Saturday, August 2, 2014

5 Best Consumer Service Stocks For 2014

It takes money to make money. Most investors know that, but with business media so focused on the "how much," very few investors bother to ask, "How fast?"

When judging a company's prospects, how quickly it turns cash outflows into cash inflows can be just as important as how much profit it's booking in the accounting fantasy world we call "earnings." This is one of the first metrics I check when I'm hunting for the market's best stocks. Today, we'll see how it applies to Actions Semiconductor (Nasdaq: ACTS  ) .

Let's break this down
In this series, we measure how swiftly a company turns cash into goods or services and back into cash. We'll use a quick, relatively foolproof tool known as the cash conversion cycle, or CCC for short.

Why does the CCC matter? The less time it takes a firm to convert outgoing cash into incoming cash, the more powerful and flexible its profit engine is. The less money tied up in inventory and accounts receivable, the more available to grow the company, pay investors, or both.

Top 10 Cheapest Stocks To Buy For 2015: CPFL Energia S.A.(CPL)

CPFL Energia S.A., through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, distribution, and sale of electricity in Brazil. It generates electricity through hydroelectric, thermal, biomass, and wind power plants. The company also involves in the provision of energy commercialization, consultancy, and advisory services to agents in the energy sector; manufacture, commercialization, rental, and maintenance of electromechanical equipment; and provision of administrative services, as well as telephone answering services. It has an installed generating capacity of 2,309 MW. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

    Leading and Lagging Sectors
    Utilities sector surged 0.26%, saw CPFL Energia SA (NYSE: CPL) as the top gainer. Among leading sector stocks, gains came from Consolidated Water Co (NASDAQ: CWCO), Companhia Paranaense de Energia (NYSE: ELP) and Public Service Enterprise Group (NYSE: PEG).

  • [By Selena Maranjian]

    Brazilian electricity giant CPFL Energia S.A. (NYSE: CPL  ) sank 20%, and recently yielded 5.9%. Its long-term debt has been rising, largely due to acquisitions, and its free cash flow has been shrinking (and even turning negative�recently). But it has been investing heavily in alternative energies, and it serves a massive and growing market in Brazil. The country's growth has been slower than many would like, but that won't last forever.

5 Best Consumer Service Stocks For 2014: Sutor Technology Group Ltd (SUTR)

Sutor Technology Group Limited, incorporated on May 1, 1997, manufacture fine finished steel products. The Company utilizes a range of processes and technological methodologies to converts steel manufactured by third parties into fine finished steel products. The Company's product offerings are focused on finished steel products, specifically hot-dip galvanized steel (HDG steel), and pre-painted galvanized steel, or PPGI. In addition, the Company produces acid pickled steel (AP steel), and cold-rolled steel. The Company's three operating segments are categorized according to the Company's three operating subsidiaries, which include Changshu Huaye, which manufactures and sells HDG steel and PPGI products; Jiangsu Cold-Rolled, which manufactures and sells HDG steel, AP steel and cold-rolled steel, and Ningbo Zhehua, which manufactures and sells welded steel pipe products.

The Company sells its products to customers who operate primarily in the solar energy, appliances, automobile, construction, infrastructure, medical equipment and water resource industries. The Company's primary export markets are Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and South America. The Company's manufacturing facilities, located in Changshu, China, have three HDG steel production lines, one PPGI production line, one AP steel production line and one cold-rolled steel line. The Company's products include HDG steel, PPGI, AP steel, cold-rolled steel and welded steel pipe products. The Company's HDG steel and PPGI products are primarily manufactured by Changshu Huaye and the Company's AP steel and cold-rolled steel products are primarily manufactured by Jiangsu Cold-Rolled.

HDG Steel

The Company manufactures corrosion-resistant and zinc-coated HDG steel in different dimensions and using different materials and specifications by its customers. HDG steel products are manufactured from steel substrate of cold-rolled or hot-rolled pickled coils by applying zinc to the surface of the material to enhance its! corrosion protection. HDG steel products are principally used in the electrical household appliances and construction markets. Sales of HDG steel products amounted to approximately 451,269 MT in fiscal year 2012, representing approximately 63.8% of the Company's total revenue. The Company's HDG steel products are manufactured by Changshu Huaye and Jiangsu Cold-Rolled. Changshu Huaye produces only HDG of cold-rolled steel.

