Some of the workers at Amazon.com Inc.’s (NASDAQ: AMZN) German�logistics centers�have gone on strike to protest what they claim are low wages and what they see as�the blocking of collective bargaining. Amazon believes that these people are adequately paid, and even paid more than those who work at most other�logistics centers in Germany.�Viewed from the United States, the circumstances appear�similar to those that have caused strikes against American companies that pay little more than the minimum wage. These strikes are usually aimed at America’s�largest retailer — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) — and the largest fast-food company — McDonald’s Corp. (NYSE: MCD).
The media in America may have neglected to report whether Amazon’s logistics workers are paid�above�the German minimum wage. That is understandable. Germany has none. Most wages are set by negotiations between companies and unions. Under those circumstances, if Amazon has indeed blocked a bargaining system with employees, its workers may be paid very low wages by German standards.
Best Financial Companies For 2016: iRobot Corp (IRBT)
iRobot Corporation (iRobot), incorporated in August 1990, designs and builds robots. The Company�� home care robots perform time-consuming domestic chores while its government and industrial robots perform tasks, such as battlefield reconnaissance and bomb disposal, multi-purpose tasks for local police and first responders, and long-endurance oceanic missions. It sells its robots to consumers through a range of distribution channels, including chain stores and other national retailers, and through its on-line store, and to the United States military and other government agencies globally. It designs and builds robots for the consumer and government and industrial markets. It sells its products through distinct sales channels to the consumer and government and industrial markets. In the United States and Canada, it sells its consumer products through a network of national retailers. As of December 31, 2011, this network consisted of more than 30 retailers, which often sell either one or some combination of its products. Its smaller domestic retail operations are supported by distributors to whom it sells product directly. It sells its government and industrial products directly to end users and indirectly through prime contractors and distributors. During the year ended December 31, 2011, sales to non-the United States customers accounted for 45.5% of total revenue.
Consumer Products
The Company sells various products, which are designed for use in and around the home. Its consumer products are focused on both indoor and outdoor cleaning applications. It offers multiple Roomba floor vacuuming robots and Scooba floor washing robots. Its Roomba robot�� compact disc shape allows it to clean under beds and other furniture, resulting in cleaner floors. In addition, it cleans automatically upon the push of a button. Its Scooba robot�� cleaning process allows the robot to simultaneously sweep, wash, scrub and dry hard floors, all at the touch of a button. Its Verro Pool Cleani! ng Robot is used to clean a residential pool and removes debris as small as two microns from the pool floor, walls and stairs. Verro is brought to market under the iRobot brand through a relationship with the Aqua Products Group companies, including AquaJet LLC and Aquatron, Inc., which developed the pool cleaning robots.
The Company�� Looj Gutter Cleaning Robot cleans an entire stretch of gutter. The Looj also features a detachable handle that doubles as a wireless remote control, providing control of the robot while cleaning.
Government and Industrial Products
In government and industrial product markets, the Company offers both ground and maritime unmanned vehicles. Its tactical ground robots include the combat-tested 510 PackBot line of small, unmanned ground robots, the 310 small unmanned ground vehicle (SUGV) and XM1216 SUGV (Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle) multi-purpose ground robots, the 110 FirstLook small, light, throwable robot, and the 710 Warrior multi-purpose robot capable of carrying heavy payloads. The PackBot, SUGV, FirstLook, and Warrior robot series make up a family of robots using many common platform components and offer its flipper technology, which enables robots to climb stairs, navigate rubble, and penetrate inaccessible areas. These robots keep war fighters and public safety officials out of harm�� way and are designed for performing search, reconnaissance, mapping, bomb disposal and other dangerous missions. As of December 31, 2011, more than 4,500 robots had been delivered to military and civil defense forces globally. Its Aware 2 software is incorporated into the 510 PackBot chassis and operator control unit. As a result, PackBot can support multiple configurations and payloads with the same chassis and operator control unit, providing customers with a single robot capable of performing multiple missions.
