It's been a rough run for Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU ) investors in recent months, but the stock did rally for a 13% pop last week.
China's leading search engine has come under fire after the surprising success of Qihoo 360's� (NYSE: QIHU ) �rival platform, which debuted last summer.
In this video, longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz explores why China's cheaper than you think and why last week's rally may be the start of a positive move.
Regardless of your short-term view on the Chinese economy, there may be opportunity in Baidu (aka the "Chinese Google"). The Motley Fool's�brand new premium report breaks down the dominant Chinese search provider's strengths and weaknesses. Just click here to access it now.
Top Rising Companies To Own For 2015: China Fund Inc (CHN)
The China Fund, Inc. (the Fund), incorporated on April 28, 1992, is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund�� investment objective is to achieve long-term capital appreciation through investment in companies and other entities with significant assets, investments, production activities, trading or other business interests in the People�� Republic of China, or which derive a significant part of their revenue from the People�� Republic of China.
The China Fund, Inc. may invest in equity-linked securities, such as linked participation notes, equity swaps and zero-strike options, and securities warrants collectively referred to as Access Products. The Fund invests various sectors, including industrials, consumer discretionary, energy, information technology, financials, consumer staples, materials, utilities, healthcare and telecommunications. Martin Currie Inc. serves as the investment manager for the Fund's listed assets. Asian Direct Capital Management is the investment manager for the Fund's assets allocated to direct investments.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Stephen Leeb, Founder and Research Chairman, Leeb Group]
Healthy economic data, coupled with low inflation, make Chinese stocks attractive as well. Our first choice here is the China Fund (CHN). It holds a diverse portfolio of stocks primarily focused on the Chinese domestic market.
Top Up And Coming Companies To Invest In Right Now: Regional Management Corp (RM)
Regional Management Corp. (Regional), incorporated on March 25, 1987, is a diversified specialty consumer finance company providing a range of loan products primarily to customers with limited access to consumer credit from banks, thrifts, credit card companies and other traditional lenders. The Company has a branch network throughout the Southeast and Southwestern United States. Each of its loan products is secured, structured on a fixed rate, fixed term basis with fully amortizing equal monthly installment payments and is repayable at any time without penalty. Regional�� loans are sourced through its multiple channel platform, including in its branches, through direct mail campaigns, independent and franchise automobile dealerships, online credit application networks, furniture and appliance retailers and its consumer Website. On January 20, 2012, it purchased 23 branches in Alabama.
The Company is offering small installment loans, large installment loans, automobile purchase loans, furniture and appliance purchase loans, related credit insurance, and ancillary products and services. As of December 31, 2011, the Company operated offices in 170 locations in the states of Alabama (14 offices), North Carolina (24 offices), Oklahoma (one office), South Carolina (69 offices), Tennessee (18 offices), and Texas (44 offices) under the brand names Regional Finance, RMC Financial Services, Anchor Finance, and Sun Finance. The Company opened 36 offices during the years ended December 31, 2011.
Small Installment Loans
The Company offers small installment loans ranging from $300 to $2,500, with terms of up to 36 months, which are secured by non-essential household goods. The Company also source small installment loans through its live check mailing campaigns to pre-screened individuals. In 2011, the average originated net loan size and term for its small installment loans were $1,022 and 15 months, respectively. Its small installment loans include loans originated throug! h its live check campaigns, which had an average originated net loan size and term of $1,216 and 16 months for 2011. The weighted average yield it earned on its portfolio of small installment loans was 49.3% in 2011. As of December 31, 2011, it had approximately 137,000 small installment loans outstanding representing $130.3 million in finance receivables.
Large Installment Loans
The Company offers large installment loans through its branches ranging from $2,500 to $20,000, with terms of between 18 and 60 months, which are secured by a vehicle in addition to non-essential household goods. Its installment loans are payable in fixed rate, fully amortizing equal monthly installments with terms of 18 to 60 months, and are repayable at any time without penalty. The Company requires its large installment loans to be secured by a vehicle, which may be an automobile, motorcycle, boat or all-terrain vehicle, as well as certain non-essential household goods. In 2011, its average originated net loan size and term for large installment loans were $3,065 and 27 months, respectively. The weighted average yield it earned on its portfolio of large installment loans was 27.6% for 2011. As of December 31, 2011, it had approximately 12,000 large installment loans outstanding representing $36.9 million in finance receivables.
