International indices moved largely higher on the positive U.S. data and improvements in eurozone economic figures. Britain�� FTSE 100 rose 1.34%, Germany�� DAX 30 rose 1.92%, and Japan�� Nikkei 225 rose 2.38% on the week. In the eurozone, ECB President Mario Draghi stated that recent economic indicators signaled that the region was now through the worst of the economic crisis, although officials plan to keep rates low for the foreseeable future.
SEE: Economic Indicators That Affect The U.S. Stock Market
Top 10 Logistics Stocks To Own For 2015: International Business Machines Corporation(IBM)
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) provides information technology (IT) products and services worldwide. Its Global Technology Services segment provides IT infrastructure and business process services, including strategic outsourcing, process, integrated technology, and maintenance services, as well as technology-based support services. The company?s Global Business Services segment offers consulting and systems integration, and application management services. Its Software segment offers middleware and operating systems software, such as WebSphere software to integrate and manage business processes; information management software for database and enterprise content management, information integration, data warehousing, business analytics and intelligence, performance management, and predictive analytics; Tivoli software for identity management, data security, storage management, and datacenter automation; Lotus software for collaboration, messaging, and so cial networking; rational software to support software development for IT and embedded systems; business intelligence software, which provides querying and forecasting tools; SPSS predictive analytics software to predict outcomes and act on that insight; and operating systems software. Its Systems and Technology segment provides computing and storage solutions, including servers, disk and tape storage systems and software, point-of-sale retail systems, and microelectronics. The company?s Global Financing segment provides lease and loan financing to end users and internal clients; commercial financing to dealers and remarketers of IT products; and remanufacturing and remarketing services. It serves financial services, public, industrial, distribution, communications, and general business sectors. The company was formerly known as Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co. and changed its name to International Business Machines Corporation in 1924. IBM was founded in 1910 and is based in Armonk, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
On Thursday, small cap supercomputer stock Cray Inc (NASDAQ: CRAY) announced that it had been rewarded with one of the largest contracts in its history for $174 million to provide the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) with supercomputers - meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock along with the performance of large caps�like International Business Machines Corp (NYSE: IBM) and�Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE: HPQ) plus small cap Silicon Graphics International Corp (NASDAQ: SGI) who sort of compete with the company in the supercomputing space. I should�note that over a year ago, we had Cray Inc in�our SmallCap Network Elite Opportunity (SCN EO) trading portfolio�when we had suggested it was�potentially a good�low risk longer-term play.
- [By Tom Taulli]
IT Spending: Last week,�IBM�(IBM) announced a terrible earnings report. It�missed expectations�on revenue by a stunning $1 billion.�But IBM�� weakness was more than just about poor execution. With the overall uncertainty in global economies, we’re seeing a general resistance to make to make commitments for IT purchases. And the recent budget showdown in DC was also no help. IBM also felt pressure in China. While the company blamed this on the government�� reform efforts, there may also be indications of a harder line on technology imports. These combined headwinds will all affect MSFT stock as well.
- [By Anders Bylund]
IBM (NYSE: IBM ) is a giant among Dow stocks. The IT hardware and services veteran accounts for 11% of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI ) index by weight, and its price swings always make a big difference to the Dow's daily value changes.
- [By Mukesh Baghel]
International Business Machines' (NYSE: IBM ) second-quarter report wasn't up to the mark, even though the company beat revenue and earnings expectations. Analysts picked on IBM's slower-than-expected growth in software, which grew just 1% from last year, compared to an expectation of 3%. However, IBM expects this segment to get back on track in the second half of the year, projecting growth in the mid-single digits.
