Category Archives: Growth Stocks

My Top 8 Growth Stocks for the Next Decade

Source: Shutterstock

As you well know, it only takes a handful of stocks to make — or break — your portfolio.

The economic turmoil of the past decade has drained investors’ portfolios, leaving many to stay in the work force well into their “Golden Years,” and has left those already in retirement wondering if there will be enough money at the end of the day.

That’s why I’ve put together this collection of my top eight stocks you should own now and hold for the long term.

Buy now for earnings growth and profits in the year ahead and hang onto them because they represent some of the best long-term stocks in the market today.

Top Growth Stocks: IPG Photonics (IPGP)

Top Growth Stocks: IPG Photonics (IPGP)

Source: Shutterstock

IPG Photonics (NASDAQ:IPGP) is the world’s leading provider of high-power fiber lasers. These lasers are used in a variety of different devices and applications, ranging from materials processing to broadband internet to medical pumps.

The bottom line is, the demand for fiber optic laser technology is a growth industry for a very long time, and IPGP is one of the major players.

Fiber lasers are the next generation of laser technology and offer many advantages over traditional lasers. They’re more energy efficient, they’re easier to maintain and they last longer.

As companies upgrade their current technologies with fiber-laser applications, IPG Photonics’ sales and earnings continue to soar.

In March IPGP entered the S&P 500, which is a big deal because every index fund linked to S&P 500 performance now needs to own the stock.

But IPGP stock has been up and down on tariff talk, so it’s a great time to get in.

Top Growth Stocks: Ferrari (RACE)

Top Growth Stocks: Ferrari (RACE)

Source: Shutterstock

Ferrari NV (NASDAQ:RACE) is the world-renowned Italian sports car maker. Founded by Enzo Ferrari, the company developed and built its first sports car back in the late 1940s.

Today, Ferrari offers seven vehicle models, including four sports cars (488 GTB, 488 Spider, F12 Berlinetta and special series F12 Tour de France) and three GT cars (California T, FF and GTC4Lusso). The company also plans to replace the F12 Berlinetta with the 812 Superfast coupe.

Demand for its cars continues to rise and its line of clothing and accessories is also growing at a brisk pack.

Ferrari expects to ship more than 9,000 vehicles in 2018 and is looking for revenues of 3.4 billion euros. Company management also noted that it expects to double core earnings to 2 billion euros ($2.5 billion) by 2022.

RACE stock is up nearly 30% year to date, so none of this trade war talk or political turmoil in Italian politics is slowing its performance.

Top Growth Stocks: Weibo (WB)

Top Growth Stocks: Weibo (WB)

Source: Shutterstock

Known as “China’s answer to Twitter,” Weibo (NASDAQ:WB) is a social media company that allows Chinese users to express themselves, connect with others, discover Chinese-language content and use push notifications on their mobile devices.

While its Twitter of China description was pretty accurate in its early days, now it’s much more diversified — it’s more like the Facebook of China at this point.

Weibo now offers online games and mobile apps that have created a very complete social media experience in a young, enthusiastic consumer demographic.

It’s no surprise then that WB has experienced tremendous growth since its launch in 2010, and it shows no signs of slowing down.

Trade war talk has soured the market on WB, but that’s to our advantage. WB has enormous potential growth in China and Asia, without any need to look to the U.S.

Top Growth Stocks: Arista Networks (ANET)

Top Growth Stocks: Arista Networks (ANET)

Based in San Jose, California, Arista Networks (NYSE:ANET) provides cloud networking solutions to 4,000 customers across five continents.

Arista specializes in high-speed network switches that enable cloud service providers, internet companies and data centers to run faster networks. Arista also provides technical support, hardware repair and parts replacement.

When it comes to the lucrative high-speed network switches market, Arista Networks goes toe-to-toe with Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO). But while its larger competitor is struggling to grow sales and earnings, Arista Networks is growing by leaps and bounds.

Part of ANET’s competitive advantage is that it isn’t tied down to legacy systems like CSCO is. Its equipment is next generation, built for the next iteration in networking and cloud services.

It has had a bumpy ride in 2018, but this is a long-term player with huge potential. It is a force in crucial megatrend sectors that will grow regardless of economic ups and downs.

Top Growth Stocks: Nvidia (NVDA)

Top Growth Stocks: Nvidia (NVDA)

Source: Shutterstock

Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) is a leading computer graphics company, making graphic processing units (GPUs) for consumers and businesses.

These GPUs enhance the processing capability of its users’ computers.

The company has been in the computer graphics business for more than two decades — it invented the GPU in 1999 — so it is a well-established player.

In a recent earnings report, company management noted that NVDA “achieved another record quarter, capping an excellent year.” The fact is, this could be almost any quarter since 2016.

If you look at NVDA’s historic price chart, you can see that the stock goes parabolic in 2016. That’s when the mobility trend took off and enabled all the sectors that NVDA has come to dominate: cloud, augmented reality, virtual reality, Internet of Things, Big Data, smart devices, etc.

NVDA is to the future of computing what Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN)has become to ecommerce.

Top Growth Stocks: Sociedad Quimica Y Minera de Chile (SQM)

Sociedad Quimica Y Minera de Chile (NYSE: SQM), or the Chemical & Mining Co. of Chile, is the largest producer of specialty plant nutrients, lithium and derivatives, iodine and derivatives, industrial chemicals and potassium in the world.

Not surprisingly, given that list of materials, its products have a range of uses.

Its Specialty Plant Nutrition division provides nutrients and fertilizers to boost crop output. Increasing productivity is crucial to farmers, especially when prices (and margins) are low.

Its Iodine division offers derivatives that are used in medical and industrial applications, as well as in antiseptics, disinfectants and polarizing films for LCDs.

Its Lithium division provides lithium carbonates for batteries, heat-resistant glass, air conditioning chemicals and more. With electric and hybrid vehicle demand growing, consistent lithium supplies are crucial.

Its Industrials Chemicals division produces industrial nitrates that are used to manufacture glass and explosives.

Its Potassium division focuses on the sales of two potassium fertilizers. Trade issues have discounted the stock and make it a bargain long-term investment now.

Top Growth Stocks: UnitedHealth Group (UNH)

Top Growth Stocks: UnitedHealth Group (UNH)

Source: Shutterstock

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) is the largest single health carrier in the United States. It serves more than 85 million people worldwide and is a parent company to six businesses, including UnitedHealthcare — health insurance that offers policies to businesses and individuals, including Medicare and Medicaid policies.

Its other main branch, Optum, administers everything from mental health and substance-abuse programs to mail-order pharmaceuticals.

While many drug store stocks were rocked by the news that Amazon has now entered the pharmacy business, UNH has been relatively undisturbed because of its integrated strategy.

Looking ahead to full-year 2018, the healthcare giant is targeting adjusted earnings between $12.30 and $12.60 per share, which is a 22% to 25% year-over-year increase and up from its previous guidance of $10.55 to $10.85 per share.

Additionally, cash flows from operations are expected to be in a range between $15 billion and $15.5 billion, and UnitedHealth Group is calling for total revenues between $223 billion and $225 billion.

Top Growth Stocks: Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)

Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ:ISRG) is in a business that sounds like it comes straight from a science-fiction novel: Surgical robotics.

However, luckily for patients around the world, this revolutionary technology is not only possible, it is becoming more and more integrated into everyday hospital use.

Intuitive Surgical got its big break in 1999 when it introduced the da Vinci surgical system. Complete with a surgeon’s console, a patient-side cart, a 3-D vision system and wrist instruments, this system allows doctors to perform minimally invasive surgery with enhanced dexterity, precision and control.

In the end, this technology benefits the patients, who usually experience less pain, a shortened hospital stay, fewer infections and less scarring.

Nearly 20 years later, the company has developed several models of this surgical system and even offers a training program that brings surgeons up to speed on this technology.

This system has steadily caught on in the healthcare industry; last year alone, the company’s systems were used in 650,000 procedures around the world.

ISRG stock is up more than 30% so far this year, but that is still just the beginning for this next generation healthcare company.

Get up to 14 dividend paychecks per month from safe, reliable stocks with The Monthly Dividend Paycheck Calendar, an easy-to-use system that shows you which dividend stocks to pick, when to buy them, when you get paid your dividends, and how much.  All you have to do is buy the stocks you like and tell them where to send your dividend payments. For more information Click Here.


Source: Investor Place 

How the Blockchain Will Lower the Cost of Imported Goods

In last week’s article, I told you that some of the world’s leading firms that are making blockchain technologies a part of their everyday business operations, benefiting both the companies and consumers. And how, using current technology, it is difficult to trace every item through every step of a supply chain that is often very lengthy and complex, involving multiple parties and multiple jurisdictions.

