Next Tuesday, Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC ) will release its latest quarterly results. The key to making smart investment decisions on stocks reporting earnings is to anticipate how they'll do before they announce results, leaving you fully prepared to respond quickly to whatever inevitable surprises arise.
As a major railroad company, Norfolk Southern gained a substantial amount of business when high fuel prices made rail transportation a more energy-efficient choice for moving goods than alternatives. With a substantial amount of its business coming from coal-mining customers, though, weak coal prices have led to lower shipping volumes for the railroad. Let's take an early look at what's been happening with Norfolk Southern over the past quarter and what we're likely to see in its report.
Top 10 Railroad Stocks To Own For 2014: Core Laboratories N.V. (CLB)
Core Laboratories N.V. engages in the provision of reservoir description, production enhancement, and reservoir management services to the oil and gas industry worldwide. The company�s reservoir description services comprise the characterization of petroleum reservoir rock, fluid, and gas samples; and provision of analytical and field services to characterize properties of crude oil and petroleum products. Its production enhancement products and services relate to reservoir well completions, perforations, stimulations, and production, as well as include integrated services to evaluate the effectiveness of well completions and to develop solutions to increase the effectiveness of enhanced oil recovery projects. The company�s reservoir management services consist of the combination and integration of information from reservoir description and production enhancement services to increase production and enhance recovery of oil and gas from clients' reservoirs. Core Laboratori es N.V. markets and sells its services and products through sales representatives, technical seminars, trade shows, and print advertising, as well as through direct sales force, technical experts, operating managers, sales representatives, and distributors in various markets. The company was founded in 1936 and is based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Top 10 Railroad Stocks To Own For 2014: QR Energy LP(QRE)
QR Energy, LP, through its subsidiary, QRE Operating, LLC, engages in the acquisition, production, and development of onshore crude oil and natural gas properties in the United States. As of March 31, 2011, its properties consisted of working interests in 2,140 gross producing wells located in Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. QRE GP, LLC operates as the general partner of the company. QR Energy, LP was founded in 2006 and is based in Houston, Texas.
Top 10 Gold Stocks To Watch Right Now: Illinois Tool Works Inc.(ITW)
Illinois Tool Works Inc. manufactures a range of industrial products and equipment worldwide. The company?s Transportation segment offers metal and plastic components, fasteners, and assemblies; fluids and polymers; fillers and putties; polyester coatings, and patch and repair products; and truck remanufacturing and related parts and service. Its Industrial Packaging segment offers steel and plastic strapping and related tools and equipment; plastic stretch film and related equipment; paper and plastic products that protect goods in transit; and metal jacketing products. The company?s Food Equipment segment provides warewashing, cooking, refrigeration, and food processing equipment; and kitchen exhaust, ventilation, and pollution control systems. Its Power Systems & Electronics segment provides arc welding equipment; metal arc welding consumables; metal solder materials for PC board fabrication; equipment and services for microelectronics assembly; electronic components an d component packaging; and airport ground support equipment. The company?s Construction Products segment offers anchors, fasteners, and related fastening tools for wood, metal, and concrete applications; metal plate truss components, and related equipment and software; and packaged hardware and other products for retail. Its Polymers & Fluids segment provides adhesives, chemical fluids, epoxy and resin-based coating products, hand wipes and cleaners, and pressure-sensitive adhesives and components. The company?s Decorative Surfaces segment offers laminate for furniture, office and retail space, and countertops; and laminate flooring and worktops. In addition, the company offers plastic reclosable packages and bags, and consumables; plastic and metal fasteners, and components; foil and film products; product coding and marking, paint spray, and static and contamination control equipment; and swabs and mats. The company was founded in 1912 and is based in Glenview, Illinois. Advisors' Opinion:
- [By Richard Young]
The simple 80/20 business model at Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW) generates success. It’s called the ITW Toolbox. The system behind the Toolbox is to focus investment and resources on the 20% of subsidiaries that generate 80% of revenues. It then focuses on the 20% of customers that generate 80% of the revenues.
If a company can keep focused on these main drivers of success, it will prosper. This strategy is working because, over the past 25 years, ITW has provided shareholders with a compounded annual return of 15%. Look at the breakout on my price chart for ITW. The stock’s sharp jump above its 200-day moving average is a bullish sign. Buy.
