock that many folks are on -- constantly checking emails and text messages -- may be causing the need for certain restaurant chains to evolve in order to compete with go-to fast food dinner destinations Chipotle (CMG) and McDonald's (MCD). "Though breakfast remains our core, today people are seeking all-day dining, and they want to eat what they want, when they want it and where they want it -- that's why we are so committed to menu innovation and giving our guests even more options that they can enjoy any time of day," John Costello, Dunkin' Donuts president, global marketing and innovation, said in an interview with TheStreet. Dunkin' Donuts has already begun to introduce a dinner staple -- steak -- this fall, recently making a steak sandwich and a wrap with eggs permanent additions to its menu. Only 40 percent of Dunkin' Donuts' sales come after 11 a.m., leaving a lot of room for growth. Sales Boost With hardier menu items typically reserved for dinner, sales could grow at the more than 2,300 Dunkin' Donuts in the U.S. that are open 24 hours. Most Dunkin' Donuts, Costello said, are open until 10 p.m. Dunkin' Donuts may draw inspiration for dinner from overseas. "We have a variety of products and flavors that are tailored to the regional preferences of our guests around the world such as donuts stuffed, topped and glazed with everything from rice pudding to saffron to crushed pistachios in India," Costello said. Dunkin' Donuts India also offers burgers and wraps. Dunkin' Donuts' focus on food for those on the go contrasts with Starbucks' goal of trying to keep customers inside its remodeled coffeehouses. Moving Forward Starbucks is pressing ahead with its evening menu, which cons
- [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]
Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images NEW YORK -- At a dinner McDonald's (MCD) hosted for reporters and bloggers, waiters served cuisine prepared by celebrity chefs using ingredients from the chain's menu. A Kung Pao chicken appetizer was made with Chicken McNuggets doused in sweet-and-sour sauce and garnished with parsley. Slow-cooked beef was served with gnocchi fashioned out of McDonald's french fries and a fruit sauce from its smoothie mix. For dessert, its biscuit mix was used to make a pumpkin spice "biznut," a biscuit-doughnut hybrid. The event, held in New York City's Tribeca neighborhood, was billed "A transforming dining experience of 'fast food' to 'good food served fast.' " Attendees tweeted out photos and the night was written up on various websites. The dishes aren't intended for McDonald's restaurants. Instead, the evening is part of a campaign by McDonald's to shake its reputation for serving cheap, unhealthy food. At a time when Americans are playing closer attention to what they eat, the company is trying to sway public opinion by first reaching out to the reporters, bloggers and other so-called "influencers" who write and speak about McDonald's. It's just one way McDonald's is trying to change its image. In the past 18 months, the chain has introduced the option to substitute egg whites in breakfast sandwiches and rolled out chicken wraps as its first menu item with cucumbers. Last fall, it announced plans to give people the choice of a salad instead of fries in combo meals. And in coming months, mandarins will be offered in Happy Meals, with other fruits being explored as well. McDonald's declined to make an executive available for this story, but CEO Don Thompson said early this year: "We've got to make sure that the food is relevant and that the awareness around McDonald's as a kitchen and a restaurant that cooks and prepares fresh, high quality food is strong and pronounced." The company faces an uphill battle, especiall
Best Trucking Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA)
Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) is a government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) chartered by the United States Congress to support liquidity and stability in the secondary mortgage market, where mortgage-related assets are purchased and sold. The Company��s activities include providing market liquidity by securitizing mortgage loans originated by lenders in the primary mortgage market into Fannie Mae mortgage-backed securities (Fannie Mae MBS), and purchasing mortgage loans and mortgage-related securities in the secondary market for its mortgage portfolio. Fannie Mae operates in three business segments: Single-Family business, Multifamily Business (formerly Housing and Community Development (HCD)) and Capital Markets group. Its Single-Family Credit Guaranty and Multifamily businesses work with its lender customers to purchase and securitize mortgage loans customers deliver to the Company into Fannie Mae MBS.
