Beat the Market Comfortably by Investing in HVAC

Amid significant tailwinds in the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning or HVAC industry, one company looks poised for market-beating returns.

In the developed world, we've grown accustomed to heating and cooling, and we rely upon these systems to keep us comfortable year-round. Now that the housing market's booming, HVAC companies will likely have a better chance to sell more units in new homes.

As the economy improves, existing homeowners who put off upgrading their HVAC equipment will be more likely and able to buy new units. Furthermore, as emerging countries gain wealth and improve infrastructure, they'll probably buy and install more HVAC units for their buildings, too.

A successful HVAC distribution company with great growth potential
An excellent way to profit from these tailwinds is by investing in Watsco (NYSE: WSO  ) (NYSE: WSO  ) (NYSE: WSO  ) . Watsco is a leading distributor of HVAC equipment, with more than 570 locations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Watsco also exports products to Latin America and the Caribbean.

Watsco's 2012 financial results were excellent. Its revenue increased by 15% to $3.4 billion, and its net income increased by 14% to $103 million.Its latest quarterly earnings report was positive as well, resulting in a 29% increase in earnings per share year over year.

Watsco's current P/E of 24.5 is in the same ballpark as its competitor Lennox International (NYSE: LII  ) (NYSE: LII  ) (NYSE: LII  ) , whose P/E is 23.8. Lennox is a manufacturer of HVAC equipment and components, and will also benefit from HVAC industry tailwinds.

However, Lennox's revenue and net income have both declined over the last five years, while Watsco's revenue doubled, and its net income rose 72%. Watsco is a distributor, not a manufacturer, and it focuses strictly on sales, instead of being concerned with the manufacturing challenges that now face Lennox.

Watsco has a long history of boosting its dividend. Over the last decade the company has increased its quarterly payout by a factor of 20, from $0.03 per share in 2002 to $0.62 per share in 2012. In December 2012, Watsco also elected to pay a special dividend of $5.00 per share, owing partly to dividend tax changes that were projected to go into effect in 2013.

As a result of this massive special payout, Watsco reduced its quarterly dividend to $0.25 per share, which equates to a 1.1% yield. Watsco will more than likely resume its dividend growth beginning in 2014. 

A very effective partnership
In 2009, Watsco made a very important acquisition, by purchasing a 60% stake in a joint venture with Carrier, a subsidiary of United Technologies  (NYSE: UTX  ) (NYSE: UTX  ) (NYSE: UTX  ) . This joint venture, known as Carrier Enterprise, was Watsco's largest acquisition and made Watsco the sole distributor for Carrier, Bryant, and Payne products in specified areas.

United Technologies, a diversified blue chip, would not trust just any company to be a distributor for Carrier, the market-leading provider of HVAC equipment. Indeed, it seems pleased with Watsco's performance, since the U.S. joint venture was later expanded to Canada and Mexico, creating a new international growth opportunity for Watsco.

Carrier represents 22.5% of United Technologies' overall sales; the company also provides elevator, security, controls, and a wide variety of aerospace products and systems. Its diverse mix of businesses makes it a compelling investment, but while it will benefit significantly from the HVAC tailwinds mentioned above, it's not as pure a play on the industry as Watsco.

"Buy and build", a business model that works
Watsco has grown by utilizing a "buy and build" strategy in which it acquires smaller competitors and increases their capabilities by enhancing their product offerings and adding new distribution locations. Watsco has used this strategy to complete 59 successful acquisitions since 1989.

Watsco's plan is to continue the same successful "buy and build" business model that has served it so well in the past. In other words, if it is not broke don't fix it. Even after Watsco's tremendous growth in the HVAC distribution market, it still only represents 10% of the overall market,which leaves plenty of room to continue its "buy and build" strategy.

Watsco currently has an even greater opportunity for growth by implementing its "buy and build" strategy in international markets. International sales represent 16% of Watsco's overall sales,and this number should grow in upcoming years. Watsco now has decades of experience with the implementation of this strategy in the U.S., and this experience should pay dividends (literally) in its efforts to incorporate a similar strategy in the international marketplace.

Another opportunity for its "buy and build" strategy is the joint venture with Carrier. Watsco should get the opportunity to expand this joint venture by acquiring additional distribution areas from Carrier, and building the business at each new area.

Foolish bottom line
I believe that Watsco is the best at what it does and that its future is very bright. I recommend that investors consider a position in Watsco as part of their diversified portfolio.

Another promising pick for your portfolio
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Top 5 Japanese Stocks To Own For 2015

Top 5 Japanese Stocks To Own For 2015: Avnet Inc. (AVT)

Avnet, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, distributes electronic components, enterprise computer and storage products, and embedded subsystems in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. It operates in two segments, Electronics Marketing (EM) and Technology Solutions (TS). The EM segment markets and sells semiconductors; interconnect, passive, and electromechanical devices; and embedded products and embedded computing solutions, including technical design, integration, and assembly services to developers of application-specific computing solutions in the non-PC market. It also provides engineers with a host of technical design solutions in support of the sales process of complex products and technologies; engineering and technical resources to support product design, bill of materials development, design services, and technical education and training; and supply chain services focused on original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), el ectronic manufacturing services providers, and electronic component manufacturers. This segment primarily serves electronic component manufacturers in various markets, including automotive, communications, computer hardware and peripheral, industrial and manufacturing, medical equipment, military and aerospace, telecommunications, industrial, and digital editing. The TS segment markets and sells mid-to high-end servers, data storage, and software, as well as provides services required to implement such products and solutions to the value-added reseller channel. It also focuses on the worldwide OEM market for computing technology, system integrators, independent software vendors, and non-PC OEMs that require embedded systems and solutions, including engineering, product prototyping, integration, and other value-added services. The company was founded in 1955 and is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Wolfe] !

  Avnet Inc (AVT)

  FPA Capitals fourth largest holding is in the company Avnet. The fund holds on to 1,722,400 shares of the companys stock, representing 1.29% of their shares outstanding and 9.2% of his total portfolio.

• [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 Avnet (NYSE: AVT  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

• [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 Avnet (NYSE: AVT  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-5-japanese-stocks-to-own-for-2015.html

10 Best Promising Stocks To Watch Right Now

10 Best Promising Stocks To Watch Right Now: Pioneer Natural Resources Co (PXD)

Pioneer Natural Resources Company (Pioneer),incorporated on April 4, 1997, is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the United States and South Africa. Pioneer is a holding company whose assets consist of direct and indirect ownership interests in, and whose business is conducted substantially through, its subsidiaries. The Company sells homogenous oil, natural gas liquid (NGL) and gas units. The Company provides administrative, financial, legal and management support to United States and South Africa subsidiaries that explore for, develop and produce proved reserves. The Companys continuing operations are principally located in the United States in the states of Texas, Kansas, Colorado and Alaska. During February 2011, the Company completed the sale of Pioneer Natural Resources Tunisia Ltd. and Pioneer Natural Resources Anaguid Ltd. In April 2012, it acquired Carmeuse Industrial Sands (CIS). In August 2012, the Company sold it s South Africa business to The Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (SOC) Ltd. (PetroSA). Effective December 17, 2013, Pioneer Natural Resources Company and Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P announced the completion of the merger of Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P with a wholly owned subsidiary of Pioneer Natural Resources Company, with Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P surviving the merger as an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Pioneer Natural Resources Company.

The Company has 15 owned drilling rigs operating in the Spraberry field, and as of December 31, 2011, had Company-owned fracture stimulation fleets totaling 250,000 horsepower supporting drilling operations in the Spraberry, Eagle Ford Shale and Barnett Shale Combo areas. The Company also owns other field service equipment, including pulling units, fracture stimulation tanks, water transport trucks, hot oilers, blowout preventers, construction e! quipment and fishing tools. T he Company owns a 52.4% limited partner interest and a 0.1% ! general partner interest in Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. and its subsidiaries (Pioneer Southwest). The Companys proved reserves totaled 1,063 million barrel of oil equivalent at December 31, 2011. Approximately 83% of the Companys proved reserves at December 31, 2011 are located in the Spraberry field in the Permian Basin area, the Hugoton and West Panhandle fields in the Mid-Continent area and the Raton field in the Rocky Mountains area.

Permian Basin

The Spraberry field encompasses eight counties in West Texas. The field is approximately 150 miles long and 75 miles wide at its widest point. The oil produced is West Texas Intermediate Sweet, and the gas produced is casinghead gas with an average energy content of 1,400 British thermal unit. The oil and gas are produced primarily from four formations, the upper and lower Spraberry, the Dean and the Wolfcamp, at depths ranging from 6,700 feet to 11,300 feet. During the year ended Dece mber 31, 2011, the Company drilled 706 wells in the Spraberry field and its total acreage position approximated 820,000 gross acres (691,000 net acres). The Company has 44 rigs operating, of which 41 are drilling vertical wells and three are drilling horizontal wells. The Company completed its second horizontal well in the Upper/Middle Wolfcamp Shale in Upton County, Texas with a 30-stage fracture stimulation in a 5,800-foot lateral section. The Company is focusing its horizontal efforts on more than 200,000 acres in the southern part of the field to hold acreage. The Company continues to test down spacing in the Spraberry field from 40 acres to 20 acres. Sixteen 20-acre wells were drilled in 2011, with 10 of these wells having been placed on production. These 20-acre wells were drilled to the Lower Wolfcamp interval, with a few deepened to the Strawn interval.

Mid-Continent

The Hugoton field in southwest Kansas is a pr! oducing g! as fields in the cont inental United States. The gas is produced from the Chase an! d Council! Grove formations at depths ranging from 2,700 feet to 3,000 feet. The Companys Hugoton properties are located on approximately 284,000 gross acres (245,000 net acres), covering approximately 400 square miles. The Company has working interests in approximately 1,220 wells in the Hugoton field, approximately 1,000 of which it operates. The Company operates substantially all of the gathering and processing facilities, including the Satanta plant, which processes the production from the Hugoton field. In January 2011, the Company sold a 49% interest in the Satanta plant to an unaffiliated third party for the third partys commitment to dedicate gas volumes to the Satanta plant. The Company is also exploring opportunities to process other gas production in the Hugoton area at the Satanta plant. By maintaining operatorship of the gathering and processing facilities, the Company is able to control the production, gathering, processing and sale of its Hugoton field gas and NGL production.

The West Panhandle properties are located in the panhandle region of Texas. These reserves are attributable to the Red Cave, Brown Dolomite, Granite Wash and fractured Granite formations at depths no greater than 3,500 feet. The Companys gas has an average energy content of 1,365 British thermal unit and is produced from approximately 680 wells on more than 259,000 gross acres (252,000 net acres) covering over 375 square miles. The Company controls 100% of the wells, production equipment, gathering system and the Fain gas processing plant for the field.

Raton

The Raton Basin properties are located in the southeast portion of Colorado. The Company owns approximately 227,000 gross acres (201,000 net acres) in the center of the Raton Basin and produces CBM gas from the coal seams in the Vermejo and Raton formations from approximately 2,300 wells. The Company owns the majority of the well servi! cing and ! fracture stimulation e quipment that it utilizes in the Raton field, allowing it to! control ! costs and insure availability.

South Texas Eagle Ford Shale and Edwards

The Companys drilling activities in the South Texas area during 2011 were primarily focused on delineation and development of Pioneers substantial acreage position in the Eagle Ford Shale play. The Company drilled 94 horizontal Eagle Ford Shale wells during 2011, with average lateral lengths of approximately 5,500 feet and 13-stage fracture stimulations. EFS Midstream LLC (EFS Midstream) is obligated to construct midstream assets in the Eagle Ford Shale area. Eight of the 12 planned central gathering plants (CGPs) were completed as of December 31, 2011.

Barnett Shale

During 2011, the Company continued to increase its acreage position in the liquid-rich Barnett Shale Combo area in North Texas. In total, the Company has accumulated approximately 92,000 gross acres in the liquid-rich area of the field and has acquired approximately 340 square miles o f three dimensional (3-D) seismic covering its acreage. The Companys total lease holdings in the Barnett Shale play now approximate 142,000 gross acres (108,000 net acres). During 2011, the Company had two drilling rigs operating and drilled 44 Barnett Shale Combo wells. The Company also commenced operating a Company-owned fracture stimulation fleet in the area during the second quarter of 2011.

Alaska

The Company owns a 70% working interest and is the operator of the Oooguruk development project. The Company has drilled 12 production wells and eight injection wells of the estimated 17 production and 16 injection wells planned to develop this project.

International

During 2011, the Companys international operations were located in Tunisia and offshore South Africa. During February 2011, the Company completed the sale of the Companys share holdings in Pioneer Tunisia to an unaffiliated thir! d party. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  Pioneer Natural Resources Company (NYSE:PXD) reported that Tim Dove, President and Chief Operating Officer, will present at Barclays CEO Energy-Power Conference on Wednesday, September 5, at 8:25 a.m. E.T.

• [By Tony Daltorio]

  They constitute some of the best investments in energy now. Notice how they dominate a list of the leading producers in the three most prolific oil basins over the last year:

  Bakken: Continental Resources Inc. (NYSE: CLR), Whiting Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: WLL), and Hess Corp. (NYSE: HES). Permian Basin: Occidental Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: OXY), Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE: PXD), and Apache Corp. (NYSE: APA). Eagle Ford: EOG Resources Inc. (NYSE: EOG), ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP), Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. (NYSE: COG), and Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE: CHK).

  Two stocks from this list that investors should focus on are EOG Resources and Cabot Oil & Gas.

• [By Lee Jackson]

  Pioneer Natural Resources Co. (NYSE: PXD) is a huge player in the Permian basin in Texas, and it has been a huge winner for shareholders this year. Rumors have swirled the last half of this year that one of the big integrateds may target Pioneer as a takeover candidate. It would be a very expensive deal, as the company’s market cap is almost 25 billion. The Merrill Lynch price target for the stock is a gigantic $275. The consensus number is lower at $233.75, and sharesclosed Monday at $185.19.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/10-best-promising-stocks-to-watch-right-now.html

5 Best New Stocks To Watch Right Now

5 Best New Stocks To Watch Right Now: Ceres Inc (CERE)

Ceres, Inc. (Ceres), incorporated in March 1996, is an agricultural biotechnology company selling seeds to produce renewable biomass feedstocks that can enable the large-scale replacement of petroleum and other fossil fuels. The Companys large-scale commercial products are sweet sorghum varieties that can be used as a drop-in feedstock to extend the operating season of Brazilian sugarcane-to-ethanol mills. Its products include sweet sorghum, high biomass sorghum, switchgrass, miscanthus and row crops Its energy crops can also be used for the production of second-generation biofuels and bio-based chemicals, including cellulosic ethanol, butanol, jet fuel, diesel-like molecules and gasoline-like molecules, from non-food biomass. Baseload utility scale electric power can also be generated from the biomass feedstocks grown from its seeds. Ceres has started marketing sweet sorghum seeds in Brazil and has sold switchgrass and high biomass sorghum seeds in the United States u nder its brand, Blade Energy Crops (Blade). In January 2010, the Company incorporated a subsidiary, Ceres Sementes do Brasil Ltda.

The Company generates its revenues from government grants, research and development collaboration agreements and from product sales. Product sales primarily consists of sales of seeds. Collaborative research revenues consist of payments for research and development activities for specific projects. Government grant revenues consist of payments from government entities. Ceres markets its seeds and traits directly to ethanol mills, utilities, independent power producers, cellulosic biofuel companies, individual growers and grower cooperatives. It also works with technology providers and other market participants, such as equipment manufacturers and enzyme or fermentation technology companies. The Company markets its products to biorefineries and biopower facilities.

Ceress activities in cellulosic biofuels encompass a r! ange of activities, including field trials, co-evolution agr! eements, and commercial sales. Its products have been tested in the conversion processes of EdeniQ, Inc., Choren USA LLC, Gruppo M&G, ICM, Inc., and UOP, LLC (a Honeywell company), among others. The Company has also conducted joint trials with, or sold seed to, AGCO Corporation, EdeniQ, Inc. and Hawaii BioEnergy, LLC, among others. It has begun collaboration with Valero Services, Inc. to further evaluate feedstock supply strategies with energy crops. Ceres also works with refining technology companies to optimize feedstock for their refining processes. These collaborators include Novozymes North America, Inc. and ThermoChem Recovery International, Inc.

Drop-in Products

The Companys products are drop-in solutions as they can be planted, harvested and processed using existing agricultural equipment with little or no modification and are being developed to be drop-in for all conversion technologies using sugarcane or biomass feedstocks, facilitat ing their rapid adoption. In collaboration with Boa Vista/Nova Fronteira, which is a joint venture of ethanol producers Grupo Sao Martinho, S.A. and Petrobras Biofuels, the Company has completed a commercial-scale trial on approximately 250 hectares of its sweet sorghum, which was planted and harvested using existing planting and harvesting equipment, fermented into ethanol without retrofitting or altering the existing mill and the remaining biomass combusted for electricity production, using existing boilers. It has also conducted smaller trials using its other energy crops with numerous industry participants engaged in cellulosic biofuels and biopower production. The Companys products have been tested in the conversion processes of Amyris Biotechnologies, Inc., Choren USA LLC, EdeniQ, Inc., Gruppo M&G, ICM, Inc., Novozymes North America, Inc., ThermoChem Recovery International, Inc. and UOP, LLC (a Honeywell company), among others. DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol LLC ! (DDCE) al! so plans to validate the Companys products in th! eir conve! rsion process.

Sweet Sorghum

Sweet sorghum is a type of sorghum that accumulates free sugars in its stalk. It is sown by seed, and requires less water and nitrogen fertilizer to grow to harvestable maturity. Sweet sorghum plants can be harvested in 90 to 140 days after sowing. Because sweet sorghum is an annual crop, multiple harvests or crop rotations may be possible during the season.

High Biomass Sorghum

High biomass sorghum is a type of sorghum, which is primarily developed for biomass yield. As such, high biomass sorghum is suited for the generation of renewable electric power and the creation of cellulosic biofuels. High biomass types are seed propagated, and requires less water and nitrogen fertilizer. As an annual crop, sorghum is harvested the year it is planted. This provides bioenergy facilities with a growing and flexible source of biomass, and a complementary feedstock to perennials, such as sugarcane or switch grass. The Companys ES 5200 and ES 5201 products contains its Skyscraper trait. These hybrids, developed through its partnership with Texas A&M University, are designed for single-cut production systems.

