NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- As the government shutdown continues without a resolution in sight, TheStreet's Jim Cramer told Debra Borchardt what investors should do in the current environment.
According to Cramer, some people just don't care what happens with the U.S. debt and wouldn't mind a default. Those people seem to think that's the price we need to pay and seem to have control of the House of Representatives, he added.
The political back-and-forth can wreak havoc on individual investors, but there's an alternative. Cramer, one of the few who has been against the government shutting down from the beginning, said investors could look to defensive sectors to weather the storm.
Hot Electric Utility Stocks To Invest In 2015: Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc.(SBGI)
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., a television broadcasting company, owns or provides certain programming, operating, or sales services to television stations in the United States. The company broadcasts free over-the-air programming, such as network provided programs, news produced locally, local sporting events, programming from program service arrangements, and syndicated entertainment programs. It owns or provides programming and operating services pursuant to local marketing agreements, or provides sales services pursuant to outsourcing agreements to 58 television stations in 35 markets. The company was founded in 1952 and is based in Hunt Valley, Maryland.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
Small cap media stock�LIN Media LLC (NYSE: LIN) might not be a household name, but there is a good chance you might be watching the company�� programs because like the Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc (NASDAQ: SBGI) and Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc (NASDAQ: NXST), its helping to consolidate the media industry plus its making investment in other forms of media like social media. The stock has also outperformed those two peers along with the�PowerShares Dynamic Media Portfolio ETF (NYSEARCA: PBS).
- [By Brian Pacampara]
What: Shares of television broadcasting company Sinclair Broadcast Group (NASDAQ: SBGI ) sank as low as 11% today after�announcing disappointing quarterly results and a public offering of common stock. �
- [By Jesse Solomon]
The Sinclair Broadcast Group (SBGI), which owns and operates almost 170 stations and reaches roughly 40% of all U.S. television households, shot up 15% after the ruling.
10 Best Defensive Stocks To Buy For 2014: Constant Contact Inc.(CTCT)
Constant Contact, Inc. provides on-demand email marketing, social media marketing, event marketing, and online survey products primarily in the United States. It offers email marketing products, which allow customers to create, send, and track professional and affordable permission-based email marketing campaigns; and social media marketing products that allow customers to manage and optimize their presence across multiple social media networks. The company also provides event marketing products, which enable its customers to promote and manage events, communicate with invitees and registrants, capture and track registrations, and collect online payments; and online survey products that enable its customers to create and send surveys, and analyze the responses. In addition, it offers customer support services to customers and trailers through phone, chat, email, and social media. Further, the company provides ancillary services, such as custom services to customers who lik e its email campaigns, event promotions, or surveys prepared for them; and online training programs to educate participants on email marketing and social media marketing best practices, as well as a workshop programs. It markets its products directly for small organizations, including retailers, restaurants, law and accounting firms, consultants, non-profits, religious organizations, and alumni associations. The company was formerly known as Roving Software Incorporated and changed its name to Constant Contact, Inc. in 2006. Constant Contact, Inc. was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By CRWE]
Constant Contact(R), Inc. (Nasdaq:CTCT), which helps more than half a million small organizations connect with their customers through a suite of online engagement marketing tools, today announced its chief financial officer, Harpreet Grewal, will present at Deutsche Bank�� 2012 dbAccess Technology Conference, to be held in Las Vegas.
- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Equities Trading UP
Constant Contact (NASDAQ: CTCT) shares shot up 26.32 percent to $27.69 after the company lifted its Q1 and FY14 revenue outlook. - [By Evan Niu, CFA]
What: Shares of Constant Contact (NASDAQ: CTCT ) have popped today by upwards of 19% after the company reported first-quarter earnings.
10 Best Defensive Stocks To Buy For 2014: Global Indemnity plc (GBLI)
Global Indemnity plc, through its subsidiaries, operates as a specialty property and casualty insurer. The company provides property and casualty insurance products in the excess and surplus lines marketplace to customers in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It offers property and general liability products for small commercial businesses through a network of wholesale general agents; property, general liability, and professional lines products through program administrators; and property, casualty, and professional lines products through wholesale brokers. The company also provides reinsurance solutions to excess and surplus lines carriers, specialty property and casualty insurance companies, and regional insurance writers. It offers reinsurance solutions worldwide through brokers; primary writers, including regional insurance companies; and program managers. Global Indemnity plc is based in Dublin, Ireland.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Damian Illia]
As we can see, the firm ratio is higher than the ones shown by Alleghany, Fidelity, Federated National Holding Co. (FNHC) and Global Indemnity Plc (GBLI).
10 Best Defensive Stocks To Buy For 2014: Lattice Inc (LTTC)
Lattice Inc., incorporated on October 31, 1994, develops and delivers secure telecommunication solutions. The Company provides products and services, such as Nexus Call Control system, wholesale services, direct services, government services, Aquifer software, SensorView software, and The OneVoice system. The Company derives its revenues from three primary resources, such as providing telecommunications services to correctional facilities and service providers who provide telecommunication services within the industry, selling or licensing the Company's technology, and providing engineering services to other technology companies and government agencies. The Company continues to wholesale call control technology and services to service providers offering communication services to inmates of correctional institutions. In September 2013, Lattice Incorporated established Lattice Communications Inc. in Canada. In November 2013, the Company purchased InnoVisit's video conferencing technology.
Nexus Call Control System (Nexus)
The Company�� Nexus Call Control system is built on the Company's BubbleLink software architecture. BubbleLink is a transaction processing platform that is used to develop and enhance a variety of customizable communications applications. This open source platform is a combination of integrated computer telephony hardware and software. The Nexus Call Control system is capable of handling thousands of call transactions per hour and provides telecom service providers with tools to manage telephone calls. The Nexus Call Control system can manage small to facilities without sacrificing features or performance. Nexus provides call control and management tools targeted at investigation and law enforcement in the inmate telephone control industry.
Nexus includes live monitoring, debit, video visitation, kiosk integration, and recording features. The Nexus system can be structured to use pre-paid collect and pre-paid debit cards that support specialized tarif! fs and call timing. With pre-paid services, Nexus provides complete control and security. Nexus call control systems are supported by an integrated array of administrative and investigative programs that provide a management solution suite. All programs interact in real-time with Nexus calls and databases via an Ethernet local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN).
Wholesale Services
The Company provides transaction based services to other service providers based on the feature set of the Nexus platform. Service providers utilize the Company's services to provide telecommunication services to facilities that require a secure call management solution. The features the Company offers vary based on the specific needs of the service provider. With the scalability of the Nexus system, the Company is able to provide services across the country without requiring a capital deployment for new facilities.
Direct Services
The Company's Nexus platform allows the Company to provide correctional facilities with a feature rich secure call control service that enables inmates to make phone calls while providing the security and investigative features required in correctional facilities. In addition to telecommunications services the Nexus based system provides capabilities to provide services, such as video visitation, kiosk management, e-mail, and other inmate services not readily available through less advanced systems. With the Nexus based platform, because it is centrally located, the Company is able to provide a suite of features to smaller facilities, enabling the Company to provide services traditionally unavailable to this section of the market.
Government Services
The Company�� government services division provides engineering services coupled with technology solutions to agencies of the federal government. The Company has developed data management applications, Internet server technology, and information systems within! federal ! agencies.. The Company's technology and services helps the Company's customers reduce development time for projects, manage the deployment of applications across the Internet to desktops around the world and implement military grade security on all systems where the applications are deployed. The Company has designed, developed and implemented advanced business management applications, integration technologies and enterprise geospatial systems.