Contract Research and Development Projects
The Company is involved in several contract development pr! ojects wi! th the United States governmental agencies and departments. The durations of these projects range from a few months to several years. These projects are usually funded as either cost-plus, firm fixed price, or time and materials contracts. In a cost-plus contract, it is allowed to recover its actual costs plus a fixed fee. Under a firm fixed price contract, it receives a fixed amount upon satisfying contractually defined deliverables. On its time and materials contracts, it recovers a specific amount per hour worked based on a bill rate schedule, plus the cost of direct materials, subcontracts, and other non-labor costs, including an agreed-upon mark-up.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Steve Symington]
Last week, I posed three questions for iRobot (NASDAQ: IRBT ) going into its second-quarter earnings report.
But even though the company answered each of my inquiries with its report yesterday after the market close, the stock traded down more than 13% today.
- [By Beth McKenna]
Shares of iRobot (NASDAQ: IRBT ) were pummeled after the company released its second-quarter 2014 results last month. The robot maker fell short of revenue estimates, and missed earnings estimates by a hair if we exclude the benefit of a one-time tax valuation allowance.�
- [By Jeremy Bowman]
What: Shares of iRobot (NASDAQ: IRBT ) were falling apart today, down as much as 15% following disappointing guidance in its earnings report.
Top Logistics Companies To Buy Right Now: PGT Inc.(PGTI)
PGT, Inc. engages in the manufacture and supply of residential impact-resistant windows and doors. The company offers impact-resistant products, including heavy-duty aluminum or vinyl frames with laminated glass to provide protection from hurricane-force winds and wind-borne debris. It also provides a range of non-impact-resistant aluminum and vinyl frame windows and doors; Architectural Systems line of products, which offer protection from hurricane-force winds and wind-borne debris for mid-and high-rise buildings; and non-glass vertical and horizontal sliding panels for porch enclosures, such as vinyl-glazed and aluminum-framed products used for enclosing screened-in porches that provide protection from inclement weather. The company markets its products under the WinGuard, PremierVue, PGT Architectural Systems, Eze-Breeze, and SpectraGuard brand names. PGT, Inc. offers its products to residential new construction, and home repair and remodeling end markets through windo w distributors, building supply distributors, window replacement dealers, and enclosure contractors. It operates in the southeastern United States, the Gulf Coast, Coastal mid-Atlantic, the Caribbean, Central America, and Canada. The company was formerly known as JLL Window Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to PGT, Inc. in January 2004. PGT, Inc. was founded in 1980 and is based in North Venice, Florida.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Seth Jayson]
There's no foolproof way to know the future for PGT (Nasdaq: PGTI ) or any other company. However, certain clues may help you see potential stumbles before they happen -- and before your stock craters as a result.
- [By Eric Volkman]
A larger-than-previously announced block of PGT's (NASDAQ: PGTI ) shares is up for grabs. Major stockholder JLL Partners Fund has increased the size of its sale; it is now offering an even 10 million shares in an underwritten secondary public offering priced at $7.75 per share. Also, the issue's underwriters have been granted a 30-day option to buy up to an additional 1.65 million shares from the seller.
Top Logistics Companies To Buy Right Now: Apollo Gold Corporation(BRD)
Brigus Gold Corp. engages in the extraction, processing, refining, and production of gold and other by-product metals primarily in North America. The company principally produces gold and silver. It primarily owns the Black Fox Complex and Black Fox Mill properties located in the Timmins Mining District in the Province of Ontario, Canada; the Goldfields project located in the Lake Athabasca region of Saskatchewan, Canada; and the Ixhuatan property located in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. Brigus Gold Corp., through its joint venture, holds interests in the Ampliacion Pueblo Viejo and Loma El Mate gold exploration projects located in the Dominican Republic. The company was formerly known as Apollo Gold Corporation and changed its name to Brigus Gold Corp. in June 2010. Brigus Gold Corp. was founded in 1936 and is headquartered in Halifax, Canada.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Zacks Investment Research]
It is hard to find a good play in the Zacks Industry of mining non-ferrous metals, as the industry currently has a rank of 247 out of 261. In fact, in our five mining industries, there are only two No. 1-Ranked stocks: Brigus Gold (BRD) and Impala (IMPUY.PK). Both of these are in struggling industries, but they have proven to be best-in-class thanks to improving earnings estimates. Plus, both have seen their ranks surge from holds (or worse) up to strong buy territory, suggesting either of these names might be better picks than the struggling SCCO at this time.
