5 Best Small Cap Stocks To Invest In Right Now

Small cap robotics stocks Adept Technology Inc (NASDAQ: ADEP) and iRobot Corporation (NASDAQ: IRBT) have both been putting in a great performance for investors, but which is the better robotics stock for�investors? I should mention that we have had Adept Technology in our SmallCap Network Elite Opportunity (SCN EO) portfolio since mid-September and we are already sitting on a 71.38% return so far plus we have just added iRobot Corporation to our portfolio because we see the�robotics subsector improving as companies aim to reduce overhead and improve efficiencies through machine to machine (M2M) automation.

What Are Adept Technology and iRobot Corporation?

Small cap iRobot Corporation was founded in 1990 by Massachusetts Institute of Technology roboticists with the�vision to make practical robots a reality by developing and manufacturing robotic solutions to address real-world problems. iRobot Corporation says its home robots are revolutionizing the way people clean with more than 8 million home robots having been sold worldwide ��including the award-winning iRobot Roomba floor vacuuming robot. In addition, more than 5,000 iRobot Corporation robots have been delivered to military and civil defense forces worldwide to perform dangerous search, reconnaissance and bomb-disposal missions while the state-of-the-art Ava mobile robotics platform includes the Ava��500 video collaboration robot which delivers autonomous telepresence to the enterprise market and the FDA-approved RP-VITA telemedicine robot which expands the reach of medical care by connecting physicians with patients from anywhere in the world.

5 Best Small Cap Stocks To Invest In Right Now: InterDigital Inc.(IDCC)

Interdigital, Inc. engages in the design and development of digital wireless technology solutions. The company offers technology solutions for use in digital cellular and wireless products and networks, including 2G, 3G, 4G, and IEEE 802-related products and networks. It holds patents related to the fundamental technologies that enable wireless communications. The company licenses its patents to equipment producers that manufacture, use, and sell digital cellular and IEEE 802-related products; and licenses or sells mobile broadband modem solutions, including modem IP, know-how, and reference platforms to mobile device manufacturers, semiconductor companies, and other equipment producers that manufacture, use, and sell digital cellular products. InterDigital?s solutions are incorporated in various products comprising mobile devices, such as cellular phones, tablets, notebook computers, and wireless personal digital assistants; wireless infrastructure equipment, such as base stations; and components, dongles, and modules for wireless devices. The company was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Alex Planes]

  Investors love stocks that consistently beat the Street without getting ahead of their fundamentals and risking a meltdown. The best stocks offer sustainable market-beating gains, with robust and improving financial metrics that support strong price growth. Does InterDigital (NASDAQ: IDCC  ) fit the bill? Let's take a look at what its recent results tell us about its potential for future gains.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  InterDigital (NASDAQ: IDCC  ) is about to raise its global profile following an international patent licensing deal. The company announced that it has entered an agreement with Spain-based Teltronic Unipersonal for the latter to license a set of its 4G technologies. The terms of the arrangement were not disclosed.

5 Best Small Cap Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Rackspace Hosting Inc(RAX)

Rackspace Hosting, Inc. operates in the hosting and cloud computing industry. It provides information technology (IT) as a service, managing Web-based IT systems for small and medium-sized businesses, as well as large enterprises worldwide. The company?s service suite includes dedicated hosting comprising customer management portal and other management tools that manage data center, network, hardware devices, and operating system software; and cloud computing that enables customers to provide and manage a pool of computing resources, as well as delivery of computing resources to business when they need them. It offers cloud servers, cloud files, and cloud sites, as well as cloud applications, such as email, collaboration, and file back-ups; and hybrid hosting that provides a combination of dedicated hosting and cloud computing services. The company also offers customer support services. It sells its service suite through direct sales teams, third-party channel partners, an d online ordering. The company was formerly known as Rackspace.com, Inc. and changed its name to Rackspace Hosting, Inc. in June 2008. Rackspace Hosting, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tim Beyers]

  Real money was on the line then as it is now, which means any one of the five stocks you see below could ruin my investment strategy. None has fit that description more in recent weeks than Rackspace Hosting (NYSE: RAX  ) . The stock recently set a new 52-week low amid concerns over intensifying competition.

• [By Lee Jackson]

  Rackspace Hosting Inc. (NYSE: RAX) recently added a huge new customer in Emerson Electric (NYSE: EMR). In January Emerson started using Rackspace to help tune and monitor climate control products for residential and commercial customers. Adoption has gone so well that Rackspace expects Emerson to hike its commitment from 43 servers today to 100 by year’s end. The consensus price target for the stock is posted at $52. The stock closed at $50.60.

Top Clean Energy Stocks To Buy Right Now: Hot Topic Inc.(HOTT)

Hot Topic, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a mall- and Web-based specialty retailer in the United States. The company operates Hot Topic and Torrid store concepts, as well as an e-space music discovery concept, ShockHound. Its Hot Topic stores sell music/pop culture-licensed merchandise, including tee shirts, hats, posters, stickers, patches, postcards, books, novelty accessories, CDs, and DVDs; and music/pop culture-influenced merchandise comprising women?s and men?s apparel and accessories, such as woven and knit tops, skirts, pants, shorts, jackets, shoes, costume jewelry, body jewelry, sunglasses, cosmetics, leather accessories, and gift items for young men and women primarily between the ages of 12 and 22. The company?s Torrid stores sells casual and dressy jeans and pants, fashion and novelty tops, sweaters, skirts, jackets, dresses, hosiery, shoes, intimate apparel, and fashion accessories for various lifestyles for plus-size females primarily betw een the ages of 15 and 29. As of July 30, 2011, it operated 636 Hot Topic stores in 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada; 145 Torrid stores; and Internet stores, hottopic.com and torrid.com. The company was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in City of Industry, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Marshall Hargrave]

  In May True Religion (TRGL) announced a buyout offer from TowerBrook Capital for $826 million. Also in May, Rue21 decided to sell itself to Apax Partners for $2.2 billion. Before that, in March, Hot Topic (HOTT) announced that Sycamore Partners was buying out it out for $600 million.

5 Best Small Cap Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Sify Technologies Limited(SIFY)

Sify Technologies Limited provides enterprise and consumer Internet services primarily in India. The company offers various corporate network/data services comprising e-commerce and network connectivity solutions, such as end-to-end services network, application, and security services; voice origination and termination services; co-location and managed hosting services; and system integration services for data centre build, hardware distribution, security solutions, and turnkey projects. It also provides application services, including SLEMS and Microsoft Exchange messaging platforms; I-test for online assessment and LiveWire, which enable management of training processes across the organization; document management system for the management of documents electronically; and Forum, a forward supply chain solution. In addition, the company operates e-Ports that offer browsing, chat, email, gaming, utility bill payment, travel ticketing, hotel booking, mobile recharge, Intern et telephony, and online share trading services; and portals, which provide news, views, reviews, interactions, and services in the areas of movies, sports, finance, food, videos, astrology, online games, shopping, and travel, as well as offers content offerings and broadband services. Further, it provides infrastructure management services, such as network management, datacenter and helpdesk outsourcing, desktop and storage outsourcing, IT security outsourcing, LAN and WAN outsourcing, database and telecom outsourcing, and application monitoring and management services to automotive, chemical, media, and financial enterprises; and virtualization design, integration, and deployment services for servers, storage, networks, and end user clients. Sify has approximately 1,278 e-Ports in 200 towns and cities; and serves 1,06,000 broadband subscribers through 1500 cable TV Operators. The company, formerly known as Sify Limited, was founded in 1995 and is based in Chennai, India.

5 Best Small Cap Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Voyager Oil & Gas Inc.(VOG)

Voyager Oil & Gas, Inc. engages in the exploration and production of oil and gas in the United States. It primarily focuses on oil shale resource prospects in Montana, North Dakota, Colorado, and Wyoming. As of May 17, 2011, the company controlled approximately 141,500 net acres in the five primary prospect areas comprising 28,000 net acres targeting the Bakken/Three Forks in North Dakota and Montana; 14,200 net acres targeting the Niobrara formation in Colorado and Wyoming; 800 net acres targeting a Red River prospect in Montana; 33,500 net acres in a joint venture targeting the Heath Shale formation in Musselshell, Petroleum, Garfield, and Fergus counties of Montana; and 65,000 net acres in a joint venture in the Tiger Ridge gas field in Blaine, Hill, and Chouteau counties of Montana. It supplies energy and fuel for industrial, commercial, and individual consumers. The company is based in Billings, Montana.

Best Blue Chip Companies To Buy Right Now

It was a tough week for the markets, with fear hanging in the air over the fate of the Federal Reserve's bond-buying program and over last week's market stumble. Both the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) and the S&P 500 posted their worst weeks of the year, after declining 2.23% and 2.1%, respectively. The blue chip index lost 344 points over the past five days, with the worst single-day slide of 225 points coming on Thursday. The Nasdaq also lost 1.56% this past week, held at a reasonable loss thanks to Apple and the multimillion-dollar Tweet from Carl Icahn.

