Hot Life Sciences Companies To Watch In Right Now

With shares of Corning (NYSE:GLW) trading around $17, is GLW an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let�� analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework.

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Corning produces and sells specialty glasses, ceramics, and related materials worldwide. It operates in five segments: Display Technologies, Telecommunications, Environmental Technologies, Specialty Materials, and Life Sciences. Corning has launched Corning Lotus Glass, an environmentally friendly display glass for organic LED and LCD displays that are used in portable devices such as smartphones, tablets, and notebook computers. Smart phones, tablets, notebook computers, and their related materials are seeing explosive growth in developed and developing countries around the world.

Corning on Tuesday announced its results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2013.�Core earnings per share were 29 cents, an increase of 4 percent over last year�� fourth quarter and better than expected. GAAP earnings per share were 30 cents.�Core sales were $2 billion, a 2 percent decline from the comparable period last year.��013 was a very successful year for Corning,��Wendell P. Weeks, chairman, chief executive officer, and president, said in the earnings report. ��e achieved the company�� primary performance goal of restoring earnings growth. This was accomplished by regaining positive momentum in our LCD business and growing the earnings in our other segments. We also delivered on our commitment to enhance shareholder value by increasing the cash dividend and executing more than $1.5 billion in share repurchases. The company�� performance was recognized by a 41% improvement in the year�� share price, a result with which we are delighted.��/p>

Best Net Payout Yield Companies To Own In Right Now: National Fuel Gas Company(NFG)

National Fuel Gas Company, through its subsidiaries, operates as a diversified energy company primarily in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Utility, Pipeline and Storage, Exploration and Production, and Energy Marketing. The Utility segment sells natural gas or provides natural gas transportation services to approximately 727,000 customers in Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Jamestown, New York; and Erie and Sharon, Pennsylvania. The Pipeline and Storage segment provides interstate natural gas transportation and storage services for affiliated and nonaffiliated companies through an integrated gas pipeline system; and 27 underground natural gas storage fields, as well as 4 other underground natural gas storage fields owned and operated jointly with other interstate gas pipeline companies. This segment also transports natural gas for industrial customers and power producers in New York State. It owns the Empire Pipeline, a 157-mile pipeline; and the Empire Connector, which is a 76-mile pipeline extension. The Exploration and Production segment engages in the exploration for, and the development and purchase of natural gas and oil reserves in California, in the Appalachian region of the United States, and in the Gulf Coast region of Texas and Louisiana. As of September 30, 2009, this segment had proved developed and undeveloped reserves of 46,587 thousand barrels of oil and 248,954 million cubic feet equivalent of natural gas. The Energy Marketing segment markets natural gas to industrial, wholesale, commercial, public authority, and residential customers primarily in western and central New York and northwestern Pennsylvania. The company also develops and operates mid-range independent power production and landfill gas electric generation facilities. National Fuel Gas Company was founded in 1902 and is based in Williamsville, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Utilities sector was the leading decliner in the US market today. Among the sector stocks, Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo (NYSE: SBS) was down more than 3.5 percent, while National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE: NFG) tumbled around 2.6 percent.

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Utilities shares dropped by 0.04 percent in the US market on Wednesday. Top losers in the sector included National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE: NFG), down 1.1 percent, and Atmos Energy (NYSE: ATO), off 0.7 percent.

• [By David Dittman]

  Question: I note that National Fuel Gas Co (NYSE: NFG) is usually only rated a “hold.” Yet it�� been very consistent with paying dividends–including during the ��9 crash and depression that followed.

Hot Life Sciences Companies To Watch In Right Now: Getty Realty Corp (GTY)

Getty Realty Corp. is a real estate investment trust (REIT) in the United States specializing in the ownership, leasing and financing of retail motor fuel and convenience store properties and petroleum distribution terminals. The Company�� properties are located in 21 states across the United States with concentrations in the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic regions. Its properties are operated under a variety of brands, including Getty, BP, Exxon, Mobil, Shell, Chevron, Valero, Fina and Aloha. It owns the Getty trade name in connection with its real estate and the petroleum marketing business in the United States. As of December 31, 2011, Getty Petroleum Marketing Inc. was in possession of 797 properties representing approximately 69% of its 1,149 owned and leased properties. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned 996 properties and leased 153 properties. Nine of the properties it owns is petroleum distribution terminals. In January 2011, it acquired fee or leasehold title to 59 Mobil-branded gasoline station and convenience store properties and also took a security interest in six other Mobil-branded gasoline stations and convenience store properties in a sale/leaseback and loan transaction with CPD NY Energy Corp. (CPD NY), a subsidiary of Chestnut Petroleum Dist. Inc. In may 2013, the Company acquired 36 properties located in the metro New York and Washington, D.C. Beltway. The acquisition includes 16 Mobil branded properties in metro New York, and 13 Exxon and 7 Shell branded properties within the Washington, D.C. Beltway.

