Ariana Lindquist/Bloomberg The latest battle over the minimum wage continues to heat up, with critics of the current wage, including me, noting that the average fast food worker in America doesn't currently make enough money to rise above the poverty line. While that's bad enough, it gets even worse when you consider that the average fast food worker already brings home $8.94 an hour -- $1.69 more than the minimum wage. To put it in context, the federal minimum wage has been trending downward since 1968, and -- adjusted for inflation -- is now lower than it was in 1956. That means that today's McDonald's employee is effectively making about a buck less an hour than a soda jerk brought home when Eisenhower was in the White House. And odds are, that worker probably isn't being offered full-time hours. But it's not all bad news: internationally, American workers fare up pretty well. Taken at face value, they're minimum wage comes in 12th in the world, ahead of Israel, South Korea, and some other industrialized countries. Granted, Australia pays its workers at least $16 per hour and Japan pays them $9.24, but -- in a global context at least, America is doing pretty well. The numbers get even narrower when one considers purchasing power parity, or PPP. Basically a measure of the goods and services that a sum of money will purchase, PPP considers how far a dollar will go. In Australia, for example, PPP shifts the minimum wage from $16 to a more measured $9.77. In a recent article, The Atlantic noted that, accounting for PPP, America's workers actually come in 10th place, behind Canada and New Zealand and ahead of Japan and Austria. Then again, the average American worker spends four times as much on health care as the average Austrian -- and roughly seven times as much as the average Japanese worker. This expense, which isn't factored into PPP, can be heavy -- and even at times devastating. Still, there's the bright side: we're number 10. Right behind New Zealand.
Top 10 Net Payout Yield Stocks To Own For 2015: Cerner Corp (CERN)
Cerner Corporation (Cerner) is a supplier of healthcare information technology (HCIT) solutions, services, devices and hardware. Cerner solutions optimize processes for healthcare organizations. These solutions are licensed by approximately 9,300 facilities globally, including more than 2,650 hospitals; 3,750 physician practices 40,000 physicians; 500 ambulatory facilities, such as laboratories, ambulatory centers, cardiac facilities, radiology clinics and surgery centers; 800 home health facilities; 40 employer sites and 1,600 retail pharmacies. The Company operates in two segments: domestic and global. The domestic segment includes revenue contributions and expenditures associated with business activity in the United States. The global segment includes revenue contributions and expenditures linked to business activity in Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China (Hong Kong), Egypt, England, France, Germany, Guam, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Morocco, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates. On May 23, 2011, the Company acquired Resource Systems, Inc. On October 17, 2011, the Company acquired Clairvia, Inc. Effective March 18, 2013, it acquired Labotix Automation Inc.
The Company designs and develops software solutions on the unified Cerner Millennium architecture, a person-centric computing framework, which combines clinical, financial and management information systems. This architecture allows providers to access an individual�� electronic health record (EHR) at the point of care, and it organizes and proactively delivers information to meet the specific needs of physicians, nurses, laboratory technicians, pharmacists, front- and back-office professionals and consumers. It also offers a range of services, including implementation and training, remote hosting, operational management services, revenue cycle services, support and maintenance, healthcare data analysis, clinical proc! ess optimization, transaction processing, employer health centers, employee wellness programs and third party administrator (TPA) services for employer-based health plans.
The Company offers a longitudinal, person-centric EHR, which gives clinicians electronic access to the right information at the right time and place to achieve optimal health outcomes. Medical information and care regimens accessible from home enables consumers to manage their conditions and adhere to treatment plans, creating a medium between physicians and individuals. Its Cerner ITWorks is a suite of services, which creates an alignment between Cerner and its clients. Its Cerner RevWorks includes solutions and services to help healthcare organizations improve their revenue cycle functions. It offers clinic, pharmacy and wellness services directly to employers.
The Company's Healthe Intent Chart Search includes clinical meanings of words located within the electronic medical record (EMR), as well as the context in which those words occur to create algorithms that identify and rank information contextually. The Healthe Intent platform also provides the ability to apply algorithms against contextual clinical activity to recommend clinical action.
