Top Stocks To Buy Now - Gold rallies on dollar pullback, Greece

Top Stocks To Buy Now - SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) ? Gold futures rallied Thursday, boosted by a weaker dollar and expectations that central banks will maintain loose monetary policies for some time.

/quotes/zigman/660065 GCJ2 1,775.00, -11.30, -0.63%

Gold for April delivery GCJ2 ?advanced $16.30, or 0.9%, to $1,788.20 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, trading near session highs.

A day earlier, the metal settled at $1,771.30 an ounce, the highest since mid-November.

Bargain hunters stepped in during the prior session as the metal had eased following disappointment over Chinese data and fading optimism about Greece?s bailout deal.

Open interest, or the number of futures contracts outstanding, has picked up from a month ago ?which helps underpin the technical improvement? of the metal, said George Gero, a vice president with RBC Wealth Management in New York. ?We were looking for ($1,800 an ounce) by June, perhaps we may see if sooner,? he added.

Gold last topped $1,800 an ounce in mid-September after hitting a record $1,891.90 in late August.

Gold?s move! higher Wednesday ?was a reminder, if markets needed it, that central banks are set to remain in accommodative mode for some time to come,? said Michael Hewson, senior market analyst with CMC Markets.

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Top Stocks To Buy Now - Crude oil continues to climb

The price of crude oil has risen about 15% since the start of the year, fuelled by rising tension over Iran and the prospect of improved global growth.

He said the dovish tone from the Bank of England on Wednesday, last week?s stimulus from the Bank of Japan and a new long-term refinancing operation from the European Central Bank next week will increase money supply and underpin gold prices ?for some time to come against most [Group of 10] currencies.?

Top Stocks To Buy Now - Upside targets: $1,800, then $2,000

?The key level on the upside lies at the November highs at $1,801 and if we can push above here, then the record highs last year will come back into view, with the likelihood we could well see levels above $2,000 an ounce within the next 12 months,? said Hewson, in e-mailed comments.

With Fitch Ratings earlier this week lowering Greece?s credit rating, ratings agencies are debating whether to take the same step of further downgrading Greece and rate it as a ?selective default,? analysts at Commerzbank said in a note to clients.

Greek lawmakers also need to ?swiftly rubber-stamp? reform measures, while at the same time it isn?t clear how many private bondholders will agree to the country?s agreed haircut, they added.

?The sovereign-debt crisis is thus likely to keep the market on tenterhooks for some time yet, which should benefit gold,? the analysts said. !

Gold futures also got a boost as the dollar fell versus most major rivals.

A weaker dollar is beneficial for gold and other dollar-denominated commodities as it makes them cheaper to holders of other currencies. The dollar index DXY , which compares the U.S. unit to a basket of six currencies, fell to 78.083 from 79.207 on Wednesday.

The euro EURUSD ?gained against the greenback after the Ifo Institute?s gauge of German business confidence rose more than forecast for February, and the shared currency earlier broke through resistance at $1.33 to trade above $1.3340, its highest against the dollar since mid-December. Read more.

Among other metals, copper for March delivery HGH2 ?pared losses, down 2 cents, or 0.5%, to $3.81 a pound.

Silver tracked gold higher, with the March contract SIH2 ?building on earlier gains and rallying $1.20, or 3.5%, to 35.46 an ounce.

Palladium turned higher, with platinum adding to earlier gains. Platinum has had steep recent gains on the back of a labor strike called at a top mine in South Africa.

Platinum for April delivery PLJ2 ?rose $4.60, or 0.3%, to $1,725.40 an ounce. March palladium PAH2 ! < /span>?rose $1.70, or 0.2%, to $719.45 an ounce.

Wednesday saw platinum?s first settlement above $1,700 since late September. For palladium, a settlement of $717.75 an ounce was its highest in five months.

