Still, investors are nervous, and financial markets are in limbo as they wait to see if Congressional Democrats and Republicans can strike a budget deal in time to avoid a debt crisis that could cause the U.S. to default on its debts for the first time.
The clock is ticking closer to the key Oct. 17 deadline that will either return sanity to Wall Street or cause potential chaos. On Thursday, the U.S. won't be able to borrow any more unless lawmakers act to extend the debt ceiling. Barring an agreement, the U.S. won't be able to pay all its bills.
WARNING: Fitch issues warning on U.S. credit rating
Top 10 Forestry Stocks To Watch For 2015: Allegiant Travel Co (ALGT)
Allegiant Travel Company, incorporated on April 4, 2006, is a leisure travel company focused on providing travel services and products to residents of small, underserved cities in the United States. The Company operates a passenger airline marketed primarily to leisure travelers in small cities, allowing it to sell air transportation both on a stand-alone basis and bundled with the sale of air-related and third party services and products. In addition, it provides air transportation under fixed fee flying arrangements. The Company provides scheduled air transportation on limited frequency nonstop flights between small city markets and leisure destinations. As of February 1, 2013, its operating fleet consisted of 58 MD-80 aircraft and six Boeing 757-200 aircraft providing service on 191 routes to 85 cities including 13 leisure destinations and 72 small cities and including cities served seasonally. In January 2012, the Company took ownership of two MD-80 aircraft. In October 2012, the Company announced the formation of Allegiant Systems, a joint venture with AvIntel and Lixar IT.
The Company provides unbundled air-related services and products in conjunction with air transportation for an additional cost to customers. These optional air-related services and products include use of its Website for purchases, use of its call center for purchases, advance seat assignment, baggage fees, priority boarding, its own travel protection product, change fees, food and beverage purchases on board and other air-related services. The Company offers third party travel products, such as hotel rooms, ground transportation (rental cars and hotel shuttle products) and attractions (show tickets) bundled with the purchase of its air transportation.
The Company provides air transportation through fixed fee agreements and charter service on a seasonal and ad-hoc basis for other customers. As of February 1, 2013, its operating aircraft consisted of 58 MD-80 aircraft and six Boeing 757-200 aircraft. D! uring the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company has entered into purchase agreements to acquire seven Airbus A320 aircraft and operating lease agreements for an additional nine Airbus A319 aircraft.
The Company competes with AirTran, Frontier, Spirit, Southwest, US Airways, Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, Delta, Xtra, United and American.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Adam Levine-Weinberg]
Allegiant Travel (NASDAQ: ALGT ) has become one of the most successful airlines in the U.S. (albeit not a very well-known one) by attacking a distinct niche: leisure travelers going from small cities to warm weather destinations. Focusing on markets where it does not face any competition has helped Allegiant generate margin performance near the top of the airline industry for the last several years.
- [By Brian Stoffel]
First there was Spirit Air (NASDAQ: SAVE ) , charging for everything from printing a boarding pass to getting a cup of water. Then there was Allegiant Airlines (NASDAQ: ALGT ) , forcing customers to pay for carry-on bags, pillows, and blankets.
- [By Alex Planes]
It's been a bit over two months since my fellow Fool Sean Williams pointed out that Republic, despite its low price, was booking fewer passenger-miles in 2013 and could be set for a fall. Since then, Republic's shares have shed approximately 15% of their value. To counter the possibility of revenue declines, the airline joined Spirit Airlines (NASDAQ: SAVE ) and Allegiant Travel (NASDAQ: ALGT ) last month in charging a fee for carry-on baggage, which is more or less the final frontier of irritating airline charges, short of charging you for the oxygen should those masks drop down during an emergency.
