GOOG splits stock but keeps hands on the reins

Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) announced first-quarter earnings after the bell Thursday — but the real news was focused on much smaller numbers. Namely, “2″ and “1.”
Profits basically were in line with Wall Street expectations. Adjusted earnings came to $10.08 per share, which was above the consensus estimate of $9.65. However, the top line was a bit light at $8.14 billion, vs. estimates for $8.15 billion.

Google’s real news was the announcement of a stock split — of sorts. The company said Thursday that it will create a new class of nonvoting stock. For current shareholders, a new share will be issued for every existing one, “effectively” resulting in a 2-for-1 stock split.
So why go through this convoluted process rather than an outright 2-for-1? It comes down to the founders keeping voting control of the company. They believe a “founder-led” management structure is best for long-term results.
The conference call also should be interesting. Investors definitely will want to get more color on the acquisition of Motorola, trends with cost per clicks (the revenue for the ad business) and progress on the G+ social network.
GOOG stock was slightly up in after-market trading.
Tom Taulli runs the InvestorPlace blog�IPO Playbook, a site dedicated to the hottest news and rumors about initial public offerings. He also is the author of��The Complete M&A Handbook”,��All About Short Selling��and��All About Commodities.��Follow him on Twitter at�@ttaulli�or reach him via�email. As of this writing, he did not own a position in any of the aforementioned securities.

Great Stocks To Hold 2013

Amid a welcome patch of near-term weakness for gold mining and exploration stocks, this Fool recently became an active buyer in an array of gold stocks that I believe offer top-quality exposure to an anticipated resumption of the metal's multiyear bull-market blitz.

As an update to my initial top picks for gold and silver in 2013, this two-part series highlights those elite gold stocks that I currently consider the most opportune vehicles for new gold investment. Accordingly, these stocks also figure prominently within my own investment allocation into precious metals, and I personally own shares of all. My selections are:

Great Stocks To Hold 2013:OM Group Inc. (OMG)

 OM Group, Inc. develops, produces, and markets specialty chemicals, advanced materials, and electrochemical energy storage products worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Advanced Materials, Specialty Chemicals, and Battery Technologies. The Advanced Materials segment manufactures inorganic products using unrefined cobalt and other metals and serves the battery materials, powder metallurgy, ceramics, and chemical end markets. It offers cobalt powders, precursors, chemicals, pigments and ceramics, and various raw materials. These products enhance the electrical conduction of rechargeable batteries, as well as strengthen and add durability to diamond and machine cutting tools and drilling equipment. The Specialty Chemicals segment offers electronic chemicals for the printed circuit board, memory disk, general metal finishing, electronic packaging and finishing, and photovoltaic markets. This segment also provides advanced organics comprising additives and driers for paints, and printing inks; rubber adhesion promoters for tires; composite and other catalysts for chemicals; and fuel oil additives, lubricants, and grease additives. In addition, it offers ultra pure chemicals used in the manufacture of electronic and computer components, such as semiconductors, wafers, and liquid crystal displays; and photo-imaging masks, including high-purity quartz or glass plates containing precision, microscopic images of integrated circuits; and reticles for the semiconductor, optoelectronics, and microelectronics industries under the Compugraphics brand name. The Battery Technologies segment provides battery products, primary and secondary batteries, battery management systems, battery chargers, and energetic devices for defense applications; primary and secondary batteries for satellites, aircraft, and the packaging of cells; and miniature batteries to power implantable medical devices. The company was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.

Great Stocks To Hold 2013:Tempur-pedic International Inc (TPX)

 Tempur-Pedic International Inc. manufactures, markets, and distributes bedding products in North America and internationally. Its products include pillows, mattresses, and adjustable beds, as well as various cushions and other comfort products. The company sells its mattresses and pillows under the TEMPUR and Tempur-Pedic brand names through furniture and bedding, specialty, and department stores; direct response, Internet, and own stores; chiropractors, medical retailers, hospitals, and other healthcare markets; and third party distributors. Tempur-Pedic International Inc. was founded in 1989 and is based in Lexington, Kentucky.

