Wednesday, February 12, 2014

5 Best Railroad Stocks To Watch Right Now

Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, regional freight railroad operator Genesee & Wyoming (NYSE: GWR  ) has earned a respected four-star ranking.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at Genesee & Wyoming, and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.

Genesee & Wyoming facts

Headquarters (founded)

Greenwich, Conn. (1899)

Market Cap

$4.8 billion

Industry

Railroads

5 Best Railroad Stocks To Watch Right Now: Alliance Financial Corporation (ALNC)

Alliance Financial Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Alliance Bank, N.A., which provides various financial products and services to commercial, retail, government, and investment management customers in New York. Its deposit products include interest and non-interest bearing checking accounts, money market accounts, savings accounts, time deposit accounts, and individual retirement accounts. The company?s loan portfolio comprises residential and commercial mortgage loans, business lines of credit, working capital facilities, and business term loans, as well as installment loans, home equity loans, and personal lines of credit to individuals. It also provides personal trust, employee benefit trust, investment management, custodial, and financial planning services; financial counseling and brokerage services; and equipment lease financing services, as well as involves in residential real estate activities. In addition, Alliance Financial offers safe deposi t boxes, wire transfers, collection services, drive-up banking facilities, night depositories, automated teller machines, telephone banking, and Internet banking services. As of April 14, 2010, it operated 29 offices in Cortland, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, and Oswego counties, as well as a trust administration center in Buffalo, New York. The company was founded in 1984 and is based in Syracuse, New York.

5 Best Railroad Stocks To Watch Right Now: STARWOOD PROPERTY TRUST INC.(STWD)

Starwood Property Trust, Inc., a real estate investment trust, primarily focuses on originating, investing in, financing, and managing commercial mortgage loans and other commercial real estate debt investments, commercial mortgage-backed securities, and other commercial real estate-related debt investments. It also focuses to invest in commercial properties subject to net leases, residential mortgage loans, and residential mortgage-backed securities. SPT Management, LLC serves as the manager of Starwood Property Trust, Inc. The company qualifies as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes and would not be subject to federal corporate income taxes, if it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income to its stockholders. Starwood Property Trust was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Chris Hill]

    In this installment, our analysts discuss some of the day's big movers and shakers.�Shares of Level 3 Communications (NYSE: LVLT  ) rise after Deutsche Bank initiates coverage with a buy rating. Trading in Herbalife (NYSE: HLF  ) is halted after the company's auditor resigns. Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE: CLF  ) gains ground on the news that inflation in China is slowing. And Starwood Property Trust (NYSE: STWD  ) declines after the real estate company announces a secondary stock offering.�

  • [By Doug Fabian]

    This fund is pegged to the FTSE NAREIT All Mortgage Capped Index, a benchmark measure that includes top names in the space such as Annaly Capital (NLY), American Capital Agency Corp. (AGNC), Starwood Property Trust (STWD) and Two Harbors Investment Corp. (TWO).

  • [By Amanda Alix]

    Other companies are currently mulling single-family REIT IPOs, too. Colony recently announced�that it plans to spin off its Colony American Homes, which owns over 9,500 homes with average monthly rents of $1,277. Barry Sternlicht, CEO of commercial mortgage investment REIT Starwood Property Trust (NYSE: STWD  ) has also said that he is seriously considering�spinning off his company's real estate holdings into a single-family REIT within the next few months.

Best Warren Buffett Companies To Buy For 2015: Echo Global Logistics Inc (ECHO.O)

Echo Global Logistics, Inc. (Echo) is a provider of technology enabled transportation and supply chain management services. Its Web-based technology platform compiles and analyzes data from its network of over 24,000 transportation providers to serve its clients' shipping and freight management needs. Its technology platform, composed of Web-based software applications and a database, enables it to identify excess transportation capacity, obtain competitive rates, and execute thousands of shipments every day. It focuses on arranging transportation across truckload (TL) and less than truck load (LTL), and it also offers small parcel, inter-modal (which involves moving a shipment by rail and truck), domestic air, expedited and international transportation services. Its logistics services include rate negotiation, shipment execution and tracking, carrier management, routing compliance, freight bill audit and payment and performance management reporting, including executive dashboard tools. Effective January 1, 2011, the Company acquired Nationwide Traffic Services, LLC. (Nationwide) Effective July 1, 2011, the Company acquired Advantage Transport, Inc. (Advantage). Effective December 1, 2011, the Company acquired the stock of Trailer Transport Systems (TTS). In June 2012, the Company acquired Plum Logistics, LLC. In July 2012, it acquired all of the assets of Shipper Direct Logistics, Inc. In October 2012, the Company acquired Sharp Freight Systems, Inc.

