There are a precious few companies that you can buy and forget about for a decade or two. Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX ) happens to be one of those companies, dominating the coffee market like no one else can.
Trouble for the competition
One sign of a great brand and quality products is when competition can't keep up, even in locations where they should have an advantage. I live in the heart of Caribou Coffee country, and even here Starbucks is a more prevalent and compelling brand. On the University of Minnesota campus, where coffee addictions are ingrained for life, Starbucks is the only coffee available. Target is also headquartered here and it has a partnership with Starbucks, not the local Caribou.
Caribou is a decent company with more creative and quirky drinks, but it doesn't have the same national draw as Starbucks. It's a regional player, not a global phenomenon, and that's one reason it's closing or rebranding 168 of its stores.
There are dozens, if not hundreds, of these smaller competitors, but Starbucks still commands a presence, even when regional players are around. You can't help but want to own a brand like that.
5 Best Quality Stocks For 2015: Rentrak Corporation(RENT)
Rentrak Corporation, an information management company, provides content measurement and analytical services to companies in the entertainment industry. The company delivers content performance data for various entertainment platforms and media technologies, including television, theatrical, home entertainment, mobile, and broadband video. It operates in two divisions, Home Entertainment, and Advanced Media and Information. The Home Entertainment division delivers home entertainment content products, such as DVDs and blue-ray discs; and offers related rental and sales information for the content to home video specialty stores and other retailers in the United States and Canada. It leases products from various suppliers, including motion picture studios; and retailers sublease and rent these products to consumers. This division also includes direct revenue sharing (DRS) services, which encompasses the collection, tracking, auditing, and reporting of transaction and revenue data generated by DRS retailers to its respective DRS clients. The AMI division offers Essentials Suite of business information services. This division?s Essentials Suite software and services provide data collection, management, analysis, and reporting functions. It also collects and process data from across 26 countries. This division has operations in California, New York, Florida, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, Mexico, Argentina, Spain, and Russia. The company was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Portland, Oregon with additional offices in Los Angeles, New York City, Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Argentina, Australia, France, Germany, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Seth Jayson]
Rentrak (Nasdaq: RENT ) is expected to report Q4 earnings on June 13. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:
The 10-second takeaway
Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict Rentrak's revenues will expand 12.1% and EPS will turn positive - [By James Oberweis]
Rentrak (RENT) offers technology that merges television viewership, advanced demographics, and actual consumer behavior information across multiple platforms, devices, and distribution channels.
- [By Seth Jayson]
Rentrak (Nasdaq: RENT ) reported earnings on June 13. Here are the numbers you need to know.
The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q4), Rentrak beat expectations on revenues and missed expectations on earnings per share.
5 Best Quality Stocks For 2015: Aurizon Holdings Ltd (QRNNF)
Aurizon Holdings Limited, formerly QR National Limited, is a rail freight operator. It owns and operates a coal network made up of 2,670 kilometers of heavy haul rail infrastructure. It provides specialist services in rail design, engineering, construction, management and maintenance, and offers supply chain solutions to a range of customers in Australia. Its business comprises three product lines. Coal business includes transport of coal from mines in Queensland and New South Wales to end customers and ports. Freight business includes transport of bulk mineral commodities, including iron ore, agricultural products, mining and industrial inputs and general freight throughout Queensland and Western Australia. Network Services business provides access to, and operation and management of the Central Queensland Coal Network. In January 2014 the Company announced that National Australia Bank Limited and its associated entities has ceased to be the substantial holder of the Company. Advisors' Opinion:- [By MARKETWATCH]
LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Australia stocks enjoyed early Monday gains after an advance for commodities and U.S. stocks since the last session, with a relatively good reception for earnings. The S&P/ASX 200 (AU:XJO) improved by 0.4% to 5,376.30, with miners tracking gains in gold and copper. Rio Tinto Ltd. (AU:RIO) (RIO) added 1.3%, and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (AU:FMG) (FSUMF) traded 1.1% higher, while gold miners Newcrest Mining Ltd. (AU:NCM) (NCMGF) and Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd. (AU:KCN) (KSKGF) rallied 2.2% and 4.7%, respectively. Banks rose after Wall Street shares climbed on Friday, with National Australia Bank Ltd. (AU:NAB) (NAUBF) up 1% and Australia & New Zealand Banking Group (AU:ANZ) (ANEWF) adding 0.9%, though Commonwealth Bank of Australia (AU:CBA) (CBAUF) dropped 2.4% as it traded without rights to its latest dividend. Coal transport firm Aurizon Holdings Ltd. (AU:AZJ) (QRNNF) tacked on 2.1% as its fiscal first-half underlying profit increased 18%, though net profit f
Hot High Dividend Companies To Invest In Right Now: Mediabistro Inc (MBIS)
Mediabistro Inc, formerly WebMediaBrands Inc., incorporated on April 5, 1999, is an Internet media company. The Company provides content, education, career services to social media, traditional media and creative professionals through a portfolio of vertical online properties, communities and trade shows. On May 11, 2011, the Company acquired Inside Network, Inc.In March 2011, the Company acquired the assets of the blog FacebookMarketing.de. In March 2011, the Company acquired the assets of the Website SemanticOverflow.com. In May 2011, it acquired Inside Network Inc. In August 2012, the Company acquired the assets of Lost Remote the blog covering the field of social television.
The Company�� online business includes mediabistro.com, a blog network providing content, education, community resources and career resources about media industry verticals including new media, social media, Facebook, TV news, advertising, public relations, publishing, design and mobile. Its mediabistro.com business also includes a job board for media and creative professionals focusing on job categories such as social media, new media, publishing, public relations/marketing, advertising, sales, design, Web development, television and more. InsideNetwork.com, a network of online properties dedicated to providing original market research, data services, news, events and job listings on the Facebook platform, on social gaming and on mobile applications ecosystems. SemanticWeb.com, a blog providing content, education, community resources and career resources on the commercialization and application of Semantic Technologies, Linked Data and Big Data. Community, membership and e-commerce offerings including a freelance listing service, a marketplace for designing and purchasing logos (stocklogos.com) and premium membership services.
The Company�� education business features online and in-person courses and online conferences, including its Social Media Marketing Boot Camps, for media and creative prof! essionals. Online education conferences are programs that offer attendees the opportunity to learn in a dynamic online setting with live weekly instruction via webcast, daily forum discussions within an online classroom, homework assignments, and small group interaction where students receive one-on-one guidance and instruction from an advisor. The Company�� trade shows include, among others, the Semantic Tech and Business Conference, Inside Social Apps, Social Gaming Summit and AllFacebook Marketing Expo. Its online business also includes AllCreativeWorld.com, a network of online properties providing content, education, community, career and other resources for creative and design professionals.
The Company competes with Monster.com and LinkedIn.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Paul Ausick]
Stocks on the Move: Nuance Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: NUAN) is down 18.1% at $13.10 and Ariad Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ARIA) is down 9% at $4.67 on huge volume today. Mediabistro Inc. (NASDAQ: MBIS) is up 87.2% at $4.10 after investing in a media and events firm that covers the 3D printing market.
- [By Paul Ausick]
Stocks on the Move: Aetrium Inc. (NASDAQ: ATRM) is up 156.2% at $12.40 following a positive report based on a recent management change and new products. Mediabistro Inc. (NASDAQ: MBIS) is down 17.4% at $3.41 as the stock gives back some of the 87% gain it scored yesterday. J.C. Penney Co. Inc. (NYSE: JCP) is up 7.7% at $10.08 on momentum from an insider stock purchase earlier this week.
- [By Paul Ausick]
One lightly traded stock making a big move today is Mediabistro Inc. (NASDAQ: MBIS), an Internet media company that offers a variety of services in a number of vertical media markets. The company today announced a strategic investment in 3dprintingindustry.com, a media firm that covers the hot 3D printer market. No financial details were provided.
5 Best Quality Stocks For 2015: TICC Capital Corp.(TICC)
TICC Capital Corp., a business development company, operates as a closed-end, non-diversified management investment company. The firm invests in both public and private companies. It invests in secured and unsecured senior debt, subordinated debt, junior subordinated debt, preferred stock, and common stock. The firm primarily invests in debt and/or equity securities of technology-related companies that operate in the computer software, Internet, information technology infrastructure and services, media, telecommunications and telecommunications equipment, semiconductors, hardware, technology-enabled services, semiconductor capital equipment, medical device technology, diversified technology, and networking systems sectors. It concentrates its investments in companies having annual revenues of less than $200 million and a market capitalization or enterprise value of less than $300 million. The firm invests between $5 million and $30 million per transaction. It seeks to exit its investments within 7 years. It serves as the investment adviser to TICC. The company was formerly known as Technology Investment Capital Corp. and changed its name to TICC Capital Corp. in December 2007. TICC Capital Corp. was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Monica Gerson]
TICC Capital (NASDAQ: TICC) is estimated to report its Q4 earnings at $0.28 per share on revenue of $28.43 million.
Fuel-Tech (NASDAQ: FTEK) is expected to post its Q4 earnings at $0.06 per share on revenue of $29.00 million.
- [By Brian Pacampara]
Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, closed-end asset manager TICC Capital Corp. (NASDAQ: TICC ) has earned a respected four-star ranking.