Let me give you a brief glimpse at shipping a product. The very long paper trail begins when a cargo owner books space on a ship to move goods. Documents need to be filled in and approved before cargo can enter or leave a port. A single shipment may require hundreds of pages that need to be physically delivered to dozens of different agencies, banks, customs bureaus, etc.

And make no mistake – shipping is the very core of global trade…

The cost and size of the world’s trading ecosystems continue to grow exponentially. More than $4 trillion in goods, including 80% of consumer goods, are carried by the ocean shipping industry. Just about every item in your home today arrived there via a vast network that transports everything from food and medicine to apparel and electronics from around the world. Total trade represents 60% of the world’s GDP, and yet global supply chains are clogged with inefficiencies and heavily reliant on complex paper-based systems that I described above.

Related: Free Gold-Plated Bitcoins Available to the First 100 Investors

However, distributed ledger technology is changing the equation. For example, even Brexit Britain is looking at how the technology makes Brexit a smoother process.

You see, certificates of origin, typically provided by chambers of commerce, are needed to prove where goods were made for customs purposes. If the U.K. after Brexit is no longer in a customs union with the EU, it will be subject to complex “rules of origin” and companies will need to show which part of which product was made where in order to benefit from preferential trade deals.

The number of certificates of origin needed will likely rise sharply after Brexit. Such documents, and the many other requirements for exporting goods, could be digitized and shared through a blockchain. A standardized process could simplify and make it easier to check many parts of the supply chain including customs declarations, bills of lading [certifications of ship loads] and letters of credit. Shipments entered in a blockchain will remain there forever and can be tracked via a QR code.

Even if Britain does not go down this path, there are companies are the forefront of using blockchain to track shipments around the world.

IBM and Maersk Partner

One company leading the way in practical applications of blockchain technology is IBM (NYSE: IBM). It is teaming up with the world’s largest container shipping company A.P. Moller-Maersk (OTC: AMKBY) to help make companies’ supply chain more efficient and safer through the use of blockchain. The joint venture – 51% owned by Maersk and 49% by IBM – also hopes to automate and digitize the filing of paperwork for shipping cargoes.

The goal is to use distributed ledger technology to create an unchangeable record of transactions along a supply chain that can be shared in real time with whichever companies are necessary. The technology would allow companies at different stages of the supply chain to see the information they need about each transaction in one flow of information.

The two companies began testing the system as early as 2016 and ran a pilot program in 2017, which involved major businesses such as DowDuPont, the ports of Houston and Rotterdam, and the US and Dutch customs authorities. Other companies that are very interested in this new platform include the likes of General Motors and Procter & Gamble, as well as the port operator in Singapore, PSA International and the port operator based in the Netherlands, APM Terminals. The new venture may begin full operations later in 2018 and, on its first day, it will be tracking 18% of containerized sea trade.

A Revolution in Shipping

While there are competing platforms being developed, this is a real opportunity for IBM and Maersk since it is estimated that businesses spend up to 20% of the cost to transport their goods on processing documents and administration. The cost savings, of up to 15% says IBM, for companies should show up on their financial statements within two years.

The adoption of blockchain technology in shipping will reshape the the industry as it has not been since the move to standard containers in the 1960s. But to make it work, dozens of shipping lines and thousands of related businesses around the world — including manufacturers, banks, insurers, brokers and port authorities — will have to agree to standards and work out a protocol that can integrate all the new systems onto one vast platform.

Related: Buy These 3 Leading Blockchain Technology Stocks

When this eventually does happen, documentation that takes days will eventually be done in minutes, much of it without the need for human input. And the cost of moving goods across the world would likely drop dramatically, adding fresh impetus to the globalization that President Trump is fighting so hard against.

The adoption of blockchain in trade would do so much more too. The World Economic Forum estimated that just improving communications and border administration using blockchain could generate an additional $1 trillion in global trade. IBM and Maersk believe global trade volumes would rise by 15% when blockchain becomes the norm in the industry.

Change in the shipping industry is inevitable and is coming quickly. IBM and Maersk should be two of the main beneficiaries. Next week, I will bring you more companies developing practical uses for blockchain technology.

Free Gold-Plated Bitcoin to the First 100 Respondents

I’ve recently gotten my hands on 100 gold-plated commemorative Bitcoins like the one pictured below.

I’d like to send you one as part of my newly published research on investing in “Bitcoin Dividends”… one of the safest ways to profit from the Blockchain revolution.

It’s a revolution that’s moved beyond just Bitcoin and cryptos and into corporate boardrooms and IT departments at companies like Walmart, British Airways, FedEx, American Express and many more Fortune 500 companies.

And I discovered a way that you can collect dividends from this all without having to own or mine or even think about Bitcoin.

There are only a few of these coins left so if you’re even remotely interested I suggest you check out my exclusive briefing on how to earn dividends from Bitcoin.

Get up to 14 dividend paychecks per month from safe, reliable stocks with The Monthly Dividend Paycheck Calendar, an easy-to-use system that shows you which dividend stocks to pick, when to buy them, when you get paid your dividends, and how much.  All you have to do is buy the stocks you like and tell them where to send your dividend payments. For more information Click Here.

Our Favorite Defense Stock to Buy Has Transitioned into a Tech Juggernaut

If you’ve been following our recommendations over the years, you should beam over The Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) stock. Since the election in November 2016, shares of this defense stock are up 158%, absolutely crushing the market.

Here’s an eye-opener for you – Amazon.com Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN) is up “only” 126% over that same span. Over the past five years, Boeing stock is up a whopping 248%.

Of course, Boeing’s reputation took a big hit in April when a passenger was tragically killed in one of its airplanes. An engine failed on a Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) flight, leading to the horrific accident.

Predictably, investors reacted in a negative way. But Money Morning Defense and Tech Specialist Michael A. Robinson said that turning away from Boeing would be a big mistake.

In his recent report, he made it clear the accident was a wake-up call for airlines and the manufacturers. Indeed, passengers who typically dismiss the safety warnings given before takeoff started to pay closer attention. A photo taken by a passenger on that doomed flight showed other passengers using their safety masks incorrectly. (Money Morning Executive Editor Bill Patalon also addressed this tragedy here.)

However, everyone should take note that flying in the United States is still one of the safest ways to travel. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported that domestic passenger traffic reached 741.6 million in 2017. As tragic as it is to lose one life – the first one since 2009 – the safety record here is still excellent.

Fast Money: This powerful secret made one man a millionaire. Now he’s sharing it live on camera – find out how you could use it to become $2,918 richer in less than a minuteClick here…

Boeing itself felt the pressure from the accident, as well as news of a possible trade war with China. But within days, the company reported record earnings from aviation and growth in defense spending.

In the last month alone, this defense stock is up another 5.8%.

And demand remains incredibly strong. The company said it needs to build over 41,000 planes over the next two decades to keep up with that demand. That’s a bonanza of over $6.1 trillion.

A lot of that will be fueled by growth in Asia, thanks to a booming middle class.

But that’s not the only catalyst for Boeing stock. You see, this aerospace and defense company has transitioned itself into a full-fledged tech juggernaut…

This Defense Stock Has Become the Best Kept Secret in Tech

While everyone knows Boeing is one of the top producers of airplanes in the world, they may not fully understand that it’s also one of the top suppliers to the Pentagon. That puts it in the sweet spot as Washington looks to beef up the military.

The Boeing DefenseSpace & Security division is a leading provider of jet fighters, helicopters, and, more recently, airborne drones. This division has brought in $70 billion in sales over the past five years.

Boeing’s AH-64 Apache, for example, is the world’s most advanced multirole combat helicopter.

You’ve also probably heard of the B-52 bomber and F/A 18 Super Hornet fighter. Yep, both Boeing’s.

And not to be left out, the company bolstered its drone effort with the October 2107 purchase of Aurora Flights Sciences Corp.

But the more mundane is not forgotten, either. The company is pushing into cargo air vehicles and even aircraft servicing.

If you thought tech stocks only came from Silicon Valley, think again. With its efforts in aviation, military, drones, passenger travel, cargo delivery, and even troop travel, you can bet Boeing will be on top for decades to come.

And if that were not cool enough, Boeing was NASA’s primary contractor to develop and build the International Space Station (ISS). Even today, its space division continues to provide engineering and management under extended contracts. Why is this important? Because Washington is also thinking about privatizing the operations of the ISS.

Boeing’s financials aren’t bad, either. After leading the Dow Jones Industrial Average higher last year, Wall Street thinks there is plenty left to go. For example, Cowen and Co. has a $430 price target on the stock (it closed at $360.10 Tuesday), calling it undervalued.

