Best Internet Companies To Invest In 2015

For a while there a couple of years ago, 3D TV was the next big thing with electronics manufacturers. Customers were far less enthusiastic and 3D television sets from makers like Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and Sony Corp. (NYSE: SNE) never lived up to the hype.

Now, the Chinese smartphone maker that can do no wrong, Xiaomi Technology, has introduced a 3D TV set with a 47-inch screen made by either Samsung or LG for $499. The devices are said to be Internet-ready using the Android operating system from Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG).

Xiaomi, like all the other makers that came before, faces an almost insurmountable problem: the availability of good quality content in sufficient quantity to make the 3D TV worth the money. There is a limit to how many times consumers want to watch spears getting thrown at them through the TV set.

The lack of content essentially killed 3D as a feature, and there has been little demand for streaming or pay 3D TV. ESPN and the BBC are dropping their 3D broadcasts this year. DirecTV (NASDAQ: DTV) has cut its 3D channel to part-time operation, and a Sony-led partnership�� offering is virtually unknown.

Best Internet Companies To Invest In 2015: Symantec Corporation(SYMC)

Symantec Corporation provides security, storage, and systems management solutions internationally. The company?s Consumer segment delivers Internet security, PC tune-up, and online backup solutions and services to individual users and home offices. Its Security and Compliance segment provides solutions for endpoint security and management, compliance, messaging management, data loss prevention, encryption, and authentication services to large, medium, and small-sized businesses, as well as offers solutions through its software-as-a-service (SaaS) security offerings. This segment?s products enable customers to secure, provision, and remotely manage their laptops, PCs, mobile devices, and servers. The company?s Storage and Server Management segment provides storage and server management, backup, archiving, and data protection solutions across heterogeneous storage and server platforms, as well as solutions delivered through its SaaS offerings to large, medium, and small-s ized businesses. Symantec?s Services segment offers implementation services and solutions, including consulting, business critical services, education, and managed security services. The company also provides various enterprise support offerings, such as annual maintenance support contracts, including content, upgrades, and technical support. It sells its products through its eCommerce platform, as well as through distributors, direct marketers, Internet-based resellers, system builders, ISPs, and retail locations worldwide. Symantec markets and sells its products through distributors, retailers, direct marketers, Internet-based resellers, original equipment manufacturers, system builders, and Internet service providers; and its e-commerce channels, as well as direct sales force, value-added and large account resellers, and system integrators. The company was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Big Earnings Movers: AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is down 1.9% at $34.62 on earnings that were good but not great. Symantec Inc. (NASDAQ: SYMC) is down 12.8% at $21.48 on lagging revenues and a weak outlook. Fusion-io Inc. (NYSE: FIO) is down 24.4% at $9.81 on soft results. Goldcorp Inc. (NYSE: GG) is up 4% at $26.62 after reporting earnings this morning. Xerox Corp. (NYSE: XRX) is down 10.4% at $9.61 on a weak outlook tied to a failing turnaround plan.

• [By MONEYMORNING]

  A big player here is Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC), a global provider of security, storage, and systems management solutions with an extensive focus on managing consumer data and information.

Best Internet Companies To Invest In 2015: Google Inc.(GOOG)

Google Inc. maintains an index of Web sites and other online content for users, advertisers, and Google network members and other content providers. It offers AdWords, an auction-based advertising program; AdSense program, which enables Web sites that are part of the Google Network to deliver ads from its AdWords advertisers; Google Display, a display advertising network that comprises the videos, text, images, and other interactive ads; DoubleClick Ad Exchange, a real-time auction marketplace for the trading of display ad space; and YouTube that provides video, interactive, and other ad formats for advertisers. The company also provides Google Mobile that optimizes Google?s applications for mobile devices in browser and downloadable form; and enables advertisers to run search ad campaigns on mobile devices, as well as Google Local that provides local information on the Web; and Google Boost for small businesses to participate in the ads auction. In addition, it offers And roid, an open source mobile software platform; Google Chrome OS, an open source operating system; Google Chrome, a Web browser; Google TV, a platform for the consumers to use the television and the Internet on a single screen; and Google Books platform to discover, search, and consume content from printed books online. Further, the company provides Google Apps, a cloud computing suite of message and collaboration tools, which includes Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar, and Google Sites; Google Search Appliance that offers real-time search of business and intranet applications, and public Web sites; Google Site Search, a custom search engine; Google Commerce Search for online retail enterprises; Google Checkout to make online shopping and payments streamlined and secure; Google Maps Application Programming Interface; and Google Earth Enterprise, a firewall software solution for imagery and data visualization. Google Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Michael A. Robinson]

  In the July 26 Strategic Tech Investor, we explained why we believed that search-giant Google Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOG) was a "must-own" stock.