Great Stocks To Hold 2013:American Campus Communities Inc (ACC)

 American Campus Communities, Inc. (ACC), a real estate investment trust (REIT), engages in the acquisition, design, finance, development, lease, and management of student housing properties in the United States. As of July 12, 2005, the company owned and managed 25 student housing properties, containing approximately 16,300 beds, as well as managed 44 student housing properties, representing 27,600 beds. ACC also provides construction management and development services for student housing properties owned by colleges and universities, charitable foundations, and others. In addition, it also provides third party property management and leasing services. The company has elected to be taxed as a REIT under sections 856 to 860 of the Internal Revenue Code. As a REIT, it would not be subject to federal income tax purposes, provided it distributes at least 90% of taxable income to its shareholders. ACC was founded in 1993 and is based in Austin, Texas.

New Gold Inc. (USA) made New 52 Week High Price - AMEX:NGD

New Gold Inc. (USA) (AMEX:NGD) achieved its new 52 week high price of $13.00 where it was opened at $12.58 up +0.12 points or +0.97% by closing at $12.47. NGD transacted shares during the day were over 4.45 million shares however it has an average volume of 3.61 million shares.
NGD has a market capitalization $5.61 billion and an enterprise value at $5.31 billion. Trailing twelve months price to sales ratio of the stock was 8.43 while price to book ratio in most recent quarter was 2.60. In profitability ratios, net profit margin in past twelve months appeared at 45.98% whereas operating profit margin for the same period at 36.03%.
The company made a return on asset of 5.28% in past twelve months and return on equity of 12.79% for similar period. In the period of trailing 12 months it generated revenue amounted to $659.32 million gaining $1.65 revenue per share. Its year over year, quarterly growth of revenue was 52.80%.
According to preceding quarter balance sheet results, the company had $490.45 million cash in hand making cash per share at 1.09. The total of $246.69 million debt was there putting a total debt to equity ratio 11.57. Moreover its current ratio according to same quarter results was 4.09 and book value per share was 4.75.
Looking at the trading information, the stock price history displayed that its S&P500 52 Week Change illustrated 4.84% where the stock current price exhibited up beat from its 50 day moving average price $11.00 and remained above from its 200 Day Moving Average price $10.26.
NGD holds 449.89 million outstanding shares with 435.92 million floating shares where insider possessed 3.35% and institutions kept 58.30%.

DuPont Beats Analyst Estimates on EPS

DuPont (NYSE: DD  ) reported earnings on April 19. Here are the numbers you need to know.
The 10-second takeawayFor the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), DuPont met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.
Compared to the prior-year quarter, both revenue and GAAP earnings per share expanded.
Gross margin grew, while both operating margin and net margin contracted.
Revenue detailsDuPont recorded revenue of $11.23 billion. The 13 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw revenue of $11.18 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 11% higher than the prior-year quarter's $10.11 billion.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS detailsNon-GAAP EPS came in at $1.61. The 16 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $1.55 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $1.57 for Q1 were 3.3% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.52 per share.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

Margin detailsFor the quarter, gross margin was 33.1%, 60 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 18.3%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 13.2%, 100 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.
Looking aheadNext quarter's average estimate for revenue is $11.23 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.47.
Next year's! average estimate for revenue is $41.27 billion. The average EPS estimate is $4.24.
Investor sentimentThe stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,671 members rating the stock outperform and 108 members rating it underperform. Among 443 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 432 give DuPont a green thumbs-up, and 11 give it a red thumbs-down.
Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on DuPont is outperform, with an average price target of $56.
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Krawcheck Seeks to Open Gold to the Masses at GBI

Sallie Krawcheck, speaking at SIFMA conference last fall. (Photo: AP) Sallie Krawcheck, speaking at SIFMA conference last fall. (Photo: AP) Sallie Krawcheck, one of the financial industry’s most well-known executives, joined the advisory board of Gold Bullion International on Wednesday largely due to her belief in asset and portfolio diversification, according to the company. Plus, the former head of Bank of America-Merrill Lynch’s (BAC) wealth-management unit thinks that investors of all levels should have the opportunity to invest directly in precious metals. “She is by no means making a call on gold but sees it as part of the diversification of investor portfolios, and this is a great way to do it," said GBI CEO Savneet Singh, in an interview with AdvisorOne. “She became aware of us and saw the value of the product and how it is democratizing [the ownership of] real assets.” GBI provides broker-dealers, RIAs and investors with access to a platform for purchasing, vaulting and owning physical precious metals. Its main customers, according to Singh, are several of the major wirehouse broker-dealers—though he declined to state which “No. 1 and No. 2” firm GBI works with. (Industry experts generally consider Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley (MS) to be the largest wirehouses based on assets under management.) “She knows both [the advisor and investor] end markets very well and that interplay,” said Singh (right), “and we needed to learn and get further exposure to these markets.” Having Krawcheck on the GBI board, he adds, “is a good way to help us meet more people in the industry as we seek to expand our broker-dealer clients.” “I don’t know of anyone with more experience in the [wealth-management] field,” Singh said. “How could we get anyone who knows the end-customer better?”

Great Stocks To Hold 2013

Jim Cramer is known for his top performing returns when running a hedge fund and for his stock picks on the "Mad Money" television show. Recently, Cramer has been telling investors to consider some attractive oil and energy stocks, many of which have dropped due to concerns about the debt crisis in Europe. The ultimate resolution for Europe might lead to loose money policies and inflation. Many believe the European Central Bank (ECB) needs to lower rates and print money, much as the Federal Reserve did in the last financial crisis. When you consider that oil is trading at about $99 per barrel, that is a sign that there will be no global economic calamity. In fact, the high price of oil in the midst of a weak economy is probably indicating that oil markets are betting that Germany will ultimately allow the ECB to lower rates and print money. Money printing and low interest rates tends to lead to inflation, and this would support much higher oil prices. Here are some oil and energy stocks that Cramer finds compelling now:

Great Stocks To Hold 2013:Newpark Resources Inc. (NR)

 Newpark Resources, Inc. and its subsidiaries provide fluids management, waste disposal, and well site preparation products and services primarily to the oil and gas exploration and production industry. The company operates in three segments: Fluids Systems and Engineering, Mats and Integrated Services, and Environmental Services. The Fluids Systems and Engineering segment offers drilling fluids products and technical services to drilling projects involving subsurface conditions, such as horizontal, directional, geologically deep, or deep water drilling. This segment also provides completion fluids and equipment rental services. The Mats and Integrated Services segment offers mat rentals, location construction, and related well site services to exploration and production customers in the onshore U.S. Gulf Coast, western Colorado, and northeast U.S. regions; and mat rentals to the utility industry in the United Kingdom. It also installs access roads and temporary work sites for pipeline, electrical utility, and highway construction projects. This segment manufactures and sells DuraBase composite mat systems for domestic and international markets, as well as for use in its domestic rental operations. The Environmental Services segment processes and disposes waste generated by oil and gas customers, and provides onshore drilling waste management and reclamation services. The company provides its products and services primarily in the United States Gulf Coast, west Texas, east Texas, Oklahoma, North Louisiana, Rocky Mountains, and northeast region of the United States, as well as Canada, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and North Africa. Newpark Resources, Inc. was founded in 1932 and is headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas.

