Margins matter. The more Simpson Manufacturing (NYSE: SSD ) keeps of each buck it earns in revenue, the more money it has to invest in growth, fund new strategic plans, or (gasp!) distribute to shareholders. Healthy margins often separate pretenders from the best stocks in the market. That's why we check up on margins at least once a quarter in this series. I'm looking for the absolute numbers, so I can compare them to current and potential competitors, and any trend that may tell me how strong Simpson Manufacturing's competitive position could be.
Here's the current margin snapshot for Simpson Manufacturing over the trailing 12 months: Gross margin is 43.3%, while operating margin is 10.0% and net margin is 6.1%.
Unfortunately, a look at the most recent numbers doesn't tell us much about where Simpson Manufacturing has been, or where it's going. A company with rising gross and operating margins often fuels its growth by increasing demand for its products. If it sells more units while keeping costs in check, its profitability increases. Conversely, a company with gross margins that inch downward over time is often losing out to competition, and possibly engaging in a race to the bottom on prices. If it can't make up for this problem by cutting costs -- and most companies can't -- then both the business and its shares face a decidedly bleak outlook.
Top 5 Restaurant Stocks To Buy Right Now: Tim Hortons Inc.(THI)
Tim Hortons Inc. develops, franchises, and operates quick service restaurants primarily in Canada and the United States. Its restaurants serve coffee and other hot and cold beverages, baked goods, sandwiches, soups, and other food products. As of April 03, 2011, the company and its restaurant owners operated 3,169 restaurants in Canada and 613 restaurants in the United States under the Tim Hortons name; and had 274 primarily self-serve licensed locations in the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom Tim Hortons Inc. was founded in 1964 and is based in Oakville, Canada.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Eric Volkman]
Tim Hortons (NYSE: THI ) will have a new nameplate on the door of its chief executive's office starting this summer. The company announced that it has named Marc Caira as CEO, effective July 2. He succeeds Paul House, who will remain in his post as chairman of the board.
- [By Damian Illia]
Largest quick-service restaurant in Canada Tim Hortons Inc. (THI) has been recently drawing some attention as to its recent performance. With almost 3,600 units in Canada, and 850 units in the U.S., Tim Hortons generates revenue mainly through franchise royalties and rent payment, company-owned stores and distribution sales to franchisees. Indeed the company's brand is strong and has built some appealing intangible asset, along with a cohesive franchisee system and highly scalable business model. The franchisee model typically allows companies to perceive an annuity-like stream of rent and royalty payment, stabilizing the business against macroeconomic fluctuations and cyclicality.
- [By Rich Duprey]
Canadian restaurant chain�Tim Horton's� (NYSE: THI ) �declared today�its regular quarterly dividend of $0.26 per share, slightly higher than the $0.2534 per share it paid back in February.�
- [By Chad Fraser]
Tim Hortons (NYSE: THI) is Canada’s leading coffee chain, with 3,468 outlets in the country, as well as 807 in the U.S. and 29 in the Middle East.
Hot Integrated Utility Stocks To Invest In Right Now: IceWEB Inc (IWEB)
IceWEB, Inc. (IceWEB), incorporated in 1994, manufacture and market unified data storage, purpose built appliances, network and cloud attached storage solutions and deliver on-line cloud computing application services. The Company�� customer base includes the United States government agencies, enterprise companies, and small to medium sized businesses (SMB). The Company has three product offerings: Iceweb Unified Data Network Storage line of products, Purpose Built Network/Data Appliances and Cloud Computing Products/Services. In October 2013, IceWEB Inc completed its acquisition of Computers and Tele-Comm, Inc. and KC-NAP, LLC of Kansas City (collectively CTC).
IceWEB Unified Data Storage line of products
IceWEB is a provider of Unified Data Storage solutions. Its storage systems make it possible to operate and manage files and applications from a single device and consolidate file-based and block-based access in a single storage platform, which supports Fibre Channel SAN, IP-based SAN (iSCSI), and NAS (network attached storage). A unified storage system simultaneously enables storage of file data and handles the block-based I/O (input/output) of enterprise applications. One advantage of unified storage is reduced hardware requirements. The IceWEB Storage System is an all-inclusive storage management system, which includes de-duplication; unlimited snapshots; thin provisioning; local or remote, real-time or scheduled replication; capacity and utilization reporting, and integration with virtual server environments.
