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Congress Asked to Approve Lakota Helo Sale to Thailand

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The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress [link opens in PDF] Thursday of plans to conduct a Foreign Military Sale of 6 UH-72A Lakota Helicopters "and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support" to the Government of Thailand.

According to the DSCA, European defense contractor EADS's North American division will be prime contractor on this sale, which is valued at $77 million.

The DSCA justifies the sale by saying it will "contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States, by helping to improve the security of a friendly country which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in Southeast Asia."


The DSCA further assures Congress that "the proposed sale of this support will not alter the basic military balance in the region," nor will there be any "adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale."

The article Congress Asked to Approve Lakota Helo Sale to Thailand originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Rich Smith has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 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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California Republic Bank Announces Successful Completion of a $238 Million Prime Automobile Securiti

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California Republic Bank Announces Successful Completion of a $238 Million Prime Automobile Securitization

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- California Republic Bancorp (OTCBB:CRPB), today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, California Republic Bank, successfully completed a prime automobile securitization in which $238 million in notes backed by California Republic's automobile loans were sold to qualified institutional buyers in a private offering pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act.

The securitization structure included four note classes issued by the securitization trust created by the Bank as follows:

Class         Size               Coupon               Ratings (sf)(1)
A1         $ 34 .7              

0

.40%               P-1/R-1(H)
A2 $178 .3 1 .41% Aa3/AA
B $ 11 .9 2 .24% A2/A
C $ 13 .1 3 .25% Baa3/BBB
Total $238 .0

(1)

 

Ratings from Moody's and DBRS, respectively.

 

The Bank also announced that it sold all remaining residual interests in the securitized receivables through a sale of the underlying ownership certificates of the securitization trust through a private placement transaction. California Republic Bank will receive a 1% servicing fee and continue to service the underlying receivables on behalf of the noteholders and certificateholders for the life of the contracts.

"Securitizations are an important aspect of our business model, and we are pleased by the size and overall execution of this deal," commented Jon Wilcox, CEO. President John DeCero added, "By executing these transactions and retaining the servicing of these portfolios, we maximize our profits while creating a path for additional expansion of our platform in a very capital efficient manner."

This announcement of the sale of the notes included in the securitization and the ownership certificates of the securitization trust appears as a matter of record only. Credit Suisse LLC acted as the structuring agent and the sole bookrunner for this transaction, and Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP acted as issuer's counsel.

About California Republic Bancorp:

California Republic Bancorp is the holding company for California Republic Bank. California Republic Bank provides loans, deposit and cash management services to individuals, companies, and their owners throughout Southern California. The Bank offers direct access to executive management and unparalleled responsiveness with the goal of establishing long-term relationships. The Bank operates four full-service bank branches in Newport Beach, Beverly Hills, Irvine and Westlake Village. The Bank also operates an indirect auto finance division, CRB Auto, which purchases auto contracts from both franchised and independent automobile dealerships throughout California, Arizona and Texas, and operates a customer service center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

For more information, contact Jon Wilcox, CEO, or John DeCero, President at 949-270-9719. You can also visit the Company's website at www.crbnk.com.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are subject to the safe harbors created by the act. These forward-looking statements refer to California Republic's current expectations regarding future operating results, and growth in loans, deposits, and assets. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed, suggested or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to (1) the impact of changes in interest rates, a decline in economic conditions and increased competition by financial service providers on California Republic's results of operations; (2) California Republic's ability to continue its internal growth rate; (3) California Republic's ability to build net interest spread; (4) the quality of California Republic's earning assets; (5) changes in the level of non-performing assets and charge-offs; (6) the effect of changes in laws and regulations with which California Republic must comply; (7) changes in estimates of future reserve requirements based upon the periodic review thereof under relevant regulatory authorities and accounting requirements; (8) acts of war or terrorism or natural disasters; (9) the timely development of new banking products and services; (10) the success of products and services, such as the indirect auto loan business; (11) technological changes; (12) cyber-security threats, including loss of system functionality or theft or loss of data; (13) the ability to increase market share and control expenses; (14) changes in California Republic's organization, management, and compensation; and (15) California Republic's success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing items.

California Republic does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements except as required by law.



California Republic Bancorp
John DeCero, President
949-270-9797

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  California

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article California Republic Bank Announces Successful Completion of a $238 Million Prime Automobile Securitization 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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3 Disruptive Technologies Reshaping Health Care Today

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Like it or not, our world is constantly changing, as technological advances grow ever more frequent. While some folks may lament the loss of seemingly simpler days past, the fact remains that companies around the globe are working hard to make a positive impact on the the way we live.

To be sure, in few industries are these changes more apparent than health care, where our very lives are often at stake. Here are three disruptive technologies, then, which are in the process of effectively reshaping health care as we know it: 

Your health is in the cloud(s)
First of all, health care companies are currently taking advantage of cloud computing in ways we could have never dreamed only a few decades ago.


Take athenahealth , for instance, which focuses entirely on developing cloud-based tools for streamlining medical practice management, electronic health records, patient communications, care coordination, and account collection.

Unsurprisingly, demand for its services is strong, as athenahealth currently boasts nearly 41,000 medical providers on its network, up from around 38,000 in January. As a result, athenahealth ranked fourth on Forbes' list of America's 25 fastest-growing tech companies in 2012, following 13 straight years of achieving at least 30% top-line growth. 

Or consider Amazon.com , which published a white paper last year outlining how health-care companies can take advantage of Amazon Web Services "to power information processing systems that facilitate HIPAA and HITECH compliance."

Incidentally, Amazon not only uses AWS to power its own web properties and handle traffic for sites including Netflix, Yelp, reddit, and Pinterest, but also currently counts at least a dozen different health-related organizations among its list of AWS clients. Most notably, these include CloudPrime, Global Data Systems, Nimbus Health, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Pfizer, the Praekelt Foundation, Toshiba Medical, Harvard Medical School, NYU Langone Medical Center, and Sage Bionetworks.

Any time, any place
Next, where would cloud computing be without the meteoric rise of mobile apps?

Remember, in March, athenahealth also finalized its $293 million acquisition of mobile health pioneer Epocrates, whose point-of-care mobile app has been downloaded by more than a million health-care professionals for their iPhones, iPads, Android, or BlackBerry devices.

Of course, Epocrates isn't without competition: WebMD's own Medscape app has also been downloaded more than 3 million times and, according to Medscape, is now used by half of all U.S. physicians, and three out of four U.S. medical students.

In addition, like Epocrates, WebMD offers a variety of other mobile applications focusing on general health, pregnancy and child care, allergies, and chronic pain management.

From an investment perspective, shares of WebMD shot up by as much as 20% in a single day last month after the company crushed analysts' estimates for both revenue and earnings per share, largely thanks to a strong showing from its public portal ads and sponsorships. Sure enough, WebMD took the opportunity to highlight the fact that more than a third of all page views are now originating from its mobile sources.

Domo arigato, medical roboto
Finally, and now more than ever, the field of robotics is also accelerating its march into health care.

Remember, just last month, shares of iRobot climbed after the company told investors its RP-VITA telepresence robots are gaining traction more quickly than anyone had anticipated. At the time, less than four months after the RP-VITA received FDA clearance to be used in hospital environments, seven hospitals across the U.S. and Mexico had already incorporated the robot into their day-to-day operations.

Outfitted with a variety of specialized medical equipment from iRobot partner InTouch Health, RP-VITA can be controlled remotely through an easy-to-use iPad interface, allowing it to autonomously navigate the crowded corridors of hospitals to any room in the building. Once it's there, RP-VITA allows physicians to remotely handle situations including stroke, intensive care, psychiatry, newborn care, and pediatrics.

Heck, hospital staff can even use RP-VITA to quickly contact family members and other physicians to help make informed medical decisions or authorize emergency treatment:

But, while iRobot is focusing on hospital bedside care, other robotics companies like Intuitive Surgical and MAKO Surgical are commanding a place in the operating room.

On one hand, Intuitive has grown into a nearly $20-billion company by selling more than 2,700 of its da Vinci robots to date, which helped surgeons perform more than 450,000 soft tissue procedures last year alone. The da Vinci bot, in large part, owes much of its success to the fact that it enables surgeons to treat literally dozens of different life-threatening conditions by performing prostatectomy, hysterectomy, colorectal, cardiac, thoracic, and head and neck procedures.

The currently unprofitable MAKO Surgical, on the other hand, has sold only 161 of its own RIO robots to date, with which orthopedic surgeons last year performed a comparatively minuscule 10,204 partial knee and total hip replacements.

Even so, remember that represents an impressive 47% increase over the number of procedures performed in 2011, and MAKO's current rate of cash burn indicates it should still have plenty of funds to hold it over while it continues its stubborn march toward profitability. Considering MAKO Surgical has also indicated it will eventually add new procedures to its wheelhouse, it could quite possibly still prove itself the multi-bagger that so many investors have long waited for.

Foolish final thoughts
In the end, though, whether through robotics, mobile devices, or cloud computing, each of the companies above are striving to change the world by reshaping health care as we know it. At the very least, then, consider adding them to your watchlist to keep tabs on what they're up to.

Rising health-care costs continue to be a hotly debated topic, and even legendary investor Warren Buffett called this trend "the tapeworm that's eating at American competitiveness." To learn more about what's happening to the health-care system -- and how to potentially profit from this trend -- click here for free, immediate access.

The article 3 Disruptive Technologies Reshaping Health Care Today originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Steve Symington owns shares of MAKO Surgical and iRobot. The Motley Fool recommends Amazon.com, Athenahealth, Intuitive Surgical, iRobot , MAKO Surgical , and Netflix. The Motley Fool owns shares of Amazon.com, Intuitive Surgical, and Netflix. 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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BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P. to Present at the GHS 100 Energy Conference on June 25 and Credit Sui

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BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P. to Present at the GHS 100 Energy Conference on June 25 and Credit Suisse MLP and Energy Logistics Conference on June 26

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P. (NAS: BBEP) announced today that its management will present at the GHS 100 Energy Conference in Chicago on Tuesday, June 25, at 3:00 p.m. Central Time at the JW Marriot Hotel.

BreitBurn's management will also present at the Credit Suisse MLP and Energy Logistics Conference in New York on Wednesday, June 26, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time at the Credit Suisse office on One Madison Avenue, New York.


Those wishing to view the webcasts and presentations for both events via the Internet should visit BreitBurn's Investor Relations website at http://ir.breitburn.com/.

About BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P.

BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P. is a publicly traded independent oil and gas master limited partnership focused on the acquisition, exploitation, development and production of oil and gas properties. The Partnership's producing and non-producing crude oil and natural gas reserves are located in Michigan, Wyoming, California, Florida, Texas, Indiana and Kentucky. See www.BreitBurn.com for more information.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Partnership expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements.Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control and are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Unless legally required, BreitBurn undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed herein also could have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements.See "Risk Factors" in the Partnership's Annual Report filed on Form 10-K and other public filings and press releases.

BBEP-IR



Investor Relations Contacts:
BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P.
James G. Jackson
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(213) 225-5900 x273
or
Jessica Tang
Investor Relations
(213) 225-5900 x210

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  California  Illinois  New York

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P. to Present at the GHS 100 Energy Conference on June 25 and Credit Suisse MLP and Energy Logistics Conference on June 26 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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Lenovo Gets in the 'Miix' with New Range of Touch-Enabled Windows Devices

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Lenovo Gets in the 'Miix' with New Range of Touch-Enabled Windows Devices

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Lenovo (HKSE: 0992) (PINK SHEETS: LNVGY) today announced several new touch-enabled Windows laptops, along with Lenovo Miix, a platform-bending multi-mode device that adapts to a user's every need. As a 10.1-inch tablet that converts instantly into a fully-functioning, Windows 8 laptop, the Lenovo Miix combines versatility and power in one touch-enabled device. The IdeaPad S400 Touch, S500 Touch, S210 Touch, U330 Touch and U430 Touch all hail from the company's S Series and U Series, which are notable for their thin and lightweight designs.

