On a rainy Friday afternoon in New York City, hotel legend John Willard ��ill��Marriott, Jr. sat down with Steve Forbes to talk about family, business, history and leadership.
Marriott, 81, has transformed the business his parents started from one whose main operation was restaurants into a lodging juggernaut that spans 74 countries managing some 4,000 hotels with nearly 700,000 hotel rooms around the globe.
Most recently, Marriott International, expanded its presence in Africa with its plan to buy Protea Hospitality Holdings of Cape Town, South Africa. Protea operates 116 hotels with 10,184 rooms in South Africa, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
The deal will double Marriott�� presence in Africa to more than 23,000 rooms making it the largest operator in the region.
Sub-Saharan Africa economic growth of around 5.8% is second only to developing Asia, according to the IMF.
Best Long Term Companies To Watch For 2015: ModusLink Global Solutions Inc(MLNK)
ModusLink Global Solutions, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides supply chain business process management solutions worldwide. Its services and solutions cover forward supply chain, aftermarket service requirements, and e-business processes. The company?s services include sourcing and supply base management, manufacturing and product configuration, fulfillment and distribution, e-business, and aftermarket services, such as returns management and asset disposition; and consumer-electronics repair and reverse logistics services. Its clients include hardware manufacturers, software publishers, telecommunications carriers, broadband and wireless service providers, and consumer electronics companies. In addition, the company, through its venture capital business, invests in early-stage technology companies. ModusLink Global Solutions, Inc., formerly known as CMGI, Inc., was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Monica Gerson]
ModusLink Global Solutions (NASDAQ: MLNK) fell 6.95% to $4.55 in pre-market trading after the company announced a proposed $75 million convertible senior notes offering.
Top 5 International Stocks To Invest In Right Now: John Wiley & Sons Inc (JWA)
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., incorporated on January 15, 1904, is a global provider of knowledge and knowledge-based services in areas of research, professional development and education. Core businesses produce scientific, technical, medical and scholarly research journals, reference works, books, database services, and advertising; professional books and certification, assessment and training services, and education content and services, including online program management for colleges and universities and integrated online teaching and learning resources for instructors and students. The Company sells its products to customers in the Middle East (including Iran and Syria), Africa (including Sudan), Cuba, and other developing markets where it does not have operating subsidiaries. In April 2014, the Company acquired Profiles International, a provider of employment assessment and talent management solutions.
Research
The Company�� Research business serves the world�� research and scholarly communities and is a publisher for professional and scholarly societies. Research�� mission is to support researchers, professionals and learners in the discovery and use of research knowledge to achieve results that help shape the future. Research products include scientific, technical, medical and scholarly research journals, books, major reference works, databases, clinical decision support tools and laboratory manuals and workflow tools, in the publishing areas of the physical sciences and engineering, health sciences, social science and humanities and life sciences. Research customers include academic, corporate, government, and public libraries; researchers; scientists; clinicians; engineers and technologists; scholarly and professional societies, and students and professors. The Company�� Research products are sold and distributed globally, online and in print through multiple channels, including research libraries and library consortia, independent subscription agents, direct sa! les to professional society members, bookstores, online booksellers and other customers. Publishing centers include Australia, Germany, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. Research accounted for approximately 57% of total Company revenue (fiscal 2013). The Company�� Research business is a provider of content and services in evidence-based medicine (EBM). Through the Company�� alliance with The Cochrane Collaboration, the Company publishes The Cochrane Library.
Wiley Online Library, the online publishing platform for the Company�� Research business, is a multidisciplinary collections of online resources covering life, health and physical sciences, social science and the humanities. Wiley Online Library delivers seamless integrated access to over four million articles from 1,500 journals, 13,000 online books, and hundreds of reference works, laboratory protocols and databases. Wiley Online Library provides the user with intuitive navigation, enhanced discoverability, expanded functionality and a range of personalization options. Wiley Open Access is the Company�� publishing program for open-access research articles. Under the Wiley Open Access business model, research articles submitted by authors are published and compiled by subject area into open-access journals. In addition to Wiley Open Access, the Company provides authors with the opportunity to make their individual research articles that were published within the Company�� paid subscription journals freely available to the general public through OnlineOpen.
Professional Development (PD)
The Company�� Professional Development business acquires, develops and publishes professional books, subscription products, certification and training services and online applications in the areas of business, finance, accounting, workplace learning, management, leadership, technology, behavioral health, engineering/ architecture and education. Products are developed in print and digitally ! for world! wide distribution through multiple channels, including major chains and online booksellers, independent bookstores, libraries, colleges and universities, warehouse clubs, corporations, direct to consumer, websites and other online applications. Publishing centers include Australia, Canada, Germany, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. Professional Development accounted for approximately 24% of total Company revenue in fiscal year 2013. Professional Development revenue by product type includes eBooks and Print Books; Online Training and Assessment which is revenue from the sale of products and services focusing on workplace effectiveness and career success; Publishing Rights which is revenue from the licensing of the right to republish Wiley content either online or in print; Journal Subscriptions online and in print to professionals, and Other.
Education
The Company�� Education business produces educational content and services, including online program management for colleges and universities and integrated online teaching and learning resources for instructors and students. Education�� mission is to help teachers teach and students learn by delivering to students, faculty and institutions throughout the world personalized content, tools and services that demonstrate results. Education offers products and services principally delivered through college bookstores and online distributors, with customers having access to content in multi-media formats, as well as the traditional textbook. Education�� solutions are available in each of its publishing disciplines, including the sciences, engineering, computer science, mathematics, business and accounting, statistics, geography, hospitality and the culinary arts, education, psychology and modern languages. Education accounted for approximately 19% of total Company revenue in fiscal year 2013. Education revenue by product type includes eBooks and Print Textbooks; Online Program Management; WileyPLUS, the ! Company�! � online learning solution; revenue from the licensing of publishing content rights and Other Nontraditional and Digital Products, such as custom publishing and other content adaption��.
Education offers online learning solutions including WileyPLUS, it�� research-based, online environment for effective course teaching and learning that is integrated with a complete digital textbook. WileyPLUS improves student learning through instant feedback, personalized learning plans, and self- evaluation tools and a range of course-oriented activities, including online planning, presentations, study, homework and testing. The Company also provides the services of the Wiley Faculty Network, a global community of faculty that offers guidance, training, and resources. Through the Wiley Faculty Network, instructors and administrators can collaborate with each other, attend virtual and live events, and utilize a wealth of resources all designed to help them grow as educators.
Journal Products
The Company publishes approximately 1,600 Research and Professional Development journals. Journal subscription revenue and other related publishing income, such as advertising, backfile sales, the licensing of publishing rights, journal reprints and individual article sales accounted for approximately 48% of the Company�� consolidated fiscal year 2013 revenue. The journal portfolio includes titles owned by the Company, in which case they may or may not be sponsored by a professional society; titles owned jointly with a professional society; and titles owned by professional societies and published by the Company pursuant to long-term contracts. The Company also enters into agreements with outside independent editors of journals that state the duties of the editors, and the fees and expenses for their services. The Company sells journal subscriptions directly through Company sales representatives; indirectly through independent subscription agents; through promotional campaigns, and thro! ugh membe! rships in professional societies for those journals that are sponsored by societies. Journal subscriptions are primarily licensed through contracts for online content delivered through the Company�� online platform, Wiley Online Library.
Book Products
The Company�� Book products and book related publishing revenue, such as advertising and the sale of publishing rights, accounted for approximately 48% of the Company�� fiscal year 2013 revenue. The Company enters into agreements with authors that state the terms and conditions under which the materials will be published, the name in which the copyright will be registered, the basis for any royalties, and other matters. The Company develops content in a digital format that can be used for online and print products, resulting in productivity and efficiency savings, and enabling print-on-demand delivery. Book content is available online through Wiley Online Library, WileyPLUS, Custom Select and other platforms. Ebooks are delivered to intermediaries, including Amazon, Apple and Google for re-sale to individuals in various industry-standard formats, which are now also the preferred deliverable for licensees of all types, including foreign language publishers.
Other Digital Products and Services
The Company is focused on delivering content-enabled services which improve learning, career management and effectiveness for its target communities. The Inscape and ELS businesses, along with the Company�� Pfeiffer brand, represent the Company�� professional training and assessment services. These businesses offer a variety of classroom learning solutions and e-learning activities that are delivered to customers directly through online digital delivery platforms and also through an authorized distributor network of independent consultants, trainers and coaches. The Company�� professional training and assessment services offer highly flexible packages and modules for its customers that include online pre-w! ork and p! rofile assessments, self-study materials, online videos, mobile apps and other sophisticated planning tools.
The Company generates advertising revenue from print and online journal subscription products; its online publishing platform, Wiley Online Library; the Wiley Job Network, a full service online job board; online events such as webinars and virtual conferences; community interest websites such as spectroscopyNOW.com and websites for the Company�� brands like Dummies.com. The Company�� publications and services are sold throughout most of the world through operations located in Europe, Canada, Australia, Asia, and the United States.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Kell and Lauren Pollock var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); ]
John Wiley & Sons Inc.(JWA) on Tuesday said it agreed to buy privately held French management solutions company CrossKnowledge for $175 million in cash. CrossKnowledge’s customizable offerings–including skills assessment, training and certifications–are delivered through a cloud-based platform.
Top 5 International Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Response Genetics Inc.(RGDX)
Response Genetics, Inc., a life sciences company, engages in the research, development, marketing, and sale of clinical diagnostic tests and pharmacogenomic tests for use in the treatment of cancer primarily in the United States, Asia, and Europe. The company develops genetic tests that measure predictive factors for tumor response in tumor tissue samples. It offers tests for non-small cell lung cancer under the ResponseDX: Lung trade name; colorectal cancer under the ResponseDX: Colon trade name; and gastric and gastroesophageal cancer under the ResponseDX: Gastric trade name. The company also develops tests for other types of cancer that identify genetic profiles of tumors that recur after surgery. Response Genetics, Inc. offers its products through its sales force to community based oncologists, hospitals, and physician offices. In addition, it provides pharmacogenomic testing services to pharmaceutical companies. The company was formerly known as Bio Type, Inc. and cha nged its name to Response Genetics, Inc. in August 2000. Response Genetics, Inc. was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Monica Gerson]
Response Genetics (NASDAQ: RGDX) slipped 9.47% to $1.34 after the company reported Q4 results. The company posted a quarterly net loss of $3.2 million, or $0.09 per share, versus a year-ago net loss of $0.5 million, or $0.01 per share.
Top 5 International Stocks To Invest In Right Now: ADDvantage Technologies Group Inc.(AEY)
ADDvantage Technologies Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, distributes and services a range of electronics and hardware products for the cable television industry. The company provides new, surplus-new, and refurbished products in various brands, including Cisco, Motorola and Arris Solutions for use in connection with video, telephone and internet data signals. It offers headend products, including digital and analog satellite receivers, integrated receiver/decoders, demodulators, modulators, antennas and antenna mounts, amplifiers, equalizers, and processors for signal acquisition, processing, and manipulation for further transmission; fiber products comprising optical transmitters, fiber-optic cable, receivers, couplers, splitters, and compatible accessories for transmitting the output of cable system headend to virus locations using fiber-optic cables; and access and transport products, such as transmitters, receivers, line extenders, broadband amplifiers, direction al taps and splitters for use in permiting signals to travel from the headend to their destination in a home, apartment, hotel room, office or other terminal location. The company also provides customer premise equipment consisting of digital converter boxes and modems to receive, record, and transmit video, data, and telephony signals; and hardware equipment, such as test equipment, connector, and cable products. In addition, it offers Fujitsu Frontech North America encoders, decoders, and other media solutions products primarily for use in the broadcast industry. The company markets and sells its products to franchise and private MSOs, telephone companies, system contractors, and other resellers primarily in the United States, Canada, Central America, Mexico, and rest of South America. ADDvantage Technologies Group, Inc.was founded in 1989 and is based in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Geoff Gannon] el about how those companies use working capital has a lot to do with whether or not you like those stocks long-term.
Then there are companies that have increased working capital very, very fast over the last decade or so ��but they��e also increased sales at a startling clip.
That�� Carbo.
Let�� look at where the difference between EBITDA and operating cash flow is coming from.
Cash flow from others as shown on GuruFocus�� 10-year financials page for Carbo ��I��l use this as a proxy for working capital changes ��was positive in only two years. And not by much. Usually, it�� been negative. Over the 10 years, that single line has added up to a negative $173 million. Wow.
Okay. Then there�� the difference between free cash flow and owner earnings. Owner earnings as you��l remember is Warren Buffett�� calculation of what a business could pay out to owners in cash at the end of the year ��if it stopped growing. But didn�� shrink. More on that later. For now, let�� look at the difference between Carbo�� depreciation and Carbo�� spending on property, plant and equipment.
Over the last 10 years, cap-ex has been: $546 million (or $425 million if you allow cap-ex to provide cash flow in certain years, this is a weird issue I don�� want to touch right now)
And over the last 10 years, depreciation has been: $201.52 million
That�� a big gap. We��e got some combination of Carbo underreporting economic depreciation by anywhere from $225 million to $350 million or so ��or we��e got Carbo investing something like $225 million to $350 million in growth.
Which is it?
Let�� check the growth angle first.
Over the last 10 years, Carbo has grown total sales by just under 18% a year. Now, I happen to know their new product development record had not been so hot during the 1990s or earlier part of the 2000s. For about 15 years they spent on R&D without launching a single successf
- [By Roberto Pedone]
ADDvantage Technologies Group (AEY) distributes and services a line of electronics and hardware products for the cable television industry. This stock closed up 5.2% to $2.42 in Tuesday's trading session.
Tuesday's Range: $2.29-$2.47
52-Week Range: $2.25-$3.55
Tuesday's Volume: 112,000
Three-Month Average Volume: 36,625From a technical perspective, AEY ripped higher here right above some near-term support at $2.28 with above-average volume. This sharp spike to the upside on Tuesday also pushed shares of AEY back above its 50-day moving average of $2.41. Shares of AEY are now starting to trend within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if AEY manages to take out some key near-term overhead resistance levels at $2.50 to $2.55 with high volume.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in AEY as long as it's trending above some key near-term support levels at $2.28 or above its 52-week low of $2.25 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 36,625 shares. If that breakout kicks off soon, then AEY will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at its 200-day moving average of $2.81 or at $3.10 to $3.13.
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