  Using the five rules we created to identify the biggest-potential stocks, we told you how the Mountain View, Calif.-based tech innovator was continuing to position itself as a company that will continue to create wealth for its stockholders.

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]

  Google provides search and advertising, among other services, to consumers and companies adopting its services at increasing rates worldwide. The stock displayed a powerful move higher that has currently taken it to all-time high prices. Over the last four quarters, earnings and revenue figures have increased for the company which has really pleased investors. Relative to its peers and sector, Google has been an average year-to-date performer. Look for Google to OUTPERFORM.

Top Machinery Companies To Invest In Right Now: IAC/InterActiveCorp (IACI)

IAC/InterActiveCorp engages in the Internet business in the United States and internationally. The company�s Search segment develops, markets, and distributes various downloadable toolbars; provides search, reference, and content services through its destination search and other Websites, including Ask.com and Dictionary.com; and aggregates and integrates local advertising and content for distribution to publishers on Web and mobile platforms, as well as markets and distributes mobile applications through which it provides search and additional services. Its Match segment offers subscription-based and advertiser-supported online personals services through its Websites comprising Match.com, Chemistry.com, OurTime.com, BlackPeopleMeet.com, and OkCupid.com, as well as through mobile applications and Meetic-branded Websites. The company�s ServiceMagic segment offers Market Match service that matches consumers with service professionals; Exact Match service, which enables con sumers to review service professional profiles and select the service professional that meets their specific needs; and 1800Contractor.com, an online directory of service professionals. This segment also offers Website design and hosting services. Its Media and Other segment operates CollegeHumor.com, an online entertainment Website that targets young males; Vimeo, a Website on which users can upload, share, and view video; and Pronto.com, a comparison search engine. This segment also engages in the creation of video content for various distribution platforms; and operates as an Internet retailer of footwear and related apparel and accessories, as well as focuses on multimedia business. The company was formerly known as InterActiveCorp and changed its name to IAC/InterActiveCorp in July 2004. IAC/InterActiveCorp was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  IAC/InterActiveCorp (NASDAQ: IACI) shares fell 14.51% to $49.50 in the pre-market trading after the company reported downbeat Q3 revenue.

  Posted-In: PreMarket LosersNews Movers & Shakers Pre-Market Outlook Markets

Best Internet Companies To Invest In 2015: Yahoo! Inc.(YHOO)

Yahoo! Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a digital media company that delivers personalized digital content and experiences through various devices worldwide. It offers online properties and services to users; and a range of marketing services to businesses. The company?s communications and communities offerings include Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! Messenger, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, Flickr, and Connected TV, which provide a range of communication and social services to users and small businesses enabling users to organize into groups and share knowledge, common interests, and photos. Its search products comprise Yahoo! Search and Yahoo! Local, available free to users to navigate the Internet and discover content. The company?s marketplaces offerings and services include Yahoo! Shopping, Yahoo! Travel, Yahoo! Real Estate, Yahoo! Autos, and Yahoo! Small Business, which allow users to research specific topics, products, services, or areas of interest by review ing and exchanging information, obtaining contact details, or considering offers from providers of goods, services, or parties with similar interests. Its media offerings comprise Yahoo! Homepage, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Sports, Yahoo! Finance, My Yahoo!, Yahoo! Toolbar, Yahoo! Entertainment & Lifestyles, Yahoo! Contributor Network, and Yahoo! Pulse, which are designed to engage users with online content and services on the Web. The company also offers marketing services, such as display and search advertising, listing-based services, and commerce-based transactions to advertisers. In addition, it provides software and platform offerings for third-party developers, advertisers, and publishers, such as Yahoo! Developer Network, Yahoo! Open Strategy, Yahoo! Application Platform, Yahoo! Updates, Yahoo! Query Language, and Yahoo! Search BOSS. The company has strategic alliances with Nokia and ABC News, Inc. Yahoo! Inc. was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Californi a.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tim Brugger]

  Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO  ) CEO Marissa Mayer and general counsel Ron Bell have joined several other Internet company representatives by announcing the number of requests for user data it received from U.S. law enforcement agencies, saying in a Tumblr post Monday that Yahoo! "received between 12,000 and 13,000 requests, inclusive of criminal, Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), and other requests" for the Dec. 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013, time period.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) reported upbeat third-quarter earnings. Yahoo shares gained 1.68% to $33.94 in the after-hours trading session.

  Mattel (NASDAQ: MAT) is projected to report its Q3 earnings at $1.12 per share on revenue of $2.17 billion. Mattel shares fell 0.93% to close at $41.55 yesterday.