Lenovo IdeaPad Miix (Photo: Business Wire)

Lenovo IdeaPad Miix (Photo: Business Wire)

The new Lenovo Miix, S Series and U Series devices demonstrate Lenovo's commitment to "touch" as a defining trend in consumer computing. Research analyst firm IDC expects the penetration rate of touch laptops, which now sits at close to 15 percent, to double next year. Leading that trend, Lenovo is innovating across traditional technology segments - such as desktop and laptop PCs - with its new multi-mode, touch-enabled devices.


"Users don't want to choose between a laptop and a tablet. They want both without compromise, and Lenovo Miix delivers," said Bai Peng, vice president and general manager, notebook business unit, Lenovo Business Group. "Bringing touch to our laptops is about more than adding a touch-enabled screen. It requires a rethink of the way we interact with our devices, starting with the expectations of customers for a fluid, intuitive user experience. With these devices, touch becomes mainstream."

The new Lenovo Miix multi-mode device, S Series and U Series laptops run Windows 8, providing users a touch-optimized experience utilizing Intel processors for superior performance. The devices also offer pre-loaded software to improve user experience with security and support applications, Internet solutions, multimedia and productivity software.

"Lenovo continues to develop sleek and slim touch devices, and the new Miix tablet is a great example of its innovation," said Jordan Chrysafidis, vice president of WW OEM Marketing, Microsoft Corp. "We look forward to continued collaboration with Lenovo to provide amazing devices and experiences to customers that want all the capabilities of a PC in a very mobile tablet design."

Lenovo Miix

The latest entry to Lenovo's rapidly expanding range of multi-mode PC innovations, the Lenovo Miix is a 10.1-inch Windows 8 tablet with a PC processor, perfect for entertainment and productivity on the go. Sporting a "quick-flip" detachable folio case with an integrated AccuType keyboard, the Lenovo Miix instantly switches between PC mode and tablet mode to quickly adapt to user's needs.

The Lenovo Miix display has a 10.1-inch HD (1366x768) IPS display that is accessible in both laptop and tablet mode. The device runs on an Intel Atom dual core processor and comes with 64GB of built-in eMMC storage, expandable up to 32GB with a micro-SD slot. The Lenovo Miix tablet weighs in at only 1.2 pounds and is just 0.4 inches thin. It also includes integrated Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi and/or optional 3G-GPS connectivity and boasts up to 10 hours of battery life.

IdeaPad S400 Touch/S500 Touch/S210 Touch

Lenovo S Series laptops are defined by their elegant design and full performance at an attractive price point. Designed to look even more stylish with a tactile metallic finish and a thin (from 0.8 inches) and light (from 3 pounds) frame, S series devices pack a solid punch with far greater performance than comparably priced laptops. The IdeaPad S400 and S500 can be configured with up to 3rd generation Intel Core i5 processors and optional discrete graphics. The IdeaPad S210 is equipped with up to 3rd generation Intel® Core™ i3 processors. All three devices also offer Dolby Advance Audio v2 certification for high-quality immersive experiences with multimedia. Lenovo Companion, Lenovo Support and Lenovo Cloud applications help S Series users easily share data and access their computer's full functionality, while OneKey Recovery makes data backup and recovery simple. The S400 and S500 come with 14-inch and 15.6-inch HD widescreen displays, respectively. The S210 comes up with an 11.6-inch HD widescreen display.

U330 Touch/U430 Touch

The Lenovo IdeaPad U series laptops are notable for their very thin and light designs, starting from only 0.77 inches, as thin as a smartphone, qualifying them as Ultrabooks™. U Series devices are ultra-responsive, offering advanced options such as motion control, voice control and a multi-touch touchpad. The latest touch-enabled U Series laptops also offer 10-point capacitive multi-touch. U Series are available with up to 4th generation Intel Core i7 processors plus optional NVIDIA GeForce graphics with DirectX 11 and up to 1TB HDD with 16GB SSD or 500GB SSHD with integrated 16GB NAND flash or 256GB SSD storage, all packed into a metal frame that still stays light at as little as 3.7 pounds. The U330 Touch comes with a 13.3-inch HD or FHD display and the U430 Touch comes with a 14-inch HD+ or FHD display.

Pricing and Availability*

The Lenovo Miix will be available later this summer beginning at approximately $500.

The IdeaPad S210 Touch will be available later this summer beginning at approximately $429.

The IdeaPad S400 Touch will be available later this summer beginning at approximately $449.

The IdeaPad S500 Touch will be available later this summer beginning at approximately $579.

The IdeaPad U330 Touch will be available later this summer beginning at approximately $799.

The IdeaPad U430 Touch will be available later this summer beginning at approximately $899.

For the latest Lenovo news, subscribe to Lenovo RSS feeds or follow Lenovo on Twitter and Facebook.

About Lenovo

Lenovo (HKSE: 0992) (PINK SHEETS: LNVGY) is a US$34 billion personal technology company - one of the top two PC makers in the world and an emerging PC Plus leader - serving customers in more than 160 countries. Dedicated to exceptionally engineered PCs and mobile Internet devices, Lenovo's business is built on product innovation, a highly-efficient global supply chain and strong strategic execution. Formed by Lenovo Group's acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the Company develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services. Its product lines include legendary Think-branded commercial PCs and Idea-branded consumer PCs, as well as servers, workstations, and a family of mobile Internet devices, including tablets and smart phones. Lenovo, a global Fortune 500 company, has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information see www.lenovo.com.

*Prices do not include tax or shipping and are subject to change without notice and is tied to specific terms and conditions. Reseller prices may vary. Price does not include all advertised features. All offers subject to availability. Lenovo reserves the right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time without notice.



Lenovo
Chris Millward, +86 18911778182
cmillward@lenovo.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  North Carolina

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Lenovo Gets in the 'Miix' with New Range of Touch-Enabled Windows Devices 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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The Fed Speaks

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The following video is from Thursday's Investor Beat,  in which host Rex Moore, and analysts Jason Moser and Matt Koppenheffer dissect the hardest-hitting investing stories of the day.

The market saw continued volatility today as those crazy traders are still worried about the Fed's signals that it might ease back on its bond-buying program that's helped the recovery.

In this installment of Investor Beat, Motley Fool analysts Jason Moser and Matt Koppenheffer question whether investors should really be worrying, and which stocks look attractive for the long term.


Also, we hear why Ebix, Stratasys, Kroger, and Kinross Gold made big moves today, and why our analysts will be watching Carmax and Facebook very closely this week.

After the world's most-hyped IPO turned out to be a dud, many investors don't even want to think about shares of Facebook. But there are things every investor needs to know about this revolutionary company. The Motley Fool's newest premium research report shows that there's a lot more to Facebook than meets the eye. Read up on whether there is anything to "like" about it today to determine if Facebook deserves a place in your portfolio. Access your report by clicking here.

The article The Fed Speaks originally appeared on Fool.com.

Jason Moser has no position in any stocks mentioned. Matt Koppenheffer has no position in any stocks mentioned. Rex Moore has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends CarMax, Ebix, Facebook, Stratasys, United Parcel Service, and Visa. The Motley Fool owns shares of Facebook and Stratasys. 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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2 Stocks We're Watching Right Now

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The following video is from Thursday's Investor Beat,  in which host Rex Moore, and analysts Jason Moser and Matt Koppenheffer dissect the hardest-hitting investing stories of the day.

In this installment of Investor Beat, Motley Fool analysts Matt Koppenheffer and Jason Moser explain why they're keeping a close eye on shares of CarMax and Facebook .

After the world's most-hyped IPO turned out to be a dud, many investors don't even want to think about shares of Facebook. But there are things every investor needs to know about this revolutionary company. The Motley Fool's newest premium research report shows that there's a lot more to Facebook than meets the eye. Read up on whether there is anything to "like" about it today to determine if Facebook deserves a place in your portfolio. Access your report by clicking here.


The relevant video segment can be found between 5:26 and 6:43.

The article 2 Stocks We're Watching Right Now originally appeared on Fool.com.

Jason Moser has no position in any stocks mentioned. Matt Koppenheffer has no position in any stocks mentioned. Rex Moore has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends CarMax and Facebook. The Motley Fool owns shares of Facebook. 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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4 Stocks Making Moves

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The following video is from Thursday's Investor Beat,  in which host Rex Moore, and analysts Jason Moser and Matt Koppenheffer dissect the hardest-hitting investing stories of the day.

Bad news for Ebix shareholders today, as the stock drops 44% on a criminal investigation. Two 3-D players print up a merger. Kroger reported earnings that were up about 10%, and raised guidance for the year. And Kinross Gold Corporation was down 8% today. In this installment of Investor Beat, Motley Fool analysts Jason Moser and Matt Koppenheffer discuss four stocks making big moves.

The Economist compares this disruptive invention to the steam engine and the printing press. Business Insider says it's "the next trillion dollar industry." And everyone from BMW, to Nike, to the U.S. Air Force is already using it every day. Watch The Motley Fool's shocking video presentation today to discover the garage gadget that's putting an end to the Made In China era ... and learn the investing strategy we've used to double our money on these three stocks. Click here to watch now!


The relevant video segment can be found between 2:30 and 5:26.

The article 4 Stocks Making Moves originally appeared on Fool.com.

Jason Moser has no position in any stocks mentioned. Matt Koppenheffer has no position in any stocks mentioned. Rex Moore has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Ebix and Stratasys. The Motley Fool owns shares of Stratasys. 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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Is the Galaxy Tab Win the Start of Something Big for Intel Stock?

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It's been more than 40 years since Intel invented the first microprocessor in 1971, and today, the company has grown into a $124 billion tech giant largely by providing powerful central processing units -- the brains of traditional computers, if you will -- to the ever-growing PC industry.

Unfortunately, the market for PCs has stagnated in recent years with the rise of mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, leaving many investors to wonder whether Intel will actually be able to survive the slow death of the PC.

To be sure, Intel stock has underperformed the S&P 500 index by a whopping 30% over the past year on the heels of three consecutive painful quarters, primarily as the company still found itself on the outside looking in as competitors like Qualcomm and ARM Holdings racked up design wins with their own energy-efficient mobile processors:


Intel stock Total Return Price Chart

Intel Stock Total Return Price data by YCharts

In fact, as of last month, Intel's mobile Atom processors had primarily found homes within a variety of Microsoft's Windows 8 tablets, which haven't exactly been flying off the shelves compared with their iOS and Android-powered counterparts.

A Galaxy of opportunity
That's why Intel stock finally began to gain steam three weeks ago after news broke that Samsung has chosen Intel's Atom Z2560 mobile processor (aka "Clover Trail+") to power at least one version of its Galaxy Tab 3 10.1. What's more, when the folks at Intel confirmed the news with their own announcement a few days later, they elaborated to say the tablet would also include either Intel's XMM 6262 3G modem, or its XMM 7160 4G LTE solution.

In short, considering Samsung's earlier versions of the tablet utilized the energy-efficient offerings of ARM, this move represented a significant coup by Intel to snag market share and stifle the progress of its competition. Consider it no coincidence, then, that shares of ARM Holdings have fallen more than 25% over the past month alone following the loss of one of its largest customers -- when we remember Samsung's tablets arguably stand alone as the single largest threats to Apple's waning tablet dominance, Intel couldn't have asked for a better product line as its first significant win in the mobile device space. 

Foolish final thoughts
With the new Galaxy Tab line-up set to go on sale by the end of this month, the real test lies in how consumers will react to their first Intel-powered Samsung device. If all goes well, then, it's a safe bet that this is just the tip of the iceberg for Intel to take part in the explosive growth offered by the fast-growing mobile computing market.

