Huawei Casts Apple From The Fold In China

&l;p&g;The future of mobile devices is foldable. And that is really bad news for Apple.&l;/p&g;

Huawei revealed its&a;nbsp;&l;a href=&q;https://www.cnet.com/news/mate-x-huaweis-2600-foldable-phone-rivals-samsung-galaxy-fold-with-three-screens-5g-hands-on/&q; target=&q;_blank&q; rel=&q;noopener noreferrer&q; target=&q;_blank&q;&g;foldable Mate X&l;/a&g;&a;nbsp;ahead of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Feb. 24. The jaw-dropping 5G device should have Apple managers shaking in their boots.

&l;img class=&q;dam-image bloomberg size-large wp-image-43284973&q; src=&q;https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/dam/imageserve/43284973/960x0.jpg?fit=scale&q; data-height=&q;640&q; data-width=&q;960&q;&g; An employee demonstrates a Mate X foldable 5G mobile device at the Huawei Technologies Co. pavilion on the opening day of the MWC Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain, on Monday, Feb. 25, 2019. At the wireless industry&a;rsquo;s biggest conference, over 100,000 people are set to see the latest innovations in smartphones, artificial intelligence devices and autonomous drones exhibited by more than 2,400 companies. Photographer: Stefan Wermuth/Bloomberg

Investors should worry, too. China may be lost.

Apple has been designing expensive, aspirational technology gear for decades. The business model involved carefully rolling out cutting-edge products to key markets, then waiting for consumers to come.

It worked.

In North America, Europe, Australia and Japan, demand for iPhones, iPads, Macs and Watches fuels a very profitable business.

In 2009, Apple managers turned east, toward China. Rapid growth in middle-class incomes has led to new legions of affluent Chinese. This, in turn, has fostered a huge black market for Apple goods.

The timing was right.&a;nbsp;&l;em&g;Reuters&l;/em&g;&a;nbsp;&l;a href=&q;https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-china/apple-ceo-says-to-add-25-stores-in-china-within-two-years-sina-idUSKCN0IC0N720141023&q; target=&q;_blank&q; rel=&q;noopener noreferrer&q; target=&q;_blank&q;&g;reported&l;/a&g;&a;nbsp;in 2014 that chief executive Tim Cook told analysts Apple was investing &a;ldquo;like crazy&a;rdquo; in China. By the end of 2018, the country had 50 stores, by far the greatest number in a single country outside the United States.

As other markets reached saturation, Cook bet the business on China. He wagered Chinese demand would fuel hardware sales growth, but he missed the ascent of Huawei.

The Shenzhen company is killing Apple in China. It had 9.6% market share when Cook started investing like crazy. Apple commanded 10.1%. In the final quarter of 2018, Huawei sold 30 million devices domestically, according to a&a;nbsp;research note from Canalys. Market share soared to 27%. Apple&a;rsquo;s share fell to just 9%, following a 13% decline in shipments.

The reason for the ascent is simple:

Huawei makes superior devices, tailored for the home market. And that puts Apple in a world of hurt.

Critics will argue the Mate X, in all of its foldable splendor, is a gimmick. At $2,600, it&a;rsquo;s an outrageously expensive device loaded with cutting-edge technology nobody asked for.

Fifth-generation wireless networks have not been deployed. And while larger screens are great, there is no demand for Android tablets, let alone ones with flimsy, untested plastic screens.

Here&a;rsquo;s the point I don&a;rsquo;t want you to miss &a;hellip;

Apple is getting walloped in China because it is losing the innovation race.&a;nbsp;&l;em&g;Wired&l;/em&g;&a;nbsp;argued last October that the Mate 20 Pro, Huawei&a;rsquo;s flagship smart phone, is the device Apple should have made.

Mate X is a kill shot. It&a;rsquo;s the device Apple can&a;rsquo;t make. Its price positions it atop the market.

When flat, the device sports a beautiful high definition 8-inch screen with virtually no bezel. When folded, Mate X is a 6.6-inch, edge-to-edge smartphone. There is no unsightly notch, or holepunch to house the front-facing camera. All of the Leica-branded lenses are on the back. Flip the phone over to snap selfies, with the benefit of a third, 6.4-inch viewfinder screen.

Everything is powered by Huawei&a;rsquo;s Kirin 980 processor and a Balong 5000 5G modem. The company says users will be able to download a full HD movie in three seconds.

In every category, it&a;rsquo;s an impressive onslaught of engineering.

Don&a;rsquo;t expect Cupertino&a;rsquo;s vaunted ecosystem to save the day.

In most of the world, the iOS user experience is paramount. Apple Music, the App store and iMessage spin off cash flow and keep users loyal. But in China, WeChat&a;nbsp;&l;a href=&q;https://medium.com/swlh/wechat-the-evolution-and-future-of-chinas-most-popular-app-11effa5639ed&q; target=&q;_blank&q; rel=&q;noopener noreferrer&q; target=&q;_blank&q;&g;is the ecosystem&l;/a&g;. Users can read news, pay bills and hail taxis. They can buy clothing and order food online. They can even interact with local street vendors.

Ben Thompson, an independent strategist,&a;nbsp;&l;a href=&q;https://stratechery.com/2017/apples-china-problem/&q; target=&q;_blank&q; rel=&q;noopener noreferrer&q; target=&q;_blank&q;&g;pointed out&l;/a&g;&a;nbsp;in 2017, that WeChat is a big problem for Apple in China. It&a;rsquo;s much worse today.

I&a;rsquo;m not arguing Apple is doomed. I expect Apple stores from Boston to Sydney to London to bustle with loyal customers. They will consume ever-increasing amounts of Apple services. And it will not be nearly enough for the company to grow.

Apple is a hardware company. The business model is built to excel in China, but it is failing. Huawei is the innovation leader and it has the most exclusive product.

Mate X is not going to sell 100 million units. It&a;rsquo;s probably too expensive and too fragile. That&a;rsquo;s not the point. Its polish reinforces Huawei&a;rsquo;s claim of best in class. That will play well at home.

Apple shares trade at 15x forward earnings, and 3.5x sales. While that is not expensive, I doubt its problems in China are in the rear-view mirror.

The stock is up from the lows at $142 set in early January. Investors should expect a test of that level over the next&a;nbsp;several months, which would mean the&a;nbsp;potential for at least a 34% decline.&l;/p&g;

Netflix is the best tech bet as Amazon faces political backlash led by Elizabeth Warren, BMO says

One Wall Street brokerage now favors online streaming giant Netflix over e-commerce behemoth Amazon because of Sen. Elizabeth Warren's proposal to break up Big Tech, which may gain traction on a progressive platform.

BMO Capital Markets told clients on Friday that it's made Netflix its top technology stock in light of the Massachusetts Democrat's plan to bust up Amazon, Facebook and Google.

"We continue to seek out how the legal path might progress for these types of actions, but in the short term, we think it's appropriate to move Netflix to Top Pick and Amazon to No. 2," analyst Daniel Salmon wrote in a note to clients.

"We have less confidence in the subject being a wall of worry to climb and instead increasingly clouding the fundamental thesis for Amazon," he added. "Netflix, on the other hand, faces little to no regulatory risk, in our view; thus, we are more comfortable with it in the Top Pick slot at the moment."

Warren, who announced her bid for president last month, published in a lengthy blog post on March 8 that her administration would make "big, structural changes to the tech sector to promote more competition—including breaking up Amazon, Facebook, and Google."

The longtime progressive praised prior antitrust litigation — including the government's case against Microsoft in the 1990s and the dissection of Standard Oil a century ago — for its ability to promote a more competitive marketplace.

