An oversize photo of Warren Buffett's head is now on sale, and the proceeds will go to two Detroit charities.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) Investors have been known to pay $1 million for the chance to pick Warren Buffett's brain over lunch. Now they can get his entire head for only $29.99.Fathead, which generally sells pictures of sports and movie stars like LeBron James or the "Hunger Games" cast, is selling an oversized picture of Buffett's face. The proceeds will go to charity.
The pictures were intended as a promotion for the $1 billion perfect NCAA bracket challenge from Quicken Loans and Yahoo Sports.
Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA, Fortune 500) wrote the insurance policy that would have paid big if anyone had correctly picked the outcome of every game of the NCAA tournament. But nobody made it out of the first round with a perfect bracket.
Top 10 Gold Stocks To Own For 2015: United States Steel Corporation(X)
United States Steel Corporation produces and sells steel mill products in North America and Central Europe. It operates in three segments: Flat-rolled Products (Flat-rolled), U. S. Steel Europe (USSE), and Tubular Products (Tubular). The Flat-rolled segment offers slabs, rounds, strip mill plates, sheets, and tin mill products, as well as iron ore and coke. This segment serves service center, conversion, transportation, construction, container, and appliance and electrical markets in North America. The USSE segment offers slabs, sheets, strip mill plates, tin mill products, and spiral welded pipes, as well as heating radiators and refractory ceramic materials. This segment serves the European construction, service center, conversion, container, transportation, and appliance and electrical, as well as and oil, gas, and petrochemical markets. The Tubular segment offers seamless and electric resistance welded steel casing and tubing; and standard, and line pipe and mechanical tubing. It primarily serves customers in the oil, gas, and petrochemical markets. The company also provides transportation services, including railroad and barge operations. In addition, it owns, develops, and manages various real estate assets, which include approximately 200,000 acres of surface rights primarily in Alabama, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania; participates in joint ventures that are developing real estate projects in Alabama, Maryland, and Illinois; and owns approximately 4,000 acres of land in Ontario, Canada. The company was founded in 1901 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Vladimir Zernov]
The first quarter was a tough one for steelmakers, as harsh winter weather raised costs and delayed shipments. AK Steel's (NYSE: AKS ) CEO James Wainscott even said, "thank goodness it's behind us" during the first quarter earnings call. Steel Dynamics (NASDAQ: STLD ) blamed weather conditions for reduced earnings, as cost rose due to higher electricity and natural gas costs. Nucor (NYSE: NUE ) and U.S. Steel (NYSE: X ) were hit by the weather as well.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
I just wrote about iron miners getting pounded; now it’s time for the steel stocks like US Steel (X), AK Steel (AKS) and Steel Dynamics (STLD).
Top Warren Buffett Companies For 2014: Dynavax Technologies Corporation(DVAX)
Dynavax Technologies Corporation, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, discovers and develops novel products to prevent and treat infectious diseases. The company's lead product candidate includes HEPLISAV, a Phase 3 investigational adult hepatitis B vaccine designed to provide protection with fewer doses than current licensed vaccines. It also develops Universal Flu vaccine, a Phase 1b clinical trial vaccine for influenza prevention; SD-101, a Phase Ib clinical trial hepatitis C therapy; DV-601, a Phase Ib clinical trial hepatitis B therapy; AZD1419, a preclinical asthma therapy; and DV1179, a Phase 1 trial autoimmune and inflammatory disease therapy. Dynavax Technologies Corporation has strategic alliance with GlaxoSmithKline plc to discover, develop, and commercialize DV1179 and other endosomal toll-like receptor inhibitors for diseases, such as lupus, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis; and develop a TLR8 inhibitor for the treatment of multiple autoimmune and i nflammatory diseases, as well as has research and license agreement with AstraZeneca to discover and develop TLR9 agonist-based therapies for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The company was founded in 1996 and is based in Berkeley, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Keith Speights]
Of course, developing a product for a market with great opportunity doesn't guarantee success for your investment strategy. An estimated 1 million people die each year from complications related to hepatitis B. Dynavax (NASDAQ: DVAX ) developed a hep-B vaccine, Heplisav, that showed tremendous promise. However, safety concerns derailed approval for the drug. While Heplisav might still reach the market, Dynavax's experience highlights the risks even in a market with solid potential.
- [By Selena Maranjian]
Finally, Westfield's biggest closed positions included Ralcorp and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Other closed positions of interest include Dynavax (NASDAQ: DVAX ) and JDS Uniphase (NASDAQ: JDSU ) . Dynavax shares fell sharply upon an FDA rejection of its hepatitis B vaccine Heplisav. The FDA left open the possibility of a more limited approval, but Dynavax now has more work to do, and it's burning cash while its revenue has been shrinking. Fortunately, it does seem to have have ample cash�to keep it afloat for a few years. Investors are right to worry about share dilution, too. Dynavax has partnered with GlaxoSmithKline�on Heplisav, and its new CEO hails from GlaxoSmithKline as well.
- [By Max Macaluso, Ph.D.]
Shares of biotech�Dynavax Technologies� (NASDAQ: DVAX ) �plunged 30% this morning after the company provided an update on its experimental hepatitis B vaccine Heplisav. According to its press release, the company met with the Food & Drug Administration, and the regulatory agency has stated that Dynavax simply doesn't have enough data to confirm the safety of the vaccine.
- [By Keith Speights]
Dynavax (NASDAQ: DVAX ) is a good case in point. The company's Heplisav hepatitis B vaccine looked good in clinical trials when compared to the leading vaccine on the market. Dynavax thought that the safety profile for Heplisav also compared favorably. The Food and Drug Administration even told the company that it could expand its Biologic License Application, or BLA, to include a wider age range of adults than originally planned.
Top Warren Buffett Companies For 2014: VAALCO Energy Inc (EGY)
VAALCO Energy, Inc. (VAALCO), incorporated in 1985, is an independent energy company principally engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of crude oil and natural gas. VAALCO owns producing properties and conducts exploration activities as operator in Gabon, West Africa, conducts exploration activities as an operator in Angola, West Africa, and has conducted exploration activities as a non-operator in the British North Sea. The Company owns minor interests in production activities as a non-operator in the United States. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Etame, Avouma, South Tchibala and Ebouri fields produced approximately 8.1 million barrels of oil (2.3 million barrels of oil net to the Company).
Offshore Gabon
The Company�� primary source of revenue is from the Etame Production Sharing Contract related to the Etame Marin block located offshore the Republic of Gabon. VAALCO operates the Etame Marin block on behalf of a consortium of companies. As of December 31, 2010, VAALCO owned a 30.35% interest in the exploration acreage within the Etame Marin block. The Company owns a 28.1% interest in the development areas surrounding the Etame, Avouma, South Tchibala and Ebouri fields, each of which is located on the Etame Marin block. The Company produces from the Etame, Avouma, South Tchibala and Ebouri fields on the block.
Onshore Gabon
The Mutamba Iroru block is ocated onshore near the coast in central Gabon. The Mutamba Iroru block contains an exploration area of approximately 270,000 acres.
Offshore Angola
The Company has 40% working interest in Offshore Angola. The four year primary term with an optional three year extension awards the Company exploration rights to 1.4 million acres offshore central Angola.
Onshore Domestic-Texas
In July 2011, the Company acquired a 480 acre lease in the Granite Wash formation in North Texas. In November 2011, the Company commen! ced drilling a second well on the initial Granite Wash formation lease.
Onshore DomesticMontana
In May 2011, the Company acquired a 70% working interest in approximately 5,200 acres (3,640 net acres) in Sheridan County, Montana in the Middle Bakken formation. In September 2011, it acquired a 65% working interest in approximately 22,000 gross acres covering the Middle Bakken and deeper formations in the East Poplar unit and the Northwest Poplar field in Roosevelt County, Montana.
DomesticOutside Operated
The Company has minor interests in Brazos County, Texas producing from the Buda/Georgetown formations. The Company also owns certain minor non-operated interests in the Ship Shoal area of the Gulf of Mexico and in Pickens County, Alabama.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Eric Volkman]
Vaalco Energy (NYSE: EGY ) hopes to put some power into its common stock by repurchasing a chunk of outstanding shares. The company's board has authorized a repurchase program for up to $25 million worth of stock. The initiative will be in force for one year.