Top 10 Railroad Stocks To Own For 2014: ABB Ltd(ABB)
ABB Ltd. provides power and automation technologies for utility and industrial customers worldwide. The company?s Power Products division manufactures and sells high- and medium-voltage switchgear and apparatus, circuit breakers, power and distribution transformers, and sensors. ABB?s Power Systems division provides integrated power and automation solutions for power generation plants; alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) transmission systems; and flexible alternating current systems technologies. It also offers land and submarine cables, as well as accessories and services for medium- to high-voltage AC and DC systems; air- and gas-insulated substations; and network management solutions to help manage power networks. In addition, this division offers support agreements and retrofits to spare parts, service, consulting, and training; and undertakes analyses and design of new transmission and distribution systems. The company?s Discrete Automation and Motion div ision manufactures and sells motors, generators, variable speed drives, programmable logic controllers, rectifiers, excitation systems, robotics, and related services for a range of applications in factory automation, process industries, and utilities. Its Low Voltage Products division provides protection, control, and measurement for electrical installations, enclosures, switchboards, electronics, and electromechanical devices for industrial machines, plants, and related services. It also makes building control systems for home and building automation. The company?s Process Automation division offers integrated process control and instrumentation systems, plant electrification systems, information management systems, and industry-specific application knowledge for industries, such as pulp and paper, minerals and mining, metals, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, turbocharging, power, and marine. ABB Ltd. was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerla nd.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Matthews]
ABB Ltd. (NYSE:ABB): Change 0% to $16.77. ABB Limited provides power and automation technologies. The Company operates under segments that include power products, power systems, automation products, process automation and robotics.
Top 10 Railroad Stocks To Own For 2014: SunTrust Banks Inc.(STI)
SunTrust Banks, Inc. operates as the holding company for SunTrust Bank, which provides various financial services in the United States. The company?s Retail Banking segment offers consumer deposits, home equity lines, consumer lines, indirect auto, student lending, bank card, and other consumer loan and fee-based products. Its Diversified Commercial Banking segment provides commercial lending, financial risk management, capital raising, commercial card, and other treasury and payment solutions; insurance premium financing; and equipment and lease financing. The company?s Commercial Real Estate segment offers construction, mini-perm, and permanent real estate financing; capital raising services; financial risk management; treasury and payment solutions; and investment advisory and management services, as well as tailored financing and equity investment solutions. Its Corporate and Investment Banking segment provides investment banking products and services, such as strate gic advice, capital raising, and financial risk management; and traditional lending, leasing, treasury management, and institutional investment management services. The company?s Mortgage segment offers residential mortgage products. Its Wealth and Investment Management segment provides brokerage, professional investment management, and trust services; family office solutions; administration and custody services; administrative and investment solutions; escrow; and investment advisory services. The company also offers mortgage banking, credit-related insurance, asset management, securities brokerage, and capital market services. SunTrust Banks, Inc. serves individuals and families; businesses; institutions; and governmental agencies through its network of traditional and in-store branches, automated teller machines, Internet, and telephone. As of December 31, 2011, the company operated 1,659 full-service banking offices. The company was founded in 1891 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Elissa]
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, SunTrust Banks offer a variety of banking services to individuals, small businesses, and institutions throughout the Southern states. With total assets of $178 billion, the company excels in technology-based banking through the internet and mobile devices.
Since 81 financial stocks have added $430 billion to the stock indices in the past few years, it seems that these ten bank stocks are good investments now. Analysts encourage investors to join the market again and to invest in big banks. As consumer confidence rises, they can expect to see large returns this year and in years to come.
Top 10 Railroad Stocks To Own For 2014: ABAXIS Inc.(ABAX)
Abaxis, Inc. develops, manufactures, markets, and sells portable blood analysis systems for use in veterinary or human patient-care setting to provide blood constituent measurements for clinicians worldwide. The company offers point-of-care blood chemistry analyzer, which consists of a compact portable analyzer and a series of single-use plastic discs, called reagent discs, containing all the chemicals required to perform a panel of up to 14 tests on human patients and 13 tests on veterinary patients. It markets the blood analysis system under the Piccolo Xpress and Piccolo Classic names in the medical market; and under the VetScan VS2 and VetScan Classic names in the veterinary market. The company also provides VetScan HM5, VetScan HM2, VetScan HMII, and VetScan HMT hematology instruments for veterinary applications. In addition, its products include VetScan VSpro, which assists in the diagnosis and evaluation of suspected bleeding disorders, toxicity/poisoning, evaluatio n of disseminated intravascular coagulation, hepatic disease, monitoring therapy, and the progression of disease states. Further, the company offers VetScan VSpro fibrinogen test to provide in-vitro determination of fibrinogen levels in equine platelet poor plasma from a citrated stabilized whole blood sample; and i-STAT 1 that delivers blood gas, electrolyte, basic blood chemistry, and hematology results. Additionally, its products comprise Canine Heartworm Rapid Test to detect dirofilaria immitis in canine whole blood, serum, or plasma; Canine Parvovirus Rapid Test Kit to detect canine parvovirus antigen in feces; and VetScan Giardia Rapid Test to detect giardiasis, a gastrointestinal infection caused by the protozoan parasite Giardia. Abaxis sells its products through direct sales force and independent distributors. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Union City, California.
