There are pockets of opportunity to be had, such as the intersection of mobile, the Internet, and computing, that are reshaping industries and business models around us, suggests Chris Versace, editor of PowerTrend Profits.
Amid the snow and ice, corporate earnings have been issued, and two of our holdings��isco Systems (CSCO) and Nuance Communications (NUAN) were part of that crowd. The results were pretty good, with both companies reporting better-than-expected earnings.
Although it cited near-term product transition issues and weak demand from the emerging markets, Cisco beat Wall Street expectations for the December quarter and guided the current quarter in line with existing forecasts.
Alongside that, Cisco bumped up its quarterly dividend by $0.02 per share to $0.19 per share��hat's an annual dividend yield of 3.4%.
Rising dividends tend to move upside and downside in the shares higher, and that is what's happening in Cisco shares as the Internet of Everything gets underway. For now, the shares remain a buy at current levels.
Top 5 Healthcare Technology Companies To Invest In Right Now: Google Inc.(GOOG)
Google Inc. maintains an index of Web sites and other online content for users, advertisers, and Google network members and other content providers. It offers AdWords, an auction-based advertising program; AdSense program, which enables Web sites that are part of the Google Network to deliver ads from its AdWords advertisers; Google Display, a display advertising network that comprises the videos, text, images, and other interactive ads; DoubleClick Ad Exchange, a real-time auction marketplace for the trading of display ad space; and YouTube that provides video, interactive, and other ad formats for advertisers. The company also provides Google Mobile that optimizes Google?s applications for mobile devices in browser and downloadable form; and enables advertisers to run search ad campaigns on mobile devices, as well as Google Local that provides local information on the Web; and Google Boost for small businesses to participate in the ads auction. In addition, it offers And roid, an open source mobile software platform; Google Chrome OS, an open source operating system; Google Chrome, a Web browser; Google TV, a platform for the consumers to use the television and the Internet on a single screen; and Google Books platform to discover, search, and consume content from printed books online. Further, the company provides Google Apps, a cloud computing suite of message and collaboration tools, which includes Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar, and Google Sites; Google Search Appliance that offers real-time search of business and intranet applications, and public Web sites; Google Site Search, a custom search engine; Google Commerce Search for online retail enterprises; Google Checkout to make online shopping and payments streamlined and secure; Google Maps Application Programming Interface; and Google Earth Enterprise, a firewall software solution for imagery and data visualization. Google Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Doug Ehrman]
A possible offset to lower PC sales is the that Microsoft has had more time to transition customers to Office 365. While the product carries a lower initial cash outlay -- meaning that sales from Office could see a short-term dip -- the recurring income it generates is a positive over time. Particularly as Microsoft becomes an increasingly important player in cloud computing, the success of the company's cloud-based productivity suite is critical, especially as the company scrambles to insulate itself from a shift to Google (NASDAQ: GOOG ) Apps by large numbers of people.
- [By Rick Munarriz]
Even bulls didn't see the Z10 as a game changer out of the gate. The market knew that BlackBerry was going to have a hard time with the Z10, the first handset fueled by the company's improved BlackBerry 10 mobile operating system. The BlackBerry brand has diminished in popularity as Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG ) Android and Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL ) iOS account for the lion's share of the phones out there.
- [By Tim Beyers]
The chatter is that the two companies want to cooperate in mobile. Specifically, Apple is considering using more of Yahoo!'s applications and services on the iPhone as an alternative to Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG ) popular iOS apps.
- [By Steve Heller]
Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN ) is sitting on an advertising gold mine of data, because it's the sixth-largest website on the planet, which gives it invaluable insight into consumer shopping behavior. Amazon could one day become an advertising powerhouse because it has the transactional data that Google (NASDAQ: GOOG ) lacks. With this data, Amazon has already begun to personalize the advertising experience, helping boost prices by 20% to 30%. In this video, Motley Fool contributor Steve Heller discusses what puts Amazon in a unique position to become an advertising kingpin and what investors should be watching for.