Great Stocks To Hold 2013:Transportadora De Gas Sa Ord B (TGS)

 Transportadora de Gas Del Sur S.A. engages in the transportation of natural gas, as well as production and commercialization of natural gas liquids primarily in Argentina. It operates approximately 8627 km long pipeline system. The company transports its natural gas to distribution companies, industries, traders, producers, and power plant operators. The company?s production and commercialization activities are conducted at the Cerri Complex located near Bahia Blanca. Its natural gas liquid products comprise ethane, propane, butane, and natural gasoline. It also provides midstream services, which consist of gas treatment, gas compression, and wellhead gas gathering services; removal services for impurities from the natural gas stream; and pipeline construction, operation, and maintenance services. In addition, the company offers telecommunication services for telephone operators and other corporate users. Its telecommunication network includes a microwave's digital system with synchronous digital hierarchy technology. The company was founded in 1992 and is based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Transportadora de Gas Del Sur S.A. is a subsidiary of Compania de Inversiones de Energia S.A.

Great Stocks To Hold 2013:Vanguard Natural Resources LLC (VNR)

 Vanguard Natural Resources, LLC, through its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition and development of oil and natural gas properties in the United States. Its properties are located in the southern portion of the Appalachian Basin, primarily in southeast Kentucky and northeast Tennessee; the Permian Basin, primarily in west Texas and southeastern New Mexico; and south Texas. As of December 31, 2010, the company had estimated proved reserves of 69.3 million barrels of oil equivalent, as well as working interests in 2,270 net productive wells. Vanguard Natural Resources, LLC was founded in 2006 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Great Stocks To Hold 2013:Constellation Energy Group Inc. (CEG)

 Constellation Energy Group, Inc. operates as an energy company in the United States and Canada. The company develops, owns, operates, and maintains fossil and renewable generating facilities. As of December 31, 2010, it holds interests in qualifying facilities and power projects totaling to 9,030 megawatt (MW), as well as manages approximately 1,100 MW associated with long-dated tolling agreements. The company also provides operation and maintenance services, including testing and start-up to the owners of electric generating facilities. In addition, it offers electricity, natural gas, and other energy products and services to wholesale and retail electric and natural gas customers. The company supplies approximately 119 million megawatt hours (MWH) of aggregate electricity to distribution utilities, municipalities, residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental customers; approximately 334 million British Thermal Units of natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental customers; and approximately 7.8 million tons of coal primarily to its own fleet. Further, it manages generation facilities and natural gas properties; provides risk management services; trades energy and energy-related commodities; manages upstream natural gas activities; designs, constructs, and operates renewable energy, heating, cooling, and cogeneration facilities; provides home improvements; and engages in the sale of electric and gas appliances, and servicing of heating, air conditioning, plumbing, electrical, and indoor air quality systems. Additionally, the company purchases, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity, as well as purchases, transports, and sells natural gas in central Maryland. It maintains approximately 240 substations and approximately 1,300 circuit miles of transmission lines, and approximately 24,800 circuit miles of distribution lines. The company was founded in 1906 and is based in Baltimore, Maryland.

Best Wall St. Stocks Today: YHOO,MSFT,IACI,JPM,TGT,AMGN,JNJ,GE,AIG

According to Reuters, regulators unveiled a plan to toughen rules for mortgage brokers.
Reuters writes that Yahoo! (YHOO) and Microsoft (MSFT) have begiin informal discussion about the buy-out.
Reuters reports that IACI (IACI) CEO Barry Diller claimed in court that Liberty Media had given him its proxy to run the company.
Reuters reports that JP Morgan (JPM) is in talks about buyng half of the Target (TGT) credit card business.
The Wall Street Journal writes that the SEC plans to tell companies that they can provide ranges for the values of securities that are hard to gauge.
The Wall Street Journal writes that many start-ups hold he same illiquid auction rate securities that big companies do.
The Wall Street Journal writes that large auto companies are trying to cut more costs as sales fall furher.
The New York Times reports that an FDA panel has recommended limiting the use of anemia drugs from Amgen (AMGN) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ).
The New York Times reports that the CEO fo GE (GE) used a webcast to pitch he value of his company’s shares.
THe FT writes that that the dollar dropped to a record low.
The FT writes that write-downs at AIG (AIG) is urging regulators to amend the "fair value" regulations which have caused it write-downs.
Bloomberg writes that Chinese factory spending rose 24% causing more concerns about inflation.
Douglas A. McIntyre