Thursday, August 28, 2014

Top 5 Life Sciences Stocks To Own Right Now

With shares of�Corning Inc.�(NYSE:GLW) trading at around $16.35, is GLW an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE or STAY AWAY? Let�� analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

C = Catalyst for the Stock�� Movement

Corning has been making new 52-week highs as of late, but is this trend sustainable? In this stock market environment, anything is possible. However, that doesn�� mean all moves are justifiable.

Corning Incorporated produces and sells specialty glasses, ceramics, and related materials worldwide. It operates through five segments: Display Technologies, Telecommunications, Environmental Technologies, Specialty Materials, and Life Sciences.

Corning has a diverse revenue base. There is currently high demand for tablets and smartphones, Gorilla Glass has received many positive reviews, Q1 estimates were recently beat, there have been cost and efficiency improvements, revenue has increased for three consecutive years, and the stock is at a good valuation, trading at 14 times earnings, while the industry trades at 19 times earnings. However, when you look at the breakdown for the last quarter, there is good reason for caution. The only segment that showed improvement was Life Sciences. Corning is confident in future growth, but that doesn�� mean confidence will lead to actual results.

Hot Safest Stocks For 2015: FirstEnergy Corporation(FE)

Firstenergy Corp. operates as a diversified energy company. The company, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, involves in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity, as well as energy management and other energy-related services. It serves approximately 6 million customers within 67,000 square miles through 10 utility operating companies in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia and Maryland. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Akron, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By David Dittman]

    Answer: I don’t anticipate a spate of dividend cuts. FirstEnergy Corp’s (NYSE: FE) problems were apparent last fall, when it announced 2013 Q3 numbers. We do have TECO Energy Inc (NYSE: TE) and PG&E Corp (NYSE: PCG) on the UF Dividend Watch List, though the latter is in a much more precarious position than the former.

    The regulatory environment is generally improving, as state and federal authorities are beginning to recognize the investment utilities have made over the past half-decade in system reliability and capacity expansion.

    Another key supporting dividends is a healthier US economy, which should support better power demand from commercial and industrial customers.

  • [By Justin Loiseau]

    Debt-heavy FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE  ) is also attempting to exit its 1,180 MW of hydro assets. The company originally wanted out by early 2015 but is attempting to scoot up its schedule to clear cash for its transmission investments. This utility is downsizing fast, as it also announced last month that it will shut down 2,080 MW of coal-fired plants. Hydro currently comprises 9% of total capacity, while the coal plants will knock off another 10%.

Top 5 Life Sciences Stocks To Own Right Now: First Niagara Financial Group Inc.(FNFG)

First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. operates as the holding company for First Niagara Bank, N.A. that provides retail and commercial banking, and other financial services to individuals, families, and businesses. It offers retail deposit accounts, which include savings, negotiable order of withdrawal, checking, money market, and certificate of deposit accounts, as well as provides business savings and checking, money market, cash management accounts, and municipal deposit accounts. The company?s loan portfolio comprises commercial real estate and multi-family loans; commercial business loans; residential real estate loans; home equity loans; and consumer loans consisting of indirect mobile home loans, and personal secured and unsecured loans. It also sells insurance products, including commercial and personal insurance, surety bond, life, disability, and long-term care coverage products. In addition, the company offers risk management consulting services comprising altern ative risk and self-insurance services, claims investigation and adjusting services, and third party administration services for self insured workers? compensation plans. Further, it provides employee benefits plan and compensation consulting services. Additionally, First Niagara Financial Group offers wealth management services that manage client funds utilizing various third party investment vehicles consisting of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and annuities, as well as other investment products, such as individual retirement accounts, education savings plans, and retirement plans. As of December 31, 2010 it operated 257 bank branches, including 115 in Upstate New York and 142 branches in Pennsylvania. The company was founded in 1870 and is based in Buffalo, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Selena Maranjian]

    Among holdings in which Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss increased its stake were Intel (NASDAQ: INTC  ) and First Niagara Financial Group (NASDAQ: FNFG  ) . Intel sports a hefty dividend yield of 3.7%, and it hasn't upped that payout in nearly two years, as it invests more in growth with its cash flow. The company has been in a bit of a slump, posting underwhelming earnings and trying to boost its presence in the smartphones and tablets. Many see value in Intel, with its dominant market position, growing revenue and earnings, and significant payout. Investors need to take a long-term view, though.

