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The Hartford To Announce Second Quarter Financial Results On July 29

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The Hartford To Announce Second Quarter Financial Results On July 29

Webcast to be held July 30 at 9 a.m. EDT

HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Hartford will release its second quarter financial results on Monday, July 29, 2013, following the close of the market.


The company will host a webcast to discuss its second quarter financial results on Tuesday, July 30 at 9 a.m. EDT. The webcast will be available on the investor relations section of the company's website, http://ir.thehartford.com.

About The Hartford

With more than 200 years of expertise, The Hartford (NYS: HIG) is a leader in property and casualty insurance, group benefits and mutual funds. The company is widely recognized for its service excellence, sustainability practices, trust and integrity. More information on the company and its financial performance is available at www.thehartford.com.

HIG-F

Some of the statements in this release may be considered forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution investors that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially. Investors should consider the important risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ. These important risks and uncertainties include those discussed in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no obligation to update this release, which speaks as of the date issued.



The Hartford
Media Contact:
Shannon Lapierre, 860-547-5624
shannon.lapierre@thehartford.com
or
Investor Contacts:
Sabra Purtill, 860-547-8691
sabra.purtill@thehartford.com
or
Sean Rourke, 860-547-5688
sean.rourke@thehartford.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Connecticut

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article The Hartford To Announce Second Quarter Financial Results On July 29 originally appeared on Fool.com.

Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

 

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Banks May Suffer, but Rising Mortgage Rates Won't Shake Housing

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When megabanks JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo reported second-quarter earnings late last week, the effect of skyrocketing mortgage interest rates was front and center. Both banks reported a drop in refinance and new mortgage loan activity, and Wells reported many fewer loans in its pipeline compared to last quarter. JPMorgan noted that refinancing could drop by 40% in the next half-year, and the overall slackening of the demand for mortgages might be worse than analysts have predicted.

Does this mean that the slowly recovering housing market is stumbling, right along with rising rates? Apparently not, and most experts seem to agree that it will continue to thrive, despite higher mortgage rates.

Higher home prices, looser credit
Despite JPMorgan's glum predictions regarding its future mortgage revenue, its own analysts have opined that housing will survive the new rate environment. Higher home prices, fewer foreclosures clogging the market, and softening lending standards will keep housing hopping, according to a recent report.


Are looser lending rules truly in the offing? Many think so, and it's a sensible deduction to make. With other avenues of mortgage revenue drying up, banks will have more incentive to relax some of the extremely strict rules they put in place after the mortgage crisis. As my colleague John Maxfield recently noted, this phenomenon is an agreeable consequence of rising mortgage rates.

Others, like Paul Willen, a senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, concur. Just last month, Willen stated that, as home prices rise, banks will see their way clear to writing more loans, rather than take in less revenue. Similarly, real estate website Zillow has seen an increase in lending to consumers making smaller down payments, while the chief economist at CoreLogic has observed a movement back toward the loan parameters lenders used during the 1990s.

Confidence is high
Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke commented last month that rising interest rates are the result of an optimistic outlook on housing in particular and the economy in general. Optimism is a good thing, of course, and several recent developments appear to support his view.

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, which measures builders' outlook for the next six-month period, rose six points this month, to 57 -- which the group asserts is the highest level seen since the beginning of 2006.

Perhaps reflective of optimism in the broader real estate market is Realtor.com's announcement that housing inventory increased to its highest point in June, to 1.9 million homes for sale, representing an increase of 4.3% over the past year.

Even Fannie Mae is chiming in. The agency's Vice President of the Economic and Strategic Research Group wrote a commentary on Fannie's website, using historical data to show how the current rise in interest rates will likely not derail the housing recovery.

Time will tell whether these harbingers of good tidings pan out, but, if they do, I think it will be the beginning of a true housing recovery. After all, a market dominated by distressed properties and overly tight credit regulations will never get the housing sector -- and the greater economy -- back on its feet. So, if it takes higher mortgage rates to get us there, I'm all for it.

The Motley Fool's chief investment officer has selected his No. 1 stock for this year. Find out which stock it is in the special free report: "The Motley Fool's Top Stock for 2013." Just click here to access the report and find out the name of this under-the-radar company.

The article Banks May Suffer, but Rising Mortgage Rates Won't Shake Housing originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Amanda Alix has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Wells Fargo and Zillow. The Motley Fool owns shares of JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Zillow. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

 

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Airlines Have No Appetite for Fare Hikes

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Last Thursday, United Continental attempted to raise fares by $10 per round-trip on most routes within the continental U.S. This represented the eighth time in 2013 that an airline instituted a broad-based fare increase, but the first since Delta Air Lines tried to raise fares in April.

However, by Monday, United had rolled back the fare increase after other carriers -- particularly Southwest Airlines -- did not match it. After this failure, airlines have a pretty poor "batting average" this year in terms of price increases; of the eight attempted fare hikes this year, just two have stuck!

Clearly, airlines have no appetite for fare hikes right now due to sluggish demand. With oil prices starting to creep up again, this could crimp profitability during the second half of 2013.


A legacy of fare hikes
The airline industry's renaissance over the last few years can be attributed in part to improved capacity discipline and pricing power. Even though oil prices rose steeply from 2009 to 2012, most of the major airlines were able to stay profitable by cutting unprofitable routes when necessary and raising fares on the remaining ones.

The fare increases occurred in waves; either all the major carriers would raise airfares, or none of them would. Since most travelers are very sensitive to price, no airline wants to have its prices consistently $10 higher than competitors.

In 2011, airlines attempted to raise airfares 22 times; of those attempts, nine were successful (or 10, according to some sources). Last year, airlines attempted 15 broad-based fare hikes, seven of which were successful. Thus, over those two years, nearly half of all fare hikes were successful. By contrast, airlines have not tried to raise fares as frequently this year, and have succeeded just twice.

Have we reached the breaking point?
There are a few good explanations for why airlines have had a harder time raising fares this year. First, having come into the year with higher fares (due to the past two years of fare hikes), there was less need for further fare increases. Second, while rising oil prices provided an impetus for frequent fare hikes in 2011 and (to a lesser extent) 2012, oil prices have remained relatively stable for most of 2013. Third, demand has been very uneven this year. While the airlines had a strong performance in June, most had to resort to discounting in order to fill seats in April and May.

In fact, airlines may have reached a breaking point with customers. Many travelers are simply not willing to pay any more for airline tickets. Peak season demand still seems fairly good, but airlines are having trouble filling seats at off-peak times without resorting to discounting. Customers' reluctance to swallow additional airfare increases has finally put a lid on the endless cycle of fare hikes.

The catch
Failed attempts to raise airfares are a routine part of the airline business. What makes this failure so interesting is the fact that oil prices recently started to creep up again. After bouncing around near $100 for most of the spring, Brent crude oil prices have spiked to $108 in the last three weeks.

