As my colleague Shuli Ren notes, Nu Skin (NUS) got hammered today after the People’s Daily ran a story comparing Nu Skin’s sales techniques to brain washing.
Getty ImagesThe big drop got the attention of Nu Skin’s management, who issued a press release refuting the charges:
The article that appeared in today’s People’s Daily contains inaccuracies and exaggerations that are not representative of Nu Skin’s business in China. The reporters did not attempt to verify any information with Nu Skin. We do not believe that the article was the result of any particular government inquiry.
We are dedicated to operating in full compliance with applicable regulations as interpreted and enforced by the government of China. Nu Skin has an 11-year history of doing business in China under these regulations. Our business activities are regularly monitored by the government in this rapidly growing marketplace. As is our practice, we will communicate openly with regulators to address questions arising from this article.
Top 5 Dow Dividend Companies To Watch For 2015: Boulder Brands Inc (BDBD)
Boulder Brands, Inc., incorporated on May 31, 2005, is a supplier of gluten-free and health and wellness products in the United States and Canada. The Company distributes its products in all retail channels, including natural, grocery, club and mass merchandise. The Company also has a presence in the foodservice and industrial channels. The Company�� product portfolio consists of spreads, milk and other grocery products marketed under the Smart Balance, Earth Balance and Bestlife brands, and gluten-free products sold under the Udi's, Glutino and Gluten-Free Pantry brands. The Company operates in two segments: Smart Balance and Natural. The Smart Balance segment consists of its branded products in spreads, butter, grocery and milk. The Natural segment consists of its Earth Balance, Glutino and Udi's branded products. In December 2013, the Company announced that it has acquired 100% interests of Phil's Fresh Foods, LLC, owner of EVOL Foods (EVOL).
Smart Balance Products
The Smart Balance line of products is available in a range of categories, formats and sizes in the supermarket, mass merchandise and convenience store channels of distribution. Some of the Company�� buttery spreads are also available in bulk and individual serving formats for use in the industrial and foodservice channels. The Company�� Smart Balance buttery spreads are made from a patented blend of natural oils to help balance fats in the consumer's diet and to help improve the good-to-bad cholesterol ratio when used as part of the Smart Balance Food Plan. Smart Balance Spreadable Butters, available in original, light and extra virgin olive oil varieties, are a blend of creamery fresh butter and canola oil that contain less saturated fat than butter, as well as functional ingredients like EPA/DHA Omega-3 and plant sterols.
The Company offers a range of enhanced milk products, with different varieties containing EPA/DHA Omega-3s, plant sterols, and added levels of calcium and protein. The Comp! any use low and fat-free milks enhanced with non-fat milk solids to give the taste and texture of whole or reduced fat milk. The Company�� milk varieties include fat-free milk, 1% lowfat milk and lactose-free milk and are available in markets across the United States. The Company�� peanut butter products contain ALA Omega-3 from flax oil. The Company�� cooking oil and cooking sprays are designed for use in cooking, baking and salads to aid in avoiding trans fat and hydrogenated oils. The Company also markets a Smart Balance Buttery Burst Spray. The spray has zero calories, zero carbs and zero fats per serving and can be used as a pan spray or as a topping.
The Company�� Smart Balance Light Mayonnaise Dressing has half the fat of regular mayonnaise, is non-hydrogenated, contains zero grams of trans fat and contains natural plant sterols and ALA Omega-3. The Company created the Smart Balance Food Plan, incorporating many of its Smart Balance products, in order to help consumers achieve a healthy balance of natural fats in their daily diet. The plan includes menus, as well as numerous recipes.
Natural
The Earth Balance line of products offers a range of buttery spreads, sticks, soymilks, nut butters and vegan mayo dressings formulated for consumers interested in natural, plant based and organic products. Glutino offers a range of shelf stable and frozen gluten-free products, including snack foods, frozen baked goods, frozen entrees and baking mixes, throughout the United States and Canada. Glutino also offers a range of fresh breads under the Genius brand name. Based in Denver, Colorado, Udi's markets gluten-free products under the Udi's Gluten Free Foods brand in the retail market. The Company owns and operates a health and wellness, subscripton-based Website at www.thebestlife.com, which is based on the philosophies of Bob Greene.