Get up to 14 dividend paychecks per month from safe, reliable stocks with The Monthly Dividend Paycheck Calendar, an easy-to-use system that shows you which dividend stocks to pick, when to buy them, when you get paid your dividends, and how much.  All you have to do is buy the stocks you like and tell them where to send your dividend payments. For more information Click Here.

Is This What Will Save Apple?

Apple’s annual developers conference kicks off on June 4. Apple watchers always keep a close eye on the conference for a sense of the company’s priorities for the next year. In the past, Apple has used the conference to roll out new products for developers to build augmented reality applications, medical research apps and more.

So what can we expect this year?

I think there will be a lot of news surrounding the true growth area of Apple’s business – the company’s software and services segment. There may be a new version of the software that runs the iPhone and iPad (iOS 12?). And a new version of the operating system for MAC is also likely as well as new software for the Apple Watch and Apple TV. Hopefully, there will be an upgrade to Siri’s intelligence – it is so much ‘dumber’ than Alexa right now.

Apple’s Growth Driver – Services

While most on Wall Street are focused on iPhone sales, I’m much more interested in Apple’s “Services” business which has become the company’s second-largest source of revenues. Businesses such as the App Store, Apple Music and iCloud storage brought in more than $9 billion last quarter, a 31% year-on-year gain. CEO Tim Cook has set a target for the business of $50 billion in annual revenues by the end of 2020.

Unlike the volatility surrounding iPhone sales, Apple’s services business has been a model of consistency, averaging a year-on-year growth rate since 2006 of 23%. It is interesting to note that according to Gene Munster – the former Apple analyst turned tech investor through Loup Ventures – that if Apple’s services businesses were valued like other SaaS (software as a service) companies, it would have a valuation of about $380 billion!

The reason why revenues at Apple’s services business has doubled in four years is straightforward – it has an installed base of more than 1.3 billion devices worldwide, up from one billion devices at the end of 2015. Tim Cook said, “With that kind of change in the installed base, with the services we have now and others that we are working on, I think this is just a huge opportunity for us.”

And it is, as Apple joins in on the fast-growing ‘subscription economy’. Subscriptions are a big part of the services business predictability. The number of paid subscriptions to Apple’s own services, including Music, as well as third-party apps that charge through the App Store (such as Netflix and Spotify), has grown to 270 million. That total has soared by 100 million in the last year alone!. Apple gets a cut of subscriptions sold through its App Store.

The Future for Apple’s Services Business

Some on Wall Street believe the current growth spurt in services will not last much longer, as growth in the installed base flattens out.

I disagree… I think Apple has more “tricks up its sleeve.” In other words, more levers to pull to grow in services. One of these is ‘Project Titan’…

Wall Street may be disappointed that Apple has toned down its ambitions with regard to self-driving vehicles (Project Titan). I am not… it’s not easy building cars from scratch… just ask Elon Musk and Tesla about that.

Instead, Apple is focusing on providing software to vehicle makers – it is currently working with Volkswagen – to give riders an ‘Apple experience’.  Apple also now has the second-biggest fleet (55) of autonomous vehicles that is being tested on California roads. Apple’s fleet has expanded quickly over recent months. After first receiving a permit to test just three autonomous vehicles in April 2017, the number of vehicles jumped to 27 in January. It has more than doubled since then to 55 vehicles. That leaves Apple second only to General Motors Cruise, which has 110 cars testing on California’s roads.

I find myself in agreement with a recent note to clients from Morgan Stanley that said Wall Street is undervaluing Apple’s services business that includes healthcare, augmented reality and original content too. It called services Apple’s “primary growth engine”, predicting the company’s services business will represent 67% of Apple’s sale growth over the next five years.

Morgan Stanley added that “We don’t see services growth slowing anytime soon.” And they’re right – it won’t be the iPhone that pushes the company through the $1 trillion valuation, it will Apple’s fast-growing services business.

Plan B Investing: Mark Zuckerberg’s Secret Plan to Make 2,524%

Famed Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been in the hot seat over privacy issues. First the U.S. Congress and now European regulators.

He’s been telling them anything they want to hear because he’s already got Plan B in place and it’s promising to be even bigger than Facebook.

He’s already put $19 billion into and has been joined by some of America’s wealthiest people including Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Michael Dell, and Mark Cuban.

Just what is Plan B?

It’s not gold, crypto or any mainstream investment but it’s set to be the most valuable asset on Earth. And if you act fast, you could earn as much as 2,524% before the year is up.

 

Buffett just went all-in on THIS new asset. Will you?
Buffett could see this new asset run 2,524% in 2018. And he's not the only one... Mark Cuban says "it's the most exciting thing I've ever seen." Mark Zuckerberg threw down $19 billion to get a piece... Bill Gates wagered $26 billion trying to control it...
What is it?
It's not gold, crypto or any mainstream investment. But these mega-billionaires have bet the farm it's about to be the most valuable asset on Earth. Wall Street and the financial media have no clue what's about to happen...And if you act fast, you could earn as much as 2,524% before the year is up.
Click here to find out what it is.

Buy This Commodity Set to Become More Precious Than Oil

Opportunities to grow your wealth do not always occur in the technology sector, although it seems that way at times. Sometimes it is the most common and mundane parts of your life that will present a fabulous way to grow the value of your portfolio.

One such example is something you and I take for granted every day here in the United States… water. You just turn on the tap and it’s there. But that’s not true elsewhere in the world and may not be true even here in the U.S. in the future.

I’m reminded of one of my favorite classic poems (published in 1798) – the Rime of the Ancient Mariner by the English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The best-known verse from the poem is: “Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink.”

Water is seemingly everywhere, covering about 70% of our planet. Yet, fresh water is extremely scarce – accounting for a mere 3% of the world’s supply. Of that amount, the vast majority is either locked up in glaciers or resides in inaccessible subterranean pockets.

And the fresh water that is accessible is not evenly distributed around the planet. For example, there is plenty of water in Siberia. But few people live there.

Of the amount of fresh water that is available, roughly 70% goes to agriculture to feed the world’s population. The enormous amount of water needed to grow the crops and livestock needed to feed and clothe the world’s growing population is creating a dire global situation.

Global Water Stress

According to the United Nations, more than 1.6 billion people are currently living in places where sustainable water use has already reached its limits. The U.N. believes that, by 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in water-stressed regions.

Related: How to Profit from Solving the World’s Water Shortage

The World Economic Forum labeled the scarcity of fresh water as the most serious problem globally at the moment in terms of economic, security and environmental risks. And the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence now ranks water scarcity as a major threat to national security alongside terrorism.

And it looks set to get even worse…

Global water consumption is forecast to rise by 85% by 2035, according to a forecast by the International Energy Agency. This could translate to 40% of the world population living with water scarcity by 2035.

Another forecast, from the International Food Policy Research Institute, predicts a 40% gap between water demand and water supplies over the next 15 years.

Water and Health

Let me give you some insight into the severity of the problem currently. In human terms, severe water stress currently affects approximately three billion people worldwide. Consider these very distressing facts courtesy of The Water Project.org regarding water and health:

  • About 1 in 9 people around the globe do not have access to clean, safe water.
  • 50% of the world’s hospital beds are filled with people suffering from water-related disease.
  • Every minute around the world, a child dies from some water-related disease.

In April 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) came out with a startling report. The WHO Director, Dr. Maria Neira, was very blunt about the findings: “Today, almost two billion people use a source of drinking water contaminated with feces, putting them at risk of cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio.”

She went on, “Contaminated drinking is estimated to cause more than 500,000 diarrheal deaths each year and is a major factor in several neglected tropical diseases including intestinal worms, schistosomiasis (parasitic worms that can attack body organs) and trachoma (bacterial infection of the eye).”

Here is just one such example… residents can’t afford wastewater sanitation facilities, so they just let the sewage flow freely into their backyards from their mobile homes. Human waste lies uncovered in soil, with children playing nearby.

The country in question here? Sadly, it is the United States. These conditions do exist in very rural sections of five southern Gulf states like Alabama, affecting more than 12 million Americans.

One example is occurring in Lowndes County, Alabama, where some people were infected with helminths. These are intestinal worms such as hookworm. Other tropical diseases can be found in this afflicted Gulf Coast region of the U.S. One of these is the infectious disease called chigas, which is spread by triatomine beetles (also known as “kissing bugs”). This disease mimics many of the symptoms of coronary heart diseases, so it often goes undiagnosed.

Water Wars

These numbers are eye-opening and show the importance of water to our health and well-being and our very existence.

Famed international and commodities investor Jim Rogers said in an interview with marketing agency Sinclair & Co., “Water is the single most important determination of civilization.” And he’s right. History shows that without water, no civilization – no matter how advanced – can survive for long.

Water’s importance hasn’t been lost on those that would take advantage of the situation either. The mainstream media has missed the fact that we may have already seen our first ‘water war’. It was conducted in the Middle East by ISIS.

At the height of its power, it controlled large swaths of land around water sources, such as the upper areas of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The Arab region contains less than 7% of the world’s water reserves and less than 1% of the flowing water. Rain there does not exceed 2% of the global average.

And in India in 2016, members of the Jat caste sabotaged a canal that brings precious water to Delhi. The city is one of the world’s largest extended urban areas. The sabotage did not end until the caste got what they wanted from the Indian politicians.

Water More Valuable Than Oil

Access to fresh, clean water is now a major investment opportunity of the 21st century. Water is currently a $600 billion market that is poised to grow to $1 trillion in a few short years — by 2020. It’s easy to see why…

The CEO of French utility Suez SA (OTC: SZEVY), Jean-Louis Chaussade, says water will become more valuable than oilas rising demand from people, industries and agriculture pressures existing supplies.

Companies worldwide are well aware of the problem they and the planet are facing. To that end, companies are investing in water-related projects at record levels. In 2016, companies invested $23.4 billion in projects to secure their water supplies, according to the environmental impact charity CDP.

The list of companies is like a who’s who of the corporate world and include the likes of Nestle’s, Danone, Kimberley Clark and Colgate-Palmolive. These firms seem to taking to heart a quote from Benjamin Franklin: “When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.” Thankfully, they are acting before the ‘well’ is actually dry.

That $23.4 billion is just the tip of the iceberg. According to the consultancy McKinsey, between now and 2030, there will need to be $7.5 trillion worth of investments needed in the sector to keep pace with the projected increased demand for fresh water.

It’s Water Infrastructure Problem Too

The problem isn’t just a water scarcity problem, but also an infrastructure problem. Globally, the problem is massive, with the World Bank estimating infrastructure spending needs to triple to $114 billion annually. And that is not counting the operating and maintenance costs.

Back here at home, the 2017 report card from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave our wastewater infrastructure a grade of D+ and our drinking water infrastructure a grade of D. These are not grades you would be happy with if your child received these in school.

This is not surprising when you consider that some water systems are more like sieves. Estimates are that leaky water pipes cost America about one trillion gallons of water annually.

The ASCE estimates our country needs $105 billion in wastewater funding now. The EPA says $271 billion will be needed over the next 25 years on wastewater spending. On the drinking water side, the American Water Works Association believes upgrades to our country’s creaking water infrastructure may require an astonishing one trillion dollars!

Overall, the ASCE says there is a more than $2 trillion funding gap between the projected current funding and the $4.59 trillion needed to get U.S. infrastructure up to an overall B grade by 2025.

That is music to the ears of our selection for investing in water – Xylem (NYSE: XYL).

Best Global Water Investment – Xylem

This water technology company was spun off from ITT Corporation in 2011 and included all of ITT’s water businesses. Its corporate mantra is “Let’s Solve Water” and does so through the creation of innovative solutions using ‘smart’ technology.

Xylem’s reach is truly global, generating revenues ($4.5 billion in 2016) in over 150 countries. The U.S. accounted for 46% of revenues, Western Europe for another 27% of revenues, the fast-growing emerging market segment now accounts for 20% of revenues and the rest of the world filled in the remaining 7%. In China, the company experienced a 19% rise in orders last year.

The company garners its business from several sources. Here is the breakdown of where the revenues came from in the 2016 fiscal year: public utilities – 47%, industrial firms – 37%, commercial buildings – 11%, residential buildings – 5%.

Xylem: a Closer Look

Following the acquisition of Sensus in 2016, Xylem now operates in three segments: water infrastructure (49% of 2016 revenue), applied water (31% of 2016 revenue) and Sensus (20% of 2016 revenue).

The Water Infrastructure segment includes the company’s business surrounding the sourcing, collection, treatment, and transportation of water. The primary customers in this segment are public utilities and large industrial companies. These customers use Xylem products including industrial pumps, filtration and treatment equipment, and infrastructure control systems.

This part of Xylem does a lot business in developing countries. Here are just two examples:

  • It is heavily involved in the world’s largest water reclamation and reuse installation, located in Kuwait.
  • In Shanghai, a water treatment plant is disinfecting the water using ultra-violet light technology from the company’s Wedeco unit. A similar system has also been installed in New York and Chicago.

Xylem also provides membrane-based desalination technology and components and has done so since 1975. And for more than 24 years, the company has provided pre-treatment systems to improve the performance of reverse-osmosis membranes.

The Applied Water segment involves the Xylem’s products and services sold to residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural end-users. Some of the products in this segment include pumps, valves, heat exchangers, hydro turbines, and dispensing equipment systems. Its Applied Water business focuses more on the distribution of water to households and businesses.

The third segment of Xylem’s business is Sensus. It represents the company’s largest foray into the smart technology market. Sensus is all about technology and includes a variety of smart meters, cloud-based analytics software, remote monitoring and data management systems, and smart lighting.

Tucked into this business is another 2016 acquisition – the Singapore-based water analytics company Visenti. This firm provides a suite of advanced products and services to enable smart management of water networks.

The logic of the Sensus and Visenti acquisitions is impeccable. Xylem’s smart platform can quickly identify the leaks in a water utility’s creaking water system. Then Xylem can offer its services (pipe fusion, etc.) to fix whatever the problem is.

Xylem: a Look Ahead

In the third quarter of 2017, organic top-line performance improved 5% year-over-year. This was largely driven by very robust demand from public utilities as well as stronger industrial end-market demand; although residential and commercial end-markets also did well.

I expect this number to improve further as the company’s analytics and Sensus business really get rolling. The company itself anticipates organic revenue growth of around 5% by 2020 based on the benefits of the Sensus and Visenti purchases.

Xylem should generate revenues of $4.7 billion for all of 2017. That will be year-over-year upside of about 25%, thanks to the acquisitions. Earnings per share should be around $2.40 a share.

With all the world’s water problems, I see an extended period of robust growth for Xylem, which is so uniquely positioned to meet many of the world’s water woes. Therefore, I recommend you purchase Xylem at a price up to $75 a share.

Buffett just went all-in on THIS new asset. Will you?
Buffett could see this new asset run 2,524% in 2018. And he's not the only one... Mark Cuban says "it's the most exciting thing I've ever seen." Mark Zuckerberg threw down $19 billion to get a piece... Bill Gates wagered $26 billion trying to control it...
What is it?
It's not gold, crypto or any mainstream investment. But these mega-billionaires have bet the farm it's about to be the most valuable asset on Earth. Wall Street and the financial media have no clue what's about to happen...And if you act fast, you could earn as much as 2,524% before the year is up.
Click here to find out what it is.

2 Robotics Industry ETFs Tapping into Expanding AI and Automation

The two ETFs I like are the Global X Funds Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF (Nasdaq: BOTZ) and the ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF (Nasdaq: ROBO). I am very positive on both of these ETFs and have previously recommended them to investors.

As you might surmise, there are a lot of similarities between the two funds as they both focus on what we might generally call robotics and automation.

But there are subtle differences. ROBO is older with an inception date of 10-22-2013, while BOTZ came to market on 09-12-2016. BOTZ is more liquid than ROBO with 88.9 million shares outstanding and an average trading volume of about two million shares a day. That compares with ROBO’s 53 million shares outstanding and average daily trading volume in the range of 700,000 shares.

BOTZ does have an edge when it comes to expenses with a lower expense ratio than ROBO – 0.68% versus 0.95% – which factors into the long-term performance of any fund or ETF.

Portfolio Differences

Most important, of course, when comparing the two ETFs is the difference in their portfolios. And here BOTZ has a more concentrated portfolio with only 29 stocks versus the 93 stocks in the ROBO portfolio. That will likely make it somewhat more volatile and risky.

Related: Buy This Robotics Stock Before the Machines Take Over

If you look at the geographic exposure of the two funds – with my preference for exposure to the leaders in the industry, which are Japanese – here BOTZ has the upper hand with about 50% of the fund in Japanese stocks versus only 28% for ROBO.