- [By Laura Brodbeck]
Friday
Earnings Expected From: Covidien plc. (NYSE: COV), Eldorado Gold Corporation (NYSE: EGO), Vaalco Energy Inc. (NYSE: EGY) Economic Releases Expected: �US Wholesale Trade, US non-farm payrollsPosted-In: Bank Of England European Central Bank Federal ReserveNews Eurozone Previews Global Economics Federal Reserve Markets Trading Ideas Best of Benzinga
- [By Laura Brodbeck]
Thursday
Earnings Expected From: AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVEO), Kirkland��, Inc (NASDAQ: KIRK), Dollar General Corporation (NYSE: DG), Stein Mart, Inc. (SMRT: NASDAQ), Mattress Firm Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: MRFM), SeaWorld Entertainment (NYSE: SEAS), Vaalco Energy Inc (NYSE: EGY) Economic Releases Expected: Chinese retail sales, French CPI, Brazilian retail sales, US retail sales, Japanese industrial productionFriday
Top Warren Buffett Companies For 2014: CTI Industries Corporation (CTIB)
CTI Industries Corporation develops, manufactures, and supplies flexible film products for novelty, packaging and container, and custom product applications worldwide. The company offers novelty products that comprise foil balloons, such as Superloons, Ultraloons, Miniloons, Card-B-Loons, Shape-A-Loons, and mini shapes; latex balloons under the Partyloons name; and toy balloon products consisting of punch balls, water bombs, animal twisties, and other inflatable toy items. It also provides flexible containers for home and consumer use for the storage and preservation of food and personal items, including devices for sealing and evacuating air from such containers; and packaging films and custom film products used for food, and other packaging and commercial applications. In addition, the company offers pouches and bags comprising valved and re sealable pouches for the storage of household items; vacuum sealable bags for food storage; re sealable and valved bags for the sto rage and vacuum sealing of food items in the house under the ZipVac brand; and open-top pouches, under the ZipLoc name, for use with vacuum sealing machines to vacuum seal, and store food and household items. It primarily serves various retail outlets, including general merchandise, discount and drugstore chains, grocery chains, card and gift shops, and party goods stores, as well as florists and balloon decorators through a network of distributors and wholesalers, and independent sales representatives. CTI Industries Corporation was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Lake Barrington, Illinois.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Monica Gerson]
CTI Industries (NASDAQ: CTIB) is estimated to report its Q1 earnings at $0.02 per share on revenue of $15.75 million.
URS (NYSE: URS) is projected to post its Q1 earnings at $0.68 per share on revenue of $2.68 billion.
Top Warren Buffett Companies For 2014: Courier Corporation(CRRC)
Courier Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in printing, publishing, and selling books. It operates in two segments, Book Manufacturing and Specialty Book Publishing. The Book Manufacturing segment produces hard and softcover books, as well as offers related services involved in managing the process of creating and distributing these products for publishers, religious organizations, and other information providers. The Specialty Book Publishing segment publishes books in approximately 30 specialty categories, including fine and commercial arts, children?s books, crafts, music scores, graphic design, mathematics, physics and other areas of science, puzzles, games, social science, stationery items, and classics of literature for juvenile and adult markets in the United States. This segment also publishes approximately 900 test preparation and study guide titles for teachers and other consumers; and 130 titles comprising books on home decoration, design, and improvement, as well as gardening and landscaping for the home and garden retail book market. This segment sells its products through its specialty catalogs and through the Internet at doverpublications.com, REA.com, and creativehomeowner.com; and maintains DoverDirect.com, which is a business-to-business site for its retailers and distributors. This segment also sells its products through bookstore chains, independent booksellers, mass merchandisers, children?s stores, craft stores, gift shops, college bookstores, teachers? supply stores, and home and garden centers, as well as through a range of distributors in the United States and internationally. The company was founded in 1824 and is headquartered in North Chelmsford, Massachusetts.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Tim Melvin]
CPLP reaffirmed its commitment to paying the dividend of 93 cents per share going forward, and at that level the shares yield 8.65%. The F score is 7, so conditions are improving for the company and the stock is actually trading at a more than a 35% discount to its Graham number valuation of $16.
Courier Corporation (CRRC)Courier Corporation (CRRC) publishes and prints books that are distributed through a variety of retail outlets. It publishes books on things like landscaping, gardening and home improvement that are found in many of the leading home and garden stores. Courier also publishes more than 700 test preparation and study guides for teachers and students as well books for religious institutions.