The Company competes with Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc., Computer Programs and Systems, Inc. (CPSI), Epic Systems Corporation, GE Healthcare Technologies, Healthcare Management Systems, Inc. (HMS), Healthland, Inc., Computer Sciences Corporation (iSoft), Keane, Inc., McKesson Corporation, Medical Information Technology, Inc. (Meditech), Siemens Medical Solutions Health Services Corporation, Quadramed Corporation, Accenture plc, Affiliated Computer Services (ACS), Cap Gemini S. A., Computer Task Group, Inc. (CTGHS), Dell, Inc., Deloitte Consulting LLP, Hewlett-Packard Company, IBM Corporation, maxIT Healthcare LLC, AmazingCharts.com, Inc., Athenahealth, Inc., eClinicalWorks LLC, e-MDs, Inc., Greenway Medical Technologies, MED3000, Inc., Quality Sy! stems, In! c., Conceptual MindWorks, Inc., Vitera Healthcare Solutions, API Healthcare, CapsuleTech, Inc., CareFusion Corporation, GE Healthcare Technologies, iSirona, LLC, McKesson Corporation, Omnicell, Inc., Accretive Health, Inc., Capario, Inc., Emdeon Corporation, McKesson Corporation, MedAssets, Inc., Optum, Inc., SSI Group, Inc. and 3M Company.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sue Chang and Saumya Vaishampayan]
Cerner Corp. (CERN) �shares dropped 4.8% after the hospital information-technology company reported a sharp drop in fourth-quarter earnings and issued a weak outlook.
- [By Johnson Research Group]
Short Squeeze Candidate #1: Cerner (CERN)
Click to Enlarge Healthcare has been in the air lately with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. The uncertainty surrounding the changes in legislation has traders betting against a number of companies, including Cerner (CERN). - [By James E. Brumley]
Truth be told, it's not clear if SK3 Group Inc. (OTCMKTS:SKTO) is best described when compared to a name like Cerner Corporation (NASDAQ:CERN), or to a Gentiva Health Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:GTIV). The company's got elements of both major industries being represented by CERN and GTIV (home health care, and information technology), with the addition of another budding industry thrown into the mix. One thing IS clear though... SKTO shares have decidedly reversed a nasty downtrend, and may now be one of the market's best small cap healthcare speculative trades.
Top Japanese Companies To Buy For 2014: Goodrich Petroleum Corporation (GDP)
Goodrich Petroleum Corporation, an independent oil and natural gas company, engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas. The company holds interest in the Eagle Ford Shale Trend located in South Texas; the Haynesville Shale and Cotton Valley Taylor Sand in northwest Louisiana and East Texas; and the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale located in southwest Mississippi and southeast Louisiana. It owns working interests in 392 producing oil and natural gas wells located in 32 fields in 8 states. As of December 31, 2012, the company had estimated proved reserves of approximately 254.0 billion cubic feet of natural gas, 5.1 million barrels of crude oil or other liquid hydrocarbons (MMBbls) of natural gas liquids, and 8.1 MMBbls of oil and condensate. Goodrich Petroleum Corporation was founded in 1995 and is based in Houston, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Holly LaFon]
Another area that is intriguing to us is the North American energy sector which looks to have a number of interesting catalysts currently. While the energy sector is at present only a modest overweight in the portfolios, we have been encouraged by several trends taking place for a number of years. These positive developments are also having an impact that goes far beyond the energy sector itself. Many believe that the U.S. will become energy independent and possibly a net exporter of natural gas and oil (currently restricted by law) in the next decade. This opinion is based primarily on the development of new drilling techniques (i.e. horizontal drilling, and high pressure fracking) that have enabled companies to access oil and natural gas reserves in shale formations that were previously not economically viable. The ability to tap into this acreage is a game-changer in our view and is already having a tremendous impact on the economy. Employment rates in these mostly rural areas surrounding the shale basins are very high and companies thus find hiring extremely competitive. Strong labor markets tend to create strong local economies. Oil States International (OIS) has been able to capitalize on this trend by providing housing and other services to oil service workers that are in demand in the area. CST Brands (CST) operates gas stations in Texas, but it is increasingly looking to broaden its product offering beyond fuel. Rail companies like Union Pacific (UNP), Canadian Pacific (CP), Kansas City Southern (KSU) and Genesee and Wyoming (GWR) have also benefited substantially. Given that shale areas are rural and often lacking infrastructure, substantial investment must be made to support drilling and production activities. Without pipelines in place, railroads have been the primary takeaway mechanism for moving production to the various clusters of refining capacity around the United States. In order to serve this demand, massive investment in railcars has been nee
- [By Vera Yuan]
Five years of central bank action have contributed to a world of high valuations across asset classes. In the equity world, bears point to the elevated CAPE ratio (cyclically adjusted price-to- earnings (P/E), calculated on the last 10 years inflation-adjusted earnings, also known as the Shiller P/E) and the related high level of corporate profitability. The current levels of the CAPE ratio in the U.S. (currently at 26 times, versus the long-run average of 16 times3) have historically been associated with low medium to long term returns, while corporate profits��share of gross domestic product (GDP) has mean reverted in the past. Bulls suggest that corporate profits can remain strong, as labor�� bargaining power and government�� taxing power are both structurally impaired, and that valuations look reasonable, if you just compare them to the post-1990, post-Cold War world.
