Quantcast
Channel: DailyFinance.com
Viewing all 9760 articles
Browse latest View live

Americans Confess to Exercise Angst

$
0
0

Filed under:

Americans Confess to Exercise Angst

Survey Reveals 47 Percent of Adults Prefer to Workout at Home

Vancouver, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- June 24, 2013 - Americans may seem to be placing a renewed focus on health and fitness, but the reality is we still have a long way to go. A new survey from Nautilus, Inc. (NYS: NLS) found that working out at a gym can be intimidating and deters some people from working out. Americans are most intimidated by people that are in better shape at the gym, with 32 percent of survey respondents citing it as the key factor.


The Nautilus survey, powered by uSamp's Instant.ly platform, questioned 1,000 men and women in the United States ages 18 and older on April 17, 2013 to better understand their workout behaviors and health priorities.

The survey found that most Americans are dissatisfied with how they feel and how they look. More than half of adults consider themselves overweight, with 11 percent identifying themselves as obese and 51 percent noting they need to lose a few pounds. Body image is also a point of discontent, as 64 percent of adults say they are unhappy with their body overall.

Of those surveyed, many found solace with at home workouts:

  • 41 percent said they workout at home because they don't feel embarrassed
  • 26 percent like that they can wear what they want
  • 13 percent enjoy that they control the channel on the TV

The survey also found that the No. 1 reason Americans don't workout as much as they'd like to is because they don't have enough time. But Americans are acutely aware of the health benefits to a good workout. The No. 1 motivator for working out is health (56 percent) followed by appearance (27 percent).

"Everyone has a different fitness level and workout preference, and this survey demonstrates that consumers want to have more choices," said Bruce Cazenave, CEO of Nautilus. "Whether you're trying to get off the couch or looking to tone up, getting fit doesn't have to be overwhelming. At Nautilus, we want to inspire others to pursue a healthy lifestyle by providing effective tools to engage them in a fitness plan they can stick with, and ultimately, enabling them to achieve their overall health and fitness goals."

For full survey results, contact Nautilus at PublicRelations@nautilus.com.

About Nautilus, Inc.

Headquartered in Vancouver, Wash., Nautilus, Inc. (NYS: NLS) is a global fitness products company providing innovative, quality solutions to help people achieve a healthy lifestyle. With a brand portfolio including Nautilus®, Bowflex®, Schwinn® and Universal®, Nautilus markets innovative fitness products through direct and retail channels. Websites: www.nautilusinc.com, www.bowflex.com, www.treadclimber.com, www.corebody.com and www.peakfitsystem.com

###



Media Contacts:
Nautilus, Inc.
Julie Mallory
(360) 859-2688
jmallory@nautilus.com
or
Kali Bean
The Hoffman Agency
(503) 580-4645
kbean@hoffman.com
or
Investor Relations Contact:
ICR, LLC
John Mills
(310) 954-1105

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Washington

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Americans Confess to Exercise Angst 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.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments


CSC Leads Technology Sector in Sustainability Reporting Practices

$
0
0

Filed under:

CSC Leads Technology Sector in Sustainability Reporting Practices

FALLS CHURCH, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CSC (NYS: CSC) received the top ranking for firms in the technology sector for its sustainability reporting practices, according to a recent report from the Investor Responsibility Research Center Institute (IRRCI).

In the IRRCI research, CSC led the technology sector and received more than triple the average score among technology companies for its integrated reporting on climate change, energy efficiency, waste management, ethics, employee recruitment and diversity. While many corporations disclose some level of sustainability information, far fewer demonstrate to investors, business partners and suppliers the value of their sustainability initiatives.


"Reporting on all drivers of value--not just the traditional accounting ones--is the first step toward understanding the causation between specific sustainability issues, including climate change, and their financial risks and opportunities," said IRRCI Executive Director Jon Lukomnik. "Companies connecting these dots have a competitive advantage in maximizing long-term shareholder returns, minimizing negative societal impacts and contributing most to the communities in which they operate."

The IRRCI research is the first to report comprehensively benchmark the status of integrated financial and sustainability reporting in the United States. The report examined S&P 500 companies and their disclosures for 2012 in areas ranging from environmental management and climate change to ethics and human rights.

About CSC

For more information, please visit CSC's company profile.

Click here to subscribe to Mobile Alerts for CSC.



CSC
Andrea McNally
Corporate Public Relations
703-641-3435
amcnally4@csc.com
or
Steve Virostek
Investor Relations
703-641-3000
investorrelations@csc.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Virginia

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article CSC Leads Technology Sector in Sustainability Reporting Practices 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.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Sprint Launches Secure Messaging Solutions to Enable HIPAA Compliance

$
0
0

Filed under:

Sprint Launches Secure Messaging Solutions to Enable HIPAA Compliance

Sprint and TigerText to deliver a full suite of secure messaging solutions for healthcare professionals


OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Text messaging has become a popular way to communicate at home and in the office. Each year, more and more people send short messages to friends, family and colleagues. IDC expects that by the end of 2016, over 3.4 trillion messages will be sent per year. This represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.0%*.

For those providing a healthcare service involving protected health information (PHI), sending a common text message may be a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and can lead to serious legal consequences.

Today Sprint (NYS: S) announced the availability of TigerText and Sprint Enterprise Messenger-Secure to address this challenge. This suite of solutions offers healthcare organizations a choice of services to address varying needs as they work to comply with HIPAA security standards and keep patient information flowing efficiently and securely.

TigerText is a leader in secure text messaging that meets HIPAA security standards for healthcare organizations. The company's secure enterprise communications solution, has been adopted in more than 1,000 healthcare facilities in 38 states. TigerText is a robust, cross-carrier mobile messaging platform that enables healthcare organizations to leverage the benefits of texting in accordance with HIPAA security standards.

"We are excited to work with Sprint to help bring secure messaging solutions to the healthcare industry," said Brad Brooks, TigerText co-founder and president. "The growing challenge to improve communication while keeping patient information safe has led to an accelerated demand for TigerText's messaging solutions."

Sprint is also working with TeleMessage to offer a more cost-effective solution, Sprint Enterprise Messenger - Secure, which will enable healthcare professionals to send and receive text messages quickly and reliably, in a secure environment. Its affordability can make person-to-person communication a reality for healthcare organizations that are more price sensitive and do not require all of the advanced features of a more robust solution. Sprint Enterprise Messenger-Secure also has applications in other industries where data security is mission-critical.

"Sprint has a history and extensive experience within the healthcare industry," said Julee Thompson-chief healthcare executive, Sprint. "Many hospitals are working hard to identify communication solutions. Sprint provides the wireless communication infrastructure to assure mission-critical and standard-based elements are in place so that healthcare providers can focus on service delivery."

Concerns about compliance

HIPAA encompasses a wide-range of security and privacy measures related to protected health information whether in transit or storage. It applies to health plans, healthcare clearinghouses and any healthcare provider who handles personal health information. A person who knowingly obtains or discloses individually identifiable health information in violation of HIPAA may face civil or criminal penalties. (Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

Sprint Network Vision

To support the growing need for data in healthcare and other industries, Sprint is rolling out a new 3G/4G network designed to provide faster data speeds, improved quality and easier connectivity. Sprint expects customers to benefit with better wireless signal strength, in-building coverage and fewer drops/blocks. Sprint introduced its all-new 4G LTE network in 2012 and now offers service in 110 markets. For the most up-to-date information on Sprint's 4G LTE coverage, please visit www.sprint.com/coverage.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 55 million customers at the end of the first quarter of 2013 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint as the most improved company in customer satisfaction, across all 47 industries, during the last five years. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in both its 2011 and 2012 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation's greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

About TigerText

TigerText is a leader in secure, real-time messaging for healthcare, enterprises, and individuals. TigerText allows healthcare providers and businesses to create a private and secure mobile messaging network with their own smartphone. More than 1,000 facilities have adopted TigerText, including leading organizations like Adventist Health, the University of Kentucky HealthCare, and Scottsdale Health Partners, which rely on TigerText to comply with industry standards. TigerText's speed, compatibility and ease of use accelerate workflows, and improve employee satisfaction. For more information visit: www.tigertext.com or https://www.facebook.com/TigerText or twitter.com/tigertextapp.