Best Stocks to Buy - Consumers holding back, especially on cars

Best Stocks to Buy - NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Retail sales rose in January, but were dragged down by an unexpected decline in auto sales, according to government data released Tuesday.
Overall retail sales were up 0.4% compared to December, the Commerce Department reported. That's only half the gain forecast by economists surveyed by Briefing.com.
The biggest problem was a 1.1% decline in auto sales in the government report. Excluding auto sales, retail sales rose 0.7% in the latest report.
"January's retail sales data are better than they look, but they don't suggest that consumption growth is about to set the economic recovery alight," said Paul Dale, senior U.S. economist for Capital Economics.
The drop in auto sales caught many experts by surprise because automakers reported their best monthly U.S. sales since the spike that occurred during the "Cash for Clunkers" program in 2009.
But much of the gain in reported auto sales was due to a big jump in January fleet sales to business, such as rental car companies. Those sales do not get included in the retail sales reading.
Economists said the sales excluding autos actually came in a bit better than expected, despite the weaker-than-hoped headline reading.

Gift cards: Most popular holiday gift

Best Stocks to Buy - "To write this off as a weak report is a mistake," said Carl Riccadonna, senior U.S. economist at Deutsche Bank. He pointed out that most categories other than autos, furniture, health care products and nonstore retailers, primarily the online shopping, posted gains.
Part of what drove higher spending was an increase in gasoline prices, which lifted money spent at gas stations by 1.4%.
But there was also an increase in spending at general merchandise retailers, which includes department stores. Those sales rose 2% compared to December.
"All the post-holiday markdowns and gift cards received during the holidays worked their magic. They brought people into the stores," said Li! bby Bier man, analyst at Sageworks.
Sales at food stores climbed 1.3%. Riccadonna said that like the increased spending at gas stations, part of rise at supermarket checkouts was due to rising prices. But unlike the gas station rise, food prices accounted for only part of that gain.
"Whether it's buying more food or better cuts of meat, we can't say. But they're buying more, as they are in other categories," he said.
The report revised December data lower, suggesting an even weaker holiday shopping season than previously reported. Overall spending was revised down to essentially no gain after a 0.1% increase in the initial report last month, and there is now a 0.5% drop in spending excluding autos.
Economists had been hopeful that Best Stocks to Buy - consumers would start spending again, as recent jobs reports showed a pick-up in hiring and a decline in unemployment. But consumers seem to be keeping spending in check, despite having more money in the their wallets.

Best Stocks To Buy Right Now - Energy stocks took a back seat in recent rally

I bet you want to know the answer to this question: If global stock markets do continue to bounce over the next 74 days until the end of the year, which stocks and ETFs would benefit?
We already have a lot of the positions that should benefit: Markets in southeast Asia, Asia Minor and South America, as well as gold and gold miners. However there could be a group of companies that start to gain ground: Ones that have been weak until now, and have rebound potential.

Best Stocks To Buy Right Now - Michael Belkin, an influential equity and credit researcher based on Bainbridge Island who has made countless great calls over the years — including a famous forecast of the collapse of the Japanese markets back at the end of 1989 when they were at their peak — says he says it is time to go back to Investing 101 and buy low.
His top picks include “frontier markets” such as Egypt, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf and Africa. “Since most managers haven’t figured out that these markets exist or how to invest in them, opportunities still exist for intrepid early adopters,” he said in a report late last week. “This asset class will probably get glued into emerging markets by capital flows over the next several years. It hasn’t happened yet.
The main fund covering this area is Best Stocks To Buy Right Now - Guggenheim Frontier Markets (FRN), though it is dominated by Chilean and Colombian stocks, which we already own. Going farther afield is Best Stocks To Buy Right Now - Market Vectors Africa (AFK). I don’t like this fund, however, because of its very low trading volume and the fact that it largely just tracks the price of crude oil, since energy exploration and production is the largest source of wealth in emerging Africa.