The Company obtains funds to support its business activities by issuing a variety of debt securities in the domestic and international capital markets. Fannie Mae acquires funds to purchase mortgage-related assets for its mortgage portfolio by issuing a variety of debt securities in the domestic and international capital markets. It also makes other investments. Fannie Mae conducts its business in the United States residential mortgage market and the global securities market. It conducts business in the United States residential mortgage market and the global securities market. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company��s
Single-Family Business
Single-Family business includes mortgage securitizations, mortgage acquisitions, credit risk management and credit loss management. Single-Family business works with the Company��s lender customers to provide funds to the mortgage market by securitizing single-family mortgage loans into Fannie Mae MBS. Its Single-Family business also works with its Capital Markets group to facilitate the pu! rchase of single-family mortgage loans for the Company��s mortgage portfolio. Fannie Mae��s Single-Family business prices and manages the credit risk on its single-family guaranty book of business, which consists of single-family mortgage loans underlying Fannie Mae MBS and single-family loans held in its mortgage portfolio. Single-Family business and Capital Markets group securitize and purchase primarily single-family fixed-rate or adjustable-rate, first lien mortgage loans, or mortgage-related securities backed by these types of loans.
The Company securitizes or purchases loans insured by Federal Housing Administration (FHA), loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and loans guaranteed by the Rural Development Housing and Community Facilities Program of the Department of Agriculture, manufactured housing loans, reverse mortgage loans, multifamily mortgage loans, subordinate lien mortgage loans and other mortgage-related securities. Its Single-Family business securitizes single-family mortgage loans and issues single-class Fannie Mae MBS. Fannie Mae��s Single-Family business securitizes loans solely in lender swap transactions, in which lenders deliver pools of mortgage loans to the Company, which are placed immediately in a trust, in exchange for Fannie Mae MBS backed by these loans. Generally, the servicing of the mortgage loans held in its mortgage portfolio or that backs its Fannie Mae MBS is performed by mortgage servicers on the Company��s behalf. Lenders who sell single-family mortgage loans to Fannie Mae service these loans for the Company. For loans it owns or guarantees, the lender or servicer must obtain its approval before selling servicing rights to another servicer.
Fannie Mae��s mortgage servicers collect and deliver principal and interest payments, administer escrow accounts, monitor and report delinquencies, perform default prevention activities, evaluate transfers of ownership interests, respond to requests for partial releases of s! ecurity, ! and handle proceeds from casualty and condemnation losses. Its mortgage servicers are the primary point of contact for borrowers and perform implementation of its homeownership assistance initiatives, negotiation of workouts of troubled loans, and loss mitigation activities. Mortgage servicers also inspect and preserve properties and process foreclosures and bankruptcies.
Multifamily Mortgage Business
Multifamily business works with the Company��s lender customers to provide funds to the mortgage market by securitizing multifamily mortgage loans into Fannie Mae MBS. Through its Multifamily business, Fannie Mae provides liquidity and support to the United States multifamily housing market principally by purchasing or securitizing loans that finance multifamily rental housing properties. It also provides some limited debt financing for other acquisition, development, construction and rehabilitation activity related to projects that complement this business. Fannie Mae��s Multifamily business also works with its Capital Markets group to facilitate the purchase and securitization of multifamily mortgage loans and securities for Fannie Mae��s portfolio, as well as to facilitate portfolio securitization and resecuritization activities.
The Company��s multifamily guaranty book of business consists of multifamily mortgage loans underlying Fannie Mae MBS and multifamily loans and securities held in Fannie Mae��s mortgage portfolio. Revenues for Fannie Mae��s Multifamily business are derived from a variety of sources, including guaranty fees received as compensation for assuming the credit risk on the mortgage loans underlying multifamily Fannie Mae MBS and on the multifamily mortgage loans held in its portfolio and on other mortgage-related securities; transaction fees associated with the multifamily business, and other bond credit enhancement related fees. As with the servicing of single-family mortgages, multifamily mortgage servicing is performed by the lenders who! sell the! mortgages to the Company. Fannie Mae��s Multifamily business is organized and operated as an integrated commercial real estate finance business.
