What Is ��uality��The newly launched QUAL is actually a twist on an existing benchmark, the broad MSCI USA Index.��The iShares fund takes a factor-based approach in trimming down the starting universe by employing a series of fundamental metrics screens to narrow down only the highest-quality of companies. The methodology behind QUAL is based on three metrics of quality: high return on equity, stable year-over-year EPS growth, as well as low debt-to-equity .
The result is a portfolio comprised of roughly 125 U.S. large and mid-cap securities with a tilt towards the consumer discretionary, energy, and information technology sectors. QUAL is expected to be seeded with Arizona State Retirement System funds, similar to the three other factor-based ETFs that the firm rolled out this past April which are also based around the MSCI USA Index. QUAL is also expected to charge 0.15% in annual expense fees, similar to the previously mentioned sister ETFs which are:
Best Information Technology Companies To Own In Right Now: Elbit Systems Ltd. (ESLT)
Elbit Systems Ltd. engages in the design, development, manufacture, and integration of defense systems and products worldwide. The company operates in the areas of aerospace, land and naval systems, command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, unmanned aircraft systems, advanced electro-optics, electro-optic space systems, electronic warfare (EW) suites, airborne warning systems, electronic intelligence systems, data links, artillery systems, military communications systems, and radios. Its activities include military aircraft and helicopter systems, helmet mounted systems, commercial aviation systems and aero structures, land vehicle systems, electro-optic and countermeasures systems, homeland security systems, EW and signal intelligence systems, and various commercial activities, as well as command, control, communications, computer, and intelligence and cyber systems. The company also provides a range of support services fo r its defense systems and products. Elbit Systems Ltd. markets its systems and products as a prime contractor or subcontractor to various governments and defense contractors. The company was founded in 1966 and is based in Haifa, Israel.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Smith]
The Department of Defense awarded more than $562 million worth of contracts�on Wednesday. Publicly traded companies receiving contracts included:
Eaton Corporation (NYSE: ETN ) , which was awarded a maximum $12 million firm-fixed-price, sole-source contract to supply various oil nozzles and parts to the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps with a May 22, 2015, performance completion date.
� Elbit Systems (NASDAQ: ESLT ) subsidiary M7 Aerospace, awarded a $15.2 million option extension on a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract for logistics support for 12 Navy/Marines UC-35 and seven Navy C-26 transport aircraft through May 2014.
� Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC ) , winner of a $15.3 million modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee contract funding continued systems development and demonstrations of the MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System. This is the same�drone that the Royal Australian Air Force recently expressed interest in acquiring.Curiously, the DOD clarified that the actual purpose of the latter contract is not so much to perform work on the new drone per se but rather to pay for an upgrade of software being used in the project -- from Microsoft's (NASDAQ: MSFT ) Windows XP operating system to Windows 7.
- [By Louis Navellier]
DL has seen solid sales and profit growth and was upgraded to an ����by Portfolio Grader back in April of last year. DL stock remains a ��trong buy��today.
Great International Stocks: Elbit Systems (ESLT)Elbit Systems (ESLT) is an Israeli company that sells its products and services to the defense and aerospace industries.
Best Information Technology Companies To Own In Right Now: Nucor Corporation(NUE)
Nucor Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of steel and steel products in North America and internationally. It operates through three segments: Steel Mills, Steel Products, and Raw Materials. The Steel Mills segment produces hot and cold-rolled sheet steel; plate steel; structural steel comprising wide-flange beams, beam blanks, and sheet piling; and bar steel, such as blooms, billets, concrete reinforcing bar, merchant bar, and special bar quality products. The Steel Products segment offers steel joists and joist girders, steel deck, fabricated concrete reinforcing steel, cold finished steel, steel fasteners, metal building systems, light gauge steel framing, steel grating and expanded metal, and wire and wire mesh products. The Raw Materials segment produces direct reduced iron (DRI); brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron, hot briquetted iron, and DRI; supplies ferro-alloys; and processes ferrous and nonferrous scrap metal products. The company?s operations also include various international trading companies that buy and sell steel and steel products. It sells its hot-rolled steel and cold-rolled steel to steel service centers, fabricators, and manufacturers; steel joists and joist girders, and steel deck to general contractors and fabricators; and cold finished steel and steel fasteners to distributors and manufacturers. The company?s products are used by contractors in constructing highways, bridges, reservoirs, utilities, hospitals, schools, airports, stadiums, and high-rise buildings. Nucor Corporation was founded in 1940 and is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jonathan Yates]
Steel industry stocks such as ArcelorMittal, Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE), and AK Steel Holding (NYSE: AKS) are undervalued. As an example, AK Steel Holding is selling at a price-to-sales ratio of 0.14. That means that each dollar of sales is valued at more than an 80 percent discount in the stock price. It is much the same for Nucor Corporation, too. ArcelorMittal is selling at a deep discount priced to the value of its assets (0.39) and the amount of its sales (0.44).