Best Stocks To Buy Right Now - MV Egypt (EGPT) is kind of interesting, but it’s mostly a cotton and finance story and the fund is again very lightly traded.Best Stocks To Buy Right Now - MV Vietnam (V NM) is more compelling as it is an emerging manufacturing hub as factory managers keep seeking cheaper labor for the sort of low-level finished goods that China first cut its teeth on.
Over on the Continent , the two main funds focused on this idea?would be SPDR S&P Emerging Europe (GUR), which has decent volume, and?iShares Emerging Eastern Europe (ESR), which has very light volume. There’s also a single country fund that looks very attractive from a valuation and business momentum perspective:?Market Vector Poland (PLND). The Polish economy is one of the most robust in Europe, with stronger than expected banking and manufacturing sectors.
Most commodities have been on a tear, with grains up +40% and gold up a ton in recent months. But one commodity group that has almost been forgotten, and is still cheap, is the most fundamental: energy. Belkin says his model has a fresh upward forecast for the prices of all carbon products — crude oil, gasoline and heating oil — as well as ethanol and sugar. A rotation to this area is likely.
The same could be said for energy stocks, which have taken a backseat in the recent rally. Belkin’s model favors higher-beta medium- and small-sized energy companies in the United States and Europe. Large-cap energy producers of all stripes are in the fund?SPDR Energy Select (XLE), while smaller energy companies are in?SPDR Oil Services (XES) and?SPDR Exploration (XOP).
Just smaller companies are in the new, lightly traded?PowerShares S&P Smallcap Energy (XLES). And a way to mix energy and emerging markets is through?MarketVectors Russia (RSX), which is largely driven by that country’s large energy companies.
Other buy-low sectors for Belkin with outperform prospects are in tech, heavy industry and discretionary or retail. Everyone knows that Apple! (NASDAQ: AAPL) and now Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) are up, but much of tech has been left behind. Some top rally prospects well below their all-time highs include?Western Digital (NYSE: WDC),?Alcatel Lucent (NYSE: ALU),?Ciena (NASDAQ: CIEN),?Micron (NASDAQ: MU),?LSI (NYSE: LSI) and?Applied Materials Best Stocks To Buy Right Now - (NASDAQ: AMAT).
Industrial stocks that his model considers undervalued are?Jacobs Engineering (NYSE: JEC),Best Stocks To Buy Right Now - Masco (NYSE: MAS),?Textron (NYSE: TXT) and?Mantiwoc (NYSE: MTW). The fundamental outlook for these companies is not great, but as Belkin notes, “that is how value stocks always look” before they turn higher at inflection points like this month promises to be. The overall view for a recovery rally is for a bottom-fishing expedition to emerge in depressed stocks and sectors.
For more ideas along these lines, please check out my daily Trader’s Advantage and Strategic Advantage newsletters.

Best Stocks For 2012 - Are Flagstar Bancorp (FBC) & Pacific Sunwear of California (PSUN) Really Top Rebound Candidates?

A lot of small cap stocks are starting to perk up, but none look quite as inviting as Best Stocks For 2012 - Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE:FBC) and Best Stocks For 2012 - Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc. (NASDAQ:PSUN) do right now. But, are these charts to be taken at face value? Though it's the perceived value of FBC and PSUN that should be guiding these charts, the fact is, it's the shape of the charts that may be guiding investors to a "half full" conclusion in the half-empty/half-full debate. Take a look.

For Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc., the rally's been underway since December, but didn't get really juicy until this week when PSUN moved above its 200-day moving average line (green) for the first time since early 2011. That being said, it's worth noting that (1) the buyers barely even flinched when the 200-day line was approached, and (2) the buying volume actually increased as PSUN was plowing through that key long-term average. As for the underlying reason though, a couple of quarters' worth of rising top line and shrinking losses may get a big chunk of the credit.

Yes, PSUN is still losing money. There's a light at the end of the tunnel though. The $905 million revenue the company has booked over the past four quarters stops the bleeding revenue trend, and odds are good that 2012's expected sales figure of $889.7 million is simply too low given the unfurling - even if slow-moving - improvement trend. The pros are still thinking Pacific Sunwear of California will 'only' lose $0.78 per share in 2012, but that's actually progress... and sometimes progress is enough to get a stock going again. That's what's happening here anyway, and speculators may want to jump on board this technical strength.

Just to put this bullish reversal from Pacific Sunwear, check out! this we ekly chart.

As for Best Stocks For 2012 - Flagstar Bancorp, Inc., this chart doesn't look as compelling with just a quick glance, but there's a lot more going on with this small cap S&L stock than you might think.

For starters, FBC has finally - legitimately - stopped its own bleeding by using support at the $0.46 level (orange). That pause bought the bulls enough time to muster a rebound effort that has gotten traction... enough traction to push Flagstar Bancorp shares above all the key short-term moving averages, and even muster a few bullish crosses of those moving averages.

The final step in this recovery process for FBC will be a move above the 200-day moving average line (green) at $0.81, but that attack is already underway.