Top Heal Care Companies For 2014: Student Transportation Inc (STB)
Student Transportation Inc. (STI) is a provider of school bus transportation services in North America, conducting operations through wholly owned operating subsidiaries. The Company operates in two segments: a transportation segment and an oil and gas segment. The transportation segment provides school bus and management services to public and private schools in North America. The oil and gas segment represents its investments as a non-operator in oil and gas interests. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 (fiscal 2012), it acquired certain assets of Schumacher Bus Lines; certain assets and contracts of S&K Transportation Inc.; A&B Bus, Co.; School Transportation Services, LLC.; Dairyland Bus, Inc., Dairyland-Hamilton, Inc., Lakeland Area Bus Service, Inc. and Lakeside Buses of Wisconsin, Inc., and certain assets and contracts of Safe Start Transportation of New Jersey, LLC. On May 24, 2012, the Company acquired certain assets and contracts of National Express Corporation. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Charles Sizemore]
Finally, for an off-the-wall pick, consider picking up shares of Student Transportation (STB), North America�� third-largest operator of school buses.� Student Transportation doesn’t just operate more than 10,000 school buses and transport more than a million students daily across the United States and Canada. It’s a monthly dividend stock with a solid yield.
Top Heal Care Companies For 2014: QEP Resources Inc (QEP)
QEP Resources, Inc. (QEP), incorporated on May 17, 2010, is a holding company. The Company operates in three lines of business: gas and oil exploration and production, midstream field services, and energy marketing. It conducted through three principal subsidiaries: QEP Energy Company (QEP Energy) acquires, explores for, develops and produces natural gas, oil, and natural gas liquids (NGL); QEP Field Services Company (QEP Field Services) provides midstream field services, including natural gas gathering, processing, compression and treating services for affiliates and third parties; andQEP Marketing Company (QEP Marketing) markets affiliate and third-party natural gas and oil, provides risk-management services, and owns and operates an underground gas-storage reservoir. QEP operates in the Northern and Southern Regions of the United States and is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Principal offices are located in Denver, Colorado; Salt Lake City, Utah; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
QEP�� exploration and production business is conducted through QEP Energy in two core regions, the Northern Region (including the states of Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and North Dakota) and the Southern Region (including the states of Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana). QEP Energy has approximately 50,800 net acres of Haynesville Shale lease rights in northwest Louisiana and additional lease rights that cover the Hosston and Cotton Valley formations. The depth of the top of the Haynesville Shale ranges from approximately 10,500 feet to 12,500 feet across QEP Energy�� leasehold and is below the Hosston and Cotton Valley formations that QEP Energy has been developing in northwest Louisiana for over a decade. As of December 31, 2011, QEP Energy had three operated rigs drilling in the project area. QEP Energy�� Midcontinent properties cover all properties in the Southern Region except the Haynesville/Cotton Valley area of northwest Louisiana and are distributed over an area, including the ! Anadarko Basin of Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle. QEP Energy has approximately 77,000 net acres of Woodford Shale lease rights in western Oklahoma. QEP Energy has approximately 38,700 net acres of Granite Wash/Atoka Wash lease rights in the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma and has been drilling vertical Granite Wash/Atoka Wash wells. The Company estimates that up to 1,100 additional wells will be required to fully develop its Pinedale acreage on a combination of 5 and 10-acre density. In addition to QEP Energy�� gross producing wells, QEP Energy had an overriding royalty interest in an additional 21 wells at Pinedale. QEP Energy owns interests in approximately 255,200 net leasehold acres in the Uinta Basin. The remainder of QEP Energy Northern Region leasehold interests, productive wells and proved reserves are distributed over a number of fields and properties managed as the Rockies Legacy division. Exploration and development activity during the year ended December 31, 2011, includes wells in the Powder River and Greater Green River Basins in Wyoming and the Williston Basin in North Dakota. QEP Energy has approximately 90,000 net acres of lease rights in the Williston Basin in western North Dakota, where the Company is targeting the Bakken and Three Forks formations.
QEP Energy Company
QEP Energy is actively involved in several of North America�� hydrocarbon resource plays. QEP�� exploration and production activities are conducted through QEP Energy. P Energy operates in two core regions: the Northern Region (including the states of Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and North Dakota) and the Southern Region (including the states of Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana). The Southern Region contributed approximately 56% of 2011 production while the Northern Region contributed the remaining 44%. QEP Energy reported 3,614 billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent of estimated proved reserves as of December 31, 2011. Of those estimated proved reserves, approximately 64%! , or 2,31! 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent, were located in the Northern Region at December 31, 2011. The remaining 36%, or 1,302 billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent at December 31, 2011, were located in the Southern Region. QEP Energy has an inventory of identified development drilling locations, primarily on the Pinedale Anticline in western Wyoming; the Haynesville/Cotton Valley area in northwestern Louisiana; the Midcontinent area with properties primarily in Oklahoma and Texas; the Uinta Basin in eastern Utah, and the Rockies Legacy, which includes the Bakken/Three Forks area in western North Dakota and other properties in Wyoming.