The Company�� clients fall into two categories, enterprise and transactional. Its enterprise clients outsource their transportation management function to Echo. It enters into multi-year contracts with its enterprise clients. As part of its value proposition, it also provides core logistics services to these clients, including the management of both freight expenditures and logistical issues surrounding freight to be transported. It provides transportation and logistics service s to its transactional clients on a shipment-by-shipment ba! s! is. It is a non-asset-based provider of technology enabled transportation and logistics services. Through its carrier network, it provides transportation services using a range of modes of transportation.

Transportation Services

The Company provides Truckload (TL) services across all TL segments, including dry vans, temperature-controlled units and flatbeds. Using its LaneIQ technology, it provide advanced dispatch, communication and data collection tools and capacity information to its clients on a real-time basis. The Company provides less than truckload (LTL) services involving the shipment of single or multiple pallets of freight. Using its RateIQ 2.0 technology, it obtains real-time pricing and transit time information for every LTL shipment from its database of LTL carriers. It provides small parcel services for packages of all sizes. Using its EchoPak technology, it delivers cost saving opportunities to its clients. Inter-modal transportation is the shipping of freight by multiple modes, using a container that is transferred between ships, railcars or trucks. It offers inter-modal transportation services for its clients, which utilizes both trucks and rail. The Company provides domestic air and expedited shipment services for its clients when traditional LTL services do not meet delivery requirements. It uses ETM track and trace tools for up to date information to its clients through EchoTrak. The Company provides air and ocean transportation services for its clients, offering a comprehensive international delivery option to its clients.

Logistics Services

In addition to arranging for transportation, the Company provides logistics services, either on-site (in the case of some enterprise clients) or off-site, to manage the flow of those goods from origin to destination. Its core logistics services include rate negotiation; procurement of transportation, both contractually and in the spo t market; shipment execution and tracking; carrier manag! emen! t, ! report! ing and compliance; executive dashboard presentations and detailed shipment reports; freight bill audit and payment; claims processing and service refund management; design and management of inbound client freight programs; individually configured Web portals and self-service data warehouses; enterprise resource planning (ERP) integration with transactional shipment data, and integration of shipping applications into client e-commerce sites. Customers communicate their freight needs, typically on a shipment-by-shipment basis, to the individual or team responsible for their account. Customers communicate with it by means of telephone, fax, Internet, e-mail, or Electronic Data Interchange (EDI).

Technology Platform

The Company�� ETM technology platform allows it to analyze its clients' transportation requirements and provide customized shipping recommendations. It collects and store pricing and market capacity data in its ETM database from each inte raction with carriers, and its database expands as a result of these interactions. It has also developed data acquisition tools, which retrieve information from both private and public transportation databases, including subscription-based sources and public transportation rate boards, and incorporate that information into the ETM database. Its clients communicate their transportation needs to it electronically through its EchoTrak web portal, other computer protocols, or by phone. ETM generates pricing and carrier information for its clients by accessing pre-negotiated rates with preferred carriers or using present or historical pricing and capacity information contained in its database. If a client enters its own shipment, ETM automatically alerts the appropriate account executive. After the carrier is selected, either by it or the client, its account executives use its ETM technology platform to manage all aspects of the shipping process.

The Company�� Fast Lane is an Internet-based Web portal, which allows! its carr! i! ers to vi! ew shipments available for tender, update equipment availability and preferred lanes, check on the status of all unpaid invoices, unbilled shipments, shipments in transit and other information used to resolve any billing discrepancies. There is also a mobile FastLane application, which allows carriers to view similar information remotely. eConnect is a set of tools, which allows the Company�� clients and carriers to interact directly with ETM electronically through any of several computer protocols, including EDI, extensible markup language (XML) and file transfer protocol (FTP). The eConnect tools serve as an electronic bridge between the other elements of its ETM technology platform and its clients' enterprise resource planning (ERP), billing, accounts receivable, accounts payable, order management, back office and e-commerce systems. Through eConnect, its clients are able to request shipping services and receive financial and tracking data using their existing systems.< /p>