Switchgrass

Switchgrass is a perennial grass indigenous to North America that offers high biomass yield potential. It requires less water and nitrogen fertilizer, and can grow under semi-arid conditions. Switchgrass is seed propagated. As a perennial, switchgrass is not harvested for sale during the first year when the crop is being established. A properly managed stand of switchgrass may persist for a decade. During the year ended December 31, 2010, it introduced three products: EG 1101, EG 1102 and EG 2101. These high-yielding varieties is developed through its partnership with The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation.

Miscanthus

Miscanthus x giganteus is a tall perennial grass that grows well in cooler climates. It is v! eg etati! vely propagated. It has been used as an energy crop on ! a small s! cale across Europe. The Miscanthus genus includes several perennial species that has energy crops. The variety adopted in the United States and Europe, miscanthus x giganteus, is a sterile hybrid of M. sinensis and M. sacchariflorus. This miscanthus hybrid requires about the same water as corn, but up to two-thirds less nitrogen depending on crop management practices. As a perennial crop, miscanthus is not harvested for sale during the first year when the crop is being established. Ceres is also working on extending the region of adaptation. To these ends, the Company is collaborating with the Institute of Biological, Environmental, and Rural Sciences of Aberystwyth University in Wales, the United Kingdom.

The Company competes with Advanta India Limited, The Dow Chemical Company, Monsanto Company, Pioneer Hi-Bred (DuPont), KWS and Syngenta.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James E. Brumley]

  Despite the fact that markets are right around breakeven levels for Wednesday, there are relatively few stocks that are up today, and even fewer that are up on strong volume. For the NYSE, 54% of its listed equities are in the red this morning, and 58% of the total volume seen so far has been bearish volume. That's what makes Ceres Inc. (NASDAQ:CERE) so interesting early Wednesday. As one of the few tickers that's not only up, but up on higher volume, CERE is a standout worth a closer look. And, that closer look reveals something even more compelling about the way things are coming together for this small cap stock.

• [By Maxx Chatsko]

  Shares of energy crop developer Ceres (NASDAQ: CERE  ) surged more than 100% from the opening bell Monday to early trading on Thursday. In fact, over one-third of the total outstanding shares traded hands on Thursday. Even with the move the company is trading for "only" $100 million. With some of the biggest names in industrial biotech on its side ! -- such a! s Syngenta (NYSE: SYT  ) , Petrobras, Amyris, Valero, Novozymes, Gruppo M&G, and Mascoma, to name a few -- this must be a good buy right? Not so fast.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/5-best-new-stocks-to-watch-right-now.html

5 Best New Stocks To Watch For 2015

5 Best New Stocks To Watch For 2015: Enertopia Corp (ENRT)

Enertopia Corp (Enertopia), incorporated on November 24, 2004, is engaged in medicinal marijuana business. The Company is diverse in its pursuit of business opportunities in several sectors, including: Medicinal Marijuana, Oil and Gas, Solar PV (Photovoltaic), Solar Thermal (Hot Water), Energy Retrofits and Recovery, and Solar powered Filtered Drinking Water.

The Company no longer has any material oil and gas resources. The Company operates in two segments: renewable energy, and mining exploration and developments, which are managed separately based on fundamental differences in their operations nature.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Whats the Catch With Lexaria Corp? According to various disclosures, a transaction or transactions of $1k has or will occur to mention Lexaria Corp in various investment newsletters. Last Friday, Lexaria Corp announced it had closed its Private Placement financing announced on March 5 for gross proceeds of $1,272,000 higher than the originally announced $960,000 figure due to overwhelming demand. Lexaria Corp will issue 10,600,000 common shares at US$0.12 and 10,600,000 full warrants that expire on September 21, 2016 with an exercise price of US$0.25. However, the company may also accelerate the expiry date of the warrants if the stock price trades above CAD$0.40 cents for 20 consecutive days at any time after 6 months and one day has elapsed. Otherwise and in early March, Lexaria Corp reported that its board of directors had decided to make a strategic entry into the medical marijuana business by way of an important Joint Venture with Enertop ia Corp (OTCQB: ENRT). Under the terms of the Agreement, Lexaria Corp had agreed to pay Enertopia 1 million restricted common shares in return for Enertopia's participation plus 500,000 restricted common shares ENRTs Chairman in return for his participation on the Lexaria Advisory Board. Followi! ng the issuance of these shares, Lexaria Corp will have a total of 18,431,452 shares issued and outstanding and 21,256,452 shares fully diluted. A quick look at Lexaria Corps financials reveals revenues of $160k (most recent reported quarter), $241k, $251k and $253k for the past four quarters along with net losses of $102k (most recent reported quarter), $126k, $58k and $48k. At the end of last January, Lexaria Corp had $66k in cash to cover $1,415k in current liabilities and $59k in other liabilities. So aside from the income statement, investors might want to look more closely at Lexaria Corps financing terms.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/5-best-new-stocks-to-watch-for-2015.html

Business plan: It's never to late to write one

Hi Gladys, I am not new to business. I have owned a home and gardening center for eight years. I want to expand into other areas in my city. I want to make sure that each move I make in expanding is the right move. So on the advice of a friend I called on a small business development outfit to give me direction. I have been attending regular classroom sessions for the last four months. And up to this point I have spent the last four months writing a business plan. I didn't write a business plan for my business when I started it. And it's been very profitable. Why on earth do I need to spend so much time writing a business plan to expand my company? This is an exercise for a beginning business. It seems like such a waste of time. -- C.W

You wrote that you want to make all the right moves. Writing out a business plan lets you see every little detail of the many elements that go into the making and expansion of a business. You might even learn a few things you didn't know before. This can prove to be a wonderful opportunity for you to even strengthen your business as it is.

Many people think a business plan is something you put together in order to get financing. Sometimes this is true, but not always. A business plan can become the working papers that keep you focused and guided in the right direction.

One of the most important parts of a well-crafted business plan is the market development and implementation section. This section not only helps you to identify your customers and prospective customers it also helps you to strategize on how to communicate to them and get them in the door.

I will never forget the early morning phone call I received from a woman who owned a successful beauty salon and decided to expand to including spa services. She moved to a space that was more than three times the size of her original place and remodeled to include state-of-the-art spa services. She had borrowed more than one hundred thousand dollars based on her business plan.

She t! old me that owning a beautiful day spa had always been her dream, but for some strange reason she was losing money. She didn't have the customers she thought the expansion would bring and she was unable to get her salon customers to use the spa services. In addition she was behind in her payments to the bank and in her rent.

When I met with her I asked to see her business plan. After examining both her business and her business plan, I found that the marketing section was not clear. She had not developed that part of her plan. Had she taken the time to identify who her customers were before her expansion she would have known that they weren't interested in spa services. And, with that knowledge she could have put together a strategy to attract the kind of customer who would use her services.

If the business plan sessions are covering every detail of business development it is not a waste of your time. The truth is, it can prove to be beneficial to secure success for your business.

Gladys Edmunds, founder of Edmunds Travel Consultants in Pittsburgh, is an author and coach/consultant in business development. Her column appears Wednesdays. E-mail her at gladys@gladysedmunds.com. An archive of her columns is here. Her website is gladysedmunds.com.

5 Stocks Insiders Love Right Now

TASR PCYG CBG VRX NES
Delafield, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- Corporate insiders sell their own companies' stock for a number of reasons.

>>5 Big Short-Squeeze Stocks Ready to Pop

They might need the cash for a big personal purchase such as a new house or yacht, or they might need the cash to fund a charity. Sometimes they sell as part of a planned selling program that they have put in place for diversification purposes, which allows them to sell stock in stages instead of selling all at one price.

Other times they sell because they think their stock is overvalued and the risk/reward is no longer attractive. Some even dump their own stock because they have inside knowledge that a competitor is eating their lunch and stealing market share.

But insiders usually buy their own shares for one reason: They think the stock is a bargain and has tremendous upside.

>>5 Stocks Ready to Break Out

The key word in that last statement is "think." Just because a corporate insider thinks his or her stock is going to trade higher, that doesn't mean it will play out that way. Insiders can have all the conviction in the world that their stock is a buy, but if the market doesn't agree with them, the stock could end up going nowhere. Also, I say "usually" because sometimes insiders are loaned money by the company to buy their own stock. Those loans are often sweetheart deals and shouldn't be viewed as organic insider buying.

At the end of the day, its large institutional money managers running big mutual funds and hedge funds that drive stock prices, not insiders. That said, many of these savvy stock operators will follow insider buying activity when they agree with the insider that the stock is undervalued and has upside potential. This is why it's so important to always be monitoring insider activity, but it's twice as important to make sure the trend of the stock coincides with the insider buying.

>>5 Stocks Under $10 Set to Soar

Recently, a number of companies' corporate insiders have bought large amounts of stock. These insiders are finding some value in the market, which warrants a closer look at these stocks. Here's a look at five stocks whose insiders have been doing some big buying per SEC filings.

Taser International

One defense player that insiders are active in here is Taser International (TASR), which is engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of electronic control devices designed for use in the law enforcement, military, corrections, private security and personal defense markets. Insiders are buying this stock into notable strength, since shares are up 38% so far in 2013.