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Nucor’s (NUE) side-bet on natural gas looks to be a loser, as the steel company called a halt to its natural-gas project with Encana (ECA) today.
ReutersBloomberg details impact of that decision:
The move will reduce Nucor�� 2014 capital expenditure by about $400 million, the�Charlotte, North Carolina-based company said in a statement today. In July it had forecast spending of $1.1 billion next year…
Nucor also said today it will earn 35 to 40 cents a share in the fourth quarter, compared with 43 cents a year earlier. The average of 18 estimates compiled by Bloomberg was for profit of 40 cents. Nucor�� projection includes 6 cents per share of inventory expenses, compared with a 14-cent credit a year earlier, the company said.
The news has hit Nucor’s shares today. Its stock has dropped 1.4% to $51.30, even as U.S. Steel (X) has gained 0.3% to $27.20, AK Steel (AKS) has gained 1.2% to $6.10 and Steel Dynamics (STLD) has decline 0.1% to $18.95. Encana is little changes at $17.95.
Citigroup’s Brian Yu explains that the earnings announcement is good news for AK Steel, U.S. Steel and Steel Dynamics:
As expected, the company noted improved profitability from their sheet unit, despite the three week planned outage at their Berkeley County mill, due to a series of price hikes. Bar and structural mills saw weaker performance in 4Q due to planned outages for upgrades at their SBQ mill in Norfolk and structural mill in Blytheville. NUE�� comments and guidance have positive implications for sheet producers AKS and X as well as STLD.
Shares of Nucor have gained 19% this year, while US Steel is up 14%, AK Steel has risen 33% and Steel Dynamics has advanced 38%.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Investors might have been steeling themselves for more losses in steel stocks after Nucor (NUE) offered disappointing guidance–but that was more than offset by price increases at ArcelorMittal (MT).
ASSOCIATED PRESSShares of Nucor have gained 0.6% to $49.75 at 2:43 p.m., while ArcelorMittal has risen 1.4% to $15.31, US Steel (X) has jumped 4.6% to $25.31, AK Steel (AKS) has climbed 4.4% to $6.39 and Steel Dynamics (STLD) has advanced 1.6% to $16.95.
Nucor said it would earn 30 to 35 cents a share during the first quarter, below forecasts for 48 cents. Cowen’s Anthony B. Rizzuto and team explain what happened:
Weather was the main culprit as the frigid temperatures disrupted customer demand, decreased the amount of railcar availability and exacerbated the already seasonally weak performance for [Nucor's] fabricated constructions productions business. In addition, imports have negatively impacted pricing and margins at the company’s bar and sheet mills.
Nomura’s Curt Woodworth and team lowered their first-quarter estimates but had some good news for steel stocks too:
Ahead of mid-quarter updates from the mini-mills ([Nucor and Steel Dynamics]) and [AK Steel], which we expect within the coming week, we lower 1Q-14 estimates for our steel coverage, though we continue to have a positive view of equity performance going forward.
Despite today’s gains, it’s been a tough year for steel stocks. Nucor is off 6.8%at $49.76, US Steel has fallen 14% to $25.31, AK Steel has plunged 22% to $6.38, Steel Dynamics has declined 13% to $16.95 and ArcelorMittal has dropped 14% to $15.31.
