Hot Long Term Companies To Own In Right Now: ACCO Brands Corp (ACCO)
ACCO Brands Corporation, incorporated on October 26, 1970, is one of the suppliers of branded school and office products. The Company sells its products through many channels that include the office products resale industry as well as through mass retail distribution and e-tailers. It designs, develops, manufactures and markets a variety of traditional and computer-related office products, school supplies and paper-based time management products. Through a focus on research, marketing and innovation, it seeks to develop new products that meet the needs of its consumers and commercial end-users, and support its brands. ACCO Brands is organized into three business segments: ACCO Brands North America, ACCO Brands International and Computer Products Group. It sells its products primarily to markets located in the United States, Northern Europe, Canada, Brazil, Australia and Mexico. On May 1, 2012, it completed the merger (Merger) of the Mead Consumer and Office Products Business (Mead C&OP) with a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.
Its office, school and calendar product lines use name brands such as AT-A-GLANCE, Day-Timer, Five Star, GBC, Hilroy, Marbig, Mead, NOBO, Quartet, Rexel, Swingline, Tilibra, Wilson Jones and many others. Its products and brands are not confined to one channel or product category and are designed based on preference. It manufactures approximately half of its products, and specify and source approximately the other half of its products, mainly from Asia. Its office products, such as stapling, binding and laminating equipment and related consumable supplies, shredders and whiteboards, are used by businesses. These business end-users purchase their products from its customers, which include commercial contract stationers, retail superstores, mass merchandisers, wholesalers, resellers, mail order and Internet catalogs, club stores and dealers. It also supplies some of its products directly to commercial and industrial end-users. Its school products include n! otebooks, folders, decorative calendars, and stationery products. It distributes its school products primarily through traditional and online retail mass market, grocery, drug and office superstore channels. It also supplies private label products within the school products sector. Its calendar products are sold throughout all channels where it sells office or school products, and it also sell direct to consumers.
ACCO Brands North America and ACCO Brands International
ACCO Brands North America and ACCO Brands International manufacture, source and sell traditional office products, school supplies, calendar products and document finishing solutions. ACCO Brands North America comprises the U.S. and Canada, and ACCO Brands International comprises the rest of the world, principally Europe, Latin America, Australia, and Asia-Pacific.
Its office, school and calendar product lines use name brands such as AT-A-GLANCE, Day-Timer, Five Star, GBC, Hilroy, Marbig, Mead, NOBO, Quartet, Rexel, Swingline, Tilibra, Wilson Jones and many others. Its office products, such as stapling, binding and laminating equipment and related consumable supplies, shredders and whiteboards, are used by businesses. These business end-users purchase their products from its customers, which include commercial contract stationers, mass merchandisers, retail superstores, wholesalers, resellers, mail order and Internet catalogs, club stores and dealers. It also supplies some of its products directly to commercial and industrial end-users.
Its school products include notebooks, folders, decorative calendars, and stationery products. It distributes its school products primarily through traditional and online retail mass market, grocery, drug and office superstore channels. It also supplies private label products within the school products sector. Its calendar products are sold throughout all channels where it sells office or school products, and it also sells direct to consumers.
! Computer Products Group
The Computer Products Group designs, distributes, markets and sells accessories for laptop and desktop computers and tablets and smartphones. These accessories primarily include security products, iPad covers and keypads, smartphone accessories, power adapters, input devices such as mice, laptop computer carrying cases, hubs, docking stations and ergonomic devices. The Computer Products Group sells mostly under the Kensington, Microsaver and ClickSafe brand names, with the majority of its revenue coming from the U.S. and Western Europe.
All of its computer products are manufactured to its specifications by third-party suppliers, principally in Asia, and are stored and distributed from its regional facilities. Its computer products are sold primarily to consumer electronics retailers, information technology value-added resellers, original equipment manufacturers and office products retailers.