>>5 Rocket Stocks to Buy in September

Taser International has a market cap of $636 million and an enterprise value of $564 million. This stock trades at a premium valuation, with a trailing price-to-earnings of 42.74 and a forward price-to-earnings of 33.73. Its estimated growth rate for this year is 14.8%, and for next year it's pegged at 19.4%. This is a cash-rich company, since the total cash position on its balance sheet is $29.81 million and its total debt is just $120,000.

A director just bought 50,000 shares, or about $594,000 worth of stock, at $6.72 to $6.91 a share.

From a technical perspective, TASR is currently trending above both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, which is bullish. This stock has been uptrending extremely strong for the last month, with shares soaring higher from its low of $8.57 to its intraday high of $12.62 a share with heavy upside volume flows. During that uptrend, shares of TASR have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action.

If you're bullish on TASR, then I would look for long-biased trades as long as this stock is trending above some near-term support at $11.05 and then once it closes at a new 52-week high above $12.62 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above that level with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 671,966 shares. If we get that move soon, then TASR will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $15 to $18 a share.

Park City Group

Another technology player that insiders are jumping into here is Park City Group (PCYG), which develops and offers its software to supermarkets, convenience stores and other retailers. Insiders are buying this stock into massive strength, since shares are up 162% so far in 2013.

Park City Group has a market cap of $126 million. This stock trades at a reasonable valuation, with a price-to-sales of 11.29 and a price-to-book of 10.21. This is barely a cash-rich company, since the total cash position on its balance sheet is $4.40 million and its total debt is $2.29 million.

>>4 Big Tech Stocks on Traders' Radars

A director just bought 155,039 shares, or $1 million worth of stock, at $6.45 per share. Another director also just bought 77,519 shares, or about $499,000 worth of stock, at $6.45 per share.

From a technical perspective, PCYG is currently trending above both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, which is bullish. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last few weeks, with shares moving higher from its low of $6.06 a share to its recent high of $8.08 a share. That uptrend is coming after shares of PCYG downtrended from its mid-July high of $8.51 a share to that $6.06 low, with shares consistently making lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That rebound off that $6.06 low has now pushed shares of PCYG back above its 50-day at $7.36 and within range of triggering a big breakout trade.

If you're in the bull camp on PCYG, then look for long-biased trades as long as this stock is trending above its 50-day at $7.36 or above more support at $6.75 and then once it breaks out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $8.08 to $8.30 a share and then once it clears its 52-week high at $8.51 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 116,856 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then PCYG will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that move are $10 to $12 a share.

CBRE Group

One real estate player that insiders are loading up on here is CBRE Group (CBG), which offers a range of services to occupiers, owners, lenders and investors in office, retail, industrial, multi-family and other types of commercial real estate. Insiders are buying this stock into decent strength, since shares are up 11.5% so far in 2013.

>>5 Big Short-Squeeze Stocks Ready to Pop

CBRE Group has a market cap of $7.2 billion and an enterprise value of $9.2 billion. This stock trades at a reasonable valuation, with a trailing price-to-earnings of 22.95 and a forward price-to-earnings of 13.13. Its estimated growth rate for this year is 17.2%, and for next year it's pegged at 18.2%. This is not a cash-rich company, since the total cash position on its balance sheet is $517.34 million and its total debt is $2.67 billion.

A director just bought 161,300 shares, or about $3.46 million worth of stock, at $21.50 per share.

From a technical perspective, CBG is currently trending just below both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, which is bearish. This stock has been uptrending for the past few weeks, with shares moving higher from its low of $21.24 to its recent high of $22.28 a share. During that move, shares of CBG have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of CBG within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade.

If you're bullish on CBG, then look for long-biased trades as long as this stock is trending above that recent low of $21.24 and then once it breaks out above both its 200-day at $22.68 and its 50-day at $23.03 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average volume of 2.69 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then CBG will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $24.50 to its 52-week high at $25.69 a share.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals

One healthcare player that insiders are snapping up a big amount of stock in here is Valeant Pharmaceuticals (VRX), which develops, manufactures and markets a range of pharmaceutical products. Insiders are buying this stock into major strength, since shares are up sharply by 67% so far in 2013.

>>3 Biotech Stocks Triggering Breakouts on Big Volume

Valeant Pharmaceuticals has a market cap of $33 billion and an enterprise value of $41 billion. This stock trades at a reasonable valuation, with a price-to-sales of 8.21 and a price-to-book of 5.79. This is not a cash-rich company, since the total cash position on its balance sheet is $2.54 billion and its total debt is $10.79 billion.

A director just bought 51,000 shares, or about $5.04 million worth of stock, at $99.01 per share.

From a technical perspective, VRX is currently trending above both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, which is bullish. This stock has been uptrending very strong for the last six months, with shares soaring higher from its low of $69.87 to its recent high of $105.40 a share. During that uptrend, shares of VRX have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move now has pushed shares of VRX within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade.

If you're bullish on VRX, then look for long-biased trades as long as this stock is trending above its 50-day at $94.75 and then once it breaks out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $102 to $103.43 a share and then once it clears its 52-week high at $105.40 a share high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average volume of 1.51 million shares. If that breakout hits, then VRX could easily tag $115 to $120, or even $130 a share.

Nuverra Environment Solutions

One final name with some large insider buying is Nuverra Environment Solutions (NES), which provides environmental solutions to protect, enhance and advance environmental sustainability. Insiders are buying this stock into big time strength, since shares are up sharply by 83% so far in 2013.

>>5 Cash-Rich Stocks to Triple Your Gains

Nuverra Environment Solutions has a market cap of $660 million and an enterprise value of $1.14 billion. This stock trades at a premium valuation, with a forward price-to-earnings of 84.67. Its estimated growth rate for this year is 42.9%, and for next year it's pegged at 325%. This is not a cash-rich company, since the total cash position on its balance sheet is $10.24 million and its total debt is $551.58 million.

The CEO just bought 900,000 shares, or about $2.08 million worth of stock, at $2.30 to $2.32 per share.

From a technical perspective, NES is currently trending below both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, which is bearish. This stock has been downtrending badly for the last two months, with shares dropping from its high of $3.75 to its recent low of $2.06 a share. During that move, shares of NES have been consistently making lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That said, shares of NES have started to bounce off that $2.06 low and it's now moving within range of triggering a big breakout trade.

If you're bullish on NES, then look for long-biased trades as long as this stock is trending above some key near-term support levels at $2.20 to that low at $2.06, and then once it breaks out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $2.80 to its 50-day at $2.98 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 2.39 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then NES will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $3.50 to its 200-day at $3.62 a share.

To see more stocks with notable insider buying, check out the Stocks With Big Insider Buying portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

RELATED LINKS:

Top 5 Media Stocks To Watch For 2015

>>5 Foreign Stocks to Trade for Gains

>>5 Sin Stocks Ready for Dividend Boosts

>>5 Hated Earnings Stocks That You Should Love

Follow Stockpickr on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned.

Roberto Pedone, based out of Delafield, Wis., is an independent trader who focuses on technical analysis for small- and large-cap stocks, options, futures, commodities and currencies. Roberto studied international business at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and he spent a year overseas studying business in Lubeck, Germany. His work has appeared on financial outlets including

CNBC.com and Forbes.com. You can follow Pedone on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zerosum24 or @zerosum24.

The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) Q1 Earnings Preview: Q1 – The Unkind Quarter

The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) is scheduled to report first quarter, 2014 sales and earnings before the open of the financial markets on Tuesday, May 20, 2014. On the same day, management will host a conference call at 9 a.m. ET to discuss the results.

Wall Street anticipates that home improvement retailer will earn $0.99 per share for the quarter, which is $0.16 more than last year's profit of $0.83 per share. iStock expects HD to top Wall Street's consensus number, the iEstimate is $1.00.

Revenue, like earnings, is expected to trend higher, increasing 4.3% year-over-year (YoY). The Home Depot's consensus revenue estimate for Q1 is $19.95 billion, more than last year's $19.12 billion.

[Related -May 20 Breakdown Trend Day Trading Update]

The Home Depot is the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer, with 2,263 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico.

Predicting an earnings surprise from HD is almost like predicting that the sun sets in the west and rises in the east. The specialty-retailer has exceeded Wall Street's consensus estimate 15 of the last 16 quarterly checkups. On average, Home Depot earned $0.04 more than projected with a range of $0.01 to $0.08 beyond expectations.

For the most part, EPS-Driven price sensitivity followed along with all the bullish surprises. Shares gained ground in the days surrounding 10 of the last 16 earnings announcements. Typically, HD stock moved 3.79% higher when Wall Street was satisfied with the profit scorecard.

[Related -The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD): More Room For Improvement]

Meanwhile, investors sold-off shares of The Home Depot six times, dropping an average of -3.37%. There appears to be some seasonality to negative reaction as the May announcement i.e. Q1 accounts for three of the six EPS driven corrections, which includes the two worst selloffs of -7.10% and -6.40%. The Emerald month has been anything but green for HD shareholders in the last four years.

The harsh winter has been a problem for many retailers. Anecdotally, The Home Depots near this author say many empty parking lots during the polar vortex months. However, the spots filled up as the weather warmed up and the most recent trip saw less available parking than can be recalled. That might be bad for Q1 but good for Q2 guidance.