Best Value Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Telecom Italia SpA (TIT)
Telecom Italia SpA is an Italy-based company engaged in the communications sector. It operates in the fixed and mobile national and international telecommunications sector. Its activities are divided into five business units. The Domestic unit provides telephone and data services on fixed line and mobile networks for retail voice customers and wholesale operators, as well as develop fiber optic networks. The Brazil unit offers mobile services using Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technologies. The Argentina unit operates in fixed telecommunications through Telecom Argentina and in mobile telecommunications through Telecom Personal, and in Paraguay it operates in mobile telecommunications through Nucleo. The Media unit produces of multimedia music platforms, satellite channels and television broadcasting platforms. The Olivetti unit operates in the sector of office products and services for Information Technology. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jonathan Morgan]
Telecom Italia SpA (TIT) jumped 6.2 percent to 65.6 euro cents. The phone company that was stripped of its investment-grade rating is seeking at least 9 billion euros for its controlling stake in Brazilian wireless carrier Tim Participacoes SA (TIMP3), according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter.
- [By Zahra Hankir]
Brazil�� Ibovespa extended its weekly decline to 3.3 percent. Mobile carrier Tim Participacoes SA (TIMP3) sank after parent Telecom Italia SpA (TIT)�� chief executive officer said its Brazilian assets are strategic, damping speculation the local unit will be sold.
- [By Tom Stoukas]
Telecom Italia SpA (TIT) rose 5.2 percent to 61 euro cents amid speculation Chief Executive Officer Franco Bernabe will resign. Bernabe plans to tell the board at a meeting scheduled for Oct. 3 that he�� ready to step down after losing the backing of Telco SpA, the Telefonica SA-led holding company that owns 22.4 percent of the carrier, according to a person with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are confidential.
- [By Namitha Jagadeesh]
Telecom Italia (TIT) SpA gained 1.7 percent as Telefonica SA agreed to increase its stake in the phone operator. Nokia Oyj added 2.4 percent after a U.S. judge found that HTC Corp. violated two of its patents. Total (FP) SA climbed 2.6 percent after Barclays Plc raised its rating on the oil producer. Burckhardt Compression Holding AG slid 7.3 percent after saying fiscal first-half net income will decline from the year-earlier period.
Best Information Technology Companies To Own In Right Now: Telecom Italia S.P.A.(TI)
Telecom Italia S.p.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides fixed-line and mobile telecommunications, Internet, and media services. The company also operates in office and system solutions. Its portfolio ranges from consumer-focused convergent communications services to business-oriented advanced ICT solutions. The company?s integrated range of offerings, proprietary platforms, and network architecture leverage the potential of fixed-line and mobile broadband to offer convergent solutions for communication, Web surfing, always-in-touch services, and serve as a gateway to the digital world from the home, the office, and on the move, from fixed-line telephone, cell phone, PC, or TV. Its business portfolio covers various categories of business needs, from freelance professionals to SMEs, corporations, institutions, and public government bodies. The company?s Web offerings combine Italy?s Virgilio portal with Web 2.0 ventures, such as Yalp!, a TV community where users p ublish their own content and create their own TV channels. Its media operations span traditional broadcasting over analogue and digital networks, and mobile broadcasting through TIM/MTV partnership vehicle, MTV Mobile. The company has operations in Italy, Latin America, Germany, Holland, and the Mediterranean basin. As of December 31, 2009, it provided fixed telecommunications services with approximately 16.1 million physical accesses in Italy. The company?s wholesale customer portfolio consisted of approximately 6.2 million accesses for telephone services; and broadband portfolio had approximately 8.7 million accesses in Italy, as well as 30.8 million mobile telephone lines. Telecom Italia was founded in 1908 and is headquartered in Milan, Italy.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sean Williams]
Don't forget the cash flow
With austerity measures hitting home in Europe, it's fairly easy to understand why Telecom Italia (NYSE: TI ) (NYSE: TI-A ) , Italy's largest telephone service provider, has struggled mightily. Unlike in the U.S., where a landline or cell phone are viewed as practical necessities, consumers in Italy have had no problem giving up their landlines, or businesses postponing their network expansion, until Italy's economy improves. In fact, in Telecom Italia's first-quarter report, we saw EBITDA decline 10%, to $3.5 billion, and overall sales dip 8%.