Best Internet Companies To Invest In 2015: eBay Inc.(EBAY)

eBay Inc. provides online platforms, services, and tools to help individuals and merchants in online and mobile commerce and payments in the United States and internationally. Its Marketplaces segment operates ecommerce platform eBay.com; vertical shopping sites, such as StubHub, Fashion, Motors, and Half.com; and classifieds Websites, including Den Bl�Avis, BilBasen, Gumtree, Kijiji, LoQUo, Marktplaats.nl, mobile.de, Alamaula, Rent.com, eBay Anuncios, eBay Kleinanzeigen, and eBay Annunci, as well as provides advertising services. The company?s Payments segment offers payment and settlement services for consumers and merchants on and off eBay Websites and other merchant Websites. This segment operates PayPal, which enables individuals and businesses to send and receive payments online and through mobile devices; Bill Me Later that enables the United States merchants to offer, the United States consumers to obtain, credit at the point of sale for ecommerce and mobile tra nsactions; Zong, which allows users with mobile phones to purchase digital goods and have the transactions charged to their phone bill; and BillSAFE that enables customers pay for purchases upon receipt of an invoice. Its GSI segment offers an ecommerce services suite for enterprise clients that operate in general merchandise categories, including apparel, sporting goods, toys and baby, health and beauty, and home; and marketing services comprising full-service digital agency, enterprise email marketing, mobile advertising, affiliate marketing, advertisement retargeting, and in-depth analytics services. The company also offers X.commerce platform that provides software developers access to the company?s applications programming interfaces to develop functionality for various merchants; and Magento Connect, which allows developers to market and sell add-on functionality and solutions to merchants that use a Magento storefront. eBay Inc. was founded in 1995 and is headquarter ed in San Jose, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Kevin Chen]

  eBay's (NASDAQ: EBAY  ) �StubHub has struck its second Major League Soccer (MLS) partnership with the Portland Timbers to become the team's official fan-to-fan marketplace.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Interesting… so we got negative earnings from [Goldman Sachs (GS), eBay (EBAY), International Business Machines (IBM). And SPX doing very well. You can argue that EBAY does not have broad relevance to market, and that GS is really a quarter to quarter thing, where earnings this quarter tell us little about next quarter (trading), but IBM is a big deal as it is a good measure of spending on IT. So SPX performance very impressive, even though it is driven to some extent by defensives/ rates plays (utilities, telcos etc). This is a good sign. The market wants to go up into year end.

Best Internet Companies To Invest In 2015: Amazon.com Inc.(AMZN)

Amazon.com, Inc. operates as an online retailer in North America and internationally. It operates retail Web sites, including amazon.com and amazon.ca. The company serves consumers through its retail Web sites and focuses on selection, price, and convenience. It also offers programs that enable sellers to sell their products on its Web sites, and their own branded Web sites. In addition, the company serves developer customers through Amazon Web Services, which provides access to technology infrastructure that developers can use to enable virtually various type of business. Further, it manufactures and sells the Kindle e-reader. Additionally, the company provides fulfillment; miscellaneous marketing and promotional agreements, such as online advertising; and co-branded credit cards. Amazon.com, Inc. was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Geoff Gannon] t are going to lose ground to Amazon over time.

  So I have more doubts about their future ROIs than a lot of investors do. These companies reinvest a lot. So, it�� kind of a huge question for shareholders to ponder ��what kind of returns on investment will I be getting in 2022? This stuff matters.

  But if you have reason to believe a dollar retained by a business is worth as much as a dollar paid out to you ��and in Wal-Mart's case it clearly is for now ��then why would you prefer free cash flow to retained earnings?

  If a company makes $1 and it retains that $1 and it increases next year's earnings by 15 cents because it retained that $1 ��isn't that $1 better off in the company's hands than it would be in your hands? Do you really think you will ��on average ��make more than 15 cents for every dollar of dividends you get from a company?

  Most investors will make nowhere near 15% on the money they themselves invest. If they manage to make 10% a year ��starting today ��over the long term, I will be surprised. Stocks are not priced for double-digit returns.

  So, reinvestment in businesses with sustainable double-digit ROIs is a better place for your money than dividends paid into your brokerage account.

  I know a lot of people don�� feel that way ��they always like dividends better ��but the math is the math. If you can�� earn 10% and the companies you own can ��you should leave your money with them. Not ask for it back.

  Warren Buffett is interested in compounding his wealth ��not necessarily in free cash flow. He has often bought businesses that generate more cash than they can redeploy. This is an unfortunate fact. He'd rather find companies that can redeploy that capital. But it's not easy. It's usually much, much easier to find a company that earns a high return on its unleveraged tangible equity than it is to find a company that earns a high return on its unleveraged equity and can increase the s

• [By Matt Jarzemsky]

  “That nearly every tech IPO associated with trends sucha s the cloud and social media has risen so much suggests investors are chasing all of the companies,” Janus says. Just the dot-com era’s failures far outnumber Amazon.com Inc.(AMZN), Ebay Inc.(EBAY) and other success stories, “there is a high probaility that many, though not all, of these companies will stumble.”