- [By MONEYMORNING]
As well, Primero Mining (NYSE: PPP) bought Brigus Gold Corp (USA)(NYSE: BRD) for $220 million, and Asanko Gold (NYSEMKT: AKG) is acquiring PMI Gold Corporation (TSE: PMV).
Top Logistics Companies To Buy Right Now: Dover Corp (DOV)
Dover Corporation (Dover), incorporated in 1947, manufactures a range of specialized products and components and also offers related services and consumables. The Company operates in four segments: Communication Technologies, Energy, Engineered Systems, and Printing & Identification. In July 2011, it acquired Sound Solutions from NXP Semiconductors N.V. In September 2011, the Company sold Crenlo, LLC and Paladin Brands of Cedar Rapids. In October 2011, the Company acquired Oil Lift Technology. In November 2011, it acquired Advansor A/S. In November 2011, the Company realigned into four business segments, which includes Communication Technologies, Energy, Engineered Systems and Printing & Identification. In December 2011, the Company sold Heil Trailer International. In March 2012, the Company acquired Maag Group (Maag).
Communication Technologies
Dover Communication Technologies is engaged in the design and manufacture of products and components in the communications, life sciences, aerospace/industrial, defense, and telecommunication/other markets. The Company�� Communication Technologies focuses on markets, such as life sciences, aerospace/industrial, defense and telecommunication/other. Communication Technologies��products are manufactured primarily in North America, Europe and Asia. Its businesses serves the communications market design, manufacture and assemble micro-acoustic audio input and output components for use principally in personal mobile handsets. Life sciences businesses serves the life sciences market manufacture advanced miniaturized receivers and electromechanical components for use in hearing aids, connectors for use in a variety of medical devices and bio processing applications, and specialized components for use in implantable devices and medical equipment. Its aerospace/industrial businesses serves the aerospace/industrial markets manufacture precision engineered components and aftermarket parts across a range of market applications. In the commerci! al aerospace market, its businesses design and manufacture specialty hydraulics, fasteners, bearings, switches and filters sold to both original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and as aftermarket products. It also design and manufacture frequency control components, electromechanical switches, multi-layered capacitors, filters and quick disconnect couplings serving the general industrial markets. Its defense businesses serves the defense market manufacture specialty hydraulics, mechanical and frequency control communication components, serving shipboard applications, strategic mission critical parts on key Airborne programs and Command and Control communications. Its telecommunication/other businesses serves the telecommunication/other markets manufacture frequency control components for wired and wireless network base station communications that ensure precise signal timing and filters for non-interrupted access across high speed networks.
Energy
The Company�� Energy segment serves the oil, gas and power generation industries. It consists of lines of business, which include drilling, production and downstream. The drilling businesses serves the drilling market design and manufacture products, including long-lasting polycrystalline diamond cutters (PDCs) for applications in down-hole drilling tools and quartz pressure transducers and hybrid electronics used in down-hole tools and monitoring devices. Its production businesses serves the production market design and manufacture products and components that facilitate the extraction and movement of fuel from the ground, including steel sucker rods, down-hole rod pumps, progressive cavity pumps and drive systems, plunger lifts, and accessories used in artificial lift applications in oil and gas production; pressure, temperature and flow monitoring equipment used in oil and gas exploration and production applications, and control valves and instrumentation for oil and gas production. In addition, these businesses manufacture vario! us compre! ssor parts that are being used in the natural gas production, distribution and oil refining markets; and winches, hoists, gear drives, swing drives, auger drives, slewing ring bearings, hydraulic pump and electronic monitoring solutions for energy, infrastructure and recovery markets worldwide. Its downstream businesses serve the downstream market produce systems and products that support transportation and handling of fuel, hazardous liquids and dry-bulk commodities. Vehicle fuel dispensing products include conventional, vapor recovery, and clean energy (liquid petroleum gas (LPG), compressed natural gas, and Hydrogen) nozzles, swivels and breakaways, as well as tank pressure management systems. Products manufactured for the transportation, storage and processing of hazardous liquid and dry-bulk commodities include relief valves, loading/unloading angle valves, rupture disc devices, actuator systems, level measurement gauges, swivel joints, butterfly valves, lined ball valves, aeration systems, industrial access ports, manholes, hatches, collars, weld rings and fill covers. In addition, it offer bearings, bearing isolators, seals and remote condition monitoring systems that are used for rotating machinery applications, such as turbo machinery, motors, generators and compressors used in energy, utility, marine and other industries.
