Since the recession, there has been a noticeable pricing gap between West Texas Intermediate crude, a lighter grade of oil used as the benchmark for pricing in the U.S., and Brent crude, the European crude benchmark of light sweet crude produced from the North Sea.
Historically, these two oil types have traded almost in tandem with one another. However, the recession and subsequent economic and supply troubles of the U.S. and Europe changed all that.
Source: Energy Information Administration.
Because of decreased production in the U.S. and supply issues in Europe, Brent crude was at one time valued at $28 more per barrel than WTI. Some had actually questioned the importance of WTI in terms of overall global pricing given the strength that Brent had been exhibiting.�
This gap, while troublesome for midstream companies that had developed intricate transmission, pipeline, and storage systems that delivered oil assets to Cushing, Okla., the major oil hub of the U.S., turned out to be a boon for many independent oil companies operating in the oil-rich Bakken shale and Permian basin. It also was also a big help at just the right time for the railroads as commodity shipments like coal have dropped off a cliff because of cheaper alternative energy pricing. With oil companies looking to pump up their profits, they turned to railroad companies to ship their oil past Cushing to Louisiana terminals, where they could receive the higher Brent crude price, pay the rail company for shipping, and still walk away with a higher price than WTI in almost every instance.
Hot Construction Companies For 2015: Arkema SA (AKE)
Arkema SA is a France-based company which specializes in the manufacture and marketing of chemical products. The Company operates through its two business segments: Industrial Chemicals and Performance Products. The Industrial Chemicals division offers the production of acrylics, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), hydrogen peroxide, fluorochemicals and thiochemicals, and includes such brands as Forane, Albone, Norsocryl, Altuglas and Sarbio. The Performance Products include the production of technical polymers, specialty chemicals and functional additives. The Company's products are used in the construction, automotive and transportation, health, electrical and electronics, agricultural and packaging industries, among others. In April 2013, it acquired a majority stake in AEC Polymers. In October 2013, it inaugurated the new Sumitomo Seika superabsorbent plant on the Carling site, which makes the overall superabsorbent production capacity of the Carling facility up to 47,000 ton/year. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Inyoung Hwang]
Arkema SA (AKE) added 4.7 percent to 83.93 euros. UBS AG raised its rating on the French chemicals maker to a buy from neutral, saying the stock is undervalued. The firm also boosted its price target to 100 euros from 80 euros.
Top 5 Railroad Stocks To Invest In 2014: Macy’s Inc (M)
Macy�s, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates stores and Internet Websites in the United States. Its retail stores and Internet Web sites sell a range of merchandise, including apparel and accessories for men, women, and children; cosmetics; home furnishings; and other consumer goods. The company also operates Bloomingdale�s Outlet stores that offer a range of apparel and accessories, including ready-to-wear, shoes, fashion accessories, jewelry, handbags, and intimate apparel products. As of January 28, 2012, it operated approximately 840 stores under the names of Macy�s and Bloomingdale�s; and 7 Bloomingdale�s Outlet stores, as well as macys.com and bloomingdales.com. The company was formerly known as Federated Department Stores, Inc. and changed its name to Macy�s, Inc. in June 2007. Macy�s, Inc. was founded in 1820 and is based in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Doug Ehrman]
Macy's (NYSE: M )
From perfume to a treat for the kitchen, Macy's gives you the flexibility to pick something for your mom that is special for her. With countless retail locations and the option to shop online, this is the best broad option on the list. From an investment perspective, Macy's has been slowly grinding higher all year, beating the return of the overall market and showing no signs of slowing down. With a dividend yield of 1.7%, the stock offers the income element of U.S. Treasuries and plenty of upside beyond that.
Top 5 Railroad Stocks To Invest In 2014: Fuel Tech Inc.(FTEK)
Fuel Tech, Inc. uses a suite of advanced technologies to provide boiler optimization, efficiency improvement, and air pollution reduction and control solutions to utility and industrial customers worldwide. It operates through two segments, Air Pollution Control Technologies and FUEL CHEM Technologies. The Air Pollution Control Technologies segment includes technologies, such as low and ultra low NOx Burners, over-fire air systems, NOxOUT and HERT selective non-catalytic reduction systems, and advanced selective catalytic reduction systems to reduce NOx emissions in flue gas from boilers, incinerators, furnaces, and other stationary combustion sources. This segment distributes its products through direct sales force and agents. The FUEL CHEM Technologies segment uses chemical processes in combination with advanced computational fluid dynamics and chemical kinetics modeling boiler modeling for the control of slagging, fouling, corrosion, opacity, and other sulfur trioxide-r elated issues in furnaces and boilers through the addition of chemicals into the furnace using Targeted In-Furnace Injection technology. This segment?s programs improve the efficiency, reliability, and environmental status of plants operating in the electric utility, industrial, pulp and paper, waste-to-energy, university, and district heating markets; and are installed on combustion units in North America, Europe, China, and India for treating various solid and liquid fuels, including coal, heavy oil, biomass, and municipal waste. It provides operational, financial, and environmental benefits to owners of boilers, furnaces, and other combustion units. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Warrenville, Illinois.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Monica Gerson]
Fuel-Tech (NASDAQ: FTEK) is expected to post its Q4 earnings at $0.06 per share on revenue of $29.00 million.
Novavax (NASDAQ: NVAX) is projected to post a Q4 loss at $0.08 per share on revenue of $6.22 million.
- [By Roberto Pedone]
Another under-$10 stock that's starting to move within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Fuel-Tech (FTEK), which uses a suite of advanced technologies to provide boiler optimization, efficiency improvement and air pollution reduction and control solutions to utility and industrial customers. This stock is off to a slow start in 2013, with shares up just 7% so far.
If you take a look at the chart for Fuel Tech, you'll notice that this stock has entered a tight consolidation chart pattern over the last month, with shares moving between $4.19 on the downside and $4.78 a share on the upside. Shares of FTEK are now starting to trend higher and move within range of triggering a big breakout trade above the upper-end of its recent sideways trading chart pattern.
Market players should now look for long-biased trades in FTEK if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $4.66 to $4.68 a share and then once it takes out more resistance at $4.78 to its 52-week high at $5.20 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 77,549 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then FTEK will set up to enter new 52-week high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets of that breakout are $5.50 to $6, or even $7 a share.
Traders can look to buy FTEK off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day at $4.33 a share, or just below its 200-day at $4.14 a share. One can also buy FTEK off strength once it clears those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.
- [By Wallace Witkowski]
Shares of Fuel Tech Inc. (FTEK) �fell 15% to $5.86 on moderate volume. The air-pollution control technology company reported fourth-quarter earnings of 2 cents a share on revenue of $24.2 million. Only two analysts on FactSet estimated earnings averaging at 7 cents a share, while only one expected revenue of $28 million.
Top 5 Railroad Stocks To Invest In 2014: Doral Financial Corporation (DRL)
Doral Financial Corporation operates as a bank holding company for Doral Bank that provides retail banking services to general public and institutions. It operates through four segments: Puerto Rico, the United States, Liquidating Operations, and Treasury. The company accepts deposits; obtains borrowings; originates and invests in loans, including residential real estate mortgage loans; invests in mortgage-backed securities and other investment securities; and offers traditional banking services. It also offers commercial and construction loan products; and purchases assigned interests in senior credit facilities from the syndicated leverage loan market in the United States. In addition, the company provides consumer loans, such as consumer credit, personal loans, loans on savings deposits, and other consumer loans. Further, it offers commercial real estate loans; commercial loans, including lines of credit and term facilities, and working capital for specific purposes, su ch as to finance the purchase of assets, equipment, or inventory; and construction lending products, as well as industrial and land loans. Additionally, the company originates, purchases, and sells mortgage loans; and offers property, casualty, life, and title insurance products primarily to its mortgage loan customers. It operates a network of 26 branches in Puerto Rico; 3 branches in the metropolitan area of New York; and 5 branches in the northwest area of Florida. Doral Financial Corporation was founded in 1972 and is based San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
For investors looking for exposure to the US commonwealth of Puerto Rico, banking stocks Doral Financial Corp (NYSE: DRL), First Bancorp (NYSE: FBP), OFG Bancorp (NYSE: OFG) and Popular Inc (NASDAQ: BPOP) offer the best bet as these Puerto Rico stocks trade on major US exchanges rather than the OTC. However, it should be mentioned that there has been a slowdown in Puerto Rico�� economy which has also shrunk in five of the past seven fiscal years. Then last�February, Puerto Rico�� debt was cut to speculative grade by the three largest credit-rating companies while�Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla has proposed a series of budget cuts to help tackle the island�� mounting debt load -including the freezing public workers��salaries and the closing about 100 schools.
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