Brent Crude Oil Spot Price Chart

Brent Crude Oil Spot Price, data by YCharts

In previous years, rising oil prices have provided an impetus to fare hikes. Since jet fuel is a big cost driver for the airlines, there was usually a consensus within the industry to raise ticket prices along with oil prices. Now, that logic seems to be breaking down. In fact, none of the other major carriers supported United's fare increase. By contrast, in 2011 and 2012, Southwest was the only airline to frequently oppose fare increases.

Foolish conclusion
So what does this failed fare hike mean for the airlines? If oil prices soon retreat, or airlines manage to raise fares within the next few weeks, the impact of this failed fare increase would be minimal. However, if oil prices remain elevated (and especially if they rise further from here), airlines will start to feel pressure on their bottom lines if airfares remain flat.

The stock market has recently become much more accepting of airlines, leading to spectacular gains for airline investors in 2013. However, the major airlines rebuilt their profitability through a consistent policy of raising fares in line with costs. If they are unable to continue doing so, major airlines could see a big drop-off in stock performance.

Major airlines may be about to hit some turbulence that dampens their stock performances. But two airlines are breaking all the rules by keeping costs low and avoiding direct competition -- leading to enviable profits. Click here to learn how these two airlines are leading a revolution in the industry, and discover whether they can keep delivering big gains for shareholders!

The article Airlines Have No Appetite for Fare Hikes originally appeared on Fool.com.

Adam Levine-Weinberg is short shares of United Continental Holdings and is long September 2013 $33 puts on United Continental Holdings. The Motley Fool recommends Southwest Airlines. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

 

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The Real Reason Stocks Perked Up This Morning

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Every eye on Wall Street this morning is focused on Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, who began giving his twice-yearly congressional testimony before the House Financial Services Committee this morning. With pundits scrutinizing Bernanke's words in search of clarification on the timing of the eventual reduction in the Fed's long-standing quantitative-easing program, the market hasn't shown much reaction to the usual balancing act of trying to prepare investors for tapering while avoiding a panic like the one that hit the bond market last month. As of 11 a.m. EDT, the Dow Jones Industrials are up a modest 20 points, while broader market measures are moderately higher.

But irrespective of Bernanke's comments, the real reason the stock market is poised to advance is that U.S. economic conditions have improved and appear likely to continue improving. Even in light of rising interest rates that could have hurt parts of its business, Bank of America has climbed 1.5% on a 63% jump in its second-quarter profit. The cost-cutting measures B of A has made are just one example of the huge gains in efficiency that we've seen across corporate America, and it's paying off in higher profit margins and rising earnings. In addition, as the employment picture starts to get brighter, consumer-driven businesses have started to rebound more sharply, and that in turn should filter through to more industrially focused companies as well.

Admittedly, not every company in the Dow is responding favorably today. American Express has dropped 4% in advance of its earnings release after the close today, as one analyst downgraded the company's stock in light of high valuations. Analyst firm Buckingham also said the potential for a cap on transaction fees that the European Union is considering imposing could hurt the card company's profits.


McDonald's has fallen more than 1% on a downgrade from Janney Capital, which cut earnings expectations by half a percent and reduced same-store sales estimates for June and July. The fast-food giant has struggled to keep growth up despite headwinds in some international markets and increased competition within the U.S. market.

On the whole, though, investors appear to take the Fed at its word when it says it won't change its accommodative stance more quickly than the market can handle. For investors, that's good news for right now and for the long run as well.

Millions of Americans have waited on the sidelines since the market meltdown in 2008 and 2009, too scared to invest and put their money at further risk. Yet those who have stayed out of the market have missed out on huge gains and put their financial futures in jeopardy. In our brand-new special report "Your Essential Guide to Start Investing Today," The Motley Fool's personal finance experts show you why investing is so important and what you need to do to get started. Click here to get your copy today -- it's absolutely free.

The article The Real Reason Stocks Perked Up This Morning originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Dan Caplinger owns warrants on Bank of America. You can follow him on Twitter @DanCaplinger. The Motley Fool recommends American Express, Bank of America, and McDonald's. The Motley Fool owns shares of Bank of America and McDonald's. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

 

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Earnings Calls Are Exciting Again

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The death of the quarterly conference call was premature.

Yahoo! may have disappointed investors yesterday by posting weak display advertising results and tweaking its full-year revenue guidance marginally lower, but at least it looked good while it happened.

For the first time ever, Yahoo! chose to host its earnings call as a video conference that could be streamed live online.


CEO Marissa Mayer and CFO Ken Goldman sat in a studio set with a slide-spewing monitor between them.

It would've been great if the news had been a little better, but at least you realize that Mayer is trying to establish a connection with investors that failed to materialize with previous CEOs at the company.

It's not just Yahoo! raising the ante here.

When Netflix reports next week, it will also shift to a live video conference call format. However, it won't just be the video service's CEO and CFO breaking down the past three months for viewers. BTIG Research analyst Rich Greenfield and CNBC's Julia Boorstin will be on hand to moderate the discussion, taking in questions that are emailed in ahead of time or posted on Twitter.

Back in April, Zillow became the first company to solicit investor questions ahead of the conference call via Twitter and Facebook. The fast-growing travel portal has always fancied itself a trendsetter. It became the first company with a single letter ticker symbol to list on Nasdaq.

Remember when conference calls were becoming so unfashionable that even CEOs weren't showing up? A lot of companies were hosting their quarterly updates, letting their CFOs and lesser executives do all of the talking.

Well, the conference call matters again, and CEOs are using social media tools to get noticed.

If Zillow can take questions from Twitter, Netflix can come back three months later and do the same thing -- and stream it live with a full video production crew.

These three companies also have something else in common beyond raising the game of what conference calls can be: All three stocks happen to be on fire.

Yahoo! has nearly doubled off of its 52-week low, and it's the slacker here. Zillow has more than doubled and Netflix is a five-bagger off their 52-week lows.

This doesn't mean that a company that fires up a webcam at its next earnings call or begins sifting through Twitter hashtags for questions will be a market winner. However, in an investment world where successful companies are copied, it's a safe bet that this is just a taste of things to come.

It's incredible to think just how much of our digital and technological lives are almost entirely shaped and molded by just a handful of companies like Yahoo! and Netflix. Find out "Who Will Win the War Between the 5 Biggest Tech Stocks?" in The Motley Fool's latest free report, which details the knock-down, drag-out battle being waged by the five kings of tech. Click here to keep reading.

The article Earnings Calls Are Exciting Again originally appeared on Fool.com.

Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz owns shares of Netflix. The Motley Fool recommends Netflix and Zillow. The Motley Fool owns shares of Netflix and Zillow. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

 

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Aetna Names Mark LaBorde to Head Southeast Region

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Aetna Names Mark LaBorde to Head Southeast Region

­­ New Local Management Teams Announced ­­

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Mark LaBorde, an experienced health care executive with more than 25 years in sales, network and management positions with Aetna (NYSE: AET), has been named the company's new Southeast Region president.


