Top 5 Managed Healthcare Companies For 2014

In something of a surprise, new research sponsored by the Consumer Federation of America and Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards finds close to nine in ten American households are engaged in some type of formal or informal financial planning.

However, the extent of this planning varies greatly, and will generally fall into one on four behavioral areas identified by the organizations: comprehensive planners, basic planners, limited planners and non-planners.

The research shows that only one in five household decision makers are comprehensive planners, or those who take a methodical approach to financial planning, while one in ten do virtually no financial planning at all. The research further identifies nearly two-fifths of households as basic planners and one-third of households as limited planners.  

“I was most surprised by the number of Americans involved in planning,” said Stephen Brobeck, CFA’s executive director. “Yes, the degree to which they’re planning does vary, but I thought the number of people that do not do any planning would be much higher.”

Hot Regional Bank Companies To Buy Right Now: PriceSmart Inc.(PSMT)

PriceSmart, Inc. owns and operates membership shopping warehouse clubs in the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Its warehouse clubs sell perishable foods and consumer goods at low prices to individuals and businesses, as well as offers ancillary services, which include food courts, tire centers, and photo centers. The company operates its warehouse clubs under the brand name of PriceSmart. As of August 31, 2011, it operated 29 warehouse clubs in 12 countries and 1 U.S. territory, including 5 in Costa Rica, 4 each in Panama and Trinidad, 3 each in Guatemala and in the Dominican Republic, 2 each in El Salvador and Honduras, and 1 each in Colombia, Aruba, Barbados, Jamaica, Nicaragua, and the United States Virgin Islands. PriceSmart, Inc. was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  PriceSmart (NASDAQ: PSMT  ) will release its latest quarterly report on Wednesday, and investors are already optimistic about the company's prospects, having bid shares up to all-time highs. But for the stock to climb from here, PriceSmart earnings need to keep giving shareholders the growth they crave.

• [By Lawrence Meyers] Popular Posts: 3 Cash-Rich Stocks to Buy Now3 Legendary Names to Hold for Retirement4 Monthly Dividend Stocks for a Steady Diet of Income Recent Posts: PriceSmart (PSMT): Plenty of Growth … But at What Cost? 3 Cash-Rich Stocks to Buy Now Covered Calls: Generate $1,000 in Income With These 3 Trades View All Posts

  A little-known fact about PriceSmart (PSMT): It actually merged with Costco (COST) in 1993, only to be spun back off in 1994. But I enjoy the connection, because I very much think of PSMT as the Latin American Costco.

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Thursday

  Earnings Expected From: Family Dollar Stores, Inc. (NYSE: FDO), Progressive Corporation (NYSE: PGR), PriceSmart Inc. (NASDAQ: PSMT) Economic Releases Expected:  Bank of England interest rate decision, British trade balance, Italian industrial production, French CPI

  Friday

Top 5 Managed Healthcare Companies For 2014: Global-Tech Advanced Innovations Inc. (GAI)

Global-Tech Advanced Innovations Inc., an investment holding company, manufactures and sells consumer electrical products primarily in the United States, Europe, and the People�s Republic of China. Its Electronic Components segment produces complementary metal oxide semiconductor camera modules primarily for sale to cellular phone and tablet manufacturers in Mainland China. The company�s Electronic Manufacturing Services segment engages in the provision of surface mount technology processing services for printed circuit boards; and assembly services for cellular phone marketers in Mainland China. Its Others segment is involved in the manufacture and sale of disposable medical devices. Global-Tech also engages in the trading of raw materials, and electronic and optical components; and in the provision of consultation services. The company was formerly known as Global-Tech Appliances Inc. and changed its name to Global-Tech Advanced Innovations Inc. in December 2008. Globa l-Tech Advanced Innovations Inc. was founded in 1963 and is based in Aberdeen, Hong Kong.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sally Jones]

  According to the GuruFocus Value Screen for finding 52-Week Lows, Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. (TRQ), Global-Tech Advanced Innovations (GAI) and Rentech Nitrogen Partners LP (RNF) are companies on a low and still held by billionaire investors. All three companies are on a 52-week low, and more than 64% off a 52-week high.

Top 5 Managed Healthcare Companies For 2014: US Ecology Inc.(ECOL)

US Ecology, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides waste treatment, disposal, recycling, and transportation services to commercial and government entities in the United States. The company offers treatment and disposal services for radioactive, hazardous, polychlorinated biphenyl, and non-hazardous industrial wastes. Its customers include oil refineries, chemical production facilities, manufacturers, electric utilities, steel mills, biotechnology companies, military installations, waste brokers/aggregators, and medical and academic institutions. The company was formerly known as American Ecology Corporation and changed its name to US Ecology, Inc. in February 2010. US Ecology, Inc. was founded in 1952 and is headquartered in Boise, Idaho.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, hazardous waste disposal specialist US Ecology (NASDAQ: ECOL  ) has earned a coveted five-star ranking.

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  Among the stocks to watch in Monday’s session are US Ecology Inc.(ECOL), Akamai, and Dow Chemical Co.(DOW)

  US Ecology again raised its earnings guidance for the year, pointing to strong volumes and accelerated project shipments, but warned its results for next year may take a hit as a result. The company, which provides waste- management and recycling services, also outlined plans to offer about $100 million in stock. Shares dropped 10% to $34.51 premarket.

• [By Damian Illia] ides waste management and recycling services to manufacturing, industrial and energy-related sectors. The company�� five waste sites treat hazardous and non-hazardous industrial waste, as well as radioactive and PCB waste. In addition, the company麓s Robstown treatment plant in Texas counts with a thermal desorption unit that treats refinery sludge.

  In the following sections I will show you that we are dealing with a very profitable growth stock, that has an above average ROE rate of 13.89%, and operates with a net margin of 15.99%.

  Holding a Strong Position in the Market

  ECOL has two revenue streams. Business contracts to treat customers��periodic disposal needs on the one hand, and event-driven services that apply to special projects or cleanup work on the other.

  Furthermore, the company has a wide economic moat largely stemming from three factors: its efficient scale, its high switching costs and its intangible assets. Of the 20 commercial hazardous-waste landfills operational in the U.S., the majority are run by US Ecology and its main competitors Waste Management Inc. (WM), and Clean Harbors Inc. (CLH). With barriers to entry stemming from regulatory permits, and a limited market size, ECOL has managed to achieve an efficient scale in the market with five hazardous waste-sides. The company�� intangible assets consist of long-term regulatory permits, which enable US Ecology to posses a ��atekeeper privilege��regarding barriers to new entrants. In addition, customer switching costs are high, thus further adding to the firm�� ability to sustain growth in the long term.

  Good Investments and New Management Should Ensure Profitable Growth

  A range of new treatment services should also help ensure profitable growth for coming years. For example, the Texas facility which operates a new thermal desorption technology for oil refinery sludge since 2008 has been responsible for 10% of revenue and is expected to keep grow

• [By Damian Illia]

  As we can see, the firm has a higher ROE than Amrep Corporation (AXR) but is well below the one registered by US Ecology Inc. (ECOL) and Cintas Corporation (CTAS).

Top 5 Managed Healthcare Companies For 2014: Coty Inc (COTY)

Coty Inc., incorporated on January 20, 1995, is engaged in manufacturing, marketing and distribution of women�� and men�� fragrances, color cosmetics and skin and body care related products globally. The Company operates in three segments: Fragrances, Color Cosmetics and Skin & Body Care. The Company�� power brands consist of adidas, Calvin Klein, Chloe, Davidoff, Marc Jacobs, OPI, philosophy, Playboy, Rimmel and Sally Hansen. The Company sells products in each of its segments through retailers, including hypermarkets, supermarkets, independent and chain drug stores and pharmacies, upscale perfumeries, upscale and mid-tier department stores, nail salons, specialty retailers, duty-free shops and traditional food, drug and mass retailers.

The Company�� Fragrance products include a range of men�� and women�� products, with brands associated with fashion designers, celebrities and lifestyle brands. Color Cosmetics products include nail, lip, eye and other facial color products. Skin & Body Care products include shower gels, deodorants, skin care and sun treatment products.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Anna Prior]

  Coty Inc.(COTY) unveiled a new organizational structure built around categories and regions, as the beauty-products maker looks to improve profitability.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Coty (NYSE: COTY) was also up, gaining 7.36 percent to $14.73 after the company reported strong Q2 revenue and announced a $200 million share buyback program.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Coty (NASDAQ: COTY) is expected to report its Q4 earnings at $0.01 per share on revenue of $1.05 billion.

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

• [By Maria Armental var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); popups.forEach]

  Li & Fung(LFUGY) will distribute some of Coty Inc.'s(COTY) key brands in China, including Adidas, Rimmel and Playboy, as part of an agreement between the two companies. The move is part of Coty’s efforts to reorganize its business in China and focus on growing its business in the world’s second largest economy, the company said in a statement Tuesday.