Top 10 Internet Stocks To Own Right Now: Amazon.com Inc.(AMZN)
Amazon.com, Inc. operates as an online retailer in North America and internationally. It operates retail Web sites, including amazon.com and amazon.ca. The company serves consumers through its retail Web sites and focuses on selection, price, and convenience. It also offers programs that enable sellers to sell their products on its Web sites, and their own branded Web sites. In addition, the company serves developer customers through Amazon Web Services, which provides access to technology infrastructure that developers can use to enable virtually various type of business. Further, it manufactures and sells the Kindle e-reader. Additionally, the company provides fulfillment; miscellaneous marketing and promotional agreements, such as online advertising; and co-branded credit cards. Amazon.com, Inc. was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Robyn Gearey]
Getty Images No matter how budget-savvy you are, there's no avoiding the fact that having children is expensive. But with the help of your smartphone, you can cut your kid-related costs down considerably. Here are six apps that will help. Grocery iQ (free; iOS, Android): After housing and transportation, food is often the biggest chunk of a family's budget. Keep your grocery bill in check with this free app. Grocery iQ works with many major grocery chains, allowing you to organize your list around your favorite store's specific layout. Once you input your list, the app will calculate your total, so you can adjust it before you hit the checkout counter. Best of all, the app includes coupons (which can be linked with the store's loyalty card) to help you cut down your bill even more. Sample savings: 55 cents off Skippy peanut butter at my local Safeway (SWY). Out To Eat With Kids (free; iOS, Android): Don't feel like cooking tonight? Search this new app, which uses your location to find kid-friendly restaurant deals like "kids eat free" nights and seasonal promotions. It's also searchable by the day of the week. Most of the offers are for popular chain restaurants, but you can request that they add your family's favorite dinner spot. Sample savings: $4.79 off on a kid's meal during Moe's Southwest Grill's Tuesday night "Kids Eat Free" promotion. Chore Bank ($1.99; iOS): Why hire someone to rake the leaves or clean the house when you have free labor available right at home? Inspire your kids to pick up extra chores with Data Jedi's Chore Bank app, which allows parents to set a price for various tasks, then add that amount to the child's virtual account. The app can also track allowance and other money -- say, earnings from babysitting jobs or monetary gifts from relatives -- and deposits and withdrawals so your offspring can see where their money goes. You can even set an interest rate on savings to help kids learn the power of savings. Sample savings: $
- [By Jake Keator]
Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN ) : I am a devout reader, and I cannot remember a time I did not use Amazon in the search for my next book. I still remember the days when I would intentionally go over $25 per order to qualify for free shipping, since I knew that I'd read every book I ordered, in time. But Amazon has become far more than an online bookstore. It is hard to imagine a product that Amazon does not sell, and with an Amazon Prime membership, free two-day shipping has become something I take for granted. I received a Kindle Paperwhite as a gift and it has forever�changed the way I read.
- [By Tim Beyers]
Hastings needs more tests like this to regain the confidence of subscribers and investors who might have felt Netflix was abusing its market position two years ago. Since, Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN ) has introduced new original series, signed exclusive deals, and generally improved the quality of the Instant Video product. Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS ) , 21st Century Fox, and NBC Universal have invested a fresh $750 million in Hulu.
Top 10 Internet Stocks To Own Right Now: eBay Inc.(EBAY)
eBay Inc. provides online platforms, services, and tools to help individuals and merchants in online and mobile commerce and payments in the United States and internationally. Its Marketplaces segment operates ecommerce platform eBay.com; vertical shopping sites, such as StubHub, Fashion, Motors, and Half.com; and classifieds Websites, including Den Bl�Avis, BilBasen, Gumtree, Kijiji, LoQUo, Marktplaats.nl, mobile.de, Alamaula, Rent.com, eBay Anuncios, eBay Kleinanzeigen, and eBay Annunci, as well as provides advertising services. The company?s Payments segment offers payment and settlement services for consumers and merchants on and off eBay Websites and other merchant Websites. This segment operates PayPal, which enables individuals and businesses to send and receive payments online and through mobile devices; Bill Me Later that enables the United States merchants to offer, the United States consumers to obtain, credit at the point of sale for ecommerce and mobile tra nsactions; Zong, which allows users with mobile phones to purchase digital goods and have the transactions charged to their phone bill; and BillSAFE that enables customers pay for purchases upon receipt of an invoice. Its GSI segment offers an ecommerce services suite for enterprise clients that operate in general merchandise categories, including apparel, sporting goods, toys and baby, health and beauty, and home; and marketing services comprising full-service digital agency, enterprise email marketing, mobile advertising, affiliate marketing, advertisement retargeting, and in-depth analytics services. The company also offers X.commerce platform that provides software developers access to the company?s applications programming interfaces to develop functionality for various merchants; and Magento Connect, which allows developers to market and sell add-on functionality and solutions to merchants that use a Magento storefront. eBay Inc. was founded in 1995 and is headquarter ed in San Jose, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rex Crum]
EBay Inc. (EBAY) �ended the day down by 8 cents a share at $53.64 a day ahead of the company�� first-quarter earnings report.
- [By Chris Hill]
In this installment, our analysts explain why they're watching eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY ) and Mattel (NASDAQ: MAT ) .
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Interesting… so we got negative earnings from [Goldman Sachs (GS), eBay (EBAY), International Business Machines (IBM). And SPX doing very well. You can argue that EBAY does not have broad relevance to market, and that GS is really a quarter to quarter thing, where earnings this quarter tell us little about next quarter (trading), but IBM is a big deal as it is a good measure of spending on IT. So SPX performance very impressive, even though it is driven to some extent by defensives/ rates plays (utilities, telcos etc). This is a good sign. The market wants to go up into year end.
- [By Chris Hill]
Shares of PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP ) hit an all-time high on Thursday in the wake of quarterly earnings, and the strength in its snack division. Shares of Verizon (NYSE: VZ ) gain after the company reports a 16% jump in quarterly profits. Shares of Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP ) hit an all-time high, as first quarter profits rose 11%. And shares of eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY ) slip over concerns about earnings guidance. In this installment of Investor Beat, our analysts discuss four stocks making moves.
Top 10 Internet Stocks To Own Right Now: Symantec Corporation(SYMC)
Symantec Corporation provides security, storage, and systems management solutions internationally. The company?s Consumer segment delivers Internet security, PC tune-up, and online backup solutions and services to individual users and home offices. Its Security and Compliance segment provides solutions for endpoint security and management, compliance, messaging management, data loss prevention, encryption, and authentication services to large, medium, and small-sized businesses, as well as offers solutions through its software-as-a-service (SaaS) security offerings. This segment?s products enable customers to secure, provision, and remotely manage their laptops, PCs, mobile devices, and servers. The company?s Storage and Server Management segment provides storage and server management, backup, archiving, and data protection solutions across heterogeneous storage and server platforms, as well as solutions delivered through its SaaS offerings to large, medium, and small-s ized businesses. Symantec?s Services segment offers implementation services and solutions, including consulting, business critical services, education, and managed security services. The company also provides various enterprise support offerings, such as annual maintenance support contracts, including content, upgrades, and technical support. It sells its products through its eCommerce platform, as well as through distributors, direct marketers, Internet-based resellers, system builders, ISPs, and retail locations worldwide. Symantec markets and sells its products through distributors, retailers, direct marketers, Internet-based resellers, original equipment manufacturers, system builders, and Internet service providers; and its e-commerce channels, as well as direct sales force, value-added and large account resellers, and system integrators. The company was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Tim Melvin]
The first "insider" stock to buy is Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC), one of the leading internet security providers in the world.
Symantec makes a wide range of products that help individuals and businesses keep their computers and mobile devices safe from viruses and malware. The stock recently dropped sharply after the company fell short of analysts' quarterly earnings expectations, but CEO Stephen Bennett clearly disagrees with the market's opinion of the company's prospects. He got out his checkbook and added 1,000,000 shares of stock for a total cost of more than $2.2 million. He now owns 488,000 shares of Symantec stock and clearly has high expectations for the future of Symantec's stock price.