QEP Field Services Company
QEP invests in midstream (gathering, processing and treating) systems to complement its natural gas, oil and natural gas liquids (NGL) operations in regions where QEP Energy has production. In addition, QEP�� midstream business also provides midstream services to third-party customers, including independent producers. QEP Field Services owns various natural gas gathering, treating and processing facilities in the Northern and Southern Regions as well as 78% of Rendezvous Gas Services, LLC, (RGS), a partnership that operates gas gathering facilities in western Wyoming. The FERC-regulated Rendezvous Pipeline Co., LLC (Rendezvous Pipeline), a wholly owned subsidiary of QEP Field Services, operates a 21-mile, 20-inch-diameter pipeline between QEP Field Services��Blacks Fork gas-processing plant and the Muddy Creek compressor station owned by Kern River Gas Transmission Co. (Kern River Pipeline). RGS gathers natural gas for Pinedale Anticline and Jonah Field producers for delivery to various interstate pipelines. QEP Field Services also owns 38% of Uintah Basin Field Services, LLC (UBFS) and 50% of Three Rivers Gathering, LLC (Three Rivers). These two partnerships operate natural gas gathering facilities in eastern Utah.
QEP Marketing Company
QEP Marketing provides wholesale market! ing and s! ales of affiliate and third-party natural gas, oil and NGL. As a wholesale marketing entity, QEP Marketing concentrates on markets in the Rocky Mountains, Pacific Northwest and Midcontinent that are either close to affiliate reserves and production or accessible by pipelines. QEP Marketing contracts for firm-transportation capacity on pipelines and firm-storage capacity at Clay Basin, a baseload-storage facility. QEP Marketing, through its subsidiary Clear Creek Storage Company, LLC, owns and operates an underground gas-storage reservoir in southwestern Wyoming. QEP Marketing uses owned and leased storage capacity together with firm-transportation capacity.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dimitra DeFotis]
Sterne Agee said in July research that operators with Bakken-formation leverage, including Oasis, Superior Energy Services�(SPN),�Whiting Petroleum (WLL) and QEP Resources (QEP),�“have improved their communication with Wall Street and appropriately managed expectations for the impact that flooding in North Dakota could have on second-quarter earnings.” �See Barron’s Investor’s Soapbox PM�for�July 17, subscription required.)
- [By Eric Volkman]
QEP Resources (NYSE: QEP ) is letting its dividend flow. The company has declared a quarterly payout of $0.02 per share, to be paid on June 22 to shareholders of record as of June 3. That amount is in line with all of the firm's previous distributions stretching back to the first one it handed out in September 2010.
- [By Lauren Pollock]
QEP Resources Inc.(QEP) plans to separate its midstream business, QEP Field Services Co., into a separate entity, including its interest in QEP Midstream Partners LP(QEPM).
Top Heal Care Companies For 2014: Aristocrat Group Corp (ASCC)
ARISTOCRAT GROUP CORP. (AGC), incorporated on July 20, 2011, is a development-stage company. The Company has limited business operations. The development of its business has been limited to organizational matters, the preparation of its business plan, and the preparation of the financial statements and other information. Through Prenatal-Postpartum Supercare Centers, the Company is focused on to provide education services, health and fitness services, and emotional well-being spa services with the ability to purchase products designed especially for women who are in any phase of the childbearing process from planning a family through the newborn�� first year of life. As of July 25, 2011, the Company had not generated revenue.
