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

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

$
0
0

Filed under:

SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Levi & Korsinsky Announces Investigation into Possible Breaches of Fiduciary Duty by the Board of Vanguard Health Systems, Inc. in Connection with the Sale of the Company to Tenet Healthcare Corporation

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Levi & Korsinsky is investigating the Board of Directors of Vanguard Health Systems, Inc. ("Vanguard Health" or the "Company") (NYS: VHS) for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of state law in connection with the sale of the Company to Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYS: THC) .

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


Under the terms of the transaction, Vanguard Health shareholders will receive $21.00 for each share of Vanguard Health stock they own. The transaction has a total approximate value of $4.3 billion including the assumption of $2.5 billion in debt. The investigation concerns whether the Board of Directors breached their fiduciary duties to stockholders by failing to adequately shop the Company before agreeing to enter into the transaction, and whether Tenet Healthcare Corporation is underpaying for Vanguard Health, thus unlawfully harming Vanguard Health shareholders.

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

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



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

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  New York

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Levi & Korsinsky Announces Investigation into Possible Breaches of Fiduciary Duty by the Board of Vanguard Health Systems, Inc. in Connection with the Sale of the Company to Tenet Healthcare Corporation 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 & Girls Clubs of Chicago to Support Teen Leadership Programs

$
0
0

Filed under:

Boost Mobile Donates $11,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago to Support Teen Leadership Programs

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 Chicago.

 

 

The donation to Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago will support their teen leadership programs that emphasize leadership developments, community service, career exploration and avoidance of risky behavior. 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 Chicago - James R. Jordan Club
2102 W. Monroe St.
Chicago, IL 60618
 
VISUALS:

--

Representative[s] from Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago accepting check donation from Boost Mobile executive

--

Kids and teens at Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago participating in the teen leadership programs

 

INTERVIEW

--

Tony Mashini, sales manager-Boost Mobile

OPPORTUNITIES:

--

Scott Lorenz, vice president of external affairs-Boy & Girls Clubs of Chicago

--

Boys & Girls Clubs members

 

WHY:

--

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

--

Boost Mobile rewards Chicago 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.

 



Boost Mobile
ON-SITE CONTACT:
Molly Burns, 314-503-9789
Molly.burns@allisonpr.com
or
MEDIA CONTACT:
Tracy Siegel, 646-428-0603 (office)
tracy@allisonpr.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  California  Illinois

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Boost Mobile Donates $11,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago to Support Teen Leadership Programs 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

SolarCity Sees a Hot Residential Market in 2013

$
0
0

Filed under:

SolarCity recently increased its installation target for 2013 to 270 MW from 250 MW, and it also announced a convertible note offering that could generate $200 million in new cash. With the residential solar market growing like a weed, the company is primed to benefit over the long term. Motley Fool contributor Travis Hoium discusses why these moves are important for SolarCity, and one other company growing in residential solar, in the video below.

One solar company missing out on the residential solar craze is First Solar. Does this mean the company is done for good, or is it ready for a rebound? If you're looking for continuing updates and guidance on the company whenever news breaks, The Motley Fool has created a brand-new report that details every must know side of this stock. To get started, simply click here now.

The article SolarCity Sees a Hot Residential Market in 2013 originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Travis Hoium manages an account that owns shares of SunPower and personally owns shares and has the following options: Long Jan 2015 $7 Calls on SunPower, Long Jan 2015 $5 Calls on SunPower, Long Jan 2015 $15 Calls on SunPower, and Long Jan 2015 $25 Calls on SunPower. 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.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Men's Wearhouse Board Outlines Why It Fired Zimmer

$
0
0

Filed under:

The Men's Wearhouse board of directors, which abruptly terminated 64-year-old company co-founder George Zimmer from his position as executive chairman last week, today commented on why it was severing its ties with the company's iconic face and voice.

The board said Zimmer "had difficulty accepting the fact that Men's Wearhouse is a public company with an independent Board of Directors and that he has not been the Chief Executive Officer for two years. He advocated for significant changes that would enable him to regain control ... "

According to the board of directors, issues of contention included:

  • A refusal to support CEO Doug Ewert and his management team unless they "acquiesced to his demands." Zimmer handed over the CEO title to Ewert in 2011.
  • An expectation of "veto power over significant corporate decisions" including executive compensation.
  • A desire to take the company private despite the board's belief that "such a transaction would be highly risky."

Men's Wearhouse's annual shareholders meeting, which was to be held on June 19, has been postponed to a to-be-announced date in order to renominate its current slate of directors, but without Zimmer.

Zimmer, best-known for his gravely voiced television sales pitch -- "You'll like the way you look. I guarantee it." -- submitted his letter of resignation from the board on Monday. Zimmer said in the letter that it's clear from his firing that the board is determined to avoid addressing his growing concerns with recent board decisions and the company's direction.

Zimmer built Men's Wearhouse from one small Texas store using a cigar box as a cash register to one of North America's largest men's clothing sellers with 1,143 locations.

Zimmer still owns 3.5% of Men's Wearhouse shares.

-- Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.

link

The article Men's Wearhouse Board Outlines Why It Fired Zimmer originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Dan Radovsky 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.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Better Buy: Celgene or Biogen?

$
0
0

Filed under:

In the following video, Fool contributor Maxx Chatsko explains whether he thinks Celgene or Biogen is the better buy. The companies have tracked one another in valuation, separated by as little as half of one percentage point. Additionally, both have promising pipelines that have kept investors' expectations high. Does one stand out? Is it too close to call? Watch the video below to find out. If you are eyeing either company -- or both -- then you may want to use the recent pullbacks as a buying opportunity.