However, when it comes down to the actual stocks in the portfolios, both are outstanding. That’s why I’m adding both to our own portfolio. Here are the top 10 positions for each ETF:

Top 10 Positions for the Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF

  1. Nvidia
  2. Yaskawa Electric (Japan)
  3. Fanuc Corporation (Japan)
  4. Keyence Corporation (Japan)
  5. Intuitive Surgical
  6. Mitsubishi Electric (Japan)
  7. ABB Ltd. (Europe)
  8. SMC Corporation (Japan)
  9. Daifuku Company Ltd. (Japan)
  10. Omron Corporation (Japan)

 

Top 10 Positions for the ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF

  1. iRobot
  2. Daifuku Company Ltd. (Japan)
  3. IPG Photonics
  4. Nabtesco Corporation (Japan)
  5. Hiwin Technologies (Taiwan)
  6. Yaskawa Electric (Japan)
  7. Fanuc Corporation (Japan)
  8. Intuitive Surgical
  9. Mazor Robotics
  10. Oceaneering International

Over the past year, BOTZ returned 27% while ROBO gained 21%, both easily outperforming the S&P 500 index. As you can see they were both on a tear and shot up too fast right before the February correction. They’ve since dropped back down in what one might call consolidation. With the bright future I see for the robotics industry, I expect the outperformance to start again and to continue for many years.

3 Tech Stocks That Could Go to 2,524%!

Don’t risk your money on IPOs, risky tech startups… or the next Pets.com, Snapchat, Groupon, Webvan hyped by the financial media as the next big thing… all of them black holes for investors’ hard earned money. Instead, bank on these 3 high-growth tech stocks that offer a high likelihood of outperformance in the near-term, and a chance of TRIPLING – even quadrupling – before the end of the year!

Buffett just went all-in on THIS new asset. Will you?
Buffett could see this new asset run 2,524% in 2018. And he's not the only one... Mark Cuban says "it's the most exciting thing I've ever seen." Mark Zuckerberg threw down $19 billion to get a piece... Bill Gates wagered $26 billion trying to control it...
What is it?
It's not gold, crypto or any mainstream investment. But these mega-billionaires have bet the farm it's about to be the most valuable asset on Earth. Wall Street and the financial media have no clue what's about to happen...And if you act fast, you could earn as much as 2,524% before the year is up.
Click here to find out what it is.

7 Triple-A Stocks to Buy — With 100% Street Support

Which top stocks are Wall Street analysts the most bullish on? Stocks with no “hold” or “sell” ratings and a pure “Strong Buy” analyst consensus. These are the stocks that make the most compelling investing opportunities and are definitely worth keeping a close eye on.

Using TipRanks powerful stock screener, I set out to pinpoint seven stocks that command the unanimous support of the Street. You can customize the screener settings to match your investment strategy. In this case, I selected filters for stocks of all market cap size with a “Strong Buy” consensus from analysts and best-performing analysts alike. These are the top analysts with the highest success rate and average return.

Here I specifically select stocks with big upside potential from the current share price. This is based on the upside potential from the current share price to the average analyst price target.

Now let’s delve into these seven top stocks to buy now:

Stocks to Buy With 100% Street Support: Alibaba (BABA)

Does Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (NYSE:BABA) ever disappoint? With 11 back-to-back analyst ‘buy’ ratings and an average price target of $247 (27% upside potential) it looks like the answer is a resounding no. On May 18 top-rated MKM Partners’ analyst Rob Sanderson has just ramped up his price target from $260 to $280. He is now predicting big upside potential of 44% from the current share price. Bear in mind that last year share prices exploded over 60%.

Sanderson is feeling the heat following the company’s “strong quarter and encouraging outlook”. Most notably he believes “the narrative on the stock is shifting from concern over investment spending to a focus on profit growth and long-term opportunity.” For Sanderson the company’s big spending projects (think the Cainiao logistics platform, Lazada in Southeast Asia, and food delivery platform Ele.me), are “absolutely” worthwhile.

And don’t forget Alibaba’s new retail strategy. The company’s goal to mix online and offline retail is changing the face of retail in China. For example, smart pop-up stores are connected to BABA’s Alipay online payment system while facial recognition technology is used to track customers. According to Sanderson: “We think this business will ultimately be as high a margin, or better than the existing marketplace model.”

Stocks to Buy With 100% Street Support: Electronic Arts (EA)

Electronic Arts Inc. EA Stock Is Simply Too Cheap Right Now

Source: Shutterstock

‘An embarrassment of riches.’ This is how Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter describes the fiscal Q4 results from video game giant Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA). Even though Epic’s Fortnite is the hottest game on the internet, nothing can stop EA’s soaring success right now.

Top Jefferies analyst Timothy O’Shea puts his spin on the results here: “EA is now the third straight US video game publisher to post strong results despite Fortnite being the hottest game in years, suggesting Fortnite is more about expanding the market than cannibalizing it.” He has a $150 price target on EA (14% upside potential).

Specifically, EPS of $1.28 was well ahead of $1.16 consensus and full year guide of $4.85 seems conservative. At the same time, EA announced a huge new buyback of $2.4 billion over 2 years, double the current buyback. And looking forward, O’Shea is confident that “The F’19 setup seems very strong with the release slate anchored by FIFA and Battlefield, EA’s two biggest franchises.”

Clearly the Street is in one mind here. In the last three months, EA has received 10 consecutive ‘buy’ ratings. This comes with a $146 price target (11% upside potential).

Stocks to Buy With 100% Street Support: American Tower Corp (AMT)

Source: Shutterstock

American Tower Corp (NYSE:AMT) is capitalizing on the robust demand for telecommunications tower space. The company operates towers and distributed antenna systems in the US, Mexico, Brazil and India. “The strong demand we experienced in late 2017 for our telecommunications real estate further accelerated in 1Q 2018” commented CEO James Taiclet in the company’s recent earnings call.

And the future is just as bright: “We remain confident that our U.S. macro tower business, complemented by our franchise small cell installations, extensive international portfolio and innovation initiatives will continue to drive strong growth and attractive total returns for many years to come.”

The Street agrees — 5 analysts have published recent AMT buy ratings. One of these is top-rated Oppenheimer analyst Timothy Horan. In the next two years, 4G advanced LTE is likely to be aggressively deployed to support massive wireless data growth. This drives demand for tower leases, which have pricing power on limited supply. Consequently, Horan is expecting double-digit revenue growth for AMT with a 15% free cash flow growth. Bear in mind AMT already “has the strongest balance sheet in the group.”

Our data shows that the average analyst price target of $158 indicates 15% upside potential.

Stocks to Buy With 100% Street Support: uniQure NV (QURE)

Source: Shutterstock

Dutch biotech company uniQure N.V. (NASDAQ:QURE) is staging a comeback right now. And what a comeback! The creator of the world’s first gene editing therapy, QURE is now focusing on treating haemophilia. This bleeding disorder represents a much larger market opportunity than its previous drug Glybera.

UniQure plans to kick-off a late-stage study of its hemophilia therapy, AMT-061, in Q3. The goal is to beat larger rivals Spark Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:ONCE) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) with a 2020 launch. Luckily HC Wainwright analyst Debjit Chattopadhyay calculates that “Pfizer might be in a position to initiate patient screening during 1Q19, which puts uniQure at least six months ahead and armed with the patent family covering mPADUA, which gives uniQure significant commercial leverage, in our view.”

Meanwhile, in a very bullish move, top Leerink Swann analyst Joseph Schwartz ramped up his price target from $26 to $63 (107% upside potential). According to Schwartz, this is based on the eyebrow-raising pricing estimates for AMT-061 of $1.5 million per patient in the U.S. and $1 million per patient in the EU.

Plus uniQure is increasingly looking like a prime takeover target for larger biotechs with an eye on the potentially very lucrative gene therapy space. Overall we can see that QURE has received six recent ‘buy ratings’. Their average price target of $45 indicates 44% upside potential.

Stocks to Buy With 100% Street Support: Equinix (EQIX)

This internet-connection specialist is certainly worth checking out. With four recent analyst ‘buy’ ratings and big upside potential of 37%, this stock is going places. Equinix Inc (NASDAQ:EQIX) has just announced new expansions in Amsterdam, Tokyo and Zurich to meet strong momentum in Europe and Asia-Pacific. It is now the market leader in 16 of the 24 countries in which it operates.

This comes on the back of a solid first quarter. Oppenheimer analyst Timothy Horan points out that “bookings remained very strong according to Equinix.” But ultimately the bottom line is that “EQIX is seeing strong demand from enterprises adopting hybrid cloud strategies; its datacenters are the key interconnection point between on-premise and the cloud.” He has just reiterated his ‘buy’ rating with a $525 price target (36% upside potential).

Note that this Top 50-ranked analyst tends to be on the money when it comes to stock picking. On EQIX specifically he is currently tracking a 78% success rate and 17% average return.

Stocks to Buy With 100% Street Support: FedEx (FDX)

FedEx stock

Delivery giant FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX) is firing on all cylinders. The company boasts the leading market share in both “express” U.S. parcel delivery and a strong position in its expanding FedEx Ground segment. Luckily for FedEX, both these segments are quickly gaining ground via e-commerce volume.