Top 10 Railroad Stocks To Own For 2014: Charming Shoppes Inc.(CHRS)
Charming Shoppes, Inc. operates as a specialty apparel retailer primarily for women in the United States. The company operates retail stores and related e-commerce Web sites under the LANE BRYANT, CACIQUE, LANE BRYANT OUTLET, FASHION BUG, FASHION BUG PLUS, and CATHERINES PLUS SIZES brand names. Its retail stores offer plus-size, junior, and misses sportswear, dresses, coats, and intimate apparel, as well as accessories and casual footwear. The company also sells food and specialty gifts through its Figi's Gifts in Good Taste catalog and related e-commerce Website, as well as through third-party retailers' stores. In addition, it operates FIGI'S Gallery that offers home decor, bedding, housewares, jewelry, garden accents, apparel, collectibles, gifts, and other items through its catalog and e-commerce Website. As of March 27, 2012, the company operated 1,857 retail stores in 48 states. Charming Shoppes, Inc. was founded in 1940 and is headquartered in Bensalem, Pennsylvania .
Top 10 Railroad Stocks To Own For 2014: Medbox Inc (MDBX)
Medbox Inc. (Medbox) offers a machine that dispenses medication to individuals based on biometric identification (fingerprint sample). The machine allows pharmacies, hospitals, doctors' offices, and alternative medicine clinics to manage employee possession of sensitive drugs. The system also allows these clinics to demonstrate that the user visiting the machine is a registered patient and that the patient has a valid and unexpired authorization from a physician to possess and use the medicine dispensed. The Company has national and international presence with offices in Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, London and Tokyo.
Medbox, through its subsidiaries, offers consulting services to the alternative medicine industry, as well as to the mini self-storage market. The Company provides consulting services primarily to individuals and groups seeking to establish new clinics and facilities, often in jurisdictions that have recently passed legislation concerning the availability of alternative medicines, as well as existing jurisdictions, nationwide.
Top 10 Railroad Stocks To Own For 2014: Singapore Airlines Ltd 200 (C6U.SI)
Singapore Airlines Limited provides passenger and cargo air transportation services. It also provides engineering services, air charters, and tour wholesaling and related services, as well as engages in the training of pilots. In addition, the company offers aircraft maintenance services, including technical and non-technical handling at the airport; component overhaul services; repair and overhaul of hydro-mechanical equipment; and aviation insurance and pilot recruitment services. Further, it manufactures aircraft cabin equipment and refurbishes aircraft galleys; provides and markets cargo community systems; markets and supports portal services for the air cargo industry; and markets abacus computer reservations systems. As of March 31, 2012, the company�s fleet consisted of 133 aircraft, including 120 passenger aircraft and 13 freighters. It operates in east Asia, Europe, south west Pacific, Americas, west Asia, and Africa. The company was founded in 1947 and is based in Singapore.
Top 10 Railroad Stocks To Own For 2014: Wpp Grp(WPP.L)
WPP plc, together with its subsidiaries, offers various communications services worldwide. The company?s Advertising and Media Investment Management segment offers advertising services through a range of international and specialist agencies; and above- and below-the-line media planning and buying, and specialist sponsorship and branded entertainment services. Its Consumer Insight segment provides brand, consumer, media, and marketplace insight, as well as work with clients to generate and apply insights. The company?s Public Relations and Public Affairs segment offers corporate, consumer, financial, and brand-building services from public relations and lobbying firms. Its Branding and Identity, Healthcare, and Specialist Communications segment engages in various activities, which include consumer, corporate, and employee branding and design services; covering identity, packaging, literature, events, training, and architecture; a range of general and specialist customer, channel, direct, field, retail, promotional, and point-of-sale services; and integrated healthcare marketing solutions from advertising to medical education and online marketing. It also offers specialist communications services, such as custom media and multicultural marketing; event, sports, youth, and entertainment marketing; corporate and business-to-business; media, technology, and production services; and digital marketing agency services. WPP plc was founded in 1971 and is based in Dublin, Ireland
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