*Source: IDC U.S. Mobile Messaging 2012-2016 Forecast: SMS, MMS, and the Role of Over-the-Top Messaging Applications, doc #236137, August 2012.



Sprint
Randy Spolter, 703-592-8507
randal.spolter@sprint.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Kansas

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Sprint Launches Secure Messaging Solutions to Enable HIPAA Compliance 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.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Kimco Increases Its Ownership Interest in a Portfolio of 39 High Quality Shopping Centers

$
0
0

Filed under:

Kimco Increases Its Ownership Interest in a Portfolio of 39 High Quality Shopping Centers

NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Kimco Realty Corp. (NYS: KIM) , North America's largest owner and operator of neighborhood and community shopping centers, today announced that the company has increased its ownership interest in the Kimco-UBS ("KUBS") joint venture to 33 percent from its previous 18 percent interest. Simultaneous with this transaction, affiliates of Blackstone Real Estate Partners VII completed their acquisition from affiliates of the UBS Wealth Management North American Property Fund for the remaining 67 percent ownership interest. Both of these transactions were based on a gross purchase price of $1.1 billion, including $631 million of assumed debt.

The KUBS joint venture comprises 39 properties totaling 5.6 million square feet which is currently 96 percent occupied with an average base rent per square foot of $15.51. The properties are well located in strong demographic markets that have high barriers to entry with a concentration of shopping centers in New York, Virginia, Texas, Florida, California, and Maryland. The portfolio is a balance between grocery-anchored shopping centers and dominant power centers with tenant rosters that include market leading grocers Publix, Giant Food, Whole Food Markets and Safeway, as well as investment-grade retailers Home Depot, Nordstrom Rack, Bed Bath & Beyond and T.J.Maxx.


ABOUT KIMCO

Kimco Realty Corp. (NYS: KIM) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) headquartered in New Hyde Park, N.Y., that owns and operates North America's largest portfolio of neighborhood and community shopping centers. As of March 31, 2013, the company owned interests in 895 shopping centers comprising 131 million square feet of leasable space across 44 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico and South America. Publicly traded on the NYSE since 1991, and included in the S&P 500 Index, the company has specialized in shopping center acquisition, development and management for more than 50 years. For further information, please visit http://www.kimcorealty.com, the company's blog at blog.kimcorealty.com/, or follow Kimco on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kimcorealty.



Kimco Realty Corp.
David F. Bujnicki, 1-866-831-4297
Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
dbujnicki@kimcorealty.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Canada  New York

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Kimco Increases Its Ownership Interest in a Portfolio of 39 High Quality Shopping Centers 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.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Schedule a Free ADT In-Home Security Assessment for Customized Solutions That Best Fit You and Your

$
0
0

Filed under:

Schedule a Free ADT In-Home Security Assessment for Customized Solutions That Best Fit You and Your Family

BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Whether you're a busy working parent looking to keep an eye on your children or a world traveler seeking an effective, affordable way to monitor your home from afar, everyone has different needs when selecting a home security and automation solution. While ADT and some of its competitors sell solutions over the phone, the majority of ADT's new customers select tailor-made systems as a result of having personalized, in-home security consultations.

ADT's security professionals walk in and around the home to identify potential vulnerabilities and offer valuable security knowledge and tips. This in-person assessment enables ADT's professionals to recommend custom-made solutions ranging from a traditional burglar alarm system to a comprehensive home automation solution such as ADT Pulse® that lets users remotely arm and disarm their systems; access real time video; and manage their thermostats, small appliances and lights all with the push of a button.


ADT Pulse Customer Peter Castaldi based in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts said, "I never would have installed a home security and automation solution without having an in-home consultation. ADT's security professionals educated me on the various security components and packages available as well as the range of wireless and wired options to best protect my family and home. Their home security expertise was incredibly valuable."

When selecting the best solution for you and your family, ADT encourages consumers to consider the following:

  • Six Interconnected Alarm Monitoring Centers: When a natural disaster strikes, ADT is the only security provider with six alarm monitoring centers across the U.S. and Canada to help ensure customers are well-protected. If ADT's employees cannot get to work safely, trained ADT technicians at its other centers answer calls to ensure customers are covered in an emergency.
  • Strong Relationships with First Responders: ADT's 2,000 emergency dispatch operators handle more than 19 million alarm signals per year, working closely with local police officers, paramedics and firefighters to help protect and connect ADT's 6.5 million customers.
  • Unmatched Industry Experience: With nearly 140 years in the industry, experience matters most when customers place their trust in a company to help protect their families and homes. The company's installation and service technicians have an average tenure of 13 years and install more than 100 systems nationwide each hour.
  • Reliable, Innovative Solutions: ADT'sproduct engineers conduct extensive quality tests to ensure its solutions are dependable and enjoyable to use, and the company continues to enhance its Pulse platform with new features and capabilities.

In addition to providing free in-home security assessments, ADT is offering a special July 4th promotion, giving consumers $250 to $300 of instant savings on the ADT Pulse system. To learn more about ADT, please visit www.adt.com or call 1-800-ADT-ASAP.

About ADT

The ADT Corporation (NYS: ADT) is a leading provider of electronic security, interactive home and business automation and monitoring services for residences and small businesses in the United States and Canada. ADT's broad and pioneering set of products and services, including ADT Pulse interactive home and business solutions, and home health services, meet a range of customer needs for today's active and increasingly mobile lifestyles. Headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, ADT helps provide peace of mind to more than six million customers, and it employs approximately 16,000 people at 200 locations. More information is available at www.adt.com.



The ADT Corporation
Sarah Cohn, +1 561-322-7029
scohn@adt.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Florida

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Schedule a Free ADT In-Home Security Assessment for Customized Solutions That Best Fit You and Your Family 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.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

KODAK NEXPRESS Gold Solution Adds Sparkle to a Wide Variety of Print Jobs

$
0
0

Filed under:

KODAK NEXPRESS Gold Solution Adds Sparkle to a Wide Variety of Print Jobs

Commercial availability spurs a "gold rush" to get first digital gold capability in the industry

ROCHESTER, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Kodak previewed the NEXPRESS Gold Solution at drupa 2012 and has been busy perfecting the solution with beta customers around the world over the past 12 months. Boasting a large number of commercial and special projects produced during that time, KODAK NEXPRESS Gold Dry Ink has proven to be an attention-getting addition wherever it has been used. Customers have been eagerly anticipating the solution, which is now available globally.


Designed for commercial printers, photo printers, and in-plant printers, the NEXPRESS Gold Solution is a unique option for KODAK NEXPRESS Fifth Imaging Unit Solutions, enabling printers to add a gold metallic effect as a fifth color. Early adopters in the beta program are finding that the combination of gold effects with the outstanding output of KODAK NEXPRESS Presses is opening new opportunities for adding value to digital print jobs.

"We've had the opportunity to do a lot of different projects with NEXPRESS Gold Dry Ink, and our clients have really embraced this new capability," said Ken Dunn, Digital Operations Manager at Westamerica Graphics, an early beta customer in Foothill Ranch, California. "Some of our existing clients have incorporated gold as part of a brand color or accent for use with certain projects, and they have seen an immediate benefit from being able to print digital jobs with gold—from the economy of short runs and the quick turnaround to the savings of not having to send out for expensive gold foil or embossing work. The direct mail, certificates, and other projects we have produced now have a look that only we can create...and it looks fantastic!"

No other digital cut-sheet press in the market offers a gold metallic solution, especially with the option to print lengths up to 36 inches/914mm on more than 800 different substrates. Beta customers are using the new gold capability to replace work they used to have to send out to complete, resulting in better revenue and better margins. Customers also are picking up new business and new clients with the introduction of gold. Some early applications include certificates, direct mail, marketing materials, photo books, invitations, greeting cards, and more.