PPGI Products

PPGI products are made to order based on customer specifications. The Company's PPGI products��specification generally ranges from 700mm to 1250mm in width and from 0.2mm to 1.2mm in thickness. The Company's PPGI products are used in solar energy, appliances and construction materials. The Company produces its PPGI by color-coating on HDG of cold-rolled steel and then coating them in various colors according to customer requirements. The Company's PPGI production line is equipped with the twice baking and coating technology, which together with indirect heating, enhances the color coated layers adhesion to the galvanized zinc layer.

AP Steel

Acid pickling is a process that removes scales and oxides from the steel surface by pickling, cold rolling and annealing. AP steel products are used as a raw material for cold-rolled steel strip, HDG steel, as well as components of automobile and manufacturing equipment. AP steel products come in several different dimensions and using different materials and different specifications.

Full-Hard, Cold-rolled Steel Products

Full-hard cold-rolled steel strips are treated in an annealing process and are used to produce HDG of cold-rolled steel. The Company produces full-hard cold-rolled steel strips through a reverse cold rolling mill.

Welded Steel Pipe Products

The Company's subsidiary Ningbo Zhehua has one advanced Joint Center of Excellence (JCOE) production line for large-diameter, double-side, submerged-arc welded steel pipes, t! hree US L! incoln production lines for spiral seam, double-side, submerged-arc welded steel pipes, and two REF production lines for roll-bending, double-side, submerged-arc welded steel pipes. Ningbo Zhehua is specialized in manufacturing large-diameter, double-side, submerged-arc welded steel pipes and spiral seam steel pipes. The finished products are used for oil and gas transmission, municipal water supply projects, sewage treatment projects, and piling.

The Company competes with ArcelorMittal and Posco Steel.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By James E. Brumley]

    To tell the truth, I had almost forgotten about Sutor Technology Group Ltd. (NASDAQ:SUTR) after posting my "right stock, wrong time" speech back on the 9th. While I loved the way SUTR had broken past a horizontal ceiling at $1.83 after several weeks' worth of trying, the bullish move itself was a little overheated and looked like it was setting up a near-term pullback. Only after that dip would the stock be a healthy buy again.

  • [By Monica Gerson]

    Sutor Technology Group (NASDAQ: SUTR) is projected to report its Q4 earnings at $0.10 per share on revenue of $152.96 million.

    Le Gaga Holdings (NASDAQ: GAGA) is estimated to report its Q4 earnings.

5 Best Consumer Service Stocks For 2014: Green Automotive Co (GACR)

Green Automotive Company, incorporated on November 15, 1996, is a vehicle design, engineering, manufacturing and distribution company. The Company also provides after sales program. It possesses a portfolio of businesses and is active in three main market segments: Cutting edge technology development, engineering and design with a focus on zero and low emission vehicle solutions; Manufacturing and customization of vehicles for markets with the potential to be converted into low emission or electric vehicles, such as shuttle buses, taxis, commercial vehicles, and After sales services for electric or low emission vehicles, including servicing and repair. On December 14, 2012, the Company closed its merger with Matter of Time I Co. As per the merger agreement, Matter of Time I Co. dissolved into and became a part of Green Automotive Company, with Green Automotive Company being the surviving corporation. In January 2014, Green Automotive Co Inc acquired a 21.63% interest in Viridian Motor Corp Inc.

The Company's two divisions servicing the three segments are Liberty Electric Cars Ltd and Newport Coachworks Inc. Liberty Electric Cars Ltd designs and develops EV technologies for use in its own converted vehicles and for sale to original equipment manufacturers (OEM��) for incorporation into its production. In addition, it provides an aftermarket program for electric vehicle users to ensure the longevity of their vehicles. Newport Coachworks Inc. specializes in building shuttle buses, running on a variety of energy sources from petrol and diesel though to compressed natural gas (CNG).