Like Pacific Sunwear of California, this rally from Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. is entirely stemming from a case of "the worst is over", and there are no profits to speak of yet. There are some projected for the near future though. While turning a $0.06 per-share loss into a $0.02 per-share profit isn't going to change the world, it's enough to set up some trade-worthy movement right now.

Best Stocks to buy Now - Asia investors watching for China price data

Best Stocks to buy Now - SYDNEY (MarketWatch) ? Asian investors will be waiting for Chinese consumer price data in the week ahead to gauge the likelihood of more monetary policy easing from Beijing.

Economists widely expect the data, due Thursday, to show Chinese consumer prices moderated to grow at around 4% in January on an annual basis. That would represent an easing from the 4.1% growth recorded in December.

Consumer-price inflation cooled in December, compared to November, and investors are likely hoping for a further decline in consumer prices in order to clear the way for further loosening in Chinese monetary policy to support economic growth.

Concerns about the health of the Chinese economy linger, with last week?s manufacturing survey data from China showing a slight improvement but also indicating that the sector remains sluggish.

The inflation numbers will be followed by Chinese trade data on Friday.

The health of the Chinese economy is of particular interest to Australia?s policy makers, given that China imports an outsized proportion of Australian commodities.

The Reserve Bank of Australia?s interest-rate-setting committee is set to announce a decision on interest rates early next week, and many economists expect another quarter-point interest rate cut from the central bank at its first meeting of the year.

The RBA?s key cash rate currently stands at 4.25%, having been cut twice in quick succession at the end of last year after developments in Europe unsettled global markets.

Elsewhere on the Asian economic calendar, the Bank of Korea will also announce a policy decision, while Indian industrial-produc! tion dat a, and Japanese machinery orders and balance-of-payments data are also due.

On the corporate front, Japanese car giant Toyota Motor Corp. JP:7203 ?TM ?is slated to announce fiscal third-quarter results on Tuesday, while Nissan Motor Co. JP:7201 ? NSANY ?is due to report quarterly results the next day.

Analysts are expecting Best Stocks to buy Now - Toyota to report an attributable net profit of 67.5 billion yen (886 million) for the quarter, from ?93.63 billion in the year-ago quarter, on revenue of ?4.892 trillion, compared to ?4.673 trillion, according to consensus data compiled by Thomson Reuters.

Back in November, when it announced second-quarter results, Toyota said that its operating income took a hit from currency fluctuations and that Japanese and North American sales dropped sharply due to the earthquake that devastated Japan early last year.

Best Stocks to buy Now - Nissan is expected to report a net profit of ?68.60 billion, down from ?80.07 billion last year, according to data compiled by Thomson Reuters.

Top Stocks To Invest In - Has American Capital Agency Become the Perfect Stock?

Every investor would love to stumble upon the perfect stock. But will you ever really find a stock that provides everything you could possibly want?
One thing's for sure: You'll never discover truly great investments unless you actively look for them. Let's discuss the ideal qualities of a perfect stock, then decide if Top Stocks To Invest In -American Capital Agency (Nasdaq: AGNC  ) fits the bill.
The quest for perfection
Stocks that look great based on one factor may prove horrible elsewhere, making due diligence a crucial part of your investing research. The best stocks excel in many different areas, including these important factors:

• Growth. Expanding businesses show healthy revenue growth. While past growth is no guarantee that revenue will keep rising, it's certainly a better sign than a stagnant top line.
• Margins. Higher sales mean nothing if a company can't produce profits from them. Strong margins ensure that company can turn revenue into profit.
• Balance sheet. At debt-laden companies, banks and bondholders compete with shareholders for management's attention. Companies with strong balance sheets don't have to worry about the distraction of debt.
• Money-making opportunities. Return on equity helps measure how well a company is finding opportunities to turn its resources into profitable business endeavors.
• Valuation. You can't afford to pay too much for even the best companies. By using normalized figures, you can see how a stock's simple earnings multiple fits into a longer-term context.
• Dividends. For tangible proof of profits, a check to shareholders every three months can't be beat. Companies with solid dividends and strong commitments to increasing payouts treat shareholders well.

With those factors in mind, let's take a closer look at American! Capital Agency.