Capital Markets
Capital Markets group's primary business activities include mortgage and other investments, mortgage securitizations, structured mortgage securitizations and other customer services, and interest rate risk management. Capital Markets group manages the Company��s investment activity in mortgage-related assets and other interest-earning, non-mortgage investments. It funds its investments primarily through proceeds the Company receives from the issuance of debt securities in the domestic and international capital markets. Its business activity is focused on making short-term use of its balance sheet rather than long-term investments. Activities Fannie Mae is undertaking to provide liquidity to the mortgage market include whole loan conduit, early funding, real estate mortgage investment conduit (REMICs) and other structured securitizations and dollar roll transactions. Whole loan conduit activities include its purchase of both single-family and multifamily loans principally for the purpose of securitizing them. During the year ended December 31, 2010, it was engaged in dollar roll activity. A dollar roll transaction is a commitment to purchase a mortgage-related security with a concurrent agreement to re-sell a similar security at a later date or vice versa.
Fannie Mae��s Capital Markets group is engaged in issuing both single-class and multi-class Fannie Mae MBS through both portfolio securitizations and structured securitizations involving third party assets. Its Capital Markets group creates single-class and multi-class Fannie Mae MBS from mortgage-related assets held in its mortgage portfolio. Fannie Mae��s Capital Markets group may sell these Fannie Mae MBS into the secondary market or may retain the Fannie Mae MBS in its investment portfolio. The Company��s Capital Markets group creates single-clas! s and mul! ti-class structured Fannie Mae MBS, for its lender customers or securities dealer customers, in exchange for a transaction fee. The Company��s Capital Markets group provides its lender customers and their affiliates with services that include offering to purchase a range of mortgage assets, including non-standard mortgage loan products; segregating customer portfolios to obtain optimal pricing for their mortgage loans, and assisting customers with hedging their mortgage business.
Although the Company��s Capital Markets group��s business activities are focused on short-term financing and investing, revenue from its Capital Markets group is derived primarily from the difference, or spread, between the interests it earns on its mortgage and non-mortgage investments and the interest it incurs on the debt the Company issues to fund these assets. Its Capital Markets revenues are primarily derived from the Company��s mortgage asset portfolio. Capital Markets group funds its investments primarily through the issuance of a variety of debt securities in a range of maturities in the domestic and international capital markets. Investors in the Company��s debt securities include commercial bank portfolios and trust departments, investment fund managers, insurance companies, pension funds, state and local governments, and central banks.
The Company competes with Freddie Mac, FHA and Ginnie Mae.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jay Jenkins]
For these mREITS, the market has ignored the rebounding real estate market, the explicit backing of�Fannie Mae� (NASDAQOTCBB: FNMA ) and�Freddie Mac� (NASDAQOTCBB: FMCC ) by the U.S. government, strong performances from mortgage originators this year, and the impressive dividends offered by leading companies like�American Capital Agency (NASDAQ: AGNC ) , CYS Investments (NYSE: CYS ) , and Hatteras Financial (NYSE: HTSI ) .�
- [By Dimitra DeFotis]
Investor Bill Ackman, who knows a thing or two about real estate, just made the case for reforming Fannie Mae (FNMA) and Freddie Mac (FMCC) but keeping them independent of government control.
- [By Matt Koppenheffer]
If you actually dig through B of A's annual report, you can find a helpful little table that shows the performance of the loan originations that were sold to the GSEs -- primarily Fannie Mae� (NASDAQOTCBB: FNMA ) and�Freddie Mac�-- between 2004 and 2008. What's even more helpful is that the table breaks out the Countrywide originations versus the "other" originations -- principally, legacy Bank of America production.