LaBorde will have overall management responsibility for regional strategies and profit and loss for Aetna's Middle Markets, Small Group, Individual, Public & Labor, and Medicare businesses. He also will oversee the integration of Aetna and Coventry Health Care operations in the region. Aetna completed its acquisition of Coventry in May. LaBorde, who is a native of Jacksonville, Fla., most recently served as Aetna's Florida president.

Following his appointment, LaBorde announced the new Southeast Region leadership team, which will have local market responsibility for implementing Aetna's business strategies.

  • Tracy Baker will head Arkansas, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
  • Christopher Ciano will head Florida.
  • Tom Grote will head Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
  • Angela Meoli will head Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi.

"We've assembled an exceptional team, drawn from the best management talent of both Aetna and Coventry," said LaBorde. "Together, we'll work to execute our local strategy and meet our sales and network goals."

During his career with Aetna, LaBorde has held a variety of field and corporate positions, primarily in sales and customer service. He graduated from Emory University in Atlanta. He holds a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, in conjunction with the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Dean's Council of the School of Health, University of North Florida and a member of the Florida Health Insurance Advisory Board (FHIAB) chaired by the state insurance commissioner.

LaBorde is a past president of the Board of Directors for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of North Florida.

About Aetna

Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving an estimated 44 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services, workers' compensation administrative services and health information technology services. Aetna's customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com.



Media Contact:
Aetna
Walt Cherniak, 410-401-9490
cherniakjrw@aetna.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Florida

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Aetna Names Mark LaBorde to Head Southeast Region originally appeared on Fool.com.

Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Tyler Technologies Recognized as the 2013 United States Microsoft Dynamics Public Sector Partner of

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Tyler Technologies Recognized as the 2013 United States Microsoft Dynamics Public Sector Partner of the Year

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Last week,Microsoft proudly announced the United States Microsoft Dynamics Partner Industry Award winners during an event at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in Houston, Texas.

Tyler Technologies was recognized with the 2013 United States Microsoft Dynamics Public Sector Partner of the Year award. The company was honored among the top Microsoft partners for demonstrating industry sales excellence in innovation and implementation of customer solutions based on Microsoft technology.


"Tyler Technologies is honored to be recognized as the 2013 United States Microsoft Dynamics Public Sector Partner of the Year. The Tyler team has been incredibly focused during the past year bringing our Microsoft Dynamics AX products and services to market," said John S. Marr Jr., Tyler's president and CEO. "We are extremely proud of our Dynamics team, and we look forward to continued success helping our clients realize the value of Microsoft Dynamics AX combined with Tyler Technologies' superior service, highly successful implementation process, and deep public sector expertise."

"The US Partner Industry Awards gives Microsoft Dynamics the opportunity to recognize its top partners at a global event. It acknowledges the extraordinary contributions of Microsoft partners serving a strategic and targeted group of customers throughout the past fiscal year," said Jeremy Thies, US Partner Lead - Microsoft Dynamics.

Awards were presented in multiple categories, with winners chosen based on their Microsoft Fiscal Year 2013 industry sales performance in the United States. Tyler Technologies was recognized for providing outstanding solutions and services, as well as demonstrating excellent engagement in the public sector.

"We are pleased to present Tyler Technologies with this award," said Bob Aronson, US Industry Director - Microsoft Dynamics. "Tyler Technologies is seen as an industry leader in the area of public sector. They have built their organization by embracing the need to have unique specializations for success."

About Tyler Technologies, Inc.

Tyler Technologies (NYS: TYL) is a leading provider of end-to-end information management solutions and services for local governments. Tyler partners with clients to empower the public sector — cities, counties, schools and other government entities — to become more efficient, more accessible and more responsive to the needs of citizens. Tyler's client base includes more than 11,000 local government offices in all 50 states, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and other international locations. Forbes has named Tyler one of "America's Best Small Companies" five times in the last six years. More information about Dallas-based Tyler Technologies can be found at www.tylertech.com.



Jetstream PR for Tyler Technologies
Tony Katsulos, 972-788-9456, ext. 301
katsulos@jetstreampr.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Texas

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Tyler Technologies Recognized as the 2013 United States Microsoft Dynamics Public Sector Partner of the Year originally appeared on Fool.com.

Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Datalink Second Quarter 2013 Operating Results Conference Call

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Datalink Second Quarter 2013 Operating Results Conference Call

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Datalink (NAS: DTLK) , a leading provider of data center infrastructure and services, announced today that it will issue a news release on Thursday July 25, 2013, at approximately 3:00 p.m. Central Time to announce second quarter operating results for 2013.

Datalink will hold a conference call shortly afterward at 4:00 p.m. Central Time during which time Datalink President and Chief Executive Officer, Paul Lidsky, and Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Greg Barnum, will discuss company results and provide a business overview. Participants can access the conference call by dialing (866) 318-8611. Participants will be asked to identify the Datalink conference call and provide the designated identification number (27422046). A live webcast of the conference call can be accessed here or via Datalink's investor relations website at www.datalink.com.


About Datalink
A complete data center solutions and services provider for Fortune 500 and mid-tier enterprises, Datalink transforms data centers so they become more efficient, manageable and responsive to changing business needs. Datalink helps leverage and protect storage, server, and network investments with a focus on long-term value, offering a full lifecycle of services, from consulting and design to implementation, management and support. Datalink solutions span virtualization and consolidation, data storage and protection, advanced networks, and business continuity. Each delivers measurable performance gains and maximizes the business value of IT. For more information, call 800.448.6314 or visit www.datalink.com.



Datalink
Company Contacts:
Analysts:
Greg Barnum, 952-279-4816
Vice President and CFO
gbarnum@datalink.com
or
Media & Alliances:
Suzanne Gallagher, 720-259-1365
SVP of Marketing
sgallagher@datalink.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Minnesota

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Datalink Second Quarter 2013 Operating Results Conference Call originally appeared on Fool.com.

Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

 

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HickoryTech Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend

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HickoryTech Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend

MANKATO, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- HickoryTech Corporation (NASDAQ: HTCO) today announced that its Board of Directors voted to declare a quarterly dividend of $0.145 per share of HickoryTech common stock. The $0.145 dividend is payable on Sept. 5, 2013 to shareholders of record on Aug. 15, 2013.

HickoryTech has paid a cash dividend to shareholders for more than 65 years.


About HickoryTech
HickoryTech Corporation is a leading communications provider serving business and residential customers in the upper Midwest. With headquarters in Mankato, Minn., HickoryTech has 500 employees and a five-state fiber network spanning 4,100 route miles across Minnesota and into Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. HickoryTech's Enventis subsidiary provides business IP voice, data and video solutions, MPLS networking, data center and managed hosted services and communication systems. HickoryTech delivers broadband Internet, Digital TV, voice and data services to businesses and consumers in southern Minnesota and northwest Iowa. The Company trades on the NASDAQ, symbol: HTCO. For more information, visit www.hickorytech.com.