The Company competes with, 3M, Avery Dennison, Blue Sky, Carolina Pad, Dominion BlueLine, Esselte, Fellowes, Franklin Covey, Hamelin, House of Doolittle, Newell Rubbermaid, Smead, Spiral Binding, Belkin, Fellowes, Logitech and Targus.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Will Ashworth]
While some might consider private equity firms to be at the high-end of the cycle, I see Fortress just now coming into its own. Fortress recently announced it took a paper loss on Bitcoin. Not to worry, FIG’s 2013 distributable earnings per share increased by almost 70% to $0.88, its highest level since its IPO. I see it moving higher than $10 in 2014.
Cheap Stocks to Buy: ACCO Brands (ACCO)I don�� know about you but I definitely use several of its products on a regular basis. In fact, right here on my desk beside my computer is a small, Five Star notebook for jotting down ideas. I grew up on Hilroy notebooks, a brand brought to the table in its 2012 merger with MeadWestvaco�� (MWV) Consumer and Office Products division. MWV shareholders received one-third of an ACCO share for every MWV share. Since the deal was completed, ACCO stock has lost 42% of its value.
- [By Lisa Levin]
Office Supplies: The industry dropped 1.51% by 10:50 am. The worst performer in this industry was ACCO Brands (NYSE: ACCO), which declined 1.3%. ACCO Brands shares have gained 2.30% over the past 52 weeks, while the S&P 500 index has surged 21.67% in the same period.
Hot Defensive Companies To Buy Right Now: Omnicom Group Inc.(OMC)
Omnicom Group Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides advertising, marketing, and corporate communications services. It offers services in traditional media advertising, customer relationship management, public relations, and specialty communications groups. The company?s services include advertising, brand consultancy, corporate social responsibility consulting, crisis communications, custom publishing, database management, digital and interactive marketing, direct marketing, directory advertising, entertainment marketing, environmental design, experiential marketing, field marketing, financial/corporate business-to-business advertising, graphic arts, healthcare communications, and instore design. Omnicom Group also offers investor relations, marketing research, media planning and buying, mobile marketing services, multi-cultural marketing, non-profit marketing, organizational communications, package design, product placement, promotional marketing, public affairs, public relations, recruitment communications, reputation consulting, retail marketing, search engine marketing, and sports and event marketing services. It offers its services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The company was founded in 1944 and is based in New York, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sean Williams]
Finally, advertising and marketing services company Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC ) added 3.4% despite no company-specific news today. However, earlier in the week, Omnicom announcement that it was keeping its dividend steady at $0.40 in the upcoming quarter certainly invigorated shareholders, who are digging Omnicom's 2.5% yield. Personally, I can't help but be a little skeptical of ad and marketing consultants in a slow-growing global environment, but shareholders are definitely enjoying a solid end to the week.
- [By Geoff Gannon] ��of course ��Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A)(BRK.B). There is nothing wrong with owning huge stocks. There is something wrong with spending a lot of time picking them.
The best way to own huge stocks is to own an index fund. You only need one. So go with the S&P 500. Mutual funds are mostly a waste of time. There are a couple ��like Fairholme ��that really do make big, concentrated bets that don�� mirror index funds. And there are some other funds ��like Hussman Strategic Growth and Third Avenue Focused Credit ��that are structured to do something other than chase an index. I�� not sure those funds will perform well. I am sure they will give you diversity. They��l actually add something to your account ��beyond most mutual funds.
The biggest problem for most investors is bad timing. They are greedy when others are greedy and fearful when others are fearful. That�� a problem no matter what you invest in. It�� a problem in an index fund. It�� a problem in a mutual fund. And it�� a problem in a stock. The biggest challenge for most investors is getting over that. If you can be greedy when others are fearful and fearful when others are greedy ��you can make money in index funds, mutual funds and individual stocks. If not, you will always underperform the assets you invest in.
Can you do any better than that though? Can you actually improve on an index�� performance through stock picking?
Sure. And it�� not that hard. There are many strategies that outperform indexes. I��e mentioned a few before. I will once again mention an insanely simple one that will tend to work over time.
Rule #1: Never pay more than 8 times EBITDA for a stock.
Rule #2: Never buy a stock that has lost money in any of the last 10 years.
Rule #3: Never sell a stock within the first year of buying it.
Rule #4: Hold 10 stocks.
Rule #5: Hold the stocks with the longest history of consistent profits.
This is a ve
Hot Defensive Companies To Buy Right Now: MarineMax Inc (HZO)
MarineMax, Inc., incorporated in January 1998, is a recreational boat dealer in the United States. Through 54 retail locations in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Texas, the Company sells new and used recreational boats, including pleasure and fishing boats. It also sells related marine products, including engines, trailers, parts, and accessories. In addition, the Company provides repair, maintenance, and slip and storage services; it arranges related boat financing, insurance, and extended service contracts; it offers boat and yacht brokerage services, and it operates a yacht charter business. It is also retailer of Sea Ray, Boston Whaler, Bayliner, Cabo, Hatteras, and Meridian recreational boats and yachts, all of which are manufactured by Brunswick Corporation (Brunswick). In March 2013, it acquired Parker Boat Company's retail boat sales and service operations in Orlando and Daytona, Florida.
The Company is a dealer for Hatteras Yachts throughout the state of Florida (excluding the Florida panhandle) and the states of New Jersey, New York, and Texas; the exclusive dealer for Cabo Yachts throughout the states of Florida, New Jersey, and New York; the exclusive dealer for Boston Whaler in many of its markets; the exclusive dealer for Bayliner in many of its markets, and the exclusive dealer for Meridian Yachts in most of its markets. In addition, it is the exclusive dealer for Italy-based Azimut-Benetti Group for Azimut mega-yachts, yachts, and other recreational boats for the Northeast United States from Maryland to Maine and the state of Florida.
New Boat Sales
The Company sells recreational boats, including pleasure boats and fishing boats. The products it offers are manufactured by Brunswick, the manufacturer of recreational boats, including Sea Ray pleasure boats, Boston Whaler fishing boats, Cab! o Yachts, Hatteras Yachts, and Meridian Yachts. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 (fiscal 2011), it derived approximately 48% of its revenue from the sale of new boats manufactured by Brunswick. During fiscal 2011, new boat sales accounted for 60.6% of its revenue. It offers recreational boats in most market segments. Hatteras Yachts and Azimut are two of the premier yacht builders. The motor yacht product lines include designs with live-aboard luxuries. Hatteras offers a flybridge with guest seating; covered aft deck, which may be fully or partially enclosed, providing the boater with additional living space; an elegant salon; and multiple staterooms for accommodations.
Hatteras Yachts and Cabo Yachts are convertible yacht builders and offer designs with live-aboard luxuries. Convertibles are primarily fishing vessels, which are well equipped to meet the needs of even the most serious tournament-class competitor. Hatteras features interiors that offer luxurious salon/galley arrangements, multiple staterooms with private heads, and a cockpit that includes a bait and tackle center, fishbox, and freezer. Cabo is known for spacious cockpits and accessibility to essentials, such as bait chests, livewells, bait prep centers, and tackle lockers.
Sea Ray and Meridian pleasure boats target both the luxury and the family recreational boating markets and come in a range of configurations to suit each customer�� particular recreational boating style. Sea Ray sport yachts and yachts serve the luxury segment of the recreational boating market and include living accommodations with a salon, a fully equipped galley, and multiple staterooms. Sea Ray sport yachts and yachts are available in cabin, bridge cockpit, and cruiser models. Meridian sport yachts and yachts are available in sedan, motoryacht, and pilothouse models.
The fishing boats the Company offers, such as Boston Whaler and Grady White, range from entry level models to advanced models designed for fish! ing and w! ater sports in lakes, bays, and off-shore waters, with cabins with limited live-aboard capability. The fishing boats feature livewells, in-deck fishboxes, rodholders, rigging stations, cockpit coaming pads, and fresh and saltwater washdowns. The ski boats it offers, such as Malibu, Axis, and Nautique by Correct Craft, range from entry level models to advanced models.
Used Boat Sales
The Company sells used versions of the new makes and models it offers and, to a lesser extent, used boats of other makes and models generally taken as trade-ins. During fiscal 2011, used boat sales accounted for 19.0% of its revenue, and 77.1% of the used boats it sold were Brunswick models. It also sells used boats at various marinas and other offsite locations throughout the country. In addition, it offers the Sea Ray Legacy warranty plan available for used Sea Ray boats less than six years old. The Legacy plan applies to each qualifying used Sea Ray boat, which has passed a 48-point inspection, and provides protection against failure of most mechanical parts for up to three years.