The Company competes with Unilever, ConAgra Foods, Dean Foods, Land O' Lakes, Hain Celestial Group, Inc., Food for L! ife, Van'! s, Nature's Path, Mary's Gone Crackers, Enjoy Life, Pamela's Gluten Free, Rudi's Gluten-Free, French Meadow Bakery, Schar, Kinnikinnick, Amy's Gluten Free, Snyder's, Blue Diamond Gluten-Free, Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free and Food Should Taste Good.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By David Sterman]
Although shares of Boulder Brands (Nasdaq: BDBD) are up more than 60% since then, Home Loan Servicing (Nasdaq: HLSS) has merely treaded water while Swift Energy has continued its downward ascent.
- [By Pendulum]
Gluten-free products are the growth engine for Boulder Brands (BDBD). Certain consumers require gluten-free products for medical reasons, but Boulder Brands believes that the potential for gluten-free products is much wider. Bulls argue that the benefits of gluten-free foods extend to the broader population and consumers will gravitate toward gluten-free over time. Bears argue that only a small segment of the population really requires gluten-free food and the much hyped gluten-free diet (for the broader population) is a fad. In the near term, the company has the potential to benefit from new gluten-free labeling as well as broader distribution and an expanded product offering. With the company trading at a high valuation, after a nice rally, is the optimism about gluten-free already priced-in or is there more upside?
Hot Net Payout Yield Companies To Own For 2014: Energy Transfer Partners LP (ETP)
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (ETP), incorporated on June 25, 1996, is a limited partnership in the United States engaged in natural gas operations. ETP is managed by its general partner, Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P. (General Partner or ETP GP), and ETP GP is managed by its general partner, Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C. (ETP LLC), which is owned by Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., another publicly traded master limited partnership (ETE). The activities in which the Company is engaged all of which are in the United States and the wholly owned operating subsidiaries (collectively the Operating Companies). The Company�� business segments are: intrastate transportation and storage; interstate transportation; midstream, and retail propane, Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) Transportation and Services Segment and other retail propane related operations. In January 2012, AmeriGas Partners, L.P. acquired propane operations (Heritage) of ETP. In October 2012, ETP and Sunoco, Inc. (Sunoco) announced the completion of the merger of a wholly owned subsidiary of ETP, with and into Sunoco, with Sunoco surviving the merger as a subsidiary of ETP. In October 2012, Summit Midstream Partners LP acquired ETC Canyon Pipeline, LLC from La Grange Acquisition, L.P., a wholly owned subsidiary of ETP. In April 2013, Energy Transfer Partners LP acquired the remaining 60% interest in ETP Holdco Corp. Effective December 20, 2013, Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (APUC) acquired the Massachusetts natural gas distribution utility assets of Southern Union Company, a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of ETP.
The Company�� natural gas operations includes natural gas midstream and intrastate transportation and storage through La Grange Acquisition, L.P., which conducts business under the assumed name of Energy Transfer Company (ETC OLP); and interstate natural gas transportation services through Energy Transfer Interstate Holdings, LLC (ET Interstate). ET Interstate is the parent company of Transwestern Pipeline Company! , LLC (Transwestern), ETC Fayetteville Express Pipeline, LLC (ETC FEP) and ETC Tiger Pipeline, LLC (ETC Tiger). NGL transportation, storage and fractionation services primarily through Lone Star NGL LLC (Lone Star). Retail propane through Heritage Operating, L.P. (HOLP) and Titan Energy Partners, L.P. (Titan), both of which were contributed to AmeriGas Partners, L.P. (AmeriGas).
Intrastate Transportation and Storage Segment
Through the Company�� intrastate transportation and storage segment, it owns and operates approximately 7,800 miles of natural gas transportation pipelines and three natural gas storage facilities located in the state of Texas. Through ETC OLP, it owns the intrastate pipeline system in the United States with interconnects to Texas markets and to major consumption areas throughout the United States. Its intrastate transportation and storage segment focuses on the transportation of natural gas to major markets from various prolific natural gas producing areas through connections with other pipeline systems, as well as through its Oasis pipeline, its East Texas pipeline, its natural gas pipeline and storage assets that are referred to as ET Fuel System, and its HPL System. The major customers on its intrastate pipelines include Natural Gas Exchange, Inc., EDF Trading North America, Inc., XTO Energy, Inc. and ConocoPhillips.
Interstate Transportation Segment
Through the Company�� interstate transportation segment, it owns and operates approximately 12,600 miles of interstate natural gas pipeline and has a 50% interest in the joint venture that owns the 185-mile Fayetteville Express pipeline. The major customers on its interstate pipelines include Chesapeake Energy Marketing, Inc., EnCana Marketing (USA), Inc. (EnCana), Shell Energy North America (US), L.P. and Pacific Summit Energy LLC.