In the end, with Intel stock currently trading at just 12.5 times last year's earnings, it could prove a bargain that's just too good to pass up.

More expert advice from The Motley Fool
When it comes to dominating markets, it doesn't get much better than Intel's position in the PC microprocessor arena. However, that market is maturing, and Intel finds itself in a precarious situation longer term if it doesn't find new avenues for growth. In this premium research report on Intel, a Motley Fool analyst runs through all of the key topics investors should understand when investing in Intel stock. Click here now to learn more.

The article Is the Galaxy Tab Win the Start of Something Big for Intel Stock? originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Steve Symington has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Intel. The Motley Fool owns shares of Intel and Qualcomm. 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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Biotech IPO a Buy or a Bubble Warning?

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In this video, health-care analyst David Williamson takes a look at the tremendous success of the Bluebird Bio (NASDAQ: BLUE) IPO. The company increased the size of its initial public offering, and priced shares at $17 -- above the top end of its range -- but that still couldn't contain investor appetite for this stock. Shares shot up 50% on the opening day of trading, and have remained there.

Bluebird doesn't have any products in late stage trials, but its three drug-development programs are extremely intriguing. Is the hype for its shares justified, or is this another sign of a biotech bubble? And would investors possibly be better served taking a look at Bluebird's partner Celgene (NASDAQ: CELG)?

Watch and find out.


Every in-the-know biotech investor has an eye on Celgene. Shares have skyrocketed this year as the company outlined a plan to almost triple its profits in only a few years. But should you buy the story Celgene is selling? Make sure you understand the key opportunities and risks facing this company by picking up The Motley Fool's brand new premium report on Celgene. To claim your copy today, simply click here now.

Follow David on Twitter: @MotleyDavid.

The article Biotech IPO a Buy or a Bubble Warning? originally appeared on Fool.com.

David Williamson has no position in any stocks mentioned. Follow David on Twitter: @MotleyDavid. The Motley Fool recommends Celgene. 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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There May Be a Leak in Banks' Balance Sheets

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The "StressTest" column appears every Thursday on Fool.com. Check back weekly, and follow @TMFStressTest on Twitter.

Rising interest rates bring glad tidings for banks. As rates rise, they can start making loans with higher returns. Assuming they can keep funding costs from rising too quickly, that could garner them better interest rate spreads, which is still the way most banks make most of their money.


Bank of America's CEO Brian Moynihan recently highlighted that his bank would see a nice revenue bump from higher rates:

If you look at our disclosure on a 100 basis point parallel rise, you'd see a $3.5 billion to $4 billion of revenue impact. So that will help.

I can't think of too many circumstances when an extra $4 billion wouldn't help.

Other banks provide similar disclosures in their SEC filings. Wells Fargo , for instance, calls the "most likely" scenario over the next 24 months one where the Federal Reserve's Fed Funds rate stays at 0.25%, and 10-year Treasury yields climb to 2.98%. But if the Fed Funds rate and Treasuries rise more -- to 1.25% and 3.98%, respectively -- the bank estimates its earnings could be as much as 5% higher than that "most likely" scenario.

The problem is, while it's easy to focus on the impact to bank revenue, there's a simultaneous threat to banking balance sheets. As an article in Financial Times noted:

US banks have given back billions in dollars in gains on their securities portfolios during the bond market rout of recent months, Federal Reserve data shows.

Specifically, Fed data on "net unrealized gains" on available-for-sale securities -- that is, the profits on trading securities that the banks haven't cashed in yet -- shows a precipitous drop. In April, unrealized gains stood at $36 billion. For the week ending June 5, it was $18 billion. It seems little coincidence that this happened as Treasury rates were climbing.

Source: Federal Reserve, U.S. Treasury.

We don't want to read more into this than what's actually there. The disappearance of unrealized gains could mean that lots of banks are anticipating a higher-rate environment, selling some of their security portfolios and realizing the profits. But a lot of that is likely coming via losses in the portfolio -- remember, in the bond market, higher rates mean lower prices.

With earnings season fast approaching, investors should get to see whether this has become a pain point for banks. The Fed's data show a $15 billion drop in unrealized gains since March. According to the FDIC, total bank profits for the first quarter were around $40 billion. So we're talking significant numbers here.

Longer term, higher rates should be -- as the bank CEOs contend -- better for the banks. But that doesn't mean the shorter-term rate-transition period will be without hiccups and dislocations -- like losses on the balance sheet. This may agitate some investors. But for patient investors with their eyes on well-run banks, it could also mean opportunity.

Is Wells Fargo a buy?
Wells Fargo's dedication to solid, conservative banking helped it vastly outperform its peers during the financial meltdown. Today, Wells is the same great bank as ever, but with its stock trading at a premium to the rest of the industry, is there still room to buy, or is it time to cash in your gains? To help figure out whether Wells Fargo is a buy today, I invite you to download our premium research report from one of The Motley Fool's top banking analysts. Click here now for instant access to this in-depth take on Wells Fargo.

The article There May Be a Leak in Banks' Balance Sheets originally appeared on Fool.com.

Matt Koppenheffer owns shares of Bank of America. The Motley Fool recommends Bank of America and Wells Fargo. The Motley Fool owns shares of Bank of America and Wells Fargo. 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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1 Stock to Own for the Next Decade

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Last Sunday, I offered up the Father's Day Portfolio for investors looking to beat the market over long periods of time. And while I can't make any promises, of course, I feel pretty darn good about its chances of success. One of the reasons why? Because I added Dick's Sporting Goods to the mix.

It ain't easy
Generally speaking, retailers are pretty tough. There are no real barriers to entry, and moats are pretty hard to come by. But, specialty retailers that provide something unique can be a different story. And I think that's what we have here with Dick's Sporting Goods. You can see by the chart below that shareholders over the last 10 years are feeling pretty good about life right now:

DKS Total Return Price Chart


DKS Total Return Price data by YCharts

First reason: room to grow
Dick's Sporting Goods is the largest full-line sporting goods retailer in the U.S. today. With 520 namesake stores to go along with 81 Golf Galaxy stores, it's established quite the national footprint. But there's still room for more. Plenty more. Not long ago, management saw room for around 900 Dick's Sporting Goods stores in the U.S. However, today they see a new opportunity to tap into an additional smaller-store concept, taking that potential market opportunity up to 1,100 stores.