Automobile Purchase Loans
The Company offers automobile purchase loans of up to $30,000, generally with terms of between 36 and 72 months, which are secured by the purchased vehicle. Its automobile purchase loans are offered through a network of dealers in its geographic footprint, including over 2,000 independent and approximately 740 franchise automobile dealerships as of December 31, 2011. Its automobile purchase loans include both direct loans, which are sourced through a dealership and closed at one of its branches, and indirect loans, which are originated and closed at a dealership in its network without the need for the customer to visit o! ne of its! branches. In 2011, it introduced AutoCredit Source branches in the Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas and Charlotte, North Carolina metropolitan areas, which focus solely on originating, underwriting and servicing indirect automobile purchase loans. As of December 31, 2011, it had approximately 15,000 automobile purchase loans outstanding representing $128.7 million in finance receivables. The Company opened two additional AutoCredit Source branches in Texas in January 2012.
Furniture and Appliance Purchase Loans
The Company offers indirect furniture and appliance purchase loans of up to $7,500, with terms of between six and 48 months, which are secured by the purchased furniture or appliance. Its furniture and appliance purchase loans are indirect loans made through a retailer at the point of sale without the need for the customer to visit one of its branches, similar to its indirect automobile purchase loans. The Company partner with furniture and appliance retailers who offer its furniture and appliance purchase loans directly to their customers. As of December 31, 2011, it provided furniture and appliance purchase loans to customers at approximately 250 furniture and appliance retail locations, including 79 franchise store locations of the furniture retailer in the United States.
Insurance Products
The Company offers its customers optional payment protection insurance relating to many of its loan products. The insurance products it offers customers are voluntary and not a condition of the loan. Its insurance products, including the types of products offered and the terms and conditions thereof, vary from state to state in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The Company markets and sells insurance policies as an agent for an unaffiliated third-party insurance company. The policies are then ceded to its wholly owned reinsurance subsidiary, RMC Reinsurance, Ltd., which then bears the full risk of the policy. For the sale of insurance policies, th! e Company! , as agent, writes policies within the limitations established by its agency contracts with the unaffiliated third-party insurance company.
Credit Life Insurance, Credit Accident and Health Insurance and Involuntary Unemployment Insurance
The Company markets and sells optional credit life insurance, credit accident and health insurance and involuntary unemployment insurance in connection with its loans in selected markets. Credit life insurance provides for the payment in full of the borrower�� credit obligation to the lender in the event of the borrower�� death. Credit accident and health insurance, which is only offered in conjunction with credit life insurance, provides for the repayment of loan installments to the lender that come due during an insured�� period of income interruption resulting from disability from illness or injury. Involuntary unemployment insurance provides for repayment of loan installments in the event the borrower is no longer employed as the result of a layoff or reduction in workforce. All customers purchasing these types of insurance from the Company sign a statement on the loan contract affirming that they understand that their purchase of insurance is not a condition of its granting the loan.
Collateral Protection Collision Insurance
The Company before originate an automobile purchase loan or large installment loan, it require the borrower to provide proof of acceptable liability and collision insurance on the vehicle securing the loan. While the Company do not offer automobile insurance to its customers, it will obtain collateral protection collision insurance (CPI) on behalf of customers who permit their other insurance coverage to lapse. If it obtains CPI for a vehicle, the customer has the opportunity to provide proof of insurance to cancel the CPI and receive a refund of all unearned premiums.
Property Insurance
The Company also requires that its customers provide proof of acceptable ! insurance! for any personal property securing a loan. Customers can provide proof of such insurance purchased from a third party (such as homeowners or renters insurance) or can purchase the property insurance that it offers.
The Company competes with World Acceptance Corp. and Security Finance Corporation.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Peter Graham]
Small cap installment loan and consumer finance�stock World Acceptance Corp (NASDAQ: WRLD), a potential peer of small cap Regional Management Corp (NYSE: RM) and�mid cap�Springleaf Holdings Inc (NYSE: LEAF), has elevated short interest of 38.72% according to Highshortinterest.com. However, World Acceptance Corp got on the radar of the shorts when the company disclosed that its being investigated by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau�for its lending practices. ��
Top Up And Coming Companies To Invest In Right Now: Ameren Corp (AEE)
Ameren Corporation (Ameren), incorporated on August 7, 1995, is a utility holding company. The Company�� principal subsidiaries are Union Electric Company (Ameren Missouri) and Ameren Illinois Company (Ameren Illinois). The Company's segments include Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois. Ameren Missouri operates a rate-regulated electric generation, transmission and distribution business, and a rate-regulated natural gas transmission and distribution business in Missouri. Ameren Illinois operates a rate-regulated electric and natural gas transmission and distribution business in Illinois. AER consists of non-rate-regulated operations, including Ameren Energy Generating Company (Genco), AmerenEnergy Resources Generating Company (AERG) and Ameren Energy Marketing Company (Marketing Company). In December 2013, the Company announced that it has completed the divestiture of its merchant generation business, formerly known as Ameren Energy Resources Company, LLC (AER).
Ameren Missouri supplies electric and natural gas service to a 24,000-square-mile area in central and eastern Missouri. This area has an estimated population of 2.8 million and includes the Greater St. Louis area. Ameren Missouri supplies electric service to 1.2 million customers and natural gas service to 127,000 customers. Ameren Illinois supplies electric and natural gas utility service to portions of central and southern Illinois having an estimated population of 3.1 million in an area of 40,000 square miles. Ameren Illinois supplies electric service to 1.2 million customers and natural gas service to 806,000 customers. Ameren has other subsidiaries responsible for activities, such as the provision of shared services. Ameren owns an integrated transmission system that consists of the transmission assets of Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois and ATXI.
Ameren operates two balancing authority areas, AMMO (which includes Ameren Missouri), and AMIL (which includes Ameren Illinois, ATXI, AERG, and Genco excluding EEI an! d Genco�� Elgin CT energy center). During the year ended December 31, 2012, the peak demand was 8,868 megawatts in AMMO and 9,720 megawatts in AMIL. The Ameren transmission system directly connects with 15 other balancing authority areas for the exchange of electric energy. Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois and ATXI are transmission-owning members of MISO. EEI operates its own balancing authority area and its own transmission facilities in southern Illinois. The EEI transmission system is directly connected to the transmission systems of MISO, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and Louisville Gas and Electric Company. EEI�� energy centers are dispatched separately from those of Ameren Missouri, Genco and AERG.
Ameren�� portfolio of natural gas supply resources includes firm transportation capacity and firm no-notice storage capacity leased from interstate pipelines. Ameren Missouri primarily use the interstate pipeline systems of Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company, Trunkline Gas Company, Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, and Mississippi River Transmission Corporation to transport natural gas to energy centers. Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois develop and manage a portfolio supply under term agreements with producers, interstate and intrastate firm transportation capacity, firm storage capacity leased from interstate pipelines, and on-system storage facilities to maintain natural gas deliveries to customers throughout the year and especially during peak demand periods. Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois primarily use Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company, Trunkline Gas Company, Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, Mississippi River Transmission Corporation, Northern Border Pipeline Company, and Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation interstate pipeline systems to transport natural gas to their systems.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Levisohn]
Abbvie (ABBV)
Ameren Corp. (AEE)
Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG)
E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. (DD)
ENSCO (ESV)
Enterprise Products Partners LP (EPD)
General Mills (GIS)
H&R Block (HRB)
Hancock Holding (HBHC)
Kraft Foods Group (KRFT)
Lorillard (LO)
Magellan Midstream Partners LP (MMP)
MarkWest Energy Partners L P (MWE)
McDonald’s (MCD)
Microchip Technology (MCHP)
NextEra Energy (NEE)
Regency Centers (REG)
TELUS Corp. (TU)
West Corp. (WSTC)
Williams Companies (WMB) - [By Dan Caplinger]
Yet one area of huge potential for EnerSys is in its OptiGrid service, which seeks to help utilities and other power-grid users stabilize their grids and improve efficiency. In April, the company said it expects to see a commercial system ready for purchase orders within the next 12 to 14 months. The passage of an Illinois bill earlier this week that will allow Exelon (NYSE: EXC ) , Ameren (NYSE: AEE ) , and other area utilities to pass on part of the costs they incur in improving and modernizing the power grid to incorporate smart-grid technology, demand for the OptiGrid product should be strong when it's available.