The Company focused to engage certified childbirth educators and lactation consultants to provide on-site instructional services and educational expertise. Yoga Masters, licensed professional masseuses, nutritionists, licensed estheticians, as well as licensed professional therapists and certified fitness instructors will be engaged to provide their specific services. The Company is focused to offer a variety of educational and fitness and spa services with varying fees. The Company is focused to sell products designed for the expecting or new mother, as well as infant/toddler items. These products are focused to be sold through the Prenatal-Postpartum Supercare Center and on its Website, including maternity and infant products, nutritional, health and beauty products, and items regarding fitness and physical and emotional well-being. The Website focused to offer Education, Ask An Expert and On-line Communities (Chat Rooms)
The Company competes with R��Us, Toys R��Us, Wal-Mart, Curves for Women and Shapes for Women.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By CRWE]
Today, ASCC surged (+11.11%) up +0.060 at $.600 with 83,411 shares in play thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 12:23PM EDT June 27, 2013).
As part of the big promotional push planned for the upcoming release of RWB Ultra-Premium Handcrafted Vodka, Luxuria Brands��he brand management division of the Aristocrat Group Corp. is investigating high-profile sponsorship opportunities in professional sports.
The company is gearing up to compete in the $21 billion U.S. spirits industry, in which many top brands grow their consumer loyalty with sports sponsorships.
Top Heal Care Companies For 2014: Texas Industries Inc (TXI)
Texas Industries, Inc., incorporated on April 19, 1951, is a supplier of construction materials in the southwestern United States. The Company operates in three segments: cement, aggregates and consumer products. Its cement segment produces gray portland cement and specialty cements. The Company�� cement production and distribution facilities are concentrated primarily in Texas and California. Its aggregates segment produces natural aggregates, including sand, gravel and crushed limestone. The Company�� consumer products segment produces ready-mix concrete. It is also a supplier of natural aggregates and ready-mix concrete in Texas and northern Louisiana and in Oklahoma and Arkansas. As of May 31, 2013, the Company had 123 manufacturing facilities in five states.
Cement Segment
The Company produces specialty cements, such as masonry and oil well cements. Its cement production facilities are located at Midlothian, Texas, south of Dallas/Fort Worth, Hunter, Texas, between Austin and San Antonio, and Oro Grande, California, near Los Angeles. It also operates a cement terminal and packaging facility at its Crestmore plant near Riverside, California, and the Company operates its gray portland cement grinding facility on an as needed basis. During the fiscal year ended May 31, 2013 (fiscal 2013), it produced approximately 4.3 million tons of finished cement. The Company shipped approximately 4.4 million tons during fiscal 2013, of which 3.8 million tons were shipped to outside trade customers.
Aggregates Segment
The Company�� operations are conducted from facilities primarily serving the Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin areas in Texas; the southern Oklahoma area, and the Alexandria and Monroe areas in Louisiana. The Company produced approximately 14.2 million tons of natural aggregates during fiscal 2013. It shipped approximately 14.8 million tons of natural aggregates during fiscal 2013, of which 11.3 million tons were shipped to outside trade customers! . The Company shipped approximately 1.0 million cubic yards of lightweight aggregates during fiscal 2013, of which approximately 0.9 million cubic yards were shipped to outside trade customers.
Consumer Products Segment
The Company�� ready-mix concrete operations are situated in three areas in Texas (the Dallas/Fort Worth/Denton area of north Texas, the Austin area of central Texas and from Beaumont to Texarkana in east Texas), in north and central Louisiana, and in southwestern Arkansas. It is also a 40% partner in a joint venture that has ready mix concrete operations in the northern part of central Texas area centered around Waco, Texas. It shipped approximately 2.8 million cubic yards of ready-mix concrete during fiscal 2013. The Company manufacture and supply a substantial amount of the cement and aggregates raw materials used by our ready-mix plants. The Company also marketed its Maximizer packaged concrete mixes in southern California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Levisohn]
Shares of Vulcan have gained 7.6%, and given a lift to other cement makers today, including Martin Marietta Materials (MLM), which has risen 4.9% and reports earnings on Thursday, Cemex (CX), which has advanced 1.5%, and Texas Industries (TXI), which is up 4.9%.
- [By Ben Fox Rubin]
Building materials company Texas Industries Inc.(TXI) is considering a sale, Bloomberg News reported, citing three people familiar with knowledge of the matter. Shares of the company jumped 12% premarket to $65.50.
- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Texas Industries (NYSE: TXI) was down, falling 4.36 percent to $65.78 after Longbow Research downgraded the stock from buy to neutral.
Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded down 1.37 percent to $97.07, while gold traded up 1.73 percent to $1,223.10. Silver traded up 3.69 percent Thursday to $20.09, while copper fell 0.34 percent to $3.39.
Top Heal Care Companies For 2014: Beam Inc (BEAM)
Beam Inc. (Beam), incorporated on October 1, 1985, is a premium spirits company that makes and sells branded distilled spirits products in markets worldwide. The Company's principal products include bourbon whiskey, tequila, Scotch whisky, Canadian whisky, vodka, cognac, rum, cordials, and ready-to-drink pre-mixed cocktails. The Company's portfolio consists of brands the Company identifies as Power Brands, Rising Stars, Local Jewels and values Creators. The Power Brands are the Company's core brand equities, with global reach in premium categories. Rising Stars are smaller premium brands. Brands identified as Local Jewels act as Power Brands in local markets. Value Creators include a variety of brands. The Company's three reportable segments are the geographic regions, which consists of North America, Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA), and Asia-Pacific/South America (APSA). Each segment is engaged in the manufacture and sale of distilled spirits products. In May 2012, the Company acquired the Pinnacle vodka and Calico Jack rum brands and certain related assets (Pinnacle assets) from White Rock Distilleries, Inc. In January 2012, Beam acquired Cooley Distillery plc (Cooley), an Irish whiskey producer.
The Company�� Power Brands include Jim Beam Bourbon, Maker's Mark Bourbon, Sauza Tequila, Courvoisier Cognac, Canadian Club Whisky, Teacher's Scotch and Pinnacle Vodka. Beam�� Rising Stars brand includes Laphroaig Scotch, Knob Creek Bourbon, Basil Hayden's Bourbon, Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey, Cruzan Rum, Hornitos Tequila, Skinnygirl Cocktails and Sourz Liqueurs. The principal markets for the Company's spirits products are the United States, Australia, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Canada, and the Company continues to invest in emerging markets such as India, Brazil, Mexico, Russia, Central Europe, Asia, and other geographies.
During the year ended December 31, 2012, Power Brands, Rising Stars, and combined Local Jewels/Value Creators (including non-branded sales) repre! sent approximately 60%, 15%, and 25%, respectively, of the Company's net sales. Approximately 55% of its consolidated net sales were generated in the United States (based on country of destination) during 2012. In the United States, the Company sells its products either to wholesale distributors for resale to retail outlets or, in those states that control alcohol sales, to state governments who then sell them to retail customers and consumers. In the Company's other global markets, the Company uses a variety of route-to-market models, including third party distributors, global or regional duty free customers, other spirits producers and its joint ventures with The Edrington Group Ltd.
The Company competes with Bacardi Limited, Brown-Forman Corporation, Constellation Brands, Inc., Davide Campari Milano-S.p.A., Diageo PLC, Pernod Ricard S.A. and Remy Cointreau S.A.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Duprey]
Has the whole "skinny" drinks craze run its course? After viewing this past quarter's earnings from spirits maker Beam (NYSE: BEAM ) , with sales of the ready-to-serve alcoholic beverage tumbling 23% from the year-ago period, you'll be forgiven for thinking it was just a fad.
- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Beam (NYSE: BEAM) shot up 24.06 percent to $83.08 after the company agreed to be acquired by Suntory Holdings for $83.50 per share in cash.
Clovis Oncology (NASDAQ: CLVS) was also up, gaining 7.26 percent to $79.35 after the company announced 2014 objectives and financial outlook. The company projected to initiate three global registration studies for CO-1686.
- [By Jon C. Ogg]
Beam Inc. (NYSE: BEAM) was downgraded to Hold from Buy based on valuation at Argus.
Covidien Ltd. (NYSE: COV) was started as Buy at Needham & Co.
- [By Rich Duprey]
That also means it won't buy rival whiskey distiller Beam (NYSE: BEAM ) , a rumor that's floated around ever since it was spun off from Fortune Brands. Owning 23% of the North American whiskey market already with a portfolio consisting of brands that include Bushmills,�Crown Royal, and George Dickel (which uses the traditional "whisky" spelling), along with Scotch whiskys such as J&B, and, yes, Johnnie Walker, Diageo is tied for the top spot with Jack Daniels maker Brown-Forman (NYSE: BF-B ) in the market.
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