Of course, a major threat to brick-and-mortar retailers is Amazon.com . And to be clear, annual sales at Dick's Sporting Goods are less than 10% of what Amazon does in a year. But management recognizes this opportunity, and is building out the company's e-commerce business. Just last quarter, e-commerce accounted for 5.8% of the company's total sales compared with 3.7% a year ago. Expect continued aggressive investment in e-commerce as the company expands its reach.

Second reason: a unique experience
Successful specialty retailers succeed because they offer up something that's unique and different. Dick's interactive "store within a store" concept gives a unique and distinct feel to each department. So, when you're looking for golf stuff, you go into the Golf Pro Shop (or better yet, head on over to your local Golf Galaxy). You say you're an angler? The Lodge, geared toward hunting and fishing equipment, is where you want to be. It's a superior in-store experience compared to competitors like Wal-Mart and Target.

Brand partnerships also provide Dick's with the unique opportunity to offer their customers exclusive products from their most popular suppliers like Nike and Under Armour. Another great example of the win-win-win propostion the stores offer: the business wins, customers win, and its suppliers win. Now that's what I call #winning.

The Foolish bottom line
The whole point behind Foolish investing is to ignore the day-to-day minutiae, and invest in businesses that we think stand to be successful over long periods of time. We're talking years here, folks; that was the point of the chart at the beginning of this piece. And judging from the market opportunity of Dick's Sporting Goods today, I think shareholders of the coming decade stand a great chance of whistling that same winning tune of the past.

Click here to follow Jason on Twitter.

The article 1 Stock to Own for the Next Decade originally appeared on Fool.com.

Jason Moser owns shares of Amazon.com and Nike. The Motley Fool recommends Amazon.com, Nike, and Under Armour. The Motley Fool owns shares of Amazon.com, Nike, and Under Armour. 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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Five Below Secondary Stock Offering Postponed

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Investors hoping to take advantage of the planned Five Below secondary share issue will have to wait for another day. The company announced that, "in light of current capital market conditions," the offering has been postponed; it did not specify whether it has been rescheduled.

A group of selling shareholders, including members and associates of the firm's management team and board of directors, were to offer just over 8.56 million shares in the underwritten issue. Additionally, it was expected that the company's underwriters were to be granted a 30-day purchase option for up to an additional 1.28 million shares.

In the press release originally heralding the sale, Five Below stressed it is not to receive any monies from the offering, as it is not the selling party.


The joint book-running managers of the offering are Goldman Sachs, Barclays' Capital unit, Leucadia's Jefferies, and the Securities arms of Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank.

Currently, Five Below has just over 54 million shares outstanding, and its stock most recently closed at $37.41 per share.

The article Five Below Secondary Stock Offering Postponed originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Eric Volkman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Goldman Sachs. 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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RAIT Financial Trust Boosts Dividend

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RAIT Financial Trust investors will be getting slightly more than they did last quarter, as a reward for putting their faith in the company. The real estate investment trust has declared a common stock dividend of $0.13 per share, to be handed out on July 31 to shareholders of record as of July 12. That amount is $0.01, or 8%, higher than RAIT's previous distribution of $0.12, which was paid in April. Prior to that, the firm dispensed $0.10 per share.

The new dividend annualizes to $0.52 per share. That yields 7.2% at RAIT's most recent closing stock price of $7.23.

The article RAIT Financial Trust Boosts Dividend originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Eric Volkman has no position in RAIT Financial Trust. Nor does The Motley Fool. 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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What Are the City's Expectations for SSE's Profits?

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LONDON -- When weighing up a potential investment, we always need to look forward rather than backwards. If you buy a stake in a business, it's the future profits that count -- and the stock market will value your shares based on future expectations.

With that in mind, it can be helpful to review what expert City analysts are expecting a company to earn in the coming years. These expectations can be compared to the share price, to give you a better idea of how the stock market is valuing the business.

Today I'm looking at the earnings per share (EPS) forecasts for SSE , the FTSE 100 utilities giant.


Analysts expect SSE's profits to be £1.20 per share this year. This estimate means that, compared to today's share price of 1,534 pence, the market is valuing SSE's shares on a forward price-to-earnings multiple of 12.8.

Looking ahead, the consensus then calls for a modest increase in SSE's earnings to £1.24 per share for 2014. Importantly for income-focused investors, analysts predict dividends to leap from 81 pence per share to 90 pence over the same time period, offering a prospective yield of 5.9% for 2014.

But is this dividend prospect enough to mitigate the highly regulated, capital-intensive characteristics of the utilities industry?

Of course, whether this question, the City's profit projections and the current valuation make the shares of SSE "fairly priced" is for you to decide. But if you already own shares in SSE and are looking for similar high-quality investment opportunities, I've helped pinpoint five particularly attractive possibilities in this exclusive wealth report.

All five companies offer a mix of robust prospects, illustrious histories and dependable dividends, and have just been declared by the Fool as "5 Shares You Can Retire On"!

Just click here to download your exclusive free report.

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The article What Are the City's Expectations for SSE's Profits? originally appeared on Fool.com.

Mark Rogers has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 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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Look Which Stocks Were the Dow's Worst in Today's Crash

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Concerns about the Federal Reserve's eventual end to its quantitative easing program changed from a relatively orderly sell-off yesterday to slightly more panicked movements today. By the close, the Dow Jones Industrials plunged 354 points, the average's worst loss since November 2011. Not only did any single stock manage to avoid declining, but all 30 stocks posted declines of at least 1% or more, showing the depth of the negative sentiment that took over the market.

