Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT ) is scheduled to release earnings results on Thursday, and the apparent sentiment among analysts has been negative. Since the beginning of the quarter, the consensus estimate has fallen by $0.10, with full-year numbers dropping by $0.12. This is not surprising given all of the ink spilled in the blogosphere bashing Windows 8, questioning the Surface tablets, and lamenting the death of the PC. Even in the face of this barrage, the stock has held up pretty well, rising with the overall market by roughly 8%.
MSFT data by YCharts
Ahead of the company's official release, the trick is figuring out not only what to expect, but also what numbers are most critical to when the company reports. Placing all of these figures into the proper context, not only historically, but when looking ahead, is what can give you an edge. Ultimately, while the bottom line figure may be far from spectacular, I am expecting some granularity that will hold the promise of a positive trajectory.
10 Best Rising Stocks To Invest In 2014: Assured Guaranty Ltd(AGO)
Assured Guaranty Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides credit protection products to public finance, infrastructure, and structured finance markets in the United States and internationally. The company offers insurance, reinsurance, and credit derivative products that protect holders of debt instruments and other monetary obligations from defaults in scheduled payments, including scheduled interest and principal payments. It provides policies issued directly to the holders of insured obligations at time of issuance and those issued in the secondary market; and assumed reinsurance contracts written to third parties. The company insures various types of securities, including taxable and tax-exempt obligations issued by the United States or municipal governmental authorities, utility districts, or facilities; notes or bonds issued to finance international infrastructure projects; and asset-backed securities issued by special purpose entities. Assured Guaranty Ltd. markets its credit protection products directly to issuers and underwriters of public finance, infrastructure, and structured finance securities, as well as to investors in such debt obligations. The company was founded in 2003 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Paul Goodwin]
Assured insures municipal bonds. Its competitors MBIA (MBI) and Ambac (ABK) have been knocked out of the game due to over-speculation in mortgage-backed securities, leaving the entire sector wide open for Assured. The beauty of municipal bonds is that they have tiny default rates (0.14% this year). And most of the worries in municipal finance were solved by a little thing called the $787 billion stimulus plan, much of which went directly to local governments to plug financing holes. JP Morgan said it sees the stock reaching $42 -- it's not trading in the $20 s -- based on $6 per share earning potential in 2012. The stock is currently trading for just three times next year's earnings and the company just raised more than $500 million in financing, satisfying any concerns from the credit rating agencies. I own the stock.
10 Best Rising Stocks To Invest In 2014: Astea International Inc.(ATEA)
Astea International Inc. develops, markets, and supports service management software solutions worldwide. The company licenses its solutions to various companies that sell and service equipment, and/or sell and deliver professional services. It offers Astea Alliance suite that includes series of applications to address lead generation, project quotation, service and billing, and asset retirement services. Astea International Inc. integrates and optimizes business processes for campaigns, call center, depot repair, field service, logistics, projects, and sales and order processing applications; provides mobile, dynamic scheduling, portals, and business intelligence solutions; and offers infrastructure tools and services. It also provides FieldCentrix Enterprise suite, a service management solution that runs on various mobile devices, such as handheld computers, laptops and PCs, and pocket PC devices, as well as integrates with CRM and ERP applications; and features a Web-ba sed customer self-service portal, workforce optimization capabilities, and equipment-centric functionality. In addition, the company offers consulting, implementation, training, and maintenance services. Its solutions are used in information technology, medical devices and diagnostic systems, industrial controls and instrumentation, retail systems, office automation, imaging systems, facilities management, telecommunications, and other industries with equipment sales and service requirements. Astea International Inc. markets its products through a network of direct and indirect sales and services offices; and through distributors consisting of value-added resellers, system integrators, and sales agents, as well as original equipment manufacturer partners. The company was formerly known as Applied System Technologies, Inc. and changed its name to Astea International Inc. in 1992. Astea International Inc. was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Horsham, Pennsylvania.
5 Best Asian Stocks To Buy For 2014: Chesapeake Energy Corporation(CHK)
Chesapeake Energy Corporation engages in the acquisition, development, exploration, and production of natural gas and oil properties in the United States. It also provides marketing and other midstream services. The company?s properties are located in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. As of December 31, 2010, it had interests in approximately 45,800 gross productive wells. The company?s proved reserves include 17.096 trillion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent. Chesapeake Energy Corporation was founded in 1989 and is based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sam Collins]
Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK) is one of the largest independent exploration and production companies in the United States. It focuses on U.S. onshore natural gas production east of the Rocky Mountains.?
On Jan. 30, the company said that Cnooc Ltd. (NYSE: CEO) would pay $1.3 billion for access to acreage held by Chesapeake Energy. CHK has also developed a dominant natural gas shale position, and S&P “expects its expertise in unconventional drilling to carry over to liquids development.”?
Technically, the close above $28 represents a major breakout from a three-year consolidation. The target for CHK is $39.
10 Best Rising Stocks To Invest In 2014: Lon.fin & Inv Grp(LFI.L)
London Finance & Investment Group PLC, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an investment finance and management company. It primarily invests in smaller U.K. quoted companies, which are balanced by a general portfolio that consists of investments in U.K. and European equities. The general portfolio includes interest in food and beverage, oil, natural resources, chemicals, and tobacco sectors. The firm is based in London, the United Kingdom.
10 Best Rising Stocks To Invest In 2014: Simon Property Group Inc.(SPG)
Simon Property Group, Inc. is a real estate investment trust. The firm engages in investment, ownership, and management of properties. It invests in the real estate markets across the globe. The firm?s portfolio includes regional malls, premium outlet centers, the mills, community / lifestyle centers, and international properties. Simon Property Group was founded in 1960 and is based in Indianapolis, Indiana.