Marine Engines, Related Marine Equipment, and Boating Parts and Accessories
The Company offers marine engines and propellers, substantially all of which are manufactured by Mercury Marine, a division of Brunswick. It sells marine engines and propellers primarily to retail customers as replacements for their existing engines or propellers. It also sells a range of marine parts and accessories at its retail locations, at various offsite locations, through its print catalog, and through the Website portal. These marine parts and accessories include marine electronics; dock and anchoring products, such as boat fenders, lines, and anchors; boat covers; trailer parts; water sport accessories, such as tubes, lines, wakeboards, and skies; engine parts; oils; lubricants; steering and control systems; corrosion control products, service products; high-performance accessories, such as propellers and instr! uments, a! nd a complete line of boating accessories, including life jackets, inflatables, and water sports equipment. It also offers novelty items, such as shirts, caps, and license plates bearing the manufacturer�� or dealer�� logos. The sale of marine engines, related marine equipment, and boating parts and accessories accounted for 6.2% of the Company�� during fiscal 2011 revenue.
Maintenance, Repair, and Storage Services
The Company provides maintenance and repair services at most of its retail locations, with extended service hours at certain of its locations. In addition, in many of its markets, it provides mobile maintenance and repair services at the location of the customer�� boat. The Company performs both warranty and non-warranty repair services. It derives the majority of its warranty revenue from Brunswick products. Its maintenance and repair services are performed by manufacturer-trained and certified service technicians. At many of the Company�� locations, it offers boat storage services, including in-water slip storage and inside and outside land storage. Maintenance, repair, and storage services accounted for 8.9% of its revenue during fiscal 2011. This includes warranty and non-warranty services.
F&I Products
At each of the Company�� retail locations, it offers the customers the ability to finance new or used boat purchases and to purchase extended service contracts and arrange insurance coverage, including boat property, credit life, and accident, disability, and casualty insurance coverage (collectively, F&I). The Company also offers third-party extended service contracts under which, for a predetermined price, it provides all designated services pursuant to the service contract guidelines during the contract term at no additional charge to the customer above a deductible. Credit life insurance policies provide for repayment of the boat financing contract if the purchaser dies while the contract is outstanding. Accident an! d disabil! ity insurance policies provide for payment of the monthly contract obligation during any period in which the buyer is disabled. Property and casualty insurance covers loss or damage to the boat.
Brokerage Services
Through employees or subcontractors that are licensed boat or yacht brokers, the Company offers boat or yacht brokerage services at most of its retail locations. It also offers for sale brokered boats or yachts, listing them on various Internet sites, advising its other retail locations, and posting them on its Website, www.MarineMax.com. Its maintenance and repair services, including mobile service, also are generally available to its brokerage customers.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
As we head towards Black Friday, small cap specialty retail stocks United Online, Inc (NASDAQ: UNTD), TravelCenters of America LLC (NYSE: TA) and MarineMax, Inc (NYSE: HZO) have the distinction of being the best performing small cap�specialty retail stocks for this year (according to Finviz.com) with gains of 181.2%, 123.8% and 71.8%, respectively. With those returns in mind, what are these small cap specialty retail stocks doing right and will the performance last through the all important holiday season? Here is what new and existing investors and traders alike need to know or consider:
Hot Defensive Companies To Buy Right Now: S&P GSCI(GD)
General Dynamics Corporation, an aerospace and defense company, provides business aviation; combat vehicles, weapons systems, and munitions; military and commercial shipbuilding; and communications and information technology products and services worldwide. Its Aerospace group designs, manufactures, and outfits various large and mid-cabin business-jet aircraft; provides maintenance, repair work, fixed-based operations, and aircraft management services; and performs aircraft completions for aircraft. The company?s Combat Systems group offers tracked and wheeled military vehicles, weapons systems, and munitions. Its product lines include wheeled combat and tactical vehicles; battle tanks and infantry vehicles; munitions and propellant; rockets and gun systems; and axle and drivetrain components and aftermarket parts. This group also manufactures and supplies engineered axles, suspensions, and brakes for heavy-load vehicles for military and commercial customers. The company Advisors' Opinion:
- [By Rich Smith]
The Department of Defense issued $312.5 million worth of new contract awards Monday. Notable winners included subsidiaries of two major defense contractors, FLIR Systems (NASDAQ: FLIR ) and General Dynamics (NYSE: GD ) .