HickoryTech
Jennifer Spaude, 507-386-3765

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Minnesota

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article HickoryTech Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend originally appeared on Fool.com.

Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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SpotOn Predicts Top Small Business Technology Trends for 2H 2013

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SpotOn Predicts Top Small Business Technology Trends for 2H 2013

Merchants embrace mobile, big data and innovative customer experiences to grow bottom lines

SAN RAFAEL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- SpotOn, the leading loyalty and marketing platform for small business, today released its predictions for small business technology adoption in the second half of 2013. With a heavy focus on going mobile, merchants will increasingly invest in technology to run and grow their businesses, keeping them one step ahead of the competition.


"Just a few years ago, technology like loyalty platforms and innovative payment solutions was only available to big budget businesses. Now, these solutions are more cost-effective and accessible to the everyday business owner," said Matt Hyman, co-founder of SpotOn. "Later this year into next, we expect to see a huge uptick in technology that helps small businesses work smarter, not harder, and build better, more memorable experiences for their customers."

SpotOn's top predictions for 2H 2013 include:

   
1.

Death of the cash register as we know it: Across the U.S., retailers are ditching traditional POS systems in favor of touch screen phones and tablets to better-engage with shoppers, shrink check-out lines and improve customer experiences. Given the trickle-down effect, expect smaller, more tech-forward businesses to follow suit, using mobile devices to do everything from payment processing to deal and reward redemptions.

 
2.

Minimum wage hikes and Obamacare opens doors for new tech: With minimum wages rising from coast to coast, as well as Obamacare pressures, business owners need to ensure that employee time, and operating budgets, are spent wisely. Because training and planning can only do so much, expect to see a surge in new technology solutions that help merchants do more with less, making employees more productive and efficient, as well as simplifying the business management side of the house for owners.

 
3.

Expansion of hyper-local reach through mobile: Small businesses will invest marketing dollars in technology that "puts them on the map" in their local communities, but not just for people who live or work in the neighborhood. With more consumers using their location-enabled devices to search for businesses nearby, merchants will leverage mobile to increase their visibility and attract customers that are passing through the area.

 
4.

The multi-channel digital Rolodex: It's difficult for brick and mortars to gather information about their customers. At worst, information isn't collected at all, and at best, it's manually entered into outdated spreadsheets. But with new generations of consumers actively willing to share, small businesses are taking advantage. With technology, merchants can easily link transactions to digital contacts and use mobile devices to encourage customers to share contact details, stay connected via social media and receive special rewards in return.

 
5.

Customer data gets a facelift: With new loyalty technologies and a customer base that's eager to engage, merchants now have data they've never been able to access before. Going beyond basic names and email addresses, small business owners have a wealth of information at their fingertips that can impact the bottom line, such as frequency of visits, purchasing behaviors and total spend to date per customer. With these details, merchants can market to specific patrons, such as lapsed customers, to drive loyalty and long-term revenue.

 
6.

Merchants become your friends online...: With the explosion of social media, big businesses have found success using Facebook and Twitter to create long-standing relationships with customers. Now, it's Main Street's turn. New, affordable technologies will empower merchants to boost their brands online, allowing them to connect with customers, send personalized messages, as well as offer a more complete customer service experience overall.

 
7.

...and see real ROI as a result: For small businesses, creating a company page on Facebook is no longer enough. Today, merchants want to see direct links between social media efforts and consumer spend, opening the door for a slew of social media marketing technologies tailored for small businesses. Free or low-fee social media measurement tools and specialized marketing platforms help merchants track clicks and redemptions, see word of mouth buzz build and capture customer-to-friend referrals.

 
8.

Greater focus on the Baby Boomers: Research shows that seniors are savvier than ever when it comes to technology—42 percent are on social media (Pew), and almost 15 percent use smartphones (Nielsen). With this in mind, many small businesses will shift gears, turning to marketing tools that help them better engage with Boomers on the devices and platforms they're embracing.

 
9.

Flash deals give way to precise marketing: While flash deals bring new people in the door, they also lack long-term results, as redemptions are difficult to track, and promote single-use transactions. With these flash deals, merchants need to have smart retention systems in place to make sure that new customers are quickly converted to loyal customers. By using effective technology, merchants can deepen discounts to solve real business problems, such as boosting off-peak sales, winning back lapsed customers and introducing new services efficiently.

 
10.

Greater personalization of rewards: To stay competitive, small businesses need to create unique and memorable experiences for their customers. And because it costs more to acquire a new customer than to market to an existing one, expect business owners to zero in on familiar faces, using customer segmentation to get the best return possible. Using digital loyalty platforms, merchants will create more personalized and valuable rewards—secret deals, exclusive promotions and more—to specific groups of their choice, such as top spenders or Facebook fans.

 

For more information, visit spoton.com.

About SpotOn:

SpotOn is a leading digital loyalty and marketing platform used by more than 6,000 small businesses and 1.3 million consumers nationwide. For consumers, SpotOn eliminates the need to carry multiple punch cards with a seamless digital check-in to access rewards and perks. Using SpotOn's tablet-based dashboard, merchants now have an entirely new and simple way to connect with their customers using social, mobile and email marketing. With one click, merchants can learn more about their customers by viewing typical spend and campaign redemption activity. SpotOn was founded in 2011 by serial entrepreneurs with decades of experience helping local businesses increase profits with technology solutions. SpotOn is headquartered in San Rafael, CA, with offices in Chicago, IL.

For more information, visit www.spoton.com.



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The article SpotOn Predicts Top Small Business Technology Trends for 2H 2013 originally appeared on Fool.com.

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NYSE Century Index Outperforming Other Broad-Based Indices as CEOs Gather for Second Annual Century

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NYSE Century Index Outperforming Other Broad-Based Indices as CEOs Gather for Second Annual Century Club Gathering

Index outperformed S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 in its first year

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- As leading CEOs from many long-established companies convene today for the second-annualNYSE Century Clubsummit at the New York Stock Exchange, the year-old namesakeindex, which measures the performance of 348 companies that have been in business for at least 100 years, has gained 14.7% year-to-date and has a one-year performance of 25%.


Launched in July 2012, the NYSE Century IndexSMoutperformed other broad-based indices such as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100, with each returning 12.6% and 9.3% year-to-date and 17.6% and 10.8% over one year, respectively.

"The performance of the NYSE Century Index illustrates the leadership, stability and the overall sound business execution of our Century Club community during times of economic uncertainty," said Duncan Niederauer, Chief Executive Officer, NYSE Euronext. "The NYSE Century Index serves as a strong and insightful baseline indicator of the economic health and progress of the American economy and overall market."