The Company leases or sublets approximately 20 of its properties for such uses as fast food restaurants, automobile sales and other retail purposes. The Company leases or sublets its properties primarily to distributors and retailers engaged in the sale of gasoline and other motor fuel products, convenience store products and automotive repair services who are responsible for managing the operations conducted at these properties and for the payment of taxes, m! aintenance, repair, insurance and other operating expenses related to these properties. The operators of its properties are primarily distributors and retailers engaged in the sale of gasoline and other motor fuel products, convenience store products, and automotive repair services.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Real estate investment trust Getty Realty (NYSE: GTY  ) will pay a second-quarter dividend of $0.20 per share, the same rate it paid last quarter after it increased it 60% from $0.125 per share, the company announced yesterday.

Hot Life Sciences Companies To Watch In Right Now: Ross Stores Inc.(ROST)

Ross Stores, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates off-price retail apparel and home accessories stores under the Ross Dress for Less and dd?s DISCOUNTS brand names in the United States. Its Ross Dress for Less brand stores sell brand and designer apparel, accessories, footwear, and home fashions for the entire family at everyday savings of 20 to 60 percent off department and specialty store regular prices; and dd?s DISCOUNTS brand stores sell apparel, accessories, footwear, and home fashions for the entire family at everyday savings of 20 to 70 percent off moderate department and discount store regular prices. As of January 29, 2011, the company operated 1,055 stores, of which 988 were Ross Dress for Less brand stores in 27 states and Guam, and 67 were dd?s DISCOUNTS brand stores in 6 states. Its Ross Dress for Less brand stores primarily target middle income households and dd?s DISCOUNTS brand stores target moderate income households. Ross Stores, Inc. was found ed in 1957 and is headquartered in Pleasanton, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Off-price apparel and and home fashion chain Ross Stores (ROST) raised its quarterly dividend 18% to 20 cents per share, payable March 31 to shareholders of record as of March 10.
  ROST Dividend Yield: 1.15%

• [By John Udovich]

  Yesterday, small cap online discount retailer Overstock.com, Inc (NASDAQ: OSTK) went on�sale by 22.28% after announcing a disappointing earnings report which seemed to lack much management commentary, meaning it might be time to see whether its worth buying the stock given the new discount plus take a look at its performance verses that of other discount retailers like small cap Big Lots, Inc (NYSE: BIG), large cap Ross Stores, Inc (NASDAQ: ROST) and the big kahuna of online retail, Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN).

• [By Dividend]

  Ross Stores (ROST) has a market capitalization of $15.21 billion. The company employs 16,000 people, generates revenue of $9,721.06 million and has a net income of $786.76 million. Ross Stores�� earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $1.457 billion. The EBITDA margin is 14.99 percent (the operating margin is 13.01 percent and the net profit margin 8.09 percent).

Hot Life Sciences Companies To Watch In Right Now: Mdu Res Group Inc (MDU)

MDU Resources Group, Inc. operates as a diversified natural resource company in the United States. The company�s Electric segment generates, transmits, and distributes electricity in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. As of December 31, 2012, this segment provided its electric services to approximately 131,000 residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers in 177 communities and adjacent rural areas. Its Natural Gas Distribution segment distributes natural gas in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, as well as in Idaho, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington. This segment served approximately 859,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in 334 communities and adjacent rural areas. The company�s Pipeline and Energy Services segment provides natural gas transportation, underground storage, processing, and gathering services, as well as oil gathering through regulated and nonregulated pipeline systems primarily in the Rocky Mountain and northern Great Plains regions of the United States. This segment also provides cathodic protection and other energy-related services. Its Exploration and Production segment engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas in the Rocky Mountain and Mid-Continent regions of the United States and in and around the Gulf of Mexico. The company�s Construction Materials and Contracting segment mines, aggregates, and markets crushed stone, sand, gravel, and related construction materials, including ready-mixed concrete, cement, asphalt, liquid asphalt, and other value-added products. This segment also provides utility excavation services and inside electrical wiring, cabling, and mechanical services; sells and distributes electrical materials; and manufactures and distributes specialty equipment. MDU Resources Group, Inc. was founded in 1924 and is based in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Richard Stavros]

  Created with YCharts

  
  In addition to beating the market since the beginning of the year, diversified energy utilities, such as MDU Resources Group Inc (NYSE: MDU), Dominion Resources Inc (NYSE: D) and Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), significantly outperformed pure-play or predominantly all-electric utilities, such as Duke Energy Corp (NYSE: DUK) and Entergy Corp (NYSE: ETR), by as much as several percentage points (See Chart B).
  
  Interestingly, among top performers, there was no dominant strategy for exploiting natural gas demand, as these firms were involved in all aspects of the value chain–from exploration and production to distribution and storage. These companies have not only been benefiting from a natural gas surplus, but also from the pressing need to expand US energy infrastructure to deliver this newfound bounty to businesses and households.
  
  

  Chart B: Diversified Energy Utilities Outperformed Electric-Only Peers

• [By David Dittman]

  Question: I have been a fan of MDU Resources Inc (NYSE: MDU) because of its many operations including oil and gas, materials, construction, and now refining. Long-term thoughts?

• [By Garrett Cook]

  On Monday, the utilities sector proved to be a source of strength for the market. Leading the sector was strength from Aqua America Inc. (NYSE: WTR) and MDU Resources Group Inc. (NYSE: MDU).