- [By Rich Smith]
This led to warnings of further weakness ahead, with Textron cutting its guidance for b-jet deliveries this year, saying it will deliver fewer than it did in 2012. Going forward, it bodes ill for rival General Dynamics (NYSE: GD ) , which has a big business jet division as well.
- [By Rich Smith]
The biggest of these contracts, a sizable $179.9 million, one-year award with the potential to swell to $899.5 million if the four "option-year" extensions are exercised, is to be split among 13 separate firms:
Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE: BAH ) CACI (NYSE: CACI ) Technologies Computer Sciences Corp (NYSE: CSC ) General Dynamics (NYSE: GD ) One Source Honeywell (NYSE: HON ) Technology Solutions Engility Corp. Lockheed Martin Science Applications International Corp. URS Federal Services and four privately held firms.Under the awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ), cost-plus-fixed-fee, performance-based umbrella contract, all 13 firms will be able to compete to perform task orders for the U.S. Navy, providing "integrated cyber operations services" to Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic.
- [By Rich Smith]
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Defense announced it has awarded General Dynamics' (NYSE: GD ) Electric Boat Corp. subsidiary a $208.6 million "undefinitized" contract modification to a previously awarded contract. The funds are to be used to purchase long-lead-time materials needed for construction of three Virginia-class nuclear fast attack submarines:
Hot Defensive Companies To Buy Right Now: Copart Inc. (CPRT)
Copart, Inc. provides online auctions and vehicle remarketing services in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The company offers a range of services for processing and selling vehicles over the Internet through its Virtual Bidding Second Generation Internet auction-style sales technology, to vehicle sellers, primarily insurance companies, banks and financial institutions, charities, car dealerships, fleet operators, and vehicle rental companies. Its services include online seller access, salvage estimation services, estimating services, end-of-life vehicle processing, virtual insured exchange, transportation services, vehicle inspection stations, on-demand reporting, DMV processing, flexible vehicle processing programs, member network, sales process, dealer services, direct services, and u-pull-it services, as well as CoPartfinder, an Internet-based used vehicle parts locator that provides vehicle dismantlers with resale opportunities for their purchases. Th e company sells its products to licensed vehicle dismantlers, rebuilders, repair licensees, used vehicle dealers, and exporters, as well as the general public. Copart, Inc. was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Fairfield, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Geoff Gannon]
The same rule applies here that I mentioned with Copart (CPRT) in an earlier article. Although Wal-Mart is an inferior business to Copart from a pure ROI standpoint, it�� still earning good returns on its investment.
Hot Defensive Companies To Buy Right Now: Imperial Holdings Inc. (IFT)
Imperial Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a specialty finance company in the United States. The company operates in two business segments: Life Finance and Structured Settlements. The Life Finance segment comprises life settlements and finance loan businesses. The Structured Settlement segment purchases structured settlements at a discounted rate and sells such assets to third parties. This segment primarily markets its products through the Internet and television. Imperial Holdings, Inc. was founded in 2006 and is based in Boca Raton, Florida.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Whopper Investments]
Note: This is my response to the recent short case on Imperial Finance (IFT). Obviously, all humans are fallible, and I'm sure someone can find just as much to argue with my long case as I found to argue with his short case. Please read for yourself, do your own research, and make your own decision. I am long IFT and plan on fully participating in the rights offering.
- [By DCResearch]
Imperial Holdings (IFT) fits the bill for all of those traits and investors today can buy Imperial Holdings for less than 0.75x book value. Upside to book value, an obvious valuation factor for most financial companies, would result in a greater than 40% return for a patient investor. I believe that this is far below the fair value for IFT�� book of life settlements, and upside is in excess of $13 per share.
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