Factor	What We Want to See	Actual	Pass or Fail?
Growth	5-Year Annual Revenue Growth > 15%	129.4%*	Pass
?	1-Year Revenue Growth > 12%	176.7%	Pass
Margins	Gross Margin > 35%	100%	Pass
?	Net Margin > 15%	90.6%	Pass
Balance Sheet	Debt to Equity < 50%	796.7%	Fail
?	Current Ratio > 1.3	0.06	Fail
Opportunities	Return on Equity > 15%	19.8%	Pass
Valuation	Normalized P/E < 20	9.66	Pass
Dividends	Current Yield > 2%	16.4%	Pass
?	5-Year Dividend Growth > 10%	9.2%*	Fail
?	?	?	?
?	Total Score	?	7 out of 10

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Total score = number of passes. *Three-year growth rates.

Since we looked at American Capital Agency last year, the mortgage REIT has dropped a point. Dividend growth has slowed and recently even reversed course, which could be a sign of things to come for the company.
Investors have gravitated to mortgage REITs for their outsized dividends. With bonds yielding next to nothing, the double-dig! it yield s that American Capital Agency and its peers offer look exceptionally attractive.
But recently, changing trends are threatening those dividends. In its most recent quarter, American Capital Agency reported lower earnings per share due to a big jump in outstanding shares, and more importantly cut its dividend from $1.40 per share to $1.25 for the first quarter of 2012. The company's interest rate spread fell below 2%, prompting further concerns.
The challenges aren't unique to American Capital Agency. Top Stocks To Invest In -Annaly Capital (NYSE: NLY  ) saw similar drops in interest rate spreads, prompting its own dividend cut. Moreover, Annaly and Top Stocks To Invest In -Chimera Investment (NYSE: CIM  ) have started to clamp down on their leverage ratios, which helps make them less sensitive to adverse conditions going forward (but comes at the expense of some profits). Additionally, with new initiatives to help underwater homeowners refinance, prepayment rates could also hurt.
Given its leverage, American Capital Agency is as close to perfection as it's likely going to get. If conditions continue to worsen, though, the company could deteriorate further in the years ahead.
Keep searching
No stock is a sure thing, but some stocks are a lot closer to perfect than others. By looking for the perfect stock, you'll go a long way toward improving your investing prowess and learning how to separate out the best investments from the rest.
American Capital Agency has plenty of promise, but we've got some ideas you may like even better. Let me invite you to learn about three smart long-term stock plays in the Fool's latest special report. It's yours for the taking and is absolutely free, but don't miss out -- click here and read it today.
Click here to add American Capital Agency to My Watchlist, which can find all of our Foolish analysis on it and all your other stocks.

Time To Buy Starbucks Stocks in 2012

Time To Buy Starbucks Stocks in 2012 Starbucks K-cups are helping drive results

Strong early acceptance of Starbucks K-cups will lead to a strong fiscal first quarter performance for the coffee retailer and roaster, according to UBS.? They consider the stock a buy and raised their price target to $52, from $47 previously.
Starbucks has been a solid performer over the last couple of quarters, beating estimates on strong growth across its different business units. The trend will continue in the first quarter, according to UBS, with U.S. same store sales expected to grow 9%.
Among the best performing units, though, has been the fast growing consumer products group.? CPG, as the unit is called, recently released Starbucks brand K-cups, which are single-serve coffee capsules for Green Mountain Coffee?s Keurig brewers.
Strong early acceptance of Time To Buy Starbucks Stocks in 2012 Starbucks K-cups leads UBS? analysts to note ?the future of the high margin CPG division appears bright;? the product has already grabbed about 12% market share in the K-cup space. ?CPG had grown 20% year-over-year last quarter and is set for another strong run, with analysts forecasting 40% growth in fiscal Q1. Along with K-cups, Starbucks? bagged coffee and blonde roast will further drive the unit, which could add more than 10 cents to fiscal 2012 EPS.
The analysts expect 2012 revenues to grow 13% to $13.2 billion.? They have raised their fiscal 2012 and 2013 estimates to $1.89 and $2.40, which constitute 24% and 27% year-over-year growth respectively.
Starbucks remains a top performer in its sector, its stock up 47% over the last twelve months.? That?s better than competitors Dunkin? Brands (down 6% since it went public in late July) and fast food chains McDonald?s and Yum Brands (up 36% and 24% respectively).
On Thursday, shares in Starbucks traded in positive territory, closing the ! day up 1 % or 48 cents to $47.60 in New York.