Midstream Segment
Through the Company�� midstream segment, it owns and operates approximately 6,700 miles of in service natur! al gas ga! thering pipelines, two natural gas processing plants, 15 natural gas treating facilities and 15 natural gas conditioning facilities. Its midstream segment focuses on the gathering, compression, treating, blending, processing and marketing of natural gas, and its operations are concentrated in major producing basins and shales, including the Austin Chalk trend and Eagle Ford Shale in South and Southeast Texas, the Permian Basin in West Texas and New Mexico, the Barnett Shale in North Texas, the Bossier Sands in East Texas, the Uinta and Piceance Basins in Utah and Colorado, the Marcellus Shale in West Virginia, and the Haynesville Shale in East Texas and Louisiana. It markets natural gas on its pipeline systems in addition to other pipeline systems. The major customers on its midstream pipelines include Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (Enterprise) and Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP.
Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) Transportation and Services Segment
NGL transportation pipelines transport mixed NGLs and other hydrocarbons from natural gas processing facilities to fractionation plants and storage facilities. NGL storage facilities are used for the storage of mixed NGLs, NGL products and petrochemical products owned by third-parties in storage tanks and underground wells, which allow for the injection and withdrawal of such products at various times of the year to meet demand cycles. NGL fractionators separate mixed NGL streams into purity products, such as ethane, propane, normal butane, isobutane and natural gasoline.
Through its NGL transportation and services segment it own and operate approximately 300 miles of NGL pipelines and have a 50% interest in the Liberty pipeline, an approximately 85-mile NGL pipeline. It also have a 70% interest in Lone Star, which owns approximately 2,000 miles of NGL pipelines, three NGL processing plants, two fractionation facilities and NGL storage facilities with aggregate working storage capacity of approximately 47 million Bbls.
!
Re! tail Marketing Segment
The Company�� retail marketing and wholesale distribution business segment consists of Sunoco's marketing operations, which sell gasoline and middle distillates at retail and operates convenience stores in 25 states, primarily on the east coast and in the midwest region of the United States. The highest concentrations of outlets are located in Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
All Other
ETP owns 100% of the membership interests of Energy Transfer Group, L.L.C. (ETG), which owns all of the partnership interests of Energy Transfer Technologies, Ltd. (ETT). ETT provides compression services to customers engaged in the transportation of natural gas, including its other segments. The Company also owns all of the outstanding equity interests of a natural gas compression equipment business with operations in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Robert Rapier]
This question really piqued my interest. Intuitively, I felt like it was probably true, but I didn’t want to answer the question until I could dig into it a bit more. I thought it would be interesting to have a look at the historical performance of a few publicly-traded general partners versus their limited partner to find out if that hypothesis is supported.
Consider Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (NYSE: KMP) and its general partner Kinder Morgan (NYSE: KMI). Over the past year, KMI did indeed outperform KMP, but if we track performance back to the IPO of KMI on Feb. 10, 2011 — KMP outperformed KMI during significant time periods. But both generally tracked each other quite closely in terms of returns.
Next consider Energy Transfer Partners (NYSE: ETP) and Energy Transfer Equity (NYSE: ETE), which owns the general partner and went public in 2006. ETE has significantly outperformed ETP since its IPO, particularly over the past four years:
But it is important to note that ETE also has interests in Sunoco Logistics Partners (NYSE: SXL) and Regency Energy Partners (NYSE: RGP).
- [By Ron Rowland]
The underlying index has 138 constituents, with the largest allocations going to PowerShares Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt (PCY) 10.0%, iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG) 9.9%, iShares US Preferred Stock ETF (PFF) 7.0%, Market Vectors High Yield Municipal Index ETF (HYD) 4.9%, Ares Capital (ARCC) 4.2%, and Energy Transfer Partners LP (ETP) 4.0%.
- [By Aimee Duffy]
Winners
Buckeye Partners (NYSE: BPL ) �trounced analyst expectations on the top and bottom lines, and recorded a distribution coverage ratio of 1.21 times payouts, allowing the partnership to boost its distribution. DCP Midstream Partners' (NYSE: DCP ) �distributable cash flow popped 40% year over year, and the partnership completed its Eagle Ford dropdown transaction with parent company DCP Midstream, boosting its stake in the lucrative South Texas shale play. Boardwalk Energy Partners' (NYSE: BWP ) �operating revenue and net income increased 5% and 10% year over year. More importantly, distributable cash flow popped 24%, though the partnership elected to hold the distribution flat quarter over quarter. Energy Transfer Partners (NYSE: ETP ) �had no distribution increase either, but things are looking better than they have in a while. Production in the Eagle Ford Shale is driving growth at ETP, and the partnership is reorganizing into an operation that is stronger and more diverse than ever before.