Top Japanese Companies To Buy For 2014: Credit Suisse Group AG (CSGN.VX)
Credit Suisse Group AG is a Switzerland-based holding company engaged in private banking, investment banking and asset management areas. It operates through four divisions: Private Banking, which consists of the Wealth Management Clients and Corporate & Institutional Clients business; Investment Banking, provides a range of financial products and services, with a focus on client-driven, flow-based and capital-efficient businesses; Asset Management, offers a range of asset class products, including alternative investments, and multi-asset class solutions, including equities and fixed income products, and Shared Services, which provides centralized corporate services and business support for the Company's divisions. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Steven Russolillo]
Under February’s partnership, Coke acquired a 10% stake in Keurig for $1.25 billion and the option to increase its stake to as much as 16% through open-market purchases of Keurig’s common stock within 36 months. In a statement Tuesday, Coke said it had entered an accelerated purchase agreement with Credit Suisse(CSGN.VX) to acquire shares to reach that level.
- [By Steven Russolillo]
Credit Suisse CEO Nearly Lost Job During Tax Probe: “As a yearslong U.S. tax probe dragged on in recent months, board members at Credit Suisse(CSGN.VX) mulled actions that likely would have cost CEO Brady Dougan his job.”
- [By Steven Russolillo]
NY Fed to Allow Credit Suisse(CSGN.VX) to Remain a Primary Dealer: “Credit Suisse Group AG’s ability to serve as a counterparty to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York hasn’t been affected by the bank’s criminal tax-evasion settlement.”
Top Japanese Companies To Buy For 2014: Richoux Group PLC (RIC)
Richoux Group plc is a United Kingdom-based company engaged in the operation of restaurants. The Company has three segments: Richoux, Villagio Zippers and Dean�� Diner. Richoux restaurants operate in the areas of central London. The restaurants are open all day for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. The restaurants also offers patisserie. Zippers is a spacious, stylish and contemporary restaurant with a relaxed ambience. Dean's Diner offers a range of freshly prepared dishes. Villagio is a modern local Italian restaurant with a menu suitable for the whole family. The Company�� subsidiaries include Newultra Limited and Richoux Limited. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sally Jones]
Richmont Mines Inc. (RIC)Down 70% over 12 months, Richmont Mines Inc. has a market cap of $56.23 billion, and trades with a P/B of 0.60.
- [By Roberto Pedone]
Richmont Mines (RIC) engages in the mining, exploration and development of mining properties, principally gold in Canada. This stock closed up 2.4% to $1.68 in Tuesday's trading session.
Tuesday's Range: $1.61-$1.68
52-Week Range: $1.31-$5.50
Tuesday's Volume: 76,000
Three-Month Average Volume: 101,786From a technical perspective, RIC bounced higher here right off its 50-day moving average of $1.59 with decent upside volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last month and change, with shares moving higher from its low of $1.31 to its recent high of $1.71. During that move, shares of RIC have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of RIC within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if RIC manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance at $1.71 to $1.80 with high volume.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in RIC as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $1.59 or above more near-term support levels at $1.50 to $1.44 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 101,786 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then RIC will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $2.10 to $2.20. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give RIC a chance to tag its 200-day moving average at $2.48.