Taking a break from the volatile biotech sector? Looking for ways to diversify into dividend-paying stocks? The Motley Fool's special report "Secure Your Future With 9 Rock-Solid Dividend Stocks" is a great way to kick-start your search. Just click here to get your free copy today.

The article Better Buy: Celgene or Biogen? 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 biotechnology. 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.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

AstraZeneca's Refreshingly New Cancer Pact

$
0
0

Filed under:

AstraZeneca has not been among the most successful big pharma companies in recent years. First-quarter revenue this year slipped 12%, while income and EPS fell 21% compared to the year-ago period. What's the reason? The company lost patent protection for Seroquel, Atacand, and Crestor with few immediate options to replace the lost sales, which will heighten the scrutiny for each pipeline move in the short term.

In that regard, the company has a fair showing in the pipeline, including several ongoing attempts to expand indications for drugs already on the market. But it also lacks the "wow" factor for novelty. Hitting it big like its big pharma peers will require taking some big leaps. Luckily, a recent partnership with the University of Manchester Paterson Institute for Cancer Research offers all of the above. Fool contributor Maxx Chatsko breaks down the implications in the following video.

One of the best parts of owning big pharma stocks is their attractive dividends, but smart investors know the importance of diversifying -- seeking high-yielding stocks from multiple industries. The Motley Fool's special free report "Secure Your Future With 9 Rock-Solid Dividend Stocks" outlines the Fool's favorite dependable dividend-paying stocks across all sectors. Grab your free copy by clicking here.


The article AstraZeneca's Refreshingly New Cancer Pact 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 biotechnology. 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.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

New Taco Bell® Feed the Beat® Roster Announced Supports One Epic Lineup, 100 New Artists

$
0
0

Filed under:

New Taco Bell® Feed the Beat® Roster Announced Supports One Epic Lineup, 100 New Artists

Taco Bell® is Celebrating Bands that Live Más, Encouraging Fans to Discover the Music of New Feed the Beat® Artists

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, Taco Bell® announced the next lineup of Feed the Beat® artists!


A new group of 100 up-and-coming #FeedTheBeat artists join the more than 600 alumni to experience the brand's support and continually expanding program. As these artists and their audiences embody the spirit of Live Más, Taco Bell looks to reach new heights in helping connect the bands with fans and Taco Bell fans with bands.

Feed the Beat support comes in the form of feeding touring musicians with $500 in Taco Bell gift cards - which is how the program began in 2005 - but more importantly, the brand's passion for supporting artists and artist discovery does not stop there. The Feed the Beat program boosts exposure for various artists by giving them a stage at events around the country, featuring their music in national television commercials, and providing a connection to Taco Bell's social presence including an active @TacoBell following - with more than 500,000 Twitter followers - and 10 million Facebook fans.

Taco Bell continues to look to Feed the Beat artists to provide the soundtrack for many of Taco Bell's commercials - which more than 240 million people see at least once a week. Alumni artists Passion Pit, little hurricane, New Politics and Hacienda have seen the positive impact of their music featured in Taco Bell commercials, further connecting these artists to the brand's audience.

"The program provides us with amazing exposure, like having our song featured in a Taco Bell commercial," said lead singer, David Boyd from alumni Feed the Beat band New Politics. "As a band just starting out and touring, it can get pricey eating on the road so being part of Feed the Beat and eating for free at Taco Bell is awesome. This new lineup is lucky because, let's face it, who doesn't love Taco Bell."

At this year's South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conferences & Festivals, new Feed the Beat artist Wildcat! Wildcat! opened for alumni artist Passion Pit before a packed crowd. The performance will be the focus of a #FeedTheBeat Rockumentary by acclaimed Director Sam Jones, expected to debut later this year and give a behind the scenes look at each band's road toward success.

"We love how Feed the Beat paired a well recognized band from a major label with a new band from an independent label to show contrasting experiences at SXSW," said Jesse Taylor, lead singer of Wildcat! Wildcat!. "The concept of the film and that Sam Jones is the director is truly indicative of how in tune Taco Bell is with today's musical culture. We're excited to be a part of the new Feed the Beat lineup."

As for Taco Bell, one of the ways it supports its tagline Live Más is through artist support and music discovery. Taco Bell not only sees itself as a fan of a variety of music but understands that its fans love music and being the first to discover artists, so Feed the Beat is simply giving consumers access to what they are passionate about.

"Taco Bell's Feed the Beat program has emerged as one of the premier brand partnerships in the music space," said Brian Nolan, Senior Director at Columbia Records Creative Agency. "From licensing songs in Taco Bell commercials to a cutting edge documentary, we have seen first-hand how the program can play a critical role in breaking our artists. We look forward to continuing to expand this relationship with this year's crop of Feed the Beat artists."

The Feed the Beat program has already supported more than 600 artists and will continue to find new ways to further connecting these bands with both fans and food. Fans can check out FeedtheBeat.com for more information. The latest full lineup includes:

About Taco Bell's Feed the Beat Program

Feed the Beat® began in 2005 as an organic effort to help feed up-and-coming artists on tour by giving them Taco Bell® gift cards. The program continues with the same organic roots, still giving Feed the Beat artists Taco Bell gift cards, but has since expanded with innovative ways to leverage the brand's relationships with network partners and sponsorships, involve Taco Bell's strong online presence - a crowd of more than ten million fans, and feature Feed the Beat artists' music in the brand's commercials.