Overall: The Home Depot, Inc.'s (NYSE:HD) history and iEstimate suggest a better than expected result for the home improvement retailer; however, the first quarter has not been kind to investors so earnings traders might consider taking a pass on HD.  

Top Clean Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now

Top Clean Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now: Mechanical Technology Inc (MKTY)

Mechanical Technology, Incorporated (MTI), incorporated on October 4, 1961, operates in two segments: the Test and Measurement Instrumentation segment, which is conducted through MTI Instruments, Inc. (MTI Instruments), a wholly-owned subsidiary, and the New Energy segment, which is conducted through MTI MicroFuel Cells, Inc. (MTI Micro), a variable interest entity (VIE) as of December 31, 2011. MTI Instruments is a worldwide supplier of precision non-contact physical measurement solutions, portable balance equipment and wafer inspection tools. MTI Micro is developing Mobion, a handheld energy-generating device. Mobion handheld generators are based on direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) technology. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned approximately 47.6% of MTI Micro's interest.

The Test and Measurement Instrumentation Segment

MTI Instruments is a worldwide supplier of precision non-contact physical measurement solutions, portable balance equ ipment and wafer inspection tools. MTI Instrument's products use a range of technologies to solve applications in numerous industries including manufacturing, semiconductor, solar, commercial and military aviation, automotive and data storage. The Company's test and measurement segment has three product groups: Precision Instruments, Semiconductor and Solar Metrology Systems, and Aviation Balancing Systems. The Company's products consist of electronic, computerized gauging instruments for position, displacement and vibration applications for the design, manufacturing/production and test and research markets; metrology tools for wafer characterization of semiconductor and solar wafers; tensile stage systems for materials testing in research and industrial settings; and engine balancing and vibration analysis systems for both military and commercial aircraft.!

The Precision Instruments group employs capacitance, laser and fiber optic technologies to make nano-accur ate measurements. These advanced sensing and physical measur! ement technologies are used to produce products that range from basic sensors to complete, fully integrated measurement systems, and are available as single sensors for integration into existing data acquisition systems or as complete system level solutions that can be further integrated into a facility wide communication backbone. MTI Instruments' Precision Instruments product offerings & technologies include Accumeasure Family, Microtrak Family, Microtrak II Series, Microtrak Pro-2D, MTI-2100 Fotonic Sensor Series, MTI Tensile Stages, Semiconductor and Solar Metrology Systems, Aviation Balancing Systems, PBS-4100+ /4100R+ Portable Balancing System, TSC-4800A Tachometer Signal Conditioner, and 1510A Calibrator.

The Accumeasure family of products is designed to address the needs of product developers, process engineers, researchers, designers, and others who need measurements. MTI Instrument's Microtrak family of laser triangulation sensors offers displacement, position and vibration measurements. The Microtrak II comes with an interface controller that provides a digital display of the target position, alarm set points and connections for analog and RS-485 outputs. The Microtrak II Stand-Alone Laser Head also uses complementary metal oxide semiconductors with charged coupled device (CMOS - CCD) detection technology. During the year ended December 31, 2011, MTII launched its Microtrak PRO-2D laser triangulation scanners, which provides profile, displacement and dimensional information in real time.

The MTI-2100 features fiber-optic and electronic technologies for precise measurements of displacement, position and vibration. MTI Instruments' miniature tensile, compression and bend testing machines are designed for use in scanning electron microscopes, atomic force microscopes, and light microsco! pes. The ! Company's family of wafer metrology systems includes manual and semi-automated systems. The Semiconductor and Solar Me trology Systems include Proforma 200SA/300SA, Proforma 300 a! nd PV-100! 0. The Proforma 300 is a manual tool. The PV-1000 is incorporated into solar cell production lines to help manufacturers determine quality control issues. The computer-based portable balancing systems (PBS) products collect and record aircraft engine vibration data, identify vibration or balance trouble in an engine, and calculate a solution to the problem.

The portable PBS-4100+ detects if an engine has a vibration problem or a trim balance problem and provides a solution, resulting in reduced engine vibration, longer engine life, and lower fuel costs. The PBS-4100R+ rack mounted system offers the same features and functions as the portable PBS-4100+ with added data channels, speed input channels, direct current (DC) outputs and diagnostic options. TSC-4800A Tachometer Signal Conditioner is targeted for operators of Engine Test cells, where accurate and reliable conditioning of speed signals is essential. The TSC-4800A features multiple output circuits that pr ovide more than 10 different signals types for the monitoring devices. The PBS family of products includes a 1510A calibrator - a product that automatically performs a calibration check of the PBS unit which otherwise would take hours.

The New Energy Segment

MTI Micro has been developing an off-the-grid power solution for various portable electronic devices to address this power gap. The Company's DMFC technology platform, called Mobion, converts methanol fuel to usable electricity. The Company's fuel cell power solution consists of two components integrated into a manufactured device: the direct methanol fuel cell power engine, which the Company refers to as its Mobion Chip, and methanol fuel cartridges. MTI Micro is focusing the development of an external power charger product as a standalone device that uses a ! universal! serial bus (USB) interface as a power output connector that can be used to recharge handheld mobile devices. A fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device, which is similar t! o a batte! ry that produces electricity from a liquid or gaseous fuel, such as methanol, and an oxidant, such as oxygen.

The Company competes with KLA-Tencor, Sigma Tech Corporation, E+H Eichhorn+Hausmann GmbH, Chadwick-Helmuth Company, Inc., ACES Systems, Micro-Epsilon, and Keyence Corporation.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap Plug Power Inc was formed in 1997 as a joint venture between Michigan utility owner DTE Energy Co (NYSE: DTE) and Mechanical Technology Inc (OTCMKTS: MKTY) to develop fuel-cell systems to power homes and small businesses. Plug Power Inc says it has revolutionized the material handling industry with cost-effective power solutions that increase productivity, lower operating costs and reduce carbon footprints as it manufactures a full suite of products designed to fit seamlessly into the existing battery compartment of all major OEM material handling equipment. In addition, the company says its GenDrive fuel cell is a superior alternative to lead-acid batteries for electric lift trucks in the $20 billion global material handling market.

• [By John Udovich]

  Meanwhile, Plug Power Inc was formed in 1997 as a joint venture of Michigan utility owner DTE Energy Co (NYSE: DTE) and Mechanical Technology Inc (OTCMKTS: MKTY) to develop fuel-cell systems to power homes and small businesses. Plug Power Inc says it has revolutionized the material handling industry with cost-effective power solutions that increase productivity, lower operating costs and reduce carbon footprints as it manufactures a full suite of products designed to fit seamlessly into the existing battery compartment of all major OEM material handling equipment. The company also says that its GenDrive fuel cell is a superior alternative to lead-acid ba! tteries f! or electric lift trucks in the $20 billion global material handling market.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-clean-energy-stocks-to-watch-right-now-2.html

Top 5 Services Stocks To Buy Right Now

Top 5 Services Stocks To Buy Right Now: Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. (NM)

Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. operates as a seaborne shipping and logistics company. It focuses on the transportation and transshipment of dry bulk commodities, including iron ore, coal, fertilizers, and grains. The company controls a fleet of 31 owned vessels and 26 chartered-in vessels totaling 5.8 million dwt. Its owned fleet comprises 14 Ultra Handymax, 11 Capesize, 1 Handysize, and 3 Panamax vessels, as well as 2 Panamax vessels under construction; and chartered-in vessels consists of 8 Capesize, 11 Panamax, 1 Handysize, and 6 Ultra Handymax vessels under long-term time charters. The company also engages in port terminal, river barge, and coastal cabotage operations; and charters its vessels under medium to long-term charters to trading houses, producers, and government-owned entities. In addition, it engages in operating ports and transfer station terminals; and handles vessels, barges, and push boats, as well as operates upriver transport facilities in the Hidrovia region. Further, the company engages in the transportation and handling of liquid cargoes through the ownership, operation, and trading of tanker vessels. It has operations primarily in North America, Europe, Asia, and South America. The company is headquartered in Piraeus, Greece.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Nickey Friedman]

  Navios Maritime Holdings (NYSE: NM  ) has two operating segments: shipping and logistics. Analysts have already begun to raise their profit estimates for 2014, currently at $0.11 EPS up from $0.01 a week ago. Expect that number to continue to rise dramatically. Navios pays a $0.06 per share quarterly dividend and trades around 40% below its book value. It used to trade as high as $17 back in 2007.

source from Top Stocks Blog:http://www.t! opstocksblog.com/top-5-services-stocks-to-buy-right-now.html

CFP Board to start reviewing compensation descriptions

The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. will review the information planners post on its website to ensure that they're using accurate compensation descriptions.

In an email on Wednesday to the nearly 70,000 CFP certificants, the organization said that it will compare the pay details in planners' profiles to information about their compensation available in regulatory filings and on firm websites.

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The review, set to begin in the next couple of weeks, is the CFP Board's latest response to controversy surrounding its compensation definitions. If the planners are found to be using a compensation label inappropriately, it will lead to a further review and potentially an investigation by the CFP Board enforcement arm.

�

The board is also giving firms that receive commission income the option of blocking their financial advisers from identifying themselves as “fee-only” on the CFP Board website.