Engineered Systems
Dover Engineered Systems is engaged in the fluids systems, refrigeration and food equipment, waste and recycling, and industrial markets. Dover Engineered Systems combines its engineering technology, product advantages, and applications to address market needs and requirements.
The Fluid Solutions platform designs and manufactures pumps, compressors, and chemical proportioning and dispensing products. The pumps and compressors are used to transfer liquid and bulk products and are sold to a wide variety of markets, including the refined fuels, LPG, pulp and paper, wastewater, food/sanitary, military, transportation and ! chemical ! process industries. The pumps include centrifugal, reciprocating (double diaphragm) and rotary pumps that are used in demanding and specialized fluid transfer process applications. The chemical portioning and dispensing systems are used to dilute and dispense concentrated cleaning chemicals and are sold to the food service, health care, supermarket, institutional, school, building service contractor and industrial markets. In addition, the platform manufactures copper-brazed compact heat exchangers, and designs software for heating and cooling substations. Fluid Solutions products are manufactured in the United States, South America, Asia and Europe. Its refrigeration and food equipment businesses manufacture refrigeration systems, refrigeration display cases, walk-in coolers and freezers, electrical distribution products and engineering services, commercial foodservice equipment, cook-chill production systems, custom food storage and preparation products, kitchen ventilation systems, conveyer systems, beverage can-making machinery, and packaging machines used for meat, poultry and other food products. The waste and recycling business in the solid waste management market provides products and services for the refuse collection industry and for on-site processing and compaction of trash and recyclable materials. Products are sold to municipal customers, national accounts and independent waste haulers through a network of distributors and directly in certain geographic areas. The Company also serves the vehicle service and industrial automation markets, providing a range of products and services that are utilized in vehicle services, maintenance, washing, repair and modification. The businesses in the industrial automation market provide a range of modular automation components including manual clamps, power clamps, rotary and linear mechanical indexers, conveyors, pick and place units, glove ports and manipulators as well as end-of-arm robotic grippers, slides and end effectors. These products serve a ra! nge of ma! rket, including food processing, packaging, paper processing, medical, electronic, automotive, nuclear, and general industrial products. These products are produced in the North America, Europe and Asia.
Printing & Identification
Dover Printing & Identification is a supplier of precision marking and coding, dispensing, printing, soldering, coating, inspection and testing equipment and related consumables and services. It provides its services in fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), industrial, and electronics.
FMCG businesses serves this market primarily design and manufacture marking and coding products used for printing variable information, such as date codes and serial numbers on food, beverage, consumer goods, and pharmaceutical products. Its industrial products used by the industrial market are primarily marking and coding, bar code and portable printers, and fluid dispensing related products serving a number of industrial end markets, including aerospace, cable, military, material packaging, industrial assembly, and medical devices. Additional products include a range of marking solutions leveraged for secondary packaging, such as cartons and pallets for use in warehouse logistics operations, and bar code printers and portable printers.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Richard Moroney, Editor, Dow Theory Forecasts]
Dover (DOV), a maker of specialized industrial products and manufacturing equipment, is being initiated as a Long-Term Buy. Dover announced a 7% hike to its quarterly dividend in August, marking 58 straight years of increases.
