Best Japanese Companies For 2014

NASA will be hitching rides on Russian rockets for at least three more years.

Last week, NASA announced the signing of a $424 million extension of its contract with the Russian Federal Space Agency, also known as Roscosmos, hiring the latter to transport U.S., Canadian, European, and Japanese astronauts to the International Space Station through 2016. The contract also extends a deal for Roscosmos to bring said astronauts back from the ISS through June 2017.�

NASA hopes to bring U.S. domestic space transport back on line by 2017, with private contractors including Boeing (NYSE: BA  ) , Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT  ) , Sierra Nevada, and SpaceX all vying to provide a "space taxi" service to ISS for the USA. Until then, however, NASA must piggyback on Russian rockets and ride in Soyuz space capsules.

Its latest contract with Roscosmos fixes prices for astronaut training, preparation, and transport to and from the ISS for six astronauts at approximately $70.7 million a head.

Top 5 Defensive Stocks To Watch Right Now: Palo Alto Networks Inc (PANW)

Palo Alto Networks, Inc., incorporated in March 2005, offers a network security platform that allows enterprises, service providers, and government entities to secure their networks. The core of its platform is the Company�� firewall that delivers natively integrated application, user, and content visibility and control through its operating system, hardware, and software architecture. The Company primarily sells its products and services to end-customers through distributors, resellers, and partners, and directly to end-customers (collectively partners), who are supported by its sales and marketing organization, in the Americas, in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), and in Asia Pacific and Japan (APAC). Its products and services can address a range of its end-customers��network security requirements, from the data center to the network perimeter, as well as the distributed enterprise, which includes branch offices and a number of mobile devices. It introduced PA-5000 Series and GlobalProtect subscription service in March 2011 and the PA-200 and WildFire subscription service in November 2011.

The Company�� platform is delivered in an appliance form factor and includes a suite of subscription services, as well as support and maintenance. Its subscription services can be activated on any of its appliances. All of the Company�� appliances incorporate its PAN-OS operating system and are based on its identification technologies, App-ID, User-ID, and Content-ID, which allow security policies to be defined within the context of applications, users, and content. It delivers these capabilities through a single-pass parallel processing architecture that simultaneously performs multiple identification, security and networking functions. The Company serves the enterprise network security market, which consists of Firewall/ Virtual Private Network (VPN), Unified Threat Management (UTM), Web Gateway, Intrusion Detection and Prevention (IDP/IPS), and VPN technologies. The Company deriv! ed 62% of its total revenue from the Americas, 27% from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), and 11% from Asia Pacific and Japan (APAC) as of January 31, 2012.

The Company derives revenue from sales of its products and services, which together comprise its platform. Product revenue is primarily generated from sales of its Firewall. The Company�� Threat Prevention, universal resource locator (URL) Filtering, and GlobalProtect subscriptions provide its end-customers with real-time access to the antivirus, intrusion prevention, Web filtering, and malware protection capabilities across fixed and mobile devices. The Company�� application classification engine, called App-ID, uses multiple identification techniques to determine the exact identity of applications traversing the network. App-ID is the foundational classification engine that provides the core traffic classification to all other functions in its platform. The App-ID classification is used to invoke other security functions.

App-ID uses a series of classification techniques to identify an application. App-ID classifies all network traffic, including business applications, consumer applications, and network protocols, across all ports. User-ID integrates its platform with a range of enterprise user directories and technologies, including Active Directory, eDirectory, Open LDAP, Citrix Terminal Server, Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Terminal Server, and ZENworks. Content-ID is a collection of technologies that enables its subscription services. Content-ID combines a real-time threat prevention engine, cloud-based analysis service, and a URL categorization database to limit unauthorized data and file transfers, detect and block a range of threats, and control non-work related Web surfing. Its WildFire, cloud-based analysis service provides a real-time analysis engine for detecting previously unseen malware. Its URL filtering database consists of millions of URLs across many categories and is designed to monitor a! nd contro! l employee Web surfing activities. Single-Pass Parallel Processing Architecture (SP3) has two elements: single-pass software and parallel processing hardware.

The PAN-OS Operating System operating system provides the foundation for its network security platform and contains App-ID, User-ID, and Content-ID. PAN-OS performs the core functions of its platform, while also providing the networking, security, and management functions needed for implementation. The PAN-OS networking functions include dynamic routing, switching, high availability, and VPN support, which enables deployment into a range of networking environments. PAN-OS also includes attack protection capabilities, such as blocking invalid or malformed packets, IP defragmentation, TCP reassembly, and network traffic normalization. The Company also offers, such as application traffic management, solution design and planning, configuration, and firewall migration. Its education services provide classroom-style training and are primarily delivered through its partners.

The Company competes with Cisco, Juniper, Intel, IBM, HP, Check Point Software, Fortinet and Sourcefire.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Brian Nichols]

  The growth of security
  If Cisco were to make a splash by acquiring Juniper, it would obtain a declining security business, which might have good synergies with Cisco's own security segment. However, Cisco is not losing market share to Juniper in this segment. Instead, tech giant Oracle and smaller rival�Palo Alto Networks (NYSE: PANW  ) are hindering Cisco's performance.

• [By MARKETWATCH]

  SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Palo Alto Networks Inc. (PANW) shares climbed as much as 7% in after-hours trading Monday after the network-security company said it acquired privately held Morta Security. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In a statement, Palo Alto Networks said Morta specializes in technology used to detect network threats. The deal comes three days after Palo Alto rival FireEye Inc. (FEYE) said it would acquire security technology company Mandiant for about $1 billion.

• [By Jim Jubak]

  But a bigger reason to sell, in my opinion, right now, is a change in the risk/reward profile of the market as a whole. The recent sell off in momentum stocks��hich now looks like it's spreading to consumer discretionary leaders��akes me want to raise cash for the inevitable bounce back in these stocks. I don't know when we might see that bounce��nd I'm not buying yet, since I think we're still in ��atch a falling knife��territory. But when stocks such as FireEye (FEYE), or Palo Alto Networks (PANW), or Incyte (INCY), or Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) do bounce, the gains will be bigger and quicker than those in holding Citigroup.

Best Japanese Companies For 2014: Delek US Holdings Inc. (DK)

Delek US Holdings, Inc. operates as an integrated downstream energy company that operates in petroleum refining, logistics, and convenience store retailing businesses. The company operates in three segments: Refining, Logistics, and Retail. The Refining segment owns and operates two refineries in Tyler, Texas, and El Dorado, Arkansas; and produces various petroleum-based products used in transportation and industrial markets. The Logistics segment gathers, transports, and stores crude oil, as well as markets, distributes, transports, and stores refined products. It also offers crude oil transportation services for terminalling and marketing services; and markets light products using third-party terminals. This segment owns approximately 400 miles of crude oil transportation pipelines, 123 miles of refined product pipelines, 600-mile crude oil gathering system, and associated crude oil storage tanks with an aggregate of approximately 2.6 million barrels of active shell capa city. The Logistics segment serves oil companies, independent refiners and marketers, jobbers, distributors, utility and transportation companies, and independent retail fuel operators. The Retail segment markets gasoline, diesel, and other refined petroleum products, as well as convenience merchandise. As of May 8, 2013, this segment operated 373 retail fuel and convenience stores under the MAPCO Express, MAPCO Mart, Discount Food Mart, Fast Food and Fuel, East Coast, Delta Express, and Favorite Markets brands. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee. Delek US Holdings, Inc. is a subsidiary of Delek Petroleum Ltd.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  After bouncing back yesterday from their oil-export related losses, refiners like Marathon Petroleum (MPC), HollyFrontier (HFC), Tesoro (TSO) and Delek US (DK) are falling once again.

• [By Dennis Slothower]

  Several of the stocks in our portfolio have become even more attractive while the stock market discounts their future growth:

  Delek Holdings (DK), a petroleum refiner, has a P/E ratio of 4, pays a 2% dividend, and has a 30%+ return on equity.
  
  HollyFrontier (HFC), also a petroleum refiner, has a P/E ratio of 5.5, pays a 3% dividend, and is growing revenue by more than 40%.
  
  CF Holdings (CF), one of the largest fertilizer companies in the world, has a P/E ratio of 8 and a rock-solid balance sheet.
  
  

  We are in a point in the economic cycle where it is crucial to own stocks currently trading below the underlying worth of the business.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  That said we are recommending a slight tactical shift toward more defensive posturing with a focus on lower beta names and companies that screen at a discount from a valuation perspective. As a result, we are
  downgrading [Delek US Holdings (DK)] and [Tesoro (TSO)] to Sector Perform and upgrading [Phillips 66] and [PBF Energy] to Sector Outperform.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Phillips 66 fell 2.6% yesterday, while Holly Frontier dropped 3.1%, Tesoro (TSO) declined 1.4%, Western Refining (WNR) plunged 4.3% and Delek US (DK) finished off 5.2%.

Best Japanese Companies For 2014: Players Network (PNTV)

Players Network (PNTV), incorporated on March 16, 1993, is a global media and entertainment company engaged in the development of Digital Networks. The Company distributes broadband video and other social media content over a range of Internet enabled devices and cable television channels. The Company�� platform is designed to deliver video content and develop digital social communities, including Vegas On Demand TV. The Company operates a video on demand (VOD) television channel, also named Vegas On Demand, which consists of original programming that is distributed over its own VOD channels to approximately 24,000,000 homes over the Internet with distribution partners, which include, Comcast, Hulu, Blinkx, Google, and YouTube Video, for DVD home video, and various mobile platforms. Vegas On Demand TV offers its audience the ability to connect to Vegas Insiders through programming, which captures sex appeal, entertainment, and the non-stop adrenaline rush of the Las Vegas gaming lifestyle. Players Network�� content goes beyond poker, casino action, sports betting, and racing, to lifestyle programs about entertainment and fine living.

PNTV�� Media Network operates across all distribution platforms from television screens to mobile devices, gaming consoles, computers and tablets. The Company�� platform has two main membership categories: the Consumer/User who visits its digital communities and partakes in viewing ad-supported and pay-per-view premium videos, purchases products and connects with Insiders, who are its Premium Members. Players Network�� Programming Brands include Vegas On Demand focuses on Gaming lifestyle and produces programming about Horse Racing, Sports Betting, Casino Games and Poker; Vegas On Demand, which is about Las Vegas lifestyle and covers celebrity, night clubs, poolside experiences and entertainment, and Sexy Sin City TV covers the adult and sexy side of Las Vegas after dark. The Company�� productions include gaming instruction, gaming news, instruct! ion on sports and racing wagering, gaming entertainment, tournaments, events and travel. The Company has a library of 1,550 gambling and gaming lifestyle videos, including several series of both long and short form content. Some of these series include Players Network originals; Hidden Vegas, Tattoo Tails, which include 30 originally produced hours of programming from the World Series of Poker, which Players Network had the rights to produce and air live. Players Network produced over 50 videos at the Hooters Hotel and Casino, 28 new gaming instructional videos aimed at slots and video poker players, a series of 23 videos on magic entitled Hocus Pocus, The Best of Vegas series and Neon Buzz, an entertainment report which covered red carpet events.

The Company competes with ESPN, the Travel Channel, E! and the Food Network.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap entertainment or gaming stocks Soul and Vibe Interactive Inc (OTCBB: SOUL), Elray Resources Inc (OTCMKTS: ELRA) and Players Network (OTCMKTS: PNTV) focus on entertaining consumers. However, its important to remember that consumers can be very fickle when it comes to entertainment or games. So should you be entertaining any of these small caps? Here is a closer look and a reality check:

Best Japanese Companies For 2014: Medifocus Inc (MDFZF)