Given the current state of U.S. energy production, most midstream companies are winners these days. Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (NYSE: KMP ) got things started off on the right foot, reporting in mid-April and beating expectations on revenue and EPS. Here are some highlights from around the industry:Very strong results here, now let's take a look at some midstream companies that didn't perform as well.
Hot Net Payout Yield Companies To Own For 2014: PURE Bioscience Inc.(PURE)
Pure Bioscience, Inc. engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of bioscience products principally in the United States. The company offers silver dihydrogen citrate (SDC) based antimicrobials. The silver dihydrogen citrate technology is an electrochemical process that allows the generation of ionized silver in the presence of organic acid. It provides PURE Hard Surface, a hard surface disinfectant and food contact surface sanitizer for use in food processing equipment, machinery, and utensils; Axen30, a hard surface disinfectant; Silv�ion, an antimicrobial formulation used as a raw material in the manufacturing of personal care products; and Axenohl, an antimicrobial formulation for use as a raw material in the manufacturing of environmental protection agency-registered products. The company also offers research and development services in food processing, agriculture, water treatment, pharmaceuticals, and oil and gas projects. It sells its products t hrough partners and distributors primarily to industrial and consumer markets. The company, formerly known as Innovative Medical Services, was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in El Cajon, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Glenwoods]
According to the global market research company Mintel, stevia-based products have increased 400% globally between 2008 and 2012, with a rise of 158% from 2011 to 2012. Stevia has grown so much in demand that the world�� largest alfalfa grower, California-based S&W Seed (SANW), began growing stevia with high glycoside yields for PureCircle (LN:PURE), the world�� largest producer of stevia, in 2011 and on roughly 250,118 acres. Now some U.S. tobacco farmers have begun to switch from growing tobacco to stevia, as tobacco sales are sliding and stevia sales are growing.
- [By Glenwoods]
While the fermentation-based method is still in its development stages, a Malaysian company, PureCircle (LON: PURE) (OTCMKTS: PCRTF), the world�� largest producer of stevia, continues to develop its stevia through farm-based methods.� Last September PureCircle, which also has offices in Oak Brook, Ill., signed a joint agreement with the Coca-Cola Coto investigate and develop a commercially viable stevia sweetener product; and earlier this month in a press release, the two companies announced they were developing what should be a better flavor profile than the much used Reb A with rebaudioside D (Reb D) and Rebaudioside X (Reb X).� Reb D, though roughly 10% less sweet than Reb A, has a significantly lower bitterness that Reb A and has been found to have a more desirable taste profile, especially in cola products where stevia previously has not worked well.� The issue with both Reb D and Reb X is that they are found in much smaller amounts than Reb A. Thus, at this time it will take a lot more stevia leaves to produce the extracts.
Hot Net Payout Yield Companies To Own For 2014: Gas Natural Inc. (EGAS)
Gas Natural Inc. engages in the distribution and sale of natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Montana, Wyoming, North Carolina, and Maine. The company distributes approximately 30 billion cubic feet of natural gas to approximately 63,500 customers through regulated utilities operating in Montana, Wyoming, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. It also markets approximately 1.3 billion cubic feet of natural gas to commercial and industrial customers in Montana and Wyoming, and manages midstream supply and production assets for transportation customers and utilities. In addition, the company owns a 48% working interest in 160 natural gas producing wells and gas gathering assets. Further, it owns the Shoshone interstate and the Glacier gathering natural gas pipelines located in Montana and Wyoming. The company was formerly known as Energy, Inc. and changed its name to Gas Natural Inc. in July 2010. Gas Natural Inc. was founded in 1909 an d is headquartered in Great Falls, Montana.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By David Dittman]
Gas Natural Inc (NYSE: EGAS) distributes and sells natural gas to approximately 73,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers through regulated utilities operating in Montana, Wyoming, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maine, North Carolina and Kentucky.