The NYSE Century Club is comprised of NYSE and NYSE MKT-listed companies that have demonstrated longevity and contributed to economic and social progress for more than 100 years. The NYSE Century Club IndexSM measures the performance of U.S. domiciled companies that have a 100 year history, are publicly traded and have a market capitalization of at least $1 billion. Based upon a set of criteria that assesses a company's size and longevity, the index is rebalanced effective for the first business day of each year and provides exposure to a diverse group of companies from all major sectors.

To further commemorate the anniversary, today CEOs from several NYSE and NYSE MKT-listed companies will participate in two forums on Resilience and Innovation and Lessons of Legacies and ring the NYSE Closing Bell.

Background on NYSE Euronext's Indices:

With a collective portfolio of over 750 benchmark indices, NYSE Euronext is a leading provider of indices. NYSE Euronext develops proprietary indices to provide investors and issuers with benchmarks that measure performance of key segments of the world economy. NYSE Euronext indices are available to be licensed as the basis for tradable products, including Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), to be launched in the future. For more information on NYSE Euronext index services please visit: https://indices.nyx.com/

NYSE Euronext®, AEX®, AEX-Index®, AMX-Index®, BEL 20®, CAC®, CAC 40®, PSI 20®, NYSE®, NYSE U.S. 100 Index®, NYSE Arca®, NYSE Composite Index® , Intellidex® and StrataQuant® are registered trademarks of NYSE Group, Inc., Euronext N.V. or their subsidiaries. For more information about NYSE Euronext's Global Index Group, please visit here.

About NYSE Euronext

NYSE Euronext (NYX) is a leading global operator of financial markets and provider of innovative trading technologies. The company's exchanges in Europe and the United States trade equities, futures, options, fixed-income and exchange-traded products. With approximately 8,000 listed issues (excluding European Structured Products), NYSE Euronext's equities markets - the New York Stock Exchange, NYSE Euronext, NYSE MKT, NYSE Alternext and NYSE Arca - represent one-third of the world's equities trading, the most liquidity of any global exchange group. NYSE Euronext also operates NYSE Liffe, one of the leading European derivatives businesses and the world's second-largest derivatives business by value of trading. The company offers comprehensive commercial technology, connectivity and market data products and services through NYSE Technologies. NYSE Euronext is in the S&P 500 index. For more information, please visit: http://www.nyx.com.

NYSE Euronext and its affiliates do not recommend or make any representation as to possible benefits from any securities or investments, or third-party products or services. Investors should undertake their own due diligence regarding their securities and investment practices.

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The article NYSE Century Index Outperforming Other Broad-Based Indices as CEOs Gather for Second Annual Century Club Gathering originally appeared on Fool.com.

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LTC Announces Completion and Opening of Memory Care Property

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LTC Announces Completion and Opening of Memory Care Property

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- LTC Properties, Inc. (NYS: LTC) announced today the completion and opening of a 60-unit memory care property in Littleton, Colorado. The new memory care property opened on July 15, 2013 with cash deposits from 43 potential residents. Development costs for the new property were approximately $9.8M. The property is leased to affiliates of Anthem Memory Care under a 10-year lease with four 5-year renewal options. Cash rent will begin on November 1, 2013 at an initial cash yield of 9.25% and increases 2.5% annually.

The Company is a self-administered real estate investment trust that primarily invests in senior housing and long-term care properties through triple-net lease transactions, mortgage loans and other investments. For more information on LTC Properties, Inc., visit the Company's website at www.LTCProperties.com.




LTC Properties, Inc.
Wendy L. Simpson
Pam Kessler
(805) 981-8655

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  California  Colorado

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article LTC Announces Completion and Opening of Memory Care Property originally appeared on Fool.com.

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Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure, Inc. Races Toward Revenues on Talladega Speedway

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Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure, Inc. Races Toward Revenues on Talladega Speedway

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure, Inc. (USOTC: DJRT) is pleased to announce a new experience for race fans toward additional revenue streams for the company in addition to prime exposure for its brand. Last Saturday, for the first time in history, DJRT premiered the first-ever exotic car experience on the word famous Talladega Superspeedway. It is the largest enclosed oval track in the world, with 2.67 miles of track. This also marks the first time that non-NASCAR vehicles ran the raceway.

DJRT CEO, Tim Shannon, states, "We couldn't be more excited about this event as we give anyone and everyone the chance to experience an ultimate thrill: to race Ferraris around the race track at up to 150mph on one of the most famous venues in the world."


He continues, "The experience was a sold-out event and no details were spared in terms of making this the thrill of a lifetime. The cars each had 5 point harnesses installed as well as full face Bell helmets and HANS devices to ensure paramount safety for our customers."

Due to demand, the Company will be holding an additional experience opportunity at Talladega Speedway on August 17th, which has already been sold to capacity. "We were sold out almost immediately for both events," states Shannon. "I'm very pleased with this success as it gives us increased opportunity to work with the best of the best in bringing unique recreational racing adventures to the masses.

More updates to come as the Company continues to position its brand as the ultimate experience for race fans and thrill seekers alike.

About Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure

The Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure offers racing fans the opportunity to race an authentic race car on a major racetrack. Our racing "adventurers" enjoy a life-defining experience. They receive vital training from top racing instructors, wear real racing suits and safety gear, and pilot a race car that was once driven by one of the racing greats. Hand signals from the instructor teaches you to race like the pros. We surpasses "follow-the-leader" approaches and teach guests to race like NASCAR drivers, find the line, draft, and pass for optimum fun. Our 100% safety record and numerous celebrity endorsements testify to the excitement and unforgettable thrill of our racing adventure.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the statements contained in this press release contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure, Inc. has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations and projections about future events, based on the information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may also include statements relating to Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure's anticipated financial performance, business prospects, new developments, strategies and similar matters. Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure disclaims any obligation to update any of its forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.

Tim Shannon, CEO +1-888-467-2231, tbshannon@racingadventure.com



Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure, Inc.
Tim Shannon, +1-888-467-2231
CEO
tbshannon@racingadventure.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  North Carolina

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The article Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure, Inc. Races Toward Revenues on Talladega Speedway originally appeared on Fool.com.

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Verastem Announces Pricing of Public Offering of Common Stock

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Verastem Announces Pricing of Public Offering of Common Stock

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Verastem, Inc. (NAS: VSTM) , focused on discovering and developing drugs to treat cancer by the targeted killing of cancer stem cells, today announced the pricing of its previously announced underwritten public offering of 3,700,000 shares of its common stock, offered at a price of $15.00 per share to the public. The net proceeds to Verastem from this offering are expected to be approximately $51.9 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses payable by Verastem. All of the shares sold in the offering will be sold by Verastem. The offering is expected to close on or about July 22, 2013, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Verastem has granted to the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 555,000 additional shares of common stock. Verastem anticipates using the net proceeds from the offering for preclinical and clinical development of its lead product candidates, discovery, research and preclinical studies of its other product candidates, additional compounds and companion diagnostics, and other general corporate purposes.