�(See also: Blogger Kitces stokes debate over CFP Board compensation definitions)

Last year, the board temporarily removed the “fee-only” description from the profiles of 8,000 planners on its website, after it found that some wirehouse representatives and others were claiming fee-only status instead of “commission and fee” under CFP Board rules.

�

The board told those who had the “fee-only” description scrubbed to review the CFP Board rules and reset their definitions. About 3,500 CFP certificants reclaimed “fee only,” while about 1,000 changed to “fee and commission.”

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Now the board is going to make sure that planners are accurately representing themselves. Ray Ferrara, chairman of the CFP Board, likened the situation to a police officer issuing speeding citations. �

�

“Maybe you got a warning ticket the first time,” Mr. Ferrara, president and chief executive of ProVise Management Group, said in an interview at InvestmentNews headquarters in New York on Wednesday. “But there won't be any warning the second time.”

�

The organization should have been monitoring its site more closely, Mr. Ferrara said.

�

“We could have done a better job,” he said. “Going forward, we are going to do a better job.”

�

Harold Anderson, president of Parkshore Wealth Management and a CFP certificant, said that the CFP Board's move will help protect his fee-only status and different! iate himself from other advisers.

�

“I'm in favor of what the CFP Board is doing because in any emerging business, you have to self-police,” Mr. Anderson said. “I want clarity for that designation, so that the public knows what fee-only is.”

�

The CFP Board is mired in a lawsuit involving Jeffrey and Kimberly Camarda, Florida planners who are suing the organization over disciplinary action involving compensation description.

�

A former CFP Board chairman, Alan Goldfarb, also was publicly admonished for inaccurately describing his compensation on a Financial Planning Association website. He disputes that he did anything wrong and resigned.

�

The review of the CFP Board website will be done randomly using risk-based analysis, according to CFP Board officials. About half of CFP mark holders have a profile on the CFP Board's website. It's not clear how many of those entries will be scrutinized.

�

“I promise you, it will not be an insignificant amount,” Mr. Ferrara said. “It will be meaningful.”

�

The board is not setting out to punish certificants, according to CFP Board chief executive Kevin Keller.

�

“Our goal is to help people be in compliance, not to catch them doing it wrong,” Mr. Keller said.�

The CFP Board's definition of “fee-only” has become a point of contention among CFP mark holders. Under CFP rules, an adviser can be called “fee-only” only if he or she receives compensation solely based on fees and does not take commissions and is not affiliated with a firm that does.

�

The definition conflicts with a definition the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors uses for its membership. The organization, comprised exclusively of fee-only advisers, allows its members to own up to 2% of a firm that charges commissions.

�

Mr. Ferrara acknowledged that many planners have criticized CFP compensation rules as too restrictive.

�

“That's not an issue for us to resolve! ,” ! Mr. Ferrara said. “That's an issue for them to resolve. Our mission is to protect the public and to make sure there is clear and accurate disclosure.”

�

Although it's not going to negotiate over its compensation rules, the CFP Board is talking to certificants about the issue.

�

“The board is listening,” Mr. Ferrara said. “It doesn't mean the rules are the same forever and ever. [But] there's no discussion at the board table today about changing the rules.”

Some industry experts, such as Michael Kitces, director of research at Pinnacle Advisory Group, weighed in on the CFP Board's action on social media.

Doesn't fully resolve issues, but @CFPBoard taking some positive steps on enforcement of compensation disclosure. pic.twitter.com/zRezOXCsx2

— MichaelKitces (@MichaelKitces) May 21, 2014

Low wage, health activists prepare McDonald's attack

A recent protest of fast food workers outside a McDonald's restaurant in California.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) The McDonald's annual meeting this Thursday is shaping up to be a heated one.

Activists want to put the brakes on CEO Don Thompson's multimillion dollar pay package. Health advocates are petitioning LeBron James to stop peddling McDonald's junk food to kids.

And, hundreds of fast-food workers are expected to protest for higher wages, starting a day before the meeting. All of this is happening as McDonald's is fighting a slump in sales.

The company has already barred media from the event. Reporters had been welcome in previous years. McDonald's (MCD, Fortune 500) said the idea of not inviting the media came from the media itself.

"This year, based on direct feedback from reporters and steadily declining media attendance, we are solely inviting media to listen to the meeting via web cast," said McDonald's spokesperson Lisa McComb.

The company's reluctance to have reporters at the meeting is understandable, especially after negative press from last year's meeting, when a nine-year-old girl took the microphone and told the CEO to stop tricking kids into, "wanting to eat your food all the time."

There's no reason to expect anything less this year.

"We will bring the concerns of health professionals, moms and other food advocates directly to CEO Don Thompson about the role that their kid-targeted marketing plays in driving an epidemic of diet-related diseases," said Jesse Bragg of Corporate Accountability International, a health advocacy group.

Bragg's group has written an open letter posted on its website asking LeBron James to reconsider his endorsement deal with McDonald's. The group said McDonald's is using "athleticism to sell unhealthy foods to ki! ds."

CNNMoney reached out to the basketball star, but did not receive a response.

Also presenting at the meeting will be CtW Investment Group, a shareholder group representing 5 million union pension holders. The group is asking McDonald's shareholders to vote against the CEO's pay package, which totaled $9.5 million in 2013.

CEOs at fast food companies earn 1,000 times what the average industry's worker earns, according to a recent report from public advocacy group Demos. The report found that fast food industry pay is one of the most unequal in the American economy.

The average hourly wage of fast food employees is $9.09, or less than $19,000 per year for a full time worker. The poverty level of a family of four in the U.S. is $23,850.

The fight against low wages is also driving hundreds of McDonald's workers to corporate headquarters where organizers say they will begin protesting on Wednesday on the eve of the meeting.

  Protesters: Double minimum wage!

Top 5 Companies To Invest In 2015

Just last week, protesters in multiple cities, including New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles joined strikes outside of fast food restaurants demanding their minimum hourly wage be raised to $15 an hour.

McDonald's may also hear from its own franchisees as word has spread that the group of people, who run and operate most of its outlets, have not been happy lately with decisions taken at corporate headquarters.

Credit Suisse near expected criminal settlement

Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy Monday and agreed to pay $2.6 billion in penalties for helping wealthy American clients evade U.S. taxes in a scheme federal investigators said spanned decades.

Becoming the largest financial institution to enter a guilty plea in at least 20 years, the bank acknowledged it willfully aided thousands of U.S. clients who opened and maintained secret offshore accounts that hid their assets and income from the IRS, said U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.

The settlement marks a major U.S. legal victory in a continuing U.S. investigation of approximately a dozen other Swiss banks on suspicion of similar tax-evasion-related wrongdoing to lure American clients.

"When a bank engages in misconduct this brazen, it should expect that the Justice Department will pursue criminal prosecution to the fullest extent possible, as has happened here," said Holder.

Credit Suisse has a large investment banking subsidiary and is headed by American CEO Brady Dougan. Under the settlement terms, the bank agreed to change its business operations, provide information to federal investigators and hire an independent monitor to ensure it complies with the agreement.

Holder announced the agreement at a news briefing after U.S. financial markets closed, part of an effort with regulators to avoid any economic disruption from the bank's guilty plea.

The consultations were aimed at avoiding any repeat of the job losses and economic disruption caused by the 1990 bankruptcy collapse of Drexel Burnham Lambert after the investment house pleaded guilty to fraud, and the 2002 obstruction of justice conviction that led to the implosion of accounting giant Arthur Andersen.

Credit Suisse's U.S. regulators, the Federal Reserve and the New York State Department of Financial Services, coordinated federal prosecutors during settlement talks and signaled they would not seek to revoke the bank's charter or shut it down.

Holder said the f! inancial penalties include a federal fine that tops $1.13 billion, and nearly $670 million in restitution to the IRS. Additionally, Credit Suisse will pay a $100 million penalty to the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors and $715 million to the New York banking regulator.

The settlement is expected to set a legal template for future U.S. cases that target major banks. That includes the continuing tax-related investigations of other Swiss banks and a separate investigation of French banking giant BNP Paribas for allegedly doing business with Iran, Cuba, Sudan and other nations hit with U.S. economic sanctions.

"We deeply regret the past misconduct that led to this settlement," said Dougan in a statement issued Monday night. "The U.S. cross-border matter represented the most significant and longstanding regulatory and litigation issue for Credit Suisse. Having this matter fully resolved is an important step forward for us."

According to Holder, the Zurich-based bank tried to hide the tax-evasion scheme by destroying records, concealing transactions and using offshore credit and debit cards to help American clients secretly transfer their hidden assets and income home.

"When the bank finally began to feel pressure" from a federal investigation launched in 2010, "Credit Suisse failed to retain key documents, allowed evidence to be lost or destroyed and conducted a shamefully inadequate internal inquiry," said Holder.

The bank ultimately submitted a guilty plea to a four-page criminal information. Court filings in the case cited two unidentified Credit Suisse clients, one from Charlottesville, Va., and the other from Elizabeth, N.J., who allegedly sought and received bank help with their offshore accounts.

Holder prefigured the Credit Suisse penalties with a May 5 video statement in which he declared: "There is no such thing as too big to jail."

.

A Senate subcommittee hearing in February also provided an early preview of the case with a February report that ! said Cred! it Suisse bankers secretly traveled to the U.S. on tourist visas, and then met with potential clients at New York City parties and Florida golf outings.