Top Oppenheimer analyst Scott Schneeberger has just attended a FedEX investor meeting. He notes: “FedEx is clearly upbeat on business conditions across its segments.” In particular, “F3Q18 total revenue growth accelerated to the double-digits y/y, which we anticipate to perpetuate in F4Q18.”

All this leads him to his bullish conclusion: “Anticipating continued US/global economic growth, we expect overall margin expansion via mid-single digit top-line growth, efficiencies, and TNT synergies longer term.” FedEx acquired Netherlands-based TNT Express for a whopping $4.8 billion back in 2015. Although a massive cyberattack left a ‘lingering impact’ on TNT, ultimately favorable business conditions/effective execution mean that FedEx still sees a FY17-FY20 $1.2-1.5B Express operating income improvement.

Schneeberger has a $282 price target on FedEx — which translates into 13% upside potential. However, the Street is more bullish- the average analyst price target of $293 suggests 17% upside potential. In the last three months, nine analysts have published buy ratings on FedEx.

Stocks to Buy With 100% Street Support: Delta Airlines (DAL)

delta stock

Source: via Delta

Are you ready to fly? It’s time for Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) stock to move higher. This is according to Morgan Stanley’s Rajeev Lalwani. He believes the stock is currently unfairly valued. Delta is trading at approx 8x 2019 consensus EPS, which is “just too low.” Instead Lalwani calls a valuation on 11x multiple on 2019 estimates “about right.” He has now pushed his price target from $66 to $72 (36% upside potential).

DAL deserves a higher valuation says Lalwani when you consider the following: a strong free-cash flow yield, “billions in capital returns, and an investment-grade balance sheet.” Most impressively, a free cash flow yield estimate of 10-12% in 2018 and 2019 is “well in excess” of peers.

Indeed, even with high oil prices, Delta still reported a strong first quarter. “Our economic outlook for the year is strong, both domestically and internationally,” CEO Edward Bastian said. “There is a resiliency we have created in our business structure that we have not seen over time.” In total, DAL scores 8 buy ratings with an average price target of $74. As shares are now at $53, this translates into big upside potential of 40%.

Source: Investor Place 

10 Little-Known Stocks That Could Be Huge

Source: Shutterstock

The 10-year U.S. Treasury has crossed the rubicon. It is now flashing a yield that is over the 3% mark. What befalls the economy when that happens? Recession? Correction? A grinding bear market?

Nope. Nothing really. It is more a measure of inflation and economic growth, and far more psychological than it is a real indicator of something significant.

But the kernel of truth that it does represent is a new stage of growth in the economy. The big, safe stocks will keep chugging along, but smaller companies can grow faster than big ones in a faster-paced economy.

That means asset managers — and smart individual investors — will start moving money into small- and mid-cap stocks to take advantage of accelerating growth.

Below are 10 little-known stocks that could be huge in coming years, and now is a good time to establish a foothold, while they’re still cheap and relatively undiscovered. Just remember, these stocks will be volatile, so don’t expect a smooth ride.

Little-Known Stocks to Buy: Mastech Digital (MHH)

Little-Known Stocks to Buy: Mastech Digital (MHH)

Source: Shutterstock

Mastech Digital Inc (NYSEAMERICAN:MHH) is up 67% year to date and has a market cap of a mere $92 million.

MHH is a 21st century version of a temp firm. It’s a temp firm to IT personnel.

The thing is, millennials and Gen Zers are not looking to be the kind of 9-5 employees that previous generations considered the way to go about a career position.

Coders, devs, systems admins, etc. don’t see systems in a 9-5 world. The tech world is 24/7, so when they work is more flexible and not as predictable. They work around the tech. And that makes Mastech a great draw for talent as well as clients. Plus, many of these jobs are high paying, so Mastech has great margins, since it’s not trying to sell desk jockeys or maintenance workers.

Little-Known Stocks to Buy: Summit State Bank (SSBI)

Little-Known Stocks to Buy: Summit State Bank (SSBI)

Source: Shutterstock

Summit State Bank (NASDAQ:SSBI) is a small commercial bank headquartered in Santa Rosa, CA, which is just north of Silicon Valley and San Francisco.

When the economy starts to expand, it creates more opportunities for entrepreneurs to strike out on their own. And there are few sectors where this trend is more reliable than tech.

As a bank focused on getting involved in small and medium-sized businesses, SSBI should see a lot of business in coming quarters. Already this year, SSBI stock is up more than 20% and it’s still delivering a 3.1% dividend on top of that.

And as rates rise, that gives SSBI more ability to generate higher profits between what it borrows at and what it lends at.

Little-Known Stocks to Buy: Northern Technologies (NTIC)

Little-Known Stocks to Buy: Northern Technologies (NTIC)

Northern Technologies International Corporation(NASDAQ:NTIC) is one of those companies that has built a strong reputation in the industries it serves but is such a niche player, many investors outside these industries don’t know it exists.

And as a firm with a $144 million market cap, it also has gotten lost in the big-cap buying that has dominated the markets for so long.

But it deserves its day in the sun, which has arrived.

Founded in 1970, NTIC specializes in corrosion inhibiting products and corrosion management solutions, predominantly for the oil and gas business. Think about keeping tank farms rust free, or keeping equipment on drilling platforms — either on land or offshore — operational and free of rust. It’s a big job, and NTIC is one of the industry leaders.

As U.S. energy production rises, so will the fortunes of NTIC.

Little-Known Stocks to Buy: Synalloy (SYNL)

 

Synalloy Corp (NASDAQ:SYNL) makes stainless steel and carbon steel piping as well as specialty chemicals. That alone isn’t going to get many heartbeats racing.

However, when you add to this description that it specializes in the oil and gas industry and has been a player there since 1945, your pulse may quicken a bit.

Its chemicals are used to maintain tank farms as well as water storage containers (think fracking wastewater). Its pipes are in demand on rigs, in storage farms and at fracking operations.

As the U.S. energy industry starts to build, so will the opportunities for SYNL.

Up almost 39% year to date, with a $163 million market cap, there’s still plenty of growth left here.

Little-Known Stocks to Buy: Baycom (BCML)

Little-Known Stocks to Buy: Baycom (BCML)

BayCom Corp (NASDAQ:BCML) is a $1.2 billion bank that is located just outside San Francisco, in Walnut Creek, CA. After trading over the counter for a while, in late April it IPO’d on NASDAQ.

The IPO brought in an additional $50 million and it currently trades with a market cap around $240 million.

BCML has been on an acquisition run of late and it looks like it’s focusing on buying local banks in tech-centric areas. This would fit into the new strategy in banking where some of these boutique banks focus on helping get small and medium-sized business up and running instead losing this business to VCs.

Since this is a new iteration of BCML stock, the bet here is that its past success will be multiplied now that it has more capital access.

Little-Known Stocks to Buy:Sinovac (SVA)

Little-Known Stocks to Buy:Sinovac (SVA)

Source: Shutterstock

Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (NASDAQ:SVA) is a native Chinese biotech company that is focused on the Chinese market, and its key drugs are vaccines.

This is interesting on two fronts. First, vaccines are a good way for Chinese firms to enter into the pharmaceutical business because they are highly beneficial and if made locally, can be very cost effective.

For a nation that is looking to move from developing nation status to developed nation status, a healthy population and a solid healthcare system is an important factor.

Given this, SVA will get support from the government as it builds its expertise and reputation. What’s more, vaccines are proving to be highly effective in treating certain diseases as well as preventing them. This next-generation of vaccines could have significant potential.

But for now, the Chinese demand for improved native healthcare solutions is a key driver.

Little-Known Stocks to Buy: Legacy Resources (LGCY)

Little-Known Stocks to Buy: Legacy Resources (LGCY)

Source: Shutterstock

Legacy Resources LP (NASDAQ:LGCY) is an oil and gas limited partnership that focuses on exploration and production of properties in Texas, the Rocky Mountains and mid-continent fields.

The stock has risen from around $1 a share in the past year to about $8 today. And its market cap is almost $650 million at this point.

Just remember, LGCY is leveraged to the price of oil and natural gas. This is fundamentally a leveraged bet on energy prices. Also, the Donald Trump administration has talked about changing the rules related to limited partnerships, which may affect LGCY’s 7.2% dividend.

But at this point, with the summer driving season upon us, this one looks like it has some legs left, especially if tensions in the Middle East continue to run high.

Little-Known Stocks to Buy: Profire Energy (PFIE)

Little-Known Stocks to Buy: Profire Energy (PFIE)

Source: Shutterstock

Profire Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:PFIE) is a niche player in the oil and natural gas sector. And as this sector makes its resurgence along with the global economy, its business is ready to grow.