Before we hit the Dow losers, let's look at this week's best-performing component. Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT  ) , with a gain of 0.77%, was the only Dow stock that rose this past week. As gold, silver, and platinum rise, the value of the mining equipment Caterpillar makes also rises, and if prices can sustain their current levels, we're likely to see increased orders for its machinery as more people try to dig gold out of the ground. �

Best Blue Chip Companies To Buy Right Now: Colgate-Palmolive Company(CL)

Colgate-Palmolive Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets consumer products worldwide. It offers oral care products, including toothpaste, toothbrushes, and mouth rinses, as well as dental floss and pharmaceutical products for dentists and other oral health professionals; personal care products, such as liquid hand soap, shower gels, bar soaps, deodorants, antiperspirants, shampoos, and conditioners; and home care products comprising laundry and dishwashing detergents, fabric conditioners, household cleaners, bleaches, dishwashing liquids, and oil soaps. The company offers its oral, personal, and home care products under the Colgate Total, Colgate Max Fresh, Colgate 360 Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dividends4Life]

  Memberships and Peers: KMB is a member of the S&P 500, a Dividend Aristocrat, a member of the Broad Dividend Achievers��Index and a Dividend Champion. The company's peer group includes: The company's peer group includes: Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) with a 3.1% yield, Colgate-Palmolive Co. (CL) with a 2.3% yield, and Clorox Corporation (CLX) with a 3.4% yield.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Moreover, it's starting to appear that Clorox has weathered a tough part of its business cycle. Throughout the industry, Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG  ) , Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL  ) , and Clorox all had to deal with rising costs for the inputs they needed to make their respective products. The companies responded by implementing price-cutting measures and passing on part of their higher costs to their customers. For its part, Clorox was able to expand its gross margins by a full percentage point, with a worse-than-normal flu season contributing to sales. Now that input-cost inflation is easing, P&G and Clorox expect to see better profitability, with growth starting to approach the faster rates that Colgate has enjoyed.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Colgate-Palmolive Co (NYSE: CL) is expected to report its Q3 earnings at $0.73 per share on revenue of $4.46 billion.

  Precision Castparts (NYSE: PCP) is projected to report its Q2 earnings at $2.83 per share on revenue of $2.36 billion.

• [By Ong Kang Wei]

  Another example of such a product is Colgate-Palmolive (CL)'s Colgate toothpaste. I do not think I have to elaborate much here. Toothpaste is needed in our everyday life, and we will definitely have to buy more toothpaste after we have finished using a packet of it, ensuring that Colgate gets more and more sales over the years.

Best Blue Chip Companies To Buy Right Now: Visa Inc.(V)

Visa Inc., a payments technology company, engages in the operation of retail electronic payments network worldwide. It facilitates commerce through the transfer of value and information among financial institutions, merchants, consumers, businesses, and government entities. The company owns and operates VisaNet, a global processing platform that provides transaction processing services. It also offers a range of payments platforms, which enable credit, charge, deferred debit, debit, and prepaid payments, as well as cash access for consumers, businesses, and government entities. The company provides its payment platforms under the Visa, Visa Electron, PLUS, and Interlink brand names. In addition, it offers value-added services, including risk management, issuer processing, loyalty, dispute management, value-added information, and CyberSource-branded services. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Associated Press]

  NEW YORK (AP) -- The National Retail Federation on Tuesday urged a federal judge to reject a proposed $7.2 billion settlement with Visa (NYSE: V  ) and MasterCard (NYSE: MA  ) over alleged fee-fixing.

• [By Associated Press]

  Prom spending is expected to rise this spring to an average $1,139. That's among families who are planning to spend some money to attend the annual affair, according to a survey of 1,025 parents of prom age teens by payment processor Visa (NYSE: V  ) and research company Gfk. Not included in the average were 12 percent who said they wouldn't spend anything on the prom. A majority of parents with teenagers surveyed were still unsure how much they'd spend.

Top 5 Penny Stocks To Invest In 2014: Philip Morris International Inc(PM)

Philip Morris International Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products in markets outside of the United States. Its international product brand line comprises Marlboro, Merit, Parliament, Virginia Slims, L&M, Chesterfield, Bond Street, Lark, Muratti, Next, Philip Morris, and Red & White. The company also offers its products under the A Mild, Dji Sam Soe, and A Hijau in Indonesia; Diana in Italy; Optima and Apollo-Soyuz in the Russian Federation; Morven Gold in Pakistan; Boston in Colombia; Belmont, Canadian Classics, and Number 7 in Canada; Best and Classic in Serbia; f6 in Germany; Delicados in Mexico; Assos in Greece; and Petra in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It operates primarily in the European Union, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Canada, and Latin America. The company is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [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 Fede Zaldua]

  Imperial trades cheaply and pays a great, sustainable and for-ever-growing 4.5% cash dividend yield. The company's 2014 10.4 times P/E multiple represents a 40% discount to what most European consumer staples sell for. Besides, the owner of brands such as Davidoff and Gauloises, trades at a much more conservative level than its direct tobacco peers. Philip Morris International (PM) and British American Tobacco (BTI) sell for 2014 15 and 14.2 times earnings, respectively.

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE: PM) has experienced more than impressive growth in both its share price and its profits in the past four years. Lately its gains have petered out. The problem is that much of that growth has come from a few countries in Asia, and if one analyst report is accurate, there will be little to no growth from those areas ahead. Nomura Securities is downgrading Philip Morris to a Reduce rating from Neutral, but for all practical purposes it is a Sell rating. The firm’s $76 price target suggests downside of more than $10 ahead.

• [By Sean Williams]

  The end result of these multiple actions has been an ongoing reduction in smoking rates over the past four decades and tougher times for U.S. tobacco producers such as Altria (NYSE: MO  ) and Reynolds American (NYSE: RAI  ) . In fact, a tough domestic sales climate was one reason Altria decided to spin off its overseas operations into Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM  ) in 2008. By separating its business, the hope was that investors would have a better understanding of the fundamental forces driving Altria and Philip Morris.

Best Blue Chip Companies To Buy Right Now: International Business Machines Corporation(IBM)

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) provides information technology (IT) products and services worldwide. Its Global Technology Services segment provides IT infrastructure and business process services, including strategic outsourcing, process, integrated technology, and maintenance services, as well as technology-based support services. The company?s Global Business Services segment offers consulting and systems integration, and application management services. Its Software segment offers middleware and operating systems software, such as WebSphere software to integrate and manage business processes; information management software for database and enterprise content management, information integration, data warehousing, business analytics and intelligence, performance management, and predictive analytics; Tivoli software for identity management, data security, storage management, and datacenter automation; Lotus software for collaboration, messaging, and so cial networking; rational software to support software development for IT and embedded systems; business intelligence software, which provides querying and forecasting tools; SPSS predictive analytics software to predict outcomes and act on that insight; and operating systems software. Its Systems and Technology segment provides computing and storage solutions, including servers, disk and tape storage systems and software, point-of-sale retail systems, and microelectronics. The company?s Global Financing segment provides lease and loan financing to end users and internal clients; commercial financing to dealers and remarketers of IT products; and remanufacturing and remarketing services. It serves financial services, public, industrial, distribution, communications, and general business sectors. The company was formerly known as Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co. and changed its name to International Business Machines Corporation in 1924. IBM was founded in 1910 and is based in Armonk, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  One of Accenture's biggest areas of growth has been in technology-related consulting, with the company having become the No. 2 IT consulting company in the world, trailing only rival IBM (NYSE: IBM  ) . Accenture's ability to take advantage of diversity in its employee ranks comes from its lack of a physical corporate headquarters, allowing employees to work in their home countries, and thereby attracting the most talented workers available in a given area. In particular, Accenture has focused much of its attention on India, with more than a quarter of its employees hailing from the subcontinent.

• [By Stoyan Bojinov]

  The New York-based information technology juggernaut, IBM Corp. (IBM), made two announcements on Tuesday that resonated well among shareholders.

  First, the company’s board of directors approved an additional $15 billion to be used for stock repurchases. This brings the total amount designated for share buybacks to over $20 billion, seeing as how there were approximately $5.6 billion left at the end of September 2013 from the prior repurchase authorization. According to company officials, IBM expects to request another repurchase authorization at the October board meeting in 2014.

  The second piece of good news on the day was a declared dividend, adding to the company’s flawless quarterly payout record since 1916. IBM announced a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.95 per share, payable on December 10, 2013 to shareholders on record as of November 8, 2013.

  IBM shares rallied on Tuesday, gaining a solid 2.69% as the trading session drew to a close. The stock is down nearly 5% YTD.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Moreover, there's no guarantee that an employer will continue offering a cash-balance plan even once it's established. For instance, IBM (NYSE: IBM  ) froze its cash-balance plan five years ago.

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  International Business Machines Corp.(IBM) has agreed to acquire privately held analytics software provider The Now Factory, expanding the company’s big data business. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

Best Blue Chip Companies To Buy 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 Valuentum]

  Global fast food giant McDonald's (MCD) announced that it will increase its quarterly cash dividend 5% to $0.81 per share--an annual run-rate of $3.24 per share. This is in-line with our prediction that McDonald's next dividend increase would be 5% to $3.24 per annum. Interestingly, this will be the second consecutive year that McDonald's increased its dividend at a single-digit pace.

• [By Jim Jubak, Senior Markets Editor, MoneyShow.com]

  It looks like McDonald's (MCD) is facing a big price/cost squeeze. The latest evidence is the chain's test of a new Dollar Menu that would include items selling for as much as $5.00 and simmering discontent among franchisees who say that that company is increasing the fees that it charges them, in an effort to bolster the parent company's bottom line.