Best Information Technology Companies To Own In Right Now: Peregrine Semiconductor Corp (PSMI)
Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation (Peregrine), incorporated in February 1990, is engaged in the design, manufacturing and marketing radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) for the aerospace and defense, broadband, industrial, mobile wireless device, test and measurement equipment, and wireless infrastructure markets. The Company is provider of RFICs. Its products include RF switches-antenna, RFswitches-broadband and general purpose, digital attenuators, synthesizers, mixers/upconverters, prescalers, variable gain amplifiers, digitally tunable capacitors, DC-DC converters and power amplifiers. Its UltraCMOS technology enables the design, manufacture, and integration of multiple radio frequency (RF), mixed signal, and digital functions on a single chip. Its solutions target a range of applications in the aerospace and defense, broadband, industrial, mobile wireless device, test and measurement equipment, and wireless infrastructure markets.
As of December 25, 2010, The Company offers a portfolio of more than 120 RFICs, including switches, digital attenuators, mixers/upconverters, and prescalers, and it is developing power amplifiers (Pas), digitally tunable capacitors (DTCs), and DC-DC converters. During the fiscal year ended December 25, 2010, its products were sold to more than 1,400 module manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), contract manufacturers, and other customers, including such companies as Amalfi Semiconductor, Inc., The Boeing Company, EPCOS AG, Ericsson AB, Hitachi Media Electronics Company, Ltd., Hitachi Metals, Ltd., Humax Co., Ltd., Itron, Inc., LG Innotek Co., Ltd., Mini-Circuits, Inc., Motorola, Inc., Murata Manufacturing Company, Ltd., Planet Technology Corp., Rockwell Collins, Inc., Rohde & Schwarz, Inc., SIPAT Co., Ltd., Skyworks Solutions, Inc., Sony Corporation, Source Photonics, Inc., and Thales Alenia Space.
RF switches-antenna
RF Switches are utilized in the RF section of mobile devices to route RF signals between! the antenna and the handset core, through one or more signal paths. For mobile handsets, its switch products offer up to 10 RF signal paths with integrated digital bus support and onboard voltage regulation.
RFswitches-broadband and general purpose
The Company�� broadband and general purpose RF switches deliver combination of broadband linearity, settling time, and isolation while routing RF signals to their respective transmit or receive paths. Its attributes are being used by the OEMs of LED and plasma digital televisions (DTVs), set top box, cable infrastructure, test and measurement devices
Digital Attenuators
The Company provides digital step attenuators that are used to control the amplitude of an RF or analog signal. The products include digital control circuitry integrated with an RF attenuator core and are used in third generation (3G) and fourth generation (4G) cellular base stations, repeaters, and point-to-point nodes.
Synthesizers
The Company�� frequency synthesizers provide an electronic system for generating any of a range of frequencies from a single fixed timebase or oscillator. Its synthesizers provide low-power, ultra-low phase noise, programmable frequency synthesis for defense, broadband, industrial, and wireless infrastructure markets.
Mixers/Upconverters
The Company�� mixers/upconverters are used to translate encoded voice/data signals from one frequency to another to enable radio transmission. Its mixers / upconverters are incorporated into mixer modules and provide industry linearity, which is a metric to maximizing wireless data transmission rates. These attributes are critical in 3G and 4G cellular base station designs.
Prescalers
The Company�� prescalers operate in the C, X, and Ku bands to divide the frequency of a wireless signal in order to extend the operating range of a synthesizer beyond its base capability. Its prescalers complem! ent its f! requency synthesizer line, providing its customers with design.
Variable Gain Amplifiers
The Company�� Variable Gain Amplifiers (VGAs) are used in both the receiving and transmitting path of a radio system to maintain a signal�� strength at a level necessary for other circuits to operate optimally. Its DVGA is the monolithic integrated circuit (IC) to integrate three functional blocks, including digital attenuators, RF/IF amplifiers and a common serial interface onto a single IC.
DC-DC Converters
The Company�� frequency-configurable DC-DC converters efficiently perform voltage conversion using a high frequency switching technique that minimizes system noise. Its DC-DC converters are designed to enable a distributed power management architecture designed for satellite applications, replacing inefficient drop out regulators and central converters.
Power Amplifiers
The Company�� PAs amplify RF signals in order to generate the necessary power required to establish a radio link between a base station and a mobile device. With its UltraCMOS technology the Company has the ability to integrate its PAs on a single chip with other RF, mixed signal, and digital components.