Montreal-based fine artists Louise and Joseph Simone have been working with Kodak to integrate NEXPRESS Gold Dry Ink into some of their prints and are thrilled with the quality and vibrancy it adds to their work. "For close to 35 years, we have been in this beautiful adventure of imagery, and we are always looking for a tool or technology that will enhance our signature style," noted Louise Simone. "The gold gives us a way to be different in the market and gives a touch of class and higher value. This new tool will open doors for us."

"All our lives, Louise and I go where nobody else goes because we like the exclusivity," added Joseph Simone. See more of their story at http://youtu.be/NiMmtWi6hpU.

For more information about NEXPRESS Gold Dry Ink, visit www.kodak.com/go/gold. Also, see the interview with Kodak's Andreas Nielen-Haberl on WhatTheyThink at http://whattheythink.com/video/64074-andreas-nielen-haberl-developments-nexpress/.

About Commercial Imaging

Kodak's Commercial Imaging business is driving innovation and change for customers in commercial, packaging and functional printing, and enterprise services markets. Kodak's intelligent technologies and solutions provide customers greater competitive advantage and return on investment. For more information, visit graphics.kodak.com.

(Kodak and NexPress are trademarks of Eastman Kodak Company.)



Media:
Kodak
Nancy Carr, +1 585-781-9121
nancy.carr@kodak.com
or
Eric Mower + Associates
Jenny Lesczinski, +1 585-389-1825
KodakPR@mower.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  New York

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article KODAK NEXPRESS Gold Solution Adds Sparkle to a Wide Variety of Print Jobs 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.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Monday's Top News Headlines

$
0
0

Filed under:

Here are today's top news headlines from  Fool.com . Check back throughout the day as this list is updated, and follow us on Twitter at  TMFBreaking .

New CFO of American Express Gets a Healthy Pay Package

Top GM Europe Exec to Step Down


Google Introduces 4 New Features to Improve AdSense

 "Monsters University" Keeps Pixar Hit Streak Alive; Rakes in $82 Million


The article Monday's Top News Headlines 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.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Praxair Expands Presence in Southern Russia with Acquisition of Volgograd Oxygen Factory

$
0
0

Filed under:

Praxair Expands Presence in Southern Russia with Acquisition of Volgograd Oxygen Factory

DANBURY, Conn. & MOSCOW--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Praxair, Inc. (NYS: PX) has acquired Volgograd Oxygen Factory (VOF), a leading producer and distributor of industrial gases in southern Russia, significantly strengthening the company's merchant liquid and packaged gas business in this key region. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. This is the latest in a series of investments in Russia that expands Praxair's production and distribution capacity.

VOF is an established leader in the Volgograd region, serving more than two thousand customers in a variety of industries including steel, aerospace, healthcare and food and beverage. Praxair has invested in four other major projects in Russia, with combined production capacity greater than 3,500 tons per day of gaseous and liquid oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and argon. In addition, the company acquired Volzhsky Azot in 2012, which included two air separation units and a bulk and packaged gas business located in the Volgograd region.


"The acquisition of VOF is consistent with our business strategy to continue to build production and distribution density in southern Russia," said Todd Skare, president of Praxair Europe. "We expect to derive immediate synergies with Praxair's newly built air separation plant in Volgograd, as well as the integration of VOF into our existing regional infrastructure. Further, we expect to drive new profitable growth from VOF's large packaged gas presence in the region."

"We see Praxair as a high-quality investor for the development of industrial gases in Russia," said Vladimir Pantyashin, general director of VOF. "After managing this company for more than 24 years, we are confident Praxair will bring additional experience, support and infrastructure to ensure future success in the growing industrial gases market of southern Russia."

About Praxair

Praxair, Inc. is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2012 sales of $11 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies are making our planet more productive by bringing efficiency and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information about Praxair, Inc. is available at www.praxair.com and at www.praxair.ru.



Praxair, Inc.
Media
Lisa Esneault, (203)-837-2671
lisa_esneault@praxair.com
or
Investor
Kelcey Hoyt, (203)-837-2118
kelcey_hoyt@praxair.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  Europe  North America  Connecticut  Russia

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Praxair Expands Presence in Southern Russia with Acquisition of Volgograd Oxygen Factory 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.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments


Mentor Graphics Adds Embedded Memories to the Kronos Cell Characterization and Analysis Platform

$
0
0

Filed under:

Mentor Graphics Adds Embedded Memories to the Kronos Cell Characterization and Analysis Platform

WILSONVILLE, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Mentor Graphics Corp. (NAS: MENT) today announced it has expanded the Kronos™ Cell Characterization and Analysis platform to include embedded memories. The Kronos platform quickly produces accurate performance models for standard cells, I/Os, complex cells and embedded memories within an advanced, integrated environment.

Characterization and analysis of embedded memories poses unique challenges: large circuit size can lead to excessive runtime, complex internal circuitry and a variety of choices available for pin-bus models requires a high level of automation. The Kronos platform addresses these challenges with proven, integrated capabilities.


In managing the characterization and analysis of embedded memories, the Kronos platform delivers ease of configuration that enables an automatic characterization flow. The automated flow runs netlist reduction, all simulations and creates complete .libs. The flow employs fast simulation techniques and precise circuit setup and measurement controls.

Accurate Models
At 45nm and below, speed and power consumption are much more sensitive to environmental conditions including voltage and noise. Therefore, producing accurate models at the appropriate conditions is critical to achieving design success. The Kronos platform quickly generates accurate and complete timing/power models and incorporates unique methods for noise immunity and signal integrity to avoid design problems that otherwise might not be detected until failure analysis.

High Throughput
The Kronos Platform's advanced algorithms and efficient job distribution reduces characterization time from weeks to days. During characterization, SPICE simulations are continuously monitored, and numerous data checks and recovery mechanisms significantly improve turn-around time by pinpointing specific model results and simulations if a problem is detected. The Kronos technology is tightly integrated to the Mentor® Eldo® SPICE simulator providing 3X performance improvement over loose, API type simulator integrations.

"Today many of our customers are trying to perform very exhaustive standard cell characterization across many technologies including analog, flash and CMOS. Some of these organizations are characterizing up to 100 corners," said Robert Hum, vice president and general manager, Deep Submicron Division (DSM), Mentor Graphics. "By providing leading standard cell characterization and analysis technology deeply integrated with Eldo, our industry leading SPICE simulator, we are helping these customers conduct very thorough characterization while cutting days off their characterization time."

About Mentor Graphics
Mentor Graphics Corporation is a world leader in electronic hardware and software design solutions, providing products, consulting services and award-winning support for the world's most successful electronic, semiconductor and systems companies. Established in 1981, the company reported revenues in the last fiscal year of about $1,090 million. Corporate headquarters are located at 8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777. World Wide Web site: http://www.mentor.com/.

(Mentor Graphics, Mentor and Eldo are registered trademarks and Kronos is a trademark of Mentor Graphics Corporation. All other company or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.)



Mentor Graphics
Carole Dunn, 503-685-4716
carole_dunn@mentor.com
or
Sonia Harrison, 503-685-1165
sonia_harrison@mentor.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Oregon

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Mentor Graphics Adds Embedded Memories to the Kronos Cell Characterization and Analysis Platform 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.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Osage Exploration and Development Announces the Spudding of Ten Horizontal Wells During the Second Q

$
0
0

Filed under:

Osage Exploration and Development Announces the Spudding of Ten Horizontal Wells During the Second Quarter

Provides Update on Field Operations


SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Osage Exploration and Development, Inc. (OTCBB:OEDV), an independent exploration and production company focused on the Horizontal Mississippian and Woodford plays in Oklahoma, announced today the spudding of ten wells during the second quarter of 2013. Nine of the wells are horizontal Mississippian wells, and one is a horizontal Woodford well. This brings the number of wells drilled in 2013 in which Osage owns a working interest to nineteen, compared to ten wells total in 2012.

Additionally, Osage announced a major electrical grid build out across its Logan County acreage block, as well as the construction of a state of the art gas gathering system to span the length and width of the Nemaha Ridge project.