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET.COM]

  McDonald�� is a well-recognized company that fulfills cravings and demand for quick and delicious food choices that many consumers across the globe enjoy. The company continues to adopt new technologies in order to enhance their customer experience. The stock has been rising in recent years but is now pulling back a bit as investors book gains. Over the last four quarters, earnings and revenues have been on the rise, however, investors have expected a little more from the company. Relative to its peers and sector, McDonald’s has been an average year-to-date performer. WAIT AND SEE what McDonald’s does this quarter.

• [By Andrew Marder]

  Starbucks has been pushing for more food income for the past year, and this is just one small step on its long road. The long-term plan for Starbucks is to gain a bigger foothold in the lucrative U.S. food market and help it compete with other cafes like Panera (NASDAQ: PNRA  ) and McDonald's (NYSE: MCD  ) . Based on those goals, things are looking good for the coffee retailer.

Best Blue Chip Companies To Buy Right Now: Chevron Corporation(CVX)

Chevron Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in petroleum, chemicals, mining, power generation, and energy operations worldwide. It operates in two segments, Upstream and Downstream. The Upstream segment involves in the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas; processing, liquefaction, transportation, and regasification associated with liquefied natural gas; transportation of crude oil through pipelines; and transportation, storage, and marketing of natural gas, as well as holds interest in a gas-to-liquids project. The Downstream segment engages in the refining of crude oil into petroleum products; marketing of crude oil and refined products primarily under the Chevron, Texaco, and Caltex brand names; transportation of crude oil and refined products by pipeline, marine vessel, motor equipment, and rail car; and manufacture and marketing of commodity petrochemicals, plastics for industrial uses, and fuel and lubricant additives. It a lso produces and markets coal and molybdenum; and holds interests in 13 power assets with a total operating capacity of approximately 3,100 megawatts, as well as involves in cash management and debt financing activities, insurance operations, real estate activities, energy services, and alternative fuels and technology business. Chevron Corporation has a joint venture agreement with China National Petroleum Corporation. The company was formerly known as ChevronTexaco Corp. and changed its name to Chevron Corporation in May 2005. Chevron Corporation was founded in 1879 and is based in San Ramon, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tyler Crowe]

  What a Fool believes
  Could a move like this squeeze the profitability of natural gas exports for the U.S.? Potentially, yes, but there are other places around the world that are more likely to suffer from a move like this. Countries like Australia, which has struggled to keep costs under control and doesn't have feedstock as cheap as in the U.S., are more likely to suffer from this. Chevron's (NYSE: CVX  ) massive Gorgon LNG project is more than $15 billion over budget, so cost overruns could make the return on investment for these kinds of projects less lucrative.

• [By Teresa Rivas]

  Chevron (CVX) lost ground on its second-quarter report, as did Alpha Natural Resources (ANR).

  J.C. Penney (JCP) ended lower despite reports that CIT had lifted its credit restrictions, while Weight Watchers (WTW) sank on its disappointing guidance and the departure of its CEO.

• [By David G. Dietze, JD, CFA, CFP]

  Many ETFs are based on a highly specialized index representing a tiny slice of the market. That can make them quite volatile, and often unduly buffeted by the fate of just one or two stocks. For example, the Energy Select Sector Fund ETF (XLE) has over 35% of its assets in just two stocks, Exxon (XOM) and Chevron (CVX). If you like those stocks simply buy them and skip that ETF. And if you don�� like those stocks you won�� want to have an ETF with 35% of its assets in them.
  Bottom line, indexing is a sound strategy, but is best pursued using conventional index funds, not ETFs.

Best Blue Chip Companies To Buy Right Now: Apple Inc.(AAPL)

Apple Inc., together with subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and markets personal computers, mobile communication and media devices, and portable digital music players, as well as sells related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications worldwide. The company sells its products worldwide through its online stores, retail stores, direct sales force, third-party wholesalers, resellers, and value-added resellers. In addition, it sells third-party Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iPod compatible products, including application software, printers, storage devices, speakers, headphones, and other accessories and peripherals through its online and retail stores; and digital content and applications through the iTunes Store. The company sells its products to consumer, small and mid-sized business, education, enterprise, government, and creative markets. As of September 25, 2010, it had 317 retail stores, including 233 stores in the United States and 84 stores internationally. The company, formerly known as Apple Computer, Inc., was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Cupertino, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Evan Niu, CFA]

  At first glance, Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) iTunes Radio service didn't quite fit the bill of being a "Pandora (NYSE: P  ) killer." The service itself is largely the same, offering users the chance to discover new music based on historical listening habits. iTunes Radio enjoys a pricing advantage, but the $11-per-year difference for paying subscribers isn't breaking anyone's wallet.

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) scored a modest victory on Tuesday in a trial related to price-fixing on e-books at its App Store. The same judge who has ruled against Apple on the price-fixing charges gave the company some relief from the penalties proposed by the U.S. Department of Justice.

• [By Tim Beyers]

  So many have weighed in on Siri's flaws that it must be difficult to take Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) voice assistant seriously. But she isn't useless. To the contrary: I think Siri should be the default interface of the next version of Apple TV.

• [By Evan Niu, CFA]

  It's been crunch time in Cupertino. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) has been scrambling to ink the necessary licensing deals with the major record labels for its presumed "iRadio" service ahead of its Worldwide Developer Conference, or WWDC, which kicks off next week.

3 Medical Devices Stocks to Sell Now

Popular Posts: 9 Biotechnology Stocks to Buy Now17 Oil and Gas Stocks to Sell Now10 Worst “Strong Sell” Stocks This Week — EGO WLT RBY and more Recent Posts: 5 Best Sectors to Watch This Week 4 Capital Markets Stocks to Sell Now 3 Medical Devices Stocks to Sell Now View All Posts

This week, the overall grades of three medical devices stocks are lower, according to the Portfolio Grader database. Each of these rates a “D” (“sell”) or “F” overall (“strong sell”).

This week, Given Imaging () falls to a D (“sell”), worse than last week’s grade of C (“hold”). Given Imaging has developed a proprietary wireless imaging system that allows a medical professional to examine the gastrointestinal tract. In Portfolio Grader’s specific subcategory of Earnings Surprise, GIVN also gets an F. The stock currently has a trailing PE Ratio of 41.20. .

Greatbatch, Inc. () gets weaker ratings this week as last week’s C drops to a D. Greatbatch develops and manufactures power sources, feedthroughs, and wet tantalum capacitors used in implantable medical devices. The stock gets F’s in Earnings Growth, Earnings Momentum, and Margin Growth. The trailing PE Ratio for the stock is 48.60. .

Tornier NV’s () rating falls this week to an F (“strong sell”), down from last week’s D (“sell”). Tornier designs, outsources the manufacture of and markets orthopedic products. The stock gets F’s in Earnings Momentum and Earnings Revisions. The stock price has fallen 20.8% over the past month, worse than the 1.3% decrease the Nasdaq has seen over the same period of time. .

Louis Navellier’s proprietary Portfolio Grader stock ranking system assesses roughly 5,000 companies every week based on a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. Stocks are given a letter grade based on their results — with A being “strong buy,” and F being “strong sell.” Explore the tool here.

Top 10 Value Companies For 2014

Key Points:
Global dividend payers are undervalued relative to U.S. counterparts
Valuations indicate the dividend trade has room to run��lobally
In rising rate environments:
U.S. dividends historically underperform
U.S. shareholder yield historically outperforms
Global dividends historically outperform
A focus on valuation and yield currently favors investments in Europe, Emerging Markets, global Telecom, and EnergyThe S&P 500 Index has risen over 150 percent since March 9, 2009 in what could arguably be deemed the most hated equity rally of all time. The MSCI All Country World Index, one of the broadest global indices, has risen ��ust��110 percent since its March 2009 nadir. Evidence indicates that United States (U.S.) investors have not participated in this rally�� truly sad state of affairs.1 It is worthy of noting that over the last several years a number of well known market pundits have viscerally rejected the equity rally due to macroeconomic concerns. The reality, however, is that stock returns are more highly correlated with the price you pay than macroeconomic events. The one place U.S. investors seem to have nibbled as they tip-toe back into the equity market is in U.S. dividend paying equities.

Top 10 Value Companies For 2014: Schlumberger N.V.(SLB)

Schlumberger Limited, together with its subsidiaries, supplies technology, integrated project management, and information solutions to the oil and gas exploration and production industries worldwide. The company?s Oilfield Services segment provides exploration and production services; wireline technology that offers open-hole and cased-hole services; supplies engineering support, directional-drilling, measurement-while-drilling, and logging-while-drilling services; and testing services. This segment also offers well services; supplies well completion services and equipment; artificial lift; data and consulting services; geo services; and information solutions, such as consulting, software, information management system, and IT infrastructure services that support oil and gas industry. Its WesternGeco segment provides reservoir imaging, monitoring, and development services; and operates data processing centers and multiclient seismic library. This segment also offers variou s services include 3D and time-lapse (4D) seismic surveys to multi-component surveys for delineating prospects and reservoir management. The company?s M-I SWACO segment supplies drilling fluid systems to improve drilling performance; fluid systems and specialty tools to optimize wellbore productivity; production technology solutions to maximize production rates; and environmental solutions that manages waste volumes generated in drilling and production operations. Its Smith Oilfield segment designs, manufactures, and markets drill bits and borehole enlargement tools; and supplies drilling tools and services, tubular, completion services, and other related downhole solutions. The company?s Distribution segment markets pipes, valves, and fittings, as well as mill, safety, and other maintenance products. This segment also provides warehouse management, vendor integration, and inventory management services. Schlumberger Limited was founded in 1927 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matt DiLallo]

  Investors may wonder if peers like�Halliburton� (NYSE: HAL  ) �and�Schlumberger� (NYSE: SLB  ) �were pressured this quarter as well. Both companies have waded through the sluggish North American market by relying on growth overseas. If that trend continues, it should continue to mute some of the weakness Nabors experienced.