Best China Stocks 2012 - The Retirement Rule of Thumb

When in doubt, resort to the rule of thumb.
It isn’t the ideal way to make investment choices, but it is, unfortunately, what most people on the verge of retirement do, says Alessandro Previtero, an assistant professor of finance at the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. Previtero’s research has shown that when faced with the choice between a lump sum and an annuity, individuals typically base their decision on stock market returns, and will more often than not opt for a lump sum if stock market returns have been good for the period preceding their retirement.
What’s most worrying for Previtero is that the relationship between stock market returns and annuities grows stronger with age, thereby indicting that older people tend to rely more on rules of thumb to make complicated decisions as they age. This is something, he says, that advisors have to take into account when they’re discussing lump sums versus annuities with their clients.
“If we try to put this into practice, an advisor needs to be very sensitive about stock market performance, and they have to speak openly with their clients about why they’re choosing to invest in equities, whether they’re choosing to do so because it is the right thing to do or because they see that the equity market is coming out of a positive trend,” Previtero says. “It’s very important for advisors to see what’s driving clients to choose lump sum or equities and to understand their underlying behavior. It’s even more important for advisors to pay attention to behavioral biases and potential mistakes that investors may make because if someone has made the wrong decision based on a rule of thumb, it can also mean that the relationship they have with their advisor can potentially sour.”
Granted, annuities are a complex beast, difficult to explain and understand, even in recent years, when there’s been a concerted effort by the retirement finance industry to shed greater light on them and clear them of their tainted past. Annuities experts believe that the evolution of the industry will engender different kinds of products that would allow retirees to take advantage of stock market upside, and that they would be more readily available in retirement plans.
Nevertheless, it is still important for advisors to have the dialog with their clients as to why or why not to choose an annuity, says Jeffrey Brown, William G. Karnes professor in the department of finance at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and director of the Center for Business and Public Policy in the College of Business. The conversation, he says, has to begin with what a client wants in their retirement and introducing in that context the idea of guaranteed lifetime income.
Brown and other academics like Julie Agnew, associate professor of economics and finances at the College of William and Mary, have done extensive work in the area of framing, an approach that can perhaps help advisors give better direction to the annuities conversation and enable both themselves and their clients to better understand the reasons why they should or shouldn’t invest in annuities.
Brown conducted a survey in which he first presented annuities as an investment choice, the classic way in which they are almost always presented. He then changed things around by reframing annuities in a consumption-related framework.
“In half the sample, we described the product – which we didn’t name – by using terms like ‘investment’ and ‘returns,’ and in the other scenario, we talked about the amount of income that this product would yield,” Brown says. “In the first context, people thought annuities were inferior and only 20% said the product was a better choice compared to savings account. In the second scenario, though, after simply changing the terms of the discussion to words like ‘consume,’ ‘spend’ and so forth, 70% of the people in the survey preferred the annuity.”
The subtle change in wording, which resulted in people looking at annuities in terms of what they want to consume and spend in retirement, led to a total change in mindset.
“We’re doing more research on consumption-related frameworks because we think that if we take this a little further, we’d be part of a much-needed and fundamental rethinking in how we talk about retirement planning,” Brown says.
Framing the retirement conversationin a consumption-related context also leads onto other very important issues, such as inflation, long-term care, and whatever else people might need to maintain their standard of living. These elements are all part of a different conversation from the one that focuses on maximizing wealth, Brown says, and within that context advisors can help their clients to better see the benefits and downsides of the options they have, including whether to put their money in the stock market or in annuities, and to perhaps go beyond resorting to simple rules of thumb.