Jefferies LLC and Leerink Swann LLC are acting as joint book-running managers in the offering, and JMP Securities LLC, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Lazard Capital Markets LLC, Guggenheim Securities, Roth Capital Partners, LLC and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. are acting as co-managers in the offering.


A shelf registration statement on Form S-3 relating to the public offering of the shares of common stock described above was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and declared effective on February 14, 2013. A preliminary prospectus supplement related to the offering has been filed with the SEC. A final prospectus supplement related to the offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the final prospectus supplement, when available, and accompanying prospectus may also be obtained from Jefferies LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate Prospectus Department, 520 Madison Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, NY, 10022, by telephone at 877-547-6340 or by email at Prospectus_Department@Jefferies.com or from Leerink Swann LLC, Attention: Syndicate Department, One Federal Street, 37th Floor, Boston, MA 02110, by telephone at 1-800-808-7525 or by email at Syndicate@Leerink.com.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

About Verastem, Inc.

Verastem, Inc. (NAS: VSTM) is discovering and developing drugs to treat cancer by the targeted killing of cancer stem cells. Cancer stem cells are an underlying cause of tumor recurrence and metastasis. Verastem is developing small molecule inhibitors of signaling pathways that are critical to cancer stem cell survival and proliferation: FAK, PI3K/mTOR and Wnt. For more information, please visit www.verastem.com.

Forward-looking statements:

Certain of the statements made in this press release, including those relating to completion of the Company's public offering and use of proceeds, are forward-looking statements. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected or implied in these forward looking statements. Each forward‐looking statement is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statement. Applicable risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those associated with market conditions and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the offering. You should not place undue reliance on these forward looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this press release. Other risks and uncertainties include those identified in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 and any subsequent SEC filings, including the prospectus supplement related to the proposed offering. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events, and the Company does not undertake and specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.



Verastem, Inc.
Brian Sullivan, 617-252-9314
bsullivan@verastem.com

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The article Verastem Announces Pricing of Public Offering of Common Stock originally appeared on Fool.com.

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Cole Real Estate Investments, Inc. to Release Second Quarter 2013 Financial Results on Monday, Augus

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Cole Real Estate Investments, Inc. to Release Second Quarter 2013 Financial Results on Monday, August 5th at 1:00 PM ET

Audio Webcast Scheduled for 1:00 PM ET

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cole Real Estate Investments, Inc. (NYS: COLE) , a market-leading net lease REIT, announced today that it will release its financial results for the second quarter on Monday, August 5, 2013 and will host a webcast that day at 1:00 p.m. ET.


To participate in the live broadcast of Cole Real Estate Investment's quarterly financial results please visit www.colereit.com/investorrelations . Replay information will made be available following the webcast.

About Cole Real Estate Investments, Inc.

Cole Real Estate Investments, Inc. (NYS: COLE) is an industry-leading net-lease REIT that acquires and manages real estate assets leased long-term to a high-quality, diversified tenant base. Since 1979, Cole has leveraged its deep relationships, efficiencies of scale and rigorous operational processes to acquire and actively manage retail, office and industrial properties. As of March 31, 2013, Cole Real Estate Investments owned $7.7 billion of gross assets, which included 1,013 properties representing approximately 43 million square feet of commercial real estate in 48 states. Cole's private capital business, Cole Capital, is a leading sponsor of non-listed REITs. According to industry analyst Robert A. Stanger & Co., Cole is the only non-listed REIT sponsor to rank in the top three for annual capital raised each of the past five years.



Cole Real Estate Investments, Inc.
Jessica Thorsheim, 877-405-2653
Director, Investor Relations
investorrelations@ColeREIT.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Arizona

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The article Cole Real Estate Investments, Inc. to Release Second Quarter 2013 Financial Results on Monday, August 5th at 1:00 PM ET originally appeared on Fool.com.

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Pentagon Names 13 Winners of $180 Million Cyber Contract

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The U.S. Department of Defense yesterday awarded nearly as many contracts Tuesday as it had in the three previous working days altogether. In total, the Pentagon awarded 17 contracts Tuesday, valued at up to $1.3 billion in combined dollar value.

The biggest of these contracts, a sizable $179.9 million, one-year award with the potential to swell to $899.5 million if the four "option-year" extensions are exercised, is to be split among 13 separate firms:

  • Booz Allen Hamilton
  • CACI Technologies
  • Computer Sciences Corp
  • General Dynamics One Source
  • Honeywell Technology Solutions
  • Engility Corp.
  • Lockheed Martin
  • Science Applications International Corp.
  • URS Federal Services
  • and four privately held firms.

Under the awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ), cost-plus-fixed-fee, performance-based umbrella contract, all 13 firms will be able to compete to perform task orders for the U.S. Navy, providing "integrated cyber operations services" to Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic.


Issued for an initial one-year base term, the contract could terminate as early as July 2014. If all four option years are exercised, however, the contract would stretch out as far as July 2018, and the ceiling value on all task orders issued under the contract would rise as high as $899.5 million.

The article Pentagon Names 13 Winners of $180 Million Cyber Contract originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Rich Smith has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Badger Meter Reports Second Quarter Results

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Badger Meter Reports Second Quarter Results

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Badger Meter, Inc. (NYS: BMI) today reported results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2013.

Second Quarter 2013 Highlights

  • Net sales were a record $88,341,000 for the second quarter of 2013, a 7.8% increase from sales of $81,974,000 for the second quarter of 2012.
  • Net earnings were $6,281,000 for the second quarter of 2013, a 15.6% decrease from net earnings of $7,442,000 for the second quarter of 2012.
  • Diluted earnings per share were $0.44 for the second quarter of 2013, a 15.4% decrease from diluted earnings per share of $0.52 for the second quarter of 2012.

First Half 2013 Highlights

  • Net sales were $160,149,000 for the first half of 2013, a 1.2% increase from sales of $158,207,000 for the first half of 2012.
  • Net earnings were $9,188,000 for the first half of 2013, a 32.9% decrease from net earnings of $13,691,000 for the first half of 2012.
  • Diluted earnings per share were $0.64 for the first half of 2013, a 31.9% decrease from diluted earnings per share of $0.94 for the first half of 2012.

Operations Review

"The record sales in the second quarter reflected higher volumes in both our municipal water and industrial product lines. However, this increase did not translate into higher margins due to product mix," said Richard A. Meeusen, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Badger Meter. The gross profit margin was 33.8% for the second quarter of 2013, compared to 36.8% for the same period in the prior year.