• [By Alex Planes]

  Last year, CARBO made almost half of its total revenue from just two customers: Halliburton (NYSE: HAL  ) and Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB  ) . A dependence on major players can be part of the game in this energy niche, as much of the onshore drilling services industry is in fact dominated by Halliburton and Schlumberger. However, CARBO's deepwater proppant could help it diversify in a big way, provided the company can handle what are sure to be more bothersome logistics problems than already exist with its land-based delivery network. Creating more distribution hubs closer to oil fields can help CARBO reduce its transportation costs and further reduce its dependence on the big two's infrastructure.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $1.24 per share on revenue of $11.58 billion.

  Honeywell International (NYSE: HON) is projected to report its Q3 earnings at $1.24 per share on revenue of $9.92 billion.

Top 10 Value Companies For 2014: Caterpillar Inc.(CAT)

Caterpillar Inc. manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives worldwide. It operates through three lines of businesses: Machinery, Engines, and Financial Products. The Machinery business offers construction, mining, and forestry machinery, including track and wheel tractors, track and wheel loaders, pipelayers, motor graders, wheel tractor-scrapers, track and wheel excavators, backhoe loaders, log skidders, log loaders, off-highway trucks, articulated trucks, paving products, skid steer loaders, underground mining equipment, tunnel boring equipment, and related parts. It also manufactures diesel-electric locomotives; and manufactures and services rail-related products and logistics services for other companies. The Engines business provides diesel, heavy fuel, and natural gas reciprocating engines for Caterpillar machinery, electric power generation systems, marine, petrol eum, construction, industrial, agricultural, and other applications. It offers industrial turbines and turbine-related services for oil and gas, and power generation applications. This business also remanufactures Caterpillar engines, machines, and engine components; and offers remanufacturing services for other companies. The Financial Products business provides retail and wholesale financing alternatives for Caterpillar machinery and engines, solar gas turbines, and other equipment and marine vessels, as well as offers loans and various forms of insurance to customers and dealers. It also offers financing for vehicles, power generation facilities, and marine vessels. The company markets its products directly, as well as through its distribution centers, dealers, and distributors. It was formerly known as Caterpillar Tractor Co. and changed its name to Caterpillar Inc. in 1986. Caterpillar Inc. was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Carroll]

  Shares of hard-hit Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT  ) have also risen sharply today, pulling in gains of 1.6%. Little news is out from the company, and today's rally is likely due to investors looking to pick up a beaten-down blue-chip stock for cheap after the shares had fallen more than 11% year to date. Caterpillar is still atop its industry, making it an attractive turnaround option for the long term when leading economies and industrial spending pick up. However, investors will have to be patient: With China's rise still stuck in a slump and Europe mired in recession, this economically reliant stock isn't likely to surge anytime soon.

Best Insurance Companies To Buy Right Now: Dollar Tree Inc.(DLTR)

Dollar Tree, Inc. operates discount variety stores in the United States and Canada. Its stores offer merchandise primarily at the fixed price of $1.00. The company operates its stores under the names of Dollar Tree, Deal$, Dollar Tree Deal$, Dollar Giant, and Dollar Bills. Its stores offer consumable merchandise, including candy and food, and health and beauty care, as well as household consumables, such as paper, plastics, household chemicals, in select stores, and frozen and refrigerated food; variety merchandise, which includes toys, durable housewares, gifts, party goods, greeting cards, softlines, and other items; and seasonal goods, such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas merchandise. As of April 30, 2011, it operated 4,089 stores in 48 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 88 stores in Canada. The company was founded in 1986 and is based in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Demitrios Kalogeropoulos]

  Costly market share gains
  The problem is that Family Dollar has had to pay up for its increasing market share and sales levels. The company's gross profit margin fell by more than a full percentage point, to 34.7% last quarter. In contrast, Dollar Tree (NASDAQ: DLTR  ) booked an expansion of profits, to 35.2%, continuing a trend that's seen it pull away from Family Dollar.

Top 10 Value Companies For 2014: Tupperware Corporation(TUP)

Tupperware Brands Corporation operates as a direct seller of various products across a range of brands and categories through an independent sales force. The company engages in the manufacture and sale of kitchen and home products, and beauty and personal care products. It offers preparation, storage, and serving solutions for the kitchen and home, as well as kitchen cookware and tools, children?s educational toys, microwave products, and gifts under the Tupperware brand name primarily in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Asia Pacific, and North America. The company provides beauty and personal care products, which include skin care products, cosmetics, bath and body care, toiletries, fragrances, nutritional products, apparel, and related products principally in Mexico, South Africa, the Philippines, Australia, and Uruguay. It offers beauty and personal care products under the Armand Dupree, Avroy Shlain, BeautiControl, Fuller, NaturCare, Nutrimetics, Nuvo, and Swissgar de brand names. The company sells its Tupperware products directly to distributors, directors, managers, and dealers; and beauty products primarily through consultants and directors. As of December 26, 2009, the Tupperware distribution system had approximately 1,800 distributors, 61,300 managers, and 1.3 million dealers; and the sales force representing the Beauty businesses approximately 1.1 million. The company was formerly known as Tupperware Corporation and changed its name to Tupperware Brands Corporation in December 2005. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Oliver Pursche]

  European large-cap pharmaceuticals like Novartis (NVS) �and Bristol Meyers Squibb (BMY) �count amongst some of our favorite stocks right now, as do U.S. multinationals that are growing revenue and margins in Asia ��Tupperware (TUP) �is a shining example. Stay away from utilities and energy stocks, as they are likely to be the laggards over the next year.

10 American Companies Cutting The Most Jobs

Planned job cuts in the third quarter rose 25% from a year ago. With September jobs cuts up 19% from last year, it represented the fourth month in a row where job cuts were higher than the same month last year. Despite the current trend, employers are on pace to cut the roughly the same number of jobs that were cut last year.

According to data compiled by Challenger, Gray & Christmas, 10 companies alone have announced close to 75,000 job cuts this year, combined. This represents nearly 20% of all the announced cuts in 2013.

Click here to see which companies have cut the most jobs

In an interview with 24/7 Wall St., Challenger, Gray, & Christmas CEO John Challenger explained "For every situation, there's a different reason for a company to cut jobs." In some cases, it is a matter of simple corporate restructuring. In other cases, companies facing difficult headwinds are forced to shed jobs. Based on data from Challenger, Gray & Christmas, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the companies cutting the most jobs.

The companies that are cutting the most jobs this year are, not surprisingly, in industries that are eliminating the most positions overall. The financial services sector is leading the way with 48,874 planned layoffs year to date. American Express, JP Morgan, and Wells Fargo are all among the top 10 for announced job cuts.

Retail was also in the top five industries, with J.C. Penney and Dish Network's Blockbuster in the top 10. Aerospace and defense was also among the industries with the most planned layoffs. United Technologies and Boeing were among the companies eliminating the most jobs.

Not all businesses have cut jobs due to poor demand for their products. Challenger also noted that companies announce job cuts when jobs are relocated to another part of the country, or even the world. Metlife moved a large number of jobs from the Northeast to a new base in North Carolina. Additionally, the company also scaled back its variable annuities business, while expanding its presence in emerging markets.

Similarly, United Technologies has been restructuring its operations, both this year and last, in order to cut costs and integrate acquisitions, notably the $16 billion purchase of aircraft component maker Goodrich.

Sometimes, technological change drives job cuts. “In these cases, the business model changes in response to new technology that affects the company or the industry, and a particular company adjusts." Challenger explained. Cisco has had to contend with the emergence of cloud computing, as cheaper services have undercut the company's traditionally profitable businesses. Similarly, the travel business of American Express has been impacted by the growth in travel websites.

Some businesses have had to cut jobs as part of their efforts to stay afloat. ”A company just isn't performing well via its competition, or maybe just revenue is down, and they're just cutting back," Challenger explained. JC Penney’s sales have declined precipitously in recent years, and it has struggled to keep enough cash on hand to run its business. As a result, the company has had to cut more than 15,000 jobs in 2013. Dish has had to slash jobs at Blockbuster as it continues to close unprofitable stores.

Many of the companies announcing the most job cuts are also among the country's largest employers. This means, in many cases, the layoffs represent only a small proportion of companies' total workforces. IBM’s 9,4000 job cuts accounted for just over 2% of the company's total headcount as of this year.

Only a few of the companies cutting the most jobs have lost money. Only one of these companies, J.C.Penney, posted a net loss, while half increased their net income during their last full fiscal year. Also, shareholders in all but two of the 10 companies, J.C. Penney and IBM, have seen the value of their holdings rise so far in 2013.

Challenger Gray & Christmas provided 24/7 Wall St. with all job just announcements affecting at least 500 positions this year. 24/7 Wall St. combined all planned cuts by company to identify the companies that are cutting the most jobs this year. We only considered publicly traded, American companies, or divisions of publicly traded companies. Job cuts did not need to be entirely within the U.S., however. Some cuts announced in 2013 may not be completed this year. Full-time employee totals were from Yahoo! Finance.

These are the 10 companies cutting the most jobs.