To be eligible, artists need to have a fan base, be on tour during the fall and have a dedicated Web page. The online submission form and additional details on the selection process are available on www.FeedtheBeat.com. Feed The Beat alumni include Passion Pit, fun., Young The Giant, Walk The Moon, Andrew W.K., Gym Class Heroes, Dr. Dog, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., Delta Spirit, Portugal. The Man, Best Coast, Ra Ra Riot, and more.

Like: www.facebook.com/feedthebeat 
Follow: @FeedtheBeat

About Taco Bell Corp.

Taco Bell Corp., a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., (NYS: YUM) , is the nation's leading Mexican-inspired quick service restaurant. Taco Bell serves made to order and customizable tacos, burritos, and specialties such as the exclusive Doritos® Locos Tacos, gourmet inspired Cantina Bell® Menu and lower calorie Fresco Menu. The company encourages customers to "Live Más," both through its food and in ways such as its Feed the Beat® music program and nonprofit organization, the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens™. Taco Bell and its more than 350 franchise organizations have nearly 6,000 restaurants across the United States that proudly serve more than 36 million customers every week.

Like: www.facebook.com/tacobell 
Follow: @TacoBell 
Subscribe: www.youtube.com/tacobell



Taco Bell Corp.
Deb Bell, 949-863-3915
deb.bell@tacobell.com
or
Taylor
Jenna Rathke, 214-212-5713
jrathke@taylorstrategy.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  California

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article New Taco Bell® Feed the Beat® Roster Announced Supports One Epic Lineup, 100 New Artists 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

Dialogic Study Reveals 87 Percent of Telecom Leaders Factor WebRTC into Product Roadmaps

$
0
0

Filed under:

Dialogic Study Reveals 87 Percent of Telecom Leaders Factor WebRTC into Product Roadmaps

WebRTC Impact Study Polls Service Provider, Application Developer Communities to Collect Real-World Data on Disruptive Influence of Real-Time Communications

PARSIPPANY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Dialogic Inc. (OTCQB:DLGC), the Network Fuel™ company, today announced the results of its 2013 WebRTC Impact Survey, a study that cuts through market speculation to deliver relevant information on the adoption and disruptive potential of WebRTC. The survey asked 169 key decision-makers in the service provider and telecom applications development communities to share their assessments of how WebRTC will evolve their business models and help them seize new opportunities across various market verticals. The results reveal that an overwhelming majority of respondents see WebRTC as integral to their future product development.


Findings of the survey may surprise some within the industry who made early predictions that videoconferencing and contact center communications would be the primary points of adoption for WebRTC. Instead, 37.7 percent of those surveyed said that WebRTC offers a broader benefit to unified communications solutions. Further, more than 35 percent of respondents agreed that WebRTC will make a more immediate breakthrough in the education market as opposed to the enterprise. And unlike many industry initiatives that can take up to ten years to mature, 49 percent of respondents intend to deploy a WebRTC solution within the next 12 months.

"For several months now, we have heard varying opinions on the viability and disruptive potential of WebRTC, running the spectrum from Skype-killer to pure hype. To gain more real-world insight, Dialogic did what we do best: we listened to our customer base," said Andrew Goldberg, senior vice president of marketing and strategy for Dialogic. "An overwhelming 86.9 percent of respondents revealed that WebRTC is significant to their overall product roadmaps. The survey underscores the importance for service providers and application developers to have access to solutions that help them quickly monetize the WebRTC opportunity."

The full 2013 WebRTC Impact Survey is now available for download by clicking here.

For more information on Dialogic:

About Dialogic

Dialogic (OTCQB:DLGC), the Network Fuel™ company, inspires the world's leading service providers and application developers to elevate the performance of media-rich communications across the most advanced networks. We boost the reliability of any-to-any network connections, supercharge the impact of applications and amplify the capacity of congested networks. Forty-eight of the world's top 50 mobile operators and nearly 3,000 application developers rely on Dialogic to redefine the possible and exceed user expectations.

For more information on Dialogic and communications solutions energized by our technology, visit www.dialogic.com and www.dialogic.com/showcase. Also, visit our social media newsroom for the latest news, videos and blog posts.

Dialogic, PowerMedia, and Network Fuel are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Dialogic Inc. or a subsidiary thereof ("Dialogic"). Other trademarks mentioned and/or marked herein belong to their respective owners.



Press:
Dialogic
Robin Carley, +1-973-967-6168
robin.carley@dialogic.com
or
Metis Communications
Michelle Barry, +1-617-236-0500
dialogic@metiscomm.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  California  New Jersey

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Dialogic Study Reveals 87 Percent of Telecom Leaders Factor WebRTC into Product Roadmaps 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


Law Firm Kirby McInerney LLP Investigating Potential Claims on Behalf of Vanguard Health Systems, In

$
0
0

Filed under:

Law Firm Kirby McInerney LLP Investigating Potential Claims on Behalf of Vanguard Health Systems, Inc. Shareholders

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Kirby McInerney LLP is investigating potential claims against the Board of Directors of Vanguard Health Systems, Inc. ("Vanguard" or the "Company") (NYS: VHS) related to the proposed acquisition of the Company by Tenet Healthcare Corporation ("Tenet") (NYS: THC) . Under the terms of the definitive agreement, Tenet will purchase all of the outstanding common stock of Vanguard for $21.00 per share in cash, for a total transaction value of approximately $4.3 billion including the assumption of $2.5 billion of Vanguard debt. The investigation concerns whether the Vanguard Board of Directors violated its fiduciary duties by agreeing to this transaction and whether the proposed $21.00 per share consideration adequately values Vanguard common shares.