10 Best Blue Chip Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Chevron Corporation(CVX)
Chevron Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in petroleum, chemicals, mining, power generation, and energy operations worldwide. It operates in two segments, Upstream and Downstream. The Upstream segment involves in the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas; processing, liquefaction, transportation, and regasification associated with liquefied natural gas; transportation of crude oil through pipelines; and transportation, storage, and marketing of natural gas, as well as holds interest in a gas-to-liquids project. The Downstream segment engages in the refining of crude oil into petroleum products; marketing of crude oil and refined products primarily under the Chevron, Texaco, and Caltex brand names; transportation of crude oil and refined products by pipeline, marine vessel, motor equipment, and rail car; and manufacture and marketing of commodity petrochemicals, plastics for industrial uses, and fuel and lubricant additives. It a lso produces and markets coal and molybdenum; and holds interests in 13 power assets with a total operating capacity of approximately 3,100 megawatts, as well as involves in cash management and debt financing activities, insurance operations, real estate activities, energy services, and alternative fuels and technology business. Chevron Corporation has a joint venture agreement with China National Petroleum Corporation. The company was formerly known as ChevronTexaco Corp. and changed its name to Chevron Corporation in May 2005. Chevron Corporation was founded in 1879 and is based in San Ramon, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Taylor Muckerman]
Chevron (NYSE: CVX ) has obviously taken notice, because it now has plans to invest up to $1.5 billion with YPF to develop its Vaca Muerta field. One would be hard pressed to fault Chevron for its interest here. The industry believes that as much as 308 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 16 billion barrels of oil rest in this formation alone. That's more shale oil in one field than all of Venezuela is forecast to have and more shale gas than Russia's predicted bounty.�
10 Best Blue Chip Stocks To Invest In Right Now: McDonald's Corporation(MCD)
McDonald?s Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a worldwide foodservice retailer. It franchises and operates McDonald?s restaurants that offer various food items, soft drinks, coffee, and other beverages. As of December 31, 2009, the company operated 32,478 restaurants in 117 countries, of which 26,216 were operated by franchisees; and 6,262 were operated by the company. McDonald?s Corporation was founded in 1948 and is based in Oak Brook, Illinois.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Johanna Bennett]
With the euro dropping to a 22-month low today against the greenback, it’s little surprise to see companies like McDonald’s (MCD), Philip Morris International. (PM) and Pall (PLL), �which derived more than 40% of their revenue from Europe over the last 12 months, put in some lackluster showings.
- [By Matt Thalman]
McDonald's (NYSE: MCD ) lost 2.23% this past week, after the company announced earnings Monday morning. The fast-food leader missed Wall Street's expected earnings per share by $0.02, while same-store sales growth was only 1% during the quarter. That's less than GDP growth and a possible sign that McDonald's is weakening. In addition, CEO Don Thompson told analysts that based on recent sales results, the remainder of the year will be a challenge. Poor sales growth, an earnings miss, and a warning that things may get bad as we move toward the end of the year are all things investors don't want to hear. So it may be a rough year for McDonald's shareholders for the last few months of 2013, but at least the company's 3.1% dividend yield should help long term investor's ride out the bad weather.�
10 Best Blue Chip Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Apple Inc.(AAPL)
Apple Inc., together with subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and markets personal computers, mobile communication and media devices, and portable digital music players, as well as sells related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications worldwide. The company sells its products worldwide through its online stores, retail stores, direct sales force, third-party wholesalers, resellers, and value-added resellers. In addition, it sells third-party Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iPod compatible products, including application software, printers, storage devices, speakers, headphones, and other accessories and peripherals through its online and retail stores; and digital content and applications through the iTunes Store. The company sells its products to consumer, small and mid-sized business, education, enterprise, government, and creative markets. As of September 25, 2010, it had 317 retail stores, including 233 stores in the United States and 84 stores internationally. The company, formerly known as Apple Computer, Inc., was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Cupertino, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Evan Niu, CFA]
Even as Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL ) continues to get relentlessly crushed today following Cirrus Logic's (NASDAQ: CRUS ) preliminary release last night, there may still be two silver linings for Apple investors. The data can't all be bad (it's mostly bad).
- [By Andrew Tonner]
Aside from having a hilarious name, the phablet phenomenon has been an interesting development in the rise of smart devices. One part phone, one part tablet, these devices occupy a gray area between the two form factors and have done so with extraordinary success. According to Reuters, it now appears Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL ) is at least experimenting with this smart-device trend. Of course, this would have all kinds of implications for Apple, its competitors, and investors in this space. Fool contributor Andrew Tonner explains what's happening and how investors should interpret it in the video below.
- [By Chris Hill]
Shares of Pandora (NYSE: P ) have fallen more than 12% this week on the news that Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL ) is gearing up to launch a music streaming service. In this installment of Investor Beat, Jason and Matt discuss how big a threat Apple poses to Pandora, what the "first-mover advantage" is really worth, and whether Pandora has a puncher's chance against what is about to be the new 800-pound gorilla in the music streaming industry.
10 Best Blue Chip Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Colgate-Palmolive Company(CL)
Colgate-Palmolive Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets consumer products worldwide. It offers oral care products, including toothpaste, toothbrushes, and mouth rinses, as well as dental floss and pharmaceutical products for dentists and other oral health professionals; personal care products, such as liquid hand soap, shower gels, bar soaps, deodorants, antiperspirants, shampoos, and conditioners; and home care products comprising laundry and dishwashing detergents, fabric conditioners, household cleaners, bleaches, dishwashing liquids, and oil soaps. The company offers its oral, personal, and home care products under the Colgate Total, Colgate Max Fresh, Colgate 360 Advisors' Opinion:
- [By Wallace Witkowski]
Other earnings highlights in the coming week include Dow components McDonald�� Corp. (MCD) , DuPont (DD) , AT&T Inc. (T) , and Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) . Notable S&P 500 companies include Halliburton Co. (HAL) , Netflix Inc. (NFLX) �, Amgen Inc. (AMGN) �, TripAdvisor Inc. (TRIP) �, Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) �, Colgate-Palmolive Co. (CL) �, Ford Motor Co. (F) �, Dow Chemical Co. (DOW) �, and United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS) �
- [By Dan Caplinger]
Investors have always been interested in stocks that pay dividends, but lately, low interest rates on bonds and other fixed-income investments have made solid dividend payers even more valuable. Among the most promising dividend stocks in the market is Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL ) , and one big reason is that it is one of the few exclusive companies to make the list of Dividend Aristocrats. In order to become a member of this elite group, a company must have raised its dividend payouts to shareholders every single year for at least a quarter-century. Only a few dozen stocks manage to make the cut, and those that do tend to stay there for a long time.