Purpose Built Network and Data Appliances
Purpose Built Network and Data Appliances are devices, which provide computing resources (processors and memory), data storage, and specific software for a specific application. The primary appliance products that IceWEB has built have been centered on a single large business partner, ESRI Corporation. IceWEB and ESRI have collaborated to create ultra-high performance IceWEB/ESRI GIS systems tha! t allow customers to access data with speed. ESRI Corporation takes responsibility for marketing to their customers and business partners, via their worldwide sales and consultancy organization.
Cloud Computing Products and Services
Cloud computing products and services consist of cloud computing services and cloud storage appliances. IceWEB provides IceMAIL, a packaged software service that provides network hosted groupware, e-mail, calendaring and collaboration functionality. Online services were expanded to include IcePORTAL, which provides customers with a complete Intranet portal and IceSECURE a hosted e-mail encryption service. Originally such hosted services were referred to as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). Such services, hosted across the Internet are commonly referred to as Cloud Computing. A cloud storage appliance is a purpose built storage device configured for either branch office or central site deployment, which allows the housing and delivery of customer data across not only their internal networking infrastructure, but also to make that data available to employees or business partners securely via the Internet (often called the cloud).
The Company competes with EMC, Network Appliance, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems, Hitachi Data Systems, IBM, Compellent Technologies and Isilon.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Bryan Murphy]
So far the brewing recovery effort from IceWEB, Inc. (OTCBB:IWEB) has remained off most traders' radars. That may be about to change, however. That's why you may want to go ahead and take a speculative plunge on IWEB now, on faith that the clues we're seeing now will indeed end up as they're suggesting.
- [By Peter Graham]
What�� the Catch with Dephasium Corp? According to various disclosures, transactions of $2k, $2.5k, $3k, $4k, $7.5k, $12.5k and $15k have or will occur to mention Dephasium Corp in various investment newsletters. Dephasium Corp has been getting plenty of off and on attention for a couple of months now, but what�� been pretty strange is the company issuing a press release to announce that an unidentified third party, without the DPHS�� approval, has listed its shares on the Boerse Berlin Stock Exchange. The press release warned that this could be the first salvo in a ��ignificant naked shorting attack directed at the Company��given that the Berlin exchange is one of few stock exchanges in the world that allows listing and trading of a company's stock without the consent or authorization of the company being listed in order to facilitate short-selling. A quick look at Dephasium Corp�� financials reveals no revenues; net losses of $10k (most recent reported quarter), $17k and $11k plus net income of $388k; and $51k to cover $9k in current liabilities at the end of March. In other words, Dephasium Corp isn�� making money but someone else is trying to make some from it.
IceWEB, Inc. (OTCBB: IWEB) Seems to Be Making ProgressSmall cap IceWEB is a provider of Unified Data Storage appliances for cloud and virtual environments, as well as the highly secure, scalable IceBOXTM BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Private Digital Cloud Solution. On Friday, IceWEB fell 8.57% to $0.0320 for a market cap of $9.01 million plus IWEB is down 54.3% over the past year and down 81.7% over the past five years according to Google Finance.
Hot Integrated Utility Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Hospira Inc (HSP)
Hospira, Inc. (Hospira), incorporated on September 16, 2003, is a provider of injectable drugs and infusion technologies. Hospira's portfolio includes generic acute-care and oncology injectables, as well as integrated infusion therapy and medication management products. Hospira's portfolio of products is used by hospitals and alternate site providers, such as clinics, home healthcare providers and long-term care facilities. Hospira conducts operations worldwide and is managed in three reportable segments: Americas; Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and Asia Pacific (APAC). The Americas segment includes the United States, Canada and Latin America; the EMEA segment includes Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and the APAC segment includes Asia, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. In all segments, Hospira sells a line of products, including specialty injectable and other pharmaceuticals and medication management products.
Specialty Injectable Pharmaceuticals
Hospira's specialty injectable pharmaceutical products consist of generic injectable pharmaceuticals. The other drugs' therapeutic areas include analgesia, anesthesia, anti-infectives, cardiovascular, oncology, and other areas. All of Hospira's generic injectable pharmaceuticals in the United States include unit-of-use bar-code labels that can be used to support medication delivery. Hospira primarily procures the active pharmaceutical ingredients in these products from third-party suppliers. During the year ended December 31, 2011, Hospira portfolio included 87 injectable drug launches consisting of 13 compounds. Among these launches included, in the United States, docetaxel (an oncolytic drug used to treat a variety of cancers), topotecan (an oncolytic drug used for the treatment of small cell lung cancer) and imipenem-cilastatin (a beta-lactam antibiotic). Hospira also launched a solution formulation of gemcitabine (an oncolytic drug used to treat a variety of cancers), which augmented Hospira's portfolio of gemcitabin! e products. New-to-country launches in EMEA in 2011, included topotecan, meropenem, gemcitabine, imipenem-cilastatin, remifentanil, docetaxel and levofloxacin. New-to-country launches in APAC in 2011, included docetaxel, piperacillin tazobactam, oxaliplatin, meropenem and gemcitabine. Hospira's specialty injectable pharmaceutical products also include Precedex (dexmedetomidine HCl), a sedative. Precedex is licensed to Hospira by Orion Corporation in the Americas and APAC segments, and in the Middle East and Africa.
Hospira sells and markets Precedex for use in non-intubated patients requiring sedation, as well as intubated and mechanically ventilated patients. Hospira's specialty injectable pharmaceuticals also include biologic products, which are molecules derived from cells that are demonstrated to be similar to an approved originator product. Hospira's biosimilar, Retacrit, was available in 20 EMEA countries during 2011. Its second biosimilar, Nivestim, was launched during the year ended December 31, 2010, and was available in 21 countries, including Australia, where the biosimilar filgrastim product was launched in 2011. Hospira's drug delivery formats include offerings in ampules and flip-top vials, which clinicians can use with standard syringes. Hospira's drug delivery options include Carpuject and iSecure prefilled syringes, AnsyrTM prefilled needleless emergency syringe systems, First Choice ready-to-use premix and the ADD-Vantage system for preparing drug solutions from prepackaged drug powders or concentrates.
Other Pharmaceuticals
Hospira's other pharmaceuticals primarily consist of intravenous (I.V.) solutions, nutritionals and contract manufacturing services. Hospira offers infusion therapy solutions and related supplies that include I.V. solutions for general use, I.V. nutrition products, and solutions for the washing and cleansing of wounds or surgical sites. All of Hospira's injectable I.V. solutions in the United States include unit-of-use bar-c! ode label! s that can be used to support medication management efforts. Hospira also offers infusion therapy solutions in its VisIV non-PVC, non-DEHP I.V. container, an I.V. bag. Hospira's contract manufacturing services are offered through its One2One services group, which provides formulation development, filling and finishing of injectable and oral drugs worldwide. Hospira works with its pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers to develop injectable forms of their drugs, and Hospira fills and finishes those and other drugs into containers and packaging selected by the customer. The customer then sells the finished products under its own label. Hospira's One2One manufacturing services group generally does not manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients, but offers a range of filling and finishing services in a variety of delivery systems.
Medication Management
Medication management products include electronic drug delivery pumps, safety software and disposable administration sets dedicated to Hospira pumps. These sets are used to deliver I.V. fluids and medications. Hospira also offers software maintenance agreements and other service offerings. Hospira's electronic drug delivery pumps include Hospira's general infusion system, Symbiq; the Plum A+ line of infusion pumps; Hospira's patient-controlled analgesia device, LifeCare PCA; the GemStar ambulatory infusion pump; and the Plum XLD infusion pump. Hospira offers the Hospira MedNet safety software system, which has been designed to enable hospitals to customize intravenous drug dosage limits and track drug delivery to prevent medication errors. The wireless network version of the Hospira MedNet system establishes real-time send-and-receive capability and can interface with select hospital and pharmacy information systems. The Hospira MedNet system is standard in the Symbiq infusion system, and is also available as an additional feature for the Plum A+ line, and LifeCare PCA devices. Hospira also offers safety software with its Ge! mStar pum! p.
