App tracker App Annie reports that consumers in Japan spent about 10% more than U.S. consumers did on all apps for smartphones and tablets in October. Japan has become the world’s number one country in app store revenue after leapfrogging over the United States. Only a year ago, U.S. consumers spent 40% more than Japanese consumers.
There has been a rapid shift in Japan from advanced feature phones to smartphones. The main driver of that shift has been mobile games. According to App Annie, Japanese consumers spent almost four times as much on gaming apps as a year ago. Spending on devices powered by Google Inc.’s (NASDAQ: GOOG) Android has quadrupled in the year to October. And Japan is the first place in the world where Google Play spending has caught up to app spending on Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhones and iPads. In the rest of the world, iOS app revenue is well over double that of Google Play on an aggregate basis.
Not only is the revenue growth due largely to the popularity of games, but it has been driven mostly by just five publishers, including messaging powerhouse LINE and Puzzle & Dragons, maker GungHo Online. Japan’s total mobile game revenue this year is expected to be about 26% of an estimated $12.2 billion in global revenue. That revenue from North America, which has three times more players, is estimated at just 25%. And the growth in Japan has yet to hit its peak. By next year, some 62% of mobile phones in Japan are expected be smartphones, compared to just 50% in the United States.
Best Penny Companies To Watch In Right Now: Six Flags Entertainment Corporation New(SIX)
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation owns and operates regional theme, water, and zoological parks. The company?s parks offers various selection of state-of-the-art and traditional thrill rides, water attractions, themed areas, concerts and shows, restaurants, game venues, and retail outlets. It owns and operates 19 parks, including 17 parks in the United States; 1 park in Mexico City, Mexico; and 1 park in Montreal, Canada. The company was formerly known as Six Flags, Inc. and changed its name to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation in April 2010. Six Flags Entertainment Corporation was founded in 1971 and is based in Grand Prairie, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Marc Bastow]
Entertainment theme park operator Six Flags (SIX) raised its quarterly dividend 4.4% to 47 cents per share, payable on Dec. 9 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 25.
SIX Dividend Yield: 5.14%
- [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]
www.sixflags.com Summer is the peak season for enjoying thrill rides and family-friendly attractions at amusement and theme parks. Summer may also be a good time to approach these havens of coasters and cotton candy as investing ideas. Let's go over a few reasons why the fundamentals are strong for the industry. 1. Big Thrills Add Up to Big Yields Six Flags (SIX) and Cedar Fair (FUN) -- the country's two largest regional amusement park operators -- combined to entertain 49.6 million guests last year, and 80 percent of those visits came between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Many publicly traded amusement park operators pay out hefty quarterly distributions. Cedar Fair can get the credit for that pocket-happy trend. It's organized as a limited partnership, distributing most of its income to its stakeholders. Cedar Fair units currently yield 5.3 percent. When Six Flags returned as a public company four years ago, it decided to also declare beefy dividends. It now yields a healthy 4.5 percent. Even marine life park operator SeaWorld (SEAS) decided to ride the wave when it went public in last year. Its stock packs a 2.8 percent yield. Leading theme park operators Disney (DIS) and Universal Studios parent Comcast (CMCSK) aren't as generous with their payouts, with yields of 1 percent and 1.7 percent, respectively. 2. Parks are Making Big Investments for the Future Gated attractions aren't hesitating to make big investments that will pay off in the coming years. Just a few days ago, Indiana's Holiday World announced that it will spend $22 million for an ambitious expansion next summer that includes the country's first launched wing coaster. If a small yet critically acclaimed family-owned park can justify that kind of investment, one can only imagine what the larger operators will do. Universal Orlando has made a nine-figure investment this summer in its bar-raising Diagon Alley expansion. Despite some operating hiccups with the Harry Potter-themed area's flagshi
Best Japanese Stocks To Watch Right Now: Zoltek Companies Inc (ZOLT)
Zoltek Companies, Inc. is a holding company, which operates through wholly owned subsidiaries, Zoltek Corporation, Zoltek Zrt., Zoltek de Mexico SA de CV, Zoltek de Occidente SA de CV, Engineering Technology Corporation (Entec Composite Machines), Zoltek Properties, Inc., and Zoltek Automotive, LLC. Zoltek Corporation (Zoltek) develops, manufactures and markets carbon fibers and technical fibers in the United States. The Company is an applied technology and advanced materials company. It commercialization of carbon fiber through composites used in a range of commercial products, which it sells under the Panex trade name. In addition to manufacturing carbon fiber, it produces an intermediate product, a stabilized and oxidized acrylic fiber used in flame- and heat-resistant applications, which it sells under the Pyron trade name. During fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 (fiscal 2011), its net sales to Vestas Wind Systems, a wind turbine manufacturer represented % of its net sales. In October 2011, Zoltek purchased a building in St. Peters, Missouri to house its prepreg operations.