EchoTrak is an Internet-based Web portal, which connects and integrates its clients with ETM. By entering a username and password, its clients are able to enter orders, display historical and active shipments in the ETM system using configurable data entry screens sorted by carrier, price, delivery date, destination and other relevant specifications. EchoTrak also generates automatic alerts to ensure that shipments are moving in accordance with the client specifications and timeline. There is also a mobile EchoTrak application, which allows customers to perform similar functions remotely. RateIQ2.0 is a pricing engine, which manages LTL tariffs and generates rate quotes and transit times for LTL shipments. RateIQ2.0 also provides integrated tools to manage dispatch, communications, data collection and management functions relating to LTL shipments. LaneIQ is a pricing engine, which generates rate quotes for TL shipments. LaneIQ also provides integrated tools to manage dispatch, communications, headhaul and! backhaul! data ! collectio! n and management functions relating to TL shipments. EchoPak is a small parcel pricing and audit engine. For each small parcel shipped, EchoPak audits carrier compliance with on-time delivery requirements and pricing tariffs. In addition, EchoPak tracks information for each parcel and is able to aggregate and analyze that data for clients. For instance, clients are able to view shipments by date, business unit, product line and location, and clients can access information regarding service levels and pricing.

The Company�� Shipment Tracking stores shipment information en-route and after final delivery. The shipment data is acquired through its carrier EDI integration, allowing its clients to track the location and status of all shipments on one screen, regardless of mode or carrier. Final delivery information is permanently archived, allowing it to provide its clients with carrier performance reporting by comparing actual delivery times with the published tran sit time standards.

Document Imaging allows the Company to store digital images of all shipping documents, including bills of lading and delivery receipts. CAS (Cost Allocation System) automatically audits carrier invoices against its rating engine and accounts payable accrual system. If the amounts match, the invoice is automatically released for payment. If the amounts do not match, the invoice is sent to various administrative personnel for manual processing and resolution. CAS also integrates to its general ledger, accounts receivable and accounts payable systems. Accounting includes its general ledger, accounts receivable and accounts payable functions. Accounting is integrated with CAS and EchoIQ. EchoIQ stores internally and externally generated data to support its reporting and analytic functions and integrate all of its core applications with ETM. ETM supports its logistics services, which it provides to its clients as part of its value proposition. Its ETM technology platform is able to trac! k individ! ual shipmen! ts and pr! ovide customized data and reports throughout the lifecycle of the shipment, allowing it to manage the entire shipping process for its clients. It also market Flex TMS.

The Company competes with C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Total Quality Logistics, UPS, FedEx, Schneider, Conway, JB Hunt and ABF.

5 Best Railroad Stocks To Watch Right Now: Harmony Gold Corp (H.V)

Harmony Gold Corp., a junior mining company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties worldwide. The company was formerly known as Avantec Technologies Inc. and changed its name to Harmony Gold Corp. in August 2009. Harmony Gold was incorporated in 1999 and is based in Vancouver, Canada.

5 Best Railroad Stocks To Watch Right Now: Northgate Minerals Corporation(NXG)

Northgate Minerals Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in exploring, developing, processing, and mining gold and copper deposits in Canada and Australia. Its principal producing assets include 100% interests in the Fosterville and Stawell Gold mines in Victoria, Australia; and the Kemess South mine located in north-central British Columbia, Canada. The company was formerly known as Northgate Exploration Limited and changed its name to Northgate Minerals Corporation in May 2004. Northgate Minerals Corporation was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

5 Best Railroad Stocks To Watch Right Now: DRDGOLD Ltd (DRD)

DRDGOLD Limited (DRDGOLD), incorporated on February 16, 1895, is a South Africa-based surface gold retreatment company. DRDGOLD operates in a single segment, Ergo. Ergo is a surface retreatment operation and treats old slime and sand dumps to the south of Johannesburg�� central business district, as well as the east and central Rand goldfields. The operation consists of four plants: Brakpan, Crown, City and Knights. Included in the Ergo segment is the East Rand Proprietary Mines Limited (ERPM) surface operation comprise the Cason retreatment operation. Ergo is evaluating the viability of processing surface uranium- and sulphur-bearing tailings on the east and central Rand goldfields of South Africa. The Company�� business includes Crown Gold Recoveries (Pty) Limited (Crown), Ergo Mining (Pty) Limited (Ergo JV) and ErgoGold are jointly referred to as ERGO and ERPM. On June 1, 2012, the Company disposed of its 74% interest in and loan claims against Blyvoor.

