After the U.S. Federal Reserve gave investors a pretty big hint last week that the end of quantitative easing could be in sight, precious metals -- including ETFs SPDR Gold Trust (NYSEMKT: GLD ) and iShares Silver Trust (NYSEMKT: SLV ) -- got hammered. While the short-term outlooks remain murky, the longer-term view is far less certain. A strong dollar and gold prices at their lowest levels in years are giving investors pause, but the picture must be weighed carefully.
In the following video, Fool.com contributor Doug Ehrman discusses factors on each side of the gold debate that are critical for investors to consider before deploying capital in the sector.
Aided by the Fed action last week, and with the American markets coming off new highs, investors and pundits alike are skeptical about future growth. They�shouldn't�be. Many global regions are still stuck in neutral, and their resurgence could result in windfall profits for select companies. A recent Motley Fool report, "3 Strong Buys for a Global Economic Recovery," outlines three companies that could take off when the global economy gains steam. Click here to read the full report!
Top 10 Defensive Companies To Buy For 2015: BofI Holding Inc.(BOFI)
BofI Holding, Inc. operates as the holding company for BofI Federal Bank that provides various consumer and wholesale banking services primarily through the Internet in the United States. It accepts various deposit products, including demand deposit, savings, and certificates of deposit accounts. It also provides loan products, which consist of single family loans, home equity loans, multifamily loans, commercial real estate loans, recreational vehicle and automobile loans, and overdraft lines of credit In addition, the company offers online bill payment, interbank transfer, mobile banking, text message banking, ATM cards or VISA debit cards, and overdraft protection services. It serves approximately 36,000 retail deposit and loan customers across 50 states. BofI Holding, Inc. was incorporated in 1999 and is based in San Diego, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Equities Trading UP
BofI Holding (NASDAQ: BOFI) shares shot up 7.44 percent to $79.98 after H&R Block agreed to sell its banking business to BofI Federal Bank for an undisclosed amount. - [By John Maxfield]
In this day and age of Internet and mobile banking, it's imperative that the nation's traditional banks make progress on these fronts lest competitors like Bank of Internet (NASDAQ: BOFI ) continue to take market share. Just since 2008, for instance, Bank of Internet has nearly doubled the size of its balance sheet as customers flock to its above-average savings account yields.
- [By Jay Jenkins]
BofI Holding's� (NASDAQ: BOFI ) �subsidiary, Bank of the Internet, is a $2.8 billion online-only bank and an excellent case study in the benefits of engaging customers primarily online. Without a large branch network, the bank is able to produce a stellar efficiency ratio -- a measure of non-interest expenses to revenue -- of just 36.3% as of March 31, 2013. And, most importantly, the bank is viable as a business; it has been in operation for 12 years, has 40,000 customers with either a loan or deposit account, is profitable, and grew its loan portfolio by 37% year over year as of March 31, 2013. For larger national banks, Bank of the Internet is a proof of concept: Financial services can profitably exist online.
Best Integrated Utility Companies To Watch For 2014: Old Republic International Corporation(ORI)
Old Republic International Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides various insurance and mortgage guaranty products in North America. The company operates in three segments: General Insurance, Mortgage Guaranty, and Title Insurance. The General Insurance segment provides liability insurance coverages to businesses, government, and other institutions in commercial construction, forest products, energy, general manufacturing, and financial services industries; and transportation, including trucking and general aviation industries. It provides various insurance products, such as automobile extended warranty, aviation, commercial automobile insurance, general liability, home warranty, inland marine, travel accident, and workers? compensation, as well as liability coverage for claims arising from the acts of owners or employees, and protection for the physical assets of businesses. This segment also offers financial indemnity products, such as consumer credit indemnity , errors and omissions/directors and officers, guaranteed asset protection, and surety, as well as bonds that cover the exposures for losses of monies, or debt and equity securities due to acts of employee dishonesty. The Mortgage Guaranty segment insures first mortgage loans, primarily on residential properties incorporating one-to-four family dwelling units to mortgage bankers, brokers, commercial banks, and savings institutions. The Title Insurance segment provides lenders' and owners' title insurance policies to real estate purchasers and investors based upon searches of the public records. It also provides escrow closing and construction disbursement services; and real estate information products, national default management services, and services related to real estate transfers and loan transactions. Old Republic International Corporation markets its products directly, as well as through insurance agents and brokers. The company was founded in 1887 and is based in Chi cago, Illinois.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Fredrik Arnold]
Ten Champion dogs that promised the biggest dividend yields into July included firms representing five of nine market sectors. The top stocks were three of five from the financial sector: Universal Health Realty Trust (UHT); Mercury General Corp. (MCY); Old Republic Int'l (ORI). The other two financial firms, HCP Inc., and United Bankshares Inc. (UBSI), placed sixth and eighth.
Best Integrated Utility Companies To Watch For 2014: King George Financial Corp (KGF)
King George Financial Corporation is a Canada-based company. The Company operates in the area of commercial and residential real estate investment holding and development, as well as medium to long term investment in real estate and hotel related marketable securities. The Company has four segments: rental operation, real estate development, management and finance services, and others. Its principle assets include an office building in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, held through its 100% subsidiary 905 W. Pender Investments Ltd; real estate located in the City of Surrey, British Columbia, held through its subsidiary 0819277 BC Ltd, 0788607 BC Ltd, and 50% ownership interest in Surrey Campus Residences Joint Venture. The real estate assets consist of residential building lots, and investment in common shares of Allied Hotel Properties Inc., a hotel ownership and management company, and United Malayan Land BHD (UML), a Malaysian real estate development company. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sofia Horta e Costa]
Kingfisher Plc (KGF) declined 5.7 percent to 373.6 pence, its biggest loss in more than two years, after Chief Executive Officer Ian Cheshire said consumer confidence in France ��s still weak with no obvious signs of an imminent improvement.�� Europe�� largest home-improvement retailer also reported same-store sales growth of 0.4 percent for its B&Q chain in the U.K. and Ireland, missing analysts��estimates. France accounted for about 40 percent of its sales and the U.K. for 41 percent, data compiled by Bloomberg showed.