One former client told Senate investigators a Credit Suisse banker evaded detection by passing bank account statements hidden in the pages of a Sports Illustrated magazine.

The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations report showed that Credit Suisse bankers in some cases helped U.S. clients structure transactions below $10,000 in an effort to avoid mandatory disclosure laws for higher amounts.

The bankers also referred some U.S. clients to intermediaries who helped open accounts in the names of offshore companies that existed largely on paper, Senate investigators found.

Sen. Carl Levin, the Michigan Democrat who heads the panel, complained that Monday's settlement didn't require Credit Suisse to "cough up" the names of more than 20,000 Americans who held unreported offshore accounts with the bank.

The Credit Suisse penalties dwarf the $780 million settlement that UBS, Switzerland's largest bank, reached with federal prosecutors in 2009 for similarly helping wealthy U.S. clients duck the IRS. However, the UBS deal took the form of a deferred-prosecution agreement in which the bank admitted wrongdoing and turned over financial records for thousands of American clients — but did not have a criminal conviction entered against it.

Benzinga's Top #PreMarket Losers

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World Wrestling Entertainment (NYSE: WWE) shares dropped 44.81% to $11.00 in pre-market trading following announcement of NBCUniveral deal on Thursday.

Kamada (NASDAQ: KMDA) shares fell 27.54% to $10.00 in pre-market trading after the company reported preliminary Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Phase II/III trial results.

Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ) dropped 7.19% to $23.50 in pre-market trading after the company reported weaker-than-expected Q1 earnings and issued a weak forecast.

Ryanair Holdings plc (NASDAQ: RYAAY) dipped 4.09% to $49.43 in pre-market trading after falling 1.06% on Thursday.

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

© 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

  Most Popular The 5 Most Overvalued Dow Stocks Is Apple Secretly Developing A 3D Printer? J.C. Penney Earnings Preview: Is The Turnaround On Track? FireEye To Repeat Twitter Lock-Up? UPDATE: Piper Jaffray Upgrades MannKind After 'Busted' Call For Afrezza Jefferies Raises Targets on Wal-Mart, Lowe's, Cuts Target on Home Depot Related Articles (CSIQ + KMDA) Benzinga's Top #PreMarket Losers #PreMarket Primer: Friday, May 16: Wall Street Giants Take Up Positions In Telecom Sector Earnings Scheduled For May 16, 2014 Stocks To Watch For May 16, 2014 Canadian Solar to Build Solar Systems for IKEA - Analyst Blog Benzinga's Top #PreMarket Gainers Around the Web, We're Loving... NASDAQ OMX Launches Currency Trade Monitory Tool

'Deathtrap' on GM's naughty words list

GM warned employees to not use these words and phrases in memos.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) "Deathtrap," "widowmaker," "rolling sarcophagus."

Those are a few of the words that General Motors asked its employees to avoid using in their internal communications.

A lengthy list of unacceptable terms appeared in a 2008 presentation given to GM (GM, Fortune 500) employees on how to communicate with each other regarding possible safety issues.

Besides individual words, certain phrases were also discouraged in the presentation. "This is a lawsuit waiting to happen," and "Unbelievable engineering screw-up" were among what the presentation described as "examples of comments that do not help identify and solve problems."

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Rather, employees should use phrases like "Windshield wipers did not work properly. Would run for 3-4 seconds and then quit for the next 7-8 minutes... repeatedly."

Among the "Judgement words" employees were told to avoid: "Hindenburg," "powder keg," "Titanic," "apocalyptic," "You're toast," and "Kevorkianesque."

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Less inflammatory words such as "safety," "safety related," "serious," "failure," and "defect" were also listed as words to be avoided.

GM fined $35 million for delayed recall

Such words and phrases were not to be used because they are "vague and non-descriptive" according to GM's presentation.

Instead of "Safety," an employee should write that something has "Has potential safety implications." Instead of "Defect," an employee should say that something "Does not perform to design." Instead of a "Problem," there is an "Issue, condition, matter."

As part of the evaluation process for new vehicles, automakers will often have company employees drive vehicles before they go into full production. The employees can then share any problems they might experience so issues can be resolved before the car, truck or SUV is released to the ! public.

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In the presentation, GM admonished employees to "Understand that there really aren't any secrets in this company".

"For anything you say or do, ask yourself how you would react if it was reported in a major newspaper or on television."

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Acting Administrator David Friedman criticized GM for the presentation during a press conference Friday. Friedman said that, in telling employees to avoid certain language when writing about safety issues, GM was discouraging open and free discussion of potential problems.

"We encourage employees to be factual in their statements and will continue to work with NHTSA to improve our safety processes," GM said in a written statement responding to questions about the presentation. "Today's GM encourages employees to discuss safety issues, which is re-enforced through GM's recently announced Speak Up for Safety Program."

In the "Speak Up for Safety" program, GM has said it will recognize employees who share ideas to make vehicles safer or who point out potential safety issues in vehicles.

Timeline - Steps to a recall nightmare

Prior to the new safety promotion program, which was introduced after a massive recall over ignition switches tied to 13 deaths, employees were told not to be "cute or clever," something that might be "especially easy to do in an e-mail, when there might be a temptation to use a casual tone to describe a potentially serious safety risk."

The presentation, which was released to the public on Friday by NHTSA, concluded with the warning to "Consider how documents will be interpreted by people outside of GM."

The presentation, labeled "GM confidential," was submitted to NHTSA as part of the agency's investigation into the automaker's delayed recall of the Chevrolet Cobalt and other cars due the ignition switch problem.

On Friday GM agreed to pay a $35 million fine -- the max! imum poss! ible for a single violation -- for not reporting the problem to NHTSA quickly enough.

J.C. Penney Company (JCP) Earnings Report: More Salvation? KSS, BONT & JWN

The Q1 2014 earnings report for troubled J.C. Penney Company, Inc (NYSE: JCP), a peer of other department store stocks like Kohl's Corporation (NYSE: KSS), The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc (NASDAQ: BONT) and Nordstrom, Inc (NYSE: JWN), is scheduled for after the market closes on Thursday. Aside from the J.C. Penney Company's earnings report, it should be said that Kohl's Corporation will report Q1 2014 when the market opens on Thursday; Nordstrom will report earnings after the market closes on Thursday; and The Bon-Ton Stores will report Q1 2014 earnings on Thursday, May 22nd before the market opens. However, all eyes will be on the J.C. Penney Company earnings report to see if there are any signs the company has turned itself around from the ill-fated leadership of CEO Ron Johnson – who ironically was also trying to turn things around…

What Should You Watch Out for With the J.C. Penney Company, Inc Earnings Report?

First, here is a quick recap of J.C. Penney Company's recent earnings history from Yahoo! Finance:

Earnings HistoryApr 13Jul 13Oct 13Jan 14

EPS Est	-0.89	-1.06	-1.77	-0.85
EPS Actual	-1.38	-2.20	-1.85	-0.76
Difference	-0.49	-1.14	-0.08	0.09
Surprise %	-55.10%	-107.50%	-4.50%	10.60%

 

In late February, J.C. Penney Company reported better than expected results, including improved sales and profit margins for the holiday season quarter, that sent the shorts scrambling for cover. The CEO also commented:

"With the most challenging and expensive parts of the turnaround behind us, we will focus on improving gross margin, managing expense and steadily growing our sales in 2014."

In light of the company's change in strategy, Standard & Poors upgraded its outlook on the company to Stable from Negative – saying its liquidity appears to be adequate and that it is unlikely to default over the next year. They added that the retailer's results showed "modest improvement," while its merchandise is now more in-line with the company's "traditional core customer" – hence they feel performance is likely to improve modestly this year.

This time around and according to the Yahoo! Finance analyst estimates page, the consensus expects $2.71 billion in revenues and EPS of -$1.25 - worst than the EPS of -$1.15 expected ninety days ago. The consensus also remains skeptical of the stock, which has 15 analysts saying it's a Hold and 6 rating it as Underperform while 3 say Buy and 1 says a Strong Buy.

However, the shorts are optimistic about a payday because the stock is the 23rd most shorted stock on the NYSE with short interest of 30.07% according to HighShortInterest.com. It could be worst though because retailer RadioShack Corporation (NYSE: RSH) has short interest of 35.49% while hhgregg, Inc (NYSE: HGG) has short interest of 53.77%.

What do the J.C. Penney Company, Inc Charts Say?

The latest technical chart for J.C. Penney Company does show one optimistic trend line:

A look at the performance charts shows a steady long term performance for both Kohl's Corporation and Nordstrom along with a volatile performance for The Bon-Ton Stores and the disastrous performance of J.C. Penney Company under Ron Johnson's reign:

The latest technical chart for Kohl's Corporation shows a double top while The Bon-Ton Stores has remained volatile and Nordstrom's shows some bullishness:

What Should Be Your Next Move?

Before you make any kind of move on J.C. Penney Company, I'd try to go into a few of their stores to see what kind of merchandise they have and who is looking at it. In Ron Johnson's defense, he did try to make the store appeal to the younger and more hipper crowd, but instead managed to alienate older women who tended to be the store's most loyal customers. If the older women are back, then perhaps things are at least back to where they were before Johnson took over. But that's not exactly a great place to be nor a solid enough foundation for long term investors.  