"The government's antitrust case against Microsoft helped clear a path for Internet companies like Google and Facebook to emerge," Warren wrote. "The story demonstrates why promoting competition is so important: it allows new, groundbreaking companies to grow and thrive — which pushes everyone in the marketplace to offer better products and services."

Even if Warren is not elected, this progressive backlash could prove another political headache for Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, whose business and logistical prowess have helped grow the online retailer into the third-largest public company in the United States with a value of $828 billion.

Amazon announced last month that it will not build a headquarters in New York City following local opposition, the company said in a statement. Local and state leaders had voiced popular opposition to the company's plan to after New York City and state had offered the company performance-based incentives amounting to nearly $3 billion.

Shares of both companies rose in premarket trading Friday following, with Netflix up 0.5 percent and Amazon up 1.2 percent. Separately, KeyBanc upgraded Amazon to an overweight rating.

7 Small-Cap Stocks That Make the Grade

The stock market has been a charging bull since 2019 began. Given how 2018 ended, this has been quite a surprise. Much of the selloff was explained by expectations that Q4 wasn’t going to be strong and that growth in 2019 would be diminished. And most of the numbers that are coming in reinforce that view.

So, why is the market charging ahead as if there’s nothing to fear?

Because things are going according to plan. The market hates uncertainty. Even less than ideal certainties are better than pleasant surprises.

And that’s why small-cap stocks — which usually do best in times of strong economic expansion — continue to do well, even now. As long as the market knows the economy isn’t going to hit bumps that slow it one quarter and grow it the next — forcing the Federal Reserve out of its complacency — stocks can chug along happily.

The seven small-cap stocks that make the grade below are all highly rated momentum stocks in my Portfolio Grader. They should see big gains as this “Goldilocks economy” continues.

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Small-Cap Stocks to Buy: Alarm.com (ALRM) Source: Shutterstock

Alarm.com (NASDAQ:ALRM) is a wireless and cloud-based security system company that focuses on residential and commercial properties.

It’s based in Northern Virginia, which hosts many of the suburbs of Washington, D.C., and there are plenty of expensive houses that got the company off its feet 19 years ago. Since then, it has scaled up its business and diversified both its customer and geographic base.

Now the company has expanded into the smart property market, using its security systems to enable homeowners and business owners the ability to remotely monitor and manage a variety of systems.

By expanding its footprint nationally and keeping up with the latest technological breakthroughs, ALRM remains one of the fastest growing security systems in the market.

ALRM stock is up 53% in the past 12 months, and roughly  18% year to date, so it is solidly performing on its own merits, not just rising with higher tide of the broad stock market.

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AppFolio (APPF) Source: Citrix Online via Flickr

AppFolio (NASDAQ:APPF) is the next iteration of cloud-based software solutions companies.

The first wave saw companies simply moving some parts of their data to the cloud so that it was more accessible and provided an offsite back-up for corporate-based servers.

The next wave is companies that are targeting specific industries with cloud-based solutions that are built for these niche industries. And that is where APPF comes in.

It caters to small- and medium-sized businesses in the property management and legal sectors. This sector hasn’t generally been at the top of the cloud providers priority list, since enterprise-level companies are a much bigger fish to land. And while there are plenty of these firms around the U.S., the time and energy to build something at their price point and with custom features just wasn’t worth the money.

APPF tapped into this market, and it’s doing very well with its line of products. Its Q4 earnings were released earlier this month and while earnings were flat, revenue was up a whopping 33%. APPF stock is up almost 80% in the past year and is up 28% year to date.

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DSW (DSW) Source: Shutterstock

DSW (NYSE:DSW) is a pretty familiar name to most consumers. It is one of the largest shoe stores in the U.S., with over 500 locations across the country.

As the big-box department stores started their demise, companies like DSW saw an opportunity to move into a specific niche that was no longer being served well by department stores.

You see, as much as e-commerce hurt department stores, so did the fact that they didn’t have the ability to dig down into their offerings. They could provide some choices, but consumers were getting used to searching out variety online or in a dedicated store.

DSW filled that need perfectly, and its e-commerce site allows shoppers to go the e-commerce route if they so desire.

But remember, this is a discount shoe retailer, not a tech firm. It has performed well, up 19% in the past 12 months, and it delivers a very respectable 3.9% dividend. As a total return play, this is a great long-term buy.

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Intercept Pharmaceuticals (ICPT)

Intercept Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ICPT) is a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on non-viral liver diseases. It currently has Ocaliva on the market which is treats a handful of these diseases and has little competition in the space.

It was also in Phase 3 trials with a new drug for a fatty liver disease called Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and was competing with a similar drug from Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD). When Gilead announced that its drug had failed, things looked bleak.

Until ICPT announced its drug had passed the trials. That leaves NASH treatment in the hands of ICPT for now.

Bear in mind, this is a biotech that is very focused. Right now, things are going well and the stock is up 71% for the year. Its up only 20% year to date, since it has been more volatile on this NASH news.

There’s plenty of opportunity here, even for a buyout by a bigger firm, so enjoy the ride — but remember, it will be bumpy.

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Restoration Hardware (RH) Source: Shutterstock

Restoration Hardware Holdings (NYSE:RH) is the holding company for what’s better known to consumers as Restoration Hardware. It maintains an enormous and sumptuous product catalog that it distributes as an RH brand.

The company has been around since the 1979 and made a good run at expanding smaller retail outlets in upper-middle-class malls and shopping districts around the country. But when the tech bubble burst and then the financial crisis hit, RH had to go back to the drawing board — adapt or die.

And it adapted. RH rebuilt as a brand for its ideal customers – high-end and aspiring high-end consumers. It closed many of its smaller locations and opened glorious showpieces around the country that showed off the furniture and accessories as well as offered interior designers to help with building out rooms and homes. Most also have lovely restaurants as well.

This boutique treatment has paid off. RH is up 77% in the past year and is still only trading at a trailing-12-months price-to-earnings ratio of 32. As long as the economy keeps going, RH is going with it.

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NuStar Energy LP (NS) Source: Shutterstock

NuStar Energy LP (NYSE:NS) is a midstream energy company that operates as a limited partnership.

Basically, that means NS operates pipelines and storage for petroleum and anhydrous ammonia. Anhydrous ammonia is made from natural gas and steam and is used as a fertilizer.

As for the limited partnership piece, that means NS is structured so that stockholders are looked at as owners and get net profits distributed to them in the form of a dividend. This means shareholders aren’t “double taxed” on their gains.

With U.S. energy production growing and exports also growing, the U.S. energy patch is in a bull market, especially with prices in the upper $50’s. Also, NS stock should see some strength in its fertilizer business as the economy expands and spending is solid.

Right now, NS is delivering a whopping 9% dividend, and that’s after a 29% run on the stock year to date. Just remember this stock will be a bit volatile since it’s a smaller energy company that will be influenced by energy prices and demand.

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Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF) Source: Shutterstock

Cleveland-Cliffs (NYSE:CLF) has been around since 1847. And it’s very likely you have never heard of it.

Why? Because it has done one thing in all that time, and unless you’re a domestic steel company, its name likely never came up.

Granted the U.S. steel industry has been through some significant ups and downs over the past 50 years. But the thing about a company like CLF, which has seen its share of good times and bad times over the past 172 years, is it knows how to adapt.

CLF supplies iron ore pellets to the U.S. steel industry. Its mines are in Michigan and Minnesota. It pelletizes the ore in a production facility in Ohio, and the headquarters is in Cleveland.

That means all its production and distribution is U.S.-based. That keeps things simple in what can be a very complex global market.