The Company supports several operational systems in all of these categories for organizations and defense commands using Web-based technologies and the consolidation of custom and commercial off-the-shelf software to unite dissimilar applications into integrated systems. In addition, the Company provides network engineering, architectural guidance, database management, programming, and functional area analysis to its department of defense clients. The government services division derives approximately 90% of its revenues from the department of defense. The Company's contracts with the federal government consist of three contract types: time and materials, fixed price, and cost plus. In addition, the Company has a mix of prime contracts, where the contract is awarded to the Company, and subcontracts where the Company is a sub on another organization's prime contract. The Company has approximately 90% of its revenues being generated from prime contracts.
Aquifer Software
The Company develops and markets the Aquifer application services platforms, a software product embedded in the applications developed for its customers. Aquifer is an out-of-the-box application framework for secure, Web-enabled, multi-platform applications. It implements application and data security that exceeds military and commercial standards. Built on Web services, Aquifer provides developers with a simplified, clear path to implement applications in a service oriented architecture (SOA). Using Aquifer, developers accelerate the creation, conversion, d! eployment,! and maintenance of next generation, Internet-ready, multi-tiered business applications.
SensorView Software (SensorView)
The Company�� SensorView is a command, control, and monitoring system that provides a secure plug and play (SPnP) backbone for the integration of numerous CBRNE, weather, navigation, video, motion, and other sensor types using a variety of standard wired and wireless interfaces. It can be used with both fixed and mobile units to provide real time monitoring and protection. SensorView software is microsoft windows and Internet browser based for ease of use with a customizable interface that is easy to learn and modify to the specific display needs of the user. SensorView can be used with or without encryption and can be exported for use by Allied Coalition partner nations.
The OneVoice System (OneVoice)
The Company�� OneVoice system, also known as the JWARN Component Interface Device (JCID) on a Chip, or JoaC, is a universal network card that allows non-standard CBRNE or other sensor types to communicate with JWARN and other standardized command and control sensor platforms. OneVoice acts as a protocol translator for legacy sensors, allowing connectivity through both the JWARN JCID interface (JJI) and the common chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRN) sensor interface (CCSI). The system can be integrated directly with a sensor, or hung externally as a dongle to provide the needed connectivity. The OneVoice network card also contains onboard RAM and Flash memory, as well as an integrated global positioning system (GPS), providing the ability to perform data fusion and computation at the node itself, which delivers added power to mesh network sensor configurations.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Peter Graham]
Small cap stocks Timios National Corp (OTCMKTS: HOMS) and Lattice Inc (OTCMKTS: LTTC) surged 54.29% and 20.83%, respectively, while Unique Pizza & Subs Corp (OTCMKTS: UPZS) sank 27.27% last Friday. But today is a new trading week with the last two trading days for the year. So what will these three small caps do today, tomorrow and after New Years�� Here is a closer look:
10 Best Defensive Stocks To Buy For 2014: Star Bulk Carriers Corp.(SBLK)
Star Bulk Carriers Corp. operates as a shipping company providing seaborne transportation solutions in the dry bulk sector worldwide. Its vessels transport major bulks, which include iron ore, coal, and grain; and minor bulks, such as bauxite, fertilizers, and steel products. The company has an operating fleet of 15 dry bulk carriers consisting of 7 Capesize and 8 Supramax dry bulk vessels with a combined cargo carrying capacity of 1,625,945 deadweight tons. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is based in Athens, Greece.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Igor Greenwald]
Last month, Oaktree Capital (OAK), managed by another distressed investing icon, Howard Marks, disclosed a huge 21.9% stake in Star Bulk Carriers (SBLK).
10 Best Defensive Stocks To Buy For 2014: Heartland Express Inc (HTLD)
Heartland Express, Inc. (Heartland), incorporated on August 8, 1986, is a short-to-medium haul truckload carrier. The Company provides regional dry van truckload services through its regional terminals plus its corporate headquarters. The Company transports freight for shippers and generally earns revenue based on the number of miles per load delivered. The Company�� primary traffic lanes are between customer locations east of the Rocky Mountains. The Company is a holding company of Heartland Express Inc. of Iowa, Heartland Express Services, Inc., Heartland Express Maintenance Services, Inc. and A & M Express, Inc. Heartland operates nine specialized regional distribution operations in Atlanta, Georgia; Carlisle, Pennsylvania; Chester, Virginia; Columbus, Ohio; Jacksonville, Florida; Kingsport, Tennessee; Olive Branch, Mississippi; Phoenix, Arizona, and Seagoville, Texas. The Company operates maintenance facilities at all regional distribution operating centers along with shop only locations in Fort Smith, Arkansas and O��allon, Missouri. In November 2013, Heartland Express Inc acquired 100% of the stock of Gordon Trucking, Inc.
The Company�� operations department is responsible for maintaining the continuity between the customer�� needs and Heartland�� ability to meet those needs by communicating customer�� expectations to the fleet management group. They are charged with development of customer relationships, ensuring service standards, coordinating proper freight-to-capacity balancing, trailer asset management, and daily tactical decisions pertaining to matching the customer demand with the appropriate capacity within geographical service areas. They assign orders to drivers based on well-defined criteria, such as driver safety and United States Department of Transportation (the DOT) compliance, customer needs and service requirements, on-time service, equipment utilization, driver time at home, operational efficiency, and equipment maintenance needs. Fleet management is r! esponsible for driver management and development. Their responsibilities include meeting the needs of the drivers within the standards that have been set by the organization and communicating the requirements of the customers to the drivers on each order to ensure successful execution. Serving the short-to-medium haul market (500 miles average length of haul in 2012) permits the Company to use primarily single, rather than team drivers and dispatch loads directly from origin to destination without an intermediate equipment change other than for driver scheduling purposes.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lauren Pollock]
Heartland Express Inc.(HTLD), a trucking firm steered by the Gerdin family, agreed to acquire another family controlled peer, Gordon Trucking Inc., in a transaction valued at about $300 million. Shares climbed 12% to $16.05 in light premarket trading.
10 Best Defensive Stocks To Buy For 2014: Monarch Casino & Resort Inc (MCRI)
Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. (Monarch), incorporated in 1993, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Golden Road Motor Inn, Inc. (Golden Road), owns and operates the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa(the Atlantis), a hotel/casino facility in Reno, Nevada. Monarch�� other wholly owned subsidiaries, High Desert Sunshine, Inc. (High Desert) and Golden North, Inc. (Golden North), each own separate parcels of land located adjacent to the Atlantis. The Company owns and operates the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, which is located approximately three miles south of downtown in the area of Reno, Nevada. The Atlantis features approximately 61,000 square feet of casino space; a hotel with 824 guest rooms and suites; ten food outlets; an enclosed year-round pool with waterfall; an outdoor pool; a health spa; two retail outlets offering clothing and resort gift shop merchandise; a full service salon for men and women; an 8,000 square-foot family entertainment center; and approximately 52,000 square feet of banquet, convention and meeting room space. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company acquired 1.5 acre parcel of developable land contiguous to the Riviera Black Hawk Casino.
In April 2012, it acquired Riviera Black Hawk, Inc.
The Atlantis Casino offers approximately 1,450 slot and video poker machines; approximately 39 table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette and others; a race and sports book; keno and a poker room. The Atlantis includes three contiguous high-rise hotel towers with 824 rooms and suites. The Atlantis includes three contiguous high-rise hotel towers with a total of 824 rooms and suites. The first of the three hotel towers contains 160 rooms and suites in 13 stories. The 19-story second hotel tower contains 278 rooms and suites. The third tower contains 386 rooms and suites in 28 stories.