In addition to the lower margin, Meeusen said several other factors contributed to the decrease in net earnings for the quarter. These include a $750,000 non-cash pension charge and a $350,000 legal settlement charge related to a product the company no longer sells. Together, these charges totaled approximately $0.05 per diluted share. He noted that the tax rate for the second quarter of 2013 was 36.1%, compared to 33.1% for the same period last year. The second quarter 2012 tax rate benefited from a favorable audit of prior returns, which had a positive impact of $0.03 per diluted share.

Meeusen said the company introduced two new products during the second quarter. "We expanded our E-Series® ultrasonic meter line with a polymer version that is a lower-cost alternative to our already successful stainless steel E-Series meters for residential and commercial water metering applications. Our solid-state E-Series technology continues to gain traction with customers because of its added features and smaller size," said Meeusen.

The company also launched the latest enhancements of its ReadCenter® software, a key component of the Badger Meter Advanced Metering Analytics (AMA) system. The new software, ReadCenter AnalyticsPro and ReadCenter Analytics+, provides water and gas utilities with easy access to timely metrics and information to help them more efficiently monitor and manage their operations.

"We are continuing to pursue opportunities with customers of Elster AMCO Water, LLC, which exited the mechanical water meter business in North America as of June 30. Elster selected Badger Meter as the recommended supplier for these customers going forward. While this program is still in the early stages, we believe it provides excellent opportunities to increase our market share," said Meeusen.

He also noted that the integration of Aquacue, Inc., a small software technology company acquired on April 1, has been completed. "We expect to introduce new products incorporating Aquacue's water management data software beginning in early 2014," said Meeusen.

Summary

"In recent quarters we've benefited, and expect to continue to benefit, from lower copper costs. And after a weak first quarter, we are seeing strong order entries and a solid backlog at the end of the second quarter. We believe our customers have begun to return to normal buying patterns, contributing to our optimism for the remainder of the year," added Meeusen.

Conference Call and Webcast

Badger Meter management will hold a conference call to discuss the company's 2013 second quarter results on Friday, July 19, 2013, at 10:00 AM Central/11:00 AM Eastern time. Interested parties can listen to the call live on the Internet through the company's Web site: www.badgermeter.com or by dialing 1-888-680-0869 and entering the passcode 76859488. Listeners should dial in to the call at least 5-10 minutes prior to the start of the call or should go to the Web site at least 15 minutes prior to the call to download and install any necessary audio software. Participants may pre-register for the call at https://www.theconferencingservice.com/prereg/key.process?key=PV9DVT8EN. Pre-registrants will be issued a pin number to use when dialing into the live call which will provide quick access to the conference by bypassing the operator upon connection. In addition, the Webcast is also available through Thomson's investor portals. Individual investors can listen to the call at www.earnings.com, Thomson/CCBN's individual investor portal, powered by StreetEvents. Institutional investors can access the call via Thomson's password-protected event management site, StreetEvents (www.streetevents.com).

A telephone replay of the conference call will be available through Friday, July 26, by dialing 1-888-286-8010 and entering the passcode 97775920. The Webcast will be archived on the company's Web site until its next earnings release.

About Badger Meter

The core competency of Badger Meter is flow measurement solutions. The company is a leading innovator, manufacturer and marketer of flow measurement and control products, serving water and gas utilities, municipalities and industrial customers worldwide. Measuring a variety of liquids from water to oil and lubricants in industrial processes, the company's products are known for their high degree of accuracy, long-lasting durability and their ability to provide valuable and timely measurement information to customers.

Certain statements contained in this news release, as well as other information provided from time to time by Badger Meter, Inc. (the "Company") or its employees, may contain forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward looking statements. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "think," "should," "could" and "objective" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. All such forward looking statements are based on the Company's then current views and assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties. Some risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward looking statements include those described in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 that include, among other things:

  • the continued shift in the Company's business from lower cost, manually read meters toward more expensive, value-added automatic meter reading (AMR) systems, advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) systems and advanced metering analytics (AMA) systems that offer more comprehensive solutions to customers' metering needs;
  • the success or failure of newer Company products;
  • changes in competitive pricing and bids in both the domestic and foreign marketplaces, and particularly in continued intense price competition on government bid contracts for lower cost, manually read meters;
  • the actions (or lack thereof) of the Company's competitors;
  • changes in the Company's relationships with its alliance partners, primarily its alliance partners that provide radio solutions, and particularly those that sell products that do or may compete with the Company's products;
  • changes in the general health of the United States and foreign economies, including to some extent such things as the length and severity of global economic downturns, the ability of municipal water utility customers to authorize and finance purchases of the Company's products, the Company's ability to obtain financing, housing starts in the United States, and overall industrial activity;
  • unusual weather and other natural phenomena, including related economic and other ancillary effects of any such events;
  • the timing and impact of government programs to stimulate national and global economies;
  • changes in the cost and/or availability of needed raw materials and parts, such as volatility in the cost of brass castings as a result of fluctuations in commodity prices, particularly for copper and scrap metal at the supplier level, foreign-sourced electronic components as a result of currency exchange fluctuations and/or lead times, and plastic resin as a result of changes in petroleum and natural gas prices;
  • the Company's expanded role as a prime contractor for providing complete connectivity systems to governmental entities, which brings with it added risks, including but not limited to, the Company's responsibility for subcontractor performance, additional costs and expenses if the Company and its subcontractors fail to meet the timetable agreed to with the governmental entity, and the Company's expanded warranty and performance obligations;
  • the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses or products;
  • changes in foreign economic conditions, particularly currency fluctuations in the United States dollar, the Euro and the Mexican peso;
  • the loss of certain single-source suppliers; and
  • changes in laws and regulations, particularly laws dealing with the use of lead (which can be used in the manufacture of certain meters incorporating brass housings) and the United States Federal Communications Commission rules affecting the use and/or licensing of radio frequencies necessary for radio products.

All of these factors are beyond the Company's control to varying degrees. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward looking statements contained in this news release and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward looking statements. The forward looking statements made in this document are made only as of the date of this document and the Company assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update any such forward looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Badger Meter company news is available 24 hours a day, on-line at: http://www.badgermeter.com.