This is certainly one sector that has benefited from the U.S.-China trade war, with CLF up 33% in the past year. And it’s still trading at a 2.7 P/E. But remember, this is a commodity-based company, so the P/E isn’t going to reach big double-digits.

In January a major global steel company cut steel production by about 40 million tons a year because of dam disaster at one of its properties in Brazil. That spells opportunity for CLF for 2019 and beyond. It also pays a solid 2% dividend.

Louis Navellier is a renowned growth investor. He is the editor of four investing newsletters: Growth Investor, Breakthrough Stocks, Accelerated Profits and Platinum Growth. His most popular service, Growth Investor, has a track record of beating the market 3:1 over the last 14 years. He uses a combination of quantitative and fundamental analysis to identify market-beating stocks. Mr. Navellier has made his proven formula accessible to investors via his free, online stock rating tool, PortfolioGrader.com. Louis Navellier may hold some of the aforementioned securities in one or more o

33% of Americans Are Bearing This Expense in Retirement

You'll often hear that it's a wise idea to enter retirement debt-free, and the logic is as follows: When you're limited to a fixed income, you don't want a chunk of your money tied up in debt payments. And while not all debt is created equal, even the healthy kind, like mortgage debt, can hurt you when you're older.

Still, a large number of seniors are struggling to shake their mortgage debt. In fact, 33% of Americans are still paying off mortgages into retirement age, according to COUNTRY Financial.

If you're nearing retirement but are still carrying mortgage debt, it pays to focus on knocking out those payments before your golden years kick off. Here are a few ways to accomplish that goal.

IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES.

1. Switch to biweekly payments

Most of us make a mortgage payment once a month, but if you split your usual monthly payment in two and make it every other week, you'll end up paying extra into your mortgage, since you'll make the equivalent of 13 monthly payments instead of just 12. Do this for a number of years leading into retirement, and you might knock out that pesky debt right in time.

2. Apply windfalls to your mortgage

Anytime you make a lump sum payment into your mortgage, it reduces the amount you pay in interest and shortens the life of your loan. Therefore, if you come into money during the year, whether it's a gift, a bonus at work, or a tax refund, applying that cash to your mortgage could help you eliminate it sooner.

Imagine you took out a 30-year fixed $200,000 home loan at 5% interest. If you make an extra $3,000 payment into that mortgage 25 years in, you'll shave close to half a year off the life of your loan and save yourself over $1,300 in interest in the process.

3. Look into refinancing

Refinancing means swapping an old loan for a new one, and while it can be a risky move when you're older, there are circumstances under which it makes sense. For example, if you're stuck with a high interest rate on your mortgage because you applied at a time when your credit was poor or rates were higher in general, refinancing could significantly reduce your monthly payments. At that point, you can then take the money you would've spent on those higher payments to make extra payments, thereby getting rid of that loan faster.

Just be aware that you'll often pay closing costs when you refinance, and that it might take some time to recoup them. Therefore, if you only have two or three years left on your mortgage, refinancing may not be worth it. But if you're looking at five years or more and a substantially lower interest rate, it could be a smart move.

Let's be clear: Entering retirement with a mortgage payment hanging over your head won't necessarily sentence you to a life of being broke, but it might limit the extent to which you're able to enjoy your golden years. If you're able to pay off your mortgage before retirement, you'll kick off that period with less stress and more peace of mind. And that alone is worth the effort.

Reviewing Dropbox (DBX) & Its Peers

Dropbox (NASDAQ: DBX) is one of 198 publicly-traded companies in the “Prepackaged software” industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its competitors? We will compare Dropbox to related businesses based on the strength of its valuation, dividends, earnings, institutional ownership, risk, profitability and analyst recommendations.

Profitability

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This table compares Dropbox and its competitors’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Dropbox	-34.84%	-79.85%	-30.55%
Dropbox Competitors	-39.81%	-27.41%	-3.39%

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for Dropbox and its competitors, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Dropbox	0	3	12	0	2.80
Dropbox Competitors	1648	7760	14359	706	2.58

Dropbox currently has a consensus target price of $34.08, indicating a potential upside of 50.52%. As a group, “Prepackaged software” companies have a potential upside of 5.05%. Given Dropbox’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Dropbox is more favorable than its competitors.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

24.6% of Dropbox shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 57.9% of shares of all “Prepackaged software” companies are owned by institutional investors. 21.4% of shares of all “Prepackaged software” companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Dropbox and its competitors gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Net Income	Price/Earnings Ratio
Dropbox	$1.39 billion	-$111.70 million	-17.28
Dropbox Competitors	$1.88 billion	$215.24 million	35.48

Dropbox’s competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Dropbox. Dropbox is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Summary

Dropbox competitors beat Dropbox on 8 of the 12 factors compared.

Dropbox Company Profile

Dropbox Inc. provides a collaboration platform worldwide. Its platform allows individuals, teams, and organizations to create, access, and share content online. The company was formerly known as Evenflow, Inc. and changed its name to Dropbox, Inc. in October 2009. Dropbox Inc. has strategic partnership with Zoom Video Communications, Inc. Dropbox Inc. was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Nvidia Chipmaker Joins Bidding for Israeli Chipmaker Mellanox: Report

Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) has submitted an bid to buy Israeli chip designer Mellanox Technologies (NASDAQ:MLNX), according to a report Sunday on the Israeli financial news outlet Calcalist’s website.

Nvidia would be competing with Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) which has already offered $6 billion for the Israeli company, Calcalist said. It cited estimates that Nvidia would pay at least 10% more than the price offered by Intel. The report speculated that Nvidia would have an advantage in securing regulatory approval in the U.S. and China as Intel and Mellanox control the market for InfiniBand technology, a networking communications standard commonly used in supercomputers.

Mellanox makes chips and other hardware for data center servers that power cloud computing, did not comment, according to Reuters. Nvidia officials could not be reached for comment outside of regular U.S. business hours.

Mellanox released its fourth-quarter results in January, reporting revenue of $1.09 billion for 2018, $290.1 million of which was in the final quarter of the year.

In October, CNBC reported that Mellanox hired a financial adviser in response to takeover interest from at least two companies. The following month, the business news channel reported that Xilinx (NASDAQ: XLNX) had retained Barclays to advise on a bid to acquire Mellanox. MLNX stock has gained more than 52% since the mid-October report while the Nasdaq Composite index has lost just under 1%.

Last month, InvestorPlace contributor Wayne Duggan asked if “given Nividia’s long-term business outlook is intact, should investors swoop in and buy the stock on the dip? In a word, maybe.”

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Stratasys Caps Off 2018 With a 7% Decline in 3D Printer Sales

Stratasys (NASDAQ:SSYS) reported fourth-quarter and full-year 2018 results before the market opened on Thursday.

For the quarter, revenue edged down 1.2% year over year, GAAP bottom-line results flipped from negative to positive, and earnings per share (EPS) adjusted for one-time items jumped 31%. 

Shares plunged to a closing loss of 13.9% on Thursday. We can attribute the market's reaction to quarterly revenue coming in lighter than many investors were probably expecting and 2019 revenue guidance also being more tepid than many probably were anticipating.

Stratasys' results: The raw numbers

Metric

Q4 2018

Q3 2017

Year-Over-Year Change

Revenue	$177.1 million	$179.3 million	(1.2%)
GAAP operating income	($3.8 million)	($6.0 million)	N/A
Adjusted operating income	$12.8 million	$13.5 million	(5.2%)
GAAP net income	$6.3 million	($10 million)	N/A
Adjusted net income	$11.3 million	$8.4 million	35%
GAAP earnings per share (EPS)	$0.12	($0.19)	N/A
Adjusted EPS	$0.21	$0.16	31%

Data source: Stratasys. GAAP = generally accepted accounting principles. 

Stratasys posted a GAAP operating loss, but turned in positive net income thanks to $12.9 million from its share in the profits of associated companies.

GAAP gross margin was 49.1%, up from 48.7% in the fourth quarter of 2017. Adjusted gross margin came in at 52.2%, down slightly from 52.5% in the year-ago period and up a tick from last quarter's 52.1%. The company generated $18.7 million in cash from operations during the quarter and ended the year with $393.2 million in cash and cash equivalents. 

For some context (though investors shouldn't give too much importance to Wall Street's near-term estimates), analysts were looking for fourth-quarter adjusted EPS of $0.21 on revenue of $185.8 million. So Stratasys hit the earnings consensus on the bull's-eye, while its top line fell short of the Street's expectation. 

For full-year 2018, revenue inched down nearly 1% year over year to $663.2 million, GAAP net loss narrowed 71% to $0.22 per share, and adjusted EPS grew 15.6% to $0.52. The company generated a record $63.7 million in cash from operations in 2018.

Image source: Getty Images.

Segment results  

Segment

Q4 2018 Revenue

Year-Over-Year Change

Product	$124.5 million	(4.0%)
Service	$52.6 million	6.1%
Total	$177.1 million	(1.2%)

Data source: Stratasys. 

The service business experienced fairly decent revenue growth, which helped to minimize the overall decline in revenue due to weak performance in products. Within products, 3D printer revenue fell 7% year over year, consumables (print materials) revenue was flat with the year-ago quarter, and customer support revenue, which mainly includes revenue from service contracts, increased 6%.

The year-over-year change in 3D printer revenue was disappointing, as this metric was flat last quarter, after declining 8.2% and 21% in the second and first quarters, respectively. 3D printer sales have an outsized importance to Stratasys' bottom line because they drive sales of print materials, which sport high margins.

What management had to say

Here's what interim CEO Elan Jaglom had to say in the earnings release:

We are pleased with our fourth quarter and full year profitability, and finished 2018 with record cash flow from operations as we continue to build a strong operational foundation for future growth opportunities and to invest in accelerating new product introductions to expand our addressable markets. Our consolidated top line results this quarter reflect continued positive traction in high-end system and materials sales for our PolyJet and FDM technology platforms, primarily in North America, offset partially by the impact late in the quarter of the government shutdown in the United States and what we believe is temporary weakness in the Automotive sector in Europe.

Looking ahead

Stratasys' quarterly revenue was disappointing. While the company has done a decent job of increasing profitability over the last couple of years, there's only so far that improving efficiencies can take it. A sustainable turnaround will depend upon increased demand for its products and services driving solid revenue growth. 

The company established full-year 2019 guidance as follows:

Revenue of $670 million to $700 million, representing growth of 1% to 5.5% year over year.  GAAP net loss of $0.40 to $0.22 per share, representing a widening loss of 82% to no change from 2018.  Adjusted EPS of $0.55 to $0.70 per share, representing growth of nearly 6% to 35%.

Going into the earnings release, Wall Street was projecting 2019 adjusted EPS of $0.59 on revenue of $699.2 million. So Stratasys' revenue outlook likely contributed to the market's pushing the company's stock lower on Thursday.

"We are excited about our recent and upcoming new product introductions and believe that we will see accelerated growth beginning in 2020," Jaglom said.

Royce & Associates LP Has $6.07 Million Position in Intrepid Potash, Inc. (IPI)

Royce & Associates LP lifted its position in Intrepid Potash, Inc. (NYSE:IPI) by 17.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,336,106 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after buying an additional 342,151 shares during the quarter. Royce & Associates LP’s holdings in Intrepid Potash were worth $6,074,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. SG Americas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in Intrepid Potash during the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. PEAK6 Investments LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Intrepid Potash during the third quarter worth $107,000. WINTON GROUP Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Intrepid Potash during the fourth quarter worth $80,000. Virtu Financial LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Intrepid Potash by 122.5% during the fourth quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 32,399 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $84,000 after buying an additional 17,836 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ETF Managers Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Intrepid Potash by 15.8% during the fourth quarter. ETF Managers Group LLC now owns 35,827 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $93,000 after buying an additional 4,884 shares in the last quarter. 44.98% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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In other news, major shareholder Clearway Capital Management Lt bought 200,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 12th. The stock was bought at an average price of $3.22 per share, with a total value of $644,000.00. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders have bought 453,470 shares of company stock valued at $1,441,035 in the last three months. Insiders own 27.70% of the company’s stock.

IPI opened at $3.63 on Friday. Intrepid Potash, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $2.51 and a fifty-two week high of $5.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 3.23 and a quick ratio of 1.47. The firm has a market cap of $473.31 million, a PE ratio of -20.17 and a beta of 1.07.

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Zacks Investment Research downgraded Intrepid Potash from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 25th. TheStreet raised Intrepid Potash from a “d+” rating to a “c-” rating in a report on Monday, November 12th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. The company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $4.83.

TRADEMARK VIOLATION WARNING: “Royce & Associates LP Has $6.07 Million Position in Intrepid Potash, Inc. (IPI)” was originally posted by Ticker Report and is the sole property of of Ticker Report. If you are accessing this piece on another publication, it was illegally copied and republished in violation of U.S. and international trademark & copyright law. The legal version of this piece can be viewed at https://www.tickerreport.com/banking-finance/4208412/royce-associates-lp-has-6-07-million-position-in-intrepid-potash-inc-ipi.html.

Intrepid Potash Profile

Intrepid Potash, Inc produces and sells potash and langbeinite products in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments, Potash and Trio. The Potash segment offers muriate of potash or potassium chloride for use as a fertilizer input in the agricultural market; as a component in drilling and fracturing fluids for oil and gas wells, as well as an input to other industrial processes in the industrial market; and as a nutrient supplement in the animal feed market.

Featured Story: Back-End Load

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IPI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Intrepid Potash, Inc. (NYSE:IPI).

10 High-Yield Monthly Dividend Stocks

[Editor’s note: This story was previously published in January 2019. It has since been updated and republished.]

Do you ever wish your dividend stocks paid out monthly rather than quarterly? For income-oriented investors who cover their monthly expenses with dividend income, it would certainly be a convenient option.

Such instruments actually do exist. In fact, they’re more common than many investors may realize. They’re also not crimped by catches and restrictions, and their underlying income is driven by very ordinary business models. They look just like their quarterly counterparts.

With that as the backdrop, here’s a rundown of 10 high-yield monthly dividend stocks from a variety of industries and sectors. Some are more familiar names than others, and some are bigger than others. Not all of them have been around for a great length of time either.

In all 10 cases, however, there’s an attractive monthly payout in store for the foreseeable future. In no particular order…

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Source: Shutterstock

Capitala Finance (CPTA)

Dividend Yield: 13%

Capitala Finance (NASDAQ:CPTA) primarily provides capital to smaller companies, via a combination of loans and equity investments. Its average funding ranges between $10 million and $50 million, offering investors a chance to plug into small company opportunities that wouldn’t otherwise be available

Capitala’s strength is its diversity. It owns stakes in companies from the retailing, biotech, industrial, technology and consumer industries just to name a few. Its most recent investment was a piece of a human anatomy app company called Visible Body, which helps medical students and caregivers better understand how the human body physically fits together.

More than that, Capitala Finance is yielding a hefty 13% right now.

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Source: Shutterstock

Stellus Capital Investment (SCM)

Dividend Yield: 9.36%

Also add Stellus Capital Investment (NYSE:SCM) to your list of monthly dividend stocks to scoop up if you’re looking for regular monthly income.

Like Capitala Finance, Stellus is categorized as a business development company. And also like Capitala, Stellus is focused on so-called “middle market” outfits that may be too big or too risky for traditional loans but too small to raise funds by going public. Its portfolio includes food distributor GoodSource Solutions, home-health product provider Compass Health and business software outfit Valued Relationships Inc, just to name a few.

It’s arguably a little less risky than Capitala, in that most of its investment are in companies currently yielding a (very) positive EBITDA. The trade-off is a lower dividend yield of 9.36%.

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Source: Shutterstock

AGNC Investment (AGNC)

Dividend Yield: 12.24%

AGNC Investment (NASDAQ:AGNC) is a real estate investment trust, or REIT, primarily focused on the development of a mortgage portfolio. The bulk of the mortgages it owns are made by government-sponsored outfits like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It’s a lower-risk approach toward driving monthly income, though still an effective one.

AGNC presently yields 12.24% thanks to the stock’s 7% slide since August of last year.

That pullback was largely rooted in fears that rising interest rates would crimp AGNC Investment’s future cash flows, as higher interest rates are presumed to tend to crimp overall lending activity.That’s only partly accurate. Higher rates can do mortgage REITs more good than harm if the underlying reason for rising rates is a strong economy.

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Source: Shutterstock

Whitestone REIT (WSR)

Dividend Yield: 9.65%

REITs, by the way, are pools of money that allow individuals liquid access to real estate investments that wouldn’t otherwise be available to most retail investors. And a portfolio of mortgages is hardly the only way to develop a REIT.

Case in point: Whitestone REIT (NYSE:WSR). Whitestone owns a portfolio of consumer-oriented real estate, primarily in more affluent neighborhoods, providing space to “ecommerce-resistant” companies like Whole Foods Market, Verizon (wireless phone service) and True Food Kitchen restaurants. It’s a brilliant strategy, as more than six straight years of uninterrupted quarterly year-over-year revenue growth verifies.

Whitestone’s trailing yield is 9.65%, which isn’t the highest among the monthly dividend stocks in focus, though it’s a solid return relative to the risk shareholders are assuming.

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Source: ReynerMedia via Flickr (Modified)

Prospect Capital (PSEC)

Dividend Yield: 11.02%

It’s not the biggest business development company in the world, but somehow Prospect Capital (NASDAQ:PSEC) is still one of the best known. Its portfolio includes several familiar names like JD Power, Capstone Logistics, ACE Cash Express and video media company Cinedigm, just to name a few.

It’s diversity that has helped smooth out the BDC’s bottom line from time to time when it might otherwise be erratic.

Either way, the market and analysts may be underestimating the true potential of Prospect. The company has met or topped earnings estimates in each of its past five quarters. Between that and its trailing dividend yield of 11.02%, PSEC may be a smart risk to take.

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Source: ©iStock.com/ndoeljindoel

Solar Senior Capital (SUNS)

Dividend Yield: 8.37%

Don’t let the name fool you. Solar Senior Capital (NASDAQ:SUNS) doesn’t specialize in providing capital to the solar power industry. It is another business development company, and like Prospect and Capitala, it’s highly diversified in terms of industry exposure.

There is a noteworthy difference between Solar Senior Capital and its BDC peers, however. The organization focuses primarily on senior secured loans of privately owned middle-market companies, which better positions it to, if nothing else, preserve capital.

The trade-off for safety is yield. Solar Senior is only paying out 8.63% of the stock’s current price as an annualized dividend. And it’s been paying it, and adding to it, faithfully since 2011.

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Source: Shutterstock

Gladstone Investment (GAIN)

Dividend Yield: 7.16%

Gladstone Investment (NASDAQ:GAIN) is a business development company, but unlike most other BDCs (and unlike any other monthly dividend stocks being discussed within this list). Whereas most of these investment companies seek to make loans, Gladstone is ultimately aiming to acquire smaller but mature companies.

It’s a riskier proposition, as investors have learned the hard way. The company missed its quarterly earnings estimate at the end of 2018 and shareholders have paid the price. GAIN had lost about 12.4% of its value last year but since has recovered and even met its most recent earnings estimate.

There’s just something compelling about the growth potential in ownership rather than merely lending.

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Cross Timbers Royalty Trust (CRT)

Dividend Yield: 4.55%

They’re a relatively rare breed these days, but oil and gas royalty investments are still around and still dishing out dividend income. Cross Timbers Royalty Trust (NYSE:CRT) is one of the remaining names of the ilk, yielding 4.55%.

An investment in Cross Timbers is predominantly an investment in oil and gas producing properties found in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Yes, the fluctuating price of oil and natural gas can impact the trust’s bottom line, although not as much as you might think.

The organization is merely plugged into the production of established and operational wells, and isn’t directly taking on the expensive risk of exploration.

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Global Net Lease (GNL)

Dividend Yield: 11.77%

Global Net Lease (NYSE:GNL) is another REIT, primarily serving the commercial market. It owns properties in the United States and Europe, and rents to quality tenants like FedEx, Family Dollar and ING Bank, organizations that can not only reliably pay their rent as it comes due, but outfits that tend to stay put once they establish roots.

There’s a bit of a twist Global Net Lease brings to the table that allows it to juice its payout to its current yield of 11.77%, however. It also acquires much of its rental real estate through an arrangement called a sale-leaseback.

In simplest terms, a sale-leaseback lets a property-owning company free up the value of real estate by selling a space it owns to a landlord like Global Net Lease, and then remain in that space as a tenant. It’s a win-win scenario, as the renter enjoys a big cash infusion and Global Net Lease has a tenant already lined up.

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Source: Shutterstock

Horizon Technology Finance (HRZN)

Dividend Yield: 9.28%

Finally, Horizon Technology Finance (NASDAQ:HRZN) has earned a spot on a list of monthly dividend stocks to mull. As the name suggests, Horizon Technology Finance provides capital to young, upcoming technology outfits, though it doesn’t cater strictly to the tech sector.

It’s also heavily involved in the development of life science and biotechnology companies. Its portfolio includes biotech names like AccuVein and Celsion, along with traditional tech plays like cybersecurity company Control Scan and communications technology player Xtera.

Its results are as erratic as what you’d expect from major technology names, but it’s worth the wild ride. Horizon’s yielding 9.28% at its current price, and it has not had any sustained trouble affording its dividend payment.

As of this writing, James Brumley did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. You can follow him on Twitter

Cramer Remix: This is something Bristol-Myers should do

Bristol-Myers Squibb CEO Giovanni Caforio defended his company's $74 billion bid for cancer drug maker Celgene in an interview with CNBC's Jim Cramer on Wednesday.

The move is facing opposition from the Wellington Management, Bristol-Myers' largest stakeholder, and Starboard Value hedge funds. The acquisition, which will be voted on by shareholders next week, would add a large load of debt to the company's balance sheet.

The rationale of the merger is a strategic one, Caforio said.

"It creates the number one company in oncology, number one cardiovascular franchise, very strong presence in autoimmune diseases," he said on "Mad Money." "It generates value for shareholders from day one and it provides a path to sustainable long-term growth for Bristol-Myers Squibb."

If the deal gets approved, the chief expects to launch six new medicines within 24 months.

Listen to Caforio explain why this deal is important for the company here

FOBS is the new FOMO Brendan McDermid | Reuters Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

Stockholders have been hit with a new syndrome and it's causing U.S. major markets to descend after a strong start to 2019, Cramer said.

And the new phenomenon has taken the place of FOMO or fear of missing out on stocks going higher, he added.