Given the way that investors have relied on the Fed throughout the market's long bullish run, it's not all that surprising to see the average pull back sharply on even the slightest hint that the Fed might stop doing what investors have been so happy to see for years. What is surprising, though, was that Disney was the biggest loser in the market, falling 3.7%. Despite the media giant's success with blockbuster films based on its Marvel acquisition, Disney has had to pay escalating amounts of money to secure the rights to broadcast sports on its ESPN channel, and a Wall Street analyst expects to see competition from other networks to try to capture the most popular sports leagues and sporting events. With expirations coming in its basketball and auto-racing contracts, ESPN could face challenges that would ripple throughout the media giant.

Intel also posted a sharp drop of about 3.25%. The stock's 25% gains since November left it poised for a pullback, but sellers are clearly ignoring Intel's prospects both in the mobile market and in its core PC business. With Intel finally gaining a place for its chips in a major mobile device, and with its recent moves to try to make PCs relevant again by emphasizing convenient form factors that blend full-power functionality and portability, investors shouldn't underestimate the chip giant's ability to regain its full strength in the semiconductor market.


Finally, although there was no lack of losing stocks in the broader market, gold mining companies took a huge hit in light of a plunge in the price of gold bullion that sent the yellow metal convincingly below the $1,300 per ounce level. Newmont Mining , Barrick Gold , and a host of other miners hit new 52-week lows, with Newmont falling 7%, and Barrick giving up 8%. If interest rates continue to rise, then the opportunity cost of owning gold will go up with them, making investors less prone to hold onto the metal, and potentially marking a long-term reversal in the more than decade-long bull market for gold.

Gold has outshined the stock market with strong returns since 2000, but more recently has given way to big declines. The Motley Fool's new free report, "The Best Way to Play Gold Right Now," dissects the recent volatility, and provides a guide for gold investing. Click here to read the full report today!

The article Look Which Stocks Were the Dow's Worst in Today's Crash originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Dan Caplinger has no position in any stocks mentioned. You can follow him on Twitter @DanCaplinger. The Motley Fool recommends Intel and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool owns shares of Intel and Walt Disney. 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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3 More FTSE 100 Shares With High Forecast Growth

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LONDON --

BG Group
BG Group's  profits will soar as more oil and gas production comes onstream. Earnings per share is forecast to rise by 30% in 2013. Another 19% increase is expected next year. More modest dividend growth is expected, with the payout forecast to hit $0.31 in 2014.

There is very little difference in the oil and gas that BG produces versus other companies. This means that it has to take the price that is dictated by the global energy markets.

BG's future profits are thus dependent on the future price of energy, and there is little that they can do about it.


BG's forecast yield for the year is just 1.5%. That's not much compensation for holding shares in a company exposed to factors beyond its control.

Bunzl
Bunzl  is one of the elite dozen FTSE 100 companies that has reported rising EPS and dividends year on year for the last five years. This record has seen the shares rewarded with a premium rating. Bunzl shares are today trading at 20.5 times 2012 earnings.

More earnings growth is expected. Analysts have pencilled in EPS of 77.1 pence for 2013, rising to 81.8 pence the year after. The dividend is expected to be increased ahead of inflation this year and next. This pushes the 2014 yield on the shares to 2.6%.

While Bunzl may look expensive today, any market decline could present an opportunity to buy a top-quality share at an average price.

John Wood Group
John Wood Group  is an engineering services firm supplying expertise to the oil and gas industry. As such, its fortunes are aligned with the large producers'.

That has not stopped Wood Group from rewarding its shareholders handsomely. The company's dividend to shareholders has risen year on year for the last 10 years. Since 2007, the average rate of dividend increase has been 13.6%.

According to the consensus of analyst expectations, the market is forecasting 47% EPS growth this year, followed by a 13% rise in 2014. Despite the dividend increases in recent years, the payout is still well covered by earnings. A 24% dividend hike is expected this year, and a 14% rise for 2014.

If the growth is delivered, the shares look too cheap today on 11.0 times the 2014 estimate.

Buying shares in companies that can grow earnings ahead of economic growth could accelerate your wealth building. To help you identify the companies capable of long-term growth, our analysts have prepared a free report, "5 Shares for the Long Term." This report is totally free and will be delivered to your inbox immediately. Just click here to start reading this research today.

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The article 3 More FTSE 100 Shares With High Forecast Growth originally appeared on Fool.com.

David O'Hara does not own shares in any of companies mentioned.The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 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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Will Convertibles Save the PC?

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By now, it's become pretty clear that the rise of tablets and smartphones has taken a toll on the PC industry. It's not that the PC is "dying," per se -- it's that the rapid proliferation of affordable mobile computing devices has prolonged the consumer PC replacement cycle. This year, it's expected that the average selling price of a tablet will decline by 10.8% to $381, which is nearly half the average selling price of a PC. As a result, IDC anticipates that worldwide PC shipments will experience their second year of decline, whereas worldwide tablets shipments are now expected to surpass worldwide portable PC shipments.

Since tablets have become so popular, PC makers have been working to make the PC computing experience more tablet-like. Features like touch screens, all-day battery life, and slim form factors are being incorporated into PC designs to help make PCs more competitive against the more affordable tablet.

Now that's an Ultrabook
Intel
has been trying to sell the public on the Ultrabook concept for over two years without much success. Aside from differing prices and form factors, it's been difficult for consumers to distinguish the difference between Ultrabooks and other laptops because the technology inside was essentially the same. Well, that's all about to change with the introduction of Intel Haswell, the first chip family specifically designed for Ultrabooks.


The key selling points of Haswell-powered devices will be the combination of improved performance and significantly better battery life, housed in a sleek form factor. During active workloads, Haswell is expected to offer 50% better battery life than previous generations, which in many cases will translate to all-day battery life.

Thanks to Haswell's advancements, a sea of modernized convertibles will begin flooding the market this year. Convertibles, or "2-in-1" devices as Intel calls them, have the ability to operate in "clamshell" or "tablet" modes, depending if the touch screen is detached or swiveled away from the keyboard. By the end of the year, Intel expects that 50 convertible Ultrabooks will hit the market, with some starting at a $699 price point.