Medication management includes TheraDoc, Inc. products, which are module-based clinical surveillance systems that provide patient safety surveillance and clinical decision support. Medication management also includes gravity administration sets and other device products, including needlestick safety products and programs to support Hospira's customers' needlestick prevention initiatives. LifeShield CLAVE and LifeShield MicroCLAVE connectors are one-piece valves that directly connect syringes filled with medications to a patient's I.V. line without the use of needles. ICU Medical's CLAVE connectors are a component of administration sets sold by Hospira to its customers in the United States and select markets outside the United States.
The Company competes with Baxter International Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim, Fresenius Kabi, Pfizer, Sandoz, Sanofi, Teva Pharmaceuticals, B. Braun Melsungen AG, CareFusion, Terumo, Actavis, Intas Pharmaceuticals, Ltd, Medac GmbH, Mylan Inc., Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. and Aspen.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Levisohn]
Shares of Allergan have gained 2.5% to $114.78 today at 3:44 p.m., while�Merck�(MRK) has risen 2.4% to $53.33, Hospira�(HSP) has ticked up 0.1% to $42.51�and Eli Lily�(LLY) has advanced 0.7% to $53.04.
Hot Integrated Utility Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Logitech international SA (LOGN)
Logitech International S.A. (Logitech) is a holding company. Logitech develops and markets hardware and software products for digital navigation, music and video entertainment, gaming, social networking, audio and video communication over the Internet, video security and home-entertainment control. Logitech operates in two segments: peripherals and video conferencing. The Company�� peripherals segment includes design, manufacturing and marketing of peripherals for personal computers (PCs) and other digital platforms. Its products for the PC include mice, trackballs, keyboards, interactive gaming controllers, multimedia speakers, headsets, webcams, and lapdesks. Logitech�� Internet communications products include webcams, headsets, video communications services, and digital video security systems for a home or small business. Its digital music products include speakers, earphones, and custom in-ear monitors. On July 6, 2010, Logitech acquired all of the assets of Paradial AS. On March 31, 2011, the Company sold its equity interest in certain 3Dconnexion subsidiaries.
3Dconnexion subsidiaries are the providers of the Company�� 3D controllers, and its intellectual property rights related to the manufacture and sale of certain 3Dconnexion products. Paradial AS provides firewall and network address translation (NAT) traversal solutions for video communications. For home entertainment systems, Logitech offers the Harmony line of advanced remote controls, Squeezebox wireless music solutions and, in the United States, a line of Logitech products for the Google TV platform. For gaming consoles, the Company offers a range of gaming controllers and microphones, as well as other accessories. Logitech�� sells its peripheral products to a network of distributors and resellers and to other equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The Company�� worldwide retail network includes wholesale distributors, consumer electronics retailers, mass merchandisers, specialty electronics stores, computer and telecomm! unications stores, resellers and online merchants.
The Company�� video conferencing segment includes design, manufacturing and marketing of LifeSize video conferencing products, infrastructure and services for the enterprise, public sector and other business markets. LifeSize products include high-definition (HD) video communication endpoints, HD video conferencing systems with integrated monitors, video bridges and other infrastructure software and hardware to support large scale video deployments, and services to support these products. Logitech sells its LifeSize products and services to distributors, resellers, OEMs and direct enterprise customers. Logitech conducts its business through subsidiaries in the Americas, including North and South America; Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA), and Asia Pacific, including, among other countries, China, Taiwan, Japan, India and Australia.