The Company�� focus is on the recovery of lower-risk, lower-cost, higher-margin ounces. As of October 9, 2012, 68% of production comes from surface retreatment operation. The company holds a 74%-interest in operating subsidiary Ergo Mining Operations (Proprietary) Limited. Crown is the gold surface tailings retreatment facility, reprocessing the large and numerous sand and slimes dumps along the reefs that stretch from east to west just to the south of Johannesburg�� central business district (CBD). Crown�� major project is Top Star, a tailings dam to the south of Johannesburg�� CBD. ERPM is situated on the Witwatersrand Basin near the town of Boksburg, 25 kilometers to the east of Johannesburg. The Ergo as a joint venture between DRDGOLD and Mintails Limited. Wholly owned by the DRDGOLD group, Ergo has a network of surface rights that provide access to a further 600 million tons of surface tailings deposited across the western, central and eastern Witwatesrand. Ergo has three tailings deposition facilities. ERPM continues ! as a surface retreatment operation. It holds 65% of ErgoGold through the contribution of its Elsburg Tailings Complex.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Maria Levitov]

    The MSCI Emerging Markets Index added 0.3 percent to 1,033.97, after jumping to the highest level in five months yesterday. AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. and DRDGold Ltd. (DRD) drove South Africa�� benchmark equity index to a record, while the Philippine Stock Exchange Index led gains among developing-nation gauges. Russia�� Micex Index (INDEXCF) slumped 1.3 percent as oil companies plunged. The real strengthened on speculation Brazil�� central bank will raise its target rate next month.

  • [By Roland Head]

    DRDGold (NYSE: DRD  ) climbed 4.2% to $6.25 last week. Rather than mining gold, this South African firm is focused on large-scale reprocessing of the tailings, or waste piles, of large gold mines in order to extract the gold that was not captured by the original mining process. This business is heavily mechanized and requires a relatively small workforce, giving DRDGold some protection from the rising labor costs that are reducing the profitability of many South African mining firms.

  • [By Monica Gerson]

    DRDGOLD (NYSE: DRD) shares fell 4.09% to reach a new 52-week low of $4.66. DRDGOLD's trailing-twelve-month profit margin is -1.61%.

    InnerWorkings (NASDAQ: INWK) shares dipped 34.83% to touch a new 52-week low of $6.19 after the company reported downbeat Q3 results and issued a weak FY13 outlook.

  • [By Zahra Hankir]

    The MSCI Emerging Markets Index decreased 1.5 percent to 995.30, extending its slump for the week to 3.2 percent. Benchmark stock gauges from South Africa to Russia and China dropped more than 1 percent, while the Borsa Istanbul National 100 Index posted the second-biggest decline among the 94 world equity gauges tracked by Bloomberg. DRDGold Ltd. (DRD) and AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. decreased at least 3.7 percent in Johannesburg as the precious metal drove losses in commodities.

5 Best Railroad Stocks To Watch Right Now: Akamai Technologies Inc.(AKAM)

Akamai Technologies, Inc. provides content delivery and cloud infrastructure services for accelerating and improving applications over the Internet in the United States and internationally. The company offers application and cloud performance solutions to enhance the operation of the applications used by enterprises to connect with their employees, suppliers, and customers. Its solutions include Web Application Accelerator, which enables enterprises to run various applications; and IP Application Accelerator that is designed to optimize the performance, availability, and real-time sensitivity associated with IP-enabled applications delivered over Internet-related protocols. The company also provides video and software solutions that are designed to enable enterprises to execute their large file management and distribution strategies, which include media delivery solution to entertainment industry; and electronic software delivery solution that handles the distribution of s oftware for its customers. In addition, it offers Website optimization services for accelerating business-to-consumer Websites that integrate collaborative content and applications into their online architecture; security and protection solutions that address the Internet security requirements; and network operator solutions, which provide custom solutions to commercial and government customers. Further, the company provides mobile content adaptation solution; and advertising decision solutions that enable advertisers, agencies, publishers, and networks to buy and sell advertising, as well as network data feeds, Website analytics, and business performance management services. It markets and sells its services and solutions through direct sales and services organization; and through active channel partners. Akamai Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET.COM]

    Akamai Technologies provides technology products and services to a growing user base in a number of industries around the world. The stock has been performing well in recent years and looks to be getting ready to see higher prices. Earnings and revenue numbers have been shows excellent signs of growth which has really pleased investors. Relative to its strong peers and sector, Akamai Technologies has been an average year-to-date performer. Look for Akamai Technologies to continue to OUTPERFORM.