Too high?
As much as Intel would like to believe that $699 convertibles will resonate well with consumers since they offer the best of both worlds, the price point seems to disregard the fact that everyday users will likely be comparing convertibles to cheaper alternatives. By the holiday season, Intel expects laptops with touch screens powered by Intel Bay Trail could start at $200. Couple this with the sea of sub-$200 tablets currently available, and there are plenty of compelling low-cost options for the everyday user.

If there's one thing that the inexpensive tablet has proven, it's that the everyday user doesn't need much more than that. Why would it be any different for PCs?

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. 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 Will Convertibles Save the PC? originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Steve Heller owns shares of Intel. The Motley Fool recommends Intel. The Motley Fool owns shares of Intel. 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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Can Samsung Defy the Doubters?

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After putting rival Apple in the rearview mirror over the last year, South Korean tech giant Samsung has seen its shares come back to earth lately courtesy of a reality check from the analyst community. And although the share price falling so much so fast certainly hurts, Samsung intends to prove the doubters wrong. In fact, rumor has it that Samsung is once again preparing to up the ante in the global smartphone wars, especially before Apple steals the show with its widely expected product launches in the second half of the year. So what's the scoop? Fool contributor Andrew Tonner breaks down the story and how investors should interpret it in the video below.

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. 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 Can Samsung Defy the Doubters? originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Andrew Tonner owns shares of Apple. Follow Andrew and all his writing on Twitter: @AndrewTonnerThe Motley Fool recommends Apple. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple. 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 Beginners' Portfolio: What's Been Happening to Vodafone, Tesco and GlaxoSmithKline?

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LONDON -- This article is the latest in a series that aims to help novice investors with the stock market. To enjoy past articles in the series, please visit our full archive.

An important part of running any investment portfolio, I reckon, is not spending too much of your life on it. You should keep up with important news, but don't spend too long poring over the financial pages every morning -- balance is what is needed.

So, has there been any important news for us of late? Indeed there has:


Vodafone
The big news at Vodafone Group  of late is that the mobile telecoms giant has approached Germany's largest cable operator Kabel Deutschland Holding with a view to possibly making an offer for the company. Although Vodafone itself didn't provide us with any details, Kabel Deutschland has a market cap of more than 7 billion euros, and Bloomberg reported an offer of 81-82 euros per share -- not enough, apparently, to even pique the German firm's interest.

The Vodafone share price actually dropped 11 pence on the day to end on 181 pence, so the market wasn't impressed. Too big a target? A distraction from the Verizon business? We'll have to Hold and see. The price today? Down a bit further on 179 pence, and just 5.6% up since we bought at 168.5 pence.

Tesco
Tesco  brought us a first-quarter update on 5 June, reporting a 2.7% rise in group sales, excluding petrol, with improving like-for-like sales in most categories of foods -- although in the U.K., things are still tough. The company's online grocery continues to lead the market with further outperformance.

The downside lies with Tesco's non-food products, which are not doing as well as hoped -- but there is a focus on improving sales of general merchandise.

Disappointingly for us, the Tesco share price has fallen of late, from a 52-week high of 388 pence, to today's price of 331 pence -- but that's still 8.6% up on our purchase price of 305.5 pence.

Tesco is still very much a Hold.

GlaxoSmithKline
On Tuesday, GlaxoSmithKline  announced it has received an offer for its thrombosis brands and the associated manufacturing site at Notre-Dame de Bondeville, in France. The potential buyer is Aspen Global, a subsidiary of South Africa's Aspen Pharmacare Holdings. We do not yet know the terms of the offer, but the two key drugs involved, Arixtra and Fraxiparine, generated sales of 400 million pounds last year.

According to the announcement, a sale would be "aligned to GSK's strategy of focusing on products with the most growth potential and the delivery of its pipeline."

The punters, however, seem unimpressed, and the share price has fallen 72 pence, to 1,606 pence, from Monday's close of 1,686 pence. But at least it's 11% up on our purchase price of 1440.5 pence almost exactly a year ago.

With earnings growth, and a dividend yield of 4.5% expected, this is another Hold.

Rio Tinto
Our investment in Rio Tinto  has not been a great success in the short term, with the price having dropped 11% from our purchase price of 3,048 pence, to 2,711 pence today -- but the whole sector has been suffering from a slowdown in Chinese growth.

But what news? On 13 June, Rio told us it has agreed to sell its Eagle nickel-copper project in Michigan to Lundin Mining for a cash deal estimated to be worth $325 million. The sale includes the mine itself and the attached mill.

My rating on Rio Tinto now? Well, with a forward price-to-earnings ratio of only eight, and a forecast dividend yield (which should be thrice-covered) of 4.2%, it'll be no surprise that I still rate Rio as a firm Hold -- I really don't care about cyclical downturns.

No regrets!
Another bit of good advice I try to follow is to never rue your past decisions -- learn from them, certainly, but put them swiftly behind you and move on.

I was reminded of this after I dumped engineering consultant WS Atkins  from the portfolio's watchlist on June 12. And the very next day, the firm announced a 10% rise in underlying full-year earnings per share, sending the price up 12% to today's 979 pence. Oh well.

Finally, my idea of the kind of shares that should make up the core of a beginner's portfolio is the same as my choice for an ISA, or a retirement portfolio -- or, in fact, any portfolio. I'd start with good strong companies that should stand the test of time and potentially reward you for decades.

Not surprisingly, the Fool's top analysts think similarly, and they have put together a special report detailing five blue-chip shares that I think would be ideal for anyone at the start of his or her investing career.

But it will only be available for a limited period, so click here to get your hands on these great ideas that could start you on the road to long-term riches.

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The article The Beginners' Portfolio: What's Been Happening to Vodafone, Tesco and GlaxoSmithKline? originally appeared on Fool.com.

Alan Oscroft does not own any shares mentioned in this article. The Motley Fool recommends GlaxoSmithKline, Tesco, and Vodafone. The Motley Fool owns shares of Tesco. 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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