As a matter of fact, PFIE stock is already up 140% so far this year.

Profire specializes in burner management. In the oil and natural gas industry, various equipment like line heaters, separators, dehydrators and amine reboilers are used to make and transport petrochemicals. These applications require heat, and that’s where PFIE products come into play.

Founded in Canada, it has reach across the entire North American energy patch. And as more pipelines and wellheads open up, so will PFIE’s business.

Little-Known Stocks to Buy: Xcerra (XCRA)

Little-Known Stocks to Buy: Xcerra (XCRA)

Source: Shutterstock

Xcerra Corp (NASDAQ:XCRA) is fundamentally in the business of making and operating semiconductor testing equipment.

While this has been a traditionally cyclical market, the fact is, now that more and more “dumb” devices are now becoming “smart,” chipmakers are able to create longer tails on their chip production. That makes the lag between new generations of chips shorter and provides more stability for companies like XCRA.

Also, since there are growing uses for chips, XCRA is in a much better position than big chipmakers since they are constantly under pressure to innovate to keep up with current technological demands, whereas XCRA simply needs to make sure its diagnostic and performance equipment can deliver the results clients are looking for.

Up  38% this year, and sporting a $745 million market cap, this one could be moving up to the mid-cap sector pretty soon.

Little-Known Stocks to Buy: SunRun (RUN)

Little-Known Stocks to Buy: SunRun (RUN)

Source: Shutterstock

SunRun Inc (NASDAQ:RUN) is a solar company that focuses on residential rooftop solar.

Alternative energy stocks have been up and down since the Trump administration has taken office. When subsidies and government support were coming apart and energy was put into reviving fossil fuel industries, renewables were under threat.

But recent tariff talk, especially regarding China, has given a boost to renewables again. China has been dumping solar panels on the U.S. market, hurting domestic producers.

Also, solar has hit an inflection point, and many companies are building in financing options for solar panels and more and more consumers are seeing the advantages of energy savings and independence.

Up more than 80% year to date, and carrying a respectable $1.2 billion market cap, RUN is a good choice in this growth sector.

Get up to 14 dividend paychecks per month from safe, reliable stocks with The Monthly Dividend Paycheck Calendar, an easy-to-use system that shows you which dividend stocks to pick, when to buy them, when you get paid your dividends, and how much.  All you have to do is buy the stocks you like and tell them where to send your dividend payments. For more information Click Here.


Source: Investor Place 

7 Cheap Stocks to Invest In NOW

Source: Shutterstock

Investors typically overlook cheap stocks. It’s easy to conflate the word “cheap” with the lack of value or even with underperformance. These are only investments that suckers would buy, right?

Wrong.

There are plenty of “cheap” stocks that have solid charts. The ones listed below, in particular, look especially close to a breakout.

That’s not to say cheap stocks can’t blow up in your face. They sure can. But if you find the right ones like we believe we have, then you can reap the high reward for taking the high risk.

Read on to find out what cheap stocks to invest in today:

Cheap Stocks to Invest in Today: Northern Oil and Gas (NOG)

Shares of Northern Oil & Gas, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:NOG) are breaking up and out of a year-to-date downtrend range with a move above its 50-day moving average for a gain of 8%. Watch for a move back to its January high, which would be worth a move of nearly 60% from current levels.

Shares are well off of the highs above $17 set back in 2014. But with crude oil pushing over the $70-a-barrel threshold once more, shares look ready for a sustained uptrend.

The company reported results this morning, with earnings of 17 cents per share beating estimates by five cents on a 61.8% rise in revenues. Daily production exceeded guidance by 35% on an annual basis.

Management raised their full-year production guidance as well, barging an increase of upwards of 30% from last year.

Cheap Stocks to Invest in Today: Yamana Gold (AUY)

With the job market continuing to tighten and inflationary pressures building, precious metals look ready for a leg higher. And that should benefit the beaten down gold mining sector, which has been in a sideways doldrum since late 2016.

Yamaha Gold Inc (NYSE:AUY) should catch a tailwind, setting up a run at the January high for a gain of nearly 30% from current levels.

The company will next report results on July 26 after the close. Analysts are looking for earnings of three cents per share on revenues of $488.8 million.

When the company last reported on May 2, a loss of 17 cents per share missed estimates by 18 cents on an 11.4% rise in revenues.

Cheap Stocks to Invest in Today: Nokia (NOK)

Nokia (NYSE:NOK) shares have pushed up and out of double-top resistance going back to February, returning to the trading range seen last summer. This caps a 35% rally off of the lows seen back in December.

The stock has been rangebound since late 2013 as it tries to engineer a comeback after badly bungling the smartphone revolution. Analyst sentiment is turning around, however, as it focuses on providing infrastructure products and services to the wireless industry.

The company will nexts report results on July 26 before the bell. Analysts are looking for earnings of four cents per share on revenues of $5.2 billion.

When the company last reported on April 26, results missed estimates on an 8.5% decline in revenues amid an ongoing focus on cost cutting ahead of hopes for revenue growth via the rollout of the 5G wireless standard.

Cheap Stocks to Invest in Today: BlackBerry (BB)

BlackBerry (NYSE:BB) shares look set to rise up and out of a three-month consolidation range — which in turn, marked. Return to the trading range seen last fall — potentially setting up a return to its January high.

That would be worth a gain of more than 30% from current levels. Shares are only now beginning to recover from a negative response to the reporting of quarterly results back in late March.

The company will next report results on June 21 before the bell. Analysts are looking for a breakeven result on revenues of $210 million.

When it last reported on March 28, earnings of five cents per share beat estimates despite a 16.4% decline in revenues. Gross margins hit a record of 76%.

Cheap Stocks to Invest in Today: Mattel (MAT)

Mattel (NYSE:MAT) shares look ready to bounce off of multi-month support with an upward cross of its 50-day moving average.

Sentiment has been a drag in the wake of the Toys R Us bankruptcy and widespread trouble in the toys industry. But with the retailer’s liquidation over, the stage is set for a turnaround.

The company will next report results on July 26 after the close. Analysts are looking for a loss of 29 cents per share on revenues of $885.7 million.

When the company last reported on April 26, a loss of 60 cents per share missed estimates by 21 cents on a 3.7% decline in revenues. Gross margins fell by 3.8%.

Cheap Stocks to Invest in Today: Supervalu (SVU)

SuperValu (NYSE:SVU) shares are peaking up and out of a long, bottom-forming trading range going back to October setting up what looks like a possible run at the 200-day moving average.

That level hasn’t been crossed since late 2016 as worries about retailing and the threat to the traditional grocery business from Amazon has weighed. But now, the industry is fighting back and M&A rumors are swirling.

The company will next report results on July 24 after the close. Analysts are looking for earnings of 63 cents per share on revenues of $4.8 billion. When the company last reported on April 24, earnings of 86 cents per share beat estimates by seven cents on a 42% rise in revenues.

Cheap Stocks to Invest in Today: Uranium Energy Corp. (UEC)

Uranium Energy (NYSE:UEC) shares are emerging out of a February-April trading range to move in on its January high. A rally back to the $2-a-share level would be worth a 20% gain from here.

The stock has been trendless and rangebound for years as nuclear energy has lost favor with politicians, who battle back and forth between renewables and “clean” fossil fuel alternatives like clean coal (a favorite of the Trump Administration).

But a turnaround could be underway if Trump adopts more of an “all of the above” approach, and reconsiders nuclear.

When the company last reported back on December 11, a loss of three cents per share just missed the single analyst estimate by a penny.

Anthony Mirhaydari is the founder of the Edge (ETFs) and Edge Pro (Options) investment advisory newsletters. Free two- and four-week trial offers have been extended to InvestorPlace readers.

 

Can a $10 Bill Really Fund Your Retirement? The digital currency markets are delivering profits unlike anything we’ve ever seen. ​23 recently doubled in a single week. And some like DubaiCoin have jumped as much as 8,200X in value in 18 months. It’ unprecedented... but you won’t receive any of the rewards unless you put a little money in the game. Find out how $10 could make you rich HERE. ​



Source: Investor Place

10 Small-Cap Stocks With Large-Cap Potential

Source: Shutterstock

Small-cap stocks. They fly under the radars of most investors, who struggle to look past behemoths like Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and familiar names like Facebook, Inc. (NASDAQ:FB). Small-cap stocks that are well worth owning are out there though. They’re just usually overlooked because they can’t get enough people’s attention.

Investors willing to look under a few unturned rocks, however, can sometimes find buried treasure.

