Best Railroad Companies To Invest In Right Now

When�TransCanada� (NYSE: TRP  ) first announced its plan to construct the Keystone XL pipeline, I'm sure company executives never thought it would wind up as one of the most polarizing environmental symbols in recent memory. Nor could they have predicted that the approval process would take, well, forever.

The exceedingly long duration of that process has allowed the Keystone XL to grow from a large pipeline to a larger than life feedstock for environmental, political, and economic arguments, and even a conspiracy theory or two. Some have really taken to the notion, for example, that Warren Buffett has a hand in delaying the pipeline project in order to boost his railroad business. The theory is that Buffett is encouraging President Obama into stalling on his decision to approve or deny Keystone XL. If the President does deny Keystone XL, the thinking goes, that is only further proof of Buffett's hold on him. Some of us may think this is a ridiculous theory, but given the power of money in Washington, let's take a closer look anyway.

Best Gas Utility Stocks For 2015: Lear Corp (LEA)

Lear Corporation, incorporated in 1987, is a tier 1 supplier to the global automotive industry. The Company supplies its products to automotive manufacturers with automotive seat systems and related components, as well as electrical distribution systems and related components. The Company has two segments: seating and electrical power management systems (EPMS). The seating segment includes seat systems and related components, such as seat frames, recliner mechanisms, seat tracks, seat trim covers, headrests and seat foam. The EPMS segment includes electrical distribution systems for traditional powertrain vehicles, as well as for hybrid and electric vehicles. As of December 31, 2011, it had 20 joint ventures located throughout Asia, as well as five in North America, two in Europe and Africa and one with operations in all three regions.

Seating Segment

The Seating Segment consists of the design, manufacture, assembly and supply of vehicle seating requirements. It produces seat systems for automobiles and light trucks that are assembled and ready for installation. In all cases, seat systems are designed and engineered for specific vehicle models or platforms. It has developed modular seat architectures for both front and rear seats. It produces components for seat assemblies, such as seat frames, recliner mechanisms, seat tracks, seat trim covers, headrests and seat foam.

The Company competes with Johnson Controls, Inc., Faurecia S.A., Toyota Boshoku Corporation, TS Tech Co., Ltd. and Magna International Inc.

EPMS Segment

The EPMS segment consists of the design, manufacture, assembly and supply of electrical distribution systems and components for traditional powertrain vehicles, as well as for hybrid and electric vehicles. Electrical distribution systems are comprised primarily of wire harness assemblies, terminals and connectors and control modules, including junction boxes and fuse boxes. Wire harness assemblies consist of a collection! of wiring and terminals and connectors that connect all of the various electrical and electronic devices within the vehicle to each other and/or to a power source.

Electrical distribution systems are networks of wiring and associated control devices that route electrical signals and manage electrical power within a vehicle. Wire harness assemblies consist of raw, coiled wire, which is cut to length and terminated. Individual circuits are assembled together on a jig or table, inserted into connectors and wrapped or taped to form wire harness assemblies.

Wireless products send and receive signals using radio frequency technology. The Company�� wireless systems include passive entry systems and dual range/dual function remote keyless entry systems. Passive entry systems allow the vehicle operator to unlock the door without using a physically activating a remote keyless fob. Dual range/dual function remote keyless entry systems allow a single transmitter to perform multiple functions. The lighting control module integrates electronic control logic and diagnostics with the headlamp switch. Entertainment products include radio amplifiers, sound systems, in-vehicle television tuner modules and floor-, seat- or center console-mounted Media Console with a flip-up screen that provides digital video disc (DVD) and video game viewing for back-seat passengers.

The Company competes with Yazaki Corporation, Sumitomo Corporation, Delphi Automotive PLC, Leoni AG and Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., TE Connectivity, Ltd., Continental AG, Hella, Inc., Robert Bosch LLC, Magna E-Car Systems GmbH & Co OG and Hitachi, Ltd.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Shares of Lear Corp. (LEA) have returned 66% including reinvested dividends. Has that run made Lear’s stock expensive?

  Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

  That depends on whom you ask. For Deutsche Bank’s Rod Lache�it has, despite the solid earnings numbers that have helped drive Lear higher. He writes:

  Lear�� Q3 EPS of $1.45 was meaningfully better than our $1.26 est. and cons. of $1.33. Looking at LEA�� divisions, the Seating margin came in slightly better than we projected, at 5.4% vs. our 5.2% est. but still down vs. 6.1% in Q3��2. EPMS drove most of the upside with an op. margin of 10.9% vs. 7.5% in 3Q12 (including a 50 bp nonrecurring positive). LEA�� overall corp. op. margin came in at 5.4% vs. our 4.7% est. While we were impressed by Lear�� Q3, we are lowering our recommendation to Hold based on valuation.

  Not so fast, says Citigroup’s�Itay Michaeli. He writes:�

  In our view, Lear�� valuation remains appealing for two core reasons: (1) Lear sports structurally�lower capex/sales vs. peers (< 3% vs. ~4+% for peers). That means that for a given EBITDA multiple, Lear will generate higher unlevered FCF than its peers, all else equal. Our 6.0x ��4E EBITDA target multiple = ~8% unlevered FCF yield, including restructuring. That Lear�� revenue is outpacing the industry while margins are expanding is evidence that capex is appropriately sized. We estimate Lear�� ��4 unlevered FCF yield is comfortably above peer average; (2) Lear�� EPMS segment appears to have crossed the threshold to becoming a double-digit EBITDA margin earner with clear secular growth attributes. We think a 7.5x EBITDA multiple is appropriate based on public peers (Delphi (DLPH)) and past connector M&A.�

  Shares of Lear have gained 0.2% to $77.32 at 2:24 p.m. on a day when most auto-part companies are not doing much of anything.�Delphi Automotive, the big loser, has dropped 1.1% to $57.39,�Johnson Controls�/li>

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Earnings reports expected on Friday include:

  Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG) is expected to report first quarter EPS of $1.06 on revenue of $21.09 billion, compared to last year�� EPS of $1.06 on revenue of $20.74 billion. United Parcel Services (NYSE: UPS) is expected to report EPS of $1.15 on revenue of $13.60 billion, compared to last year�� EPS of $1.06 on revenue of $13.07 billion. Moody�� Corporation (NYSE: MCO) is expected to report third quarter EPS of $0.81 on revenue of $715.85 million, compared to last year�� EPS 0f $0.75 on revenue of $688.50 million billion. Lear Corporation (NYSE: LEA) is expected to report third quarter EPS of $1.33 on revenue of $3.84 billion, compared to last year�� EPS 0f $1.29 on revenue of $3.54 billion.

  Economics

• [By Rich Smith]

  This series, brought to you by Yahoo! Finance, looks at which upgrades and downgrades make sense, and which ones investors should act on. Today, we'll be looking at a pair of downgrades for both Lear (NYSE: LEA  ) and Whole Foods (NASDAQ: WFM  ) , followed by an improved price target at 3M (NYSE: MMM  ) . Let's start with that one.

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Notable earnings released on Friday included:

  Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG) reported first quarter EPS of $1.05 on revenue of $21.21 billion, compared to last year�� EPS of $1.06 on revenue of $20.74 billion. United Parcel Services (NYSE: UPS) reported EPS of $1.16 on revenue of $13.50 billion, compared to last year�� EPS of $1.06 on revenue of $13.07 billion. Moody�� Corporation (NYSE: MCO) reported third quarter EPS of $0.83 on revenue of $705.50 million, compared to last year�� EPS 0f $0.75 on revenue of $688.50 million billion. Lear Corporation (NYSE: LEA) reported third quarter EPS of $1.45 on revenue of $3.92 billion, compared to last year�� EPS 0f $1.29 on revenue of $3.54 billion.

  Pre-market Movers

Best Railroad Companies To Invest In Right Now: Continental AG (CON)

Continental AG is a Germany-based holding company and automotive industry supplier. It operates two business groups: Automotive Group and Rubber Group. The Automotive Group is divided into Chassis & Safety division, Powertrain division and Interior division. The Chassis & Safety division focuses on the areas of networked driving safety, brakes, driver assistance, chassis, active and passive safety and sensor technology for the avoidance of accidents and injury. The Powertrain division specializes in the powertrain solutions. The Interior division focuses on information, communication and networking solutions. The Rubber Group is divided into Tire division and ContiTech divisions. The Tire division comprises Passenger and Light Truck Tires, including tires for motorcycles. The ContiTech division develops and manufactures functional parts, components and systems for the automotive industry. In February 2014, it acquired Veyance Technologies Inc. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonathan Morgan]

  Volkswagen, Europe�� biggest automaker, gained 3.7 percent to 168.40 euros. Daimler AG, the third-biggest luxury-vehicle maker, rose 3.9 percent to 49 euros, its highest price since August 2011. Continental AG (CON), Europe�� second-largest auto-parts maker, added 3 percent to 100.30 euros. A measure of carmakers posted the best performance of the 19 industry groups on the Stoxx Europe 600 Index.