The Company competes with Hittite, M/A-COM, NEC, Renesas, RFMD, Skyworks, Sony, Toshiba and TriQuint Semiconductor.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lee Jackson]
Peregrine Semiconductor Corp. (NASDAQ: PSMI) is a lesser known name that is a top stock to buy at Deutsche Bank. The company recently released a new radio frequency (RF) switch specifically designed for broadband cable systems. With HD content exploding, this could be a huge home run for the company. Deutsche Bank has a $14 price target for the stock, the same as the consensus target.
Best Information Technology Companies To Own In Right Now: Amicus Therapeutics Inc.(FOLD)
Amicus Therapeutics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of orally-administered, small molecule drugs for the treatment of various human genetic diseases. Its drugs are known as pharmacological chaperones, which selectively bind to the target protein, enhance the stability of the protein, help it fold into the three-dimensional shape, and allow proper trafficking of the protein, thereby increasing protein activity, enhance cellular function, and reduce cell stress. The company primarily focuses on lysosomal storage disorders and diseases of neurodegeneration. Its products under development include Amigal, which is in phase III for the treatment of Fabry disease; AT2220, which completed phase I study for the treatment of Pompe disease; and Plicera, that has completed phase I study for the treatment of Gaucher disease. The company has license and collaboration agreement with Glaxo Group Limited to develop and commerc ialize Amigal. The company was founded in 2002 and is based in Cranbury, New Jersey.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rick Munarriz]
5. You've got to know when to FOLD 'em
Investing in biotech upstarts can be pretty risky, and Amicus Therapeutics (NASDAQ: FOLD ) investors learned that the hard way this week.
Best Information Technology Companies To Own In Right Now: NCR Corp (NCR)
NCR Corporation (NCR), incorporated on January 02, 1926, is a technology company, which provides products and services, which enable businesses to connect, interact and transact with their customers and enhance their customer relationships by addressing consumer demand for convenience, value and individual service. NCR�� portfolio of self-service and assisted-service solutions serve customers in the financial services, retail, hospitality, travel and gaming and entertainment industries and include automated teller machines (ATMs), self-service kiosks and point of sale (POS) devices, as well as software applications, which can be used by consumers to enable them to interact with businesses from their computer or mobile device. NCR complements these product solutions by offering a portfolio of services to help customers design, deploy and support its technology tools. NCR also resells third-party networking products and provides related service offerings in the telecommunications and technology sectors. The Company operates in four segments: Financial Services, Retail Solutions, Hospitality (formerly Hospitality and Specialty Retail), and Emerging Industries. Its product and service offerings include ATMs and Other Financial Products, Self-Service Kiosks, Point of Sale, Check and Document Imaging, Services, and Consumables. In June 2012, the Company acquired POS Integrated Solutions, a reseller of the NCR Aloha solution for restaurants; Wyse Sistemas de Informatica Ltda., a provider of software solutions, including the Colibri suite of hospitality software, and Radiant Distribution Solutions (RDS), a NCR Hospitality hardware distribution partner. In June 2012, Coinstar, Inc.�� wholly owned subsidiary, Redbox Automated Retail, LLC, acquired certain assets of the Company�� self-service entertainment DVD kiosk business. In November 2012, NCR acquired Retalix Ltd. In January 2013, the Company purchased uGenius Technology, Inc. In February 2013, the Company acquired Retalix Ltd. In January 2014, NCR Co! rp completed the acquisition of Digital Insight Corporation.
ATMs and Other Financial Products
The Company provides financial institutions, retailers and independent deployers with financial-oriented self-service technologies, such as ATMs, cash dispensers, and software solutions, including the APTRA application suite as well as consulting services related to ATM security, software and bank branch optimization. ATM and other financial product solutions are designed to quickly and reliably process consumer transactions and incorporate advanced features such as automated check cashing/deposit, automated cash deposit, Web-enablement and bill payment (including mobile bill payment).
Point of Sale
The Company provides retail and hospitality oriented technologies such as point of sale terminals, bar-code scanners, software and services to companies and venues worldwide. Combining its retail and hospitality industry, software and hardware technologies, and consulting services, its solutions are designed to enable cost reductions and improve operational efficiency while increasing customer satisfaction.