"Boy, those were the days. We sure don't have FOMO anymore, do we? Instead, after another ugly session ... we've got FOBS, fear of big sellers," the host said. "And that FOBS is putting pressure on the whole market."

In Wednesday's session the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost about 133 points, the S&P 500 declined 0.65 percent, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq fell less than 1 percent. The Dow Jones and S&P recorded their sixth negative closes in seven, while the Nasdaq had its fourth in five.

Click here to find out what's triggering fund managers to dump stocks

Investing in the family Scott Mlyn | CNBC Gary Philbin, CEO, Dollar Tree

Dollar Tree's turnaround plan is producing results as more customers are choosing to shop in its stores, CEO Gary Philbin told CNBC Wednesday.

The company met earnings and revenue expectations, and beat on same-store sales with 2.4 percent compared to the 1.4 percent gain that Wall Street was looking for. The stock added more than 5 percent in the session and is up about 11 percent this year.

The company has invested $1 billion to renovate its Family Dollar stores to give it a "wow" factor and the entire enterprise was able to generate about $2 billion of cash flow, Philbin said in an interview with Cramer.

Find out how Dollar Tree is giving stores a "wow" factor here

Don't let Amazon scare you Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Every time Amazon seeks to enter a new industry, stocks in that particular sector drop dramatically, Cramer said.

"This drives me nuts because, more often than not, these pullbacks turn out to be buying opportunities once we learn Amazon's buildout will take longer than expected, or the market's big enough for multiple winners, or the damage to the competition simply isn't as bad as we thought," he said.

The e-commerce giant announced last week that it plans to launch another grocery concept separate from Whole Foods, and a number of grocery stocks tumbled. But Cramer said investors are probably "kicking" themselves for not buying the weakness as names like Target soared after reporting a strong quarter.

Kroger and Costco both deliver their latest earnings report on Thursday. Cramer suggests making a wise move.

Listen to Cramer's assessment of grocery stocks against Amazon's plans here

A new kind of return policy Scott Mlyn | CNBC A shopper approaches the Target store in Mount Kisco, New York.

A number of retailers bought back stocks aggressively during the December sell-off to take advantage of weakened prices, Cramer said.

These retailers are still buying stocks and shareholders that are selling their stakes are likely returning it right back to the company, and it's been going on for years, he said.

Cramer pointed out that Home Depot bought about $4.5 billion worth of stocks in the fourth quarter, Target cut its outstanding shares from 635 million to 519 million over the last five years, and Ross Stores shrank its share count by about 15 percent over the same time frame.

Target, he said, is also investing billions into its digital landscape and adding small-format stores in major cities. Home Depot has also been putting money into its locations, he said.

Are they concerned about the future?

Click here to hear Cramer's take on these and other retail buyback programs

Cramer's lightning round: This stock has doubters, but it's pretty good

In Cramer's lightning round, the "Mad Money" host flies through his thoughts about callers' favorite stock picks:

Funko Inc.: "We like Funko very much. Why do we like Funko? Because they had a blowout quarter and I know it's got its doubters and short sellers, but I think it's actually pretty good."

Turning Point Brands Inc.: "You know, I'm gonna say something bad. And I don't mean to because I'm not recommending the stock, but when [Scott] Gottlieb, whom I loved [at] the FDA, when he left it was really great news for tobacco. Because this man was on a mission. We have so many people dying of lung cancer in this country, and he wanted to stop it. He's a great man and that's why Turning Point has been strong, and that's just terrible. I don't want to recommend a tobacco stock. Didn't mean to the other day when I did 'Off the Charts,' that was someone else and I used their chart."

Sirius XM Holdings Inc.: "Stock has lost it's mojo. Sirius has lost its mojo, why? Because auto sales have lost their mojo. I've been behind this since it was an itty-bitty baby. I am losing patience. We need to see car sales pick up, or sell."

Disclosure: Cramer's charitable trust owns shares of Amazon, Home Depot, and Amazon.

Questions for Cramer?
Call Cramer: 1-800-743-CNBC

Want to take a deep dive into Cramer's world? Hit him up!
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Questions, comments, suggestions for the "Mad Money" website? madcap@cnbc.com

Top Medical Stocks To Own For 2019

tags:ARE,ERA,MITK,LDL,ZEUS,CHKE,

CryoLife, Inc. (NYSE:CRY) manufactures, processes, and distributes medical devices and implantable living tissues used in cardiac and vascular surgical procedures. From mid-April until early October, the stock has done well, rising over 60%. Since then however, the share price dropped 20% due to a disappointing Q3 earnings report and lowered full-year guidance, resulting at least partially from the negative impact of recent hurricanes. The share price further plummeted after the company announced a $225 million acquisition of JOTEC, German-based, privately-held developer of technologically differentiated endovascular stent grafts.

CRY data by YCharts

Top Medical Stocks To Own For 2019: Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.(ARE)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Shane Hupp]

  Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc (NYSE:ARE) Director Maria C. Freire sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $128.67, for a total transaction of $386,010.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 3,344 shares in the company, valued at approximately $430,272.48. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link.

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Alexandria Real Estate Equities (NYSE:ARE) issued an update on its FY19 earnings guidance on Monday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $6.85-$7.05 for the period, compared to the Thomson Reuters consensus earnings per share estimate of $6.94. Alexandria Real Estate Equities also updated its FY 2019 guidance to $6.85-7.05 EPS.

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Aecon Group Inc. (TSE:ARE) – Stock analysts at Desjardins cut their FY2018 earnings estimates for Aecon Group in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, May 24th. Desjardins analyst B. Poirier now forecasts that the company will post earnings of $0.96 per share for the year, down from their prior forecast of $1.14. Desjardins currently has a “Buy” rating on the stock.

• [By Joseph Griffin]

  Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc (NYSE:ARE) insider Dean A. Shigenaga sold 9,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.59, for a total value of $1,166,310.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 148,645 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $19,262,905.55. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link.

Top Medical Stocks To Own For 2019: Era Group, Inc.(ERA)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Logan Wallace]

  ERA (CURRENCY:ERA) traded down 12.1% against the US dollar during the 1 day period ending at 22:00 PM ET on June 30th. One ERA coin can currently be purchased for about $0.0073 or 0.00000115 BTC on popular exchanges including CoinExchange and Cryptohub. Over the last week, ERA has traded 1.6% lower against the US dollar. ERA has a market capitalization of $0.00 and approximately $299.00 worth of ERA was traded on exchanges in the last day.

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Media stories about Era Group (NYSE:ERA) have been trending somewhat positive recently, Accern reports. Accern ranks the sentiment of media coverage by monitoring more than 20 million blog and news sources. Accern ranks coverage of public companies on a scale of negative one to one, with scores nearest to one being the most favorable. Era Group earned a media sentiment score of 0.15 on Accern’s scale. Accern also assigned headlines about the transportation company an impact score of 47.38255838638 out of 100, indicating that recent media coverage is somewhat unlikely to have an impact on the stock’s share price in the near future.

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Era Group (NYSE:ERA) was upgraded by research analysts at ValuEngine from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report released on Saturday.

Top Medical Stocks To Own For 2019: Mitek Systems, Inc.(MITK)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By ]

  Cramer was bearish on Geron (GERN) , Mitek Systems (MITK) , AK Steel Holding (AKS) , Sage Therapeutics (SAGE) and AbbVie (ABBV) .

  Search Jim Cramer's "Mad Money" trading recommendations using our exclusive "Mad Money" Stock Screener.

• [By Evan Niu, CFA]

  Shares of Mitek (NASDAQ:MITK) have plunged today, down by 17% as of 11:50 a.m. EDT, after the company announced two major executive transitions. The digital identity specialist is losing both its CEO and CFO.