- [By Michael Flannelly]
Nomura Securities analysts initiated coverage on Symantec Corporation (SYMC) early on Wednesday, giving the stock a “Neutral” rating because its upside is already priced into its current valuation.
The analysts see shares of SYMC reaching $29, which suggests a 14.6% upside to the stock’s Tuesday closing price of $25.30.
Nomura Securities analyst Frederick Grieb commented, “In the early innings of a classic turnaround story, but upside largely priced In. We initiate coverage of Symantec (SYMC) with a Neutral rating and a 12-month target price of $29. Symantec is a leading vender in the security and storage markets, but has struggled to grow market share post its 2005 acquisition of VERITAS. The company has faced competitive pressures in its core markets, with ‘freemium’ antivirus software pressuring the consumer business, while the storage business has been challenged by enterprise migration to Windows and Linux from Solaris and UNIX. Despite these headwinds, we are launching coverage of Symantec with a Neutral rating, as we believe management will be able to improve the business by increasing margins (perhaps to +33%) and longer-term organic growth through a combination of simplifying management structures and a better strategy to incentivize the sales force. However, given the stock�� 33% increase YTD, due in part to multiple expansion (P/E up 18% YTD), we believe much of the upside from this turnaround is already baked in. FY14E EPS starts at $1.2; FY15E EPS starts at $2.18.”
Symantec Corp shares were inactive during pre-market trading on Wednesday. The stock is up 34.43% year-to-date.
- [By Anora Mahmudova]
Symantec Corp. (SYMC) slid 13% after the security-software maker fired Chief Executive Steve Bennett late Thursday and replaced him with board member Michael Brown.
- [By Tom Taulli]
In a sudden move, Symantec (SYMC) has terminated its CEO, Steve Bennett. And Wall Street is definitely concerned, as SYMC stock is off about 12% in today�� trading.
Top 10 Internet Stocks To Own Right Now: Yahoo! Inc.(YHOO)
Yahoo! Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a digital media company that delivers personalized digital content and experiences through various devices worldwide. It offers online properties and services to users; and a range of marketing services to businesses. The company?s communications and communities offerings include Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! Messenger, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, Flickr, and Connected TV, which provide a range of communication and social services to users and small businesses enabling users to organize into groups and share knowledge, common interests, and photos. Its search products comprise Yahoo! Search and Yahoo! Local, available free to users to navigate the Internet and discover content. The company?s marketplaces offerings and services include Yahoo! Shopping, Yahoo! Travel, Yahoo! Real Estate, Yahoo! Autos, and Yahoo! Small Business, which allow users to research specific topics, products, services, or areas of interest by review ing and exchanging information, obtaining contact details, or considering offers from providers of goods, services, or parties with similar interests. Its media offerings comprise Yahoo! Homepage, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Sports, Yahoo! Finance, My Yahoo!, Yahoo! Toolbar, Yahoo! Entertainment & Lifestyles, Yahoo! Contributor Network, and Yahoo! Pulse, which are designed to engage users with online content and services on the Web. The company also offers marketing services, such as display and search advertising, listing-based services, and commerce-based transactions to advertisers. In addition, it provides software and platform offerings for third-party developers, advertisers, and publishers, such as Yahoo! Developer Network, Yahoo! Open Strategy, Yahoo! Application Platform, Yahoo! Updates, Yahoo! Query Language, and Yahoo! Search BOSS. The company has strategic alliances with Nokia and ABC News, Inc. Yahoo! Inc. was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Californi a.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Douglas A. McIntyre]
The battle between Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) and Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) for the lead in U.S. unique visitors continued into November. Once again, the portal edged out the search firm–based on desktop visitors, Yahoo! had 194.6 million in November, as opposed to 192.7 million, according to�new data from comScore. Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) sites, which include portal MSN, reached a total of 173.4.
- [By Chris Neiger]
After just announcing the purchase of Tumblr earlier this week, Yahoo (NASDAQ: YHOO ) just�acquired�cross-platform gaming software�company PlayerScale today. The company creates gaming software that can be used on multiple platforms, which are played by over�150 million people worldwide, and adds 400,000 new users every day.