Top Warren Buffett Companies For 2014: Hatteras Financial Corp (HTS)
Hatteras Financial Corp., incorporated on September 19, 2007, is an externally managed mortgage real estate investment trust (REIT) that invests primarily in single-family residential mortgage pass-through securities guaranteed or issued by the United States Government agency (such as the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae)), or by the United States Government-sponsored entity (such as the Federal National Mortgage Association, (Fannie Mae)), and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, (Freddie Mac)). The Company is externally managed and advised by its manager, Atlantic Capital Advisors LLC.
The Company focuses on agency securities consisting of mortgage loans with short durations. The agency securities consist of mortgages that have principal and interest payments guaranteed by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. It invests in both fixed-rate and adjustable-rate agency securities. Adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) are mortgages that have floating interest rates that reset on a specific time schedule, such as monthly, quarterly or annually, based on a specified index, such as the 12-month moving average of the one-year constant maturity United States Treasury rate (CMT) or the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). The ARMs it generally invests in, sometimes referred to as hybrid ARMS, have interest rates that are fixed for an initial period (typically three, five, seven or 10 years) and then reset annually thereafter to an increment over a pre-determined interest rate index.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Zain Zafar]
Hatteras Financial (NYSE: HTS ) �was one of the worst performers during the period despite following a relatively conservative strategy of investing mostly in adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) mortgage-backed securities, as opposed to fixed-rate 30-year MBSes that can often carry a larger interest rate risk.�
- [By Amanda Alix]
More mREITs stay the course, but two trim payouts
Despite suffering many tumbles and bruises, several mREITs have announced that their dividends will be unchanged from the previous quarter. Several did so last week, and yesterday saw Hatteras Financial (NYSE: HTS ) , an agency-only trust, keeping its own $0.70 per share�payout the same. Hybrid New York Mortgage Trust (NASDAQ: NYMT ) also kept its dividend stable, at $0.27 per share, in line with its four most recent distributions.
Top Warren Buffett Companies For 2014: Becton Dickinson and Company(BDX)
Becton, Dickinson and Company, a medical technology company, develops, manufactures, and sells medical devices, instrument systems, and reagents worldwide. The company?s BD Medical segment produces medical devices that are used in various healthcare settings. This segment?s products include needles, syringes, and intravenous catheters for medication delivery; prefilled IV flush syringes; syringes, pen needles, and other drugs to treat diabetes; prefillable drug delivery systems; anesthesia needles and trays; sharps disposal containers; and closed-system transfer devices. Its BD Diagnostics segment provides products for the safe collection and transport of diagnostics specimens, as well as instrument systems and reagents to detect various infectious diseases, healthcare-associated infections, and cancers. This segment?s products consist of integrated systems for specimen collection; safety-engineered blood collection products and systems; automated blood culturing systems; molecular testing systems; microorganism identification and drug susceptibility systems; liquid-based cytology systems for cervical cancer screening; rapid diagnostic assays; and plated media. The company?s BD Biosciences segment produces research and clinical tools that facilitate the study of cells and their components. This segment?s products comprise fluorescence-activated cell sorters and analyzers; monoclonal antibodies and kits for performing cell analysis; reagent systems for life science research; cell imaging systems; laboratory products for tissue culture and fluid handling; diagnostic assays; and cell culture media supplements for biopharmaceutical manufacturing. It markets its products through independent distribution channels and independent sales representatives to healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry, and the general public. The company was founded in 1897 and is headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Peter Stephens]
The competition
In terms of competition, medical devices and diagnostics accounted for 21% of�Abbott Labs'� (NYSE: ABT ) �total sales in 2013, with�Becton, Dickinson� (NYSE: BDX ) �also focusing on this area. Abbott experienced a strong year in this space and delivered total sales growth of 5.9%, even when a negative currency impact of 2.4% is taken into account. A 10.8% increase in volume drove the growth, while competitive pricing had a negative impact on total sales. However, reduced prices did not translate into falling margins, as Abbott drove through significant efficiencies so as to increase operating margin from 19.2% in 2011 to 22.2% in 2013, with a more focused and leaner supply chain making a big difference.
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