Top Japanese Companies To Buy For 2014: Rio Tinto Plc(RIO)
Rio Tinto plc engages in finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. The company produces aluminum products, including bauxite, alumina, and aluminum; copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, and nickel; diamonds; minerals, such as borates, titanium dioxide feedstocks, high purity iron, metal powders, zircon, and rutile; thermal and coking coal, and uranium; and iron ore and salt. It primarily operates in Australia, North America, South America, Asia, Europe, and southern Africa. The company was founded in 1873 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Rio Tinto plc is a subsidiary of Rio Tinto Group.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rupert Hargreaves]
It used to be the case that mining companies, such as Rio Tinto (NYSE: RIO ) , would stay away from native mining equipment manufacturers within China as the kit was usually of an inferior quality, although the equipment was cheaper. However, now the Chinese companies are catching up. Indeed, according to comments from Rio Tinto CEO Sam Walsh given in an interview with the Wall Street Journal:
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Shares of Cliffs Natural Resources have slid 3.9% to $15.73 at 11:13 a.m., while other iron miners have gotten hits as well. Rio Tinto (RIO) has dropped 2.8% to $53.04, BHP Billiton (BHP) has fallen 1.3% to $69.18 and Vale (VALE) is off 0.7% at $12.98.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Freeport-McMoRan has gained 0.6% to $33.04 today, bucking weakness in Southern Copper (SCCO), which has dropped 2.7% to $28.18, Rio Tinto (RIO), which has fallen 0.7% to $50.59,�Vale�(VALE), which has decline 0.7% to $16.28 and BHP Billiton (BHP), which is off 0.9% at $67.10.
Top Japanese Companies To Buy For 2014: Steinway Musical Instruments Inc. (LVB)
Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc., through its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, markets, and distributes musical instruments in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Pianos and Band & Orchestral Instruments. The Pianos segment offers pianos under Steinway & Sons, Boston, and Essex brands; and engages in online music retailing business. This segment sells its products to professional artists and amateur pianists, and institutions through independent dealers primarily in the United States, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy. It operates six retail showrooms in the United States and five retail showrooms in Europe. The Band & Orchestral Instruments segment manufactures and sells piccolos, flutes, clarinets, oboes, bassoons, trumpets, French horns, tubas, and trombones, as well as intermediate and professional level woodwind and brass instruments under Bach, Selmer, Selmer Paris, C.G. Conn, Leblanc, King, Armstrong, Holton, Yanagisawa, Vito, Emerson, Avanti, Noblet, Artley, and Benge brands; distributes saxophones and clarinets; manufactures and distributes acoustical and tuned percussion instruments, including outfit drums, marching drums, concert drums, marimbas, xylophones, vibraphones, orchestra bells, and chimes; distributes violins, violas, cellos, and basses under Glaesel, Scherl & Roth, and William Lewis & Son brands; and manufactures mouthpieces and distributes accessories, such as music stands, batons, mallets, straps, mutes, reeds, pads, chin rests, strings, bows, cases, and instrument care products. This segment sells its products to students, amateur and professional musicians, and institutions through independent musical instrument dealers and distributors primarily in the United States, Europe, Latin America, and Asia. The company, formerly known as Selmer Industries, Inc., was founded in 1993 and is based in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Eric Volkman]
Steinway Musical Instruments (NYSE: LVB ) has ceased to be the owner of its iconic Steinway Hall in New York City. The company formally closed a deal to sell the building to a partnership headed by real estate concern JDS Development Group. Steinway received $46.3 million in the acquisition, and will recognize a taxable gain of roughly $22 million.
Top Japanese Companies To Buy For 2014: Lee Enterprises Incorporated (LEE)
Lee Enterprises, Incorporated provides local news, information, and advertising services primarily in midsize or small markets in the United States. The company publishes 50 daily and 39 Sunday newspapers, 300 weekly newspapers and classified, and niche publications in 22 states; and provides retail, classified, digital, and national advertising services. It also provides digital infrastructure and digital publishing services for approximately 1,500 daily and weekly newspapers and shoppers. The company was founded in 1890 and is based in Davenport, Iowa.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Roberto Pedone]
Another newspaper publishing player that looks ready to trigger a major breakout trade is Lee Enterprises (LEE), which is a provider of local news and information and a platform for advertising, in primarily midsize markets. This stock has been on fire so far in 2013, with shares up big by 154%.
>>Hack Earnings Season With These Serial Surprisers
If you take a look at the chart for Lee Enterprises, you'll notice that this stock is just starting to spike higher back above its 50-day moving average of $2.89 a share with strong upside volume. Volume already today has registered over 360,000 shares, which is quickly approaching its three-month average action of 399,735 shares. This move is quickly pushing shares of LEE within range of triggering a major breakout trade.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in LEE if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $3.14 a share to its 52-week high at $3.20 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 399,735 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then LEE will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $4 to $5 a share.
Traders can look to buy LEE off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support levels at $2.71 or at $2.60 a share. One could also buy LEE off strength once it takes out those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.
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