If you are a Vanguard shareholder and wish to obtain additional information, please contact J. Brandon Walker, Esq. by email at bwalker@kmllp.com, by telephone at (212) 699-1145 or (888) 529-4787, or by filling out this contact form.


Kirby McInerney LLP is a New York-based law firm concentrating in securities, shareholder, whistleblower, antitrust and consumer litigation. For additional information, please go to www.kmllp.com.



Kirby McInerney LL
J. Brandon Walker, Esq.
212-699-1145 or 888-529-4787
bwalker@kmllp.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  New York

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Law Firm Kirby McInerney LLP Investigating Potential Claims on Behalf of Vanguard Health Systems, Inc. Shareholders 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

Shelby American Goes Global with New Headquarters and Manufacturing Facility in Las Vegas

$
0
0

Filed under:

Shelby American Goes Global with New Headquarters and Manufacturing Facility in Las Vegas

Facility to Streamline Production and Performance for Global Expansion

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Shelby American, a wholly owned subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International Inc. (CSBI.PK), announced today that the legendary high performance company will open a state-of-the-art global headquarters on December1, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Located near the world famous "Strip" andMcCarran International Airport, the 135,000 square-foot facility will house all operations under one roof, positioning one of the strongest independent automotive brands in the heart of one of the largest leisure and convention travel destinations in the world. The new headquarters fronts I-15 and is one block off of Las Vegas Blvd at 6405 Ensworth St.


"Shelby American is gearing upforglobal expansion," said John Luft, president of Shelby American. "The decision to move operations into our new headquarters is consistent with what Carroll did many times in the past. Our new facility allows us to be more nimble and accessible to our customers, while dramatically improving production and operational efficiency."

As the only auto manufacturer in the state of Nevada, Shelby American builds three continuation model Shelby Cobras, as well as Shelbyversions of the Ford Shelby GT500, and Ford Mustang, Raptor and Focus. The current factory, located on the outskirts of town, is comprised of five buildings, each housing a different phase of the business. The new global headquarters combines the entire production process and Speed Shop with a historic Shelby automotive museum, gift shop and special factory tours.

"Consolidating our manufacturing and Speed Shop facilities under one roof will accelerate production while providing the flexibility to ramp up new vehicle models," said Gary Davis, vice president of production, research and development at Shelby American. "We carefully planned this move for minimal interruption of customer deliveries by setting up duplicate production lines in both locations during the transition."

With strong demand worldwide for the vehicles built by Shelby American, the company is moving into the European and emerging Asian markets. Combining the new facility with the company's popular Shelby branded styling and performance parts distribution has the company poised to be a major player in the global automotive manufacturing and performance parts market.

"The hunger for American performance vehicles overseas is helping drive sales for Shelby branded parts worldwide," said Jer Gervasi, vice president of the Shelby Performance Parts division. "As we grow our global vehicle and parts reach, this new facility positions us well for the future."

Relocating to the heart of the most popular convention and tourist destination in the world was an important aspect in Shelby American's decision making process.

"Over the past 50 years, Carroll Shelby relocated Shelby American several times as the company evolved," said Joe Conway, President of Carroll Shelby International. "From the original factory in Southern California to our recent facilities at the edge of the Nevada desert, each move was executed to meet the business needs of the company at that time. As Shelby American has evolved into a more consumer direct business, the need to be close to the famed Strip and close proximity to the airport will give the Shelby brand added exposure to millions of people who visit Las Vegas annually."

Shelby American is planning a grand opening event for the new global headquarters later this year. Details will be announced as they become available at www.shelbyamerican.com.

About Shelby American, Inc.

Shelby American manufactures and markets performance vehicles and related products. The company builds authentic continuation Cobras, including the 427 S/C, 289 FIA and 289 street car component vehicles. Shelby American offers the Shelby 1000, GT350, GT500 Super Snake, and GTS post-title packages for the current generation Ford Mustang, as well as the 2013 Shelby Focus ST and Shelby Raptor. For more info, visit www.shelbyamerican.com.



TPRM
Scott Black, 214-520-3430
sblack@tprm.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Nevada

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Shelby American Goes Global with New Headquarters and Manufacturing Facility in Las Vegas 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

To Boost Mobile Banking Adoption, Engage Branch and Call Center Staff Says Fiserv White Paper

$
0
0

Filed under:

To Boost Mobile Banking Adoption, Engage Branch and Call Center Staff Says Fiserv White Paper

Paper outlines strategies to train, equip and incent frontline staff to drive adoption

BROOKFIELD, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fiserv, Inc. (NAS: FISV) , a leading global provider of financial services technology solutions, has published a new white paper that explains how financial institutions can boost mobile banking adoption by utilizing frontline staff at branches and call centers as mobile banking experts. The complimentary white paper, "Mobile Banking Adoption: Your Frontline Staff Holds the Key to Growth," can be downloaded at fiserv.com/frontline-staff.


By taking advantage of the referral power of frontline staff, financial institutions can actively drive mobile banking adoption above the typical 15 to 20 percent rate expected among online banking customers. The majority of consumers still lack knowledge about mobile banking and the benefits it offers. Frontline staff can serve as an influential source of information about mobile banking to build awareness of benefits and educate customers on how to get started using the service.