The Company competes with Zytec, AMPD, Siemens, Tiffany, Krystal, Ford, and General Motors, Cummins and Freightliner.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By James E. Brumley]

    While there's no denying that Green Automotive Co. (OTCMKTS:GACR) is an electric car 'play', up until this point there's also been no confusion that it wasn't a full-blown manufacturer like Tesla Motors Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) or Kandi Technologies Group Inc. (NASDAQ:KNDI). Today's news from Green Automotive, however, leaves one to wonder if investors need to start seeing GACR in the same light as they see integrate EV makers like TSLA or KNDI.

  • [By Bryan Murphy]

    While Green Automotive Co. (OTCMKTS:GACR) is certainly no Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:NSANY) or Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (FRA:BMW) (better known as BMW)� in terms of size or notoriety, the two larger car companies certainly seem to be validating the work that GACR is doing. Both Nissan and BMW are betting big on electric vehicles, partly because they want to, and partly because they have to. Either way, Green Automotive is just as capable of tapping into this EV megatrend as its bigger and more established brothers are.

  • [By James E. Brumley]

    If there was any concern about how Green Automotive Co. (OTCMKTS:GACR) would continue its impressive expansion, that question was answer today. GACR will be issuing debt to raise some capital, taking advantage of the low interest rate environment we're currently in.�

  • [By John Udovich]

    There is a steady stream of recent electric vehicle sector or related stock news from�the likes of Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA), Kandi Technologies Group Inc (NASDAQ: KNDI), HydroPhi Technologies Group, Inc (OTCMKTS: HPTG) and Green Automotive Co (OTCMKTS: GACR) that you might want to be paying attention to:

5 Best Consumer Service Stocks For 2014: Ashley(l)

Laura Ashley Holdings plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, sourcing, distribution, sale, and licensing of clothing, accessories, and home furnishings in the United Kingdom and internationally. It offers various furniture products, including beds, upholstered furniture, mirrors, and cabinet furniture; home accessories, such as lighting products, gifts, bed linen, rugs, throws, cushions, and children?s accessories; and decorative products comprising curtains, blinds, fabrics, paints, decorative accessories, and wall coverings. The company also offers fashion products, such as clothing that include dresses, knitwear, tops, blouses, skirts, trousers, leggings, coats, jackets, swimwear, and shoes, as well as accessories comprising bags, purses, jewellery, and scarves. In addition, it provides design services for homes; and licenses various products, such as stationery, wooden flooring, blinds, interior window shutters, carpets, nursery produ cts, fireplaces, garden products, eyewear, tiles, promotional gifting, toiletries, shoes, and Fairtrade clothing. The company sells its products through retail stores, online, and mail order. As of January 29, 2011, it operated 217 stores, including 138 mixed product stores, 55 home stores, 22 home concession stores, 1 gifts and accessories store, and 1 clearance outlet in the United Kingdom; and 240 franchised stores in 29 countries. The company is based in London, the United Kingdom.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Robert Rapier]

    Meanwhile, sponsor�Loews�(NYSE: L) has added to the cash drain by converting its class B units into common that will cost Boardwalk an additional $25 million in distributions annually. The Bluegrass Pipeline Boardwalk is marketing in a partnership with Williams (NYSE: WMB) is looking more and more as a defensive measure to replace lost business than as a path to future glory. And it now faces competition that could drive expected returns lower.

  • [By Julius Ferraro]

    Diamond offshore is a $9 billion dollar offshore driller that is currently 50.4% owned by Loews Corporation (L). I like that the Tisch family has a significant ownership because in the case of an economic downturn, Diamond Offshore can be provided with the capital that it may need by some of Loews other businesses. Its Expected to earn $4.80 for this year and trades at a fair valuation of 11.8 times earnings. In addition, out of all of the offshore drillers Diamond is the most conservative with $1.2 billion in cash and $1.5 billion in debt. Diamond Offshore is the only A rated drilling contractor.

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