This Sector the Only Bright Spot in October Retail Sales

 

By John Whitefoot

October U.S. retail sector sales numbers are in, but are they worth getting excited about?

The Census Bureau announced on Wednesday that October retail sector sales increased 0.4% month-over-month and 3.9% year-over-year to $428.1 billion. From a shorter-term perspective, the 0.4% increase really isn’t anything to get excited about; that 3.9% year-over-year increase, though, looks pretty good. (Source: “Advance Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services October 2013,” U.S. Census Bureau web site, November 20, 2013.)

Or does it? Take a step back, and you can see we’ve been in a downtrend for the last few years.

In October 2010, U.S. retail sector sales were up 6.9% month-over-month. This isn’t a big surprise when you consider the so-called economic recovery only began in mid-2009. In October 2011, U.S. retail sector sales were up 7.6% year-over-year, another strong gain on the back of ongoing optimism that the economy would rebound. (Source: “Retail and Food Services Sales,”Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Economic Research web site, November 20, 2013.)

But then we realized the economic recovery wasn’t much of a recovery at all. In 2012, October retail sector sales were up just 4.4%, almost half the gain of the previous year, and in October 2013, U.S. retail sector sales were up just 3.9%. Looking at it from a longer-term perspective, even the recent October year-over-year numbers aren’t anything to get worked up about.

Today, we’re more than 50 months and $3.0-plus trillion into the Federal Reserve-guided recovery, and we really don’t have much to show for it. In fact, you could argue that the economy might have done better without any intervention from the Federal Reserve—it certainly couldn’t look much worse.

Sadly, the October U.S. retail sector sales figures are a little skewed. They include automotive sales, which can account for about 20% of retail sector sales. They also include building supplies and gas, which tend to be volatile and can distort the underlying trend; for example, the bulk of third-quarter gains were driven by dealers of autos and other motor vehicles, which posted an impressive 11.9% year-over-year gain.

As a result, the core U.S. retail sector sales are considered to be a better gauge of spending trends—and that gauge is almost running on empty. Core U.S. retail sector sales increased just 0.2% month-over-month, topping weak projections of just 0.1%.

Yes, auto sales are up, but so, too, is auto loan debt. In fact, U.S. auto loan debt is currently sitting at $845 billion, the highest level since the Federal Reserve starting keeping track of car loans in 1999. (Source “Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit,” Federal Reserve Bank of New York web site, November 2013.)

But it’s not all doom and gloom; U.S. car buyers are, for the most part, paying their loans off. The share of vehicle loans more than three months past due slipped to 3.4% in the third quarter. Mortgage delinquencies, on the other hand, stand at 4.3%, while student loans are at a detention-setting 11.8%.

When it comes to U.S. retail sector sales, the automotive industry might be one of the bright spots as we head into 2014. Two affordable automotive stocks for small investors to consider are Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) and auto parts store The Pep Boys Manny, Moe & Jack (NYSE: PBY). At the other end of the scale, two major automotive stocks include Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM) and auto parts store OReilly Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: ORLY).

If you’re looking for the underlying horsepower driving U.S. economic growth right now, you can’t help but thank the auto industry.

This article This Sector the Only Bright Spot in October Retail Sales was originally published at Daily Gains Letter

The following article is from one of our external contributors. It does not represent the opinion of Benzinga and has not been edited.

Posted-In: Markets Trading Ideas

  Around the Web, We're Loving... Come Learn 6 Proven Trading Strategies at Our Holliday Trading Summit Lightspeed Trading Presents: Intra-day and Swing Trading the First Two Hours of the Market Rumsfeld: Denial of Benefits to Fallen Soldiers' Families 'Inexcusable' Come See How the Pro's Trade in this Exclusive Webinar Facebook, Baidu Lead Big Caps Beating Shutdown What Should You Know About AMZN? Most Popular Voxeljet Shares Respond After Sour Citron Research Report Five Star Stock Watch: Groupon, Inc. China Mobile's iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C Set For December 18? Piper Jaffray Comments on Intel Following Company Analyst Day Apple Makes Supply Chain Adjustment to Increase Margins For the Patient Investor, High-Dividend, High Beta Stocks Can Be Highly Rewarding Related Articles (ORLY + F) This Sector the Only Bright Spot in October Retail Sales Twitter Launches TV Conversation Targeting to Snatch Up Even More Advertising Dollars Splunk Shares Spike to New High Following Q3 Results A Small Cap That is Cashing In on ObamaCare New Battery Technologies Could Dramatically Change Electronics Market 3 Small Caps Reporting Record Revenues View the discussion thread. Partner Network var ads_url = "

McDonald's Dividend Safety Analysis

McDonald's Corp. (MCD) is the largest fast-food restaurant company in the world, with nearly 34,500 restaurants in 119 countries. McDonald's success was built on an idea of consistency. Consistency in food preparation, quality, and value. This consistency has been the model for other restaurant franchises for many years now. It has also led to a consistency of reliable and increasing dividend payments for the company's shareholders.

Utilizing our Dividend Safety scoring system, let's take a look at just how secure McDonald's current dividend payment is.

[ Enlarge Image ]

The only real concern that shows up is McDonald's most recent free cash flow payout ratio of 75%. This is considerably higher than its five-year average payout ratio of 60%. The increasing payout ratio is likely why investors received a 5% dividend increase this year versus the double digit increases they enjoyed in previous years. McDonald's cash position is also less than we like to see when compared to its annual dividend obligation, but it appears that management prefers the lower level of cash on hand as the current amount is typical when compared to historical levels.

McDonald's has a strong dividend history and solid financials. Its impressive how they have managed to keep their profit margin levels near 20% while focusing on fierce competition within the value (or "dollar") menu business area. A decrease in its free cash flow payout ratio and higher dividend increases in the future will likely depend on the company's growth in the international markets as well as achieving organic growth among its existing domestic restaurants.

The stock is currently yielding 3.4%, well over 200% more than today's highest yielding "safe" money market and CDs. For those searching for a safe income source, McDonald's is an easy choice.

Disclosure: I am long MCD.

Additional disclosure! : The 4% Portfolio Retirement Service has made no recommendations on MCD.

10 Retailers With Incredibly Flexible Return Policies

By Katherine Muniz

As consumers, we all hate that feeling when we lose a receipt or clip a tag off prematurely on a product it turns out we only semi-like. It's that moment when we give in to defeat when we wish there was a way to get our money back. But, it turns out that we might be able to do all our shopping at a few stores that have the best consumer-friendly, incredibly flexible return policies ever.

Zappos Zappos boasts free shipping and free return shipping on all domestic orders. Customers have 365 days to return their order to the Zappos warehouse for a full refund. The products have to be unworn, in the state the customer received them, and in the original packaging.

Customers go through an easy self-service return process to print a free turn label out via their account. Customers who purchase an order on Feb. 29 of a Leap Year get until Feb. 29 the following Leap Year to return their order, which is a whopping four years!

Nordstrom According to a Nordstrom spokesman, Colin Johnson, "The return policy is that there is no return policy. You won't find one posted at the cash register on your receipt. The bottom line is that we work with our customer." In short, there is no time limit or receipt needed to make a return.

For those who order online, they can return in-store or get free return shipping provided by the company. When we reached out for contact, a customer service rep told us, "Returns are always up to the discretion of the returns process or the store but generally if the item doesn't meet your expectations you are always welcome to exercise your option to return or exchange the item."

Anthropologie Anthropologie, a store owned by Urban Outfitters, offers a "curated mix of clothing, accessories, gifts and home decor." On their site, it says, "All Anthropologie merchandise in unconditionally guaranteed. If you are not satisfied with your purchase for any reason, please let us known so we can take care of you."

Upon calling the Anthropologie store in Soho, a sales associate said that the only things needed to complete a return are the receipt and the credit card used to make an order (if one was used) and identification. No tags need to be on the clothing, and the store offers complimentary return pick-ups provided by USPS, who will come to your house and pick up the packaged item (with the free return label provided) right from your door.

Atheleta Athleta, a retailer for women's performance apparel, has a superior returns policy that beats its competitor, Lululemon.

At Athleta there are no limitations on returning specific merchandise, merchandise can be returned at any time, returns are free, and exchanges are free.

Costco Costco's return policy is generous, offering their customers a refunded membership fee at any time if dissatisfied, as well as a satisfaction guarantee on every product sold with a full refund.

Certain electronic products must be returned within 90 days of purchase for a refund. See their full policy here.

Kohl's Kohl's offers hassle-free returns, in which customers can return an item for a full refund or even exchange with receipt, or without a receipt, can make an even exchange by getting a Merchandise Credit or get a corporate refund.

For Kohl's Charge purchases, returns can be made for up to 12 months after the purchase date. Non-Kohl's Charge purchases or those made outside the 12 month timeframe can receive a Kohl's Merchandise Credit or a corporate-issued refund check.

Eddie Bauer Customers can rest assured with Eddie Bauer's guarantee that "Every item we sell will give you complete satisfaction or you may return it for a full refund." Customers can make returns with the receipt for a full refund in the original payment method (though this doesn't include shipping charges) and without the receipt for an exchange or merchandise credit.

According to a customer service representative, there is no time limit for returns, and original tags do not need to be attached to the products. However, return shipping is not free, with a charge of $6.00 deducted from your merchandise credit or refund for returns weighing 5 pounds or less, and $8.50 for all other packages.