5 Best Quality Stocks For 2015: Atmel Corporation(ATML)
Atmel Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and sells semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) products. The company?s Microcontrollers segment provides various proprietary and standard microcontrollers, such as Atmel?s capacitive touch products, including maXTouch and QTouch, AVR 8-bit and 32-bit products, ARM-based products, and Atmel?s 8051 8-bit products. Its Nonvolatile Memories segment offers serial interface electrically erasable programmable read-only memory and serial interface flash memory products; and parallel interface flash memories, as well as parallel interface electrically erasable programmable read-only memory and erasable programmable read-only memory devices. The company?s Radio Frequency and Automotive segment provides products designed for the automotive industry, including automobile electronics, networking and access systems, and engine, lighting, and entertainment components. This segment produces and sells wireless and wired devices for in dustrial, consumer, and automotive applications; and offers foundry services, which produce radio frequency products for the mobile telecommunications market. Its Application Specific Integrated Circuit segment provides custom application specific ICs designed to meet specialized single-customer requirements of high performance devices in a range of specific applications. This segment provides products that provide hardware security for embedded digital systems; and products with military and aerospace applications, as well as develops application specific standard products for space applications, power management, and secure crypto memory products. The company sells its products directly to original equipment manufacturers; and indirectly through a network of distributors. It has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, South Africa, and Central and South America. Atmel Corporation was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
If you are looking for a semiconductor stock that�� focus on an area that�� not so cyclical, mid cap microcontroller (MCU) stock Atmel Corporation (NASDAQ: ATML) could be a good choice���meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock along with other�microcontroller�players like Microchip Technology Inc (NASDAQ: MCHP), STMicroelectronics N.V. (NYSE: STM) and Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: CY). Microcontrollers are programmable and�embedded�chips that are increasingly�hidden inside a all sorts of products these days e.g. if you have an appliance�with a�LED or LCD screen and a keypad, it contains some kind of�microcontroller plus all new�automobiles contain at least one�and often several. I should mention that we have also recently added Atmel Corporation to our SmallCap Network Elite Opportunity (SCN EO) portfolio and we are down about 5.6% mostly due to the recent market volatility.
- [By Selena Maranjian]
Among holdings in which SAC Capital Advisors increased its stake was Atmel (NASDAQ: ATML ) �SAC reduced its stake in companies such as PNC Financial Services,�and Akamai Technologies. Atmel, which makes touchscreen controllers, is sitting near a 52-week high, despite posting shrinking revenue and earnings lately. The company is cutting costs to boost profit margins, and is optimistic, seeing�improving business conditions and a healthier backlog.
- [By GuruFocus]
George Soros (Trades, Portfolio) just reported his first quarter portfolio. He buys Citrix Systems Inc, Baker Hughes Inc, Comcast Corp, Spansion Inc, etc during the 3-months ended 03/31/2014, according to the most recent filings of his investment company, Soros Fund Management LLC. As of 03/31/2014, Soros Fund Management LLC owns 305 stocks with a total value of $10.1 billion. These are the details of the buys and sells.New Purchases: BHI, CODE, CTRP, CLI, AVB, COMM, CNQ, AGO, AUY, ATML, ASH, BXMT, CSTM, AEM, CMA, ARE, CHKP, AUQ, BEAV, CX, ADSK, AALCP, BLK, AIG, BIIB, ADEP, AMRI, ARWR, ATHX, BALT, BCRX, BEAT, CFX, CLFD, CUR, CODE,Added Positions: CTXS, CMCSA, CNP, ALTR, BRCD, CBS, CRM, CHTR, CCJ, CIEN, BIDU, ALLE, ABT, CDNS, ACT,Reduced Positions: AAPL, CCI, AMT, ABBV, AAL, BITA, AL, ANGI, ARIA, CBST, BA, BIRT, EXAR,Sold Out: C, BAC, CRI, AMZN, AGN, CF, BRCM, COTY, BMY, AMCX, CAR, A, ADBE, AFL,For the details of George Soros (Trades, Portfolio)'s stock buys and sells, go to http://www.gurufocus.com/StockBuy.php?GuruName=George+SorosThis is the sector weightings of his portfolio:Technology18.9%Energy14%Healthcare8.3%Consumer Defensive8.2%Communication Services8.1%Consumer Cyclical5.4%Industrials5.1%Basic Materials4.9%Financial Services2.5%Real Estate1.9%Utilities0.5%These are the top 5 holdings of George Soros (Trades, Portfolio)1. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (TEVA) - 10,310,041 shares, 5.4% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 10.67%2. Herbalife Ltd (HLF) - 4,901,337 shares, 2.8% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 52.9%3. EQT Corp (EQT) - 2,573,814 shares, 2.5% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 3.27%4. Adecoagro SA (AGRO) - 25,915,076 shares, 2.1% of the total portfolio.5. Halliburton Co (HAL) - 3,596,353 shares, 2.1% of the total portfolio. Shares reduced by 20.73%New Purchase: Baker Hughes Inc (BHI)George Soros (Trades, Portfolio) initiated holdings in Baker Hughes Inc. His purchase prices were between $51.82 and $65.27, with an estimated
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