Zoltek Zrt. is a Hungarian subsidiary that manufactures and markets carbon fibers and technical fibers and manufactures acrylic fiber precursor raw material used in production of carbon fibers and technical fibers. Zoltek de Mexico SA de CV and Zoltek de Occidente SA de CV are Mexican subsidiaries that manufacture carbon fiber and precursor raw material. Entec Composite Machines manufactures and markets filament winding and pultrusion equipment used in the production composite parts. The Company�� sales markets are in Europe and the United States. The Company has manufacturing plants in Nyergesujfalu, Hungary, Guadalajara, Mexico, Abilene, Texas and St. Charles, Missouri. Its Texas plant houses carbon fiber manufacturing lines and value-added processing capabilities. Its Missouri plant is engaged in the production of technical fibers for aircraft brake and other friction applications and also produces limited! amounts of carbon fibers. In addition, it has facilities in Salt Lake City, Utah where it designs and builds composite manufacturing equipment and produce resin pre-impregnated carbon fibers, called prepregs. It performs certain downstream processing, such as weaving, knitting, blending with other fibers, chopping and milling and preparation of pre-form, pre-cut stacks of fabric. In addition, its Salt Lake City-based Entec Composite Machines subsidiary designs and builds composite manufacturing equipment and markets the equipment along with manufacturing technology and materials. It also provides composite design and engineering for development of applications for carbon fiber reinforced composites.
The Company competes with Hexcel Corporation, Cytec Industries, Toray Group, Toho Tenax, Mitsubishi Chemical and SGL Carbon.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Maxx Chatsko]
Shares of world-leading carbon fiber manufacturer�Zoltek� (NASDAQ: ZOLT ) �have been pushed to new highs after a frantic attempt by Quinpario Partners to acquire a large position in the company. Despite being turned away by management, the fund does make valid points about the company's general lack of progress given its global scope and potential. Investors in this business built around a game-changing material may be worrying whether shares are about to fall back to earth. In the following video, Fool.com contributor Maxx Chatsko gives at least one reason for investors to think that shares can hold their current levels -- or even trek higher.
- [By Maxx Chatsko]
3. Zoltek (NASDAQ: ZOLT )
Zoltek was an interesting investment at the beginning of the year for futurist investors. The company is one of the largest manufacturers of carbon fiber in the world. In fact, its lightweight and high-strength carbon fiber is used almost exclusively in the largest wind turbine blades around the world and played a major role in America's 20-fold improvement in breezy energy capacity since 2000. This material of the future has many other uses and potential uses as well, but Zoltek has never really gained the confidence of the market in any big way: Its market cap was hovering near $300 million at the start of the year. - [By Lauren Pollock]
Toray Industries Inc.(3402.TO), the global market leader in carbon fiber, agreed to buy smaller rival Zoltek Cos.(ZOLT) in a deal valued at $584 million. The Japanese synthetic-fiber maker offered $16.75 a share, a 9.5% discount to Thurday’s close. Zoltek has struggled amid what it has called a cyclical downturn in the wind energy market. Zoltek shares dropped 10% to $16.58 in light premarket trading.
Best Japanese Stocks To Watch Right Now: Pure Cycle Corporation(PCYO)
Pure Cycle Corporation, a vertically integrated water and wastewater service provider, engages in the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of water and wastewater systems in the Denver metropolitan area. The company contracts with landowners, developers, home builders, cities, and municipalities using a water portfolio consisting of surface and ground water supplies, surface and aquifer storage, and reclaimed water supplies. It withdraws, treats, stores, and delivers water to customers; collects, treats, stores, and reuses wastewater; and treats and delivers reclaimed water for irrigation use by customers. The company offers water services to approximately 258 single family equivalent (SFE) water connections, as well as 157 SFE wastewater connections located in southeastern metropolitan area of Denver. It has water assets in the Denver metropolitan area, Colorado; Arkansas River Valley in southern Colorado; and on the western slope of Colorado. The company was founded in 1976 and is based in Denver, Colorado.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Among the sector stocks, Pure Cycle (NASDAQ: PCYO) was down more than 1.3 percent, while Korea Electric Power (NYSE: KEP) tumbled around one percent.
- [By Garrett Cook]
On Wednesday, the utilities sector proved to be a source of strength for the market. Leading the sector was strength from Korea Electric Power (NYSE: KEP) and Pure Cycle (NASDAQ: PCYO).
- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Leading and Lagging Sectors
Friday morning, the utilities sector proved to be a source of strength for the market. Leading the sector was strength from Huaneng Power International (NYSE: HNP) and Pure Cycle (NASDAQ: PCYO). In trading on Friday, healthcare shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.28 percent.
Best Japanese Stocks To Watch Right Now: Washington Real Estate Investment Trust(WRE)
Washington Real Estate Investment Trust is an equity real estate investment trust (REIT). The company engages in the ownership, operation, and development of real properties. The firm invests in real estate markets of the greater Washington D.C. metro region. It focuses on office, medical office, industrial/flex space, retail, and multifamily real estate investments. Washington Real Estate Investment Trust was founded in 1960 and is based in Rockville, Maryland.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Duprey]
Commercial and residential income-producing property REIT�Washington Real Estate Investment Trust (NYSE: WRE ) announced yesterday its third-quarter dividend of $0.30 per share, the same rate it's paid for the past four quarters.
Best Japanese Stocks To Watch Right Now: WageWorks Inc (WAGE)
WageWorks, Inc., incorporated on January 28, 2000, is an on-demand provider of tax-advantaged programs for consumer-directed health, commuter and other employee spending account benefits (CDBs), in the United States. The Company administers and operates a broad array of CDBs, including spending account management programs such as health and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs), and commuter benefits, such as transit and parking programs. The Company delivers its CDB programs through a scalable delivery model that employer clients and their employee participants may access through a standard Web browser on any Internet-enabled device, including computers, smart phones and other mobile devices such as tablet computers. In January 2013, the Company acquired Benefit Concepts, Inc.
The Company focuses on providing CDB programs to employer clients of any size. It provides marketing programs that are designed to maxmize employee participation in its employer clients��CDB offerings. The Company markets and sells its CDB programs through multiple channels, including direct sales to enterprises, direct sales and through brokers to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), and direct sales to industry purchasing and affiliate groups and through channel partners.
Its SMB distribution channel complements its enterprise sales channel and consists of third party advisors, including insurance agents and benefits consultants who typically have two to three enterprise clients and several hundred smaller employer clients, and institutional resellers, including regional and national insurance carriers, health plans, payroll providers, commercial banks and third-party administrators (TPAs). The Company also sells its programs through group purchasing organizations in which the Company negotiate a standard service contract with group purchasing organizations that are formed by industry specific employers to cov! er their members.
The Company competes with TASC, Inc, Aetna, UHC, Aon Hewitt, ADP, Ceridian, CDBs and Bank of America.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
On Wednesday, small cap employee flexible spending account facilitator Wageworks Inc (NYSE: WAGE) rose 12.22% despite a secondary offering that effectively rewarded insiders plus the stock has tripled since last March. However, Wageworks��CEO recently said in a�conference call last week that he believes the�private health care exchanges related to Obamacare are expanding�the company���market plus WAGE also raised its forecast for full-year growth. So�does that make this small cap a buy?�
Best Japanese Stocks To Watch Right Now: Rio Tinto Plc(RIO)
Rio Tinto plc engages in finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. The company produces aluminum products, including bauxite, alumina, and aluminum; copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, and nickel; diamonds; minerals, such as borates, titanium dioxide feedstocks, high purity iron, metal powders, zircon, and rutile; thermal and coking coal, and uranium; and iron ore and salt. It primarily operates in Australia, North America, South America, Asia, Europe, and southern Africa. The company was founded in 1873 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Rio Tinto plc is a subsidiary of Rio Tinto Group.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Levisohn]
It’s been a bad day for iron miners like iron miners like BHP Billiton (BHP), Rio Tinto (RIO) and Vale (VALE) after Morgan Stanley cut its iron-ore price estimates. For Cliffs Natural Resources (CLF), the damage could be even worse.
- [By Jon Wallis]
Digging up value
Rio Tinto� (LSE: RIO ) (NYSE: RIO ) , along with other mining companies, hasn't had a good time over the past few years. Demand for metals and minerals varies with economic cycles, so if economies get depressed -- as those of most of the world have been since the credit crunch -- the shares of mining companies tend to get depressed, too. Rio Tinto's share price stood at over 拢60 in May 2008, but had collapsed to under 拢15 a mere seven months later, as the global financial crisis unfolded. It's recovered some since then, but still lags substantially behind the level of the FTSE 100. - [By Rich Duprey]
Rio Tinto (NYSE: RIO ) recently announced its intention to sell off its Australian coal assets while also seeking "strategic alternatives" for its copper and gold mines. Despite global financial turmoil, gold is incongruously slipping as a safe haven, as billionaire investor George Soros recently pointed out.
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