Management Comments

"This has been the best quarter yet for Osage with respect to drilling operations. With ten new wells this quarter, and nineteen to date this year, we are maintaining a pace which will take us far beyond our stated goal of drilling twenty-four wells this year. Eighteen months ago, we raised a derrick to drill one of the very first horizontal Mississippian wells in Logan County; today as you drive around Logan, you can see roughly a dozen drilling rigs running, two pipelines being built, and hundreds of people working every day. We are very proud to have been an early mover in the face of all the vital economic activity occurring there today," stated Kim Bradford, Chairman and CEO of Osage Exploration and Development.

"This high drilling rate has not come without cost. Our overall production will be essentially flat quarter over quarter because we have been able to drill the wells faster than we can get them completed and into production. Delays caused by drilling multiple wells from the same pad, which is very efficient from a drilling perspective, means that completion and production operations have to wait. The shortage of three phase power to run our downhole and surface pumps has been an issue which we are addressing by building out the grid ourselves. While we have not yet gotten all of our wells in production, it would be a mistake to conclude that there is something amiss with this project solely based on a production lag, which will inevitably catch up.

"In terms of wells drilled and, more importantly, reserve growth, Osage is in hyper growth mode. Our acreage is not likely to be surpassed in terms of recoverable hydrocarbons anywhere in the Horizontal Mississippian play, and as we optimize how we produce our wells, the Osage shareholder will see substantial long-term value creation. From the very beginning of this project, we have never yet taken a short-term approach to development, and as such we remain focused on maintaining a high pace of drilling and getting our wells on line as soon as possible."

About Osage Exploration and Development, Inc.

Based in San Diego, California, with production offices in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and executive offices in Bogotá, Colombia, Osage Exploration and Development, Inc. is an independent exploration and production company with interests in oil and gas wells and prospects in the U.S. and Colombia. http://www.osageexploration.com

Safe Harbor Statement

The information in this release includes certain forward-looking statements as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission that are based on assumptions that in the future may prove not to have been accurate. Those statements and Osage Exploration and Development, Inc. are subject to a number of risks, including production variances from expectations, volatility of product prices, inability to raise sufficient capital to fund its operations, environmental risks, competition, government regulation, and the ability of the Company to execute its business strategy, among others.



Osage Exploration and Development, Inc.
Kim Bradford, President and CEO
619-677-3956
kbradford@osageexploration.com
or
Jack Zedlitz, VP of Corporate Development
405-270-0989
jzedlitz@osageexploration.com
http://www.osageexploration.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  California  Oklahoma

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Osage Exploration and Development Announces the Spudding of Ten Horizontal Wells During the Second Quarter 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.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

DISH Launches Advanced, Affordable Hotel TV Solution to Heighten In-Room Entertainment Experience

$
0
0

Filed under:

DISH Launches Advanced, Affordable Hotel TV Solution to Heighten In-Room Entertainment Experience

  • Expands in-room entertainment with up to 96 channels in high-definition (HD)
  • One low-profile unit supports HD and SD channels in every room
  • Operator friendly features: lowered power consumption, remote management toolset, reduced rack-space footprint

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, DISH has introduced a flexible satellite television platform targeted at hotels and hospitality operations that improves the in-room entertainment experience for guests and reduces total cost of ownership for operators. DISH is demonstrating its SMARTbox solution at the HITEC 2013 conference in Minneapolis. The DISH booth is located at booth #1625.

DISH's new SMARTbox technology for hospitality operations expands available HD channels up to 96, an ...

DISH's new SMARTbox technology for hospitality operations expands available HD channels up to 96, an improvement over the industry standard of 12-24 HD channels. (Photo: Business Wire)

Most hotel solutions use modified residential receivers - since hotel owners face different challenges than residential customers, SMARTbox was designed as an enterprise-grade solution with the following features:

  • Scales to provide 36-96 channel lineup in HD and SD, an improvement over the industry standard of 12-24 HD channels,
  • One unit will have flexibility to provide HD and SD channels simultaneously, making it efficient and cost effective to serve all TVs in any size hotel,
  • Reduced size will replace the three sizable racks measuring seven-feet tall with a single SMARTbox unit built to standard rack-width spacing and stands only nine inches high,
  • Remote monitoring and management capabilities enable easier deployment and maximize uptime,
  • Low total cost of ownership with up to 90 percent reduction in power consumption and up to 93 percent reduction in rack space compared to similar solutions.

"SMARTbox delivers a better overall free-to-guest operating experience for managers and a vastly improved end-user experience for guests," said Robert Grosz, vice president of Commercial Sales at DISH. "Reducing installation, power consumption and management overhead are big wins in free-to-guest; having happier guests is even better."

"As hotels face increasing costs to transition to HD, SMARTbox will deliver digital HD capabilities and analog SD from a single unit, making it ideal for hotels transitioning to new TVs," said Alistair Chatwin, director of Product Management at DISH. "This enterprise-grade solution also benefits management by providing greater reliability, configurability and increased uptime while reducing the total cost of ownership."

For more information about SMARTbox, visit http://commercial.dish.com.

ABOUT DISH

DISH Network Corporation (NAS: DISH) , through its subsidiary DISH Network L.L.C., provides approximately 14.092 million satellite TV customers, as of March 31, 2013, with the highest quality programming and technology with the most choices at the best value, including HD Free for Life®. Subscribers enjoy the largest high definition line-up with more than 200 national HD channels, the most international channels, and award-winning HD and DVR technology. DISH Network Corporation's subsidiary, Blockbuster L.L.C., delivers family entertainment to millions of customers around the world. DISH Network Corporation is a Fortune 200 company. Visit www.dish.com.



DISH Network Corporation
Aaron Johnson, 720-514-5839
aaron.johnson@dish.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Minnesota

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article DISH Launches Advanced, Affordable Hotel TV Solution to Heighten In-Room Entertainment Experience 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.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Starbucks Introduces New Refreshment Line-Up with Valencia Orange Starbucks Refreshers™ Beverage, Or

$
0
0

Filed under:

Starbucks Introduces New Refreshment Line-Up with Valencia Orange Starbucks Refreshers™ Beverage, Orange Spice Iced Coffee and Shaken Iced Peach Green Tea Lemonade - a Beverage for Every Summer Occasion

Visit Participating Starbucks Stores June 27-29 for the "3 p.m. Wake-Up Call"

Three Days at 3 p.m. to Try Three Starbucks Refreshers™ Flavors in Any Size for Half Price


SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- To kick off the start of summer, Starbucks Coffee Company (NAS: SBUX) today announced the introduction of a new line-up of summer beverages so customers can choose their favorite refreshing beverage at all times of the day. Launching tomorrow in stores nationwide is the newest member of the Starbucks Refreshers™ beverage family - Valencia Orange - in both handcrafted and Starbucks VIA® formats. In addition, Starbucks is offering new handcrafted Orange Spice Iced Coffee and Shaken Iced Peach Green Tea Lemonade for a limited time.

The Valencia Orange Starbucks Refreshers™ beverages are made with real fruit and fruit juice, highlighting Valencia orange and clementine flavors and topped off with a real naval orange slice, for an unexpected, vibrant twist on citrus with notes of jasmine, cardamom and apricot. Like the Cool Lime and Very Berry Hibiscus flavors, Valencia Orange is made with green coffee extract, which contains the caffeine found naturally in green coffee beans. All three Starbucks Refreshers™ beverage flavors are lightly caffeinated - perfect for customers looking to restore their energy and get them through the afternoon lull.

"The summer months are all about picnics, road trips, days at the beach and other on-the-go adventures," said Sandra Stark, vice president of Blended Beverages & Refreshment for Starbucks. "Starbucks refreshment line-up is the perfect complement to our customers' daily routines - from iced coffee in the morning, to iced tea paired with lunch and Starbucks Refreshers™ beverages as an afternoon pick-me-up."

Customers are invited to get through the afternoon lull this Thursday, June 27, through Saturday, June 29, with the "3 p.m. Wake-Up Call." Daily from 3-5 p.m. at participating stores, customers can purchase any size or flavor of handcrafted Starbucks Refreshers™ beverage for half price - the perfect opportunity to try the new Valencia Orange flavor.

New Starbucks Seasonal Coffee - Kati Kati Blend™

Delicious served iced for summer is the new Kati Kati Blend™, a blend of East African coffees. Swahili for "between," Kati Kati strikes an invigorating balance between the citrus and spice notes from Kenya and the subtle floral aromas and crisp acidity from Ethiopia. This coffee is perfect for summer mornings and is delicious brewed hot or iced. Like Starbucks other seasonal favorites, Kati Kati Blend™ is only available in Starbucks® stores for a limited time.

New Salad Bowls

Nothing complements a refreshing beverage like a delicious, wholesome lunch, all less than 430 calories. Starbucks new Salad Bowls are perfect for those on-the-go summer adventures:

  • Chicken & Greens Caesar: A familiar favorite with a twist of fresh kale and roasted tomatoes.
  • Zesty Chicken & Black Bean: Grilled chicken, black beans, fire roasted corn, fresh julienned jicama, spring greens and quinoa, making a delicious, satisfying meal.
  • Hearty Veggie & Brown Rice: A full-flavor, veggie-forward meal: roasted butternut squash and beets are tossed with chopped kale and red cabbage, steamed broccoli florets, garden peas and a lemony Tahini dressing.

About Starbucks Corporation

Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting the highest-quality arabica coffee in the world. Today, with stores around the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at www.starbucks.com.



Starbucks Coffee Company
Holly Hart Shafer, 206-318-7100
press@starbucks.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Washington

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Starbucks Introduces New Refreshment Line-Up with Valencia Orange Starbucks Refreshers™ Beverage, Orange Spice Iced Coffee and Shaken Iced Peach Green Tea Lemonade - a Beverage for Every Summer Occasion 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.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Amazon Book Editors Announce the Best Books of 2013 So Far

$
0
0

Filed under:

Amazon Book Editors Announce the Best Books of 2013 So Far

Just in time for the summer reading season, customers can browse and buy the best books of 2013 (so far) in more than a dozen popular categories on Amazon.com

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Amazon.com, Inc. today announced their annual Best Books of the Year So Far list, a midyear retrospective that highlights the best books released in 2013 between January and June. Life After Life, The Son and Frozen in Time took the top three spots. Along with an overall Top 20 list, customers looking for great books to read this summer will find Top 10 editors' picks lists in 20 categories, from Cookbooks, Food & Wine to Children's & Teens to Romance. The Best Books of the Year So Far are available in print and Kindle editions at www.amazon.com/bestbookssofar.


"Customers looking for great summer reads will find an eclectic selection on the list this year, from the very best fiction to compelling memoirs to excellent young adult novels," said Sara Nelson, Editorial Director for Books and Kindle, Amazon.com. "Our #1 pick, Life after Life, is clever but never gimmicky—which is amazing when you consider that the story of the heroine's life begins, ends and then begins again, multiple times. We think this book is an extraordinary feat of narrative ambition, an audacious genre-bender and a work of literary genius."

The Best Books of the Year So Far are hand-picked by the Amazon Books editors, who rank their favorite titles in an overall Top 20 list, plus 10 picks each in 20 popular categories: Art & Photo, Audiobooks, Biographies & Memoir, Business & Leadership, Comics & Graphic Novels, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, Crafts, Hobbies & Home, History, Humor & Entertainment, Kindle Singles, Literature & Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Nonfiction, Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy, and Teens, as well as Middle Grade, Picture Books, Board Books, and Chapter Books for Kids.

The Amazon Books editors' picks for the Top 10 Best Books of the Year So Far are:

1. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson: What if you could be born again and again? This brilliant, multi-layered novel answers that question as Atkinson's protagonist moves through multiple lives, each one an iteration on the last, flirting with the balance between choice and fate.

2. The Son by Philipp Meyer: A multigenerational Western spanning the 1800s Comanche raids in Texas to the 20th century oil boom, The Son is a towering achievement.

3. Frozen in Time by Mitchell Zuckoff: Two adventures in one... recounting the 1942 crash (and subsequent struggle to survive) of a U.S. cargo plane crew in Greenland, and describing the author's own participation in a modern day mission to uncover the mystery behind their disappearance.

4. The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer:The characters in this novel pulse with life as Wolitzer follows a group of teenagers who meet at a summer camp for artsy teens in 1974 and work to maintain their friendship through the competitions and realities of growing up.

5. And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini: Following The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, Hosseini has written another masterwork, one that moves through war, separation, birth, death, deceit, and love—illustrating how people's actions, even the seemingly selfless ones, are shrouded in ambiguity.

6. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell: This Young Adult novel about two kids who fall in love on a bus is sweet without being saccharine. And it's a story adults can love, too.

7. Gulp by Mary Roach: Roach is about as entertaining a science writer as you'll find, and this book about how we ingest food will make you think, laugh, and wince as she covers all things alimentary.

8. After Visiting Friends by Michael Hainey: Unfolding like a novel, this nonfiction gem starts with journalist Hainey uncovering inconsistencies within his own journalist father's obituary—and while the truth behind the death will eventually be uncovered, greater truths await for Hainey, ones that will change the way he views the past and the present.

9. Tenth of December by George Saunders: Saunders' first collection of short stories in six years introduces his ironic, absurd, profound, and funny style to an army of new readers.

10. The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker: This enchanting debut, set mostly in turn-of-the-century Manhattan, is both a well-researched historical novel and a spectacular work of fantasy.

To see the complete lists of the Best Books of the Year So Far, go to www.amazon.com/bestbookssofar.

About Amazon.com

Amazon.com, Inc. (NAS: AMZN) , a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as Books; Movies, Music & Games; Digital Downloads; Electronics & Computers; Home & Garden; Toys, Kids & Baby; Grocery; Apparel, Shoes & Jewelry; Health & Beauty; Sports & Outdoors; and Tools, Auto & Industrial. Amazon Web Services provides Amazon's developer customers with access to in-the-cloud infrastructure services based on Amazon's own back-end technology platform, which developers can use to enable virtually any type of business. Kindle Paperwhite is the most-advanced e-reader ever constructed with 62% more pixels and 25% increased contrast, a patented built-in front light for reading in all lighting conditions, extra-long battery life, and a thin and light design. The new latest generation Kindle, the lightest and smallest Kindle, now features new, improved fonts and faster page turns. Kindle Fire HD features a stunning custom high-definition display, exclusive Dolby audio with dual stereo speakers, high-end, laptop-grade Wi-Fi with dual-band support, dual-antennas and MIMO for faster streaming and downloads, enough storage for HD content, and the latest generation processor and graphics engine—and it is available in two display sizes—7" and 8.9". The large-screen Kindle Fire HD is also available with 4G wireless, and comes with a groundbreaking $49.99 introductory 4G LTE data package. The all-new Kindle Fire features a 20% faster processor, 40% faster performance, twice the memory, and longer battery life.

Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca, www.amazon.cn, www.amazon.it, www.amazon.es, www.amazon.com.br and www.amazon.in. As used herein, "Amazon.com," "we," "our" and similar terms include Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to competition, management of growth, new products, services and technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment and data center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings.



Amazon.com, Inc.
Media Hotline, 206-266-7180
www.amazon.com/pr

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Washington

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Amazon Book Editors Announce the Best Books of 2013 So Far 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.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

U.S. Equity High Volatility Put Write Index Fund (NYSE Arca: HVPW) Declares Second Bi-Monthly Distri

$
0
0

Filed under:

U.S. Equity High Volatility Put Write Index Fund (NYSE Arca: HVPW) Declares Second Bi-Monthly Distribution of $0.378072

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The U.S. Equity High Volatility Put Write Index Fund declared its second distribution of $0.378072 on Friday, June 21st. The dividend is payable on July 1, 2013 to shareholders of record on June 26, 2013.

HVPW Cash Distribution:

  Ex-Date: Monday, June 24, 2013
Record Date: Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Payable Date: Monday, July 1, 2013

Additional Fund information can be found at www.alpsfunds.com.


Important Disclosures

The Fund should be considered a speculative trading instrument and is not necessarily appropriate for investors who seek to avoid or minimize their exposure to stock market volatility.

Principal Investment Risks: Investors should consider the following risk factors and special considerations associated with investing in the Fund, which may cause you to lose money. Investors should also note that the risk factors titled "Put Option Risk," "Equity Risk" and "Implied Volatility Risk" concern the features of the Fund from which the Fund expects to derive its investment return. These risk factors have been summarized for this document. See the prospectus for additional detail on each of these risk factors.

Investment Risk: An investment in the Fund is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal investment.

Put Option Risk. Options are generally subject to volatile swings in price based on changes in value of underlying instrument, and options written by the Fund may be particularly subject to this risk as the underlying stocks are selected by the Index Provider to have high volatility. While the Fund will collect premiums on the options it writes, the Fund's risk of loss may substantially outweigh the gains to the Fund from the receipt of such option premiums.

Equity Risk: The value of the Fund's options are based on the value of the underlying stocks, so the Fund is exposed to equity risk that the value of the stocks underlying options held by the Fund will fall. If the value of the stocks underlying the Fund's options increases, however, the Fund's returns will not increase accordingly.

Implied Volatility Risk. When the Fund writes options and receives premium it also incurs corresponding liability representing the value of the options until the options cash settle or expire worthless. The options values are partly based on the volatility used by dealers to price such options, so increases in the implied volatility of such options will cause the value of such options to increase, which will result in a corresponding increase in the liabilities of the Fund and a decrease the Fund's NAV.

Tax Efficiency Risk. Unlike most exchange-traded funds, the Fund effects creations and redemptions for cash, rather than in-kind redemptions. If the Fund recognizes gains on sales, this generally will cause the Fund to recognize gains than would otherwise be required if it were able to distribute portfolio securities in-kind. As such, investment in the Fund may be less tax-efficient than investments in conventional exchange-traded funds.

Non-Correlation Risk. The Fund's return may not match the return of the Index for a number of reasons. For example, an option sold by the Fund may be exercised prior to its expiration, which will result in the Fund buying the underlying stock at that time and holding the stock until the end of the 60-day period, but the Index will not reflect the early exercise of the option at that time. The Fund may also need to sell additional options (or terminate certain options it has already sold) prior to the end of the 60-day period to reflect Fund inflows or outflows; the costs of doing so may also contribute to tracking error. In addition, the Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Index and incurs costs in buying and selling securities, especially when rebalancing the Fund's securities holdings to reflect changes in the composition of the Index.

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund will pay transaction costs, such as commissions or mark-ups in the bid/offer spread on an option position, when it writes options at the beginning of each 60 day period (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover (e.g., over 100% per year) will cause the Fund to incur additional transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Shares are held in a taxable account.

Issuer-Specific Changes. The value of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole.

Non-Diversified Fund Risk. The Fund is considered nondiversified and can invest a greater portion of assets in securities of individual issuers than a diversified fund. As a result, changes in the market value of a single investment could cause greater fluctuations in share price than would occur in a diversified fund. This risk may be particularly applicable to the Fund because the Fund will only sell options on 20 underlying stocks.

An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. Before investing obtain a prospectus which contains this and other information, by visiting www.alpsfunds.com or call 877.526.9298. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.

Shares are not individually redeemable and the owners of shares may purchase or redeem shares from a fund in creation units (blocks of 100,000 shares) only.

The fund is new with limited operating history.

Put Option: An option contract giving the owner the right, but not the obligation, to sell a specified amount of an underlying security at a specified price within a specified time.

NYSE Arca U.S. Equity High Volatility Put Write Index: seeks to generate income by selling put options on the most volatile stocks in a given two month period along with interest earned on T-bills.

One may not invest directly in an index.

ALPS Advisors, Inc. is Investment Adviser, Rich Investment Solutions, LLC Sub-Adviser.

NYSE Arca is the Index Provider for HVPW.

Not FDIC Insured • No Bank Guarantee • May Lose Value

*Registered Representative of ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc.

ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. is the Distributor of the U.S. Equity High Volatility Put Write Index Fund.



ALPS
Client Relations:
Jennifer Levesque*, +1 303-623-2577
jennifer.levesque@alpsinc.com
or
Media:
Tom Carter*, +1 303-623-2577
tom.carter@alpsinc.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Colorado

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article U.S. Equity High Volatility Put Write Index Fund (NYSE Arca: HVPW) Declares Second Bi-Monthly Distribution of $0.378072 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.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Advance Auto Parts Names Donna Justiss Chief Information Officer

$
0
0

Filed under:

Advance Auto Parts Names Donna Justiss Chief Information Officer

ROANOKE, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYS: AAP) , a leading retailer of automotive aftermarket parts, accessories, batteries and maintenance items, announced the appointment of Donna Justiss as Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer. Ms. Justiss will be responsible for the strategic leadership of all aspects of Advance's Information Technology (IT) area, including application development and support, infrastructure and information security. Ms. Justiss will report to Mike Norona, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and will continue to be based in Roanoke, VA.

"I am pleased to announce the promotion of Donna to this position," said Norona. "With more than 20 years of IT experience, Donna brings a rich and diverse set of talents to the CIO role. Her technical knowledge, leadership skills, collaborative approach and commitment to driving outcomes will be key assets to Advance's IT team as they work to continue providing systems and support to help our stores and team serve our customers better than anyone else."


Ms. Justiss joined Advance is December 2005 and has held a number of IT vice president roles with the Company, including serving as Interim Chief Information Officer since September 2012. Prior to joining Advance, Ms. Justiss was with Eckerd Corporation for seven years where she held several information technology positions, including serving as Vice President, Application Development. Prior to Eckerd, she spent 19 years with J.C. Penney Company, Inc. where she served in various information technology and accounting roles.

About Advance Auto Parts

Headquartered in Roanoke, Va., Advance Auto Parts, Inc., a leading automotive aftermarket retailer of parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items, in the United States, serves both the do-it-yourself and professional installer markets. As of April 19, 2013, the Company operated 3,969 stores in 39 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Additional information about the Company, employment opportunities, customer services, and online shopping for parts, accessories and other offerings can be found on the Company's website at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com.



Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
Media Contact
Shelly Whitaker, APR, 540-561-8452
shelly.whitaker@advanceautoparts.com
or
Investor Contact
Kevin Quinn, 540-561-6454
kquinn@advanceautoparts.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  District of Columbia  Florida  New York  North Carolina  Virginia  West Virginia

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Advance Auto Parts Names Donna Justiss Chief Information Officer 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.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments


Cameron and Schlumberger Complete Subsea Joint Venture

$
0
0

Filed under:

Cameron and Schlumberger Complete Subsea Joint Venture

OneSubsea targets subsea oil production and recovery

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cameron and Schlumberger today announced that OneSubsea™, a joint venture to manufacture and develop products, systems and services for the subsea oil and gas market, has received all required regulatory approvals. The parties will close the transaction making OneSubsea operational on June 30, 2013.


Cameron and Schlumberger have 60/40 ownership of the joint venture, respectively. Cameron, with its long history of innovation and firsts in the subsea market, is an industry leader in design capability, manufacturing excellence and successful installations. Schlumberger brings a deep understanding of the reservoir, and industry-leading well completions, subsea processing and integration platform. Through the integration of these strengths, OneSubsea will offer best-in-class subsea solutions for its customers.

Cameron Chairman, President and CEO, Jack B. Moore said, "This is an exciting time for Cameron as we now have the opportunity to further expand our subsea business through OneSubsea. Our near term focus is on the execution of plans that have been laid out in recent months while continuing to deliver the highest levels of quality and safety in our product and service offerings."

Schlumberger CEO Paal Kibsgaard commented, "We are extremely pleased to complete the OneSubsea joint venture with Cameron. We are now uniquely positioned to optimize complete subsea production systems and help our customers improve production and recovery from their subsea developments."

About Cameron

Cameron is a leading provider of flow equipment products, systems and services to worldwide oil, gas and process industries. For more information, visit www.c-a-m.com.

About Schlumberger

Schlumberger is the world's leading supplier of technology, integrated project management and information solutions to customers working in the oil and gas industry worldwide. Employing approximately 120,000 people representing over 140 nationalities and working in more than 85 countries, Schlumberger provides the industry's widest range of products and services from exploration through production.

Schlumberger Limited has principal offices in Paris, Houston and The Hague and reported revenues from continuing operations of $42.15 billion in 2012. For more information, visit www.slb.com.

This document includes forward-looking statements regarding the joint venture and the companies, made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The joint venture and companies' actual results may differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on current expectations of the joint venture and companies' performance and are subject to a variety of factors, some of which are not under the control of the joint venture and companies, which can affect the joint venture and companies' results of operations, liquidity or financial condition.

Because the information herein is based solely on data currently available, it is subject to change as a result of changes in conditions over which the joint venture and companies have no control or influence, and should not therefore be viewed as assurance regarding the joint venture and companies' future performance. Additionally, the joint venture and companies are not obligated to make public indication of such changes unless required under applicable disclosure rules and regulations.

2013 Schlumberger Limited. All rights reserved.



Investors
Cameron International Corporation
Jeff Altamari, +1 713-513-3344
Vice President, Investor Relations
jeff.altamari@c-a-m.com
or
Schlumberger Limited
Malcolm Theobald, +1 713-375-3535
Vice President of Investor Relations
investor-relations@slb.com
or
Media
Cameron International Corporation
Sharon Sloan, +1 713-939-2706
Marketing Communications Manager
Sharon.Sloan@c-a-m.com
or
Schlumberger Limited
Joao Felix, +1 713-375-3494
Director of Corporate Communications
jpfelix@slb.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Texas

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Cameron and Schlumberger Complete Subsea Joint Venture 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.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Prudential receives Jefferson Award for public and community service

$
0
0

Filed under:

Prudential receives Jefferson Award for public and community service

NEWARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The New Jersey State Governor's Jefferson Awards honored Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYS: PRU) for the company's commitment to public and community service during a ceremony held on June 4 at the Newark Museum. Prudential was recognized in the "Corporate Leadership" category and was among 25 honorees lauded for volunteerism.

"Prudential has a long-standing commitment to support the communities where we live and work, and we're honored to be recognized for that," says Lata Reddy, vice president, Corporate Social Responsibility at Prudential and president of The Prudential Foundation. "Our employees exemplify that commitment by giving of their time, skills and expertise for the benefit of others."


The Jefferson Awards honors individuals who perform outstanding community service. Prudential was selected for the award because its long-standing commitment to corporate social responsibility in New Jersey and, specifically, the Prudential Foundation's Building Diverse Leadership Program, a three-year initiative designed to increase diversity and build capacity on non-profit boards. In its first year, Building Diverse Leadership placed 24 employees on boards of New Jersey non-profits.

The Prudential Foundation awards approximately $25 million annually to improve education and community development and to support the arts. And its Social Investment program provides $45 million annually to develop and preserve affordable housing, improve access to quality education, and connect neighborhoods and residents to economic growth opportunities. "Prudential leverages its resources in a very unique way. HANDS is fortunate to have received not only grants and social investments from Prudential, but also a great member of our board. It is this deep partnership that creates a long-term impact in the nonprofit sector and in the community," said Patrick Morrissy, executive director of Housing and Neighborhood Development Services, Inc., (HANDS), a nonprofit that revitalizes neighborhoods in Orange and East Orange, N.J. Morrissy nominated Prudential for the award.

The Prudential Foundation provided financial support to HANDS and placed Gillian Parascandola, a director in Group Insurance at Prudential, to the HANDS board through the company's Building Diverse Leadership initiative.

The Jefferson Awards are a prestigious national recognition system honoring community and public service in America. The Jefferson Awards are presented on two levels: national and local. They began in 1972 to create a Nobel Prize for public service. Today, their primary purpose is to serve as a "Call to Action for Volunteers" in local communities.

The Prudential Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation supported by The Prudential Insurance Company of America, a subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc. The Prudential Foundation focuses its grant making strategy in the areas of education, economic development and arts and civic infrastructure; and it supports community engagement efforts of Prudential employees through Matching Gifts and other programs that recognize their volunteer work.

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYS: PRU) , a financial services leader with approximately $1.06 trillion of assets under management as of March 31, 2013, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment management. In the U.S., Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit http://www.news.prudential.com/



Prudential
Valerie Tutak, 973-802-2517
valerie.tutak@prudential.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  New Jersey

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Prudential receives Jefferson Award for public and community service 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.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Boost Mobile Donates $11,000 to Boys and Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade to Support the Summer Camp Litera

$
0
0

Filed under:

Boost Mobile Donates $11,000 to Boys and Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade to Support the Summer Camp Literacy Program

Proceeds from Boost Mobile's $1 Phone Days Promotion Benefit Boys & Girls Clubs Nationwide

--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Boost Mobile:

 

WHAT:

 

Boost Mobile recently partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to bring back its most successful handset promotion, $1 Phone Days. For each new customer who signed on from May 29 through June 2, Boost Mobile donated $1 to Boys & Girls Clubs. During $1 Phone Days this year, Boost Mobile raised more than $106,000 which will be donated to local Boys & Girls Clubs across the nation with an $11,000 donation locally to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade.

The donation to Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade will support their summer camp literacy program at all five of their clubs. The program addresses the "summer slide" that often occurs when kids are out of school during the summer. Every kid in summer camp will have a literacy class each day taught by a certified teacher. For more than a century, Boys & Girls Clubs have served nearly 4 million young people, through membership and community outreach, in some 4,000 Club facilities throughout the country.

 
WHEN: Check Presentation

Wednesday, June 26

11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

 
WHERE: Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade's Hank Kline Club

2805 SW. 32 Ave.
Miami, FL 33133

 
VISUALS:

--

 

Representative[s] from Boys & Girls Club of Miami-Dade accepting check donation from Boost Mobile executive/representative

--

 

Kids and teens at Boys & Girls Club of Miami-Dade participating in the summer camp literacy program

--

 

Boost Mobile executive participating in the literacy program with Boys & Girls Club of Miami-Dade members

 

 

INTERVIEW
OPPORTUNITIES:

--

 

Bobbie Outerino, Miami marketing manager-Boost Mobile

--

 

Alex Rodriguez-Roig, executive director-Boy & Girls Club of Miami-Dade

--

 

Boys & Girls Club members

 
WHY:

--

 

The check presentation showcases Boost Mobile's commitment to give back to the Miami community as well as offering affordable wireless communications with "Shrinking Payments."

--

 

Boost Mobile rewards Miami customer loyalty through its Monthly Unlimited with "Shrinking Payments" no annual contract calling plans, where customers are rewarded for simply making on-time payments. Unique from the competition, for every six on-time payments, the cost of Boost Mobile's Monthly Unlimited plans shrink by $5, up to $15 per month in total. On-time payments do not need to be consecutive to qualify for the next saving milestone. Visit boostmobile.com for plan details. Restrictions apply.

 



ON-SITE CONTACT:
Boost Mobile
Bobbie Outerino, 786-287-4325
barbara.outerino@boostmobile.com
or
MEDIA CONTACT:
Tracy Siegel, 646-428-0603 (office)
tracy@allisonpr.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  California  Florida

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Boost Mobile Donates $11,000 to Boys and Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade to Support the Summer Camp Literacy Program 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.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

U.S. Durable Goods Orders Rise, House Prices Jump

$
0
0

Filed under: , , , ,

AP
AP
By Lucia Mutikani

Orders for long-lasting manufactured goods rose more than expected in May and a gauge of planned business spending increased for a third straight month, the latest signs of a pick-up in economic activity.

The growth picture was further brightened by other data on Tuesday showing existing single-family home prices recorded their biggest gain in seven years in April. The housing market recovery is softening the blow on the economy from tight fiscal policy.

The reports suggested the economy was pulling out of a soft patch hit early in the second quarter and they were supportive of the Federal Reserve's view that risks to the economy's outlook have lessened.