By equipping frontline staff with the right tools and resources, financial institutions can ensure efforts to drive mobile adoption are successful. A comprehensive "Strategies for Success" program should incorporate:

  • Employee Training - Design training programs to educate staff on mobile banking value and steps for online and offline enrollment.
  • Employee Incentives - Increase staff engagement by providing incentives, such as opportunities for prizes, for promoting and enrolling customers in mobile banking.
  • Consumer Marketing and Promotional Materials - Impactful tools and resources, such as staff talking points, consumer takeaways and in-branch collateral, will effectively aid in the promotion of mobile banking.
  • Metrics to Evaluate Success and Impact- Establishing then measuring success metrics, such as percentage of active uses and mobile transaction volume, enables financial institutions to note growth and areas where adoption is lagging to best focus marketing campaigns.
  • Ongoing Engagement with Users - Continued engagement enables frontline staff to remind mobile banking users of the benefits and value of mobile banking, which could lead to increased usage and convenience for customers.

"Mobile banking can provide a positive return on investment for financial institutions, as use of the service can drive incremental transaction volume and shift transactions away from higher cost channels, while also improving customer satisfaction," said Erich Litch, division president, Digital Channels, Fiserv. "Branch and call center staff are a tremendous asset that financial institutions have at their disposal, and utilizing them to promote adoption and use of strategic services such as mobile banking can be highly effective."

Additional Resources:

About Fiserv

Fiserv, Inc. (NAS: FISV) is a leading global technology provider serving the financial services industry, driving innovation in payments, processing services, risk and compliance, customer and channel management, and business insights and optimization. For more information, visit www.fiserv.com.

FISV-G



Media Relations:
Ann Cave
Director, Public Relations
Fiserv, Inc.
678-375-4039
ann.cave@fiserv.com
or
Additional Contact:
Wade Coleman
Director, Public Relations
Fiserv, Inc.
678-375-1210
wade.coleman@fiserv.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Wisconsin

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article To Boost Mobile Banking Adoption, Engage Branch and Call Center Staff Says Fiserv White Paper 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

Sony Launches 6.4-Inch Xperia Z Ultra Phablet

$
0
0

Filed under:

Today, Sony unveiled its new premium Xperia Z Ultra Android smartphone. At 6.4 inches, the company says the phone is the world's largest, slimmest, and only waterproof, full-HD smartphone display.

The phone's features include:

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 2.2 GHz quad-core processor, with 4G LTE connectivity.
  • Write and sketch on the display with any pencil and selected stylus or pen.
  • Capable of filming full HD underwater.
  • HD voice.
  • Dust-resistant design.
  • Battery-saving features that automatically turn off background functions when not in use.

Calum MacDougall, Sony's mobile communications director at Xperia, said in a press release that, "We're already bringing the best of Sony technology and design across a range of premium smartphones and tablets, and now we are bringing this same premium offering to the large-screen smartphone segment, setting a new standard for others to follow."


The Xperia Z Ultra will launch globally in Q3 2013, with exact availability varying depending on the market. Sony hasn't released pricing details.

link

The article Sony Launches 6.4-Inch Xperia Z Ultra Phablet originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Chris Neiger 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.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Insider Shopping Tips From a Grocery Store Cashier

$
0
0

Filed under:

grocery checkout

The best deals at the grocery store aren't listed in the weekly circular, but now that a supermarket cashier has posted insider secrets online, you can find out how to really save when shopping. These tips, which were published on Reddit (note: profanity is used), aren't exactly rules to live by, but utilizing them may help save you a few bucks at the register, and that can add up over time.

In addition to common sense suggestions like "always buy in season," Reddit user Lenniebaby advises to make friends with your produce guy, and says to shy away from pre-cut fruits and vegetables. Ready to save? Check out the top money-saving shopping tips below.

1. "Don't put mixed-priced things in one bag. The main offenders are sweet peppers -- if green peppers are $0.99/lb, orange peppers are $1.99/lb and you put them in the same bag, I'm charging you $1.99/lb for the whole thing."

2. "If things are lying on those slanty flat surfaces (lettuce for example), take the stuff that's near the back. Rotating stock means putting old produce at the front so it sells faster. Plus everyone touches it."

3. "If you're buying light stuff (chili peppers, mushrooms) and want to be cheap, don't bother putting them in plastic bags. Four chillies in a bag = $0.85; four chillies carried in your hand and put on the scale bag-free = $0.30. For someone who buys $0.99/lb apples instead of $1.49/lb apples, this is a much better strategy for saving money without compromising quality."

Savings Experiment: Groceries
4. "Buy onions in the biggest quantities you can eat before they go bad. If you're buying onions once a week, you're doing it wrong. They keep for months, are used in pretty much every dish, and unlike most other fruits/vegetables you're saving a ton of money when you buy them in bulk. A 10lb bag of onions is $5.99, while a 5lb is $3.99."

5. 'Similarly, never buy those 'cuts' of watermelons that are priced by weight. I've stopped so many people from buying $4 cuts of watermelons (about 1/4 of the melon) when they could buy the entire thing for $6."

6. "Bananas are the cheapest fruits. One banana costs, on average, $0.25. Remember this next time you're in a cafeteria or some other lunch-serving place that sells bananas for $0.99 each."

7. "Don't buy asparagus unless they're displayed in water basins. The bottoms of asparagus should be submerged in water; they'll be fresher for longer."

8. "Baby carrots are overpriced. All they are are cut up, peeled carrots in a plastic bag. For the same price, you can buy twice the amount of normal carrots, peel and cut them up yourself."