  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Equities Trading DOWN
    Shares of Kansas City Southern (NYSE: KSU) were down 15.32 percent to $99.22 after the company reported downbeat Q4 earnings. International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT) shares tumbled 14.16 percent to $15.15 after the company reported weaker-than-expected fiscal first-quarter results. Sterne Agee downgraded the stock from Buy to Neutral and cut the price target from $21.50 to $18.00. First Niagara Financial Group (NASDAQ: FNFG) was down, falling 10.79 percent to $9.22 on Q4 results. The company issued weak FY14 earnings outlook.

Top 5 Life Sciences Stocks To Own Right Now: Novartis AG (NVS)

Novartis AG, incorporated on February 29, 1996, provides healthcare solutions. The Company is a multinational group of companies specializing in the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of a range of healthcare products led by pharmaceuticals. Its portfolio includes medicines, eye care, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines and diagnostic tools, over-the-counter and animal health products. The Company has five segments: Pharmaceuticals, which include patent-protected prescription medicines; Alcon, which include surgical, ophthalmic pharmaceutical and vision care products; Sandoz, which include generic pharmaceuticals; vaccines and diagnostics, which include human vaccines and blood-testing diagnostics, and consumer health, which include over-the-counter medicines (OTC) and Animal Health. On April 8, 2011, the Company acquired the remaining non-controlling interest in Alcon, Inc. In December 2013, Alliance Pharma plc announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Alliance Pharmaceuticals Limited, acquired all the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (ROI) rights to Lypsyl from Novartis AG.

In April 2011, Novartis sells global rights to Elidel, a medicine to treat atopic dermatitis to Meda. In March 2011, Novartis completes acquisition of majority stake in Zhejiang Tianyuan vaccines company in China. In March 2011, the Company acquired Genoptix, Inc. In October 2011, Novartis discontinues development of AGO178 for depressive disorder. In December 2011, the Company discontinues development of PRT128 for acute coronary syndrome and chronic coronary heart disease, and SMC021 for osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. In April 2011, Alcon's portfolio of generic ophthalmic medicines sold through its Falcon business unit primarily in the United States.

Pharmaceuticals Division

The Company�� Pharmaceuticals Division researches, develops, manufactures, distributes and sells patented prescription medicines in the therapeutic areas, such as Oncol! ogy; Primary Care, consisting of Primary Care medicines and Established Medicines, and Specialty Care, consisting of Ophthalmology, Neuroscience, Integrated Hospital Care, and Critical Care medicines. The Pharmaceuticals Division is organized into global business franchises responsible for the commercialization of various products, as well as Novartis Oncology, a business unit responsible for the global development and commercialization of oncology products, and Novartis Molecular Diagnostics, a business responsible for the development and commercialization of diagnostic tests and services related to its pharmaceuticals portfolio and therapeutic areas.

The Company�� Oncology products include Afinitor/Votubia, Exjade, Sandostatin SC/Sandostatin LAR , Femara , Zometa, Tasigna and Gleevec/Glivec. Gleevec/Glivec, which is a signal transduction inhibitor approved to treat patients with certain forms of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Tasigna is a signal transduction inhibitor of the tyrosine kinase activity of Bcr-Abl, KIT+ and the PDGF-receptor. Zometa is a treatment to reduce or delay skeletal-related events (SREs), including pathologic fracture, spinal cord compression, and/or requirement of radiation therapy or surgery to bone, in patients with bone metastases (cancer that has spread to the bones) from solid tumors and multiple myeloma. Femara is a once-daily oral aromatase inhibitor for the treatment of early stage or advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Sandostatin SC/Sandostatin LAR is indicated for the treatment of patients with acromegaly, a chronic disease caused by over-secretion of pituitary growth hormone in adults. Sandostatin is also indicated for the treatment of patients with certain symptoms associated with carcinoid tumors and other types of gastrointestinal and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Exjade is an oral iron chelator approved for the treatment of chronic iron overload due to blood transfusions in patients over ! two years! of age who have a range of underlying anemias. Patients with congenital and acquired chronic anemia, such as thalassemia, sickle cell disease and myelodysplastic syndromes, require transfusions, which puts them at risk of iron overload. Afinitor/Votubia is an oral inhibitor of the mTOR pathway.