- [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]
Yahoo is an Internet bellwether that provides a multitude of services to consumers and companies worldwide. The company announced its second acquisition of the week, scooping up the team behind DreamWorks Animation�� Ptch app. The stock has been moving higher in recent quarters and is now trading near all time highs. Over the last four quarters, earnings and revenues have been mixed, which have produced conflicting feelings among investors about earnings announcements. Relative to its peers and sector, Yahoo has been a year-to-date performance leader. Look for Yahoo to OUTPERFORM.
- [By Benjamin Pimentel]
But the tech sector was weighed down by declines in shares of major tech issues. Shares of Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) �and Intel Corp (INTC) �were each down a fraction. Also in the red were shares of Yahoo Inc. (YHOO) �and Oracle Corp. (ORCL) .
Top 10 Internet Stocks To Own Right Now: IAC/InterActiveCorp (IACI)
IAC/InterActiveCorp engages in the Internet business in the United States and internationally. The company�s Search segment develops, markets, and distributes various downloadable toolbars; provides search, reference, and content services through its destination search and other Websites, including Ask.com and Dictionary.com; and aggregates and integrates local advertising and content for distribution to publishers on Web and mobile platforms, as well as markets and distributes mobile applications through which it provides search and additional services. Its Match segment offers subscription-based and advertiser-supported online personals services through its Websites comprising Match.com, Chemistry.com, OurTime.com, BlackPeopleMeet.com, and OkCupid.com, as well as through mobile applications and Meetic-branded Websites. The company�s ServiceMagic segment offers Market Match service that matches consumers with service professionals; Exact Match service, which enables con sumers to review service professional profiles and select the service professional that meets their specific needs; and 1800Contractor.com, an online directory of service professionals. This segment also offers Website design and hosting services. Its Media and Other segment operates CollegeHumor.com, an online entertainment Website that targets young males; Vimeo, a Website on which users can upload, share, and view video; and Pronto.com, a comparison search engine. This segment also engages in the creation of video content for various distribution platforms; and operates as an Internet retailer of footwear and related apparel and accessories, as well as focuses on multimedia business. The company was formerly known as InterActiveCorp and changed its name to IAC/InterActiveCorp in July 2004. IAC/InterActiveCorp was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in New York, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Eric Volkman]
AP/Jim Mone Is Bitcoin a slam-dunk as the currency of the future? The Sacramento Kings seem to think so. The NBA team recently became the first pro sports franchise to accept Bitcoin as a form of payment. Basketball fans will be able not only to purchase tickets and merchandise online with the digital cryptocurrency, but also to use it to buy souvenirs at the arena come game time. The team is the latest in a growing number of commercial entities finding a slot in their virtual cash registers for Bitcoin. Little by little, momentum is building for a widespread acceptance of the upstart currency. Overstocking The Kings' drive towards the Bitcoin basket comes a week after the big online retailer Overstock.com (OSTK) announced it would start accepting payments in the currency. The move was an instant hit -- the first day the company had the nifty Bitcoin button as an option in its shopping cart, its customers used it to make more than 800 transactions for total sales of around $130,000. Overstock.com was by no means the first online marketplace to accept the currency. Numerous web retailers have been doing so for some time. It's a natural fit, %VIRTUAL-article-sponsoredlinks in a way, since Bitcoin exists solely in the digital realm. Customers booking flights on discount travel operator CheapAir.com, for example, can use Bitcoin to buy their tickets, as can love seekers on dating site OkCupid, owned by IAC/InteractiveCorp (IACI). These digital players are going to have plenty of company. Earlier this month, online games purveyor Zynga (ZNGA) started to dip its toes in the water, announcing that it was testing Bitcoin payments for some of its titles in conjunction with specialist transaction facilitator BitPay. But if Overstock.com didn't get there first, it's still the largest and most prominent e-retailer to take the Bitcoin plunge thus far. This is a big win for the currency and its advocates, and Overstock.com will surely be followed by more well-known comp
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