Top Logistics Companies To Buy Right Now: Vitran Corporation Inc (VTNC)
Vitran Corporation Inc. (Vitran), incorporated on April 29, 1981, is a provider of freight surface transportation and related supply chain services throughout Canada 34 states in the eastern, southeastern, central, southwestern, and western United States. The Company�� business consists of Less-than-truckload services (LTL). These services are provided by stand-alone business units within their respective regions. Vitran�� business is carried on through its subsidiaries, which hold the licenses and permits required to carry on business. As of December 31, 2012, Vitran�� principal wholly owned operating subsidiaries included Vitran Express Canada Inc. (Ontario), Can-Am Logistics Inc. (Ontario), Vitran Logistics Ltd. (Ontario), Expediteur T.W. Ltee (Canada), Vitran Corporation (Nevada), Vitran Express Inc. (Pennsylvania), Vitran Logistics Corp. (Delaware), Vitran Logistics Inc. (Indiana), and Las Vegas/L.A. Express, Inc. (California). In March 2013, Vitran Corp Inc completed divestiture of its Supply Chain Operation division to Legacy Supply Chain. In October 2013, Vitran Corporation Inc. completed the sale of its United States LTL business.
LTL Services
Within Canada, the Company provides next-day service within Ontario, Quebec and parts of western Canada, and generates its revenue from the movement of LTL freight within the three- to five-day east-west service lanes. The majority of its trans-Canada freight is shipped intermodally, whereby the Company�� containers are loaded onto rail cars and trans-loaded to Vitran facilities where Vitran�� network of owner operators pick up and deliver the freight to various destinations. During 2012, Vitran�� Canadian LTL business represented approximately 27.6% of total LTL revenues. Vitran�� Transborder Service Solution (inter-regional) provides over-the-road service between its Canadian LTL and United States LTL business units.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Monica Gerson]
Breaking news
Vitran Corporation (NASDAQ: VTNC) announced today that it has entered into a definitive arrangement agreement with TransForce pursuant to which TransForce has agreed to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Vitran not already owned by TransForce for US$6.50 in cash per share, in accordance with TransForce's prior proposal. To read the full news, click here. ReneSola (NYSE: SOL) today announced it signed a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) to sell three utility-scale projects in Western China, with a total capacity of 60MW, to Jiangsu Akcome Solar Science & Technology Co on December 30, 2013. To read the full news, click here. Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE: CTB) today announced it has terminated the merger agreement with Apollo Tyres (NSE:ApolloTYRE). To read the full news, click here. RedHill Biopharma (NASDAQ: RDHL) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with leading healthcare investor OrbiMed Israel Partners Limited Partnership, an affiliate of OrbiMed Advisors LLC, for the sale of RedHill's American Depository Shares and warrants in a private placement transactionor a total sum of $6.0 million. To read the full news, click here.Posted-In: Guggenheim US Stock FuturesNews Eurozone Futures Global Pre-Market Outlook Markets
Top Logistics Companies To Buy Right Now: Senior Housing Properties Trust (SNH)
Senior Housing Properties Trust (SNH) is a real estate investment trust (REIT). As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned 369 properties located in 38 states and Washington, D.C. Its portfolio includes 249 senior living communities with 29,678 living units / beds and two rehabilitation hospitals with 364 licensed beds; 108 properties leased to medical providers or medical related businesses, clinics and biotech laboratory tenants (MOBs), and 10 wellness centers with approximately 812,000 square feet of interior space plus outdoor developed facilities. The first operating segment provides short term and long term residential care communities that offer dining for residents. Properties in this segment include leased and managed independent living communities, assisted living communities, skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation hospitals. The second operating segment provides properties where medical related activities occur but where residential overnight stays or dining services are not provided. Properties in this segment include those leased to medical providers or medical related businesses, MOBs. On December 31, 2013, the Company sold two rehabilitation hospitals to a joint venture consisted of affiliates of The Sanders Trust, LLC and Harrison Street Real Estate Capital, LLC.