Target Target really goes all out to ensure easy returns for their customers, by offering a few ways to check your purchase: by scanning receipts or packing slips, offering receipt look-up, and offering a non-receipted return or exchange with a valid form of identification. Most unopened items in new condition can be returned within 90 days, and those that don't will have a return by or within day range on the receipt or packing slip.

Bundled items must be returned with all components for a full refund. For online purchases that are not allowed to be returned to local stores, shipping costs are deducted from the refund. Consumer electronics have a 30-day return window, and for the holidays, anything bought in November doesn't have the 30-day clock start until Dec. 26.

Land's End "If you're not satisfied with any item, simply return it to us at any time for an exchange or refund of its purchase price." Customers who no longer have their packing slip and/or receipt can obtain their online order history through their personal shopping account, or can contact customer service. Customers can return catalog and internet orders to any Sears store. Returning items for exchanges will be paid for by the company, however returned items are charged a flat fee of $6.95 to the customer.

For customers getting refunds for returns, if the original form of payment is no longer valid, or was given as a gift or made from points or vouchers from the rewards program, a gift card will be give as a refund. For customers returning an item where the record of purchases dates back to 9 months or greater, the refund will be made in the form of a refund check. An item for which there is no record of purchase will get a refund for the item's lowest sales price in the form of a Lands' End Gift Card.

Bloomingdale's While there is no time limit on Bloomingdale's returns, the store does have exceptions on specific items, of which you can see in detail by going to the Bloomingdale's return policy page. All merchandise returned needs to be new and unused, with Bloomingdale's "b-tags" and designer garment tags still attached, as well as other accompanying materials that came in the original package.

However, Bloomingdale's also works to assist their customers in locating returned items, so if a customer shows up without a receipt, they can locate the item by scanning the white proof-of-purchase sticker located on the price tag.

So, our final verdict is that Land's End offers the most assistance in helping their customers make returns. Do you agree?

Silver’s FiveThirtyEight beefs up staffing

FiveThirtyEight.com, a data-driven news site founded by statistician-journalist Nate Silver, is beefing up staffing in time for its re-launch in early 2014, nabbing talents fleeing the print side of the news business.

While Silver is the head of the operation, Mike Wilson, formerly of the Tampa Bay Times, will oversee all editorial activity as its managing editor. He held the same title at the Tampa Bay Times, previously named the St. Petersburg Times, where he supervised several Pulitzer Prize winning projects.

FiveThirtyEight was founded by Silver in 2008 as his personal blog chronicling the historic election of Barack Obama. His accurate prediction of Obama's victory -- based on Silver's statistical computation of aggregate local polling data nationwide -- drew millions of fans to the site. He accurately predicted the presidential election results of 49 states in 2008 and all 50 states in 2012.

The New York Times then hired Silver on a contract, providing the site a prominent spot on the newspaper's website. While his work generated much buzz and high traffic for the Times' website, Silver and the newspaper went their separate ways after ESPN offered him a new home.

At ESPN, FiveThirtyEight will be redesigned and restructured to include five editorial topics, or "verticals," including sports, politics, economics, science and lifestyle. "Our little 538 corner is going to have a lot of editorial freedom and a lot of 'voice,'" Silver wrote in a Q&A with readers of sports news site Deadspin.com in July. "When we were negotiating with ESPN, they said 'yes' to an awful lot of things, in terms of our vision for the site."

In tapping a uniquely "branded" journalist with a loyal following to create a web channel, ESPN took a similar gamble in enabling sports columnist Bill Simmons to create sports and pop-culture site Grantland. With its long-form writing, sports-geek videos and authoritative voices recruited from newspapers and more established online sites, Grantland has q! uickly differentiated itself from from other ESPN editorial offerings. The sports media giant is seeking to replicate the model with Silver.

"The new FiveThirtyEight will bring more analytics to ESPN's storytelling in a smart and entertaining fashion," said ESPN business development executive Marie Donoghue in a statement.

Other FiveThirtyEight hires announced by ESPN:

* Kate Elazegui, creative director: She will oversee the visual design of FiveThirtyEight and Grantland. She previously worked at Pentagram, New York Magazine and Vanity Fair.

* Carl Bialik, senior writer, news: He will concentrate on "untangling controversies over data and statistics as they arise in the news cycle," ESPN said. He previously wrote The Numbers Guy column at The Wall Street Journal.

* Micah Cohen – senior editor: He will oversee and write for the site's blogs. He who previously worked with Silver on FiveThirtyEight at the New York Times.

* Harry Enten -- senior writer, politics: He will be the site's lead political writer, applying data and statistics "to create differentiating analysis on elections, the behavior of Congress, and other topics," ESPN said. He comes from The Guardian.

* Walter Hickey – senior writer, science and lifestyle: His job is "to demonstrate the value of data, mathematics and statistics in everyday life," ESPN said. He was previously with Business Insider.

"We're building our own Moneyball team," Silver said.

When Niki Lauda Ran an Airline

MIAMI (TheStreet) - For Niki Lauda, I imagine, running an airline made race car driving look easy.

Lauda, a world-famous, retired Formula One race car driver is about to become even more famous with the nationwide release of the movie Rush, which examines the rivalry between him and another driver, James Hunt.

On an October evening in 1995, Lauda came into The Miami Herald newsroom for an interview. We were in the Biscayne Bay building then, and Lauda wanted to drop by, rather than to meet somewhere else. I always had the impression that curious people liked to come to our newsroom, with its dramatic views and storied history.

I realized how famous Lauda was when, as we walked to a conference room, an editor asked for an autograph. It was the only time in my career I ever saw that happen. Lauda visited because Miami was the only U.S. destination for Lauda Air. The day he came in, he complained about two problems the airline was experiencing. First, his flight had been loaded too slowly in Munich, almost causing it to miss its slotted takeoff time. He told me that crews from Lufthansa, Lauda Air's partner, were responsible for loading. "We had to kick their butts," he said, according to my story in The Herald. Another problem occurred regularly at cramped Miami International Airport, where Lauda Air shared a gate with Lufthansa. Sometimes, Lauda said, the Lauda Air plane could not get into its gate in the afternoon because the Lufthansa plane hadn't left yet. "We need another gate," Lauda said. "This is unacceptable." But complaining to the airport made little difference. "They tell us we are Lufthansa's partner and we must share a gate," a Lauda Air spokesperson told The Herald. Put these two stories together and you can see why the airline business, which on the one hand is sufficiently inspiring to attract the Laudas of the world, is also immensely frustrating. A thunderstorm in Chicago can tear up an entire day's schedule for United (UAL) , the world's largest airline. Last week, a gunman's attack on the Washington Navy Yard temporarily halted departures from Washington Reagan National Airport, resulting in six cancellations and various delays for hub carrier US Airways (LCC). All too often, such exogenous events shape a carrier's fate.

Nevertheless, at Lauda Air, Lauda could also fully experience the joy of flying because he sometimes piloted the planes himself. "At Lufthansa, you don't see the chairman," he said in our interview. "But with me, being a person who is known -- you can strangle me."

Aviation consultant Bob Mann is a race fan who once worked as a volunteer race official and observed Lauda, from a distance, at half a dozen races. "The guy had a steely cold focus, which was remarkable," Mann said. "His gaze never strayed from the car or the engineers. He didn't do the autograph thing. He was single purpose, completely focused on driving as well as he could.

"It was interesting to see him start an airline," Mann said. "He was a technician, one of the foremost technicians among Formula One drivers, and he appreciated some of the engineering aspects of running an airline."

Lauda started Lauda Air in 1979. Seeking to offer better service than traditional European airlines did, he required that flight attendants check the bathrooms every 20 minutes to make sure they were clean, He hired Vienna's best restaurants as caterers and he sought to assure that flight attendants were "young and friendly" by setting an age limit of 36. When they passed 36, flight attendants were offered other jobs at the airline. "After 10 years in that job, you are burned out," he said in the interview. "If you stay longer, you don't get more friendly or more motivated." Lauda always faced competition with the larger, government-controlled Austrian Airlines. The Austrian government initially kept him at bay by not granting him route authorities, and Mann said he developed a distinct dislike for "Australian bureaucrats." Finally, in 1984, Lauda Air was awarded Vienna-Bangkok-Sydney. The airline "was designed to be a longhaul holiday airline, taking Germans and Austrians to exotic places like Thailand, Austria and Miami so they could lie in the sun," Mann said. Despite government resistance, Lauda Air began to grow. A major problem occurred in 1991, when a Lauda Air Boeing 767 crashed on the way from Bangkok to Vienna, killing all 223 passengers and crew members. An investigation determined that a design error caused the thrust reverser of the left engine to deploy during take-off.

In 1992, Lauda Air signed a partnership agreement with Lufthansa that fueled its growth. By 1995, the carrier operated 16 airplanes, employed 1,100 people and flew from Vienna and Salzburg to 10 European destinations as well as Miami, four cities in Asia and two in Australia. It regularly reported profits. In 1999, Lauda was ousted in a boardroom coup, and he sold his shares to Austrian. The carrier shut down in July 2013.

Lauda, meanwhile, started another airline, low-cost carrier Niki, in 2003: he sold his share to partner Air Berlin in 2011.

In the 1976 German Grand Prix, Lauda was involved in a crash, which is portrayed in the movie and which resulted in severe burns and permanent scarring to his head and face. The crash exposed him to 800 degree temperatures for 55 seconds. He told The Herald that the crash taught him a few lessons, including: Don't do stupid things that could threaten your life and don't drive while drunk or neglect to wear a seat belt.