The Company�� Primary Care products include Arcapta Neohaler/Onbrez Breezhaler, Diovan, Exforge, Tekturna/Rasilez, Galvus, Reclast/Aclasta, Voltaren/Cataflam, Ritalin, Ritalin LA, Focalin and Focalin XR. Its Specialty Care products include Lucentis, Gilenya, Exelon, Extavia and Comtan, and Stalevo. Its Integrated Hospital Care include Zortress/Certican, Ilaris, Neoral and Myfortic.The Company�� Critical Care products include Xolair and Tobi Podhaler. As of December 31, 2011, the products under development includes ACZ885, which is being investigated for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular events and for the treatment of Diabetes Mellitus; AEB071 (sotrastaurin) is a low molecular weight, selective inhibitor of protein kinase-C (PKC); AFQ056 (mavoglurant) is a metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) antagonist in Phase II development for the treatment of Parkinson's disease levodopa-induced dyskinesia; AIN457 (secukinumab) is a human monoclonal antibody neutralizing interleukin-17A, a key pro-inflammatory cytokine expressed by TH17 cells and other types of white blood cells; BAF312 is an oral, second-generation sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator in Phase II development for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis; DEB025 (alisporivir) is a cyclophilin inhibitor for the treatment of Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV); Gileny a line treatment for relapsing forms of MS; Exjade (deferasirox) is an oral iron chelator in development for use in patients with non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia (NTDT); INC424 (ruxolitinib) is an investigational Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, and Zortress/Certican (everolimus) is an mTOR inhibitor with immune/non-immune cell proliferation inhibition being d! eveloped ! for prevention of solid organ transplant rejection.

Alcon Division

The Company�� Alcon Division discovers, develops, manufactures, distributes and sells eye care products. Alcon is engaged in eye care with product offerings in Surgical, Ophthalmic Pharmaceuticals and Vision Care. In Surgical, Alcon develops, manufactures, distributes and sells ophthalmic surgical equipment, instruments, disposable products and intraocular lenses. In Pharmaceutical, Alcon discovers, develops, manufactures, distributes and sells medicines to treat chronic and acute diseases of the eye, as well as over-the-counter medicines for the eye. In Vision Care, Alcon develops, manufactures, distributes and sells contact lenses and lens care products.

Alcon's Surgical portfolio includes the Infiniti vision system for cataract procedures, the Constellation vision system for retinal operations, and the AcrySof family of intraocular lenses (IOLs), including the AcrySof IQ, AcrySof IQ ReSTOR, AcrySof IQ Toric and AcrySof IQ ReSTOR Toric IOLs. During the year ended December 31, 2011, its Alcon Division launched the LenSx femtosecond laser, a technology in cataract surgery, which increases the precision and reproductibility for corneal incisions, capsulorhexis and lens fragmentation steps of the procedure. In addition, Alcon provides advanced viscoelastics, surgical solutions, surgical packs and other disposable products for cataract and vitreoretinal surgery.

Alcon Division's Ophthalmic Pharmaceuticals business combines Alcon's range of pharmaceuticals with selected ophthalmic products (excluding Lucentis) previously marketed by the Novartis Pharmaceuticals Division. The products treat chronic and acute diseases of the eye including glaucoma and allergies, as well as anti-infective/anti-inflammatory and dry eye treatments. our Alcon Division's Ophthalmic Pharmaceuticals portfolio include Travatan Z solution and DuoTrav solution for the treatment of elevated intraocular pressure associ! ated with! glaucoma; Vigamox solution for bacterial conjunctivitis; Pataday solution for ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis; and Nevanac suspension for eye inflammation following cataract surgery. Alcon launched a number of products during 2011, including Dailies Total 1 lenses, Opti-Free EverMoist Multi Purpose Disinfecting Solution, LenSx laser, AcrySof IQ ReSTOR Toric lens, AcrySof IQ Toric T6-T9 lens, Travatan BAK-free solution, DuoTrav BAK-free solution, Moxeza solution and Systane Balance eye drops.

Sandoz Division

The Company�� Sandoz Division is a global generic pharmaceuticals company that develops, manufactures, distributes and sells prescription medicines, as well as pharmaceutical and biotechnological active substances, which are not protected by valid and enforceable third-party patents. The Sandoz Division has activities in Retail Generics, Anti-Infectives, and Biopharmaceuticals and Oncology Injectables. In Retail Generics, Sandoz develops, manufactures and markets active ingredients and finished dosage forms of pharmaceuticals, as well as supplying active ingredients to third parties. In Anti-Infectives, Sandoz develops and manufactures active pharmaceutical ingredients and intermediates, mainly antibiotics, for internal use by retail generics and for sale to third-party customers. In Biopharmaceuticals, Sandoz develops, manufactures and markets protein- or other biotechnology-based products (biosimilars or follow-on biologics) and sells biotech manufacturing services to other companies.