During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company made the following acquisitions: six properties containing 737,000 square feet, and one MOB with 84,474 square feet located in Mendota Heights, Minnesota (January); one MOB with 49,809 square feet located in Shoreview, Minnesota, and one senior living community located in Rockford, Illinois with 73 assisted living units (May); three MOBs with 125,990 square feet located in Alachua, Florida, and 14 communities (June); three communities (July); one community and 47 acres of land (August); 13 MOBs located in eight states (September); two MOBs with 45,645 square feet located in Richmond, Virginia (November), and eight communities, one senior living community! located in Walnut Creek, California with 57 assisted living units, and one MOB with 94,238 square feet located in Greenwood, Indiana (December). In May and June 2011, the Company sold seven properties, including four skilled nursing facilities, one assisted living community and two MOBs. In February 2012, it acquired one senior living community located in Priceville, Alabama with 92 assisted living units.
Independent living communities, or congregate care communities, provides privacy to residents. Assisted living communities have one bedroom units, which include private bathrooms and kitchens. Services bundled within one charge usually include three meals per day in a central dining room, housekeeping, laundry, medical reminders and around-the-clock availability of assistance with the activities of daily living, such as dressing and bathing. Professional nursing and healthcare services are usually available at the property on call or at regularly scheduled times. Nursing homes generally provides nursing and healthcare services. A typical purpose built nursing home includes mostly rooms with one or two beds, a separate bathroom and shared dining facilities. Licensed nursing professionals staff nursing homes around-the-clock per day.
Rehabilitation hospitals, also known as inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs), provide intensive physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech language pathology services. Patients in IRFs generally receive a minimum of three hours of rehabilitation services daily. IRFs often also provide outpatient services to patients who do not remain overnight. Its two rehabilitation hospitals have beds available for inpatient services and provide outpatient services from the hospitals' premises, such as rehabilitation services for amputees, brain injury, cardio-pulmonary conditions, orthopedic conditions, spinal cord injury, stroke and neurorehabilitation. The MOBs are office or commercial buildings constructed for use or operated as medical office s! pace for ! physicians and other health personnel, and other businesses in medical related fields, including clinics and laboratory uses. Wellness centers typically have gymnasiums, strength and cardiovascular equipment areas, tennis and racquet sports facilities, pools, spas and children's centers. Professional sport training and therapist services are often available.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dan Caplinger]
Finally, you need to consider going where services you want are offered. For instance, health-care real-estate investment trusts Senior Housing Properties (NYSE: SNH ) , LTC Properties (NYSE: LTC ) , and Health Care REIT (NYSE: HCN ) , which recently acquired Sunrise Senior Living, all offer facilities in various places across the nation to provide for retirees who need health-care assistance in their living arrangements. But if your particular medical needs require specialists that are concentrated in particular cities, it's far more important for your health to be close to those specialists -- even if it means paying more in taxes.
- [By Jon C. Ogg]
Senior Housing Properties Trust (NYSE: SNH) has been an incredible dividend story. For years, it has sent�solid dividends to its shareholders. That dividend yield is now up to a whopping 7.2% or so. The problem is that the stock just hit a 52-week low again on Friday, and the stock is now not that far at all from being at a 2-year low of close to $20.00.
Top Logistics Companies To Buy Right Now: New Residential Investment Corp (NRZ)
New Residential Investment Corp., incorporated on September 26, 2013, is a real estate investment trust. The Company focuses on investing in, and actively managing, investments related to residential real estate. On May 15, 2013, Newcastle Investment Corp. announced that the spin-off of New Residential Investment Corp.
The Company is managed by an affiliate of Fortress Investment Group LLC, a global investment management. The Company primarily target investments in excess mortgage servicing rights, residential mortgage backed securities, residential mortgage loans and other related investments.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lauren Pollock]
New Residential Investment Corp.(NRZ) and other investors agreed to buy about $3.2 billion of servicing advances from Nationstar Mortgage Holdings Inc.(NSM), part of Nationstar’s plan to reconfigure its acquisition structure. The advances relate to nonagency residential mortgage loans with an unpaid principal balance of about $58 billion. Nationstar shares rose 4.1% to $42.50 in light premarket trading.
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