Top Stocks For 2012 - China Gerui Advanced Materials Group Limited recently showed an Exceptional Trade - NASDAQ:CHOP

Top Stocks For 2012 - China Gerui Advanced Materials Group Limited (NASDAQ:CHOP) witnessed volume of 1.56 million shares during last trade however it holds an average trading capacity of 170,468.00 shares. Top Stocks For 2012 - CHOP last trade opened at $2.97 reached intraday low of $1.87 and went -11.37% down to close at $2.65.
CHOP has a market capitalization $155.42 million and an enterprise value at $125.46 million. Trailing twelve months price to sales ratio of the stock was 0.63 while price to book ratio in most recent quarter was 0.69. In profitability ratios, net profit margin in past twelve months appeared at 15.00% whereas operating profit margin for the same period at 25.25%.
The company made a return on asset of 11.32% in past twelve months and return on equity of 21.29% for similar period. In the period of trailing 12 months it generated revenue amounted to $276.77 million gaining $5.55 revenue per share. Its year over year, quarterly growth of revenue was 34.40% holding 16.30% quarterly earnings growth.
According to preceding quarter balance sheet results, the company had $204.85 million cash in hand making cash per share at 3.49. The total of $174.89 million debt was there putting a total debt to equity ratio 69.02. Moreover its current ratio according to same quarter results was 1.54 and book value per share was 4.32.
Looking at the trading information, the stock price history displayed that its S&P500 52 Week Change illustrated 8.61% where the stock current price exhibited down beat from its 50 day moving average price of $3.03 and remained below from its 200 Day Moving Average price of $3.86.
CHOP holds 58.65 million outstanding shares with 29.21 million floating shares and institutions kept 5.20%.

Best China Stocks 2012 - Generac Shares Plunged: What You Need to Know

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.
What: Shares of generator maker Best China Stocks 2012 -Generac (NYSE: GNRC  ) have plunged today, down by 14% at the low, after reporting fourth-quarter earnings this morning.
So what: Revenue rose by two-thirds to $267.3 million, but bottom-line net income of $267.1 million isn't as rosy as it sounds. Generac saw a $238 million income tax benefit resulting from the reversal of some accounting charges related to its brand transition. Adjusted net income was $51.8 million.
Now what: Residential product sales jumped by 67.6% and Generac closed its acquisition of Magnum Products. CEO Aaron Jagdfeld said the company is pleased with the initial progress of the acquisition since Magnum's financial results have come in better than expected. Jagdfeld is "particularly excited" about cross-selling opportunities that the combined company can now offer, and said the acquisition should be an "attractive use of shareholder capital."

Top 5 Canadian Stocks To Buy For 2012

It's been a crazy year for the stock exchange and biotech shares were not immune, but if you are looking to choose biotech stocks for your portfolio, here are a few picks for small biotechnology and drug development companies that survived, some even showing overall growth, in the face of economic turmoil in 2012.

Top 5 Canadian Stocks To Buy For 2012:Canadian National Railway Company (CNI)

 Canadian National Railway Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the rail and related transportation business in North America. It provides transportation for various goods, including petroleum and chemicals, grain and fertilizers, coal, metals and minerals, forest products, and intermodal and automotive products. The company operates a network of approximately 20,600 route miles of track that spans Canada and mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico. It serves the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert (British Columbia), Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile (Alabama), as well as metropolitan areas of Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth (Minnesota)/Superior (Wisconsin), Green Bay (Wisconsin), Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, and Jackson (Mississippi), with connections to various points in North America. The company was founded in 1922 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.
Advisors' Opinion:

• By Vodicka At 2011-10-29
  Montreal-based Canadian National Railway (CNI) operates
  about 21,000 route-miles of rail that span all the way from the frozen north down to the Mississippi Delta — nearly enough track to wrap around the entire world. Since Canada is one of the largest countries in the world by geography (second only to Russia with an area of about 4 million square miles), the transportation and freight industries are vital and very lucrative parts of the nation’s economy.
  The reason I’m so bullish on CNI right now is that the company is a large player in transporting commodities, including Canada’s exports of timber and metals and imports of energy from the United States. In Canadian National’s latest earnings report in January, the company stated that Q4 shipments grew for coal, grain and fertilizers and petroleum and chemicals — and this is in spite of bad weather and a five-day strike that really messed with CNI’s schedule. Just imagine how CNI will do in the warmer months as the economy continues to improve.