Why FireEye, Inc. Shares Skyrocketed Today

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of FireEye (NASDAQ: FEYE  ) jumped nearly 11% Monday, then settled to close up around 8% leading into the cyber-security specialist's on-campus analyst open house this afternoon.

So what: Disappointing guidance has caused FireEye shares to plummet following each of its past two quarterly reports -- including an 11% drop in February, and a 22% plunge last Wednesday -- and both results were largely influenced by significantly increased chunks of cash dedicated to R&D and sales and marketing. Even after today's jump, the stock still sits more than 70% below its March highs.

But FireEye's open house today could be a solid first step to providing more clarity to analysts on why it's missing their proposed marks. To be sure, FireEye stated the afternoon's events would include product demonstrations, Q&A with senior management, and updates on their "vision, strategy and operations."

Now what: Of course, that doesn't change the fact FireEye has made a habit of falling significantly short of Wall Street's expectations. But if their efforts today can at least help analysts understand why that's the case and successfully help them pitch a longer-term outlook, perhaps the broader investing public will be more forgiving of the company -- especially considering its underlying stock trades at a lofty 17 times trailing 12-month sales. For now, though, and despite the big pullback since the last time I opted to stay on the sidelines, I'm just fine keeping FireEye on my watch list.

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4 Big Stocks on Traders' Radars

BALTIMORE (Stockpickr) -- Put down the 10-K filings and the stock screeners. It's time to take a break from the traditional methods of generating investment ideas. Instead, let the crowd do it for you.

>>5 Big Charts Ready to Break Out in May

From hedge funds to individual investors, scores of market participants are turning to social media to figure out which stocks are worth watching. It's a concept that's known as "crowdsourcing," and it uses the masses to identify emerging trends in the market.

Crowdsourcing has long been a popular tool for the advertising industry, but it also makes a lot of sense as an investment tool. After all, the market is completely driven by the supply and demand, so it can be valuable to see what names are trending among the crowd.

While some fund managers are already trying to leverage social media resources like Twitter to find algorithmic trading opportunities, for most investors, crowdsourcing works best as a starting point for investors who want a starting point in their analysis. Today, we'll leverage the power of the crowd to take a look at some of the most active stocks on the market today.

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These "most active" names are the most heavily-traded names on the market -- and often, uber-active names have some sort of a technical or fundamental catalyst driving investors' attention on shares. And when there's a big catalyst, there's often a trading opportunity.

Without further ado, here's a look at today's stocks.

J.C. Penney

Nearest Resistance: $9

Nearest Support: $7

Catalyst: Technical Setup

Long-suffering J.C. Penney (JCP) shareholders could be in for a reprieve thanks to the technical story that's playing out in shares of the beaten-down retailer. After getting sold off approximately 50% lower in the last year, JCP is starting to show some technical signs of a reversal: a classic inverse head and shoulders setup is close to triggering in JCP.

The breakout level to watch is $9. The stock's current proximity to that level is a big part of the transaction volume shares are seeing right now. If JCP can hold a bid above $9, joining buyers becomes a high probability trade.

Molycorp

Nearest Resistance: $4.50

Nearest Support: N/A

Catalyst: Earnings, Downgrade

Rare earth miner Molycorp (MCP) is down more than 15% this afternoon, hammered lower after releasing earnings and getting downgraded in one fell swoop. After the bell on Wednesday, Molycorp announced a first-quarter loss of 40 cents per share, dragged down by lower selling prices for the firm's rare earth metals. That earnings miss was followed up by a downgrade at J.P. Morgan Securities to underweight from neutral.

From a technical standpoint, MCP's chart is a mess. Shares had been forming a bearish descending triangle setup for most of the last year, and it finally triggered in yesterday's session. Today's big volume drop is just follow-through. Stay away from MCP until this stock can find some semblance of support again.

ICICI Bank

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Nearest Resistance: N/A

Nearest Support: $45

Catalyst: Indian Elections

$27 billion Indian bank ICICI Bank (IBN) is up more than 7% this afternoon, rallying higher on India's election news today. IBN isn't alone in the move; India's equity indices are up big this afternoon overall. But this big banking ADR is one of the most investible ways for U.S. investors to take part in the move -- and that's why IBN is rallying so hard today. The election has IBN breaking out to new multi-month highs today.

New highs are significant from an investor psychology standpoint because they mean that everyone who has bought shares in the last year is sitting on gains. As a result, the "back to even" mentality is less of a concern than it would be for a name with a higher proportion of shareholders sitting on losses. If you decide to be a buyer here, it makes sense to keep a tight protective stop in place.

CBS

Nearest Resistance: N/A

Nearest Support: $56

Catalyst: Q1 Earnings

Finally, CBS (CBS) is off more than 2.5% this afternoon, pushed lower following first-quarter earnings results. CBS earned 79 cents for the quarter, beating estimates by 4 cents. But revenues slipped vs. the comparable period, and tempered expectations for the rest of 2014 are sending shares lower in the session. Ultimately, it's make-or-break time for CBS right now.

Shares of CBS broke their uptrend back in early April, slipping below the trendline that's been a floor for shares since last summer. Now, the line in the sand is at $56, which has been a key level of buying since all the way back in November. If CBS fails to hold support at $56 early next week, it becomes a sell.

To see these stocks in action, check out the at Most-Active Stocks portfolio on Stockpickr.



-- Written by Jonas Elmerraji in Baltimore.

RELATED LINKS:

>>5 Stocks Under $10 Set to Soar

>>3 Stocks Rising on Big Volume

>>5 Short-Squeeze Stocks Poised to Pop

Follow Stockpickr on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

At the time of publication, author had no positions in the names mentioned.

Jonas Elmerraji, CMT, is a senior market analyst at Agora Financial in Baltimore and a contributor to

TheStreet. Before that, he managed a portfolio of stocks for an investment advisory returned 15% in 2008. He has been featured in Forbes , Investor's Business Daily, and on CNBC.com. Jonas holds a degree in financial economics from UMBC and the Chartered Market Technician designation.

Follow Jonas on Twitter @JonasElmerraji

Cadillac buries Escalade SUV's celebrity past

CULVER CITY, Calif. -- Used to be that if you wanted to make a statement about yourself in this studio town, you drove a Cadillac Escalade.

For 15 years, Escalade was the vehicle of choice to ferry actors, rappers and star athletes.

Tiger Wood's then-wife attacked him with a golf club in his Escalade after learning of his extramarital affairs. Paris Hilton was busted for cocaine possession in one on the Las Vegas Strip.

But like the aging starlet trying to put her wild past behind her, Cadillac is being careful to craft the image of its new-generation 2015 Escalade in a whole new light.

Forget the 'slade's glitzy history. Today, Escalade is pitched as a rolling sanctuary for upscale families. It's quieter, more powerful and a tiny bit more fuel efficient.

It's also less glitzy. The acres of gleaming chrome has given way to a more subdued, brushed chrome look.

"In its heyday, when we were selling 60,000 a year, people bought them because they were in fashion," says Todd Brown, Cadillac's Escalade marketing manager. "But the world changed."

Now, Brown says that the 20,914 customers that Autodata reports bought one last year are largely making a statement that: "This is a my family space. This is where we talk."

Cadillac hopes to retain current Escalade owners and lure back others by plushing up the 2015 Escalade. The interior features sewn leather and authentic wood trim. There's a hands-free liftgate and seats that fold down at the push of buttons. Unlike the current generation, the new Escalade -- the first delivery was last month -- also offers second- and third-row seats that fold completely flat to make cargo handling easier.

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Much of what makes the new Escalade special involves its big V-8. The 6.2-liter engine now sports 420 horsepower, a 5% increase over the outgoing model, and 460 pounds-f! eet of torque, a 10% improvement that comes in handy for a key reason some buy an Escalade, towing power.

Zero to 60 miles per hour: 5.96 seconds, at least in the short-wheelbase, four-wheel drive version.

"For the big vehicle that it is, it's a rocket," says David Schiavone, the Escalade product manager.

It's also a more efficient rocket. With direct injection, continuously variable valve timing and the automatic shut-off of cylinders when they are not needed, the government rating comes in at 15 miles per gallon in city driving, 21 highway, 18 combined for the most efficient short-wheel base, two-wheel drive version. That's up from 14/18/17 for the outgoing model.

The new Escalade offers short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase ESV versions, two- and four-wheel-drive. The price starts at $72,690 with shipping, but most buyers are expected to opt for the more deluxe version starting at $76,690 or the premium version at $81,890.

In a mix of freeway driving, the new Escalade drove confidently with a minimum amount of roll in the corners, important given that 95% of those expected to be sold will ride on 22-inch tires that have a high profile. Clearly, it's not a vehicle for the shy.

It does, however, attract exactly the kind of buyers that Cadillac wants the most. At an average age of 54, they are the brand's youngest. They also are the highest educated. And they are wealthiest, with an average household income of about $200,000, Brown says.

Buyers are "very (market) segment loyal, not as brand loyal," Brown says, and lately, as the outgoing Escalade aged, some drifted to rivals such as the big GL SUV from Mercedes-Benz.

All those rappers and clubbing lifestyle? Cadillac wouldn't mind having them, but it isn't taking any special measures to land them.

"We are absolutely not chasing it," Brown says.