10 Best Rising Stocks To Invest In 2014: Thorpe(fw)
FW Thorpe Plc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and supplies professional lighting systems for industrial, commercial, and controls markets primarily in the United Kingdom and rest of Europe. Its professional lighting systems comprise lighting control, emergency lighting, exterior lighting, and high and low bay lighting systems; LED, recessed, surface mounted, and suspended luminaires; and up and downlighters, lamps, and transformers. The company also provides emergency exit signage products; amenity, historical, trough, gas, and sign lighting products; and columns, brackets, and flambeaux products. In addition, it manufactures and supplies clean room lighting equipment and luminaires, such as recessed fluorescent and surface fluorescent products for laboratories, pharmaceutical areas, semi-conductor manufacturing areas, hospitals, kitchens, and food preparation applications. The company is headquartered in Redditch, the United Kingdom.
10 Best Rising Stocks To Invest In 2014: Universal Health Services Inc. (UHS)
Universal Health Services, Inc., through its subsidiaries, owns and operates acute care hospitals, behavioral health centers, surgical hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and radiation oncology centers. The company�s hospitals offer various services comprising general and specialty surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics, emergency room care, radiology, oncology, diagnostic care, coronary care, pediatric services, pharmacy services, and/or behavioral health services. As of February 24, 2012, it owned and/or operated 25 acute care hospitals and 198 behavioral health centers located in 36 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as Washington, D.C. The company also operates six surgical hospitals, and surgery and radiation oncology centers located in four states and Puerto Rico. Universal Health Services, Inc. was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.
10 Best Rising Stocks To Invest In 2014: Steelcase Inc.(SCS)
Steelcase Inc. designs, manufactures, and distributes furniture systems and seating products, user-centered technologies, and interior architectural products primarily in North America, Europe, and Asia. Its furniture systems portfolio consists of panel-based and freestanding furniture systems; and complementary products, such as storage, tables, and ergonomic worktools. The company also provides seating products, including ergonomic chairs; seating for collaborative or casual settings; and specialty seating for specific markets comprising healthcare and education. In addition, its interior architectural products include full and partial height walls and doors. Further, the company offers workplace strategy consulting, lease origination, and furniture and asset management services. Additionally, it designs, manufactures, and sells visual communication products, such as static and interactive electronic whiteboards to primary and secondary education markets, as well as manu factures and sells steel and ceramic surfaces to third-party fabricators for use in the manufacture of static whiteboards. It also designs and sells surface materials comprising textiles, wall coverings, shades, screens, and surface imagings primarily to architects and designers for use in business, residential, healthcare, and hospitality applications. It sells its products to corporate, government, healthcare, education, and retail customers through the Steelcase, Turnstone, Details, and Nurture brands; and Coalesse and Designtex brands. The company markets its products and services through a network of independent and company-owned dealers, as well as directly to end-use customers. The company was founded in 1912 and is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
10 Best Rising Stocks To Invest In 2014: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.(PHG)
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. engages in the healthcare, consumer lifestyle, and lighting product businesses worldwide. The company offers screening, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, and health management services in cardio-pulmonary, oncology, and women?s health areas. Its healthcare products and solutions include X-rays, computed tomography, magnetic resonance, nuclear medicine, and ultrasound imaging equipment; and cardiology informatics and diagnostic electrocardiography, radiology information systems, picture archiving and communication systems, patient monitoring and clinical informatics, perinatal care, and therapeutic care systems. The company?s healthcare products and solutions also consist of sleep management and respiratory care, medical alert, remote cardiac, and remote patient management services. In addition, it offers consultancy, site planning and project management, clinical, education, equipment financing, asset management, and equipment mainten ance and repair services. The company?s consumer lifestyle products and solutions comprise mother and childcare, oral healthcare, male grooming, skincare, and beauty products; coffee, floor and garment care, kitchen, water and air, and beverage appliances; and communication and control, audio and multimedia, speech processing, headphones and accessories, and home cinema and video products. Its lighting solutions include lamps, including incandescent, halogens, fluorescent, high-intensity discharge, and LED lamps; consumer luminaires for functional, decorative, lifestyle, and scene-setting applications; professional luminaires for city beautification, and road, sports, shop/hospitality, and industry lighting applications; systems and controls, that include electronic and electromagnetic gears, controls, modules, and drivers; automotive lighting, such as car headlights, car signaling, and interior; and packaged LEDs. The company was founded in 1891 and is headquartered in Ams terdam, the Netherlands.
10 Best Rising Stocks To Invest In 2014: TeleCommunication Systems Inc.(TSYS)
TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. develops and delivers wireless communication technology in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Commercial and Government. The Commercial segment provides commercial services and systems that enable wireless carriers to deliver location-based information, Internet content, and short text messages to and from wireless phones. Its hosted and managed services include mobile location-based applications, comprising turn-by-turn navigation, E9-1-1 call routing; and wireless applications comprise navigation, people finder, and asset tracking. This segment?s customers use the company?s software functionality through connections to and from network operations centers. It serves wireless carrier network operators, voice over internet protocol service providers, state and local governments deploying 9-1-1 technology, and automotive industry suppliers. The Government segment designs, furnishes, installs, and ope rates wireless and data network communication systems, including its SwiftLink deployable systems, which integrate high speed, satellite, and Internet protocol technology with secure Government-approved cryptologic devices. It also owns and operates secure satellite teleport facilities; resells access to satellite airtime; and provides professional services, including field support of its systems, and cyber security training and services to the U.S. Department of Defense and government agencies. In addition, this segment offers engineering and electronics solutions for the space and defense markets. The company sells its products and services through direct sales force and indirect channels, as well as relationships with original equipment manufacturers. TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland.
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