- [By ovenerio]
The company has a current ROE of 11.16% which is higher than the industry median. Also, it is higher than the one exhibit by Ameren (AEE). In general, analysts consider ROE ratios in the 15-20% range as representing attractive levels for investment. So, for investors looking at those levels, Wisconsin Energy (WEC) and CMS Energy (CMS) could be the options. It is very important to understand this metric before investing, and it is important to look at the trend in ROE over time.
- [By Eric Volkman]
Ameren (NYSE: AEE ) �will hand out a new quarterly dividend identical to those of its predecessors. The firm will distribute $0.40 per share of its common stock on June 28 to shareholders of record as of June 12. This amount keeps the payout in line with the company's previous six disbursements, which have been handed out in each quarter dating back to Dec. 2011.
Top Up And Coming Companies To Invest In Right Now: Smart Ventures Inc (SMVR)
Smart Ventures, Inc., incorporated on November 22, 2006, is an exploration-stage company. The Company focuses on exploring, acquiring, developing and producing mineral reserves. The Company had purchased certain mineral claims located in the Laurentides Region near Mont Laurier, Quebec. In June 2011, the Company acquired Metal Assets S.A. In February 2014, Smart Ventures Inc announced the closing of its acquisition of The Sanday Corporation oil and gas drilling Services Company.
As of December 31, 2009, the Company had not generated any revenues. The Company focuses on establishing and exploiting deposits of both base and precious metals.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Peter Graham]
Small cap marijuana stocks Smart Ventures Inc (OTCMKTS: SMVR) and Vitamin Blue Inc (OTCMKTS: VTMB) jumped 40.28% and 38.6%, respectively, while hemp stock Astika Holdings Inc (OTCBB: ASKH) fell 13.75% on Friday. Moreover, only one of these small cap stocks seems to have been the subject of a few paid promotions or investor relations types of activities. So will all three of these marijuana or hemp stocks keep producing highs or lows for investors and traders alike? Here is a quick reality check:
Smart Ventures Inc (OTCMKTS: SMVR) Plans to Enter the Marijuana Edibles BusinessSmall cap Smart Ventures Inc is an independent energy company engaged in engineering extended reach drilling services, acquisition, development, production, and exploration of oil, gas and minerals internationally. On Friday, Smart Ventures Inc rose 40.28% to $0.07 for a market cap of $2.31 million plus SMVR is up 600% over the past year and down 93.3% in intermittent trading since December 2009 according to Google Finance.
Top Up And Coming Companies To Invest In Right Now: Vornado Realty Trust(VNO)
Vornado Realty Trust is a privately owned real estate investment trust. The trust engages in investment, ownership, and management of commercial real estate. It invests in the real estate markets of United States. The trust primarily invests in office, industrial and retail properties. Vornado Realty Trust is based in New York, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By CRWE]
VORNADO REALTY TRUST (NYSE:VNO) reported that its Board of Trustees has declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.69 per share payable on August 21, 2012 to common shareholders of record on August 10, 2012.
- [By Robert Hsu]
Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE: VNO) is a traditional REIT.
Unlike mortgage REITs, Vornado actually invests directly in prime real estate properties such as office buildings, and the rents from these properties are what Vornado uses to generate income for unitholders.
- [By Dimitra DeFotis]
Among real estate trusts:
American Tower��(AMT),�the diversified �REIT, is the best performer in the index.�It was�up 4.6% after saying�Friday it will buy the parent of tower operator Global Tower Partners for $4.8 billion. HCP (HCP), a healthcare REIT, was�up 3.3%. Prologis (PLD) an industrial REIT, was�up 2.8%. Vornado Realty Trust (VNO) was�up 2.7%. Boston Properties (BXP), the office REIT, was�up 2.3%. Equity Residential (EQR), a residential REIT, was�up 2.4%. Ventas (VTR), a healthcare REIT, was�up 2%. - [By Robert Hsu]
Name Type of Security� Recommendation� Kinder Morgan Energy Partners L.P. (NYSE: KMP) � MLP August 15, 2013� TeeKay LNG Partners L.P.� (NYSE: TGP) � MLP September 16, 2013� PowerShares S&P 500 BuyWrite Portfol ETF� (NYSE Arca: PBP)� Buy-Write ETF September 30, 2013� Madison Covered Call Equity Strtgy Fd (NYSE: MCN)� Buy-Write ETF September 30, 2013� Nuveen Equity Premium Opportunity Fund (NYSE: JSN)� Buy-Write ETF September 30, 2013� BlackRockEnhanced Dividend Achievers Tr (NYSE: BDJ)� Buy-Write ETF September 30, 2013� Vornado Realty Trust � (NYSE: VNO)� Real Estate
Investment
Trust September 26, 2013�Robert Hsu is the editor of Permanent Wealth Investor and a former hedge fund portfolio manager at Wall Street powerhouse Goldman Sachs. He retired from Goldman at age 31. He since has come out of retirement to establish and preside over his money management firm, Absolute Return Capital Advisors. His retirement experience has given him his current mission: helping investors like you achieve their goal of comfortable retirement through profitable income strategies.
Top Up And Coming Companies To Invest In Right Now: Green Plains Renewable Energy Inc. (GPRE)
Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. engages in the production, marketing, and distribution of ethanol and related distillers grains in the United States. It also involves in grain warehousing and marketing; selling and servicing agronomy and petroleum products; the production and sale of corn oil; and the marketing and distribution of company-produced and third-party ethanol and distillers grains. The company was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By STOCKPICKR]
Green Plains (GPRE) produces, markets, and distributes ethanol in the U.S. This stock closed up 4.8% at $31.54 in Monday's trading session.
Monday's Volume: 1.54 million
Three-Month Average Volume: 1.03 million
Volume % Change: 50%From a technical perspective, GPRE spiked sharply higher here and broke out above some near-term overhead resistance at $30.94 with above-average volume. This spike higher on Monday is quickly pushing shares of GPRE within range of triggering of triggering another big breakout trade. That trade will hit if GPRE manages to clear Monday's intraday high of $31.89 to its 52-week high of $32.60 with high volume.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in GPRE as long as it's trending above some near-term support at $30 or above its 50-day at $28.59 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 1.03 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then GPRE will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $35 to $40.
- [By Tristan R. Brown]
Three months ago I wrote that the stock performance YTD of independent ethanol producer Pacific Ethanol (PEIX) was an "aberration", especially in light of the performance of its industry peers' shares. The discrepancy between Pacific Ethanol's share price and those of its peers has only grown more pronounced since July (see figure). Green Plains Renewable Energy (GPRE) and REX American Resources (REX) have continued to greatly outperform the S&P 500. Even Biofuel Energy, which fell behind on its interest and debt payments over the summer and is facing a shareholder-ruining liquidation, has seen its share price perform significantly better than Pacific Ethanol's in 2013. The oddest part about the stock's performance over the last three months, however, is that the period has been marked by multiple positive announcements from the company. It late July it reported its first positive EPS in almost two years for Q2 (0.07). Its Q2 EBITDA of $3.8 million was its highest since Q4 2011. Its current ratio is well above its previous lows, its ratio of total assets to total liabilities is increasing, and its total shareholders' equity is at a 3-year high. Despite these improvements, the company's price/book ratio is a mere 0.77.
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