Self-Service Kiosks
The Company provides self-service kiosks to the retail, hospitality, travel and gaming, and entertainment industries and also owns and operates self-service kiosks in the entertainment industry. Its versatile kiosk solutions can support retail self-service functions, including self-checkout, wayfinding, bill payment and gift registries. It provides self check in/out kiosk solutions to airlines, hotels and casinos, which allows guests to check-in/out without assistance. These solutions create pleasant and convenient experiences for consumers and enable its customers to reduce costs. Its kiosks for the hospitality industry provide consumers the ability to order and pay at restaurants while enabling its customers to streamline order processing and reduce operating costs.
Check and Document Imaging
The ! Company�� check and document imaging offerings provide end-to-end solutions for both traditional paper-based and image-based check and item processing. These solutions utilize advanced image recognition and workflow technologies to automate item processing, helping financial institutions efficiency and reduce operating costs. Consisting of hardware, software, consulting and support services, its comprehensive check and document imaging solutions enable check and item-based transactions to be digitally captured, processed and retained within a flexible, scalable environment.
Consumables
The Company develop, produce and market a complete line of printer consumables for various print technologies. These products include two-sided thermal paper (2ST), paper rolls for receipts in ATMs and POS solutions, inkjet and laser printer supplies, thermal transfer and ink ribbons, labels, laser documents, business forms, and specialty media items such as photo and presentation papers. Consumables are designed to optimize operations and improve transaction accuracy, while reducing overall costs.
Services
The Company provides maintenance and support services for its product offerings and also provides other services, including site assessment and preparation, staging, installation and implementation, systems management and complete managed services. It also offers a range of software and services, such as Software-as-a-Service, hosted services, and online, mobile and transactional services and applications, such as bill pay and digital signage. In addition, it is also focused on expanding the resale of third party networking products and related service offerings to a base of customers in the telecommunications and technology sectors and servicing third-party computer hardware from select manufacturers.
The Company competes with Diebold, Inc., Wincor Nixdorf GmbH & Co., Hyosung, IBM, Wincor, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, ToshibaTec, Dell, Honeywell, Micros Syste! ms, Verif! one, Datalogic, SITA and IER.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lauren Pollock]
NCR Corp.(NCR), a maker of automatic teller machines, has agreed to pay $1.65 billion to acquire outsourced online banking firm Digital Insight Corp., a move to address rising consumer interest to bank across multiple channels.
- [By MARKETWATCH]
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Wall Street hedge-fund investor David Einhorn was active in the last quarter of 2013, taking new stakes in technology and energy companies, while trimming existing holdings in insurer Aetna (AET) , NCR Corp (NCR) and WPX Energy (WPX) , according to an SEC filing Friday. Einhorn's Greenlight Capital picked up stakes in Anadarko Petroleum (APC) , BP (BP) , McDermott Intl. (MDR) , Micron Technolgy (MU) and Take-Two Interactive (TTWO) , according to the latest 13F filing. He trimmed stakes in Aetna, Einstein Noah (BAGL) and WPX Energy, according to the filing.
Best Information Technology Companies To Own In Right Now: Hercules Offshore Inc.(HERO)
Hercules Offshore, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides shallow-water drilling and marine services to the oil and natural gas exploration and production industry in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and internationally. Its services comprise oil and gas exploration and development drilling, well services, platform inspection, and maintenance and decommissioning services in various water provinces. As of May 10, 2011, the company owned and operated a fleet of 50 jackup rigs, 17 barge rigs, 65 liftboats, 3 submersible rigs, and 1 platform rig. It serves national oil and gas companies, integrated energy companies, and independent oil and natural gas operators. The company was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Brian Pacampara]
Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, shallow-water oil and gas driller Hercules Offshore (NASDAQ: HERO ) has earned a respected four-star ranking.
- [By Travis Hoium]
What: Shares of Hercules Offshore (NASDAQ: HERO ) dropped as much as 11% today after a rig standing over a ruptured well collapsed.
So what: A fire broke out on one of Hercules's rigs yesterday, and there are now reports that the rig has collapsed and the fire has yet to be contained. All workers were evacuated and there's no evidence yet of oil escaping from the natural gas well, but the company will be on the hook for massive repair costs at the very least.
No comments:
Post a Comment