When he woke up in a German hospital, Lauda was asked whether he wanted his last rites. He said yes but the priest, thinking he was already dead, made the sign of the cross on his shoulder and walked away. "I got so mad," Lauda said, in the interview. "I was lying there waiting, and nothing happened. I thought, 'This is unbelievable.' I knew I was going to die." "It changed me a lot," he said. "When you are used to living, you never think about what stupid things you do to yourself. I knew racing was dangerous, but after that crash I told myself I would never make a stupid mistake again (and) to be more responsible for my life." Follow @tedreednc -- Written by Ted Reed in Charlotte, N.C. >To contact the writer of this article, click here: Ted Reed

Disney Films Come Into Focus

Walt Disney's (NYSE:DIS) decision to delay the release of the Pixar animated feature "The Good Dinosaur" by 14 months sent tongues wagging in Hollywood, but barely caused a ripple on Wall Street.

In fact, this is probably good news for investors. Burbank, Calif.-based Disney has had two high profile flops in the past two years "John Carter" ($200 million write down) and "The Lone Ranger" ($190 million write down). Though the Disney, which has a market capitalization topping $117 billion, can afford to take the hit, those losses aren't small potatoes either. CEO Bob Iger fired Rich Ross as head of Disney Studios after the "John Carter" debacle. This year it trimmed about 150 jobs from the unit.

Disney's caution is a good thing even though it also means delaying the release of "Finding Dory" a sequel to the classic "Finding Nemo" by 7 months. Investors would rather Disney take its time to "get a movie right." The company's Studio Entertainment business continues to be a laggard. Operating income in the latest quarter fell 36% to $201 million while revenue slumped 2% to $1.59 billion. According to Box Office Mojo, Disney's Buena Vista studios trails Time Warner's (NYSE:TWX) Warner Bros. and Comcast's (Nasdaq:CMCSA) Universal in the box office so far this year with 14.6% market share. Among the studio's hits were "Monster's University", which has grossed more than $730 million.

There are already signs that the company has learned from its mistakes. Jerry Bruckheimer's fifth installment in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series was pulled from the production schedule earlier this month. Bruckheimer's latest film was "The Lone Ranger." In another development, "The Good Dinosaur" Director Bob Peterson left the project last month, according to Bloomberg News.

Going forward, investors are going to expect big things from Disney's film business, especially given its $4 billion acquisition of Lucasfilm, the producer of the "Star Wars" franchise. The media and entertainment conglomerate is already trying to integrate the characters into the Disney universe. Stores at Walt Disney World , for instance, sell action figures of Kermit and Miss Piggy dressed up like Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. They even have Mickey Mouse ears shaped liked R2D2.

For now, "Star Wars" fans will have to be satisfied with these cute knick-knacks. New "Star Wars" movies won't begin to be released until 2015.

Though its fun to talk about movies and Hollywood, investors need to view this in a broader context. It's never a good idea to buy Disney or any other entertainment stock solely based on one hit. They come and go. Disney, though, has a broad array of businesses such as ESPN and its Theme Parks and Resorts that can help make up any shortfall from its box office disappointments. In fact, the Theme Parks should continue to do well unless the economy seriously goes off the rails. Walt Disney World remains one of the top destinations of foreign tourists visiting the U.S. Though costs for sports programming continue to skyrocket, ESPN should hold its own, at least for now. Pay TV providers are becoming increasingly combative about paying fees to channel operators. ESPN's are by far the highest on a per-subscriber basis.

Shares of the Burbank, Calif.-based company were off 0.80% at $65.20 at last look. The stock trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.9, a premium to rivals such as 21st Century Fox (Nasaq:FOXA) and Time Warner. Disney, though, may have more room to run.

The average 52-week price target on the stock is $72.24, about 10% above where it currently trades. If Disney can fix the problems in its film studio business, there is no reason why the stock couldn't easily reach that goal.

Disclosure - Jonathan Berr does not own shares of the listed stocks. Follow him on Twitter @jdberr and at Jonathanberr.com

Cannabis Stock Analyst Talks About High Revenue Potential

Alan Brochstein launched the 420 Investor service a few months ago, but he made quite a name for himself before then.

An investment industry veteran since 1986, Brochstein has hopped on the marijuana train and developed a large audience -- his 67,000 followers leads Seeking Alpha. But how did he get interested in this specific field?

Brochstein read an article from Dr. Sanjay Gupta this past August -- where the CNN expert said he had changed his mind and agreed there was a case for medical marijuana. Brochstein launched 420 Investor "with idea that all these people are interested in marijuana stocks, and not much coverage from Wall Street."

The head of AB Analytical Services told Benzinga's pre-market Internet broadcast that there are two big and highly fragmented cannabis markets: the people who use marijuana recreationally, like alcohol, and the medical professionals and their clients, who use cannabis for health issues.

The CFA spoke about how GW Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: GWPH) exploded a few months ago, and how the cannabinoid (CBD) in marijuana is being used by GW to create a 400 milligram pill that can help children and adults. The drug is designed to help children with epilepsy.

Brochstein spoke about the revenue that could be generated from marijuana, state-by-state. "Opportunities for farmers in many states that can do it legally," he said. "(But) taxes are outrageous. And It's a cash business, not credit card."

"The government spends way too many resources (on law enforcement)," he added. "You wouldn't believe how much money is wasted on petty offenses. People end up paying a lot more than they should for marijuana because of market conditions and quality (of the plant)."

He said there is still a lot progress that needs to happen to make marijuana a more legitimate business, and expects a slow transition in the interim.

Should tobacco companies get any consideration? "No.They cant touch it until it's federally legal. Too much to risk."

He also discussed MCIG (OTC: MCIG), a relatively new company that has developed a legal marijuana vaporizer, similar to the e-cig. The mCig heats plant material instead of burning it, providing a superior method of consumption that is much smoother, according to the company's website. The product sells for $10, while the stock itself has a market cap of $35 million.

"What's really gonna change for investors is you have new companies entering the public market -- three or four since I launched," says Brochstein. "This is really exciting."

Posted-In: Alan Brochstein cannabinoid cannabis Dr. Sanjay Gupta marijuana stocks Seeking AlphaFinancial Advisors News Emerging Markets Legal Be Your Own Boss Markets Personal Finance Interview Best of Benzinga

(c) 2013 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

  Around the Web, We're Loving... Come Learn 6 Proven Trading Strategies at Our Holliday Trading Summit Learn to Use Trading Platforms Like Hedge Fund Traders do Rumsfeld: Denial of Benefits to Fallen Soldiers' Families 'Inexcusable' Come See How the Pro's Trade in this Exclusive Webinar Facebook, Baidu Lead Big Caps Beating Shutdown What Should You Know About AMZN? Most Popular General Electric to Spin-Off Retail Finance Unit in an IPO 3 Reasons Every Family Office Should Own Oil and Natural Gas Stocks 10 Stocks Below Their 50-Day Moving Average Apple Breaks Out of Six Day Trading Range Benzinga's Top #PreMarket Gainers 6 Ways to Tell if the Market is About to Crash Related Articles (GWPH + MCIG) Cannabis Stock Analyst Talks About High Revenue Potential GW Pharmaceuticals Initiates Phase 1b/2a Clinical Trial for GBM Morning Market Movers Benzinga's Top Pre-Market Gainers GW Pharmaceuticals Announces Agreement on Sativex Pricing in Germany View the discussion thread. Partner Network #marketfy-ae-block { display: none; border: 2px solid #0a3f75; overflow: hidden; width: 300px; height: 125px; text-align: center; background-color: #45719E; position: relative; z-index: 1; } #marketfy-ae-block a { display: block; width: 300px; height: 125px; position: relative; z-index: 2; color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; } #marketfy-ae-block-countdown-text { color: #f9fc99; padding: 0px 0 0 0; font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px; } #marketfy-ae-block-countdown-text-start { font-size: 12px; } #marketfy-ae-block-countdown { padding: 5px 0 5px 0; font-size: 26px; } #marketfy-ae-block-signup { padding: 5px 47px; } #marketfy-ae-block-signup:hover { background-color: #457a1a; } #marketfy-ae-block #marketfy-ae-block-logo { display: block; padding: 3px 0 0 0; margin: 0; } #marketfy-ae-block-logo { text-indent: -9999px; } #marketfy-ae-block-free { display: block; position: absolute; top: 7px; right: -23px; width: 80px; height: 16px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; opacity: 1; -webkit-transform: rotate(45deg); -moz-transform: rotate(45deg); -ms-transform: rotate(45deg); transform: rotate(45deg); font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; color: #333333; background-color: yellow; z-index: 500; text-shadow: 1px 1px #999999; } #marketfy-ae-block-arrow { position: relative; width: 60px; height: 60px; z-index: 10; margin: -80px 0 13px -21px; } #marketfy-ae-block-arrow img { height: 60px; width: auto; } Marketfy's International
Traders & Investors Summit Register for this FREE Event! Hosted by Marketfy Get Benzinga's News Delivered Free

Top 5 Casino Companies To Watch In Right Now

Consolidation among gaming suppliers is continuing, and now it's with an eye on the future of online gaming. Earlier this year, Scientific Games said it would buy WMS Industries�for $1.5 billion, creating a company with lottery equipment and slot machines. Today, Bally Technologies (NYSE: BYI  ) agreed �to buy SHFL entertainment (NASDAQ: SHFL  ) for $1.3 billion, or $23.25 per share, creating a casino supplier that can offer nearly all products or services needed to run a casino.�

They pointed to the typical synergies and complimentary products in the announcement, but when you think about the future of gaming, this is about online gaming. Both companies are approved to build online games in Nevada and, as online gaming spreads state by state around the country, they will be able to leverage their capabilities to expand that business.