Top 5 Canadian Stocks To Buy For 2012:Bank Of Montreal (BMO)

 Bank of Montreal, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of retail banking, wealth management, and investment banking products and solutions in North America and internationally. It offers personal banking products and services to consumers and small businesses, including deposit and investment services, mortgages, consumer credit, small business lending, and other banking services; and commercial banking products and services to small business, medium-sized enterprise, and mid-market banking clients comprising lending, deposits, treasury management, and risk management services. The company also offers cards and payments services; investment and wealth advisory services; self-directed investing services; private banking services to high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients; investment fund solutions across a range of channels; pension plans; investment management services; and creditor insurance, and life insurance and annuity products and services. In addition, it provides capital markets products and services, including equity and debt underwriting, corporate lending and project financing, mergers and acquisitions, restructurings and recapitalizations, balance sheet management, liquidity management, merchant banking, securitization, foreign exchange, derivatives, debt and equity research, and institutional sales and trading to corporate, institutional, and government clients. As of October 31, 2010, Bank of Montreal operated and maintained approximately 1,230 bank branches in Canada and the United States. The company was founded in 1817 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

Top 5 Canadian Stocks To Buy For 2012:Enbridge Inc (ENB)

 Enbridge Inc. engages in the transportation and distribution of crude oil and natural gas primarily in Canada and the United States. Its Liquids Pipelines segment operates common carrier and contract crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and refined products pipelines and terminals. The company?s Gas Distribution segment distributes natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers primarily in central and eastern Ontario, northern New York State, Quebec, and New Brunswick. Enbridge?s Gas Pipelines, Processing and Energy Services segment invests in natural gas pipelines, processing and green energy projects, and commodity marketing businesses, as well as performs commodity storage, transport, and supply management services. Its Sponsored Investments segment transports crude oil and other liquid hydrocarbons through common carrier and feeder pipelines, as well as transports, gathers, processes, and markets natural gas and NGLs; operates a crude oil and liquids pipeline and gathering system; and owns a 50% interest in the Canadian portion of Alliance Pipeline and partial interests in various green energy investments. The company was formerly known as IPL Energy Inc. and changed its name to Enbridge Inc. in October 1998. Enbridge Inc. was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.
Advisors' Opinion:

• By Louis Navellier At 2011-11-17
  Enbridge Inc. (NYSE:ENB) is an energy transportation and distribution company separated into six segments: Liquids Pipelines, Gas Distribution, Gas Pipelines, Processing and Energy Services, Sponsored Investments and Corporate. Enbridge stock has gained 13% in 2011.

Top Stocks for 2012 - Bug Rings And Bug Gifts

Bug rings and insect display jewelry are extremely one of a kind types of jewelry that use real preserved insects as their key designs. Traditional jewelry is well known for combining beads, wood, metal, and precious stones to create amazing designs; bug jewelry throws those styles out and prefer scorpions and spiders instead. Children are rather enamored by the world they see around them in nature and are therefore sure to enjoy the concept of bug jewelry that brings bugs out of the dirt and into their jewelry. Kids are not the only individuals using these creative fashion accessories; many adults like the eclectic style they offer and are wearing them too.
Natural insect necklaces are usually crafted with a pendant featuring a bug that has been carefully encased in insect display case. There is no escape for the little creatures within the necklace pendants since their cases are made with an acrylic material that is extremely tough to damage. This acrylic is also perfect for the pendants since it is perfectly clear and allows you to observe the bug within at every angle. People everywhere are sure to ask about your necklace and gaze at the fascinating bug forever encased within your unique jewelry.
You can also find a wide variety of bug display bracelets which, much like their necklace counterparts, feature insects encased in clear acrylic. The insect display at the center of your bracelet can be matched with several different styles of bracelet, some of which are made from plastic, leather, or wood. Since the acrylic material that holds the insect in place is clear and very durable, you can even use a microscope on the specimen within your bracelet to get a better look at its every detail.
Apart from necklaces and bracelets, similar bug styled gifts and jewelry items exist too. Expect to give some people a surprise when wearing bug rings, since the insects inside sometimes appear to be climbing over your fingers. People interested in natural science and insect life will love frog! skeleto n paperweights and insect key chains that they can use in the home and on the go.
Not many area stores carry a good selection of insect display jewelry and bug rings since they are a specialty item. Internet based stores are the best places to shop for these unique items whether you want them yourself or plan on giving them as a gift.
Are you searching science, nature and Jewellery store with More? please visit at insect display or frog skeleton. Heartful credit is given to Chauncey J. Donaldson for his involvement for the subject validation.