• [By Shane Hupp]

  Paradigm Capital Management Inc. NY lifted its stake in shares of Mitek Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MITK) by 243.9% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 141,000 shares of the software maker’s stock after purchasing an additional 100,000 shares during the quarter. Paradigm Capital Management Inc. NY’s holdings in Mitek Systems were worth $1,255,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

• [By Motley Fool Staff]

  Many consumers prefer to deposit a check on their smartphone instead of visiting a bank branch or ATM in person. However, most banks lack the technological know-how to make this process work. That's why thousands of them have partnered with Mitek Systems (NASDAQ:MITK), a leading provider of image capture and identity verification software that makes it possible for banks to offer this must-have service to their customers.

Top Medical Stocks To Own For 2019: Lydall, Inc.(LDL)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Shane Hupp]

  Russell Investments Group Ltd. boosted its holdings in Lydall, Inc. (NYSE:LDL) by 32.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 65,955 shares of the auto parts company’s stock after purchasing an additional 16,152 shares during the period. Russell Investments Group Ltd. owned approximately 0.38% of Lydall worth $2,879,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

• [By Joseph Griffin]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Lydall (LDL)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

• [By Motley Fool Transcribers]

  Lydall Inc.  (NYSE:LDL)Q4 2018 Earnings Conference CallFeb. 26, 2019, 10:00 a.m. ET

  Contents: Prepared Remarks Questions and Answers Call Participants Prepared Remarks:

  Operator

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Northern Trust Corp lowered its position in shares of Lydall, Inc. (NYSE:LDL) by 1.6% during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 231,008 shares of the auto parts company’s stock after selling 3,798 shares during the quarter. Northern Trust Corp’s holdings in Lydall were worth $11,147,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

• [By Daniel Miller]

  Shares of Lydall (NYSE:LDL), a global manufacturer of specialty engineered products for the thermal/acoustical (primarily in vehicles) and filtration/separation markets, jumped as high as 11.9% Tuesday morning after the company released fourth-quarter results.

Top Medical Stocks To Own For 2019: Olympic Steel Inc.(ZEUS)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Olympic Steel, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZEUS) – Jefferies Financial Group boosted their Q2 2018 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Olympic Steel in a report released on Tuesday, July 10th. Jefferies Financial Group analyst S. Rosenfeld now anticipates that the basic materials company will earn $1.01 per share for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $0.90. Jefferies Financial Group also issued estimates for Olympic Steel’s Q3 2018 earnings at $0.50 EPS, Q4 2018 earnings at $0.09 EPS, FY2018 earnings at $2.29 EPS and FY2019 earnings at $2.37 EPS.

• [By Max Byerly]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Olympic Steel (ZEUS)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Headlines about Olympic Steel (NASDAQ:ZEUS) have been trending somewhat positive on Tuesday, Accern reports. Accern identifies negative and positive press coverage by monitoring more than twenty million news and blog sources in real-time. Accern ranks coverage of public companies on a scale of negative one to positive one, with scores closest to one being the most favorable. Olympic Steel earned a news sentiment score of 0.13 on Accern’s scale. Accern also gave news coverage about the basic materials company an impact score of 47.5465348320487 out of 100, meaning that recent press coverage is somewhat unlikely to have an impact on the company’s share price in the near future.

• [By Joseph Griffin]

  Olympic Steel (NASDAQ:ZEUS) was downgraded by investment analysts at ValuEngine from a “sell” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday.

Top Medical Stocks To Own For 2019: Cherokee Inc.(CHKE)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Shane Hupp]

  Cherokee (NASDAQ:CHKE) released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday. The company reported ($0.20) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the Zacks’ consensus estimate of ($0.09) by ($0.11), RTT News reports. Cherokee had a negative return on equity of 13.63% and a negative net margin of 130.24%. During the same quarter last year, the business posted ($0.07) earnings per share.

• [By Max Byerly]

  Headlines about Cherokee (NASDAQ:CHKE) have trended positive on Thursday, Accern Sentiment reports. Accern identifies negative and positive press coverage by monitoring more than 20 million blog and news sources in real-time. Accern ranks coverage of publicly-traded companies on a scale of -1 to 1, with scores closest to one being the most favorable. Cherokee earned a media sentiment score of 0.32 on Accern’s scale. Accern also assigned media stories about the company an impact score of 44.2075854049616 out of 100, indicating that recent press coverage is somewhat unlikely to have an effect on the stock’s share price in the next several days.

• [By Money Morning Staff Reports]

  Last week's top performing penny stock, Cherokee Inc. (Nasdaq: CHKE), jumped over 90% after the company secured a $40 million three-year financing agreement that will allow the company to refinance its debt.

• [By Money Morning News Team]

  The 90% gainer was Cherokee Inc. (NASDAQ: CHKE), whose skyrocketing price was the result of its securing a deal to refinance its corporate debt. The deal is a three-year agreement worth $40 million.

• [By Max Byerly]

  Cherokee (NASDAQ: CHKE) and J.Jill (NYSE:JILL) are both small-cap consumer discretionary companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, earnings, valuation, profitability, risk and dividends.

• [By Garrett Baldwin]

  Following the June FOMC meeting, silver prices are hovering at very attractive price levels. With interest rates heading higher, it's going to be a very good time for silver hounds to buy on the dip and deliver incredible profits in the months ahead. Learn more right here.

  The Top Stock Market Stories for Thursday On Thursday, the European Central Bank held its meeting in Latvia to discuss the future of its quantitative easing program. The central bank of the world's largest economic bloc said that it will likely end its quantitative easing program in December. This represents an extension beyond the current plan to end the stimulus program in September. ECB President Mario Draghi said the program would be reduced to 15 billion euros each month during the final three months of the year. Yesterday, the U.S. Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the second time in 2018. The central bank said that economic growth has been rising at a solid rate and hinted that it could raise rates two more times this year. Fed Chair Jerome Powell did raise an alarm on Wednesday after stating that companies are holding back on investment due to ongoing concerns about U.S. President Donald Trump's trade policies. Trump is expected to decide this week on whether to proceed with tariffs on about $50 billion in Chinese goods. Trade tensions are heating up again. This morning, China announced it would call off its deal to avoid a trade war if the Trump administration proceeds with tariffs on Friday morning. Tomorrow, the Trump team will decide if it will hit China with tariffs on roughly $50 billion in goods. Stocks to Watch Today: ADBE, CMCSA, TSLA, MSFT Adobe Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: ADBE) will report earnings after the bell Thursday. The software giant is expected to report earnings per share of $1.54 on top of $2.15 billion in revenue. Insider buying is alive and well at Tesla Inc. (Nasdaq: TSLA). Chair and CEO Elon Musk purchased $25 million in company stock, according to a

Top Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now

tags:WSB,VRTS,RPT,EHTH,SAFT,HSBA,

Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft FI reduced its position in shares of California Resources (NYSE:CRC) by 29.8% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 238,208 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock after selling 101,290 shares during the quarter. Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft FI’s holdings in California Resources were worth $4,085,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in California Resources by 1.4% during the 4th quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,959,318 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $57,528,000 after purchasing an additional 40,990 shares during the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp raised its holdings in California Resources by 4.0% during the 4th quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 1,812,300 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $35,231,000 after purchasing an additional 70,300 shares during the last quarter. Cyrus Capital Partners L.P. raised its holdings in California Resources by 1.1% during the 4th quarter. Cyrus Capital Partners L.P. now owns 1,494,639 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $29,055,000 after purchasing an additional 16,408 shares during the last quarter. Elephas Investment Management Ltd bought a new stake in California Resources during the 4th quarter worth about $26,082,000. Finally, Masters Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in California Resources during the 4th quarter worth about $19,440,000. 73.73% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Top Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: WSB Holdings Inc.(WSB)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Garrett Baldwin]

  Markets have been under pressure once again by the U.S. Federal Reserve. Inflation levels are going through the roof… but the people in charge of managing it have been lying to Americans for years. Now it's time to get even. Money Morning Liquidity Specialist Lee Adler has the perfect way to make a lot of money when no one is looking. Read it here.