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Can Housing Rescue the Dow?

$
0
0

Filed under:

The stock market gave bullish investors some respite today as favorable economic data helped to bring some more positive perspective to the troubling events of the past week. As freaked out as investors were by the Federal Reserve's hints about a potential end to quantitative easing, it's important to remember that accelerating economic growth should help stocks by improving their fundamental earnings and growth prospects. Investors seemed to remember some of that today, as the Dow Jones Industrials were up by about 115 points as of 10:55 a.m. EDT.

One piece of favorable news came from the housing market, with the S&P Case-Shiller index of home prices showing a 2.5% monthly rise in April. Combine that with favorable readings over the past several months, and you get a year-over-year increase of more than 12%. Several formerly hard-hit areas, including Las Vegas and Phoenix, posted gains of more than 20%, with high-growth areas San Francisco and Atlanta seeing similar increases. For the month, only Detroit failed to post a price rise compared to March levels.

But stock investors need to keep one important thing in mind with regard to this housing data: The market has already anticipated good news. Within the Dow, Home Depot clearly owes much of its gains over the past year to improving prospects for housing, and its gain of more than 1% today has pushed it closer to regaining the all-time highs it set recently. But investors are assuming that the company can grow earnings at a 15% to 20% clip this year and next, and to achieve that, Home Depot will need continued housing-market strength.


Similarly, homebuilder Lennar has gained more than 3% today after announcing favorable earnings and upbeat guidance, as it sees high demand outpacing supply in the housing market. But Lennar's stock has already tripled from its lows in late 2011, leaving less room for further price appreciation.

Finally, housing will have to deal with the headwinds of higher mortgage rates. Already, banks JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup have declined from their recent highs as refinancing activity slows in the face of less attractive mortgage terms. Part of the spike in home-buying activity owes to buyers rushing to lock in relatively low rates before they rise, but unless mortgage rates suddenly reverse course and head substantially lower, Citigroup and JPMorgan will likely see eventual slowing in overall mortgage-loan applications. Given the extent to which they and other banks have relied on transaction-based mortgage income lately, higher rates are bad news for bullish bank investors.

Putting a roof over the market
Housing undeniably plays a key role in the U.S. economy, but it won't rescue the Dow from its current correction by itself. Economic growth will need to come from many sources in order to provide the impetus for the stock market to stand on its own, especially given diminishing assistance from the Fed and other central banks for the foreseeable future.

Many investors are scared about investing in big banking stocks after the crash, but the sector has one notable stand out. In a sea of mismanaged and dangerous peers, it stands out as The Only Big Bank Built To Last. You can uncover the top pick that Warren Buffett loves in The Motley Fool's new report. It's free, so click here to access it now.

The article Can Housing Rescue the Dow? originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Dan Caplinger owns warrants on JPMorgan Chase. You can follow him on Twitter @DanCaplinger. The Motley Fool recommends Home Depot. The Motley Fool owns shares of Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase. 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

Will These Punches Knock Out Bank of America?

$
0
0

Filed under:

Brian Moynihan has held the top spot at Bank of America for roughly three and a half years, and the bank's share price is down roughly 20% during his reign. That sounds ugly -- but considering the stock was down a crushing 70% for the three and half years before he took over, it doesn't look so bad.

The vast majority of the blame for the stock's spiral down is placed on former CEO Ken Lewis, who oversaw most of the bank's toxic acquisitions. But now, a few disgruntled shareholders are starting to question whether Moynihan is leading a culture of cutting corners and peeving customers in order to cut costs quickly. 

The most recent of the heated complaints comes from a familiar voice. Finger Interests Number One filed a rare Sec Form PX14A6G and lambasted Moynihan and team regarding recent accusations from former employees who were allegedly "rewarded for delaying and denying Home Affordable Modification Program ("HAMP") modifications so that Bank of America could generate more fees and steer existing borrowers to more profitable in house products."


A voice from the past
Finger Interest is a familiar voice because it has long been a critic of Bank of America's management and board since the onset of the crisis. In this clip from 2009, Jonathan Finger advocates for the removal of then-CEO Ken Lewis, who would later step down.

While Finger Interest did not call for the removal of Moynihan (the letter lauded the bank's work to clean up legacy issues and the balance sheet), the distaste for the bank's culture was palatable.

"If true, the six affidavits filed by former employees of Bank of America in the Massachusetts case are damning, and evidence of unethical behavior and, more importantly point to a corporate culture of not just "short termism", but of outright corruption and a disregard for laws, regulation, and of course, customers."

Ouch. The bank has been in recovery mode and generated handsome profits for investors who scooped up shares on the cheap in late 2011 and early 2012, but can its battered reputation with customer begin to weigh the stock down? American Banker released its 2013 survey of bank reputations, and Bank of America ranked dead last.

Can this really hurt the stock?
Despite the stigma, investors may happily overlook the scathing profiles as long as Bank of America continues to post more improved financial results. The harsh criticism makes the news and headlines, but it rarely moves the stock. Going forward, financial performance should be the single largest contributor to movements in the share price.

No bank ever wants to be cursed on Main Street, but B of A generates the majority of its revenue from its Global Banking, Global Markets, and Global Wealth and Investment Management (GWIM) businesses -- all segments that operated under a slightly different light and perception than the bank's troubled mortgage and consumer businesses, which are often the object of the public outcry.

It may take years, or even decades, for the big banks to regain public favor, but if returns on equity crank higher and balance sheets strengthen, investors will gladly overlook some unhappy customers in exchange for healthy profits.