In Oncology Injectables, Sandoz develops, manufactures and markets primarily cytotoxic products for the hospital market. During 2011, the Company launched generic docetaxel (Taxotere), higher-strength generic amlodipine-benazepril (Lotrel), generic meropenem (Merem) injection, and the formation of a women's health portfolio with generic Seasonale, Nordette, Yaz and Yasmin. The product launched in various European countries included generic docetaxel, ge! neric ana! strazole (Arimidex), and valsartan/covalsartan (an early entry generic version of Novartis Pharmaceuticals' Diovan/Co-Diovan).

Vaccines and Diagnostics Division

The Company�� Vaccines and Diagnostics Division researches, develops, manufactures, distributes and sells preventive vaccines and diagnostic tools. Novartis Vaccines is a global developer and manufacturer of human vaccines. Novartis Diagnostics is a blood testing and molecular diagnostics business dedicated to preventing the spread of infectious diseases through blood-screening tools that protect the world's blood supply. Novartis Vaccines' products include influenza, meningococcal, pediatric, adult and travel vaccines.

The Company�� influenza vaccines include Agrippal, Fluad, Fluvirin and Optaflu. Its Meningococcal Vaccines includes Menjugate and Menveo. Its travel vaccines include Encepur Children, Encepur Adults, Ixiaro and Rabipur/Rabavert. Its Pediatric Vaccines include Polioral and Quinvaxem.

Consumer Health

Consumer Health consists of two Divisions: OTC (over-the-counter medicines) and Animal Health. Each has its own research, development, manufacturing, distribution and selling capabilities. OTC offers readily available consumer medicine. Animal Health provides veterinary products for farm and companion animals.

OTC (over-the-counter medicines) offers products for the treatment and prevention of common medical conditions and ailments. OTC business focuses on a group of global brands in product categories that include treatments for cough/cold/respiratory (Triaminic, Otrivin, TheraFlu/NeoCitran), pain relief (Excedrin, Voltaren), digestive health (Benefiber, Prevacid24HR, Pantoloc Control), dermatology (Lamisil, Fenistil), and smoking cessation (Habitrol/Nicotinell).

Animal Health offers products and services focusing on both companion and farm animals (including cultivated fish). Key products for companion animals include Atopica (atopic dermatitis manageme! nt), Dera! maxx and Onsior (pain relief), Fortekor (heart failure in dogs, chronic renal insufficiency in cats), and Sentinel/Milbemax/Interceptor (intestinal parasite control and heartworm prevention), while farm animal products include the therapeutic anti-infective Denagard, an antimicrobial used to treat and control bacteria in swine, CLiK, an insect growth regulator used to control blowfly strike in sheep, cattle vaccines used to prevent respiratory and reproductive diseases in beef and dairy cattle, and Zolvix, a sheep drench representing the new sheep anthelmintic class. Aquaculture products include vaccines and treatments mainly used in salmon farming.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By John McCamant]

    In fact, Novartis (NVS) also released data on their H7N9 vaccine�� sign that this virus is important and a vaccine is valuable.

    Further validation will be the signing of global stockpiling contracts��e are not aware of any right now��ut would not be surprised should one or more eventually be formed. NVAX is a buy under $3.50, with target price of $8 per share.

  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    In 2013, Pfizer returned 26%, lagging the S&P 500′s 32% total return and the 31% rise in major pharmaceutical companies like Merck (MRK) and Novartis (NVS).

Top 5 Life Sciences Stocks To Own Right Now: Guggenheim CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust (FXC)

Guggenheim CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust, formerly CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust, is a grantor trust. The Trust issues shares (the Shares) in blocks of 50,000 (a Basket) in exchange for deposits of Canadian dollars and distributes Canadian dollars in connection with the redemption of Baskets. The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the price of Canadian Dollars. The Bank of New York Mellon serves as the Trustee. The Trust�� sponsor is Rydex Specialized Products LLC, which is doing business as Rydex Investments.

The Shares are focused on offering investors an opportunity to participate in the market for the Canadian Dollar through an investment in securities. The Shares are backed by the assets of the Trust, which does not hold or use derivative products. The Trust�� each outstanding Share represents a proportional interest in the Canadian dollars held by the Trust. The Trust�� assets primarily consist of Canadian dollars on demand deposit in two deposit accounts maintained by JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. (the Depository): a primary deposit account, which may earn interest, and a secondary deposit account that does not earn interest.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Karen Canella]

    The best way for direct exposure to a rising Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar is through foreign exchange (forex) trading. If you'd rather keep it simple, the Rydex CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar ETF (NYSE: FXC) will do the job.

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