To that end, here’s a run-down of the top 10 small-cap stocks to consider right now as the broad market continues to toy with a more serious breakdown. Not only are some of these names high-potential possibilities in their own right, quite often smaller names trade out of sync with the overall market and may well offer a refuge should things get ugly for the market’s bigger players. In some cases, the underlying chart is just as compelling as the fundamental argument is.

In no particular order, here are the top 10 small-cap stocks with large-cap potential:

Small-Cap Stocks With Large-Cap Potential: Sunrun (RUN)

Source: ©iStock.com/Dovapi

While the broad solar-power movement may be bumping into headwinds — ranging from subsidies to cheap natural gas to consumer hesitance — not every name is getting caught up in the industry’s entanglements. Sunrun Inc (NASDAQ:RUN), which not only installs solar panelsbut will also facilitate the financing of them, continues to make forward progress.

Quantifying this growth is this year’s expected revenue growth of 26%, which should be enough to crank per-share profits up from last year’s 86 cents to $1.16 this time around. More of the same is in the cards next year as well.

RUN stock is on a tear too, up 71% for the past twelve months, and knocking on the door of a new multi-year high.

Small-Cap Stocks With Large-Cap Potential: CubeSmart (CUBE)

Source: Shutterstock

Not all small-cap stocks to buy have to be ‘stocks’ in the traditional sense. They can be REITs too, and offer the same kind of upside.

Enter CubeSmart (NYSE:CUBE) — a real estate investment trust that specializes in self-storage facilities. Americans are keeping as much of their junk as ever — if not more — and CubeSmart is more than happy to capitalize on consumers’ unwillingness to let things go. The clincher: A dividend yield of 4.1% is above the market average. And this company has a history of strong and steady increases in its payout.

Yes, the prospect of more rate hikes looms above and that could put downward pressure on CUBE shares. There may be more bark than bite to that possibility though, and most of the downside is already baked into the REIT’s price.

Small-Cap Stocks With Large-Cap Potential: G-III Apparel (GIII)

It would be easy to dismiss G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. (NASDAQ:GIII) as just another eventual casualty of the so-called retail apocalypse. But doing so oversimplifies G-III Apparel’s position in this marketplace .

You know the company, even if you don’t think you know the company. G-III is one of the names that makes clothing which eventually carry labels from Calvin Klein, DKNY, Levi’s, Starter, Guess and more. It operates on the less volatile side of the business, supplying clothing for brands that take the bulk of the risk.

One only has to look at GIII’s Q4 report, which boasted a nearly 18% improvement in year-over-year sales at a time when most retailers are thrilled just to match their year-over-year comps.

Small-Cap Stocks With Large-Cap Potential: Simply Good Foods (SMPL)

Source: Shutterstock

If you’ve not heard of Simply Good Foods Co (NASDAQ:SMPL), there’s a good reason — the company didn’t exist until June of last year, when it was formed to capitalize on a branch of Atkins Nutritionals (Editor’s Note: Source is behind a paywall).

Despite a sub-$1 billion market cap that keeps it off a lot of investors’ radars, Simply Good Foods has attracted the attention of several high-profile players. All four of the research outfits that have initiated coverage of the company have called it a “Buy,” and Goldman Sachs Asset Management owns a little more than 7% of the company.

Moreover, the pros collectively say SMPL is worth $16.20, up 27% from its current value.

Small-Cap Stocks With Large-Cap Potential: R1 RCM (RCM)

Source: Shutterstock

Not only is R1 RCM Inc (NASDAQ:RCM) another one of those small-cap stocks that not many investors have  heard of, but the name doesn’t really inspire investors to dig much deeper. Nevertheless, R1 RCM is one of a handful of small-cap stocks to buy sooner than later.

R1 RCM helps healthcare facilities manage their revenue cycle. In other words, the company offers a platform that helps hospitals reduce waste, eliminate mistakes and collect patient fees faster and more effectively.

Baird analyst Matthew Gillmor noted in his recent upgrade of RCM stock: “our prior survey work suggests hospitals are increasingly receptive to outsourcing, especially for RCM,” adding “Additionally, the run-rate exiting 2020 should be even higher (perhaps >$250M), as margins will still be ramping and R1 should benefit from automation initiatives.”

Small-Cap Stocks With Large-Cap Potential: Sally Beauty Holdings (SBH)

Calling a spade a spade, it will take some guts to step into Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc.(NYSE:SBH) here and now. The stock is down 10% for the past twelve months, never catching the wave that pushed most other stocks higher for the better part of 2017.

Of course, with stagnant revenue and a net income that’s slowly-but-surely shrinking, who can blame the doubters?

The company finally seems to have had a much-needed wake-up call though. A month ago it unveiled credible plans to do some serious cost-cutting that will ultimately fund long-term growth. The ‘growth’ plans themselves are still scant, but it’s a start. Any progress from a company with a stock that’s only trading at 7.0 times its forecasted earnings has a lot of potential.

Small-Cap Stocks With Large-Cap Potential: Diebold Nixdorf (DBD)

Source: Shutterstock

It’s another unfortunately-named organization. And, there’s no sales growth to speak of, and earnings growth is minimal. So why bother looking at Diebold Nixdorf Inc (NYSE:DBD)? Because a new CEO could be just the tweak this ATM and POS technology provider needs become a great company.

That’s what activist investor Alexander Roepers says anyway. He’s thrilled about Gerrard Schmid, who took the helm in February. “The newly combined company is now set up for success,” Roepers explained, adding that he felt DBD might even double in value within the next 18 months.

The analyst community sees better days too, even if they’re not as optimistic as Roepers is. They’re calling for earnings of $1.56 per share next year, up from this year’s outlook of $1.16.

Small-Cap Stocks With Large-Cap Potential: Quidel (QDEL)

Source: Shutterstock

Quidel Corporation (NASDAQ:QDEL) makes a variety of medical diagnostic equipment. Nothing earth-shattering, but all of it marketable.

Don’t let the boring product line fool you though. It won approval for a couple of key products in the last year, and the acquisition of Triage late last year led to a 118% increase in Q4 revenuethat gave the company the scale it needed to clear significant profits.

It’s all enough for Raymond James analyst Nicholas Jansen to tout the stock, upgrading it to a “Strong Buy” and upping his price target to $69. Jansen feels the market underestimates the growth opportunities that will arise as its platforms add to their functionality and cross-selling begins in earnest.

Small-Cap Stocks With Large-Cap Potential: Rayonier Advanced Materials (RYAM)

Source: Shutterstock

In case you’re wondering, yes, Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc (NYSE:RYAM) is an offshoot from Rayonier Inc. (NYSE:RYN). The 2014 spinoff was meant to give the company’s cellulose division its best shot at realizing its full value, and not get in the way of everything else forestry player Rayonier was doing.

Yep, it’s boring. Cellulose and pulp, used to make paper, is anything but cutting edge. There’s a lot to be said for boring products though, and for Rayonier Advanced Materials in particular.

Hedge fund manager Mick McGuire, of Marcato Capital Management, sees the full potential, but adds that to unlock it the “company should concentrate on integrating its recent acquisition, paying down debt and buying back stock.” If it can do that, he feels RYAM shares could be worth as much as $60 within three years. That’s almost three times as much as its current price.

Small-Cap Stocks With Large-Cap Potential: TiVo Corp (TIVO)

Last but not least, add TiVo Corp (NASDAQ:TIVO) to your list of small-cap stocks to buy for their unexpected growth.

Yes, this is the same TiVo that makes set-top television tuners/boxes used by cable television subscribers. It seems like a bit of an uphill battle, with the cord-cutting movement in full swing, and with streaming boxes like the Apple TV or Roku being the go-to alternative platform that makes cord-cutting possible.

Take a closer look at what’s going on with the cord-cutting movement though. Many consumers are hesitant to give up their cable boxes because in so doing, they also give up their video-recording capabilities and their access to sports and special broadcast events.

TiVo’s solution is a set-top box that allows for the recording of antenna-delivered broadcasts. As more and more consumers realize TiVo can deliver the best of all worlds without an actual cable subscription, it’s positioned to be one of the centerpieces of the cord-cutting movement.

Buffett just went all-in on THIS new asset. Will you?
Buffett could see this new asset run 2,524% in 2018. And he's not the only one... Mark Cuban says "it's the most exciting thing I've ever seen." Mark Zuckerberg threw down $19 billion to get a piece... Bill Gates wagered $26 billion trying to control it...
What is it?
It's not gold, crypto or any mainstream investment. But these mega-billionaires have bet the farm it's about to be the most valuable asset on Earth. Wall Street and the financial media have no clue what's about to happen...And if you act fast, you could earn as much as 2,524% before the year is up.
Click here to find out what it is.

Source: Investor Place