Pointing Devices
Logitech offers a range of computer mice, sold through retail and OEM channels. Its mice products include M215, M310 and M305 wireless mice with advanced 2.4 gigahertz wireless connection and cordless universal serial bus (USB) plug-and-forget nano-receiver; Performance Mouse MX and Anywhere Mouse MX with Logitech Darkfield Laser Tracking; Marathon Mouse 750, and Wireless Trackball M570. Logitech�� mice products also include a line of gaming mice, including the Wireless Gaming Mouse G700, with 13 precisely placed, programmable controls to perform single actions and complex macros, full-speed gaming-grade wireless, and a quick-connect charging cable. In addition, the Company sells both corded and cordless mice designed specifically for OEM customers.
Keyboards and Desktops
Logitech offers a range of corded and cordless keyboards and desktops (keyboard-and-mouse combinations). The Company�� keyboards and desktops include Wireless Solar Keyboard K750; K800 Illuminated Wireless Keyboard; The diNovo Edge keyboard; Wireless Desktop MK320, and G! 19 Keyboa! rd for Gaming.
Audio
Logitech designs and manufactures a range of multimedia speakers, including Wireless Speaker Z515, The Laptop Z305 speaker, and The S-series line of portable iPod/MP3 docks, including the Rechargeable Speaker S715i and the Portable Speaker S135i. It also designs and manufactures The Z-623 2.1 THX certified speakers, the Z-506 5.1 Speakers, and the Z-906 5.1 Surround Sound speakers. Logitech offers a portfolio of network music systems. The Squeezebox Touch, with its 4.3-inch color touch screen, connects to existing stereo system and speakers and supports sampling rates of up to 24 bits at 96 kilohertz. The Squeezebox Radio is a compact network music player and alarm that allows to connect to home network, and access Internet radio, personal music collection or subscription services.
The Ultimate Ears product line offers a range of in-ear consumer or fit earphones for portable music enthusiasts, as well as custom stage earphones for musicians and sound engineers. Its line of earphones include Ultimate Ears 100 and 200 value-priced earphones, with silicone ear cushions in a durable sweat-resistant design; Ultimate Ears TripleFi 10 with triple armature speakers, and The Ultimate Ears 600 featuring single armature speakers, the Ultimate Ears 600vi, and the Ultimate Ears 700 featuring dual armature speakers. Its line of Ultimate Ears Custom Stage Earphones include Ultimate Ears In-Ear Reference Monitors co-designed with Capitol Studios for professional studio engineers and producers for use during recording, mixing and mastering original music content, the UE-18 Pro featuring a six-speaker design, the UE-7 Pro for live performance and stage use, and the UE-4 Pro featuring a dual speaker design for artists and audiophiles.
Logitech offers headsets and microphones designed for applications, such as PC voice communications, voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) applications and online gaming. Its products in this category include the ClearCha! t PC Wire! less headset, the Wireless Headset H760, the USB Headset H530, the G35 Surround Sound Headset for gaming, the Wireless Gaming Headset G930, the USB Desktop Microphone, and the OCS certified Logitech B-530 USB Headset.
Video
Logitech�� webcam offerings include Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910, Logitech Webcam Pro 9000, Logitech HD Webcam C510 and Logitech TV Cam for use with Logitech Revue. Logitech�� webcams works with video messaging applications, and provides up to HD 720p video calling in Skype, Windows Live Messenger and Logitech Vid HD. The Logitech Alert digital video security system is a complete home or small business video security system, with software that provides motion alerts and a live view from an Internet-connected computer, smartphone, tablet or Google TV system, including Logitech Revue.
Gaming
Logitech offers a range of game controllers for PC gamers, including joysticks, steering wheels, gamepads, mice and keyboards, and headsets, as well as gaming products for console platforms, such as PlayStation2, PlayStation3, PSP (PlayStation Portable), Xbox, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii. The Company�� gaming products include Logitech G700 Wireless Gaming Mouse; Logitech G13 advanced gameboard with a built-in LCD screen, 25 programmable keys and onboard memory; Logitech G27 Racing Wheel and Logitech G35 Surround Sound Headset.
