Margins matter. The more OSI Systems (Nasdaq: OSIS ) keeps of each buck it earns in revenue, the more money it has to invest in growth, fund new strategic plans, or (gasp!) distribute to shareholders. Healthy margins often separate pretenders from the best stocks in the market. That's why we check up on margins at least once a quarter in this series. I'm looking for the absolute numbers, so I can compare them to current and potential competitors, and any trend that may tell me how strong OSI Systems's competitive position could be.
Here's the current margin snapshot for OSI Systems over the trailing 12 months: Gross margin is 35.1%, while operating margin is 9.3% and net margin is 6.0%.
Unfortunately, a look at the most recent numbers doesn't tell us much about where OSI Systems has been, or where it's going. A company with rising gross and operating margins often fuels its growth by increasing demand for its products. If it sells more units while keeping costs in check, its profitability increases. Conversely, a company with gross margins that inch downward over time is often losing out to competition, and possibly engaging in a race to the bottom on prices. If it can't make up for this problem by cutting costs -- and most companies can't -- then both the business and its shares face a decidedly bleak outlook.
Top 10 Prefered Companies To Invest In Right Now: The Middleby Corporation (MIDD)
The Middleby Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of commercial foodservice and food processing equipment in the United States, Canada, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. The company?s Commercial Foodservice Equipment Group segment manufactures cooking equipment for restaurants and institutional kitchens. Its product line comprises conveyor ovens, ranges, steamers, convection ovens, combi-ovens, broilers and steam cooking equipment, induction cooking systems, baking and proofing ovens, griddles, char broilers, catering equipment, fryers, toasters, hot food servers, food warming equipment, and coffee and beverage dispensing equipment. These products are sold and marketed under the brand names of Anets, Blodgett, Blodgett Combi, Blodgett Range, Bloomfield, CTX, Carter-Hoffmann, CookTek, Doyon, Frifri, Giga, Holman, Houno, Jade, Lang, MagiKitch?n, Middleby Marshall, Nu-Vu, Pitco, PerfectFry, Southbend, Star, Toastm aster, TurboChef, and Wells. In addition, this segment involves in sales, distribution, and export management activities internationally through independent manufacturing representatives and a combined network of independent and company-owned distributors. The Middleby?s Food Processing Equipment Group segment manufactures preparation, cooking, packaging, and food safety equipment for the food processing industry. Its principal products include batch ovens, belt ovens, and conveyorized cooking systems sold under the Alkar brand name; grinding, slicing, emulsification, mixing, and blending products under the Cozzini brand name; breading, battering, mixing, slicing, and forming equipment sold under the MP Equipment brand name; and packaging and food safety equipment sold under the RapidPak brand name. The company was formerly known as Middleby Marshall Oven Company and changed its name to The Middleby Corporation in 1985. The Middleby Corporation was founded in 1888 and is bas ed in Elgin, Illinois.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jim Jubak]
Take it from someone who has been in and out of Middleby (MIDD) shares over the last decade: the big problem can be finding a way to get back after you've sold because the stock has hit what looks like a peak. (I added Middleby to my Jubak Picks 50 portfolio on May 3 when the shares traded at $144.78. To see the write-up on my annual changes to this portfolio click on this post.)
Top Healthcare Equipment Companies To Own In Right Now: China Nepstar Chain Drugstore Ltd (NPD)
China Nepstar Chain Drugstore Ltd. operates retail drugstores in the People?s Republic of China. The company?s drugstores provide pharmacy services and other merchandise, including prescription drugs; over-the-counter drugs; nutritional supplements, such as healthcare supplements, vitamins, minerals, and dietary products; herbal products, including drinkable herbal remedies and packages of assorted herbs for making soup; and private label products. Its stores also offer personal care products, such as skin care, hair care, and beauty products; family care products, including portable medical devices for family use, birth control products, and early pregnancy test products; and convenience products, such as soft drinks, packaged snacks, other consumables, cleaning agents, and stationeries, as well as seasonal and promotional items. The company operates its stores under the China Nepstar brand name. As of December 31, 2009, its store network comprised 2,479 retail drugstores located in approximately 71 cities in Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Liaoning, Shandong, Hunan, Fujian, Sichuan, and Hubei provinces, as well as in Shanghai, Tianjin, and Beijing municipalities of the People?s Republic of China. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Shenzhen, the People?s Republic of China.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Garrett Cook]
Non-cyclical consumer goods & services shares dropped around 0.20 percent in today’s trading. Top decliners in the sector included K12 (NYSE: LRN), China Nepstar Chain Drugstore (NYSE: NPD), and Du Pont (NYSE: DD).
Top Healthcare Equipment Companies To Own In Right Now: Inteliquent Inc (IQNT)
Inteliquent Inc, formerly Neutral Tandem, Inc., doing business as Inteliquent, incorporated on April 19, 2001, provides solutions for voice, data, and hosted services globally. With over 120 Ethernet sites across four continents, the Company is a global Ethernet interconnection provider, and has an Internet protocol version 6 (IPv6) network. Inteliquent is a network solutions provider, offering intelligent networking to solve interconnection and interoperability issues on a global scale. With multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) network, which is interconnected to carriers globally, it provides voice, Internet protocol (IP) transit and Ethernet solutions to carriers, service providers, and content management firms based in over 80 countries, across six continents. Its IP Transit provides bandwidth for Internet service providers (ISP), mobile operators, Telcos, enterprises and content providers. In September 2012, it announced the establishment of its Turkish subsidiary, as well as its strategic alliance with Turkey's Turkcell Superonline. In April 2013, Neutral Tandem Inc acquired the global data services business of Global Telecom & Technology Inc.
The Company simplifies the complexities of data networking by making interconnection. Its EtherCloud transforms and simplifies the delivery of Ethernet and virtual private local area network (LAN) service (VPLS) services over a global footprint. A layer-II platform, EtherCloud connects partner networks into a seamless Ethernet cloud, which delivers end-to-end connectivity globally. It relies on Inteliquent�� global MPLS backbone as a distributed switched network, which is accessible in 120 point of purchases (PoPs) across four continents, to interconnect partners��networks through standardized external network-to-network interfaces (E-NNIs). By interconnecting partner networks to create one holistic Ethernet cloud, EtherCloud enables you to both source and to sell Ethernet and VPLS connectivity. It provides a one-stop-shop to conne! ct globally.
The Company provides a range of voice services. Inteliquent's voice services include streamlined session initiation protocol (SIP) interconnection options for domestic and international long distance traffic. It offers terminating and originating access, which supports billions of minutes of billable traffic each month. Its services include Access Homing Tandem and Gateway Tandem Services. It has the first wholesale, white-label hosted collaboration solution to be resold by value added resellers (VAR) and system integrators (SI). The hosted collaboration solution (HCS) offers a range of unified communication products and services, including single number reach, integrated messaging and presence, video calling, and WebEx integration.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By alicet236]
Inteliquent Inc. (IQNT): CEO G. Edward Evans Sold 179,192 Shares
CEO of Inteliquent Inc. (IQNT) G. Edward Evans sold 179,192 shares on 05/07/2014 at an average price of $14.52. Inteliquent Inc. provides wholesale voice services for carriers and service providers. Inteliquent Inc. has a market cap of $468.794 million; its shares were traded at around $14.45 with a P/E ratio of 8.50 and P/S ratio of 2.10. The dividend yield of Inteliquent Inc stocks is 1.82%.
- [By Steve Symington]
In fact, I had one such moment last year when I finally sold my shares of Inteliquent (NASDAQ: IQNT ) �around $12 per share after holding them for much less time than I had originally planned. At the time, the stock had already been beaten down from its 2009 highs over $30 per share, and I had high hopes that the company might eventually regain its former glory.
- [By The GeoTeam]
The largest single event the company has achieved is the acquisition of Tinet from Inteliquent (IQNT) , which had been IQNT's global data business. IQNT provides services to telecom providers, helping them deliver their network reach. With the divestiture of Tinet, IQNT's major focus is the delivery of voice versus data services.
- [By Rick Munarriz]
Briefly in the news
Shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG ) hit a new 52-week high after posting stronger revenue than analysts were expecting. The burrito roller also indicated that menu price increases are on the way in a move that will increase margins. Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX ) also landed a fresh 52-week high, but it doesn't report until next week. The big push for the leading video service was a dozen Emmy nominations for House of Cards and Arrested Development. There's always a model-affirming Emmy nod in the banana stand. Inteliquent (NASDAQ: IQNT ) moved sharply higher after jacking up its revenue and adjusted EBITDA targets for the year. The provider of wholesale voice services had hosed down its outlook in May.
And now let's take a quick look at some of the other stories that shaped our week.
Top Healthcare Equipment Companies To Own In Right Now: Uomo Media Inc (UOMO)
UOMO Media Inc., incorporated on June 10, 2004, is in the business of producing, managing, and monetizing music-based intellectual property. The Company provides music publishing, digital music and video, recorded music and production, and talent management services. The Company operates in four divisions: music publishing, recorded music, digital distribution and talent management. The Company has two subsidiaries in Canada, UOMO Productions Inc. and UOMO Music Publishing Inc. In addition, The NE Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of UOMO Productions Inc. and UOMO Songs Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of UOMO Music Publishing Inc. As of April 30, 2009, the Company had 22 production customers. The Company�� customers include VideoFact and Universal Music. As of April 30, 2009, the Company was in the development stage.
In the music publishing segment, UOMO Music Publishing Inc. is tasked with creating a catalogue of assets in the form of copyrights. Services include Fund advances, which includes providing advances to individual composers; Administration, which includes registration, tracking, and collection of copyright royalties; Creative, which includes creating copyrights by writing songs, and Licensing, which includes finding opportunities to monetize copyrights by placing songs on recording artists, films, television, video games, commercials.
In the recorded music segment, the Company earns revenue from the ownership of master recordings. UOMO Recorded Music has three functions: catalogue acquisition, talent acquisition for/and production activities and distribution arrangements for projects. UOMO Recorded Music is the record label division of UOMO. Production services also fall under this division.
In the digital distribution segment, the Company has been developing digital music and video Web 2.0 software. In the talent management segment, the Company earns a percentage of gross revenues for all projects it manages. As of April 30, 2009, the Company ! was in the process of developing programming architecture for the new digital music and video portal.
The Company competes with Warner Music Group, EMI, Sony BMG, and Universal Music Group.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Peter Graham]
Small cap media stocks UOMO Media Inc (OTCMKTS: UOMO), International Display Advertising (OTCMKTS: IDAD) and Media Analytics Corp (OTCBB: MEDA) have been getting some extra media attention lately thanks in part to paid promotions. It should be said that there is nothing wrong with properly disclosed paid promotional or investor relation campaigns for stocks, but they can backfire on unwary investors and traders alike. With that in mind, here is a closer look at along with a reality check for these three small cap media stocks:
Top Healthcare Equipment Companies To Own In Right Now: Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited(AEM)
Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited, through its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, development, and production of mineral properties in Canada, Finland, and Mexico. The company primarily explores for gold, as well as silver, copper, zinc, and lead. Its flagship property includes the LaRonde mine located in the southern portion of the Abitibi volcanic belt, Canada. The company was founded in 1953 and is based in Toronto, Canada.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Hebba Investments]
Even with rising Q2 costs, GG still has lower true all-in costs than many of its larger competitors' Q1FY13 costs. Compared to Q1FY13 numbers of competitors such as Yamana Gold (AUY) (costs just over $1300), Kinross Gold (KGC) (costs above $1350), Silvercrest Mines (SVLC) (costs below $1100), Newmont Gold (NEM) (costs around $1300) Agnico-Eagle (AEM) (costs around $1400) and Barrick Gold (ABX) (costs around $1200).
- [By Dan Caplinger]
In the longer term, IAMGOLD could potential challenges from higher taxes on some of its holdings. The Canadian province of Quebec is considering changing the current 16% profit tax either to what amounts to a gross revenue tax or to a more progressive profit tax with higher rates on high-margin mining operations. Under current conditions, those taxes might not have much effect either on IAMGOLD or rivals Agnico-Eagle (NYSE: AEM ) and Goldcorp (NYSE: GG ) , both of which also have projects in the province, but it's hard to predict how a changes might affect future results if they take effect.
Top Healthcare Equipment Companies To Own In Right Now: Host Hotels & Resorts Inc (HST)
Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc (Host Inc), incorporated on September 28, 1998 operates as a self-managed and self-administered REIT. Host Inc. owns properties and conducts operations through Host Hotels & Resorts, L.P. (Host L.P.) of which Host Inc. is the sole general partner and in which it holds approximately 98.6% of the partnership interests (OP units) as of December 31, 2012. As of February 25, 2013, the Company had 118 primarily luxury and upper-upscale hotels containing approximately 62,600 rooms, with the majority located in the United States of America, and 15 properties located outside of the United States of America, in Canada, New Zealand, Chile, Australia, Mexico and Brazil. In addition, the Company owns non-controlling interests in two international joint ventures: a joint venture in Europe, which owns 19 luxury and upper upscale hotels with approximately 6,100 rooms in France, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Poland and Germany; and a joint venture in Asia/Pacific, which owns one hotel in Australia and minority interests in two operating hotels in India and five additional hotels in India under development. In June 2013, the Company announced that it acquired the fee-simple interest in the 426-room Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. In July 2013, the Company sold the 336-room Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco to an investment vehicle sponsored by Thayer Lodging Group. In January 2014, Host Hotels & Resorts Inc sold an 89% interest in the entity that owns the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown (the Hotel).
The Company's other real estate joint ventures include the development of a 225-room Hyatt Place in Nashville, Tennessee, and the development of a 131-unit vacation ownership project in Maui, Hawaii adjacent to the Company's Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa. The Company has 118 hotels in its portfolio, primarily consisting of luxury and upper upscale properties. These properties typically include meeting and banquet facilities, a variety of restaurants and! lounges, swimming pools, exercise facilities and spas, gift shops and parking facilities.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Marc Bastow]
Luxury and up-scale hotel operator and real estate investment trust (REIT) Host Hotels and Resorts (HST) raised its quarterly dividend 8.3% to 13 cents per share, payable on Jan. 15 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 31.
HST Dividend Yield: 2.7% - [By James E. Brumley]
In a perfect world, an investor could simply look at a company's history and its plausible earnings forecasts, and jump in (or out) knowing the stock's current price basically made sense with respect to past and future performance. We don't live or trade in a perfect world though. In the world we're actually in right now, most stocks, sectors, and industries have run up far beyond a justifiable value... perhaps except for hotel and lodging REIT stocks Host Hotels and Resorts Inc. (NYSE:HST), Strategic Hotels and Resorts Inc. (NYSE:BEE), and Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE:PEB).
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