 
 
 
BADGER METER, INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
 
(in thousands, except earnings per share data)
 
 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

June 30,   June 30, June 30,   June 30,
2013 2012 2013 2012
 
Net sales $ 88,341 $ 81,974 $ 160,149 $ 158,207
Cost of sales 58,495 51,773 105,266 99,142
Gross margin 29,846 30,201 54,883 59,065
Sales, engineering and administration 19,686 18,846 39,998 37,522
Operating earnings 10,160 11,355 14,885 21,543
Interest expense

332

238 580 443
Earnings before income taxes 9,828 11,117 14,305 21,100
Provision for income taxes 3,547 3,675 5,117 7,409
Net earnings $ 6,281 $ 7,442 $ 9,188 $ 13,691
 
Earnings per share amounts:
 
Basic $ 0.44 $ 0.52 $ 0.64 $ 0.94
Diluted $ 0.44 $ 0.52 $ 0.64 $ 0.94
 
Shares used in computation of earnings per share:
 
Basic 14,365,536 14,234,900 14,345,143 14,527,328
Diluted 14,430,999 14,307,232 14,426,949 14,596,113
 
 
 

BADGER METER, INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
 
(in thousands)
 
 

Assets

  June 30,   December 31,

2013

2012

(unaudited)
 
Cash $ 2,714 $ 6,554
Receivables 52,702 45,584
Inventories 53,614 60,997
Other current assets 7,415 8,239
   
Total current assets 116,445 121,374
 
Net property, plant and equipment 71,549 70,484
Intangible assets, at cost less accumulated amortization 61,416 58,351
Other long-term assets 5,712 4,314
Goodwill 46,641 35,930
       
Total assets $ 301,763 $ 290,453

 

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

 
 
Short-term debt $ 66,230 $ 66,730
Payables 20,308 15,551
Accrued compensation and employee benefits 6,525 9,821
Other liabilities 2,972 1,978
   
Total current liabilities 96,035 94,080
 
Deferred income taxes 10,787 8,692
Long-term employee benefits and other 17,081 16,434
Shareholders' equity 177,860 171,247
   
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 301,763 $ 290,453



Badger Meter, Inc.
Joan C. Zimmer, (414) 371-5702

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Wisconsin

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Badger Meter Reports Second Quarter Results originally appeared on Fool.com.

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SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Levi & Korsinsky Announces Investigation into Possible Breaches of Fiduciary Duty

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SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Levi & Korsinsky Announces Investigation into Possible Breaches of Fiduciary Duty by the Board of SHFL entertainment, Inc. in Connection with the Sale of Outstanding Shares to Bally Technologies, Inc.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Levi & Korsinsky is investigating the Board of Directors of SHFL entertainment, Inc. ("SHFL" or the "Company") (NasdaqGS: SHFL) for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of state law in connection with the sale of the Company to Bally Technologies, Inc. (NYS: BYI) .

Click here to learn more about the investigation http://zlk.9nl.com/shfl-entertainment-shfl/, or call: 877-363-5972. There is no cost or obligation to you.


Under the terms of the transaction, SHFL shareholders will receive $23.25 in cash for each share of SHFL stock they own. The transaction has a total approximate value of $1.3 billion, including the assumption of debt. The investigation concerns whether the SHFL Board of Directors breached their fiduciary duties to stockholders by failing to adequately shop the Company before agreeing to enter into the transaction, and whether Bally Technologies, Inc. is underpaying for SHFL, thus unlawfully harming SHFL shareholders.

If you own common stock in SHFL and wish to obtain additional information, please contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@zlk.com or by telephone at (212) 363-7500, toll-free: (877) 363-5972, or visit http://zlk.9nl.com/shfl-entertainment-shfl/.

Levi & Korsinsky is a national firm with offices in New York, New Jersey and Washington D.C. The firm has extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities and shareholder lawsuits. The attorneys at Levi & Korsinsky have been appointed by numerous courts throughout the country to serve as lead counsel on behalf of shareholders in major securities lawsuits and have successfully recovered multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of investors. For more information, please feel free to contact any of the attorneys listed below. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.



Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
Joseph Levi, Esq.
Eduard Korsinsky, Esq.
Tel: 212-363-7500
Toll Free: 877-363-5972
Fax: 212-363-7171
www.zlk.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  New York

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Levi & Korsinsky Announces Investigation into Possible Breaches of Fiduciary Duty by the Board of SHFL entertainment, Inc. in Connection with the Sale of Outstanding Shares to Bally Technologies, Inc. originally appeared on Fool.com.

Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

 

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Atlas Energy, L.P. To Release Financial Results for Second Quarter 2013 and Host Conference Call

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Atlas Energy, L.P. To Release Financial Results for Second Quarter 2013 and Host Conference Call

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Atlas Energy, L.P. (NYS: ATLS) announces today that it will release results for the second quarter 2013 on Thursday, August 8, 2013 after market hours, and invites investors and other interested parties to listen to the live webcast of its quarterly conference call on Friday, August 9, 2013, at 9:00am ET.

This call is being webcast live and can be accessed by investors and other interested parties from the Investor Relations section of Atlas Energy's website at www.atlasenergy.com. For those unavailable to listen to the live broadcast, the replay of the webcast will be available following the live call on the website and telephonically beginning at 11:00a.m. ET on August 9, 2013 by dialing 888-286-8010, passcode: 51594938.


Atlas Energy, L.P. (NYSE: ATLS) is a master limited partnership which owns all of the general partner Class A units and incentive distribution rights and an approximate 37% limited partner interest in its upstream oil & gas subsidiary, Atlas Resource Partners, L.P. Additionally, Atlas Energy owns and operates the general partner of its midstream oil & gas subsidiary, Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P., through all of the general partner interest, all the incentive distribution rights and an approximate 6% limited partner interest. For more information, please visit our website at www.atlasenergy.com, or contact Investor Relations at InvestorRelations@atlasenergy.com.



Atlas Energy, L.P.
Brian Begley
Investor Relations
877-280-2857
215-405-2718 (fax)

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Pennsylvania

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Atlas Energy, L.P. To Release Financial Results for Second Quarter 2013 and Host Conference Call originally appeared on Fool.com.

Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Courier Corporation Schedules Third Quarter Fiscal 2013 Conference Call and Earnings Release

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Courier Corporation Schedules Third Quarter Fiscal 2013 Conference Call and Earnings Release

NORTH CHELMSFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Courier Corporation (NAS: CRRC) today announced that it plans to host a third quarter fiscal 2013 conference call on Thursday, August 1, 2013, at 2:30 p.m. ET. A news release with the company's third quarter fiscal 2013 financial results will be issued on Thursday morning, August 1, 2013 prior to the call.

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer James F. Conway III and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Peter Folger will lead the call.


The call will be available via telephone at 866-510-0707 (passcode: 99048824) and accessible via webcast on Courier Corporation's investor relations home page, at www.courier.com. Recorded replays of the conference call will be available on Courier's web site and by telephone at 888-286-8010 (passcode: 79140389), beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET that day through August 6, 2013.

About Courier Corporation

Courier Corporation is America's third largest book manufacturer and a leader in content management and customization in new and traditional media. It also publishes books under three brands offering award-winning content and thousands of titles. Founded in 1824, Courier is headquartered in North Chelmsford, Massachusetts. For more information, visit www.courier.com.



Courier Corporation
James F. Conway III, 978-251-6000
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
or
Peter M. Folger, 978-251-6000
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
www.courier.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Massachusetts

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Courier Corporation Schedules Third Quarter Fiscal 2013 Conference Call and Earnings Release originally appeared on Fool.com.

Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

 

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