Digital Home
The Company�� line of remotes includes Harmony One remote, Harmony 900 remote and Harmony 650. In October 2010, Logitech introduced its line of products for Google TV in the United States, including Logitech Revue and the Logitech Keyboard Controller; Logitech TV Cam and Vid HD service, and Logitech Mini Controller.
LifeSize Video Conferencing
LifeSize division offers HD video communication solutions, including HD video conferencing products, audio conference telephones, hardware infrastructure solutions, video management software, and services to support ! video and! audio communications and help users connect to any network securely and with ease. The LifeSize product line includes Passport, LifeSize Video Center, Express Series, Team Series, Room Series and LifeSize Bridge.
The Company competes with Microsoft Corporation, Plantronics, Inc., Altec Lansing LLC, Creative Labs, Inc., Bose Corporation, Sony Corporation, Royal Philips Electronics NV, Hewlett-Packard, Intec, Razer USA Ltd., Performance Designed Products, LLC (Pelican Accessories), Mad Catz Interactive, Inc., Universal Remote Control, Inc., Universal Electronics Inc., RCA, Apple Inc., Roku, Inc., Cisco, Radvision Ltd., Vidyo, Inc. and Polycom.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By CRWE]
Today, LOGN remains (0.00%) +0.000 at $23.25 thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 10:11AM EDT July 25, 2013).
Logansport Financial Corp. previously reported net earnings for the quarter ended June 30, 2013 of $462,000 or $.71 per diluted share, compared to earnings in 2012 of $427,000 or $.54 per diluted share. Year to date the company reported net earnings of $936,000 for 2013 compared to $763,000 for 2012. Diluted earnings per share for the six months ended June 30, 2013 were $1.43 compared to $.97 for the six months ended June 30, 2012. Total assets at June 30, 2013 were $165.8 million compared to total assets at December 31, 2012 of $172.9 million. Total shareholder�� equity at December 31, 2013 was $18.6 million compared to $19.0 million at June 30, 2012
Hot Integrated Utility Stocks To Invest In Right Now: TTM Technologies Inc.(TTMI)
TTM Technologies, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides printed circuit board (PCB) products and backplane assemblies worldwide. Its PCB products include conventional, high density interconnect, flexible, and rigid-flex PCBs, as well as backplane assemblies and IC substrates. The company also offers various services, such as design for manufacturability support during new product introduction stages, PCB layout design, simulation and testing services, quick turnaround production, and drilling and routing services. Its customers include original equipment manufacturers and electronic manufacturing service companies that primarily serve the networking/communications, aerospace/defense, high-end computing, cell phone, and medical/industrial/instrumentation end markets of the electronics industry. TTM Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Santa Ana, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Brian Pacampara]
What: Shares of printed circuit board specialist TTM Technologies (NASDAQ: TTMI ) soared 17% today after its quarterly results topped Wall Street expectations.
Hot Integrated Utility Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Credit Acceptance Corporation(CACC)
Credit Acceptance Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides auto loans, and related products and services to consumers in the United States. Its loan programs include portfolio program, which advances money to dealer-partners in exchange for the right to service the underlying consumer loans; and purchase program that buys the consumer loans from the dealer-partners and keeps amounts collected from the consumers. The company markets its products through a network of approximately 55,000 independent and franchised automobile dealers. Credit Acceptance Corporation was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Richard Moroney]
Credit Acceptance (CACC) provides financing for auto purchases through a national network of nearly 4,500 car dealers. Its programs help dealers sell cars by attracting credit-challenged consumers unable to get conventional loans.
- [By Eric Volkman]
Credit Acceptance (NASDAQ: CACC ) will see big blocks of its shares change hands over the next few days. The company has specified the pricing of a previously announced underwritten public secondary stock common offering of $105.00 per share. Trusts associated with the firm's founder Donald Foss, in combination with Karol Foss and people and entities connected with Prescott General Partners, aim to sell a combined 1.5 million of their shares. Additionally, the underwriters will have a 30-day option to buy up to an extra 225,000 shares.
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