Many investors are scared about investing in big banking stocks after the crash, but the sector has one notable stand-out. In a sea of mismanaged and dangerous peers, it rises above as "The Only Big Bank Built to Last." You can uncover the top pick that Warren Buffett loves in The Motley Fool's new report. It's free, so click here to access it now.

The article Will These Punches Knock Out Bank of America? originally appeared on Fool.com.

David Hanson has no position in any stocks mentioned.  You can follow  David  on Twitter.  The Motley Fool recommends Bank of America. The Motley Fool owns shares of Bank of America. 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


Dole Food Company, Inc. Organizes Special Committee

$
0
0

Filed under:

Dole Food Company, Inc. Organizes Special Committee

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Dole Food Company, Inc. (NYS: DOLE) today announced that it has designated a special committee of its Board of Directors to act on behalf of the Company in respect of the acquisition proposal made by David H. Murdock on June 10, 2013. The special committee consists of the four members of the Board of Directors who are independent, and will be chaired by Andrew J. Conrad. The special committee has engaged Lazard as its financial advisor and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP as legal counsel.

No assurance can be given that Mr. Murdock's proposal, or any other transaction, will be consummated. The Company does not intend to disclose developments regarding these matters unless and until its Board of Directors determines there is a need to update the market.


About Dole Food Company, Inc.

Dole Food Company, Inc., with 2012 revenues from continuing operations of $4.2 billion, is one of the world's largest producers and marketers of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables. Dole is an industry leader in many of the products it sells, as well as in nutrition education and research. For more information, please visit www.dole.com or http://investors.dole.com.



Dole Food Company, Inc.
C. Michael Carter, 818-879-6801

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  California

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Dole Food Company, Inc. Organizes Special Committee 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

This Is What Tim Cook Cares About

$
0
0

Filed under:

Stop me if you've heard this one before: Apple is losing unit share in both the smartphone and tablet markets. These two facts have contributed to the Mac maker's decline over the past nine months.

According to market researcher IDC, Apple's share of the smartphone market fell to 17.3% in the first quarter, while archrival Samsung's ballooned to 32.7%. Over the past year, Samsung has widened its lead over Apple by a healthy margin. IDC's data also shows Apple's tablet share falling to "just" 39.6%.

Vendor

Market

Q1 2012

Q1 2013

Apple

Smartphones

23%

17.3%

Samsung

Smartphones

28.8%

32.7%

Apple

Tablets

58.1%

39.6%

Samsung

Tablets

11.3%

17.9%

Source: IDC.


All the while, Apple CEO Tim Cook has not been perturbed. In numerous appearances so far this year, Cook made it clear that there are many metrics that he considers when gauging the health of Apple's business, with unit market share among the least relevant, in his opinion. Instead, Cook has been citing statistics like usage and customer satisfaction at the top of that list.

Online ad network Chitika just gave Cook some more ammo: iPad usage share just hit a five-month high in May. After posting a small downtick in April, Apple regained its usage share and then some and now grabs 82.4% of tablet usage within Chitika's ad network that measures "tens of millions' of ad impressions in North America. Chitika calls iPad users "prolific" when it comes to web browsing. The ad network believes that increased sales of refurbished iPads could be helping boost Apple's usage share.

In a distant second is Amazon.com's Kindle Fire, at 6.5% usage in May, followed by Samsung's Galaxy tablets with 4.7%.

Tablet

May Usage Share

All iPads

82.4%

Amazon Kindle Fire

6.5%

Samsung Galaxy tablets

4.7%

Source: Chitika.

That's actually quite impressive for the e-tailer, considering its own unit market share has also fallen. Amazon rushed out the gate with a 15.9% market share when it first launched in Q4 2011; Amazon was just 3.7% of the market in the first quarter. The company gets holiday spikes since Kindle Fires make for perfect stocking stuffers, but maintaining a No. 2 usage share amid Samsung's rising tablet volumes is nonetheless an achievement in itself.

Investors tend to focus too heavily on unit share. Higher usage share translates into a higher likelihood of upgrades and repeat purchases, which is why Apple's declining unit shares don't bother Tim Cook all that much.

Tablets are just one market that the tech giants are battling over. 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 This Is What Tim Cook Cares About originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Evan Niu, CFA, owns shares of Apple. The Motley Fool recommends Amazon.com and Apple. The Motley Fool owns shares of Amazon.com and 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.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Tesco: If Buffett's In, So Am I

$
0
0

Filed under:

LONDON -- We're all familiar with the alleged decline of Tesco  as a destination for shoppers. 

Indeed, the Kantar index has continually highlighted a decline in U.K. market share for the company, with rivals such as J. Sainsbury picking up the slack with its slick marketing campaigns and value-for-money offering.

Furthermore, the situation outside of the U.K. does not appear to be any better. The U.S. operation, Fresh & Easy, will be sold due to continuing losses, while restricted trading laws are not aiding the company's performance in South Korea.


If the above isn't bad enough, add horsemeat to the mix (a handful of Tesco products were found to contain more than 1% horsemeat) and the situation appears to be rather challenging for Tesco boss Philip Clarke.

However, none of the above puts me off investing in the company. In fact, I think now is the perfect time to be buying the shares as the most successful investor in the world, Warren Buffett, continues to hold around 5% of Tesco. If it's good enough for Warren, it's good enough for me.