Durable goods orders increased 3.6 percent as demand for goods ranging from aircraft to machinery rose, the Commerce Department said. Orders for these goods, which range from toasters to aircraft, had risen 3.6 percent in April.

Economists polled by Reuters had expected orders to rise 3.0 percent last month. Orders excluding transportation increased 0.7 percent after advancing 1.7 percent in April.

Non-defense capital goods orders excluding aircraft, a closely watched proxy for business spending plans, increased 1.1 percent. Orders for the so-called core capital goods had increased 1.2 percent in April and economists had expected a 0.3 percent gain last month.

"It points to further upside momentum for business capital investment activity," said Millan Mulraine, a senior economist at TD Securities in New York.

"It also signals increased confidence among the business community about the sustainability of the economic recovery - which could itself become self-fulfilling."

Core capital goods shipments, used to calculate equipment and software spending in the gross domestic product report, rebounded 1.7 percent. That followed a 2.0 percent drop in April.

The increase in shipments of core capital goods pointed to moderate growth in business spending on capital equipment.

A separate report showed the S&P/Case Shiller home price composite index of 20 metropolitan areas increased 1.7 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in April.

Prices in the 20 cities accelerated 12.1 percent from a year ago, largest rise since March 2006.

U.S. stock index futures rose on the data, while prices for U.S. Treasury debt fell. The dollar rose against the euro.

HOUSING BOOSTS CONFIDENCE

"Home prices going up is very important for consumer confidence," said Neil Dutta, head of U.S. economics at Renaissance Macro Research in New York. "A recovery in home prices is exponentially more important than the recent pullback in stock prices."

The housing recovery has been marked by declines in the inventory of homes for sale and soaring prices, helping to boost consumer confidence and making Americans less fearful about spending on big-ticket items.

It is also lifting revenues for builders like Lennar Corp, the No. 3 U.S. homebuilder. Lennar reported a stronger-than-expected 53 percent rise in second quarter revenue on Tuesday.

"Our second-quarter results together with real-time feedback from our field associates continue to point towards a solid housing recovery," Chief Executive Stuart Miller said in a statement on Tuesday.

Gains in housing are also supporting factories, despite a slowdown in global demand.

Manufacturing output ticked up in May and regional factory surveys released so far have shown some strength in June.

Last month, demand for transportation equipment rose 10.2 percent, buoyed by a surge in orders for civilian aircraft.

Boeing received orders for 232 aircraft, up from 51 in April, according to information posted on its website. Orders for motor vehicles, however, fell 1.2 percent after rising 2.4 percent.

Outside transportation there were gains in orders for machinery, computers and electronic products, primary metals and electrical equipment, appliances and components.

Other details of the report we also supportive of manufacturing. Unfilled orders for durable goods rose 0.8 percent and were up by the same margin excluding transportation. Overall shipments of durable goods rebounded 1.2 percent after falling 0.6 percent in April.

Stocks of unsold durable goods edged up 0.1 percent, which should help the sector in the long run.

(Reporting by Lucia Mutikani, additional reporting by Leah Schnurr and Richard Leong in New York; Editing by Andrea Ricci)

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

3 Red Flags at CARBO Ceramics

$
0
0

Filed under:

For investors looking for an unobvious investment in natural gas CARBO Ceramics certainly fits the bill. The company is the world's largest manufacturer of ceramic proppants -- tiny beads that get pumped into a new oil or gas well to keep fractures open and hydrocarbons flowing. The company's products enable drillers to maximize the amount of oil and gas ultimately recovered from a well, which has sent revenues soaring 36% since 2010.

Not everything is coming up roses for CARBO, however: The slowdown in drilling in 2012 led to flat year-over-year revenue growth, a 19% drop in net income, and a declining share price. The company's stock has been beaten down in recent months, perhaps because investors are worried about these red flags.

1. Cheaper competition
Sand. There is really nothing novel about it in most cases and it requires minimal processing on its way from mine to customer. That is exactly why the drilling industry has embraced it as a low-cost proppant. Hi-Crush Partners and U.S. Silica Holdings are two of the larger players that pose a threat to CARBO's higher-end products. The three have had mixed results over the last year, but keep in mind that Hi-Crush will be more volatile as a master limited partnership.


CRR Chart

CRR data by YCharts

CARBO has worked feverishly to convince drillers that ceramic proppants offer better quality and therefore better returns. Ceramics are much stronger than sand and can therefore withstand the high temperatures and pressures of deep fractured wells. Consider that the more uniform size and shape of ceramic proppants allows for better flow from a well when compared to cheaper sand proppants -- even in shallower wells where ceramic proppants are often overlooked.

Source: CARBO Ceramics

The campaign has worked to some degree. The problem is that each well is evaluated on a case-by-case basis that includes factors such as geography, geology, and reserves. In some cases, ceramic proppants offer only marginal economics and recovery rates compared to cheaper sands -- effectively negating CARBO's selling point.

If that wasn't bad enough, the company is also facing increasing competition from abroad. A number of Chinese companies have flooded the domestic market with cheap ceramic proppants. CARBO is again championing its higher-quality products, but it has to be careful not to tip-off its customers to other ceramic proppant manufacturers moving to America for its vast raw materials and drilling potential. The company responded to cheaper competition and lower drilling by lowering average proppant prices to just $0.34 per pound last year compared to $0.36 per pound in 2011. 

2. Overdependence
Investors should always be cautious of companies that are overexposed to customers, production facilities, and markets. That makes two strikes for CARBO. In 2011, the company generated 92.3% of total revenue from sales of ceramic proppants (the company did not distinguish revenue sources in 2012). Quickly growing environmental services and software businesses won't be coming to the rescue anytime soon.

Another strike is the company's dependence on its two top customers, which made up 35.2% and 13.7% of total revenue. A little detective work shows that these customers are energy giants Halliburton and Schlumberger , listed in no particular order. The good news is that neither Halliburton nor Schlumberger will be ceasing their energy operations anytime soon. As two of the leading fracking companies in the United States, both maximize their profits and reserves by utilizing ceramic proppants from CARBO. The bad news is they may not be as dependent on CARBO as CARBO is on them. 

3. Raw material costs
Ceramic proppants may provide enhanced recovery and economic profiles compared to sand or resin-coated proppants, but those advantages are facing pressure from raw material prices. The process starts with an alumina containing ore such as bauxite or kaolin, which is mined and then transformed into tiny beads. CARBO purchases the majority of its kaolin at market prices via supply contracts. One problem: kaolin prices are extremely volatile. Consider that the average price per ton in 2000 was just $63, but tipped the scales at $121 just three years later. In fact, the doubling in price came despite falling consumption and exports!

Source: United States Geological Survey

A quickly growing proppant industry has drastically increased demand for kaolin. When demand increases, prices are never far behind. And in a strange catch-22 for CARBO, increasing natural gas prices could also lead to stagnant or declining margins. The natural gas industry is cheering for higher natural gas prices for better economics. While that would lead to an increase in drilling activity and more business for CARBO, the company's manufacturing costs (it uses natural gas to create its products) would eat away at margins.

Foolish bottom line
These are just three of the risks facing CARBO Ceramics. While they may not override the growth potential behind the company, all investors should give them serious thought. This is especially true of the firm's overdependence on one line of products and two customers. Still, it could behoove you to invest in unobvious derivatives of the natural gas boom. CARBO offers just the opportunity.

In the meantime, if you're on the lookout for high-yielding stocks, The Motley Fool has compiled a special free report outlining our nine top dependable dividend-paying stocks. It's called "Secure Your Future With 9 Rock-Solid Dividend Stocks." You can access your copy today at no cost! Just click here.

The article 3 Red Flags at CARBO Ceramics originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Maxx Chatsko has no position in any stocks mentioned. Check out his personal portfolio, his CAPS page, or follow him on Twitter @BlacknGoldFool to keep up with his writing on energy, bioprocessing, and emerging technologies. The Motley Fool recommends Halliburton. The Motley Fool owns shares of HI-CRUSH PARTNERS LP UNIT LTD PARTNER INTS and U S SILICA HLDGS INC COM USD0.01. 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.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Viewing all 9760 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images