- [By Dan Caplinger]
Moreover, it's starting to appear that Clorox has weathered a tough part of its business cycle. Throughout the industry, Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG ) , Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL ) , and Clorox all had to deal with rising costs for the inputs they needed to make their respective products. The companies responded by implementing price-cutting measures and passing on part of their higher costs to their customers. For its part, Clorox was able to expand its gross margins by a full percentage point, with a worse-than-normal flu season contributing to sales. Now that input-cost inflation is easing, P&G and Clorox expect to see better profitability, with growth starting to approach the faster rates that Colgate has enjoyed.
- [By Laura Brodbeck]
Stable, quality consumer goods companies can provide some stability during a market correction as the need for staple household items, coupled with a solid balance sheet, typically keeps companies like Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE: CL) and Procter & Gamble Co (NYSE: PG) afloat.
10 Best Blue Chip Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Philip Morris International Inc(PM)
Philip Morris International Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products in markets outside of the United States. Its international product brand line comprises Marlboro, Merit, Parliament, Virginia Slims, L&M, Chesterfield, Bond Street, Lark, Muratti, Next, Philip Morris, and Red & White. The company also offers its products under the A Mild, Dji Sam Soe, and A Hijau in Indonesia; Diana in Italy; Optima and Apollo-Soyuz in the Russian Federation; Morven Gold in Pakistan; Boston in Colombia; Belmont, Canadian Classics, and Number 7 in Canada; Best and Classic in Serbia; f6 in Germany; Delicados in Mexico; Assos in Greece; and Petra in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It operates primarily in the European Union, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Canada, and Latin America. The company is based in New York, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Victor Selva]
Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) manufactures and markets cigarettes outside the U.S. in 180 countries. The company麓s plan is to introduce new packaging, new blends and other line extensions. A key driver of the company is the strong market share and the economies of scale. Also, the company has combated unfavorable tax regulations with price increases, showing a good price-elasticity.
10 Best Blue Chip Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Visa Inc.(V)
Visa Inc., a payments technology company, engages in the operation of retail electronic payments network worldwide. It facilitates commerce through the transfer of value and information among financial institutions, merchants, consumers, businesses, and government entities. The company owns and operates VisaNet, a global processing platform that provides transaction processing services. It also offers a range of payments platforms, which enable credit, charge, deferred debit, debit, and prepaid payments, as well as cash access for consumers, businesses, and government entities. The company provides its payment platforms under the Visa, Visa Electron, PLUS, and Interlink brand names. In addition, it offers value-added services, including risk management, issuer processing, loyalty, dispute management, value-added information, and CyberSource-branded services. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By MONEYMORNING.COM]
That total was based on similar projections that have Alibaba raising between $15 billion and $20 billion in its initial public offering later this year. If Alibaba can raise $20 billion, it will be the largest U.S. IPO in history, eclipsing the $19.65 billion Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) raised in 2008, and the $18 billion General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) raised in 2010.
- [By Matt Koppenheffer and David Hanson]
Both Visa (NYSE: V ) and MasterCard (NYSE: MA ) have consistently outperformed for investors, based on what many see as a rock-solid simple investing thesis: that these companies have nowhere to go but up as the world switches from cash transactions to credit. But is that thesis just a little too simple to be safe? And can the growth ahead really justify these very pricey multiples? In this video, Fool financial analysts Matt Koppenheffer and David Hanson discuss which of these two hot financial stocks is a more attractive buy today.
- [By Matt Thalman]
After losing 1.92%, Visa (NYSE: V ) became the Dow's third worst stock to own last week. Once again, the move comes after the company reported earnings. While on the surface Visa's results were impressive -- revenue up 8%; earnings up 20%, increased dividend; announcement of a bigger share buyback -- the stock fell on Wednesday after the report came out. One likely cause is that investors were looking for slightly more from the company. For one thing, client incentives rose 20% during the quarter, which put a damper on revenue growth and made the earnings increase look less impressive. High expectations can mean price loses from time to time in the short run, but that shouldn't drive investors away from strong long-term companies, such as Visa. �
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