Of course, I'm not solely relying on the fact that Berkshire Hathaway is a major shareholder to convince me that now is an opportune moment to buy shares in the supermarket. Tesco currently trades on a P/E of just 9, which compares extremely well to the consumer services sector on a multiple of 15. Meanwhile, Tesco also seems cheap when compared to the FTSE 100, which has a P/E ratio of 12.

In addition, Tesco shares yield an impressive 4.5%, which is an appealing number at a time of historically low interest rates. 

Of course, it is not all sunshine and rainbows. With earnings forecast to experience no growth over the next couple of years, shareholders such as me will need to hope for a rerating of the stock to deliver capital gains.

Although I feel company management seems to have taken its eye off the ball, I still believe the supermarket makes for an appealing investment. Warren's seal of approval gives me a dollop of confidence, while the decent yield and lowly P/E act as convincers should I still need a shove to hit the buy button.

Let me finish by adding that if you already hold Tesco shares and are now looking for an alternative growth opportunity in the FTSE 350, this exclusive report reviews The Motley Fool's top growth share for 2013.

Simply click here for the report -- it's completely free!

link

The article Tesco: If Buffett's In, So Am I originally appeared on Fool.com.

Peter Stephens owns shares of Tesco. The Motley Fool recommends and owns shares of Berkshire Hathaway and 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.

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

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Obama's Climate Plan: The Problems and the Opportunities

$
0
0

Filed under:

By now you know about President Obama's "climate action plan," which was unveiled on a hot Tuesday afternoon at Washington, D.C.'s, Georgetown University. As one who's been in and around the traditional energy industry for some time, I'm attempting to come to grips with what I perceive to be a pair of major difficulties with the president's proposal.

  • Its timing, given that it inevitably will cost the nation jobs and raise energy costs at least somewhat for us all, is irresponsible. It seems absurd to unleash such an employment-threatening program at precisely the time when, as The Wall Street Journal said in an opinion piece on Wednesday, " the economy continues to plod along four years into a quasi-recovery."
  • The atmosphere doesn't recognize national boundaries. So an individual effort at unilaterally cutting emissions will be meaningless unless energy approaches change in a host of other countries, which is unlikely. That's especially the case in view of the president's admission that "Though all America's carbon pollution fell last year, global carbon pollution rose to a record level."

Will Keystone be blessed?
The president also touched upon TransCanada's proposed Keystone XL pipeline at Georgetown: "Allowing the Keystone pipeline to be built requires a finding that doing so would be in our nation's interest. And our national interest will be served only if this project does not significantly exacerbate the problem of carbon pollution."

It's the global-nature-of-pollution thing again. If the line is disapproved, Canada's oil will be piped west for shipment to China. As such, the issue of "carbon pollution" will essentially be unaffected either way.


Some prudent approaches
So, for Fools with investable approaches on their minds, the question becomes one of the companies or groups that will either benefit from or remain unscathed by President Obama's plan. One sensible direction, it seems to me, is to look to the nation's biggest gas producers. Cleaner-burning gas stands to replace coal as a fuel for power plants that are forced to operate under far stricter emissions standards.

As you probably realize, ExxonMobil   sits high atop that crowd, with Chesapeake Energy and Anadarko  second and third, respectively. While I admittedly own shares in Chesapeake, I'm especially drawn to it, with its high ratio of gas to oil and its purely domestic operations. Given this mix, the beneficial effects it's likely to feel from increased demand for natural gas should be more directly leveraged to its share prices than with other, more diversified, companies.

Beyond that, you might consider initiating or adding to a position in the ever-popular National Oilwell Varco . The company occupies a vital position in the oil and gas industry as the manufacturer of a number of the components used on drilling rigs. The lion's share of its products are shipped internationally, providing it with significant immunity to the effects of tightening domestic energy policies.

Finally, I'd consider Schlumberger . As I've noted to Fools previously, the big enchilada of oilfield services is easily energy's technological leader, a crucial position in an industry wherein new ways to define reservoirs and produce oil and gas from complex formations becomes increasingly important. The large company also works in dozens of countries and conducts meaningful research operations in such significant locales as Saudi Arabia, Russia, Brazil, and, of course, the United States.

The president's new initiative notwithstanding, and given a host of other global and domestic economic issues, I continue to consider energy to constitute an appropriate backbone for Foolish investment portfolios. The aforementioned companies are but a start in an industry that is replete with compelling players.

Are you interested in a more detailed look at the super-popular National Oilwell Varco? If so, check out the special free report: "The Only Energy Stock You'll Ever Need." Don't miss out on this limited-time offer and your opportunity to discover this under-the-radar company before the market does. Click here to access your report -- it's totally free.

The article Obama's Climate Plan: The Problems and the Opportunities originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor David Smith owns shares of Chesapeake Energy. The Motley Fool recommends and owns shares of National Oilwell Varco and has options on Chesapeake Energy. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don't 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

Smile! Apple Wants You to Share Your Picture

$
0
0

Filed under:

Over the past several years, Facebook , Twitter, and more recently Google have shown that photo sharing is big business and a critical driver of social media and online activity. Just recently, Instagram announced the introduction of videos, and Google is ramping up its offering to compete with Facebook and Twitter. Now Apple is finally making some improvements to its camera app in hopes of getting into this segment of technology.

In the video below, Fool contributor Doug Ehrman discusses some of the recent developments in photo sharing and how Apple hopes to become more involved in this arena.

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 Smile! Apple Wants You to Share Your Picture originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Doug Ehrman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Apple, Facebook, and Google. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple, Facebook, and Google. 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