  • [By Rex Moore]

    But investors should also pay attention to less obvious beneficiaries. Among these are Akamai Technologies (NASDAQ: AKAM  ) , which creates and refines the technology, and Amazon.com, which could see increased sales.

  • [By Bryan Murphy]

    The winds of change are blowing within the patent-enforcement world. If you don't believe it, just ask Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG), Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKAM), and Soverain Software LLC. All three companies recently found themselves on the losing end of a court decision - the appeals court, to be specific - that likely could have come out very differently were we in the patent-enforcement environment from just a couple of years ago. Things are a bit tougher for patent owners now. That change, however, may be a very good thing for patent-protection company Endeavor IP Inc. (OTCBB:ENIP) and ENIP shareholders.

5 Best Railroad Stocks To Watch Right Now: Goodrich Petroleum Corporation (GDP)

Goodrich Petroleum Corporation, an independent oil and natural gas company, engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas. The company holds interest in the Eagle Ford Shale Trend located in South Texas; the Haynesville Shale and Cotton Valley Taylor Sand in northwest Louisiana and East Texas; and the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale located in southwest Mississippi and southeast Louisiana. It owns working interests in 392 producing oil and natural gas wells located in 32 fields in 8 states. As of December 31, 2012, the company had estimated proved reserves of approximately 254.0 billion cubic feet of natural gas, 5.1 million barrels of crude oil or other liquid hydrocarbons (MMBbls) of natural gas liquids, and 8.1 MMBbls of oil and condensate. Goodrich Petroleum Corporation was founded in 1995 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Canadian Value]

    A study by the World Bank identified Malaysia and Thailand as having the largest household debts, as a share of gross domestic product (GDP), among Asia's developing economies.

5 Best Railroad Stocks To Watch Right Now: Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc.(HMIN)

Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc. develops, leases, operates, franchises, and manages a chain of economy hotels in the People?s Republic of China. The company operates its hotels under the Home Inn brand name. As of April 28, 2011, it had approximately 800 Home Inns in operation and 1,000 Home Inns sealed in franchise agreements. The company was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in Shanghai, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Seth Jayson]

    Home Inns & Hotels Management (Nasdaq: HMIN  ) reported earnings on May 13. Here are the numbers you need to know.

    The 10-second takeaway
    For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Home Inns & Hotels Management missed estimates on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

5 Best Railroad Stocks To Watch Right Now: Reece Australia Ltd (REH.AX)

Reece Australia Limited engages in the import, wholesale, distribution, marketing, and retail of plumbing and bathroom products in Australia and New Zealand. The company�s bathroom products include accessories, basins, bath spouts, baths, spas, heated towel rails, hot water units, mirrors, showerbases, shower cubicles and bath screens, shower outlets, taps, toilets and bidets, vanities and bathroom furniture, wastes and plugs, and water flow control products. Its plumbing products comprise hot water units, rainwater tanks, pipe and fittings, clips and pipe supports, valves, pumps, tools and hardware, workwear and safety gears, macerators, water filters, air conditioning units, ducting and ventilation products, fire service, tap and cistern spares, gas spares, commercial bathroom ware, material safety data sheets, and hydronic heating and flashing products. The company also offers kitchen and laundry products consisting of kitchen and bathroom appliances, kitchen sinks, la undry trough and cabinets, and taps. In addition, it provides heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC-R) products and services to HVAC-R contractors; and irrigation products, such as turf, agricultural sprays and drippers, valves, pipe and fittings, pumps, automatic controllers, professional outdoor lighting, and a range of water saving products for the landscape, commercial, and agricultural industries. Further, the company offers various products and services for underground pipe networks, including water mains, gas mains, sewer mains, telecommunications, electrical, and fire services; and onsite services for builders, commercial plumbers, and developers. It serves customers in the trade, retail, professional, and commercial markets through a network of 453 trading outlets. The company was formerly known as H.J. Reece Limited and changed its name to Reece Australia Limited in 1987. Reece Australia Limited was founded in 1919 and is based in Burwood, Australia.