  The Top Stock Market Stories for Wednesday In addition to Trump's concerns about China and trade, the President also stated that he is unsure whether a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un will take place as planned. Multiple media outlets this morning are questioning if the event will take place. The summit is tentatively planned for June 12. Banking stocks were on the move after Congress passed new laws designed to reduce regulations for thousands of financial institutions. The new rules will ensure that smaller banks are not facing the same strict rules as the bigger giants. The financial sector has been lobbying to changes to the Dodd-Frank Act since its inception after the 2008-09 financial crisis. Facebook Inc. (Nasdaq: FB) CEO Mark Zuckerberg met with members of the European Union on Tuesday. The CEO of the social media giant outraged European Parliament members after reportedly dodging questions about user privacy and the firm's collection of personal data. During the conversation, EU members questioned whether Facebook is a monopoly and pondered if the firm should be broken up due to antitrust concerns. Three Stocks to Watch Today: TGT, LOW, TIF Shares of Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) fell nearly 6% after the retail giant fell short of earnings expectations before the bell. The firm reported earnings per share of $1.32. This figure missed Wall Street earnings expectations by six cents. The retail giant blamed poor spring weather for its performance and said that its bottom line has been impacted by the costs of upgrading its physical locations. Lowe's Companies (NYSE: LOW) stock gained

Top Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Virtus Investment Partners Inc.(VRTS)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  BW Gestao de Investimentos Ltda. grew its holdings in Virtus Investment Partners Inc (NASDAQ:VRTS) by 12.9% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 9,490 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,082 shares during the period. BW Gestao de Investimentos Ltda. owned about 0.13% of Virtus Investment Partners worth $1,175,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

• [By Motley Fool Transcribers]

  Virtus Investment Partners Inc  (NASDAQ:VRTS)Q4 2018 Earnings Conference CallFeb. 01, 2019, 10:00 a.m. ET

  Contents: Prepared Remarks Questions and Answers Call Participants Prepared Remarks:

  Operator

• [By Joseph Griffin]

  BidaskClub lowered shares of Virtus Investment Partners (NASDAQ:VRTS) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report released on Tuesday morning.

  A number of other research firms also recently commented on VRTS. Zacks Investment Research upgraded Virtus Investment Partners from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $147.00 price objective for the company in a report on Thursday, March 15th. Sandler O’Neill restated a hold rating and set a $142.00 price objective on shares of Virtus Investment Partners in a report on Thursday, March 15th. TheStreet downgraded Virtus Investment Partners from a b rating to a c+ rating in a report on Wednesday, February 14th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Virtus Investment Partners from $136.00 to $135.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 10th. Finally, Barclays lowered their price target on Virtus Investment Partners from $140.00 to $130.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 23rd. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. Virtus Investment Partners presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $138.13.

Top Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust(RPT)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Motley Fool Transcribers]

  Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust  (NYSE:RPT)Q4 2018 Earnings Conference CallFeb. 21, 2019, 10:00 a.m. ET

  Contents: Prepared Remarks Questions and Answers Call Participants Prepared Remarks:

  Operator

• [By Max Byerly]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust (RPT)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

• [By Max Byerly]

  Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust (NYSE:RPT) was upgraded by research analysts at ValuEngine from a “strong sell” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note issued on Wednesday.

• [By Joseph Griffin]

  ILLEGAL ACTIVITY WARNING: “Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust (RPT) Releases FY19 Earnings Guidance” was originally posted by Ticker Report and is the sole property of of Ticker Report. If you are reading this piece of content on another website, it was illegally stolen and reposted in violation of US and international trademark & copyright legislation. The original version of this piece of content can be read at https://www.tickerreport.com/banking-finance/4166975/ramco-gershenson-properties-trust-rpt-releases-fy19-earnings-guidance.html.

• [By Joseph Griffin]

  Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust (NYSE:RPT) was downgraded by equities research analysts at ValuEngine from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note issued on Tuesday.

Top Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: eHealth Inc.(EHTH)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Joseph Griffin]

  ValuEngine lowered shares of eHealth (NASDAQ:EHTH) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report report published on Tuesday.

  EHTH has been the topic of several other reports. Cantor Fitzgerald boosted their price target on shares of eHealth to $22.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, May 18th. Chardan Capital initiated coverage on shares of eHealth in a report on Thursday, August 16th. They set a buy rating and a $40.00 price target on the stock. BidaskClub upgraded shares of eHealth from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, August 16th. Finally, Zacks Investment Research cut shares of eHealth from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Wednesday, August 1st. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. The stock presently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $26.86.

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Shares of eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH) got a boost, shooting up 16 percent to $18.64 as the company posted upbeat Q1 results.

  Enova International, Inc. (NYSE: ENVA) shares were also up, gaining 25 percent to $28.35 following Q1 results.

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  BidaskClub upgraded shares of eHealth (NASDAQ:EHTH) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note published on Friday morning.

  A number of other research firms have also recently issued reports on EHTH. ValuEngine raised shares of eHealth from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 2nd. Cantor Fitzgerald lifted their price target on shares of eHealth to $22.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, May 18th. Zacks Investment Research cut shares of eHealth from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 15th. Finally, TheStreet raised shares of eHealth from a d rating to a c- rating in a research note on Thursday, April 26th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. The stock presently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $24.00.

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Los Angeles Capital Management & Equity Research Inc. boosted its stake in eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ:EHTH) by 61.5% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 22,655 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 8,630 shares during the period. Los Angeles Capital Management & Equity Research Inc. owned about 0.12% of eHealth worth $501,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Top Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Safety Insurance Group Inc.(SAFT)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jordan Wathen]

  Safety Insurance Group (NASDAQ:SAFT) reported that winter weather activity and an accounting change were drags on its first-quarter results, though a lower tax rate was a net positive to the Massachusetts-based insurance company. 

• [By Max Byerly]

  Safety Insurance Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAFT) Director Frederic H. Lindeberg sold 2,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $88.36, for a total value of $176,720.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 16,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,413,760. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink.

• [By Jordan Wathen]

  A relatively wet but warm fourth quarter in the Northeast United States helped Safety Insurance Group (NASDAQ:SAFT) earn $18.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2018, a 62% improvement over the year-ago period.

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Amerisafe (NASDAQ: SAFT) and Safety Insurance Group (NASDAQ:SAFT) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, valuation, earnings, profitability, institutional ownership, risk and dividends.

Top Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: HSBC Holdings PLC (HSBA)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  HSBC (LON:HSBA) had its price target dropped by equities research analysts at Citigroup from GBX 810 ($10.78) to GBX 800 ($10.65) in a report released on Tuesday. The brokerage currently has a “buy” rating on the financial services provider’s stock. Citigroup’s price target points to a potential upside of 9.59% from the stock’s previous close.

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Morgan Stanley set a GBX 855 ($10.91) price target on HSBC (LON:HSBA) in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the financial services provider’s stock.

• [By Max Byerly]

  Credit Suisse Group set a GBX 720 ($9.32) price target on HSBC (LON:HSBA) in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday morning. The firm currently has a neutral rating on the financial services provider’s stock.