Best Integrated Utility Companies To Watch For 2014: Dendreon Corporation(DNDN)
Dendreon Corporation, a biotechnology company, engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of therapeutics to enhance cancer treatment options for patients. The company offers active cellular immunotherapy and small molecule product candidates to treat various cancers. Its product candidates comprise Provenge (sipuleucel-T), an active cellular immunotherapy for the treatment of metastatic, castrate-resistant prostate cancer; DN24-02, an investigational active immunotherapy for the treatment of patients with bladder, breast, ovarian, and other solid tumors expressing HER2/neu; and TRPM8, a small molecule agonist to transient receptor potential ion channel, for multiple cancers. The company also has a range of products in preclinical studies, which include Carcinoembryonic antigen for the treatment of lung, colon, and breast cancer; and Carbonic AnhydraseIX for the treatment of kidney cancer. Dendreon Corporation was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in S eattle, Washington.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]
Dendreon is suffering from lower product sales, which is due to increased competition. Costs are too high, and the company culture is awful. On the other hand, Dendreon narrowed its loss in Q1 on a year-over-year basis, and it expects conditions to improve. While that�� an expected statement from any company that�� performing poorly, and while Dendreon currently relies heavily on Provenge,�Dendreon isn�� a one-trick pony.�It still has several other drugs in the pipeline. It should also be noted that Dendreon has been on the brink of disaster many times throughout its history. It has clawed its way back to life in every instance. Perhaps it has nine lives. If that�� the case, it has used up four of them so far.
- [By James E. Brumley]
If the idea sounds too radical to be true, it isn't. The idea is being employed by several biotechnology developers, including the aforementioned CEL-SCI and Amgen; they each have such immunotherapies in the works. In fact, there's already one major cancer-fighting immunotherapy on the market.... Provenge, from Dendreon (NASDAQ:DNDN). Although Provenge has been something of a disappointment in terms of sales - possibly due to modest efficacy relative to a huge price tag - and DNDN shares have struggled for a while, the fact that there's such a drug on the market validates the entire premise; the fact that other key players like Amgen and CEL-SCI are working on their own cancer-immunology drugs is just icing on the cake.
Best Integrated Utility Companies To Watch For 2014: AutoZone Inc.(AZO)
AutoZone, Inc. retails and distributes automotive replacement parts and accessories. The company?s stores offer various products for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products. Its automotive hard parts product line includes A/C compressors, batteries and accessories, belts and hoses, carburetors, chassis, clutches, CV axles, engines, fuel pumps, fuses, ignition, lighting, mufflers, starters and alternators, water pumps, radiators, and thermostats. The company?s maintenance items include antifreeze and windshield washer fluid; brake drums, rotors, shoes, and pads; chemicals, including brake and power; steering fluid, oil, and fuel additives; oil and transmission fluids; oil, air, fuel, and transmission filters; oxygen sensors; paint and accessories; refrigerant and accessories; shock absorbers and struts; spark plugs and wires; and windshield wiper s. Its discretionary product line comprises air fresheners, cell phone accessories, drinks and snacks, floor mats and seat covers, mirrors, performance products, protectants and cleaners, sealants and adhesives, steering wheel covers, stereos and radios, tools, and wash and wax products. The company also offers commercial sales program that provides the delivery of parts and other products to local, regional, and national repair garages, dealers, service stations, and public sector accounts. In addition, it sells the ALLDATA brand automotive diagnostic and repair software through the Website, alldata.com; and automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products through the Website, autozone.com. As of May 7, 2011, the company operated 4,467 stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, and 261 stores in Mexico. AutoZone, Inc. was founded in 1979 and is based in Memphis, Tennessee.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sue Chang and Ben Eisen]
O��eilly Automotive Inc. (ORLY) �shares advanced 9.2% after it reported fourth-quarter earnings of $1.40 a share, above the $1.33 forecast by analysts. Shares of automotive parts retailer AutoZone Inc. (AZO) �rose 5.5%.
- [By Jonas Elmerraji]
Car parts retailer AutoZone (AZO) has been riding some big secular tailwinds for the last few years. As I write, the average passenger vehicle on the road in the U.S. today is 11.4 years old, the oldest average fleet age since automotive data firm Polk began collecting stats. With older cars on the road, costs to keep those cars running are climbing too – and that's helping to drive sales at AutoZone.
AutoZone owns close to 4,700 stores across the U.S., and the firm has been expanding its reach into Latin America in recent years, with another 300 locations in Mexico and four Brazilian locations. It's not just do-it-yourselfers that frequent AutoZone's stores; the firm has more than 3,000 commercial counters inside its retail stores, providing parts for repair shops and service stations. That double-pronged approach means that AZO is able to book part sales for smaller DIY jobs alongside repair jobs that need to be done at a shop.
The decision to expand into Mexico provides some big growth opportunities at AZO, as does its much smaller position in Brazil. Both of those markets have large vehicle fleets that are older on average than those in the U.S., so as AZO's ex-U.S. business scales up, it should begin to materially contribute to the larger firm.
Right now, investors hate this stock. AZO's short interest ratio comes in at 12.16.
Read More: 3 Big-Volume Stocks to Trade for Breakouts
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