The Atlantis hotel rooms feature designs and furnishings consistent with the Northern Nevada market, as well as nine-foot ceilings (most standard hotel rooms have eig! ht-foot ceilings), which create an open and spacious feel. The third hotel tower features a four-story waterfall with an adjacent year-round swimming pool in a climate controlled, five-story glass enclosure, which shares an outdoor third floor pool deck with a seasonal outdoor swimming pool and year round whirlpool. A full-service salon (the Salon at Atlantis) overlooks the third floor sundeck and outdoor seasonal swimming pool and offers salon-grade products and treatments for hair, nails, skincare and body services for both men and women. A health spa is located adjacent to the swimming areas, which offers treatments and amenities. The hotel rooms on the spa floor are designated as spa rooms and feature decor that is themed consistent with the spa. Certain spa treatments are also available in spa floor hotel rooms. The hotel also features glass elevators rising the full 19 and 28 stories, of the respective towers providing views of the Reno area and the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
The Atlantis has eight restaurants, two gourmet coffee bars and one snack bar. It includes 160-seat Atlantis Steakhouse gourmet restaurant; the 200-seat upscale Bistro Napa featuring a centrally located wine cellar; the Oyster Bar restaurant in the Sky Terrace offering fresh seafood, soups and bisques made to order; the Sushi Bar, also in the Sky Terrace, offering a variety of fresh raw and cooked sushi specialties, including all-you-can-eat lunch and dinner selections. The Oyster Bar and Sushi Bar can accommodate up to 139 guests; The 178-seat 24-hour Purple Parrot coffee shop; the 122-seat Cafe Alfresco restaurant serving a full menu, pizzas prepared in a wood-fired, brick oven and a variety of gelato deserts; the 170-seat Manhattan Deli restaurant specializing in piled-high sandwiches, soups, salads and desserts; two gourmet coffee bars, offering specialty coffee drinks, pastries and desserts made fresh daily in the Atlantis bakery; a snack bar and soda fountain serving ice cream and arcade-style refreshmen! ts.
The Sky Terrace is a structure with a diamond-shaped, blue glass body suspended approximately 55 feet, and spanning 160 feet across, South Virginia Street. The Sky Terrace connects the Atlantis with additional parking on its 16-acre site across South Virginia Street from the Atlantis. The structure rests at each end on two 100-foot tall Grecian columns with no intermediate support pillars. The interior of the Sky Terrace contains the Oyster Bar, the Sushi Bar, a video poker bar, banks of slot machines and a lounge area with oversized leather sofas and chairs.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jeremy Bowman]
What: Shares of Monarch Casino & Resort (NASDAQ: MCRI ) were cooling off today, falling as much as 20% after the company's earnings report failed to impress.
- [By Vanina Egea] ong>Risks and Valuation
Although the Chinese government will maintain its gambling restrictions in the mainland over the next decade, Sand Corp�� market share and leverage in fixed costs will continue to riel in strong revenue growth from this region. Fiscal 2013 marked a 24.80% revenue increase ($13.8 billion) and operating margins continue to expand at the same pace. Despite the inherent risk of an economic slowdown in Asia or a recession in the U.S., which could put a halt to leisure spending, the company is well prepared to balance out any short-term losses. The casino operator�� EBITDA growth of 65.30%, for example, is an impressive result when compared to the industry�� average of 4.90%.
Looking forward, earnings per share are expected to continue their fast-paced upward trend, having jumped from $1.56 in 2011 to $2.79 at the end of fiscal 2013. The 21.6% return on equity, as well as 1.80% dividend yield should also be attractive to shareholders and future investors. Although Las Vegas Sand Corp is currently trading at a 24% price premium relative to the industry average of 22.60x trailing earnings, I feel very bullish about this firm�� long term profitability, given its strong market position in Asia.
Disclosure: Vanina Egea holds no position in any stocks mentioned.
Also check out: Andreas Halvorsen Undervalued Stocks Andreas Halvorsen Top Growth Companies Andreas Halvorsen High Yield stocks, and Stocks that Andreas Halvorsen keeps buying
About the author:Vanina EgeaA fundamental analyst at Lone Tree AnalyticsVisit Vanina Egea's Website
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