As it stands now, the gaming supplier market for online gaming is going to play a key role. Companies like Bally, SHFL, or International Game Technology won't offer betting directly to customers, they'll supply technology to casinos, who will own licenses. This is similar to a casino but, since the game itself is the draw, the game itself is key.

Top 5 Casino Companies To Watch In Right Now: (XTRN)

Las Vegas Railway Express Inc. focuses to re-establish a conventional passenger train service between the Las Vegas and Los Angeles metropolitan areas. It plans to establish a ?Vegas-style? passenger train service. The company is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Top 5 Casino Companies To Watch In Right Now: Wynn Resorts Limited(WYNN)

Wynn Resorts, Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the development, ownership, and operation of destination casino resorts. The company owns and operates Wynn Las Vegas casino resort in Las Vegas, which includes approximately 22 food and beverage outlets comprising 5 dining restaurants; 2 nightclubs; 1 spa and salon; 1 Ferrari and Maserati automobile dealership; wedding chapels; an 18-hole golf course; meeting space; and foot retail promenade featuring boutiques. Wynn Las Vegas casino resort also features approximately 147 table games, 1 baccarat salon, private VIP gaming rooms, 1 poker room, 1,842 slot machines, and 1 race and sports book. It also owns and operates an Encore at Wynn Las Vegas resort, a destination casino resort located adjacent to Wynn Las Vegas that features a 2,034 all-suite hotel, as well as a casino with 95 table games, 1 sky casino, 1 baccarat salon, private VIP gaming rooms, and 778 slot machines. In addition, the company operates Wyn n Macau casino resort located in the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People?s Republic of China. Wynn Macau casino resort features approximately 595 hotel rooms and suites, 410 table games, 935 slot machines, 1 poker room, 1 sky casino, 6 restaurants, 1 spa and salon, lounges, meeting facilities, and retail space featuring boutiques. Further, it operates Encore at Wynn Macau resort located adjacent to Wynn Macau. Encore at Wynn Macau resort features approximately 410 luxury suites and 4 villas, as well as casino gaming space, including a sky casino consisting of 60 table games and 80 slot machines, 2 restaurants, 1 luxury spa, and retail space. The company was founded in 2002 and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Travis Hoium]

  The steady economic recovery in the U.S. has helped MGM Resorts (NYSE: MGM  ) , Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS  ) , and Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ: WYNN  ) turn Las Vegas from a drag to a positive line on the income statement. But for each, Macau continues to be the most important.

• [By Chris Hill]

  Hertz (NYSE: HTZ  ) dips on good-not-great earnings. Candian retailer Hudson's Bay buys Saks (NYSE: SKS  ) for $2.4 billion. Wynn Resorts' (NASDAQ: WYNN  ) second-quarter profit gets hit with one-time charges. Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC  ) merges with Publicis Group to form the world's largest advertising and marketing firm. In this segment from Investor Beat, Motley Fool analysts Bill Barker and Andy Cross discuss four stocks making moves on Tuesday.

Top 10 Warren Buffett Stocks For 2014: Penn National Gaming Inc.(PENN)

Penn National Gaming, Inc. and its subsidiaries own and manage gaming and pari-mutuel properties in the United States. It operates approximately 27,000 gaming machines; 500 table games; and 2,000 hotel rooms in 23 facilities in 16 jurisdictions, including Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ontario. The company was formerly known as PNRC Corp. and changed its name to Penn National Gaming, Inc. in 1994. Penn National Gaming, Inc. was founded in 1982 and is based in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Penn National Gaming Inc. (NASDAQ: PENN) completed on Monday the spin-off of its real-estate holdings into a new REIT, Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. (G&LP) (NASDAQ: GLPI). The spin-off was first announced a year ago. Shares in GLPI are trading at around $46.51 after opening at $45.76 this morning.

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Stocks on the Move: BlackBerry Ltd. (NASDAQ: BBRY) is down 16.4% at $6.50 after announcing that no buyout bid will be forthcoming. Penn National Gaming Inc. (NASDAQ: PENN) is down 76.7% at $13.75 after spinning-off its real-estate holdings into a REIT. Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. (NYSE: STP) is up 15.5% at $1.53 following the acquisition of its major operations in Wuxi.

• [By Roberto Pedone]

   

  Penn National Gaming (PENN) is a diversified, multi-jurisdictional owner and manager of gaming and pari-mutuel properties. This stock closed up 1.4% at $56.13 in Monday's trading session.

   

  Monday's Volume: 1.11 million
  
  Three-Month Average Volume: 824,334
  
  Volume % Change: 73%

   

   

  From a technical perspective, PENN jumped modestly higher here right above some near-term support at $54.71 with above-average volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of PENN within range of triggering a breakout trade. That trade will hit if PENN manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance at $57.44 to some past resistance at $58 with high volume.

   

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in PENN as long as it's trending above Monday's low $55.65 or above more support at $54.71 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that this near or above 824,334 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then PENN will set up to re-test or possibly take out its 52-week high at $59.93. Any high-volume move above $59.93 will then give PENN a chance to hit $65.

   

Top 5 Casino Companies To Watch In Right Now: Pinnacle Entertainment Inc.(PNK)

Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. owns, develops, and operates casinos, and related hospitality and entertainment facilities in the United States. It operates casinos, such as L'Auberge du Lac in Lake Charles, Louisiana; River City Casino and Lumiere Place in St. Louis, Missouri; Boomtown New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana; Belterra Casino Resort in Vevay, Indiana; Boomtown Bossier City in Bossier City, Louisiana; and Boomtown Reno in Reno, Nevada. The company also operates River Downs racetrack in southeast Cincinnati, Ohio. As of May 26, 2011, it operated seven casinos and one racetrack. The company was formerly known as Hollywood Park, Inc. and changed its name to Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. in February 2000. Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. was founded in 1935 and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  Time to make the switch
  If I could name a sector that I'd certainly tread lightly around considering that consumers are tightening their wallets, it would be the casino sector. Casino companies rely on loose wallets and vacations to drive profits. This is why I feel it could be the time to say goodbye to casino and race track operator Pinnacle Entertainment (NYSE: PNK  ) near its 52-week high.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Pinnacle Entertainment (PNK) has gained 56% this year; Las Vegas Sands (LVS) has climbed 38%. And Deutsche Bank has nice things to say about both today.

  Bloomberg

  First Pinnacle. Deutsche Bank’s Carlo Santarelli ponders the stock’s big move and comes away still seeing value in its shares. He writes:

  When we upgraded PNK in April, our thesis centered on the FCF strength of the combined entities [Pinnacle completed its acquisition of Ameristar Casinos on Aug. 14], a handful of favorable catalysts, easing regional gaming comps, & an inexpensive relative valuation. Given the shares’ sizeable move since then, we believe it is worth revisiting the investment case. Post the announcement of several asset sales and the closing of the transaction, we are adjusting our estimates, raising our PT to $30 from $24, and maintaining our bullish view at current levels given what we still believe to be an attractive free cash flow valuation, meaningful potential synergy realization beyond the $40 mm of announced benefits, and a free option on a lagging regional recovery.

  Santarelli also revisited Las Vegas Sands and there too, he likes what he sees. He writes:

  With…LVS at [a share price level] that have been challenging to break from over the last year plus, we believe this time is different and hence we see continued upward momentum…In the case of LVS, we see; 1) meaningful mass market strength continuing through year end, setting the stage for upward company and market estimate revisions for 2014, 2) continued cash flow appreciation and capital returns serving as downside protection and positive catalysts, and 3) continued shared gains, largely driven by table optimization and mass market strength, driving both estimates and sentiment.

  He also likes Wynn Resorts (WYNN), despite its 34% gain.�Santarelli writes:

  As for WYNN, we believe near-term estimates continue to take a back seat to capital return

• [By Travis Hoium]

  What: Shares of Ameristar Casinos (NASDAQ: ASCA  ) and Pinnacle Entertainment (NYSE: PNK  ) fell as much as 11% today after the government brought into question the merger of the two companies.

Top 5 Casino Companies To Watch In Right Now: MGM Resorts International(MGM)

MGM Resorts International, through its subsidiaries, primarily owns and operates casino resorts in the United States. The company?s resorts offer gaming, hotel, dining, entertainment, retail, and other resort amenities. It also owns and operates golf courses and a golf club. As of December 31, 2010, the company owned and operated 15 properties located in Nevada, Mississippi, and Michigan; and has 50% investments in 4 other casino resorts in Nevada, Illinois, and Macau. In addition, MGM Resorts International has an agreement with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, which owns and operates a casino resort in Connecticut, to carry the ?MGM Grand? brand name. The company was formerly known as MGM MIRAGE and changed its name to MGM Resorts International in June 2010. MGM Resorts International was founded in 1986 and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Travis Hoium]

  What we can take from this is that, most likely, Las Vegas Sands and Melco Crown (NASDAQ: MPEL  ) will see a large increase in revenue when they report earnings. We can also assume that MGM Resorts (NYSE: MGM  ) will show similar trends in Macau because its location is next to Wynn's. There's far more growth to be had than what Wynn is showing and Las Vegas Sands and Melco Crown likely took significant share during the first quarter.