• [By Ruth David]

  Schaeffler AG, the largest investor in Hanover, Germany-based Continental AG (CON), raised 950 million euros on Sept. 17 by selling a 4 percent stake in Europe�� second-largest car-parts maker to reduce debt. Telegraaf Media Groep NV, the publisher of the largest Dutch newspaper, exited its holding in German broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG on Sept. 6, making proceeds of about 391 million euros.

Best Railroad Companies To Invest In Right Now: Advanced Energy Industries Inc.(AEIS)

Advanced Energy Industries, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, sells, and supports power conversion products that transform power into various usable forms. It offers thin-film deposition power conversion systems, including direct current (DC), pulsed DC mid frequency, and radio frequency (RF) power supplies, as well as matching networks and RF instrumentation; and thermal instrumentation products that provide temperature measurement solutions for applications in which time-temperature cycles affect material properties, productivity, and yield. The company also offers solar power inverters, which provide a transformer-based or transformerless grid-tie photovoltaic (PV) solution to convert renewable solar power into electrical power, as well as integrated monitoring and performance measurement of PV installations. Its power conversion systems are used by semiconductor, solar panel, and similar thin-film manufacturers, such as flat panel display, da ta storage, and architectural glass manufacturers; thermal instrumentation products are used in rapid thermal processing, chemical vapor deposition, and other semiconductor and solar applications requiring non-contact temperature measurement by the semiconductor, solar panels, and LED industries; and solar inverters are used in the residential, commercial, and utility-scale solar projects and installations. In addition, the company provides repair services, conversions, upgrades, and refurbishment services, as well as operations and maintenance service plans for individual PV sites. Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. sells its products through direct sales force, sales representatives, and distributors in North America, Europe, and Asia. The company was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Nelson Hem]

  Among the leading U.S. solar-related stocks, Advanced Energy Industries (NASDAQ: AEIS), First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) and SolarCity (NASDAQ: SCTY) saw the largest swings in the number of shares sold short in the first two weeks of March.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Equities Trading DOWN
  Shares of Advanced Energy Industries (NASDAQ: AEIS) were 13.88 percent to $18.42 after the company reported downbeat quarterly results and issued a weak Q2 outlook.

Best Railroad Companies To Invest In Right Now: FTD Companies Inc (FTD)

FTD Companies, Inc. (FTD), incorporated on April 25, 2008, is a floral and gifting company. The Company provides floral, gift and related products and services to consumers and retail florists, as well as to other retail locations offering floral and gift products primarily in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland. The Company operates in one segment, which includes floral and related products and services. Its business uses the FTD and Interflora brands, both supported by the Mercury Man logo. The Company�� portfolio of brands also includes Flying Flowers, Flowers Direct, and Drake Algar in the United Kingdom. On November 1, 2013, United Online, Inc. (United Online) completed the separation of United Online into two independent, publicly traded companies: FTD Companies, Inc. and United Online, Inc.

The Company�� products revenues are derived primarily from selling floral, gift and related products to consumers and the related shipping and service fees. Products revenues also include revenues generated from sales of hard goods, software and hardware systems, cut flowers, packaging and promotional products, and a range of other floral-related supplies to floral network members. Its services revenues related to orders sent through the floral network are variable based on either the number of orders or on the value of orders and are recognized in the period in which the orders.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  As we head towards Black Friday, small cap specialty retail stocks United Online, Inc (NASDAQ: UNTD), TravelCenters of America LLC (NYSE: TA) and MarineMax, Inc (NYSE: HZO) have the distinction of being the best performing small cap�specialty retail stocks for this year (according to Finviz.com) with gains of 181.2%, 123.8% and 71.8%, respectively. With those returns in mind, what are these small cap specialty retail stocks doing right and will the performance last through the all important holiday season? Here is what new and existing investors and traders alike need to know or consider:

  United Online, Inc.�A provider of consumer products and services over the Internet, United Online�� Content & Media segment services are online nostalgia (Memory Lane) and online loyalty marketing (MyPoints) while its�primary Communications segment services are Internet access and email (NetZero and Juno). The reason United Online is among the�best performing specialty retail stocks for this year in various stock screening tools like Finviz.com�is actually misleading as the company has just completed the spin off�of subsidiary FTD Companies, a floral and gifts products company acquired in August 2008 for $441 million, as�FTD Companies Inc (NASDAQ: FTD) where United Online shareholders received one share of FTD common stock for every five shares of United Online common stock they hold. In addition, United Online completed�a�one-for-seven reverse stock split of United Online shares.�On Tuesday, small cap United Online, Inc fell 1.01% to $15.72 (UNTD has a 52 week trading range of $11.65 to $62.30 a share) for a market cap of $207.79 million plus the stock is up 181.2% since the start of the year and up 182.2% over the past five years. Meanwhile, the FTD Companies Inc�now has a�market cap of $611.60 and the stock is up almost 6% since October.

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  BlueOrange Studio/Shutterstock One day out of 365, we pay homage to our sainted mothers. Those of us who are members of this long-suffering, uncomplaining, self-sacrificing class may get some soggy French toast in bed, (don't worry, kids; mom will clean up the kitchen), a chance to read in peace, or perhaps time to indulge in a long, hot bath. Bringing Home the Bacon If you really want to pay back mom for all she's done, get ready to pony up big. A card and some carnations (the official flower of Mother's Day, who knew?) just won't cut it. The cost of replacing mom as nurturer, nurse, cleaner and cook -- according to Insure.com's 2014 Mother's Day salary index -- would run you $62,985 a year, up from $59,862 in 2013. Breaking down the price of having someone else handle her various duties: Cooking and cleaning, $12,230 Child care, $21,736 Homework help, $7,290 Chauffeur, $5,672 Shopping, yard work, party and activity planning, finances, etc., $15,019 And my personal favorite, finding out what the kids are up to (paid in the equivalent value of a private detective), $1,036. Salary.com placed a higher value on moms in its 2014 Mother's Day salary survey, concluding that stay-at-home moms were worth $118,905 and working moms worth $70,107 (this does not include any paid salary from their job), with both groups putting more than 56 hours of overtime at home. These numbers are all up from last year's survey. Cooking It Up in a Pan Mom helps to pay for other things, too. Thanks to the Department of Agriculture, you can see what it costs to raise a child in the U.S. to 18. As of August 2013, the average cost is $241,080. This does not cover college, and hopefully dear old dad is contributing. In 2012, there were 10.3 million single U.S. mothers with children under 18, and one-third of women who gave birth in 2012 were single moms. By becoming moms, women give up time to do other things, what economists call an "opportunity cost." Particularly if your mother st

Best Railroad Companies To Invest In Right Now: Thinspace Technology Inc (THNS)

Thinspace Technology Inc., formerly Vanity Events Holding, Inc., incorporated on November 22, 2006, is a holding company. Utilizing their licensed trademark of America's Cleaning Company, Vanity established a cleaning company offering residential and commercial cleaning services. In October 2012, the Company acquired fineartlender.com. In October 2012, the Company acquired additional URLS, which include Weddinggownlender.com; Suitlender.com and Bridalpartylender.com.

The Company seeks out, licenses, develops, promotes, and brings to market various consumer and commercial products. The Company markets products directly to the consumer and marketplace through one of its own properties www.ThereIsAProductForThat.com.

The Company competes with Rent the Runway, Inc., Rent-A-Center, Inc., Bag, Borrow or Steal, Inc., Aaron��, and Gilt Groupe, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Last Friday, small cap biotech or tech stocks Amanasu Techno Holdings Corp (OTCMKTS: ANSU), Bio Matrix Scientific Group Inc (OTCMKTS: BMSN) and Thinspace Technology Inc (OTCBB: THNS) surged 44.74%, 42.31% and 14%, respectively, with only one of these small caps appearing to be the subject of some sort of small paid promotions or investor relations campaign. Given the lack of a big pump from promoters or IR people, will these three small caps keep surging or will the tide go out again this week? Here is a quick reality check to help you decide on a trading or investing strategy: