Getting the most out of Social Security is an essential part of planning for your retirement finances. But deciding how to coordinate benefits among married couples can get extremely complicated. With decisions affecting not just you but your entire family, you can't afford to make mistakes.
In the following video, Fool contributor and retirement expert Dan Caplinger goes through a key Social Security strategy for married couples to consider. By following this strategy, couples can open the door to receiving some benefits now while boosting their monthly payments later. Dan goes through the strategy and gives some pointers on which retirees can get the most benefit from using it.
The best investing approach is to choose great companies and stick with them for the long term. The Motley Fool's free report "3 Stocks That Will Help You Retire Rich" names stocks that could help you build long-term wealth and retire well, along with some winning wealth-building strategies that every investor should be aware of.�Click here now�to keep reading.
Hot US Companies To Own In Right Now: BPZ Resources Inc (BPZ)
BPZ Resources, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, focuses on the exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas in Peru and Ecuador. It owns rights and license agreements for oil and gas exploration and production covering approximately 2.2 million acres in 4 blocks in northwest Peru and off the northwest coast of Peru in the Gulf of Guayaquil. The company also owns a 10% non-operating net profits interest in an oil and gas producing property located in the southwest region of Ecuador. As of December 31, 2011, it had estimated net proved oil reserves of 34.7 million barrels (MMBbls) of crude oil or other liquid hydrocarbons, including 27.8 MMBbls were in the Corvina field and 6.9 MMBbls were from the Albacora field located in northwest Peru. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lee Jackson]
BPZ�Resources Inc. (NYSE: BPZ) may be a small cap investor’s dream stock to buy. Its first well drilled�in the Corvina�field since 2010 was spudded in late July and likely will take about 12 weeks. It will take another week or so to achieve a stabilized flow rate before results are reported to the market, which means it will not expect to hear anything until November. The Raymond James price target for the stock is $4.50, the same as the consensus target.
Top 10 Long Term Companies To Watch In Right Now: Hologic Inc.(HOLX)
Hologic Inc. develops, manufactures, and supplies diagnostic, medical imaging systems, and surgical products for the healthcare needs of women. The company operates in four segments: Breast Health, Diagnostics, GYN Surgical, and Skeletal Health. The Breast Health segment offers breast imaging products, such as Selenia full field digital mammography system, breast tomosynthesis, healthcome mammography products, screen-film mammography systems, SecurView workstation, CAD systems, stereotactic breast biopsy systems, breast biopsy products, breast brachytherapy products, MammoPad breast cushions, and photoconductor coatings, as well as Sentinelle medical MRI breast coils and workstations. This segment also develops a breast imaging platform, Dimensions, which utilizes a tomosynthesis technology to produce 3D images. The Diagnostics segment provides ThinPrep system, a solution for cervical cancer screening; rapid fetal fibronectin test for pre-term birth risk assessment; and hu man papillomavirus offering and InVitro diagnostics for cervical cancer tests. The GYN Surgical segment offers NovaSure system, a minimally-invasive procedure that allows physicians to treat women suffering from excessive menstrual bleeding; MyoSure system for the hysteroscopic removal of fibroids; and Adiana system, a form of permanent female contraception intended as an alternative to tubal ligation. The Skeletal Health segment provides QDR X-Ray bone densitometers that assess the bone density of fracture sites; Sahara clinical bone sonometers, which assess the bone density of heels; and Mini C-Arm imaging systems that are used to perform minimally invasive surgical procedures on a patient?s extremities. Hologic Inc. sells its products through a combination of direct sales and service forces, a network of independent distributors, and sales representatives primarily in the United States, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Hologic (NASDAQ: HOLX) shares tumbled 14.49 percent to $19.58 after the company issued downbeat outlook for fiscal 2014. Canaccord Genuity downgraded the stock from Buy to Hold.
Top 10 Long Term Companies To Watch In Right Now: Comtech Telecommunications Corp.(CMTL)
Comtech Telecommunications Corp. engages in the design, development, production, and marketing of products, systems, and services for advanced communications solutions in the United States and internationally. It operates in three segments: Telecommunications Transmission, Mobile Data Communications, and RF Microwave Amplifiers. The Telecommunications Transmission segment provides satellite earth station equipment and systems, over-the-horizon microwave systems, and forward error correction technology, which are used in various commercial and government applications, including backhaul of wireless and cellular traffic, broadcasting (including HDTV), IP-based communications traffic, long distance telephony, and secure defense applications. The Mobile Data Communications segment provides mobile satellite transceivers, and computers and satellite earth station network gateways and associated installation, training, and maintenance services; supplies and operates satellite pac ket data networks, including arranging and providing satellite capacity; and offers microsatellites and related components. The RF Microwave Amplifiers segment designs, develops, manufactures, and markets satellite earth station traveling wave tube amplifiers (TWTA) and broadband amplifiers. Its amplifiers are used in broadcast and broadband satellite communication; defense applications, such as telecommunications systems and electronic warfare systems; and commercial applications comprising oncology treatment systems, as well as to amplify signals carrying voice, video, or data for air-to-satellite-to-ground communications. The company serves satellite systems integrators, wireless and other communication service providers, broadcasters, defense contractors, military, governments, and oil companies. Comtech markets its products through independent representatives and value-added resellers. The company was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Melville, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Seth Jayson]
Calling all cash flows
When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Comtech Telecommunications (Nasdaq: CMTL ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below. - [By Wallace Witkowski]
Shares of Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (CMTL) �rose 6.2% to $33.24 on moderate volume after the company beat Wall Street estimates for the fiscal first quarter and raised its guidance.
- [By Monica Gerson]
Comtech Telecommunications (NASDAQ: CMTL) reported upbeat fiscal fourth quarter results and issued a strong full-year outlook. Comtech shares jumped 11.12% to $26.77 in the after-hours trading session.
Top 10 Long Term Companies To Watch In Right Now: Nektar Therapeutics(NKTR)
Nektar Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, engages in developing a pipeline of drug candidates that utilize its PEGylation and polymer conjugate technology platforms. The company?s product pipeline consists of drug candidates across various therapeutic areas, including oncology, pain, anti-infectives, anti-viral, and immunology. Its research and development activities involve small molecule drugs, peptides, and other potential biologic drug candidates. The company?s proprietary drug candidates in clinical development comprise NKTR-118, a peripheral opioid antagonist, which has completed Phase II clinical trail for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation; BAY41-6551 that has completed Phase II clinical trail to treat gram-negative pneumonias; NKTR-102, a topoisomerase I inhibitor-polymer conjugate, which is in Phase II clinical trail for multiple cancer indications, including breast, ovarian, and colorectal; and NKTR-105 that is in Phase I clinica l trail to treat solid tumors. Its preclinical products consists of NKTR-119 (Opioid/NKTR-118 combinations) for the treatment of pain; NKTR-181 (abuse deterrent, tamper-resistant opioid) to treat pain; NKTR-194 (non-scheduled opioid) for the treatment of mild to moderate pain; NKTR-171 (tricyclic antidepressant) to treat neuropathic pain; and NKTR-140 (protease inhibitor candidate) to treat HIV. The company has collaboration with Bayer Healthcare LLC to develop BAY41-6551 (NKTR-061, Amikacin Inhale), which is an inhaled solution of amikacin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic; and a license agreement with AstraZeneca AB for the development and commercialization of Oral NKTR-118 and NKTR-119. In addition, Nektar Therapeutics has various license, manufacturing, and supply agreements for its technology with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, such as Affymax, Amgen, Baxter, Roche, Merck, Pfizer, and UCB Pharma. The company was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in San Franc isco, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jay Silverman]
Jay Silverman: Oh, by the way, if you wanted me to throw a few of those names that might be considered, Novavax would be one of them, and Nektar (NKTR), and the Medicines Company (MDCO) and Pharmacyclics, which has been a great stock, but has come under pressure of late.
- [By Jay Silverman]
Steve Halpern: Another stock you follow closely is Nektar (NKTR). What do you see happening there?
Jay Silverman: Yes, Nektar is another platform company at the MTSL and they are about to release data on one of their compounds that is a pain reliever-unlike the very severe side effects of OxyContin, the opioid pain relievers that are out there, which have caused severe health and addictive concerns, leading to very, very troublesome side effects and death in some cases.
- [By Lauren Pollock]
Nektar Therapeutics sa(NKTR)id its treatment for moderate to severe chronic pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee failed to meet its primary endpoint in a Phase 2 study. Shares fell 22% to $10.78 premarket.
Top 10 Long Term Companies To Watch In Right Now: Teradyne Inc.(TER)
Teradyne, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides automatic test equipment products and services worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Semiconductor Test, Systems Test Group, and Wireless Test. The Semiconductor Test segment designs, manufactures, and sells semiconductor test products and services. Its test systems are used for wafer level and device package testing. These chips are used in automotive, communications, consumer, computer, and electronic game applications. This segment provides its products to integrated device manufacturers (IDMs) that integrate the fabrication of silicon wafers into their business; fabless companies, which outsource the manufacturing of silicon wafers; foundries that cater to the processing and manufacturing of silicon wafers; and outsourced sub-assembly and test providers, which offer test and assembly services for the final packaged devices to fabless companies and IDMs. It also provides Magnum test platform that test s memory devices, such as flash memory and dynamic random access memory, as well as offers ETS platform for use by semiconductor manufacturers, and assembly and test subcontractors in the low pin count analog/mixed signal discrete markets. The Systems Test Group segment offers military/aerospace test instrumentation and systems; storage test systems for HDD manufacturers; and circuit-board test and inspection systems for electronics manufacturers of cell phones, servers, computers, Internet switches, automobiles, and military avionics systems. The Wireless Test segment designs, develops, and supports wireless test solutions for developing and manufacturing wireless devices, such as smart phones, tablets, notebooks/laptops, and personal computer peripherals. This segment offers cellular communication solution for verification and calibration of mobile devices; and products for connectivity testing. The company was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in North Reading, Massach usetts.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Steven Russolillo and Chris Dieterich Agence France-Presse/Getty Images Facebook]
The Menlo Park, Calif. company will join the broad stock index after the close of trading on Dec. 20, S&P Dow Jones Indices announced late Wednesday. Facebook will replace chip-testing equipment maker Teradyne Inc.(TER)
- [By Sean Williams]
Teradyne (NYSE: TER ) was the third S&P 500 component turning in impressive gains, up 5% after announcing that China's Acetec Semiconductor had placed an order for 20 J750EX-HD systems capable of digital wafer sorting and final testing of mobile connectivity devices. Deals are always a good thing for Teradyne, but the unfortunate aspect of building more efficient control equipment is that it's driving down the cost of all manufacturing processes over time, which means innovate constantly or earn less money for Teradyne. However, with Teradyne's $2.80 in net cash per share and as it sits at just 10 times forward earnings, I'd be intrigued enough to suggest adding Teradyne to your Watchlist.
- [By Johnson Research Group]
In addition, Perrigo has some potential support building below as the 20-day moving average is sneaking up to the $155 level. The potential for support from the technicals and a break above $160 will likely be enough to get the shorts to scramble and turn into buyers to cover their positions, helping a new rally in PRGO stock.
Short Squeeze Candidate #3: Teradyne (TER)
Click to Enlarge Technology shares have been seeing some shorts lately as traders are betting on a fade in the trend of technology leadership. Among the names on our short list for squeezes is Teradyne (TER). - [By James O'Toole]
Facebook will replace testing equipment company Teradyne Inc. (TER)in the S&P 500 and energy infrastructure firm The Williams Companies (WMB, Fortune 500) in the S&P 100.
Top 10 Long Term Companies To Watch In Right Now: PartnerRe Ltd (PRE)
PartnerRe Ltd. (PartnerRe), incorporated in August 24, 1993, is the ultimate holding company for its international reinsurance group. The Company provides reinsurance on a global basis through its wholly owned subsidiaries, including Partner Reinsurance Company Ltd. (PartnerRe Bermuda), Partner Reinsurance Europe plc (PartnerRe Europe) and Partner Reinsurance Company of the U.S. (PartnerRe U.S.). Its risks reinsured include property, casualty, motor, agriculture, aviation/space, catastrophe, credit/surety, engineering, energy, marine, specialty property, specialty casualty, multiline and other lines and mortality, longevity and health. The Company also offers alternative risk products, which include weather and credit protection to financial, industrial and service companies on a global basis. In January 2013, the Company acquired Presidio Reinsurance Group, a United States-based specialty accident and health reinsurance and insurance writer. In March 2013, the Company announced the formation of Lorenz Re Ltd.
The Company provides reinsurance for its clients in approximately 150 countries globally. Through its branches and subsidiaries, the Company provides reinsurance of non-life and life risks to ceding companies (primary insurers, cedants or reinsureds) on either a proportional or non-proportional basis through treaties or facultative reinsurance. The Company operates in three segments: Non-life, Life and Corporate and Other. Its Corporate and Other segment is consisted of the capital markets and investment related activities of the Company, including principal finance transactions, insurance-linked securities and strategic investments, and its corporate activities, including other operating expenses.
Non-life Segment
The Non-life segment is divided into four sub-segments, North America, Global (Non-the United States) Property and Casualty (Global (Non-the United States) P&C), Global (Non-the United States) Specialty and Catastrophe. The North America sub-seg! ment includes agriculture, casualty, motor, multiline, property, surety and other risks generally originating in the United States. The Global (Non-the United States) P&C sub-segment includes casualty, motor and property business generally originating outside of the United States. The Global (Non-the United States) Specialty sub-segment business include agriculture, aviation/space, credit/surety, energy, engineering, marine, specialty casualty, specialty property and other lines. The Catastrophe sub-segment is consisted of the Company�� catastrophe line of business. The Company reinsures, primarily on a proportional basis, agricultural yield and price/revenue risks related to flood, drought, hail and disease related to crops, livestock and aquaculture. The Company provides specialized reinsurance protection for airline, general aviation and space insurance business on a proportional basis and through facultative arrangements.
The Company�� space business relates to coverages for satellite assembly, launch and operation for commercial space programs. Its casualty business includes third party liability, employers��liability, workers��compensation and personal accident coverages written on both a proportional and non-proportional basis, including structured reinsurance of casualty risks. The Company provides property catastrophe reinsurance protection, written on a non-proportional basis, against the accumulation of losses caused by windstorm, earthquake, tornado, tropical cyclone, flood or by any other natural hazard, which is covered under a property policy. Credit reinsurance, written on a proportional basis, provides coverage to commercial credit insurers, and the surety line relates to bonds and other forms of security written by specialized surety insurers. The Company provides reinsurance coverage for the onshore oil and gas industry, mining, power generation and pharmaceutical operations on a proportional basis and through facultative arrangements.
The Company p! rovides r! einsurance for engineering projects globally, predominantly on a proportional treaty basis and through facultative arrangements. The Company provides reinsurance protection and technical services relating to marine hull, cargo, transit and offshore oil and gas operations on a proportional or non-proportional basis. The Company�� motor business includes reinsurance coverages for third party liability and property damage risks arising from both passenger and commercial fleet automobile coverages written by cedants. This business is written predominantly on a proportional basis.
The Company�� multiline business provides both property and casualty reinsurance coverages written on both a proportional and non-proportional basis. Property business provides reinsurance coverage to insurers for property damage or business interruption losses resulting from fires, catastrophes and other perils covered in industrial, commercial property and homeowners��policies, and are written on both a proportional and non-proportional basis. The Company�� predominant exposure under these property coverage is to property damage. The Company�� property reinsurance treaties exclude certain risks, such as war, nuclear, biological and chemical contamination, radiation and environmental pollution.
The Company provides specialized reinsurance protection for non-the United States casualty business. This reinsurance protection is offered on a proportional, non-proportional or facultative basis. The Company provides specialized reinsurance protection for non-the United States property business. This reinsurance protection is offered on a proportional, non-proportional or facultative basis. The Company�� Non-life business is produced both through brokers and through direct relationships with insurance companies. In North America, business is written through brokers, while globally, the business is written on both a direct and broker basis.
Life Segment
The Company�� Life ! segment i! ncludes the mortality, longevity and health lines of business written primarily in the United Kingdom, Ireland and France. The Company provides reinsurance coverage to life insurers and pension funds to against individual and group mortality and disability risks. Mortality business is written on a proportional basis through treaty agreements. Mortality business is subdivided into death and disability covers (with various riders) written in Continental Europe, term assurance and critical illness (TCI) written in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and guaranteed minimum death benefit (GMDB) written in Continental Europe. The Company also writes certain treaties on a non-proportional basis in France.
The Company provides reinsurance coverage to employer sponsored pension schemes and life insurers who issue annuity contracts offering long-term retirement benefits to consumers, who seek protection against outliving their financial resources. The Company�� longevity portfolio is subdivided into standard and non-standard annuities. The non-standard annuities are annuities sold to consumers with aggravated health conditions and are underwritten on an individual basis. The Company provides reinsurance coverage to life insurers with respect to individual and group health risks. The Company�� Life business is produced both through brokers and through direct relationships with insurance companies. During the year ended December 31, 2011, one cedant accounted for 13% of the Life segment�� total gross premiums written and one broker, the Aon Group (including the Benfield Group), accounted for 16% of the Life segment�� total gross premiums written.
The Company competes with Munich Re, Swiss Re, Everest Re, Hannover Re, SCOR, Transatlantic, Arch Capital, Axis Capital and XL Group.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Marc Bastow]
International insurance holding company PartnerRe Ltd. (PRE) raised its quarterly dividend 5% to 67 cents per share, payable on Feb. 28 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 18.
PRE Dividend Yield: 2.72%
Top 10 Long Term Companies To Watch In Right Now: Noble Corp (NE)
Noble Corporation is an offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry. The Company performs contract drilling services with its fleet of 79 mobile offshore drilling units and one floating production storage and offloading unit (FPSO) located globally. As of December 31, 2011, its fleet consisted of 14 semisubmersibles, 14 drillships, 49 jackups and two submersibles. Its fleet includes 11 units under construction, which include five ultra-deepwater drillships, and six jackup rigs. As of February 15, 2012, approximately 84% of its fleet was located outside the United States in areas, which included Mexico, Brazil, the North Sea, the Mediterranean, West Africa, the Middle East, India and the Asian Pacific. During the year ended December 31, 2011, it completed construction on the Noble Bully I, a drillship, owned through a joint venture with a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell plc; completed construction on the Noble Bully II, a drillship, and it completed construction of Globetrotter-class drillship. As of February 15, 2012, it had 10 rigs under contract in Mexico with Pemex Exploracion y Produccion (Pemex).
During 2011, the Company conducted offshore contract drilling operations, which accounted for over 98% of its operating revenues. It conducts its contract drilling operations in the United States Gulf of Mexico, Mexico, Brazil, the North Sea, the Mediterranean, West Africa, the Middle East, India and the Asian Pacific. During 2011, revenues from Shell and its affiliates accounted for approximately 24% of its total operating revenues. During 2011, revenues from Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras) accounted for approximately 18% and 19% of its total operating revenues. Revenues from Pemex accounted for approximately 15%, 20% and 23% of its total operating revenues.
Semisubmersibles
Semisubmersibles are floating platforms which, by means of a water ballasting system, can be submerged to a predetermined depth so that a substantial portion of the hull is b! elow the water surface during drilling operations. As of December 31, 2011, the semisubmersible fleet consisted of 14 units, including five Noble EVA-4000 semisubmersibles; three Friede & Goldman 9500 Enhanced Pacesetter semisubmersibles; two Pentagone 85 semisubmersibles; two Bingo 9000 design unit submersibles; one Aker H-3 Twin Hull S1289 Column semisubmersible, and one Offshore Co. SCP III Mark 2 semisubmersible.
Drillships
The Company�� drillships are self-propelled vessels. These units maintain their position over the well through the use of either a fixed mooring system or a computer controlled dynamic positioning system. Its drillships are capable of drilling in water depths from 1,000 to 12,000 feet. The maximum drilling depth of its drillships ranges from 20,000 feet to 40,000 feet. As of December 31, 2011, the drillship fleet consisted of 14 units, including four drillships under construction with Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. (HHI); three Gusto Engineering Pelican Class drillships; two Bully-class drillships to be operated by it through a 50% joint venture with a subsidiary of Shell; one dynamically positioned Globetrotter-class drillship that left the shipyard during the fourth quarter of 2011; one Globetrotter-class drillship under construction; one moored Sonat Discoverer Class drillship capable of drilling in Arctic environments; one NAM Nedlloyd-C drillship, and one moored conversion class drillship.
Jackups
As of December 31, 2011, the Company had 49 jackups in its fleet, including six jackups under construction. The rig hull includes the drilling rig, jacking system, crew quarters, loading and unloading facilities, storage areas for bulk and liquid materials, helicopter landing deck and other related equipment. All of its jackups are independent leg and cantilevered. Its jackups are capable of drilling to a maximum depth of 30,000 feet in water depths up to 400 feet.
Submersibles
The Company has two su! bmersible! s in the fleet, which are cold-stacked. Submersibles are mobile drilling platforms, which are towed to the drill site and submerged to drilling position by flooding the lower hull until it rests on the sea floor, with the upper deck above the water surface. Its submersibles are capable of drilling to a depth of 25,000 feet in water depths up to 70 feet.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Levisohn]
Yes, it’s true. With offshore drillers like Noble (NE) Rowan (RDC) and Ensco (ESV) all down more than 20% this year, Societe General now have “neutral” stance on the group. The bank cut its ratings on Noble, Ensco and Rowan, as well.
Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesSociete Generale’s Edward Muztafago explains why now:
Conditions in the offshore drilling market are continuing to worsen. Dayrates for high margin deepwater rigs are falling significantly, and in many cases are coming in materially below our expectations. The situation will likely be exacerbated with little improvement in exploration demand and a significant influx of uncontracted newbuild arrivals (15 of 34) over the next 12 months. There is also risk the shallow water jack-up market could follow suit, with 50 of 60 planned newbuilds still needing to secure commitments over the next 12 months. We see limited prospects for a near-term rebound in offshore drilling stocks as a result of the worsening conditions, and believe offshore drilling could remain the most out of favour oil services subsector for several more quarters. We lower our dayrate assumptions, as well as offshore driller eps, multiples and price targets.
Offshore drilling stocks have already declined 15%-20% since late June. This decline has likely priced in much of the risk from a further deterioration in fundamentals, in our opinion. We adopt a neutral rather than bearish subsector stance.
Muztafago cut Noble to Hold from Buy, and slashed its target price to $27 from $35. He cut Ensco to Sell from Hold, with the price target dropping to $44 from $52. Rowan gets its rating slashed to Hold from Buy and its price target gets cut to $31 from $39.
Shares of Ensco have dropped 1% to $45.51 at 3:25 p.m., while Rowan has fallen 2.4% to $27.17 and Noble is off 2.8% at $24.73.
- [By Travis Hoium]
The question for investors is if the industry can handle all of this new capacity over the long term. Transocean (NYSE: RIG ) �has seven new ultra-deepwater rigs under construction,�Ensco (NYSE: ESV ) �is building four, and Noble (NYSE: NE ) �will add five in coming years. Adding that much capacity means that $600,000 daily rates may not last forever, which would lower return on investment for everyone.�
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