dividends paid
NISSAN MOTOR (ADR) $18.42 (Nasdaq symbol NSANY; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average) (310- 771-3111; www.nissan-global.com; Shares outstanding: 2.3 billion; Market cap: $41.5 billion; No dividends paid) continues to profit from rising sales in China.
Sales of all car brands rose 15.7% in China in 2013, to 17.9 million vehicles. Sales were particularly strong in December 2013, at 2.1 million vehicles, about 17% higher than December 2012.
Nissan reports that its Chinese sales jumped 70.4% in December 2013, to a record 134,200 vehicles. That raised its total 2013 sales in the country by 17.2%, to 1.3 million.
...
Sales of all car brands rose 15.7% in China in 2013, to 17.9 million vehicles. Sales were particularly strong in December 2013, at 2.1 million vehicles, about 17% higher than December 2012.
Nissan reports that its Chinese sales jumped 70.4% in December 2013, to a record 134,200 vehicles. That raised its total 2013 sales in the country by 17.2%, to 1.3 million.
...
AMERIGO RESOURCES $0.49 (Toronto symbol ARG; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (604-681-2802; www.amerigoresources.com; Shares outstanding: 172.3 million; Market cap: $84.4 million; No dividends paid) processes copper and molybdenum from waste rock at Chile’s El Teniente, the world’s largest copper mine. This contract runs at least through 2037. Amerigo also has an agreement to process material from the nearby Cauquenes tailings pond.
Amerigo gets 94% of its revenue by processing copper. The remaining 6% comes from molybdenum.
A landslide in one of Amerigo’s production areas has hurt its copper and molybdenum production. In the quarter ended September 30, 2013, copper production fell 13.1%, to 11.04 million pounds from 12.70 million a year earlier. Molybdenum output declined 40.0%, to 193,138 pounds from 321,788.
...
Amerigo gets 94% of its revenue by processing copper. The remaining 6% comes from molybdenum.
A landslide in one of Amerigo’s production areas has hurt its copper and molybdenum production. In the quarter ended September 30, 2013, copper production fell 13.1%, to 11.04 million pounds from 12.70 million a year earlier. Molybdenum output declined 40.0%, to 193,138 pounds from 321,788.
...
BIRCHCLIFF ENERGY $8.40 (Toronto symbol BIR; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (403-261-6401; www.birchcliffenergy.com; Units outstanding: 142.9 million; Market cap: $1.2 billion; No dividends paid) jumped recently after it announced that it ended 2013 with record production of 30,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day (including natural gas).
Since then, the company’s output has risen to 32,100 barrels a day, mainly because it bought a partner’s 30% stake in one of its wells in Alberta’s Pouce Coupe area for $56 million.
The company plans to spend $275 million on exploration and development this year. That could let it end 2014 with production as high as 39,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
...
Since then, the company’s output has risen to 32,100 barrels a day, mainly because it bought a partner’s 30% stake in one of its wells in Alberta’s Pouce Coupe area for $56 million.
The company plans to spend $275 million on exploration and development this year. That could let it end 2014 with production as high as 39,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
...
BELLATRIX EXPLORATION $8.59 (Toronto symbol BXE; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (403-266- 8670; www.bellatrixexploration.com; Shares outstanding: 170.5 million; Market cap: $1.5 billion; No dividends paid) produces natural gas (70% of output) and oil (30%) in Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan.
Bellatrix closed its $756-million cash-and-stock purchase of Angle Energy in early December 2013. The deal added 500 drilling targets to Bellatrix’s inventory, bringing its total to over 2,000, and doubled its undeveloped land base to over 400,000 acres.
In addition, Angle produces 10,500 barrels of oil equivalent a day (58% oil and 42% gas) in Alberta. That let Bellatrix end 2013 with record production of 38,000 barrels a day. Several new wells about to enter production will boost that figure to 40,000.
...
Bellatrix closed its $756-million cash-and-stock purchase of Angle Energy in early December 2013. The deal added 500 drilling targets to Bellatrix’s inventory, bringing its total to over 2,000, and doubled its undeveloped land base to over 400,000 acres.
In addition, Angle produces 10,500 barrels of oil equivalent a day (58% oil and 42% gas) in Alberta. That let Bellatrix end 2013 with record production of 38,000 barrels a day. Several new wells about to enter production will boost that figure to 40,000.
...
RUBY TUESDAY, INC. $5.58 (New York symbol RT; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (865-379-5700; www.rubytuesday.com; Shares outstanding: 61.4 million; Market cap: $342.8 million; No dividends paid) reports that its revenue fell 8.0% in its fiscal 2014 second quarter, which ended December 3, 2013, to $276.2 million from $300.1 million a year earlier.
That’s mostly because of continued weak consumer spending and intense competition in the casual-dining business. In the latest quarter, Ruby Tuesday lost $25.9 million, or $0.43 a share, compared to a loss of $2.9 million, or $0.05.
The company is now moving its restaurants back to a bar-and-grill atmosphere, revamping the menu and launching a major new marketing campaign. Ruby Tuesday is also closing some underperforming restaurants.
...
That’s mostly because of continued weak consumer spending and intense competition in the casual-dining business. In the latest quarter, Ruby Tuesday lost $25.9 million, or $0.43 a share, compared to a loss of $2.9 million, or $0.05.
The company is now moving its restaurants back to a bar-and-grill atmosphere, revamping the menu and launching a major new marketing campaign. Ruby Tuesday is also closing some underperforming restaurants.
...
TEMPUR SEALY $48.85 (New York symbol TPX; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (800-878-8889; www.tempursealy.com; Shares outstanding: 60.5 million; Market cap: $2.9 billion; No dividends paid) completed its $1.3- billion purchase of rival Sealy in March 2013. This was a major acquisition for Tempur Sealy (formerly Tempur-Pedic), but it has let the company diversify into traditional spring-coil beds.
The purchase is also helping Tempur Sealy offset rising competition in its current business; the company makes and distributes mattresses and neck pillows made of its Tempur material, which conforms to the body to provide support and alleviate pressure points. Competitors Simmons Bedding and Serta have both successfully launched memory-foam mattresses that directly compete with Tempur Sealy’s products.
In the quarter ended September 30, 2013, revenue jumped to $735.5 million from $347.9 million a year earlier. The gain included $389.9 million from Sealy. Excluding one-time items, earnings per share rose 4.3%, to $0.73 from $0.70.
...
The purchase is also helping Tempur Sealy offset rising competition in its current business; the company makes and distributes mattresses and neck pillows made of its Tempur material, which conforms to the body to provide support and alleviate pressure points. Competitors Simmons Bedding and Serta have both successfully launched memory-foam mattresses that directly compete with Tempur Sealy’s products.
In the quarter ended September 30, 2013, revenue jumped to $735.5 million from $347.9 million a year earlier. The gain included $389.9 million from Sealy. Excluding one-time items, earnings per share rose 4.3%, to $0.73 from $0.70.
...
CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL $515.95 (New York symbol CMG; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (303-595-4000; www.chipotle.com; Shares outstanding: 30.9 million; Market cap: $16.0 billion; No dividends paid) is considering expanding its new fast-casual pizza restaurant concept, which operates much like its burrito outlets— making pizza quickly, individually tailored and with higher-quality ingredients.
In May 2013, Chipotle partnered with Pizzeria Locale to open an outlet in Denver. This location’s oven bakes the pizzas in less than two minutes; individual 11-inch pies cost around $6.50, and the restaurant also serves red or white Italian wine.
Pizza is a fast-growing food choice, especially among younger consumers. The first Pizzeria Locale is a success, and Chipotle may add one or two more in Denver.
...
In May 2013, Chipotle partnered with Pizzeria Locale to open an outlet in Denver. This location’s oven bakes the pizzas in less than two minutes; individual 11-inch pies cost around $6.50, and the restaurant also serves red or white Italian wine.
Pizza is a fast-growing food choice, especially among younger consumers. The first Pizzeria Locale is a success, and Chipotle may add one or two more in Denver.
...
ADOBE SYSTEMS INC. $61.77 (Nasdaq symbol ADBE; TSINetwork Rating: Average) (408-536-6000; www.adobe.com; Shares outstanding: 499.9 million; Market cap: $30.7 billion; No dividends paid) makes a range of software that lets computer users create, edit and share documents in the popular PDF format. As well, graphic designers use its software to create print publications and web pages.
Adobe earned $164.6 million, or $0.32 a share, in its fiscal 2013 fourth quarter, which ended November 29, 2013. That’s down 46.5% from $307.9 million, or $0.61 a share, a year earlier. Revenue fell 9.7%, to $1.04 billion from $1.15 billion.
Last year, the company starting selling its Creative Cloud package of photo-editing and desktoppublishing programs as a subscription instead of a onetime purchase. Adobe added 402,000 Creative Cloud subscribers during the quarter, to bring its total to 1.44 million. That beat its goal of 1.25 million.
...
Adobe earned $164.6 million, or $0.32 a share, in its fiscal 2013 fourth quarter, which ended November 29, 2013. That’s down 46.5% from $307.9 million, or $0.61 a share, a year earlier. Revenue fell 9.7%, to $1.04 billion from $1.15 billion.
Last year, the company starting selling its Creative Cloud package of photo-editing and desktoppublishing programs as a subscription instead of a onetime purchase. Adobe added 402,000 Creative Cloud subscribers during the quarter, to bring its total to 1.44 million. That beat its goal of 1.25 million.
...
BLACKBERRY LTD. $6.29 (Toronto symbol BB; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 524.6 million; Market cap: $3.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.3; No dividends paid; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative; www.blackberry.com) has sold $1 billion U.S. of convertible debentures to a group of private investors. These buyers also have an option to buy up to $250 million U.S. in additional debentures. If all investors convert their holdings, the total number of shares outstanding would rise by 19.2%.
The cash will help the smartphone maker complete its restructuring, which includes cutting 40% of its workforce.
The company will also shift its focus away from consumers to business and government clients, who rely on its networks to send encrypted mobile email messages and other sensitive data.
...
The cash will help the smartphone maker complete its restructuring, which includes cutting 40% of its workforce.
The company will also shift its focus away from consumers to business and government clients, who rely on its networks to send encrypted mobile email messages and other sensitive data.
...
ADOBE SYSTEMS INC. $59 (Nasdaq symbol ADBE; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 501.8 million; Market cap: $29.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 7.0; No dividends paid since June 2005; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.adobe.com) earned $164.6 million, or $0.32 a share, in its fiscal 2013 fourth quarter, which ended November 29, 2013....