5 Best Railroad Stocks To Watch Right Now: Bodycote Int(BOY.L)

Bodycote plc, through its subsidiaries, provides thermal processing services worldwide. The company offers a range of heat treatment services and specialist metal joining services, including heat treatment services, and specialist processes, such as Kolsterising, low pressure carburizing, electron beam welding, vacuum and honeycomb brazing, plasma processing, cryogenic treatments, boronising, Corr-I-Dur, nitrocarburising, hydrogen annealing, and hardening of stainless steels. Its surface engineering services include ceramic and thermal spray coatings, thermal diffusion, duplex coatings, and organic coatings for durability, anti-corrosion, wear resistance, enhanced hardness, and electrical conductivity. The company also provides hot isostatic pressing services that eliminate porosity in castings and consolidate encapsulated powders to give dense wrought materials. In addition, it offers precision machining and surface finishing services, such as milling, jig/form grinding, wire/spark erosion, turning/hard turning, design, tooling jigs and fixtures, prototype manufacture, and manufacture of low volume and specialist parts. Bodycote plc serves the aerospace and defense, agricultural, automotive, construction, consumer products, electrical, telecom and IT, general engineering and hydraulics, medical, mining, oil and gas/offshore, power generation, rail, tooling, and water industries. The company was formerly known as Bodycote International plc and changed its name to Bodycote plc in April 2008. Bodycote plc was founded in 1923 and is headquartered in Macclesfield, the United Kingdom.

5 Best Railroad Stocks To Watch Right Now: Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.(RCL)

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. operates in the cruise vacation industry worldwide. It owns five cruise brands, which comprise Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Club Cruises, and CDF Croisi�es de France. The Royal Caribbean International brand provides various itineraries and cruise lengths with options for onboard dining, entertainment, and other onboard activities primarily for the contemporary segment. It offers surf simulators, water parks, ice skating rinks, rock climbing walls, and shore excursions at each port of call, as well as boulevards with shopping, dining, and entertainment venues. The Celebrity Cruises brand operates onboard upscale ships that offer luxurious accommodations, fine dining, personalized services, spa facilities, venue featuring live grass, and glass blowing studio for the premium segment, as well as resells computers and other media devices. The Pullmantur brand provides an array of onboard activities and serv ices to guests, including exercise facilities, swimming pools, beauty salons, gaming facilities, shopping, dining, complimentary beverages, and entertainment venues serving the contemporary segment of the Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American cruise markets. The Azamara Club Cruises brand offers various onboard services, amenities, gaming facilities, fine dining, spa and wellness, butler service for suites, and interactive entertainment venues for the up-market segment of the North American, United Kingdom, German, and Australian markets. The CDF Croisieres de France brand offers seasonal itineraries to the Mediterranean; and various onboard services, amenities, entertainment venues, exercise and spa facilities, fine dining, and gaming facilities for the contemporary segment of the French cruise market. As of December 31, 2011, the company operated 39 ships with a total capacity of approximately 92,650 berths. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. was founded in 1968 and is headqua rtered in Miami, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Ben Levisohn]

    Carnival�(CCL) has fallen 7.6% to $34.56 in early trading this morning after the company reported a profit of $1.38, above forecasts for $1.32, but issued disappointing guidance. It’s also dragging down shares of�Royal�Caribbean�Cruises (RCL), which have fallen 3.1% to $38.18.

  • [By Shauna O'Brien]

    On Friday, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) released its fourth quarter financial results, which came in above analysts’ estimates. The company also announced that it has boosted its outlook for 2014.

    RCL’s Earnings in Brief

    RCL reported earnings of��$7.02 million, or 3 cents per share, compared to a loss of $392.80 million, or $1.80 per share, last year. Adjusted earnings were 23 cents per share, which came in above analysts’ estimate of 18 cents per share. Revenue for the quarter was $1.85 billion, in-line with analysts estimates. The company raised its outlook for 2014 to a range of $3.20-$3.40 per share, from its prior outlook of $3.06-$3.19 per share.

    CEO Commentary

    Richard D. Fain, chairman and CEO of RCL noted:”Six months ago we said we thought we had reached an inflection point and these figures clearly bear that out.�It has been a challenging year, but the fact that we have achieved our guidance from a year ago nicely demonstrates the strength of our�business.�Despite the lingering impact of 2013′s negative media coverage on 2014, the year ��and what it portends for future returns ��is looking highly promising.”

    RCL’s Dividend

    RCL paid its last quarterly dividend of 25 cents on January 2. The company is expected to announce its next dividend in February. In September, RCL raised its dividend from 12 cents to 25 cents per share.

    Stock Performance

    Royal Caribbean shares were up $1.97, or 4.18%, during pre-market trading Monday.

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