Medifocus Inc.(Medifocus) is a Canada-based company. The Company is engaged in the business of development and commercialization of minimally invasive, focused-heat tumor targeted cancer treatment devices and systems. Medifocus operates through its wholly owned subsidiary, Celsion (Canada) Limited (Celsion). Celsion had purchased from Celsion Corporation (United States), all of the assets relating to breast cancer Microfocus APA 1000 System (System), consisting of the microwave machine, the adaptive phased array (APA) technology licensed from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The Company focuses on breast cancer treatment by using microwave heating to enhance neoadjuvant chemotherapy to provide tumor shrinkage and control. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap stocks KBridge Energy Corp (OTCMKTS: BMMCF), Medifocus Inc (OTCMKTS: MDFZF) and Inscor Inc (OTCMKTS: IOGA) have been getting some attention lately in various investment newsletters and some of it is deserved as the first stock sank 35% on Friday, the second one recently released its financials (which did show a big improvement, but there is also a big catch for investors) and the third one has been the subject of a very aggressive promotional campaign. But are any of these three small caps really all that hot for investors? Here is a quick reality check:

• [By EquityOptionsGuru]

  Over the past few years, and especially months, biotechnology stocks have been soaring on heightened investor expectations. Investors looking for a unique opportunity to participate in a massive bull rally over the next few years might want to pay special attention to one small but growing company called Medifocus (OTCMKTS:MDFZF).

Best Japanese Companies For 2014: Gleacher & Company Inc.(GLCH)

Gleacher & Company, Inc., an independent investment bank, provides corporate and institutional clients with advice and execution in the areas of advisory services, capital raising and research, sales, and trading. It operates through five segments: Mortgage Backed/Asset Backed & Rates (MBS/ABS & Rates), Corporate Credit, Investment Banking, Equities, and Other. The MBS/ABS & Rates segment provides sales, trading, banking, research, and advisory services on a range of mortgage and asset-backed securities; the United States Treasury and government agency securities; and structured products, such as collateralized loan obligations and collateralized debt obligations, whole loans, and other securities. The Corporate Credit segment offers analysis, sales, and trading on various debt securities comprising bank debt and loans, investment grade debt, high-yield debt, treasuries, convertibles, distressed debt, preferred debt, emerging markets debt, and reorganization equities to co rporate and institutional investor clients. The Investment Banking segment provides financial advisory services in regards to mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, recapitalizations, and capital markets-related matters. It engages in capital raising through underwritings and private placements of equity and debt securities. The Equities segment offers research on customer trades in equity securities in aerospace, defense, industrials, technology, healthcare, and REIT sectors. The Other segment provides early stage growth capital to companies in the information and energy technology sectors. The company was formerly known as Broadpoint Gleacher Securities Group, Inc. Gleacher & Company, Inc. was founded in 1952 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Investment bank Gleacher (NASDAQ: GLCH  ) has announced that it will exit its mortgage-backed securities and rates business, as well as its credit-products operations. This move, the repercussions of which could potentially affect up to roughly 160 employees, is effective immediately.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  The upper ranks of Gleacher (NASDAQ: GLCH  ) management have seen a major shake-up. The financial services company has relieved both CEO Thomas Hughes, and COO John Griff, of their jobs. In a tersely worded filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, it said that the twin terminations were effective immediately. It provided no reason for its actions.

Best Japanese Companies For 2014: Cytokinetics Incorporated(CYTK)

Cytokinetics, Incorporated, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, engages in the discovery and development of small molecule therapeutics that modulate muscle function for the potential treatment of serious diseases and medical conditions. It primarily offers omecamtiv mecarbil, a cardiac muscle myosin activator, which is in Phase I/IIa clinical trials for the treatment of heart failure; CK-2017357, which is a Phase IIa clinical trials for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; and CK-2066260, a fast skeletal muscle sarcomere activator for the treatment of diseases and conditions associated with muscle weakness or wasting. The company?s cancer treatment products under development stage comprise ispinesib, SB-743921, and GSK-923295. It has a strategic alliance with Amgen Inc. to discover, develop, and commercialize novel small molecule therapeutics that activate cardiac muscle contractility for applications in the treatment of heart failure. The company was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in South San Francisco, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  What: Shares of Cytokinetics (NASDAQ: CYTK  ) , a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies for serious diseases, tanked as much as 38% after reporting mid-stage top-line data from acute heart failure drug, omecamtiv mecarbil.