Hot Net Payout Yield Companies To Own For 2014: Pendrell Corp (PCO)
Pendrell Corporation (Pendrell), formerly ICO Global Communications (Holdings) Limited, incorporated on March 17, 2000, is a fully-integrated intellectual property (IP) investment and advisory company. The Company develops and implements strategies to create, acquire, commercialize and license IP. The Company provides IP valuation services, analysis and strategic advice through Pendrell�� wholly owned subsidiary, Pendrell Technologies LLC (PTL) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Ovidian Group LLC (Ovidian Group). It also assists its clients with a rangeof IP services, including IP valuation and investment analysis, IP landscape analysis, IP divestitures and IP risk mitigation strategies. On June 17, 2011, the Company acquired Ovidian Group. On October 31, 2011, the Company�� subsidiary, Pendrell Technologies LLC, acquired 90.1% interest in ContentGuard Holdings, Inc. In November 2011, Technicolor SA sold its 25.7% interest in ContentGuard to Pendrell Technologies LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pendrell Corporation. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company completed the divestiture of its satellite communications assets. Effective February 25, 2013, the Company acquired 68% interest in Provitro Biosciences LLC.
The Company competes with Acacia Research Corporation, Coller IP Management, Intellectual Ventures, Mosaid, Rovi, RPX, Wi-Lan, Boston Consulting Group, Bain & Company and Red Chalk Group.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Roberto Pedone]
Pendrell (PCO) is a fully integrated intellectual property investment and advisory firm. This stock closed up 2.3% to $2.18 in Tuesday's trading session.
Tuesday's Range: $2.08-$2.22
52-Week Range: $1.04-$2.71
Tuesday's Volume: 263,000
Three-Month Average Volume: 457,962From a technical perspective, PCO bounced higher here back above its 50-day moving average of $2.16 with lighter-than-average volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of PCO within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if PCO manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance at $2.22 with high volume.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in PCO as long as it's trending above Tuesday's low of $2.08 or above $2 and then once it sustains a move or close above $2.22 with volume that hits near or above 457,962 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then PCO will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $2.50 to its 52-week high at $2.71.
Hot Net Payout Yield Companies To Own For 2014: First Mexican Gold Corp (FMG)
First Mexican Gold Corp. (First Mexican) is exploration-stage company engaged principally in the acquisition, exploration and development of precious mineral properties through its wholly owned subsidiary, Cornelius Exploration S. de R.L. de C.V., in Mexico. The Hilda Properties consist of three properties: Hilda 30 property, the Hilda 37/38 property and Hilda 31/32 property. On January 1, 2011, the Company signed an agreement to acquire the Claim of Santa Martha, which consists of approximately 68 hectares in the district of Yecora, State of Sonora, Mexico. On February 4, 2011, the Company signed a letter of intent to acquire the claims of Vianney Fraccion III, San Martin and El Panda. On February 14, 2011, the Company signed a letter of intent to acquire the claims of El Hoyo and Santa Maria. On January 24, 2012, the Company completed its 80% option earn-in on the Guadalupe property in Sonora State, Mexico. On February 15, 2012, it acquired 100% interest of Guadalupe project. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Adam Haigh]
Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (FMG) sank 4.2 percent after Teck Resources Ltd. sold a stake worth about A$500 million ($473 million) in Australia�� third-biggest iron-ore exporter. Sony Corp., a TV maker that gets 68 percent of sales outside Japan, lost 2.7 percent after the yen yesterday surged against the dollar, curbing the outlook for exporters. Samsung Electronics Co. preferred shares declined 5 percent in Seoul after Citigroup Inc. managed the sale of a $350 million stake in the electronics firm.
Hot Net Payout Yield Companies To Own For 2014: Synovus Financial Corp.(SNV)
Synovus Financial Corp., a diversified financial services and bank holding company, provides commercial and retail banking, financial management, insurance, and mortgage services in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee. Its retail banking services include accepting customary types of demand and savings deposits; mortgage, installment, and other retail loans; investment and brokerage services; safe deposit services; automated banking services; automated fund transfers; Internet based banking services; and bank credit card services, including mastercard and visa services. The company?s commercial banking services comprise cash management and asset management services, capital markets services, and institutional trust services, as well as commercial, financial, and real estate loans. It also provides various other financial services, which include the portfolio management for fixed-income securities, investment banking, the execution of securities transac tions as a broker/dealer, and the provision of individual investment advice on equity and other securities; trust services; mortgage services; and financial planning services. Synovus Financial Corp. was founded in 1888 and is headquartered in Columbus, Georgia.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Amanda Alix]
Large regional bank Synovus Financial (NYSE: SNV ) has released its second-quarter earnings report, a week earlier�than previously stated. The report contained much good news for the troubled bank, but the early release was likely timed to coincide with an exciting announcement: The bank also revealed that it has a plan to finally repay its nearly $1 billion portion�of Troubled Asset Relief Program funds.
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